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Mission Improbable

As a professional member of the clergy (I get mail addressed to Reverend Addis… it’s still funny to me) I have developed some mad skills at conference attending.

It’s a little known fact that there are varying levels of ability, not just among those on the platform presenting, but those of us who are skilled, invested and experienced professional listeners. Let me just outline a few for you:

1) Appearing Interested – while every session is good for someone, not every session is good for you. So, to keep from being rude by distracting others with accelerated, involuntary nostril emanations (AKA snoring), a skill set of forced eye contact, meaningful head nods and well placed nonverbal affirmations are essential.

2) Ninja Texting/Surfing – everyone knows you’re not reading your Bible on YouVersion, or taking notes for future references… you’re Tweeting, Facebooking, or looking for ‘Epic Fail’ pics to replace your profile photo. It’s ok, just learn the art of secretive cell phone use. Under the desk, inside the conference program, pushed into a coat or sweater on your lap are all good camouflage techniques for hiding the phone. Just remember, if you are in a darkened seating area, your face will glow no matter how well hidden the phone is, so, use at your own risk.

3) Tactical Seating Selection – there are several things to keep in mind here, but just start with these: aisle seating for fictitious bathroom breaks (limit 2 per daypart), outlet access for midday phone charging (let’s be honest, you’ll drain it before they drain you), support beam seating (usually sitting behind a pole is non-desireable, but the right seat behind the right pole can help you to lean one way for engagement and the other for disengagement).

There is much more that I could share, but I think you get the idea (maybe I should hold a conference on how to develop these skills… maybe not).

But, what’s the point?

A common question that I hear at Continue reading “Mission Improbable”

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Where’s your happy button?

This is the time of year that I am usually giddy with anticipation. In fact, when I see Halloween decorations creeping out at Wal-Mart, feelings of joy start to gurgle up from deep down inside.

Nope.

You can cancel your plans for the letter explaining to me the evils of October 31st, that’s not what makes me gleeful. However, when you see the Trick O Treater gear clogging the aisles I do get a skip in my step because it means just one thing to me… The NBA season is almost here!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

For you ESPN addicts, you’ll be sure to note that owner/player talks may delay or even cancel this coming season.

Nope. Still not dismayed.

If the season starts late, or never even begins, I’ll be just fine. Why? Because

Continue reading “Where’s your happy button?”

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Intentionality

As a pastor, one of my greatest joys is watching people in the church get excited, grow and develop deeper and deeper passions for Jesus.

This is most clearly evident in the lives of people who are retuning from mission work. Excitement produced by a little fear mixed with complete dependance, wrapped up in abnormal relationships and fellowship, all against the contrast of our lives back home.

In 20+ years of ministry I have seen (and experienced) the “Just Got Back Home Blues” innumerable times. They are somewhat justified because the experience on the mission field was so real, so raw, so amazing that home by contrast seems fake, plastic or even irrelevant.

A couple of years ago I was on mission in Europe and Asia and new that I’d be hitting the blues in just a few days. So, as I wrestled with myself on the rollercoaster ride that so often is personal spirituality, and I stumbled a crossed a word that nailed me to the wall… intentionality.

So, whether you are coming back from a summer mission trip, heading out on one, or you are staying home and trying to realize that you live on a mission field already; please take time to view this short video and lets get intentional.

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INTENTIONALITY

 

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Just hanging with the herd

My wife and I argue regularly about two things in our life. Argue might be too strong of a word. It’s more like regularly spaced, prolonged, futile debates.

We’ve been ‘discussing’ them for so long that we actually smile during these confrontations, realizing neither one will move the other… and, we’re growing kind of conformable with that scenario.

I guess thats just marriage…

Continue reading “Just hanging with the herd”

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Set apart, or SET apart


Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 13:1-3

This is where I was studying this morning for my own devotional time. I thought I’d be clever (this almost never works out for me) and do a quick word study.

I know that the word ‘holy’ means to be set apart, so, I thought maybe that the Holy Spirit’s command to ‘set apart’ Saul and Barny (yeah, we’re that tight) was a derivation of that Greek root for holy. If it was the same word, then cool, I’ll look super smart someday preaching that and very insightful to boot.

Problem is, it’s not the same word. DRAT!

Even when I used other English versions, the Greek never changed, how can this be? Apparently my clever reserves are running low. Continue reading “Set apart, or SET apart”