I just could not shake the thought of truly, literally, living just like Jesus. 1John 2: 6 says that “whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus walked.” I began to ask myself what living like Jesus would look like in my life and in my context. I was transfixed. I knew I needed to do something. I desperately wanted to throw myself headlong into walking just as Jesus walked.

“Could I do that? Could I live like Jesus for a year?” Based on Ed’s account probably not. At least not to the extent that he did. Usually, that would have been the end of my wondering. Then I asked myself one more question: “Could I live like Jesus for a month?”

I don’t know… but we are going to find out.

Tomorrow, I will turn 30 years old.  According to the Gospels, Jesus began his ministry at the age of thirty. I have a tattoo on my wrist that says “disciple” and I struggle everyday to discern what being a disciple of Jesus means and looks like lived out to the fullest. In April, I want to get a firm grasp on what it means to literally walk as  Jesus walked.

The idea will be to live SIMPLY this month: SIMPLY live like Jesus. I already know that there will be some severe limitations but I’ll use Ed Dobson’s 3 rules as a basis for my Jesus month. Basically my goals will be “To live more ‘Jewishly,’ to read through all four Gospels every week and to obey the commands of Jesus.” As the month goes on I will be posting some of my thoughts and experiences but I will not post everyday.

This journey will be made up of external changes and internal changes. Tomorrow, I’ll post a bit about some of the visible, external changes I will be making in my routine, dress, and diet.

I ask that you pray for me as I embark on the fantastic journey. I have already been impacted greatly as I have prepared for this over the last two weeks and I have seen plainly that this call to walk as Jesus walked was laid on my heart and not just some harebrained experiment I cooked up.

I look forward to sharing what I learn and what I experience over the course of this month. If you have any suggestions or thoughts on how I can live more like Jesus this month leave a comment on this post.

Today is the last day of my Twenties. Tomorrow brings a whole new decade and a whole new, radically different way to live. Until then- Shalom!

There are not a lot of things that come naturally to me. I’m not the smartest- I had to work for every B & C I got. I’m not the most athletic- just because I’m shaped like a ball doesn’t mean I can hit one. I’m not the most talented either.

But being a dad fits me like a glove right now. I never thought that I would love this kid as much as I do.

I find myself hovering over his bed almost every night while he sleeps. I think I’ve woken him up a few times. I pray that God will make him a better man than me, that Jesus will save him, and that the Spirit will guide him in everything he does.

I love this kid and I thank God for the gift of being his dad.

The techniques in the book helped me greatly as a campus security guard but when it came to people criticizing my ministry or my character the lessons I learned went out the window.

In my first job as Campus Minister, I seemed to receive criticism daily for the way I was handling chapel services. Some were angry because I used movie clips during my teaching. Some didn’t like that students sometimes clapped during the singing. One critic took offense that I called Joseph, Joe. To some I was irreverent and to some I was heretical. There was a group of critics, that regardless of what I did or didn’t do, where bound and determined to crush me.

I’d love to tell you I handled everything perfectly but I didn’t. One morning it all came to a head with one of my fiercest and most unrelenting critics but in this moment I learned a valuable lesson in dealing with critics.

I was assigned a morning duty with this particular critic. That meant that for 30 minutes everyday (at the start of each day) I would have to sit and listen to every conceivable complaint about my job performance and my ministry. One morning I had reached a boiling point. This man had been going on and on about how “watered down” my teaching was and about how I was merely “entertaining” students in chapel services.

I slammed my hands down on the table, bluntly told him I could no longer work with him, and then marched straight into the superintendent’s office to demand to be reassigned to some other morning duty. After pouring my heart out (read: whining and crying) the superintendent told me to go back out, apologize, and then invite the critic to speak in chapel.

To say I was livid would be the understatement of the year. I respected the superintendent so I said “Yes sir” with my lips but my heart was saying “NO WAY!!!” To be completely honest I was angry at this instruction. I didn’t want to follow through on this advice because I thought it was ridiculous. However, I did what I was told. I went back to my station, apologized for my words and behavior, and then (gulp) I asked him to speak in chapel the following week.

“Um, well, uh, well I, uh, will have to look, um, at my schedule,” he stammered. He got visually uncomfortable. He shifted. He hemmed and hawed. He backed down.

I had called his bluff.

I couldn’t believe it! His attitude and demeanor completely changed. He was quick to criticize and stonewall and say that “something must be done to save the children from heresy” but was COMPLETELY unwilling to speak in chapel. Over the course of the year I asked him 2 more times to speak in chapel. He refused both times. He also never criticized me again. Not once.

My Aha! Moment came when I realized:

1. I needed to have a coachable heart. I was angry at the superintendent. I didn’t want to do the hard work of apologizing and swallowing my pride.  Yet, when I obeyed the instructions from an older and wiser man- a man that knew loved me and only wanted the best for me- I learned something valuable. I learned that God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. We are faithful when we do the right thing and approach any and every critic with humility.
2. I needed to weigh my critics. Someone once said that you should weigh your critics not count them. I learned that lesson that day in spades. Criticism is not a bad thing. In fact I learn more from my critics than I do my encouragers. A critics weight comes from their love and concern for you. If they don’t care about your development as a person than they are just a jerk. My critic was a jerk. Not once did he show me any genuine concern. He just wanted to dump on me. The superintendent did care about my development. He straight up told me my mistakes and then challenged me to make it right. Both criticized me. One loved me.
3. Doing the right thing… eventually becomes easy. I wish I had responded to that critic from day one with openness and an inviting nature. Instead, I took everything negative and internalized it. It took everything personally. After seeing how my critic reacted to my invitation I began using that technique with every critic I could. I took their raw emotions and used that momentum to propel conversations and issues to a place where we could rationally talk. Doing this once impossible task became second nature.

In 1 Tim 5:1-2, Paul instructs Timothy on dealing with older and young generations. Paul says, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your Father. Treat younger men as bothers…”

When we get fed up with criticism, especially harsh and unfair treatment from older people, our first reaction is to lash back at them. Paul says to talk with them as if they were your father. They may fail to treat you as a brother (fail to view you as equal) but their attitude isn’t your responsibility. You are responsible for YOUR attitude and reaction. I am responsible for MY attitude and reaction.

I no longer try to fight against criticism. I use it’s momentum to turn a negative into a positive. When I can do that, everyone wins.

Leadership Network’s next FREE web seminar is on May 19, 2010. Sage will follow the same format with the themelooking like it will focus on older and wiser leaders teaching and advising younger leaders. Should be a great event. I am very much looking forward to it!

Enjoy these Aha! Moments from yesterday’s conference:

• “Most ministers burn out in ministry because they started out walking WITH Jesus and ended up working FOR Jesus.” – Pete Briscoe (I tweeted this quote yesterday and it was ReTweeted close to 10 times by others. Apparently this struck a nerve with a handful of people.)
• “Are you secure enough to lead from your own skin?” Looking at 1Samuel 17:38- David refused Saul’s armor. “We are trying to fight the battle of ministry wearing other people’s armor (their style, personality, talents)” -Shawn Lovejoy
• My Aha! moment was proceeded my an Ouch! moment when I heard God say “Why don’t you do (mission work) here? What about your neighbor. “Who are people in your natural path that you can bless today?” -Shelly Juskiewicz
• Shelly also mentioned that Craigslist has a NEEDS section for locals in your community. What if the church began reading these NEEDS postings to reach out and serve people in the community?
• How to motivate people- Lowest level: guilt/shame -> duty/responsibility. Moving up to vision/opportunity then to love & privilege. “What is celebrated gets repeated!” -Scott Ridout

Jon Ferguson’s 6 Coaching Questions:

1. How are you? – relationship
2. What are you celebrating? Where are you winning?
3. What challenges are you experiencing?
4. What do you plan to do to solve these challenges?
5. How can I help you?
6. How can I pray for you?

• “How can a small church in the middle of nowhere do this? Jesus.” -Chad Hunt
• “My AHA! moment happened when I realized I could be (myself).” Two reasons why I shouldn’t compare myself to anyone else: 1) I will find someone who is better than me and I will be discouraged. 2) I will always find someone who is not doing as well as me and I will become prideful.- Ben Daily
• Jorge Molina’s entire talk entitled “You Are NOT Good Enough” was simply incredible. Jorge came across with humility and grace and I am better for having listened to his talk. I should post his entire teaching notes. I’ll do that this weekend.
• “What is one area of ministry that with better execution could become a signature in your ministry?” – Glen Brechner
• “If someone had come to me personally and asked me specifically- I think I would have responded personally.“ – Greg Lee (I have had this convo off and on with a friend of mine recently.)

“Parenting is a Verb.”

He’s right. If I want to be the best dad I can be I have to be INTENTIONAL about it. Parenting doesn’t happen through osmosis.

As a dad, one of the things I want to do is create lasting spiritual memories for my family. The best time of the year to create these memories might just be the Christmas season. Over at The Resurgence Blog, Mark Driscoll offered dads a 16 point Christmas blueprint for making lasting memories this season. These challenges will help dads step outside of the poor expectations that this culture has for us. If you want to grow your family closer to your Heavenly Father and to one another, try a few of these tips.

My son will be a little over 7 months old this Christmas. I am challenging myself to modify a few of these suggestions this year for my little family. I have the holiday music on the iPod and I have a few thoughts about Christmas eve and morning but I’m going to hold off on the cider for my little one this year. What about you? What are you doing this year to create spiritual memories for your family?

16 Daddy Christmas Tips by Mark Driscoll

Dad needs…
1) a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
2) to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family.
3) to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready for December?
4) to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?
5) to give experiences and not just gifts. Dad, what special memories can you make this holiday season?
6) to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?
7) to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt and bless?
to schedule a big Christmas daddy date with his daughter. Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy daddy date?
9) to schedule guy time with his son. Dad, what are you and your son going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?
10) to help Mom get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?
11) to ensure some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, and can you smell cookies and cider in your house?
12) to snuggle up and watch some fun shows with the kids, especially the little ones. Dad, is the DVR set?
13) to take the family on a drive to see Christmas lights while listening to music and sipping cider. Dad, is it mapped out?
14) to help Mom get the kids’ rooms decorated. Dad, do the little kids get lights or a small tree in their room?
15) to read about Jesus and pray over his kids. Dad, how’s your pastoral work going with each of your kids?
16) to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?

Link

For the first time EVER I taught the Bible classes for our preschool.

I have been privileged to teach and speak in front of hundreds of people. I’ve spoken in chapels and for youth events. I love to preach when given the opportunity and relish the chance to share with others what God has put on my heart. None of this mattered today.

I have never felt so inadequate or intimidated in all my life!

I tried to play it cool all morning but I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed. When that first class of fifteen or so 4yr olds came into the classroom my palms began to sweat. I knew i was in over my head.

There they were looking at me- staring deep into my soul- waiting for me to teach. Could they smell fear? Could they suspect that I was afraid?

Then we sang “Jesus Loves Me”. Then we sang “This Little Light of Mine”. Then we marched in “The Lord’s Army”. “Ok, this is good.” I thought.

We talked about Jesus (a good place to start) and about the Bible. We sang some more. We talked about “Good Decisions” vs ‘Bad Decisions” and we finished with a prayer.

Next thing I knew I had been through 5 or 6 classes and my day was over.

Teaching today I couldn’t help but think about teaching my own son. As I think about spiritual development and what it means to teach the next generation about faith in Jesus I always come back to Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

I had to redefine my expectations as a Bible teacher today. I was out of my element. I’m not sure how to teach little ones like I teach teens. I don’t know how to target their developmental needs.

But I was successful today in teaching.

I spent time with these children impressing a love for God and an understanding of Jesus on their hearts. I prayed over them and sang songs with them. Together we talked about loving God with their whole beings. We did this while some of them sat on the floor. While some were laying down. While others were walking along the side of the classroom. Kidding… sort of.

Today was a good day.

On Monday’s episode the guys brought out their Murtaugh list- the list of things that they are now too old to ever do again. The idea for the list came from Danny Glover’s Det. Sgt. Roger Murtaugh from the Lethal Weapon series. In the films Murtaugh is always about one week from retirement when some crazy terrorist group of money-launders or dirty South African diplomats crop up to threaten his well-deserved R&R. His famous catchphrase was “I’m too old for this stuff!” (this is a PG site)

On How I Met Your Mother things like crashing on a friend’s futon, dying your hair a crazy color, and pulling an all nighter were all on the Murtaugh list. The episode was really funny and, of course, it got me thinking.

Today is my 29th birthday so I asked Sandy to help me come up with my own version of the Murtaugh list. I asked her what are some things that I am too old to do anymore. I sometimes still pull an all nighter- my recover time is a bit longer though. I still like going to concerts during the week nights- again recovery time is more of an issue. I still eat crazy mexican food without the help of Tums or Prilosec.

In some ways I’m still as young as I ever was. However, the bell tolls for everyone so I wanted Sandy to help me start a list before my memory starts to fade (joking!).

Here is what we came up with:
“I’m too old for this stuff.”

I’m too old… to forget which days the trash is picked up. (acc. to Sandy)
I’m too old… to drop clothes next to the hamper. (acc. to Sandy)
I’m too old… to keep sneaking “Black iTunes Cards” ($50, $100) into the shopping cart in the hopes that Sandy won’t notice. (acc. to Sandy)
I’m too old… Windows down. Sunroof open. Stereo blasting… In a school zone.
I’m too old… to shop at American Eagle.
I’m too old… for lava lamps.
I’m too old… to decorate our bedroom exclusively with Christmas lights.
I’m too old… to play crab soccer.
I’m too old… to forget toothpaste on a trip. (I never forget my toothbrush. Just the paste)
I’m too old… to “get” the Jonas Brothers.
I’m too old… to teach other drivers a “lesson” with my horn or deceleration.
I’m too old… for flip-flops.
I’m too old… to get anything pierced.
I’m too old… for the front tuck.
I’m too old… to take quizzes on Facebook.
I’m too old… to eat mexican food everyday for a week. (I’m pushing 3 days already)

Seriously though… I’m almost thirty. Most people go through life never out growing the really negative and immature things in life. As I get older I try (try, try, try) to get wiser and better with age. I haven’t learned much it seems at times but I have hung onto a few truths recently…

I’m too old… to hang onto grudges.
I’m too old… to argue with you.
I’m too old… for winning points.
I’m too old… to care whether they like me or not.
I’m too old… to care about getting the credit or the glory.
I’m too old… to keep up with the Jones… of anyone else for that matter.
I’m too old… to blame others for my shortcomings.
I’m too old… to waste time.
I’m too old… to wait for someone else to clean it up.
I’m too old… to avoid responsibility.
I’m too old… to remember how they slighted me.
I’m too old… to let others get me off my game by snide comments.
I’m too old… to waste any time fretting over past mistakes.
I’m too old… to give up on the future.

What are you too old for?

Here’s to getting old everyone! Have a great day and may your Muratugh lists- the funny ones and the real ones- be short lists!