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I came across an excellent site that is the companion to a book titled, “Second Chair Leaders.” It talks about the challenges we face when we are responsible for leading in an organization, yet not the top leader on the team.

There is a sample article on the site that outlines three paradoxes these “Second Chair Leaders” face:

1. Subordinate-Leader: How do you follow and lead at the same time?

2. Deep-Wide: How do you develop deep expertise in the scope of your project, but maintain a wide “big-picture” view of the organizational goals?

3. Contentment-Dreaming: How do you simultaneously live in contentment with the current direction of the organization and contribute new ideas and dreams to stimulate future growth?

I’m wrestling with these ideas myself and grateful for someone who has articulated these challenges so well. The article on the site is great, but I’m looking at ordering the book once I complete a few on my night stand…

Yesterday I gave my first sermon in 9 years. It was quite daunting for me, but somehow I survived. I think I spent about 30 hours prepping for it, and it took 37 minutes to deliver. Amazingly, I only saw three people nodding off, which as my friend Jason says, “If anyone was awake that’s probably a good thing.” Such love.

There is a recording of the message, and there’s even a handout that goes with it to make it seem more “official.”

I was brave enough to listen to it yesterday. I was shocked to hear that my voice is way higher than I thought… And I sounded much more calm than I felt. I felt like I was quivering almost the entire time - I was fidgetting with my tie, putting my hands in my pockets, and frozen at the pulpit — I couldn’t move at all. But somehow I guess I kept my nervousness to myself.

I had to learn a lot about the topic I spoke on (Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts), so the deadline of giving a sermon really forced me to study and understand the subject well. All it all I think it was a great experience, but I realize how hard it must be to do week in and week out.

I just completed reading Bruce L. Bugbee’s book What You Do Best in the Body of Christ : Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, Personal Style, and God-Given Passion, and hope to teach some of the material from it in our next adult class starting in July. The book talks about how we’ve each been uniquely created to function in a way that completes the larger picture of what the church is supposed to look like.

The author encourages readers to imagine what a church would look like if it was taught be people God supernaturally gifted to teach, lead by people God gifted to be leaders, comforted by people God gifted with mercy, and reaching out to the world through people God gifted to share His message authentically and effectively. In other words, if the church actually lived up to its hype, who could resist that kind of love, that kind of mercy, that kind of larger purpose?

I want to be a part of a church that lives up to its hype; a church that actually models the love, compassion, mercy, and grace it so often preaches; a church that accepts people like Jesus accepts them. I think I’ve found a church that is on that track, but I think we can still do better… Hopefully this new series will spur us further toward living out the model Jesus gave us.

I was asked recently what I think of singing hymns as a part of a church worship service. To give you some history, as with most churches, there has been a tension between praise choruses and hymns within our church. I think everyone means well, and just wants to worship God in the way they are most comfortable — well, okay not everyone means well, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. I’m returning to this church after six years away, and have seen a healthy blend has been accomplished. I’m sure both sides of the debate still want more of their favorites included, but I think there is a good balance.

My answer to the question was that I love them - when they are done simply, and done well. When they are done poorly, they sound “old” and are too monotonous. But when led simply, with just a few instruments and a good worship leader, I love the depth and passion that is contained within them.

Hymns add a rich texture to a church worship service that can often draw me into worship more than a praise chorus. The knowledge that I’m singing a song that has been sung for 200 or more years can be an amazing experience - and demonstrates to me the transcendent “otherness” of God. He is worshiped across generations, and across continents, but sometimes with the same songs!

As I was thinking on this subject, I thought I’d try to write down a few of my favorite hymns. As I started writing, I was amazed at how many I truly cherish. Here’s the list I’ve come up with so far.

What are your favorites?

Crown Him with Many Crowns
I Will Sing of My Redeemer
Come Thou Fount
Be Thou My Vision
God, All Nature Sings Your Glory
How Firm a Foundation
How Great Thou Art
Complete In Thee
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Blessed Assurance
Amazing Grace
Great is Thy Faithfulness
A Might Fortress Is Our God
Holy, Holy, Holy
Ancient of Days
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty
Here Is Love
All Creatures of Our God and King
Fairest Lord Jesus
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

I heard it once said that we spend more time in the valleys of life than on the mountain tops. I’m not in a valley today, but I’m not on a mountain top either. For me I find I’m generally somewhere in the middle. Not too high, and not too low.

I’ve been encouraged in some areas lately, especially in the responses I’ve heard to some of the lessons I’ve been teaching at church. I think much of the praise is really due the author of the text I’m teaching from, but it is exciting to see people beginning to grasp the concepts and apply it to their lives.

In other aspects, I’ve been challenged to remain positive and patient when everything in me wants to either sprint or quit… not to persist along at this pace that sometimes seems to crawl. I realize that some projects take time, whether building a business or building a ministry - my role today is to be faithful in the little steps I control, and allow God to be God - allow him to control what I cannot. Letting go seems to me the hardest part.

I came across a song today that was a favorite of my buddy Chris in Santa Barbara - The Valley Song by Jars of Clay. It isn’t like me to do this, but I have been letting it loop over and over on my stereo, amazed at how it lifts my spirits, and encourages me. The song talks about how God carries us through seasons of hard times in life, but then lifts us to seasons of great joy.

Today in church we prayed for a family that has been in the middle of one of these seasons of hard times for the better part of the past two years. I know I have not experienced a rough patch of life on the scale they are facing, so it is hard to relate to the struggles they face.

However, I am incredibly impressed at their joy in small parts of their faith - the smile that spreads on their faces when they are in church - the delight they overflow with when our small group meets in their home each week.

When I see their joy, it makes me realize that even when the endeavors I pursue do not yield the results I dream of in the timing I’ve defined, I can rest knowing that God will carry me where He wants me to go. And I’ll be content when I arrive - even if the destination is not what I had fashioned in my heart.

If rivers of joy are what await me, I’ll gladly pay the price of entry - even if it means letting go of the control I so innately crave.

The lyrics are as follows:

The Valley Song
Jars of Clay

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I’m crying out to you

Chorus
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren’t listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

I was hoping to play tennis tomorrow, but with today’s rains, it really looks like it will be too wet to play.

Sigh.

The upside is I’ll have more time to develop my lesson for Sunday. I’m beginning a series on discovering your spiritual tempermant based on Gary Thomas’ book Sacred Pathways. I’m quite excited to see how the series turns out, and hope it is well received.

JP

Just finished a great book, Irresistible Evangelism by Steve Sjogren, Dave Ping, and Doug Pollock. It challenges Christians to stop being so self-righteous, and to start being real with other people.

The lesson I walked away with was that I need to be a true friend, and let my friends see how God has change me… not force my faith on them and demand that they acknowledge my beliefs before I’ll be their friend. It was truly an excellent book, and I’d highly recommend it.

Check out http://www.loveyourcity.com for some practical ideas for how to reach out to those in your community in practical, real ways that show God’s love without forcing religion onto people.

Our church is having its annual Christmas Party tonight! There’s always tons of food, Christmas music, and lots of great people milling about, but this year I expect it will be especially nice.

We’ve just recently moved back into the area, so now we know a lot more people that will be attending. Also, the party is at my parents’ house this year. We’ve spent the past few days helping them here and there to get the house ready — quite a chore I must say. It has been great to be around to help out, and I think my folks have really appreciated the extra help.

One of the highlights of the event is the annual Ornament Exchange. Each year we play a game where everyone brings a wrapped ornament to share. The ornaments go into a pile, and everyone takes turns opening an ornament — or, if they feel brave, stealing an ornament from someone who has already opened one. The dynamics of a bunch of church-goers stealing from each other brings out some hilarious stuff. Some are too timid to take something from someone else, and others… well, they could stand to be a little more timid.

It’s all in good fun, and at the end of the evening, just about everyone ends up having a great time.

Except for the one who chooses THE Special Ornament.

The Special Ornament a modified chandelier with multi-colored Christmas lights instead of bulbs —- and is disguised each year in different ways. Someone gets stuck with it and has to bring it back next year for revenge. I’ll try to take a picture and let you see how hideous this thing really is.