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I just completed the latest book by Craig Gross and Jason Harper…

It doesn’t seem to matter how often I read or listen to Gross, his perspectives always mess me up.  He challenges the very core of what I grew up to believe was appropriate.

Love the unlovely… but from a distance… so they might not corrupt you.

Gross and Harper directly contradict this by how they live out ministry.  They don’t exist in a safe ‘christianized’ world and venture into the ‘darkness’ to drop in a little Jesus.  They exist in a very dark world and allow the light of Christ to do what it is designed to do… illuminate the darkness.

I’m still processing the book… and probably will for a while.  I’m grateful for Craig, Jason and all others that sacrifice greatly to do ministry by their side.  I believe they see a bigger picture that many of us in vocational ministry can miss.  That “tolerance is not compromise.  Tolerance gives the platform and relational equity to be there.” Being there affords the opportunity for a consistent, loving relationship to draw the broken to a place of healing.

Here is only one of the quotes that made me throw up a little in my mouth…

I’ve seen how many have turned exclusive in Bible circles, ironically, ignoring the Bible’s message of an all-inclusive love.  These groups devise game plans and strategies for reaching the opponent; they have come up with emergent lingo, which many on the same team do not even understand.  If those within the church exclude each other, whether knowingly or accidentally, imagine how those outside the church must feel.

Stay tuned and I’ll share more of my response to the book, as well as, an opportunity to win my copy.

Last week we heard from Mark Crowe with Victory Church in Oklahoma City, Ok.  Here are some random leadership thoughts he shared…

• We always find the time to do the things we really want to do
• Whatever your passionate about others will an interest in
• Noah took an interest in what God was interested in
• If the church acted the way it’s supposed to act, we wouldn’t have to tell others about Jesus… people would ask about Him
• We don’t attract the people we want, we attract the people we are.  Who are you?
• You’ll never be the leader God has called you to be without adversity in your life

Good stuff.

I have a way of creating my own truth… and Jesus has a way of dispelling it.

My truth: I’ll befriend someone and love them as long as they befriend and love me.

Jesus truth:  Love your enemies.

My truth:  My family and I will live a comfortable life following Jesus in the suburbs.

Jesus truth:  Sell everything you have to follow me.

I believe there are many times in my life where the mountain called “My Plan” is what needs to be moved.  It seems I need to bury the mustard seed of faith deep into the heart of my Savior.  Maybe the deeper I dig, the more I’ll let go of my truth and embrace His.