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I need your help with a project.

What are your top 5 leadership books?  

(If you can’t think of 5 books, then list as many as you can.  Even if you haven’t read the “whole” book, please post anyways.)

Psalms 46: 10 Be Still and know that I am God.

Isn’t it hard sometimes to just sit and be still? I don’t know about you, but it is very hard for me.

Today we continued our series called Becoming, at The Orchard. The message was on meditation and the importance of getting quiet in our intensely fast paced society. Scott Hodge did a great job applying biblical truth, while allowing us the time to practice the discipline of silence.

Consider your own life. How much noise surrounds your life?

Do you have a cell phone?

Do you have a TV?

Do you have the radio on all the time?

Do you email?

Do you wonder why silence is so difficult? Are you addicted to noise?

Why are we attracted to NOISE?

Maybe a better question is this: Does my schedule, my time, or my life look like that of a person who wants to hear God’s voice?

Maybe a challenge for you this week, is to get away to a place where it is quiet. A place of solitude. NO noise. NO interruptions. NO cell phone. NO TV. NO distractions.

I love what Henri Nouwen wrote:

“In solitude, I get rid of my scaffolding. Scaffolding is all the stuff we use to keep ourselves propped up, to convince ourselves that we are so important or okay. In solitude we have no friends to talk with, no phone calls or meetings, no television sets, no music or books or newspapers to occupy and distract the mind. Each of us would be, in the words of the old hymn, ‘just as I am.’ Neither accomplishment nor resume nor possessions nor networks would define me.”

Well said Mr. Nouwen. Well said.

What made today super?

1. My beautiful wife

2. Having a healthy son

3. Starbucks Iced Double Shot (need I say more)

4. Knowing that I have loyal friends

5. Freshly opened bag of Twizzlers

6. Broccoli for lunch (no, this DOES NOT make any day super)

7. Watching the History Channel

8. Taking time to reflect on leadership decisions

9. Ordering more books (it’s more of an addiction)

10. Hearing my son laugh

I am sitting here watching the Olympics thinking of the sheer joy of being a part of a worldwide sporting event. I heard someone say the other day that athletes around the world, GREAT athletes, don’t focus on the goal (being in the Olympics, going to the Superbowl, World Series, etc…) when training, they focus on the process. The process of becoming a GREAT athlete is more important than the goal itself. It’s who they are becoming in the midst of the training that is paramount.

That being said, someone said to me the other day that it is important to “follow” God’s plan for your life. I have found some seem to look at God as the master puppeteer, almost paralyzed to make any decisions for themselves, because they are afraid it isn’t in God’s master plan.

Do I think God can speak into one’s life? Give direction? Give guidance? Sure. But I don’t think God speaks to us mainly about “moving here or there”…I think God is more interested in who you are becoming wherever you live, than some specific destination.

Some wait around for direction from God, while there are dozens of commands in the ancient text that we could spend a lifetime living out. Are these not directions from God? Are these not compasses on how to live well and become the person he wants you to be?

You see, I think we believe that God only guides us down roads which are easy and safe. I think we are so capitalistic that we believe if God is in something that everything will work out fine. Is that true? For example, have you ever had this strong urge to go for a position that you know God was leading you to apply for, then you didn’t get the position? Or, maybe you got the position and you told everyone that God gave you this job. A month into the job, you hate it…in fact, secretly you regret telling everyone that you felt this job was from God.

What if it was a good move? Maybe God wants you to learn some things in the process of becoming. What if God wants to work on how you treat others? Maybe your love walk. Maybe your ability to connect with those who you hate. Maybe you are addicted to impatience.

What if…what if God is less concerned about your geographic (where I move) location and more concerned with the greatest good you do? What if becoming who God wants you to be: loving your spouse, kids, and your cousin Frank (who you swear is the cousin of the anti-Christ) is part of the process God intends for you to go through?

Is God’s divine guidance important? Absolutely. Is God concerned with your “specific” geographical location? Sure, maybe. But maybe God is less concerned with the “what”…”where”…”who”…”when”, and more concerned with the “how.” It’s more about how you are living that is essential in God’s economy.

Are you allowing the process to be an important factor in your life’s journey, or are you more concerned with where you need to be?

Tonight was an exceptional night, as The Orchard held its annual BBQ and Baptism.

One word describes the event for me: UNBELIEVABLE.

Here are just a few reasons why it was unbelievable:

• I remember 6 years ago how many we baptized (18 people) and was overwhelmed several times this evening watching as the waterpark was filled with families (many of which I have never met), and realizing that following Jesus is the best decision anyone can make.
• Being able to celebrate with those who are taking that next step in their spiritual journey
• Watching the tears of joy streaming down the faces of parents, as their kids get baptized
• Hearing the life stories of many who were impacted by The Orchard (directly or indirectly)
• Being able to baptize next to my wife
• Still taking this journey together with our dear friends, Scott and Amanda Hodge

Here are some pictures from the event.

Scott instructing a room full of people ready to be baptized

Prayer right before we head to the park for baptism (these are all the people getting baptized!)

Friends who got baptized

The Jones family

Scott with the team that captured it all on video

Stay tuned to more pictures here or here.

Enjoy!