I am a wounded warrior.  I am a wounded healer.  I love God, but only because He loved me first.  I love people.  I want my life to count.  I hate injustices.  I am not okay.

I am an innovator.  I love to inspire.  I highly value maximizing the gifts and talents in others.  I would rather lose together than win alone.  I have launched new things, broke old things, failed miserably, and bounced back for a new day.

I no longer have time for whiners, complainers and doubters.  Life is too short.

I dislike inaction and talk.  I thrive in calculated risks.  I don’t mind building the plane while it’s flying.  I believe in my teams.

I recognize I cannot do everything, but am confident I can do something.

I desperately cling to the cross and empty tomb.  They are my only hope.

I am not an expert at anything, but have made progress on the learning curve.

Two of the most powerful words are “What if…”!  My passion derives in moving a group toward the “what if’s”.

I have learned to not allow what I cannot do interfere with what I can do, that moving mountains begins by carrying small stones, and that the journey is more important than the destination.

I would rather work for a cause than an institution.

I love reading and learning.  The ocean is my favorite place.  My wife and children are my favorite people.

At the end of my life I want people to say:  He LOVED God!  He LOVED people!  He never stopped learning!

What about you?  I challenge you to take a few moments and describe yourself.  How did God wire you?  What motivates you?  What saps your energy?  What are you good at?  What have you attempted and seen great success with?  What have you tried and failed at?  What do you believe?  What do you want people to say about you at the end of your life?  Who are you?

Become the best YOU CAN BE.  Challenge yourself.  Push yourself.  Study, read, practice, train, and rehearse to better yourself.  However, at all cost, avoid sliding toward the perilous trap of comparing yourself to others.  It only leads to disappointment, frustration and most often stems from pride.  Max Ehrmen said, “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.”  There will continually be someone who runs faster, jumps higher, wins more, speaks better, has more beauty, performs at a higher standard, and receives more applause.  Even if no one else beats your record in this lifetime, someone will eventually replace you.

My son, Josiah, and I were discussing this concept several weeks ago and he shared a great insight.  “Dad, it’s like the Boston Marathon.  Over 26,000 people run with only one winner from the handful competing for first place.  The majority of the participants are striving for personal records and accomplishments.”  (Please note my son’s brilliance)

Don’t settle.  Avoid apathy at all cost.  By all means refuse to waste your life.  Likewise, reject the dangers of comparing yourself, business, or church to others.   Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have.  There is great freedom and potential in this!

Several years ago my friend Bo White informed me that the “how is always in the why”.   Recently I have spent considerable time wrestling with this idea.  It caused me to realize that most organizations and/or individuals can clearly explain WHAT they do and probably HOW they do it.  However, few can definitively define WHY they do it.  Isn’t that the most important question?

The WHAT and HOW define just that – what we do and how we do it.  Certainly understanding what and how we do something is essential (think strategy) but it is not very effective in inspiring people.  I may be able to peddle you a gym membership by selling you on what and how we run a gym.  However, the only way I will get you to the gym five times a week is by inspiring you.  The WHY inspires!

Leadership inspires.  Leadership intuitively recognizes the WHY.  Leadership explains the WHY.  Leadership rallies people to a cause not to a single event. 

People will seldom make a long-term commitment to WHAT you do or HOW you do it, but history overflows with individuals who gave everything for an inspiring WHY.  Motivating people toward the WHAT and HOW will nearly always reap short-term impact, but inspiring them toward the WHY produces loyalty and sustainability.

Here’s a challenge:  In one sentence clearly and concisely define WHY you do what you do?   

For more reading on this concept Simon Sinek has a fabulous book titled, “Start with Why”.

At New Life we have been working through a series titled, “Everyone Has a Story”.  The idea is that no matter where you go on earth, no matter what person you speak to, you will discover everyone has a story and there is much to be discovered, respected, avoided and emulated from these stories.  The truth is that each of us is a hero in a great story.  Every one of us has been created for significance!  The critical question is how is God moving us from who we were to who we were made to be?

The following is a partial list itemizing what Scripture tells us we are if we have accepted His free gift of salvation.  Note that these qualities cannot be earned.  They are solely because of the finished work of Christ.  These traits are guaranteed to you by the Word of God simply because you were born into God’s family by faith in Jesus.  The more we affirm who we are in Christ, the more we will reflect our true identity and move to become who we were made to be.

Since I AM in Christ, by the Grace of God

• I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16)
• I am a child of God (John 1:12)
• I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
• I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2)
• I am God’s work of art created to do His work (Ephesians 2:10)
• I am righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24)
• I am a citizen of heaven (Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20)
• I am chosen by God, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4)
• I am a child of light and not of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
• I am a member of a holy nation, a people for God (1 Peter 2:9,10)
• I am a recipient of His lavish grace (Ephesians 1:7)
• I have been declared righteous – completely forgiven (Romans 5:1)
• I died with Christ and died to the power of sin’s rule over my life (Romans 6:1-6)
• I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1)
• I have direct access to God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
• I have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19,20)
• Since I have died, I no longer live for myself, but for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14,15)
• I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living is Christ’s life (Galatians 2:20)
• I have direct access to God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
• I may approach God with boldness, freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

Earlier in life my idea of a road trip was to drive like a man possessed in order to arrive at the destination as quickly as possible.  I would begin the trip by evaluating the distance, our average speed, and the number of NECESSARY stops.  Assessing this information I would set a goal and do whatever was required to achieve my mission.  I became a master at turning a 1200 mile road trip to a bladder-holding, eye-sagging, competition and arriving within minutes of my objective time.  Unfortunately, as one can surmise, I missed a great deal of beauty along the way. 

I recall someone jesting that some people see more in a walk around the block than others would see in a trip around the world.  Probably true.  It was while our children were young that we began taking more breaks and enjoying the journey.  Today, I cannot begin to express the number of memories created from these “exits”.  In fact, recently our family was at a coffee shop together and I asked the question, “What have been some of your favorite memories?”  Many of the answers were results of unplanned exits.

Similarly, in life it is important to remind ourselves that it is not the destination but the journey that matters.  Presently, my wife and I often remind each other to “Take an exit”.  In other words, live in the moment!

“Are you defending or challenging the status quo?”  Most organizations, churches and individuals will claim they are challengers of the status quo.  However, facts might suggest otherwise leading to the question, “How does one know whether an organization is defending or challenging the status quo?”

A few thoughts:

• Defenders of the status quo consistently use phrases such as, “industry standard”, “normal protocol”, and “this is how we do it”
• Change is nearly always a threat for those defending the status quo
• Does your organization have a revolving door of innovators and change agents?  If yes, then it is most likely a defender, not a challenger, of the status quo.  Institutions that refuse to challenge the status quo seldom are able to retain problem solvers. 
• “Resume is KING” is the mantra lived out by defenders of the status quo
• Defenders of the status quo will seldom if ever look outside their industry for ideas.  As Claude Bernard said, “It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.” 

Recently I read a study identifying the rarity of divergent thinking among adults (Divergent thinking is defined as “Intellectual Originality”).  The findings articulate that 98% of 3-5 year olds score in the genius category regarding intellectual originality.  That number drops to 32% for 8-10 year olds, 10% for teenagers, and 2% for those over 25.  Due to their innovative thinking and problem solving abilities one can imagine the high dividends these individuals could produce.  Yet, if such a small percentage of adults retain high scores in intellectual originality why do so few organizations hold them in high regard?  Why do these entrepreneur minded individuals most often become disengaged and flee?  Why have few institutions discovered how to adequately recruit and retain these divergent thinkers?

Perhaps, regardless of what claims are made, it is because too many spend more time defending the status quo than challenging it.

Yesterday a friend sent me an article titled “The Jeremy Lin Problem”.  Its main premise is that “the moral ethos of sports is in tension with the moral ethos of faith, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim.”  I found it ridiculous and spent much of the night tossing and turning as I planned a response.  In the end, I must thank the author.  While I disagree with his conclusions it caused my discombobulated thought process to eventually be reminded of the tension and power of the Gospel – the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done.

God is not a Rubik’s cube that can be solved with some user’s manual.  One cannot go to seminary and walk away with an instruction kit explaining God.  He is beyond comprehension.  In our wildest imaginations we cannot grasp the enormity of who He is.  In all our feeble attempts there are no adequate explanations of the depth of His love, mercy, grace, justice or holiness.  The moment we believe we have Him figured out He again surprises us.  His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.

One of my daughter’s friends once asserted that it was frustrating not being able to fully explain and grasp God.  I get that.  However, who wants a God so puny that a bit of practice and instruction could solve him like some multi-colored puzzle with a few moving pieces.  That is a superhero not a god.  Certainly not THE GOD!

This week, as I participated in our church’s 24/7 prayer event, I was left undone.  At one point, I had the prayer room to myself.  Spending time singing (as I said – I was alone), making audacious requests, remembering his sacrifice through communion, agreeing with my mistakes, and handing over my worries was powerful.  However, it was when I made my way to an old wooden cross and sat, eyes closed and in silence that God once again rocked my world.  I wanted to hear from Him so I refused to speak.  After some time I saw Him (not in some kind of vision but simply in my mind).  Jesus stood before me with his arms extended and hands on my shoulders.  Smiling with both his mouth and eyes he looked at me, into my soul really, and said, “I am proud of you my son.” 

That messed me up.  No one has seen me more naked than Him – I speak not of clothing.  Every blemish I have is laid bare before Him.  He knows my struggle with bitterness – my selfishness, arrogance, and pride.  He has seen the many images of lust I have conjured up.  My anger and hatred are not hidden from Him.  All my wrong motives have not gone unnoticed.  Every mask I ever put on has not obscured my reality from Him.  No one, not even I, knows the depth of my depravity like Him and yet I see Him smile at me and say, “I am proud of you my son.”  Not because of my performance, but because of the incomprehensible depth of His love, grace and mercy. 

The Gospel will mess with you.  It will love us where we are at, but will refuse to leave us there.  It will leave us relieved, confused, and confounded.  While one cannot fully grasp nor explain God, we can rest in His unending grace.  I cannot explain how the one who has seen all my “nakedness” can love me so deeply and be proud of me.  God is inexplicable, but one thing I KNOW – I will keep running to that cistern of grace, the oasis of mercy, and drink, and drink, and drink…

One of my co-workers, Claudio, recently observed that “The Devil plays in the how”.  In other words, we resist doing the “what” because we cannot answer the “how”.  I have often wondered why so many organizations call themselves “faith-based” when they NEVER make any decisions based on faith. 

Is it any different for us as individuals?  When is the last time you prayed a prayer so wild and outrageous it was almost embarrassing?  When is the last time you jumped without knowing what was down there?  When is the last time you had a dream that was so big it scared you?  When is the last time you lived your life in such a way that it makes no sense outside of God’s existence?

John Emmons said, “Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.”

Once you understand “what” God is calling you toward ignore the critics, chatter and skepticism about the “how”.  Sure, you will one day need to answer the “how”, but recognize that often God calls us to the “what” before giving us the “how”.  It tests our faith.  It asks whether we believe in a BIG God.  Remember, quite often, the Devil’s playground is the how.

This past week someone at our church shared a great quote – “No matter how slow you are going, you are still lapping everyone on the couch.”  It is a valuable reminder that, most often, action trumps everything. 

Several years ago I wrote about a man who passed me with a t-shirt reading, “think twice; act once”.  My initial thought was the depth of this principle, but upon further reflection I had to laugh.  Anyone who knows me well understands I often do the opposite – “think once; act twice…or maybe three or four times.”  While I love the principle of thinking twice and acting once I also recognize that too often people “think twice; and never act”.  Instead they continue to think, and think, and think. They attempt to contemplate everything that may go wrong, to have every outcome lined out, and have an answer to every question.  The truth is that eventually the Wright brothers had to climb in the plane and attempt to fly.

The great Winston Churchill once declared, “I never worry about action, but only inaction.” In the end, it doesn’t matter how slowly or quickly you are moving, but that you are moving.  Keep writing, speaking, sharing, hosting, listening, loving…

My good friend, Jessica Blanco, often reminds me, “It doesn’t matter what the vision is; it matters what the vision does.” 

The danger is spending so much time attempting to perfect the vision, our product, our plans, or our systems and processes that we never actually do anything of value.  Imagine someone making a New Year’s Resolution to get in better shape.  They spend weeks creating a personal vision and mission statement, developing a strategic plan, artistically displaying their blueprint to get to the gym, and spending money on memberships, healthy food, a trainer, and attractive gym wear.  All of this effort is a waste if it does not produce activity.  The vision is meaningless if three months later you are in no better shape than when you began. 

Action trumps everything.

Make sure the vision is actually doing something and recognize that the journey is the whole point!  Remember, “It doesn’t matter what the vision is; it matters what the vision DOES.”