I had a war within myself to even mention this but I saw a post by a minister that is struggling with the same issue. Last week, I was coaching a group of youth pastors on Value 6 of a Gospel Advancing Ministry which states “A Bold Vision Focuses It.” I messaged them and got the “ok’s” but “PLEASE LEAVE MY NAME OUT of it’s” so I feel able to post some of the details.

The question that led to our conversation was, “If your church's vision can be done by your church alone, is it a kingdom vision?” All of them then stated that they wish they could network but they have been systemically groomed to distance themselves from all churches but their own. WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!!

It got sadder when the one said that when leadership in their church gets the talking he wants to stand up on the table and say, “Guys can we just admit that we are upset because we’re dysfunctional and our gossiping, jealousy, slander, backbiting is adding more PLANK-EYE type sin on our own account!” Then he said, something that made us all tear up... “It will only change when this leadership style dies off because the adults and youth with friends at other churches ain’t falling for it. They know everyone’s dysfunctional and we’re all reaching for God together.” The show stopper was the statement “If I wasn’t in leadership there I wouldn’t attend there because of it.”

Needless to say there was a lot of healing that took place afterwards, a lot of encouragement to have the tough conversations with leadership. But most of all I believe this single conversation has united that group of ministers tighter than any community church service ever could have. The reason? Because everyone minister on that call felt the same way!


As a result of this conversation 5 thoughts came to mind…

1 I’M GUILTY AS CHARGED!
The truth is we all wrestle with “plank eye.” We have a sin nature that causes us to give GRACE to our shortcomings and LAW to others.

2 IT’S ALSO A BLANKETED STATEMENT
Obviously this doesn’t fit all churches. These are just general statements. There are many Gospel Advancing churches that put aside religious conviction (not sin) and work together to reach their communities.

3 DON’T BE BULLIED
“American church folk” don’t be bullied, systematically pinned against each other or check your brain at the door because we’re not under communism. It’s difficult for a non-believer to think you’ll love them through their faults when we show dislike believers who have different convictions (not sin activity).

4 THERE’S A REAL GOD
There’s a real God, that displays real love, through a real Savior. The local church is place in a community to display this love on earth. NOTE: each great church will and should have dysfunctional people because everyone needs a Savior.

5 THE 180 ASK
It feels weird to say but to the “non-church folk…” “pray for us!”


I do honestly believe that revival is in the hearts of believers who get the revelation that we’re better together. If “the church” is the body of Christ (hands, feet, eyes and ears) then is it ok for the hand to say to foot because you’re not like the hand you’re not part of the body?


If you find yourself in a similar situation then I encourage you, don’t be bullied and have the difficult conversation with the people able to make change. Who knows this may be the thing withholding the move of God in the church and from the community.

My friend Tom McCall does a fitness training program and in the last year I've seen it grow into something incredible. But lately it's gotten pretty serious. So serious that his wife Andrea has recently broken some records in lifting. The cool part is that although they are killin’ it as a couple Tom uses his gift to help people in the community reach their fitness goals. But behind the scenes I know they go the extra mile and make exaggerated efforts to make sure people reach their goals.


Have you ever been to the gym and see the people that go ALL OUT and you're like, “Why am I even here? I’ll never be able to get there...” and maybe at that time you just stop and start watching the TV in front of the treadmill OR you just stop going altogether? Or maybe you're the person that goes ALL OUT and walks around knowing it and flexing. Or maybe you're the person who can go ALL OUT and you're willing to help those reach their potential.


I believe God has some incite for us in Luke 18:9-14. “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector” 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”


Here we have two people, very close to each other physically but at the same time very far from each other. In other words we have the proverbial Pharisee “meathead” bragging about his "bench" and thankful that he's not as weak as the one struggling on the "bench” aka the Tax Collector. In verses 11-12 I can imagine seeing the Pharisee flexing and posing in the mirror of his own righteousness and works. Then in verse 13 I can see the Tax Collector struggling on the bench. I then get an image of Christ smiling at the one “struggling on the bench” because he’s a member at “the gym of life” knowing he can't lift life on his own because he needs the Holy Spirit as a spotter. And I see an image of Christ giving the screwface look to the “meathead” saying, “C’mon man, you were there several times. In fact there was a time that you used to need a spotter.”


REFLECTION:
-Do I even “lift” to where I realize I still need a spotter?
-Do I even notice weights in my life and others that I need to lift in prayer and in action?
-Do I even lift the cares of close friends in prayer and in action?
-Do I even lift the cares of those I come in contact with in prayer and in action?
-Do I even lift the cares of my city and the ones who look, act and behave differently than me in prayer and in action?
-Do I even lift the cares of the world that I live in in prayer and in action?
-Am I looking in the mirror of my own righteousness and looking down at others who are struggling to lift bro?

This type of self reflection will cause us to become slower and speak and quicker to listen.


The moment we put totally put our trust in Christ alone for salvation was the moment we realized we couldn't lift on our own and needed a spotter. Sometimes when we are removed from having community with others in the “gym of life” we forget Luke 18:9-14. We tend to walk through the “gym” of our communities or social media feeds and look down on those who don't lift like us and forget that we need a spotter too.

So you could have the proverbial Pharisee “meat head” approach or come alongside a “Tax Collector” like Tom and Andrea and disciple them through the lifting process.

For the record… Give me a fellowship of tax collectors helping tax collectors who know they can't lift on their own and know they need a spotter… they may not look as “attractive” while staring all day in the mirror of righteousness but they tend to be more humble and helpful.


What's your bench press like?

“The Perception of Presence”

I lived a really busy lifestyle, it was go, go, go, go, go... I didn't know how to turn it off!!! It came to the point where I became my kids soccer and basketball coaches because I would have let my “busyness” keep me from going to practices, scrimmages and games. Little did I know that Eli was asking Glory, “Why doesn't Daddy just quit his job because he's never around!” From my perspective I was around, I mean, “I help coach all your sports!!! I could be still on the clock but I work my butt off to 'shift the clock' and that's why I’m not around at times.”

As a dad you may have a really busy work life and make many sacrifices just to “try” to be present but because of our “guy-ness” we act like it's no big deal but on the inside we are STRETCHED!!!

There's a saying that says, “The best present, is presence.” With all my running around and trying to be the best pastor, dad, coach, husband, community member, etc… I think the main problem was that I just needed to be present.

It wasn't until we went away last summer on vacation that I got it. I left my phone back at the place we were staying and my kids were saying “let's go here” and “let's play over there” and I was saying “yes” to all of it. My kids don't want Coach Tyree they want Daddy. I got my presents (the things I did), mixed up with my presence (the time I spent).

I don't know about you but I believe we have this inherent nature (the Bible calls it sin). This nature attempts to cause me to be prideful, to do things that please me and be slow to listen and quick to speak. Through Christ, God has to harness me and pull my reins back so I can see through a different lens.

I ain't gonna lie… I will still help coach but with God's help they will get more DADDY and less coach!

Stay encouraged dad’s! #HappyFathersDay #Dad #life https://www.instagram.com/p/BVffBT2DXYf/