I’ve been processing something the last few days: the line between compromising my faith and becoming “all things to all men.” The line seems very clear sometimes, while fuzzy in others. On one hand I know the gospel never changes and what it commands of my life never does either. At the same time articulating that to others, through words and life, can and often should differ from person to person.

The other balance is making sure “all things to all men” doesn’t become a fear of man! Many times, I think, this is where we begin to compromise. We can often rationalize a fear of man (not wanting them to think of us differently, fear of taking a stand, etc.) as trying to be all things to all men.

I know people have talked about articulating the gospel message to different cultures for hundreds of years. Missionaries have processed through this for centuries. But, it’s one thing if you’re thinking about it on a cultural level…but, what about on a personal level with people whom you’re closest? Sometimes the toughest thing to do is clearly articulate the gospel (in word or life) to those closest to us, with those we have the most to lose.

Another tough balance is giving into people’s desires and wishes. As leaders we can often try to attract people by meeting their desires. But, this is such a fine line at a heart level. Are we really trying to be all things to all men, or are we simply afraid of failure, fearful of what man thinks…is any of this making sense?

The more I think of this at a heart level, the more I realize my personal motivations get mixed at times. There have certainly been times where I’ve rationalized something as being “all things to all men,” when in fact I was simply afraid of man. If you can relate in anyway, do what I just did, share it with someone you’re discipling. Letting college-age people into your heart struggles is one of the most effective things we can ever do with them!

I went to Lake Arrowhead today with my friend, Rich. We got a mocha and were sitting by the lake, reading our Bible’s, and talking through a few passages (actually the one I’ll be teaching through this Sunday). It was more me talking about it than anything, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is we met someone. A very special lady that made our day!

We briefly said hello to her and before we knew it we had been talking to her for a half an hour. I realized at this point I didn’t even know her name, so I asked. She replied, “Old Lady Dorothy.” We spent over an hour talking to her! It was a great time of encouragement for all of us. Dorothy is 88 years old, has been a believer for over 45 years, lives alone, serves in her church, and walks 4 MILES A DAY! Unbelievable.

I asked her some questions: If you could do anything different in your life, what would it be? If you could tell me anything as a 33 year old pastor, what would you tell me? How do you hear God’s voice? What is your favorite passage of Scripture and why?

I wonder if you have some people in your church like her? You probably do. Here’s what I would say to you: connect your college-age people with the “old lady Dorothy’s” in your church! Everyone will be encouraged.

I just had a new book come out called, “99 Thoughts for College-Age People.? You may want to check it out to give to your students…

I’ve been thinking lately (and most of the time it doesn’t even hurt) about churches that college-age people are attracted to. I’ve been asking two questions: What characteristics does a church need to have in order to allow college-age people to feel a part of it? and What are some ways in which churches reach out to college-age people, outside of a “college ministry?”

So, in other words, you can change those questions to ask: what is it about some churches that draw college-age people into them? Again, I’m NOT talking about a college-age ministry – I’m asking this in regards to the church as a whole.

I would love to know your thoughts…what is it about your church that college-age people click with? Or, if you’re bold enough, what is it about your church that they DONT click with – so we can make sure we don’t do it…

Here is the promo video for the coming National Youth Ministry Conference. I’ll be teaching there, doing an eight hour learning track with Kara Powell on transitioning and preparing high school graduates. Should be fun!

I just wrote an article for Journal of Student Ministries called, “Indoctrinated or Educated?” that was just put on their website. The basis of it is asking questions that, I think, every leader in the church should be asking. It’s not an exhaustive list in any way, but I do think it has some questions that should be answered. You can check it out here. Here’s the beginning…

“Today church leaders have been bewildered about how detached high school graduates are from the local church.

What’s causing this detachment?

You and me. I’m convinced we’re a major part of the problem.

Self-Evaluation Needed
From my perspective there are many contributing factors to this epidemic of detachment, but here I want to discuss one that relates to all of us: How we define educated. It’s a major issue needing attention in most, if not all of, our churches.

So, to start the process…”

After dinner tonight we came back to the office here at Re-Think and talked. Reggie told me about a radio interview he heard today with a 15 year old girl who posted a video on YouTube. Apparently she was bored one night and started to put together a video about the soldiers overseas. She was burdened for them and so randomly started piecing video together and over 25 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE WATCHED IT! Unbelievable how some things just catch on like this. It’s a powerful video….but 25 million views!!!!? Nuts.

I left my house this morning at 4:30 am (pst) and headed to the airport. Unfortunately my daughter, Hope, was up until 1:38 am (yep, I know it to the minute). Not sure if it was gas, teething, or I gave her too many shots of espresso but she was awake and pointing to everything in the house saying, “Whoaw.” She’s half way between “wow” and “whoa” at this stage. Anyway, after a whopping 2 1/2 hrs of sleep I headed to the airport. Park, walk to the terminal, and see this:

Don’t you love security lines!?

Now, I’m here, thankfully. I’m spending a couple days here brainstorming with a couple friends: Abbie Smith and Reggie Joiner. We have some ideas about a few things and we’re having a two day “pow-wow.” Details to come, but for now, I desperately need something to eat – that Vanilla Latte and blueberry muffin that probably had a 5 year shelf life at the Denver airport just isn’t cutting it.

I heard a statement the other day that REALLY got my attention: “Without vision people parish.” This really got me worked up. I understand this is in Scripture, but the person I was talking to was saying that if we as leaders can’t tell people where we’re wanting to head as a church, people will inevitably parish. It seems like he was missing the point.

Ok, am I the only one that has theological issues with his perspective? I have some thoughts I will share…at risk of you pegging my initial thoughts and questions as my end-all conclusions.

It seems like when we talk about “vision” we are at a huge risk of presuming what God is going to do. As American’s we love to hear vision and can even come to a point where we classify it as “stepping out in faith.” We can even demand “vision” as a necessary thing for ministry. But can’t our pursuits of accomplishing something be much more of presumption than faith? Isn’t it possible that our vision is much more of our dream, than it is a biblical command? Or, doesn’t it seem like we can often just have American and even worldly desires that we have our “site” on in the church?

The Scriptures teach us, clearly I might add, that we are to “walk by faith, not by site.” So, why would we have a “vision?” Could it be that we are so uncomfortable with walking by faith that we need to have our sites on something – and don’t even know how to function outside of that? Wouldn’t faith suggest we can’t see what’s coming? Doesn’t faith assume that we trust God with the future and we simply seek to walk faithfully today?

Is it possible for us to have a “vision” and at the same time walk by faith?

For me, many people ask what my vision is for my church. Well, I don’t have one. Stupid? Maybe. But I know one thing: I have a hard enough time fulfilling 1 Peter 5:2 today, much less be concerned about what it means for tomorrow. I’m a shepherd, not a fortune teller. I’m a Christian, not God. I have a hard enough time embracing the things God has called me to today. Plus, James 4:13-17 scares me:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Is it possible that our vision to accomplish things in our city is wrong? Is the sense of our vision not as much faith as it is arrogance? Could we as people (who’s life is but a mist) simply seek to be faithful today, and have confidence that if the Lord wills something to happen that it will actually come to be? And, can we have faith that He will accomplish that whether we had a “vision” for it or not?

These are thoughts and questions I’ve been having. For me today, walking by faith simply means being faithful to God in whatever circumstance He has me in today. I trust Him in that as well as with whatever He may bring for tomorrow.