Beyond the Hands and Feet of Christ

Beyond the Hands and Feet of Christ

by | Jun 1, 2021

Beyond the Hands and Feet of Christ

 

A recent pastoral prayer I heard reminded me that it’s time to up your prayer game beyond praying to be the hands and feet of Christ. Longing to be a mere appendage of Christ is aiming too low. Rather than being the hands and feet of Christ, aim for the consciousness of Christ.

While Teresa of Avila popularized the idea that “Christ has no body but yours; No hands, no feet on earth but yours,” the scriptures make an even bolder assertion. You “have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:16)

While being the hands and feet of Christ denotes doing good deeds and offering compassionate service, having the mind of Christ denotes unity with God. The truth is anybody can do good deeds. (And thankfully, many, many people do.) But you are called to more than that. You are called to operate from divine consciousness. This consciousness is what enables the move from discipleship to apostleship, and from believing in Jesus to believing like Jesus.

As I write elsewhere belief in Jesus means trusting in his power, his love, his teachings, and his saving grace. This is the kind of faith commonly taught in church. You’ll hear this motif reflected in songs and hymns, sermons and Bible studies, as well as children’s messages and youth curriculum. It is the focus of much teaching on salvation. Belief in Jesus is the stuff of discipleship.

But having the mind of Christ, of believing like Jesus, is more apostleship than discipleship. This divine consciousness leads to a deep knowing that you are one with God and one with the Holy Spirit. With it, you cultivate an unwavering trust in your life purpose. You have rock-solid faith that all things are possible. As a result, you entertain an ever-ready expectancy of miracles. Most of all, with the mind of Christ, you live in constant communion with, and surrender to, God. Here’s the bottom line. When you have the mind of Christ, you operate in an elevated state of consciousness in which there is no separation between humanity and divinity, between you and God.

I can’t help but wonder what would happen if we prayed for the consciousness of Christ. When the disciples moved into the apostolic mode Peter healed a paralyzed man. Paul and Silas sang in jail until the chains broke. Mere shadows of the apostles caused people to heal. The apostles oversaw the rapid multiplication of the church, with thousands upon thousands becoming believers.

What could be possible now, in these post-pandemic times? What new visions might you dream? Are there new miracles you might manifest? New areas of growth you might shepherd?

Learn more about our step-by-step approach that moves you from discipleship to apostleship: Creating a Culture of Renewal®

 

What My First Marriage Taught Me About Acceptance

What My First Marriage Taught Me About Acceptance

by | May 24, 2021

What My First Marriage Taught Me About Acceptance

 

Even though we weren’t married long, my first marriage taught me about acceptance. Doug, my first husband, was a smart, funny, kind person; a man of deep faith, and a lawyer by training. He had a heart of gold. He served as a guardian ad litem in the court system for children in precarious situations.

But Doug had a persistent, hidden pain.  He couldn’t reconcile his inner spirit—his gender identity—with the body he was born into and the gender he was assigned.  He wrestled with it from the time he was a small child and carried this pain into adulthood. Many years later, after our brief marriage dissolved, Doug finally transitioned into the life of a female and became known as Danyel.

While this decision came with a deep sense of relief, there was also a great price to pay. While Doug was beloved, Danyel was disowned by a sister. Other friends couldn’t hang in there either.  But even through all her personal changes, Danyel, who has since passed away, continued the professional work of  advocating for the dignity and safety of children.

Challenging Topics for Leaders

I don’t pretend to understand what it feels like to wrestle in this way.  Or even why some people experience gender dysphoria. However having personally witnessed a slice of the searing journey Doug took to become Danyel, and the peace that at last came with it, I have nothing but respect for the courage of trans people.

Over the years I have come to know a handful of other men and women with similar stories. Each of them, interestingly, has been a professional person with deep convictions about their calling in life. While I don’t know Rev. Megan Rohrer, the newly elected bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, it sounds like she shares a similar journey to the folks I have known.  She is the first openly trans person to be elected Bishop of a mainline denomination.

As a leader, you may be asked to comment on the connection between Bishop Rohrer, the Bible, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. While her election doesn’t directly impact the United Methodist denomination, it does give you a chance to reflect theologically and personally on what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, to be a beloved child of God, and to experience grace.

I don’t know what you will say, or even how you feel about this. But I would like to offer some questions for you to consider how to frame challenging topics.

How to Frame Challenging Topics

1) How to disagree without demonizing?

How can you talk about experiences like this that fall outside the norm, the expected, in such a way that you do not demean, demonize, or dehumanize people? Neither the people in favor of it, nor the people against it, nor the people who don’t understand it, or don’t care? Truth is, most people have their own inner conflicts. Hearing how you address this topic will help them consider their own unspoken concerns that may fall outside the norm or the expected.

2) How to dialogue rather than jump to judgement?

How can you draw people into dialogue or inquiry rather than making snap judgements? Adding to the culture wars ethos so prevalent today doesn’t help us come together. SO many things are immediately set up as a “for or against” proposition. Taking a reasoned thoughtful approach helps people think rather than react. Also, you may have people wrestling with gender dysphoria in your congregation.  Choose your words carefully.

3) How to think theologically?

How can you use the tool of the Wesleyan quadrilateral to help people think theologically?  It’s okay for people to arrive at different decisions.  Teaching people how to think theologically is more powerful than telling them what to think. The quadrilateral also allows for people to flex and change their mind, rather than harden into a set position.

In the end, I’m grateful for what my first marriage taught me about acceptance.  I have found that telling my own story—without making others wrong—and then listening—really listening—to their story, is a powerful way to approach sensitive subjects. It allows people to be heard, and to discover something new from each other. Best of all, this approach helps us to experience the grace of God and each other’s inherent humanity in such a way that we each get to express our true selves.  That’s a gift we can give each other in the midst of challenging times.

The Gift of Unhurried Time

The Gift of Unhurried Time

by | Apr 5, 2021

The Gift of Unhurried Time

The gift of unhurried time is a prize we long for these days. Pulling together online worship and doing remote ministry takes more time than anyone could have imagined. Many leaders have shared with me that they are weary to the bone.

I can relate.

Most of my days are structured and filled to the brim with things to do.  While I enjoy them, and get a lot done, one key element is missing: free-flowing creative time with God.

As of this writing, I am once again in Florida spending time with my aging parents. Though busy here, I have stepped away from the intensive work of teaching, leading, and meetings, and am receiving a gift that I had forgotten I needed: unhurried time.

Jesus spent unhurried time away from healing, teaching and mentoring. He was the better for it. His life reminds me that spiritual leaders need unhurried time with the Spirit. Are you taking time away to hear from your soul?

A cross in someone's hands.

As more of us get vaccinated and move around more freely, our calendars will quickly start to fill. As our days become packed with activity, anxiety may follow. Will you be open to hearing the message your soul is yearning to give you?

The truth is, your people can’t go farther than you can lead them. Share on X

If you’d like a more responsive, faith-filled congregation, it is time to do the inner work yourself.  As you grow in both faith and skill, the world around you shifts. You will see it in your personal relationships and in the culture of the congregation you lead. That’s because an internal shift in consciousness, faith, and expectation precedes a shift in the people and culture around you.

Both John, the cousin of Jesus, and Jesus himself demonstrate this truth. They each grew in the knowledge and grace of God before they began their public, prophetic work. Their inner work was a prerequisite to co-creating miracles with God. In the same way, both the Twelve and the Seventy grew in their understanding of Jesus and his teachings before they could cast out demons, heal the sick or preach the Kin(g)dom.

Give yourself the gift of unhurried time to grow in the knowledge and grace of God. Join me on my free webinar, How to Create a Culture of Renewal, in which you’ll learn the barriers to achieving renewal, the miracles renewal can bring, and how to take your next step – all part of the process of opening your heart to your soul and seeing the miraculous come to life!

Then watch out world, because you will be unstoppable!

(Adapted from the 3rd edition of Culture Shift, the Track 3 Workbook of Creating a Culture of Renewal®.)

Forty Days of Apostleship: Believe in Your Superpowers

Forty Days of Apostleship: Believe in Your Superpowers

by | Mar 16, 2020

It’s no coincidence that these 40 Days of Apostleship overlap with the coronavirus pandemic. As the virus sweeps the world, fear threatens to engulf it as well. There has never been a better time to believe like Jesus—to develop the kind of faith he had—so you can perform the type of miracles he did. This is a great time to embrace your superpower.

Lucky for us, this week brings us to the third of Jesus’ core beliefs. Jesus not only believed in his partnership with God and that his prayers had power, Jesus believed in his superpower. No, I’m not talking about spidery web-making, speed, strength, shapeshifting, time travel, elasticity, invisibility, freezing, or flight. As impressive as these superpowers are, Jesus’ superpower blasts past every one of these.

This pandemic can be scary, but fear could disable more people than the virus itself. This is a great time to embrace your superpowers. Share on X

Jesus Believed in His Superpower

It’s easy to think that Jesus’ leading superpower was miracle-making. After all, he walked on water, calmed wind and waves, and rose from the dead. But I think those miracles were the result of his superpower, not the superpower itself.

Instead, I believe Jesus’ superpower was his ability to choose a miracle-making mindset. When faced with the worst of conditions—temptation by Satan, crucifixion by Pilate, disavowal by family—Jesus opted for faith. He wasn’t swayed by group-think or done in by peer pressure. Nor was he intimidated by personalities or daunted by principalities. Time and again, he chose God’s future over fear. Using this superpower means he stayed calm amid conflict, present under pressure, and mindful amid the madness. All of this allowed him to tune in to God’s prompting.

Soulful Step

Jesus isn’t the only one to possess this superpower. God has given it to you as well (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 2:8, 2Timothy 1:7). Like Jesus, you, too, have the capacity in every moment to choose your mindset. Don’t get me wrong. You’re probably not going to walk on water the first time out. Using this superpower requires a great deal of practice. Think Jedi Masters. It took Luke and Rey a long time to work well with the Force. The scriptures remind us that even Jesus himself had to grow up into the wisdom and stature of the Lord (Luke 2:52).

Choosing your thought-life begins not in your head but in your heart. To take this soulful step, tune in to your heart through quiet meditation, mindful breathing, reflection on scripture, or time in nature. It is from this grounded place that you can begin to notice the pattern of your thoughts. Ask yourself: Do my thoughts build my faith? Or do they tear me down?

Embrace the Belief that You Have This Superpower

The middle of this pandemic is a great time to believe like Jesus and to embrace your superpowers. I don’t know if you have noticed, but some media coverage pulls for panic. That’s troubling; fear could disable more people than the virus itself.

But apostles don’t panic. Instead, like Jesus, they know they have a partnership with God. They know their prayers have power. They know they possess a superpower. Buoyed by these divine beliefs, apostles can hold a high vibration and ­­­­invite others to it.

Yes, COVID-19 is very contagious. Yes, communities and nations must take responsible measures to halt it. Yes, people have a great need. In the face of these new realities, you have two choices: Will you catastrophize? Or will you deliberately resist being hijacked by fear?

For thirty-six hours last week, I found myself waffling between these two choices. I wrestled between hanging on to my vision and capsizing my boat in the pandemic of panic. Overcome by cascading lousy news reports, I temporarily forgot apostles are spiritual badasses in the making, and I gave in.

Then I prayed. I remembered that God called me to this ministry in the early days of the 2007-2008 crash, and has been by my side ever since. I realized that I didn’t have to cede my faith or surrender my spiritual authority to any wind or waves back then, and I certainly don’t now. I remembered I could choose my mindset.

Apostolic Action

In the last few weeks, you have been waking up to a different world. Living with the spread of an infectious disease means endless handwashing, social distancing, travel restrictions, self-quarantines, canceled events, disrupted schedules, extra-long spring break, unforeseen layoffs, and an unsteady market.

But it also means creative self-sacrifice, social solidarity, and finding the fun in dysfunctional. This is a new world of potlucks via Zoom, congregational worship via Facebook Live, and innovative care for the self-quarantined. The Italians have even been singing from their balconies, as dancing healthcare workers in Iran have kept up patients’ spirits.

How can you contribute to the miracle-making mindset the world needs? May I suggest the Prayer of St. Francis Prayer as a starting point? Then you do you as you take apostolic actions.

And remember, if you long to be a shapeshifter or a time traveler, that the miracle-making mindset is the biggest superpower there is. Because when you decide to choose your thoughts, uplift your consciousness, and uplevel your faith, everything becomes possible.

Hey, even the guy with the $17,700 worth of hand sanitizer donated his stash! If that’s not a miracle, I don’t know what is.

A Christian Alternative to Polarization

A Christian Alternative to Polarization

by | Feb 10, 2020

For three days in an Airbnb rental in a cozy Atlanta neighborhood, my team and I took a spiritual retreat.  Nine of us worshiped together, laughed and played together, ate meals together, envisioned the coming year together, and worked on some detailed processes together.

We built team spirit, shared organizational knowledge, and strengthened our commitment to a shared vision of the future.

But that’s not all we did.  We also complained. And contributed to polarization.

I wish I could tell you that we were high-minded the entire time we were together.  But the truth is, we weren’t. We met in the middle of the impeachment process.  We spent some time worrying and wondering out loud how things had gotten to this point. Worrying and wondering quickly devolved into complaining.  Complaining led to polarization.  That is, until one person piped up and said, “Hey people!  it’s time to either take action or be quiet.”

I wonder if that’s what happened in Jesus’ day as well.  After all, he lived in a time of religious and political polarization.  Sadducees and Pharisees didn’t have much love for each other: they disagreed on matters of faith, culture, biblical interpretation, and relations with Rome.  Neither group saw eye to eye with the Zealots or the Essenes.  Each of the four parties related differently to the Temple, and envisioned different futures for the Jewish people. Independent folks not aligned with any Jewish party were often overlooked.  Overall, folks were upset, torn, and afraid.

In the midst of it all, Jesus stood apart from the prognosticators of his day.  He didn’t align fully with the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Zealots or the Essenes.  While he borrowed from the wisdom of each group, he kept his own counsel.  Instead of following prescribed party lines, Jesus lifted up a vision for the future that transcended any of the narratives of the day.  That’s why he could have such a diverse following.  His “tribe” included a tax collector, Pharisees, independents, Zealots, and Temple authorities.  Even Romans and non-Jews.

How did he do it? His Kingdom of God vision preferenced ethics over politics.  Consider his various teaching.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Whatever you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto me. Judge not lest you be judged.

With Jesus at the helm, the apostles didn’t, couldn’t, sit around and complain.  They had to move into action.

My team and I took a hint from our team member, and from Jesus, and moved from complaint to accountable actions, from partisan polarization to Kingdom ethics. Organized around Micah 6:8 (NIV)—”He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”—I want to share with you some of the actions members our diverse team have committed to:

Act Justly

  • Participate with Justice for our Neighbors, a United Methodist organization that works with immigrants and immigration issues
  • Register with Vote Run Lead, an organization that trains women for public office
  • Talk with members of the local community to see where justice is needed
  • Open up home on weekends for local organizing and voter turnout activity
  • Volunteer with Solidarity Now to advocate for children’s rights at the Mexican border
  • Make sure adult children are registered to vote

Love Mercy

  • Teach daughters to name three gratitudes daily
  • Family check-in on how each member served or helped another human being each day
  • Raise justice concerns to the congregation and to elected officials
  • Speak up about cancerous “isms” and how they reinforce injustice

Walk Humbly with Your God

  • Pray to love those whose views/beliefs differ
  • Pray for the President
  • Pray for the Senate and House of Representatives
  • Pray for the nation daily
  • Pray for one’s own soul

Partisan politics is a spectator sport, a blood sport, in which there is actually very little personal participation. Like football, the spectators react to the players on the field, but risk very little personally.

Kingdom ethics, on the other hand, requires personal involvement, and the opening of one’s heart, mind and soul—and sometimes even home—to connect with people who are very different. Kingdom ethics strengthen the whole.  If it’s us v. them, then it’s not the Kingdom.

When polarization wins, we all lose. There is a Christian alternative.