Anyway, we gathered our staff for a semi-annual planning day. This day is all about looking to the year ahead and what we’re planning (I’ll be blogging about that in my next post). But before we jumped into the planning we faced some problems.

As we prepare for this day every year we ask the question (among others) what are the roadblocks to our moving forward as a group.  One answer came back as “staff issues,” as in problems.

Personally, I want everyone to be happy and productive, I don’t want staff issues in my staff. But, not everything is always as I want it. So we dug into the issue.

The basic problem, I believe, is growth. We have grown too fast, added a lot of staff too quickly and created systems and structures (to the extent we even have systems and structures) on the fly. At the same time, as noted, we do not have enough staff. All of these things will obviously create problems.

Another problem: Both Tom (my associate) and I are “project” people. We like to undertake a project, pour ourselves into it and then move on to the next one. We are not “process” people and we’re not really “relational” people either, and that can create problems, especially for the “process” and “relationship” people. These problems often manifest themselves as communication  problems, where people are not properly consulted.  Sometimes it means people don’t feel like they’re valued enough by the organization, or that the efforts of others are not in sync with their own.

Tom and I take full responsibility for all that (though some of it is inevitable in a fast growth situation). But, there are other issues that are out of my control.  And, as I said at the end of the meeting, they largely fall under the rubric of gratitude and enthusiasm.

I learned about gratitude and enthusiasm from my mother. That’s how she lived her life. And at the time of her sudden and unexpected death a few years ago, I determined I would strive to live my life like that, in honor of her. And as I have, more and more I come to see them as a critical key, to life, to success, and even to “staff  issues.”

We asked everyone to examine their hearts and see if they’re cultivating gratitude and enthusiasm for the amazing work God is doing at this parish. It’s key to good morale. We prayed about it and I asked them to hold onto the problem in prayer too. Tom had mugs printed with John 17.23 (“That all may be one.”) for people to keep on their desks, as a reminder to pray about this.

Gratitude and enthusiasm are incredibly important to our planning and are also critical to continued blessing. Over and over again in the Bible God removes his blessing when people are ungrateful or unenthusiastic for what he’s doing. He just finds some one else to bless.

Think about your gratitude and enthusiasm. And if you’re in church, on a church staff or part of any professional organization, consider how well your staff does on this one.

All the planning in the world won’t fix this problem. But prayer will.

Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

Luke 24.49

In a scene that almost sounds comical, we read in the Ascension story, the Bible tells us:

As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them, They said, “Men of Galilee,why are you standing there looking at the sky?”

Acts 1.10-11

I guess you and I would stare too. It’s quite a scene. Quite a finale, it would seem. But it only seemed so.

It is in the nature of God to be present: Present to his creation and to his people to whom he gives life and love. This nature of God echoes from the Garden of Eden to the slavery of Egypt, from the Mountain of Sinai to the manger of Bethlehem. The whole story of the Bible is a story of God’s presence.

Yesterday, May 1, Tom Corcoran (my associate) and I delivered to our publisher the complete manuscript for our next book, Tools for Rebuilding, to be released by Ave Maria Press (Notre Dame, IN) in September.

When we first signed on with our publisher for rebuilt there was some discussion about the possibility of a follow-up to it, with additional, perhaps even more practical information.  As the rebuilt project developed, and began to look like it could have a wide impact, the conversation about a second book took a more serious turn, with a certain sense of urgency.  The idea being that Tools could benefit from the interest and momentum generated by rebuilt.

Tools  presents seventy-five ideas, mostly in the form of axioms, or generally accepted truths, as they apply to the parish. We first put pen to paper back in September, though many of the axioms we were writing were ideas we’ve been discussing for years. Like rebuilt we hope that it will come as a help to other parishes elsewhere, but also that it is recognized as having a wider application too. Take a look at the new cover:

Anyway, we took two days this week to step away from our usual work and discuss strategy and direction for the year ahead (measured from September, 2013 through July, 2014).

We went to my sister’s house at the beach in Avalon, New Jersey where it was really cold and mostly rainy. Perfect weather to get a lot done.

We began by looking, briefly, at the past year and how well we did. We evaluated our message series, our ministry growth, the success of our stewardship efforts; really everything that we had set out to do in the past year. All in all, we thought we did pretty well, with lots of room for improvement.

Next we spent time reflecting on the “roadblocks” we are currently experiencing in the life and growth of our parish. Some of these include: staffing (we need more), funding (we need more), space (we need more), parking (we need more). Of course, this was a much more nuanced and detailed conversation, and eventually we determined some positive steps we’ll be taking, after we go back and discuss with the rest of the staff, as well as our collaborators on our various advisory boards.

We are definitely going to do something in the coming year to better support our staff and set them up for greater success. We are also going to put some effort into better management of traffic flow inside and outside the building on weekends, and the accommodation of more cars in the parking lot, kids in the nursery, and people who want to worship.

We began the discussion of the message series we want for the coming year and kicked around a lot of ideas: this will go through much more discussion and review before decisions are made (and you thought I just make it up as I go along).

We spent time in prayer together, had quiet time alone, enjoyed a great homemade pizza dinner (cooked by Chris Wesley), and watched a movie (it was more of a documentary about the life of Steve Jobs). Some people even worked out.

I think we honor one another and God when we spend time with our fellow teammates listening to one another and considering together what it is we’re going to do together.

While hopefully the person or people who planned and executed the bombings will be caught soon, we never will really understand why people choose to do such things. The only explanation for such acts is the reality of evil. Evil is a mystery. We can never completely understand it.

However, here are two things we know.

One, that the person who did it was somehow deceived that this was a good idea or that somehow such an action was justified. Our thoughts drive our emotions and eventually drive our actions. Somehow in their mind they came to think their actions were somehow justified or right or even in some warped way good. The human mind can go totally and completely wrong if not fixed on what is good and true and beautiful and divine.

Second, we know that God can bring good out of evil. On Easter Sunday, we noted that Jesus went about doing good. When he saw he evil, he brought good out of it. He turned whole communities around. Evil can inflict its wounds, but it does not have the final word. God can always, always, always bring good out of evil. God can bring redemption out of pain and suffering as he did through the cross. Bringing good out of evil is what God does.

Sometimes a 180° turnaround can mean a change in our thinking. We are thinking one way: maybe about a problem or a person.  We think about them in a certain way and then something happens, something changes and we do a 180. We change the way we think about that problem or that person.

Sometimes we do a 180 when it comes to behaviors: you’re carrying a lot of debt and you stop spending and get out of debt. And in the process you change your behavior when it comes to shopping and purchases, and adjust your attitude about wanting so much stuff.

Sometimes it’s a reversal in fortunes. Sometimes it’s a change in lifestyles. Sometimes it’s a change in circumstances that changes everything.

180 reversals are always interesting but often they can also be a surprise. We can be surprised by an unexpected reversal. That’s was Jesus’ whole life, just a series of reversals.

When Jesus went into a town everyone knew it – everything came out and took notice. He attracted huge crowds.  People wanted to touch him, they wanted to be around him and listen to him. People who were nothing like him liked him.

Here’s why…the Bible tells us: 

“He went about doing good and healed all those oppressed by the devil.”

Acts 10.38

• He brought good out of evil
• He won freedom for those who were enslaved
• He gave sight to the blind.

In other words, he effected 180 degree change everywhere he went. He turns stuff around, that’s what he did and that’s what he does. Whoever you are, whatever your story, that’s what he can do, he can turn stuff around.

• Maybe you’re enslaved to an addiction or a bad habit. He has the power to free you from that enslavement.
• Maybe you feel blind, your job feels like a dead end. Maybe you don’t even have a job. He has the power to bring clarity to you vision of the future.
• Maybe relationally you’re wrecked right now. He has the power to restore your relationships.
• Maybe your heart is hurt. He has the power to heal your heart and make it whole.

He can turn stuff around. He can turn your stuff around.

That’s what he did and that’s what he does. Start talking to him about it.

PS: Stay posted to this blog for a big announcement, coming soon. You will be the first to know the news.

That got some reactions.

One guy called that “sick,” another called me a “tyrant.”

Noted. I guess they’re not in a ministry.

At least three people walked out.

Sorry. I predict they will have absolutely no trouble finding a church within easy driving distance where they will never, ever hear a challenge like that again.

Over eleven hundred people signed up to serve.

Thanks. You rock.

A lot of our new ministers were on display as we hosted Easter at the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fair. All last week we had ops crews moving our church from Ridgely Road up York Road. We had people cleaning and building and fixing and assembling. We had people on Saturday night, late into the night, following the Easter Vigil here at church, making the final preparations and moves. There were ministers on Sunday morning  at the crack of dawn making sure we would be ready when our guests and visitors started arriving, which they did starting after 8am. There were ministers who gave up significant portions of their holiday to wrap up and clean up. There were ministers who worked through the day on Monday and Monday evening doing the same.

It was a splendid day with great music, awesome technology,  and a message I was excited to deliver. Record crowds obviously had a great time. But for me, it was all about our ministers making it not all about them.

I am honored to lead a parish that really does care enough about people who are lost to God that they’re willing to get up out of the pew and do something about it. Rock on.

Jesus commissioned us to preach to the people

and testify that he is the one appointed by God

to judge the living and the dead.

Acts 10.42

He has commissioned us to preach and teach about life: the life that is his victory over death and the life he wins for us through his death and resurrection, the life we celebrate at Easter.

Part of our job as Christ followers is living that life, and another part of our job is sharing that life.

Easter is the perfect time to do it, because people who are seldom interested in coming to church and hearing our message might just be interested this Sunday (depending on what time they have brunch reservations).

We could just hang out in our clubhouse on Easter, maybe give out tickets to insiders to make sure the visitors don’t take our seats. We could enjoy our pretty decorations and listen to the beautiful traditional music we love, and congratulate one another on being in the club.

That’s not what we’re going to do though. We are going to be a church out there, in the streets, open and accessible to people who don’t go to church.

All week long, hundreds of volunteer ministers have been moving our church from Ridgely Road to Timonium and York Road. There is a giant sign on York Road proclaiming our presence and inviting the community to join us. We will have 4,000 chairs and who knows how many parking spaces (lots of them).

I visited yesterday afternoon and the place was abuzz with hundreds of people: children’s ministers rehearsing a delightful and vibrant children’s program we will offer during the liturgy; ops ministers cleaning and constructing and doing I know not what; hosts ministers and parking ministers receiving their instructions and finding their stations. Quite an operation. Today there are more preparations: sound and technology checks, music and liturgy rehearsals, and, of course, I need to get ready too.

If you’re coming, here’s what you can do to help us out:

1. Come early. We will have two services, at 9:30 and 11:30am (they’re identical), have no idea which will be more popular, so choose which one works best for you and come, but come early. We have planned a program before the Mass full of music and fun, beginning at 9 and again at 11, so you won’t be bored. But coming early is a tremendous help because new comers come late.

2. Park in the “Light Rail” parking lot on Deerco Road, behind the Cow Palace. This will make getting in and out easier for you. Our guests don’t know about this lot, so they will be coming in on York Road, which tends to get congested.

3. Choose seats on the sides and at the back, leave the best seats for our guests.

And one more thing: be really friendly to everyone. Let’s act like we believe what we’re gathering to celebrate.

On this Good Friday we remember that Jesus went to the cross. He suffered brutal beatings and was nailed to the cross for us. The beginning of spiritual maturity begins by meditating and reflecting on the brutal beating Jesus freely chose to pay for the times we chose to turn our backs on God and sin. We pray and fast today to associate with our Savior. We mourn because we acknowledge our sins.

And yet today is called “Good.” It is Good Friday because Jesus’ death is good news for us. When we were sinners, when we were enemies from God, Jesus died for us. He died so that one day we may pass judgment and enter into God’s glory. It is Good Friday because on our own we have nothing to recommend ourselves to God. On our own, we would never have been good enough to enter into God’s presence; on our own we were headed to eternal separation from God, more commonly known as hell. On our own we were lost, but God shows his love for us by sending Jesus to die for us.

So while today we should certainly mourn the death of Jesus, more importantly we should refocus our lives on the mission of Jesus. Many people in the world have given up on God because they believe God has given up on them. They know they have sinned and messed up so much they will never measure up to God’s standard, they will never pass judgment. As a result of this belief, they run away from God.

Pope Francis said this in his first papal address: “Holy Week is not so much a time of sorrow, but rather a time to enter into Christ’s way of thinking and acting.” One of the core actions and thoughts of Jesus was to seek and save the lost.

Who do you know that is far from Christ? Who do you know who needs to hear that Jesus died for them? Offer your prayers and fast for him or her. Consider inviting them to our Easter Services at 9:30 and 11:30 at the Timonium Fairgrounds.

Jesus died so that we would be judged not on our performance, but his. That’s why this is Good Friday.

When I go to church each weekend, God doesn’t throw a party. He doesn’t celebrate I showed up to worship him. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me or delight in me, its just that he expects me here. On the other hand, when someone far from God comes to church and starts to see his or her need for God, God throws a party. Jesus tells us this much in Luke 15:7. He says, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”

God throws a party when those who are separated from him come back to him. God throws a party when they stop running from him and begin recognizing their need for him. If this is what makes heaven celebrate, then to be a growing disciple of Jesus means that we need to celebrate the return of lost people in the same way.

Honestly, I have some work to do. When the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, I jumped up and down and called my friends and family, I celebrated. I don’t get that excited when I hear stories of people going back to church or reconnecting with God. I’m happy to hear them, but I don’t have the same level of excitement.

For me it begins by personally investing in people who are far from God. I haven’t been doing that lately. As a church person and as a church worker, I tend to have relationships with people who are church people. My first step is to begin by praying that God would bring someone into my life who is far from God. When someone you specifically care about returns to God there is a far greater excitement when that one person returns.

For whom are you praying to return to God? Do you find yourself in church circles all the time or do you have many opportunities to meet un-churched people? Palm Sunday and Easter are the perfect opportunities to invite them.