OpenSecrets

the beauty of rest

2012-05-17T10:39:00.002-04:00

I've posted on here many times about the idea of sabbath- rest. Here's a great talk on sabbatical from Stefan Sagmeister- not with a faith background- but on the value of time off.

(thanks to Plywood People for the post of this clip)

What's left out of your story?

2012-05-09T13:39:00.002-04:00

Came across this today in preparation for Sunday's message on Story-

1980, Carol McCabe- The Providence Journal

Recipient of Best Newspaper Writing 1980, News

“You ask the questions: What was it like? What did it feel like? Take the reader where he cannot go. You, the reporter, go in and bring back information. What is it like in those woods? What is it like on that island? What is it like in that person’s dreams? And you do that by accumulating every bit of meaningful detail and using it where it seems appropriate. It’s what you leave out sometimes that is as important as what you put in.”

That might not JUST be true in journalism. Maybe also in the story of our lives?

average- America's most popular clothing line

2012-05-09T07:55:00.000-04:00

Some midweek laughs...

check out the new clothing line...AVERAGE...

(btw- stay tuned for follow up posts from last thursday's thoughts on Junior- they should be posted in the next 48 hours)

Junior-transitions-and hardships...

2012-05-03T10:51:00.002-04:00

I was shocked and saddened, just like any other NFL fan yesterday to hear of the passing of Junior Seau. If you don't know me at all, you might be surprised to find out- I've never played in the NFL. It's true. My NFL career was cut short by my lack of high school career, which was cut short by my lack of middle school football career. Which was cut short by my fear of being hit.

So that being said, with no NFL career, I've never met Junior Seau.

So from a far distance, I've watched like anyone else who considers themselves a slightly more than mild NFL fan. Junior Seau always SEEMED to me to be one of those 'class-act guys'. I know he had a couple of problems off the field that were made public, but he SEEMED - in my, 'many miles away evaluation'- to be a guy who carried himself well, and with all sorts of 'beyond football potential.' By all sorts of accounts of former players and friends, he was a solid guy off the field- as well as on. Pray for his family and loved ones as they walk through this.

Transitions are hard. They're hard for everyone. Their hard for my friends who graduate college, and think- 'OK...now what? Seriously, I have to 'grow up'?' They're hard for my friends who graduate from high school and hit the panic button and say- 'But wait, I don't know what I want to do for the rest of my life...NOW WHAT?' They're hard for my friends who have gone through the hardship of divorce- whether they were married for 3 months, 3 years, 13 years, or 3 decades. Now what? They're hard for my friends who have their household income cut in half. They're hard for my friends who death hits square in the face.

I read this fascinating article in the NY Times from former lineman Trevor Pryce about the difficulty he's had in transitioning to post-football life. This isn't about, 'oh you should feel sorry for star NFL players who made millions and now have to figure out life without football'- this is about your story and my story- the story that acknowledges TRANSITION CAN BE HARD FOR ALL OF US!

Just like anyone facing transition- we are GUARANTEED to face hardship and difficulty. GUARANTEED. Some of us have more significant difficulties and struggles than others. Some of us THINK we have more significant difficulties than others. It doesn't matter where you fall on that line...what matters is HOW you walk through it.

Over the course of posts here- let's talk about some of the ways that people walk, stumble, or run through hardships...and what is the story of your life that you're writing?

And if it's you...if you're face to face with hardship right now...no matter how great or small...it's hard.
Hang in there...the story's not yet done.

sk8 or die...

2012-05-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

for your midweek viewing enjoyment...

oh tripp and tyler...how you make me chuckle...

I am a Leader...

2012-05-01T10:12:00.000-04:00

wow. Thom Rainer has some incredible insights and writings, and I really appreciate his thoughts on being a leader from last month.

You are a leader. You have influence. Quit making excuses and read this.

Here's an excerpt:

I am a leader.

My first and foremost priority is to do what is right. I have an obligation to my God and to those whom I lead to do the right things first. I cannot put my own career or my own future before those decisions that are clearly God’s plan.

I am a leader.

Those who serve under my leadership are people, real people with real lives. They are not numbers or means to an end. I will thus treat them with dignity. I will seek to do what’s best for them and the place I lead. I will care for them with compassion. I will pray for them regularly. And when I have to make a tough decision that impacts one or more of them, I will do so with care, conviction, and compassion.

Read the whole post here:
http://www.thomrainer.com/2012/04/i-am-a-leader.php

Renovatus and wow...

2012-04-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I was simply blown away by some of our volunteers around New Covenant!

As we wrapped up our Renovatus series, I watched this video (put together by several volunteers)- I watched a creative worship set that Mark and his team of guys (volunteers) did yesterday, with a little bluegrass feel and a little Mumford kicked in for good measure.

I talked with a couple of our KidsCity volunteers who had just gotten back from Orange12 and are just pumped about serving families- I watched some of our Jesus Jungle volunteers serving pre-schoolers and toddlers.

and I was just reminded...THIS IS IT...

The church is only the church when people understand that...they ARE the church. When people use their gifts...both in the context of the local church, and in their community, their workplace...people understanding that they have a role to play. A SIGNIFICANT role to play.

On those rare occasions where I hear the phrase, '...just a volunteer...' (and fortunately I don't hear it often), but I just want to kick someone in the shin...and hard...there's no such thing as JUST a volunteer!!!

Renovatus was about God restoring us to him...drawing us back to him...to live in the freedom that we were intended to live in. In that freedom, there's a natural overflow-outpouring, and a DESIRE to serve- to want to use our gifts- for some people that means even beginning to figure out what our gifts ARE. For others that just means it's time to quit being lazy.

Whether it's using their gifts in the context of serving, or whether it's the idea of PASS IT ON that we talked about yesterday...and not living our life with closed hands...but understanding that we have been blessed...and now it's time to PASS IT ON.

It's just the beginning.

center.

2012-04-28T06:30:00.000-04:00

It has been in the last several weeks...perhaps months...I'm not certain, that my bride and I have finally begun to take the practice of sabbath serious in our lives (I talked about it last week here). It's been incredible. Friday sundown- Saturday sundown.

Sometimes in full rest we're reminded of the significance of Christ. What it's all about. 'Sabbath was made for man- and not man for the sabbath...'

But remembering what it's all about...Christ. Christ at the center. Center of life. Of being. Of relationship. Of work. Of rest.

I'm appreciative of lifechurch.tv for all they do, and for their online campus. I think what they do with church online is next level. I've attended many times. I have friends who aren't sure about the God thing- and church online is a non-threatening, stepping through the door experience. Anyhow- their online campus put this video together- reminding us of Christ at the center of all.

There's NO neutral...

2012-04-26T08:39:00.000-04:00

I'm more and more convinced of the idea that there's no such thing as neutral when it comes to life. This idea comes up more and more in different areas and conversations that I have. Whether it's premarital counseling, a financial situation, physical health or anything else quite frankly.

Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of atonement. I'll be the first to admit I'm still in major learning process on the depths and the significance of this Holy day- but the 101 version of understanding helps us see Yom Kippur as 'spring cleaning'. The idea that, yeah, sure- we're cleaning all along all throughout the winter, but then there's this day (weekend, week...depending on how much of a perfectionist you may or not may be...quit pointing fingers on this one) where it's intentional deep-rooted cleaning.

When left to our own devices- we all have depths of dirt, junk, unhealth, accumulating. There's no neutral. When meeting with couples who are in a bad place...maybe flirting with the idea of divorce...or even locked in to it...a lot of times...not always...but a lot of times there's this feeling of shock (on at least one persons point of view)- 'I don't know...everything was going well, I THOUGHT..and then...bam...she left...he cheated...whatever.' But the truth is, if in honest review, it was probably less of a 'bam' and more of a gradual slide.

Because we're either moving forward or backward...BUT WE'RE NEVER STAYING STILL! And it may be incrementally backwards...'unnoticeable' even...but it's happening- and then you look up and go, 'At what point did I put on 25 lbs?', 'At what point did my husband and I grow apart?', 'AT WHAT POINT DID MY FAITH STOP BEING A BIG PART OF MY LIFE???'

What are ways you stay intentional? Maybe we can learn from each other...I'm not interested in a false-neutral...or backward movement...

Leave a comment

Clarity's overrated

2012-04-23T08:22:00.003-04:00

Yesterday at New Covenant I shared the story of John Kavanaugh- who once asked Mother Teresa to pray for him...she asked him what she could pray FOR...(as told by Brennan Manning in his book Ruthless Trust). Manning tells the story this way:

“When John Kavanaugh, the noted and famous ethicist, went to Calcutta, he was seeking Mother Teresa … and more. He went for three months to work at “the house of the dying” to find out how best he could spend the rest of his life.

When he met Mother Teresa, he asked her to pray for him. “What do you want me to pray for?” she replied. He then uttered the request he had carried thousands of miles: “Clarity. Pray that I have clarity.”

“No,” Mother Teresa answered, “I will not do that.” When he asked her why, she said, “Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” When Kavanaugh said that she always seemed to have clarity, the very kind of clarity he was looking for, Mother Teresa laughed and said: “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God.”

There's this idea, that as long as I have clarity- then I'll take the next step...then I'd be all too happy to take that next 'BOLD' step. But is that REALLY all that bold? Of course I'll take that job if I know it'll lead to success...of course I'll marry that woman if I know we're going to be 100% happy and never fight...of course I'll...

Of course that boldly goes against what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7. I guess if I get clarity- then I could walk by sight...instead of faith.

When I got home, and I was talking to Emily about the morning, and sharing the Mother Teresa/Kavanaugh story (she stayed home as my boy was doing his best impression of Mount Vesuvius) she said- 'Well you know that's what inspired Kendall Payne to write that song I love so much' to which I said...'No- I didn't know that's what inspired Kendall Payne to write that song.'...to which she responded by playing me the song by Kendall Payne that I love so much...but hearing it in this perspective was a strong refresher.

Looking for a clip of it to share with you this morning, I found this clip where Kendall sang the song at Cornerstone in Simi Valley- when Francis Chan was the pastor there- and he adds a few of his own thoughts as well.

May you truly walk by faith- not by sight- trusting him- living wisely- making the most of every opportunity- living the life of the transformed.

God really does care more about your being than he does about your doing!

What is 1 way that helps you to practice TRUST over clarity?
Let's learn from one another...leave a comment...

Excellence...

2012-04-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

Bill Hybels has said, 'Excellence honors God and inspires people.'

One of the biggest frustrations I have with some Jesus people (myself included ~~at times~~) is excuses. Excuses in the way we do...our work...our life...our health...our finances...our...etc.

Excellence should be the mark of those of us who call ourselves Jesus followers. Why would we I do anything less?

It really doesn't matter in what areas that excellence shows up. Excellence in the small things. Excellence in the big things. Excellence in the things that seem trivial. Excellence in the things that seem more important than they probably are.

There are places in my life where excellence has been lacking. I'm looking to change the game on that one.

As a baseball fan- I couldn't believe this throw from Rick Ankiel...EXCELLENCE in his job...in his role.

I'm glad God didn't settle for mediocrity in His creation. If I was truly made in his image...then, I've got BETTER...in me (and you might too).

to really rest

2012-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

since this fall, my wife and i have submitted ourselves to counseling. we love it! wish we would've done it YEARS ago. (to get the quick question out of your head- we were not in major crisis mode- we decided there's a lot on our plates- a lot in our lives, and we didn't want to wait until the engine fell out of the car, but we wanted to get regular and routine maintenance- ok...not sure if that was the quick question for YOU or not, or if there's a small part of me that's more defensive than i care to admit to).

in the midst of meeting with our counselor, he has challenge us to read several books. one that M and i have found extremely beneficial is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by peter scazzero.

some of the stuff that we wanted to work through in counseling is family/personal stuff. some has to relate with my role as pastor. some has to relate to m's role as guardian for her mom. some has to deal with our role as parents. some has to deal with...you get it.

the perspective of scazzero's book has been extremely beneficial in all those areas. yeah- there's the perspective that scazzero has as a pastor, that i can relate to...but it really does affect all of our areas of life. truth be told i haven't finished the book yet. i started it in the fall. i read this particular book- slow. in pieces.

the one perspective that has really challenged m and i though is the perspective of sabbath. of rest. of real rest. yeah...i know...we're christians...church people...pastors...(some of you are reading this as- 'ok...that's your churchy thing...more power to you...not my thing though.' others of you are reading this as- 'ok phil...you ARE a pastor...you should've mastered this a long time ago.')

regardless what your lens is...we haven't 'mastered it' and quite frankly, for most of our lives we certainly haven't really attempted it (with any sort of true intentionality).

it hasn't been easy. but for about a month now, m and i have carved out sabbath. rest. an evening to the next evening. a full day where we don't focus on work/creating/making/doing...but we focus on being. it probably looks different for me than it does for you.

our spirits/our souls need rest just as our physical bodies do. we are not simply physical- mere mortals...but we are spiritual...and just like you need to take care of your physical body- you need to take care of your spiritual body.

all throughout the bible, sabbath is urged, from the beginning of creation, we see it set aside as holy, to the commandments, where God says, 'REMEMBER'- through the new covenant where Jesus says, sabbath was made for man- and not man for the sabbath. (Mark 2:27- you gotta' read the way it goes down in the message version)

Are you carving out time for true rest?
For rest for your spirit?
What would that time look like for you?
Why don't you?
Leave a comment

way too excited...

2012-04-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

so this coming august- we have a crazy opportunity at new covenant. we'll be hosting leaders from ALL AROUND mid-michigan, as we have the amazing blessing to be the host church in our region for the Willow Creek Association's, Global Leadership Summit!

i'm a 100% believer that you're a leader. that i'm a leader. as long as we have breath- we are leaders. so...WHAT are we going to do with our leadership quotient?

andy stanley says, 'leadership is a stewardship- it is temporary- and you're accountable.' I want my leadership to count.

Make sure to join us this august 9-10
Who is a leader you watch/learn from/admire?

inspired (day2)

2012-04-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

I think it's easy to get caught up in my own routine. Day in. Day out. It's about me. What am I doing next? How am I doing? In the words of Donald Miller- I know life's a movie about me- because when I leave one scene and go to the next...I'm still there.

I'm inspired when I stop and see what it is others are doing. If you haven't seen Caine's arcade yet...I'm inspired not only by Caine- but by Nirvan. A man who slowed down enough- and saw beauty. Saw creativity. And thought...'how can this be celebrated?

I'm inspired by others- who celebrate others.
I'm inspired by others- who don't even know they're creative.
What gets your creativity flowing?
Leave a comment

Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

inspired

2012-04-16T07:00:00.008-04:00

as of late...i've found myself inspired by several different things.

some video. some still image. some lyric or poetry.

anyhow, I thought over the next few days I'd share with you...what's been inspiring me.

Perspective inspires me. So meet Allan Hill.

What inspires you? Leave a comment...

Notes to New Covenant

2012-02-09T18:00:00.006-05:00

as a church- here at New Covenant- we've started off the year working thru Romans 12- aiming to MEMORIZE an entire chapter! It's been challenging for many of us- but refreshing for all who have gotten after it!

Romans 12

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not think you are superior.

I know nothing about cars. Saying that in an area like Flint/Saginaw where 9.7 out of 10 people have some sort of ties to an auto company is tough to admit. If there’s a rattle under my hood, it could be my engine about to fall out, or it could be that a twig found its’ way under. I may never know.

But I do know enough to know the need for calibration- that checking- that testing to make sure things are as they ought to be. Romans 12 is this amazing passage, and here from verses 13-16- there’s some great passages that can help us to make sure we’re calibrated properly.

· Share with the Lord’s people who are in need- Is what’s mine, ‘mine’, or am I really willing to…(gulp) ‘share’.

· Practice Hospitality- Do I make a practice out of it, or has it been a 1-time performance?

· Bless those who persecute you- Do I find myself thinking more often thoughts like ‘That’s not fair’…or ‘how dare you?!?’ RATHER THAN, ‘How can I improve your life?’

· Rejoice with those who rejoice- Am I rejoicing with them, or thinking, ‘Why doesn’t anything good ever happen to me?’

· Mourn with those who mourn- Am I running too fast to feel the pain those in my path are going through?

· Live in harmony- Am I making it more harmonious, or am I just adding to the noise?

· Do not be proud/be willing to associate with people of low position.- Do I still see people with labels attached to them…other than ‘beloved’?

· Do not think you are superior?- Am I still playing the comparison game? ‘At least I didn’t…it’s a good thing I don’t…I’d never do…’

I may need to stop pretending there’s a twig under my hood- and maybe it’s time to realize the engine’s about to fall out. Let’s stop ‘playing’ church- and let’s live the transformed life.

Pastor Phil

fears

2012-01-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

There are some things in life that should stop you. Some things in life we LET stop us. Some of those things are fears. Some fears are healthy. Some fears keep us from truly experiencing life to the fullest.

But, I do wonder how many times we let our fears, worries, doubts, insecurities...or just the- 'I can't do that...'s stop us.

(ok...that being said though...I'm NEVER doing what this guy Alex Honnold does)

Crowder collides with TSO & 4000 cell phones

2011-12-22T08:54:00.000-05:00

Sounds like an interstate nightmare, doesn't it? But instead it's a holiday bonanza...er...blitzfest...er...AWESOMENESS! Thank you Crowder for making grainy cell phone footage turn out to be one of the most amazing videos I've seen in a long time!

more than a remodel...

2011-12-13T13:05:00.001-05:00

Mere Christianity is still one of my favorite books. I just came across this quote earlier that still resonates with me at an entirely different level than what I'm typically used to dealing with.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Attitudes, blessed, and first world issues

2011-12-12T22:55:00.000-05:00

So lately, I've just been reminded CONSTANTLY how blessed I am. The truth is...I've always been blessed. Seriously. But there have DEFINITELY been times in my life where I would have argued you and said, 'I'm not as blessed as...'- fill in the blank.

The truth is you're blessed too. It's just a question if you've slowed down to realize it. I was reminded of a quote from years ago, that's always stuck with me...and I've tried to pass on constantly- 'Attitude is a choice'. And maybe that's true for blessings. I'm going to choose to see the blessings.

I'm choosing to be done whining about my first-world problems.

Grace shows up once again...

2011-12-06T21:30:00.002-05:00

I came across this tonight in reflection. I'm trying to do some writing right now...but meanwhile my heart's kind of heavy. A man I admire...that I look up to...that quite frankly...he defines legacy...passed away this afternoon. I count many in his family as friends. He was an encourager, kind, supportive, and loving. I spent some treasured time with all of them in the past few days. A family gathered around- singing songs of praise- worship- love. His daughter- my friend referred to it as 'Holy Ground'. She was right. Perhaps often times we're standing on more holy ground than what we're aware.

These are probably my 2 favorite all time songs. They don't really speak of death, or dying, or sadness. They deal with grace- love- the 'Your kingdom on earth- as it is in Heaven' aspect.

I'm thankful God let my life intersect with George- and his family. A legacy continues.

Trying vs. Doing

2011-12-06T17:41:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been sitting in a group...one of those 'group questions' is asked, and you wind up thinking, 'Wow...that guy answered perfect...nothing left to say.' Someone usually says, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, 'Yeah...what he said.'

I say that to Michael Hyatt-

What HE SAID- about trying and doing...

here’s an instructive scene in the Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back. Yoda is instructing Luke Skywalker in how to use the Force. He asks Luke to retrieve his disabled spaceship out of a bog where it has sunk, using only his mind.

Luke, of course, thinks this is impossible. Sure, he has been able to move stones around this way. But a spaceship? That’s completely different. Or is it.

Yoda patiently explains that it is only different in his mind. Luke reluctantly agrees to “give it a try.”

Yoda famously says, “No. Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.“

...the post gets even better. You need to read it all here.

Buble and Helms

2011-12-01T18:43:00.000-05:00

I LOVE ME SOME GOOD CHRISTMAS SWEATERS! This one's shockingly awesome!

Sports and Faith colliding

2011-11-29T20:32:00.004-05:00

So Tebow (and Tebowing) is not the first time that faith and sports find themselves at an intersection. And maybe it's not an intersection at all...maybe they drive together on the same road often.

Kurt Warner had some interesting thoughts from one successful man-of-faith-quarterback to another one- albeit 'rookie' one (yeah...I know it's not his rookie season...but come on...it's his first REAL shot, so same thing).

Read the article with Warner's thoughts here.

What do you think? I'd be interested in a healthy conversation here...how does your faith play out at your work place? Thoughts on Warners statements of actions vs. words...and so on...whaddya' think?

Ghosts Upon the Earth

2011-11-29T08:29:00.000-05:00

So at the beginning of the month, I discovered Aaron Niequist's worship project- A New Liturgy. I'm getting pretty excited because Number 2 should be released at some point in December. There have been several times in the last month, where I have gone back...and just engaged with 'A New Liturgy' as one of the most private and prayerful times...echoing the thoughts and hearts of other worshipers simply through speakers I suppose. Or maybe not. Maybe at some level much deeper that I may never fully understand at this place. But that's another much deeper post for another day.

Last weekend I was reading in Relevant magazine...truth be told...the last issue had gotten buried in stacks of something...could've been other magazines and books...could've been mail...could've been socks and used toothbrushes...neither here nor there.

They did a little write up on what a concept album is...and Gungor's step into a concept album on their newest release. You can read the whole article here on page 22. The nutshell version is from the beginning of the album to the end Gungor is taking the listener through a specific concept or idea. And I wish I could find a more eloquent way to put it...but...they walk with the listener through an artistic expression of the Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration story...your story...my story. From beginning to end. Sure, a bunch of the songs sounds good on their own...but strung end to end- a phenomenal worship engagement that's different than a typical worship experience.

Those of us who like to compartmentalize and put things in boxes...'worship' (being a style of music), 'quiet' time (being an obligatory 5-15 spell of sitting down with just our bible)...again...I'm digressing into another separate post for another time (btw, those things aren't bad...that's just rather limiting to use those phrases and lock it into a certain form).

Anyhow...CHECK OUT THE GUNGOR 'Ghosts Upon the Earth' here on spotify!