I’m working through some stuff right now and have been feeling like a loser. Then, this morning, while I’m chatting with Clayton Bell, he twitters this message:
“Chatting with cadillaczak. That guy flipping ooozes passion. My fave trait of his…”
Clayton saying that publicly is one of THE MOST encouraging things ever for me. And it couldn’t come at a better time.
Clayton, thanks buddy. You da man.
Last week I blogged about some of my passions in life. After reading some comments from Mike and thinking through things a little more, I realize my words may have come across as a little harsh. Here is the passage on my post that I am referring to:
I’m passionate about the Church’s ability to create culture and leverage culture. Insert the whole “never changing message, ever changing methods” idea here. But I think it goes further than that. Why does the church have to create its own little sub-genres of everything? And when it does, why do those things have to suck so bad? I’m not a big fan of most of the “christian movies” that are made and I’m not in to a whole lot of christian music. Not many people are because its bad.
The word “suck” should not have been used. I should have elaborated a little more and not come across so harsh. Remember, I don’t have life figured out…I am a man in process – very much so.
And just so that you know, I am more pumped about this album than ANY release of the year. It is a Christian worship album. I do listen to Christian music. Just check my ipod. Especially when I am doing my marathon training-when I really need Jesus. 
Here are some quotes from a message Perry Noble did that really clarify the way I feel:
That said, here is what I’ve come to realize: We need to accept people where they are, meet them where the are, and take them to a place where they can meet Jesus.
And we each have our own strengths. My strengths are more in the area of meeting people where they are. People with passion come across passionate. Maybe I sounded a little harsh last week. It was just my passion coming through.
Earlier in the week, I blogged a list of the things I am passionate about. Then I blogged about why I’m passionate about them.
And it got me thinking about something else that happens when you are passionate. You become a big walking target.
Passionate leaders have huge targets painted on their backs.
Sometimes Satan brings it. Heavy. He beats us down. Last week he did it to me. He’s a punk.
That’s why I keep the poster in my office where I can see it every day that simply says, “Whatever it takes.” I understand that to reach people others aren’t reaching, you have to do what others aren’t doing.
There’s a lot of lone ranger leaders out there getting the beat down and losing their passion. What they ARE NOT doing is getting back up…why? Because they haven’t built a team around them.
When you get shot in the leg, you need someone to grab you and pull you along if you’re going to keep fighting. Otherwise, you’ll just lay there and bleed.
And that’s why I get up and keep going every day, no matter how hard I get beat down. Its because I have an incredible team built around me.
Bring it Satan. My team rocks…
Yesterday I blogged about what I am passionate about. Today, I list those same things, followed by why I am passionate about them:
I’m passionate about my relationship with Jesus Christ. He died on the cross for me to make that relationship possible. Nobody else has ever died for me. He knew I’d be a mess and He did it anyway. Without Him as my leader, I would be completely lost. You cannot follow Jesus and remain the same. The journey changes you and gives you new passions. Hence, the rest of the list below.
I’m passionate about loving my wife. Amber is the most incredible person in the world that I know. She cares deeply for me and Couper. I wish I were half as good as she is. I want to pursue her for the rest of my life. She is the most important person in the world to me.
I’m passionate about being the best dad ever. I know way to many pastors who have crappy relationships with their kids because they neglected them and then blew out of the ministry. I want Couper to grow up pumped that he was a pastor’s kid, not pissed. I want him to grow up passionate about Jesus. I believe with all my heart that if I am a great dad and a great leader to my son, he will grow up to reach tons of people for Christ.
I’m passionate about being a great friend and building friendships. This one is easy to explain. In the end the only thing that you get to take with you when you die is the relationships that you built here on Earth. People matter, more than anything. That’s why I’m passionate about adding value to people.
I’m passionate about the Bride of Christ, the local Church. God has declared that his vehicle for life change is the church; it is his only plan. More than anything I want to see people meet Jesus and grow in their relationship with him. Christians who don’t love the church are telling Jesus that his wife is ugly. And if you told me that my wife was ugly I’d smack you around. I don’t want to be smacked around by Jesus. I desire to make the name of Jesus Christ famous and I believe that will happen as the church continues to become the place that HE originally designed it to be.
I’m passionate about the Church’s ability to create culture and leverage culture. Insert the whole “never changing message, ever changing methods” idea here. But I think it goes further than that. Why does the church have to create its own little sub-genres of everything? And when it does, why do those things have to suck so bad? I’m not a big fan of most of the “christian movies” that are made and I’m not in to a whole lot of christian music. Not many people are because its bad.
I’m passionate about making the Church better. I believe in excellence AND the power of God—which means we do all that we can, knowing that God does the rest and makes it all significant. The problem is I know a lot of lazy bums in ministry and a lot of lazy Christians who are not doing all they can!
I’m passionate about constantly challenging the process – examining what we do, why we do it and our relevance in today’s progressive culture. I don’t ever want to be stuck with sacred cows in my ministry. Instead, I want to challenge things and push forward.
At the heart of all of this is a passionate conviction that every human is created in the image and likeness of God. I believe that we are all broken images and that it is our job to call out of every person the greatness that lies within. The entire cosmos groans for its redemption, yet all creation declares the glory of God!
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