Why we do...

I've recently been working on a presentation for work to motivate our associates to excellent customer service and devotion. Our customers are the only reason that we get to do what we get to do at ProviNET, and it's important that we keep that at the forefront of our minds.

I ran across an excellent video by Simon Sinek about focusing on mission and the "why we do what we do" and not on the what we do, or the how we do. Companies that focus what they do or how they do it don't end up being successful. Companies who have a laser focus on why they do what they do have great success.

This idea is really driven by the way that our brain works. There is a neo-cortex of our brain that is really like the outer matter of our brain. This section controls "higher functions" like sensory perception, motor commands, spatial reasoning and conscious thought. It is also the layer of the brain that controls all language and spoken word.
The Limbic layer is the next layer, and this system really controls emotion, behavior, motivation and long-term memory. This Limbic layer is where we develop things like manners and trust.
The central layer of the brain is the Reptillian core. This core of the brain is really only responsible for one thing, and that is Desire. Desire is born in the core of our brain, and it controls our actions through the lens of manners and trust.

God designed our brains in such a complex manner that it's impossible to understand everything our brain does, but it incredible to look at the brain like a target and say that at the core of everything we do lies our true desire. Whatever our heart and our conscience are telling us, that lies at the core of our brain.

This helps us to understand our actions and our motivations a little bit more. If we are motivated by something sinful or of this world, we tend to view that through dark lenses and act out those desires in a sinful way. If we have our hearts desiring God, then those lenses that we look, hear, think, speak and act through are corrected and we outwardly express our true desires. Why (motivation) drives how (lenses) we do what (outward expressions) we do.

This all came together for me at Church this morning as I was listening to Pastor Steve talk about authentic Christians. One way we are transformed into an authentic Christian is by no longer desiring things of the world, but desiring God. It's what our hearts and our brains were made to do, but have been corrupted by deceitful messages that our world presents to us.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV).

God - align the motivations of my heart and my mind to point to one thing and one thing only. It's all about Jesus, and that is all that I want my motivation to be Lord. With the help of your Holy Spirit, I ask that you fulfill this desire within me. Amen.

90 Minutes in Heaven

I had the opportunity to go hear Don Piper speak this weekend at Parkview Church about his death experience and the 90 minutes that he spent in heaven. I recall pastor Tim saying that Don was going to be coming to Parkview - but I had forgotten about it until this weekend.

Jen and I have been going to the Saturday evening service (5:45) in an effort to make some more room for the 11:00'ers on Sunday morning, and this past Saturday was no different. I couldn't believe how packed out the 5:45 was this weekend. There were people standing in the back, and apparently there were people underneath us and out in the coffee area too watching on TV's. There had to have been close to 2000 people there for the 5:45 service.

I was psyched up for Don and I was really looking forward to him telling us what his experience was in Heaven. All through worship, I was really geared up to hear our guest speaker.

I was initially turned off by Don Piper after about the first 10 minutes. He seemed like quite the huckster to me - pushing is 3-4 books which were conveniently for sale with a complimentary autograph out in the lobby. I thought "Shoot! Just another huckster trying to make a buck off a heavenly experience." I was also really turned off by the "We're taking reservations for Heaven tonight...who wants to go message."

Don's story finally began, and it was intriguing to listen to him. I was glued to the edge of my seat as he began talking about the people and sights that he experienced while he was in Heaven.

Truth is, I'm still not sure I believe that Don spent 90 minutes in Heaven or not. I'm certainly not discounting the fact that Don was pronounced dead by 4 separate medical personell or that he was dead for 90 minutes. I'm not sure if Don spent those 90 minutes in heaven....not that he couldn't have. I'm not judging whether or not Don deserves to go to heaven...he seems like a good enough guy who believes. Its not up to me to decide.

I struggle with Don's story for two reasons though...

1. Why did Don fail to mention that there was no judgement? To me the bible seems pretty clear about there being a book of life - and having to give an account for your actions and sins on earth. How come Don just showed up at the "pearly gates" and walked right through?

2. Why would God choose to have a person come to heaven for 90 minutes only to leave again. I really can't wrap my brain around this one...and I'm sure Don can't either. Would the God of the universe really reveal his biggest secret to one man for 90 minutes just so that he could come back and tell us about it? If so...Awesome! I can't wait to go to the place that Don described.

I really hope that Don is more than just another huckster trying to make a buck. I think a lot of people who maybe doubted heaven started to believe after hearing his Story this weekend, and I want to make sure they have the whole picture. Don's story, while invigorating, is missing a lot of spiritual truth for me to believe Don wholeheartedly.

Negative News...

I don't know if anyone has seen or heard the news recently - but things aren't so positive lately. The stock market fell below 8000 points yesterday, the auto industry is facing bankruptcy, retail stores are already starting to complain about how slow the holiday season is going to be, and market analysts are saying that millions of people will be laid off of work starting the first of the year. Throw in the "regular" news about traffic accidents, rapes, and homicides and the news is practically a sure setup for depression. In fact, I think that if people actually started getting depressed because of the news, the news would cover that story.

The kicker for me this year is the news about the finances - especially in the midst of the upcoming christmas season. Why is so much emphasis being placed on the financial crisis of this nation at a time when we are supposed to be remembering the greatest gift that we have ever recieved? Why is the news so blatently negative a mere week before thanksgiving?...a time when we are supposed to be giving thanks for all that we have and praise and honor to the Lord.

Why is there constant grumbling among everyone? Have we really turned money and finances into our god in this nation? I fear that we have.

The Lord's first commandment to the people of Israel, and perhaps the greatest commandment in the bible - "You shall have NO other gods before Me."

Maybe its just me - but having NO other gods before God means that God makes the top story on the news each night. Why not put a positive and encouraging news story first on the news? Does anyone realize that the two of the Huisman candidates for 2008 are solid Christian athletes? Or what about the positive story of a church in Ohio that has completely stocked the local food bank in thier local town for the remainder of the year?

Lord,
Help us to keep YOU as our top priority in life. Its so easy for us to get caught up in the daily symantecs of life - and often place things like our finances or our busy schedule ahead of You. We love You Jesus, and we apologize if our sinful nature gets in the way of that Love sometimes. In this Holiday season filled with busy schedules and gift giving, we ask that You remind us daily to keep You as the center of our life. Adjust our attitudes to one of thankfulness and praise to You Lord.
Amen

Grace & Peace
-J

Trust...

Well America, we have a new president for the next 4 years. There are a lot of people out there who are very excited about this - and I can totally see why. Senator Obama has got some wonderful plans for restoring strength in America's economy, and caring for the citizens.

I, however am not very excited...I am skeptical. I don't feel like Barack Obama has proved to me or the rest of America that he is in touch with Jesus Christ, and I am not sure if he is ready to lead this nation according to the will of Jesus Christ. Are we seriously ready to be led by a man who may be Muslim? Or Athiest?

We've asked God out of our schools already, and there are many who say that God shouldn't be in the constitution, or on our currency. It seems to me that if we ask HIM to leave us, that he will.

I am trying to look at this situation like one of the Israelites being led out of Egypt under Moses. Can you imagine being asked to leave the comfortable life that you've been used to for so long - and journey through the desert to a promised land? Even though times were rough and you were a slave - being asked to wander in the desert for 40 years would not come as something that I would easily accept.
Still, those people had trust - trust that Moses was going to lead them through the thick and the thin, and trust that God had a plan for HIS people and that he would not harm them.

I am trusting that God has a plan for the United States - and that Barack Obama is part of God's plan. I am praying that God has not left this great nation already, but that he is working in mysterious ways to execute his master plan.

Lord,
You're so Faithful to us - over and over again, when we doubt you, you still come through for us. Thank you for your faithfulness, and for your Love.
Lord, despite our unfaithfulness to you, please choose to not leave the Country of the United States of America. Please continue to dwell in the hearts of those that dwell in this great land.
We love You Lord, and we ask that You continue to execute your master plan for the Unites States and its citizens.

Amen.

Significance...

Do you feel like your life has significance? Do you feel like what you do every day, your interactions with people, and your contributions carry some significance?

I was challenged by this question tonight at BSF.

What is significance? Is significance climbing the corporate ladder at work? Is it in the car that you drive, or the house that you live in? Is it in the friends and family that you hang out with? Is it in social functions that you attend? Is it in the size of your bank account or investment portfolio? Maybe significance is found in setting some professional sports record? Or could it be in passing on a legacy of honoring Christ and service to others to friends and family?

There is an elderly woman who goes to our church that I know of - she's maybe 85 or 90 years old, and she is in Church every Sunday. But you know what the amazing thing is? Her kids are in church with her every Sunday, and her grand kids are in Church with her every Sunday, and she just had a great grand child - and he is also in Church with them every Sunday. THAT is a legacy to leave behind.

In Exodus 1, we learn about 2 midwives who disobeyed the order of King Pharaoh to kill all first born Israelite males because they FEARED God. The leader of the free world ordered these women to kill the firstborn male from any Israelite, and because these 2 women feared God, they didn't do it. And you know what? The Lord blessed them - by giving them families of their own, and putting their names in the bible. That's pretty cool - these two women just obeyed God one time and they got a shout out in the Bible. THAT is a legacy to leave behind.

For me, my life is significant when I can positively impact those around me for the building of Christ's kingdom.

Listening...

You ever get that feeling like God is trying to tell you something? Somehow through all your conversations and interactions you are being sent a message? You feel like God is tapping you on the shoulder and saying "you seem to have gotten a little off track with my plan - if you could follow me, that would be great."

Ever feel like God's path doesn't quite align with your desires?

I picture a very friendly looking park ranger who ever so gently points you in the right direction when you get too far off the beaten path, and too close to danger. You know - like you're hiking in some remote location and you decide to wander on a little side excursion - but you get just a little too close to the bear mating area and so the park ranger kindly reminds you that you need to return to a more tourist friendly area.
But pretend with me for a second that you are a bear photographer, and you want to get closer to the mating bears. Only you don't realize that the park ranger has webcams all throughout the park and can see your every move. You start heading toward the bears to capture some pictures for national geographic - even though the park ranger told you not to.

Is it right for that park ranger to pull out his revolver and threaten you to return back to the path or face arrest, or should he let you go take pictures of the bears and get maulled?

Fortunately God doesn't carry a revolver right?

All silly anecdotes aside, sometimes it hurts when God re-aligns us with his plan. Sometimes our own agenda's don't get played out the way we thought in our heads. Its hard to trust that God's plan is ultimately best for us - especially when life doesn't really seem that bad. Truth is - God's got the 40,000 foot view of our lives and we don't. We may be able to accurately forecast our lives a day or two, or maybe if we're really good, a month in advance - but there is no way that we know what is going to happen years down the road like God does.

My prayer for when I feel like I am being re-aligned...

Lord, help me to realize your plan for my life. Show me very clear signs for the direction that you want me to go - and help me to realize whether those signs are from you or not. Forgive me for straying off your path for my life, and excuse my stubbornness when it comes time to get back on your path. Hold my hand, and walk with me Lord.

Here we go...

So tonight kicks off a second year of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for me. I am truly looking forward to it. This summer has been remarkable to say the least for me, but I am very glad to be getting into the fall season and back to BSF.

Last year nearly 400 guys from the south suburbs completed an in depth study of the book of Matthew - the life and times of Jesus. It was very humbling, and it seemed to be jammed packed full of awe inspiring insights. This year, we are going to be traversing the life and times of Moses from the Old Testament. I am very much so looking forward to it.

For those of you who may be interested in a men's bible study - I highly recommend you check out BSF. www.bsfinternational.com