You Should Never Cry At a Funeral

Ok, you should never cry at funerals. I only typed that so you would read this because the statement is ludicrous. I am sitting at LAX airport. I just participated in the funeral of a dear friend of my wife and I. I cried like a baby because I am selfish. She's with Jesus but we all want her here being like Christ to us. So, technically the crying is over my selfish desire to have her here and not with Jesus. So, crying at the funeral of someone who loved Jesus is selfish. But in the midst of my selfishness I am again reminded to work hard, imagine, dream, and never quit. Why? Because my last breath us unknown. I have to quit jacking around while in this state on this earth. We all must. We just must quit playing games. It's short. It's really short. So, join me those who are reading this and dedicate yourself to living and loving Jesus in such a way that others cry at YOUR funeral! And act your funeral is today!

Missional is Positional

We have been plugging and I have been preaching the "missional life" concept for years. It's not new..just like everything else. If you hear the words innovative or new just get out an old crusty encyclopedia or do a Google and you will find out it's not new...nothing is. The first line of my book: "Do You Want to Go To The Mountain" is LIFE IS A MISSION TRIP. What I have been feasting upon and warming hands to is that this is easy to talk about but hard to teach. It's all great theory but harder to connect to people's mindset. Me living this way is great, needed, and a priority. This all must be modeled. I thought this would have the impact needed for others to follow almost as if they would "automatically" begin to live this way. Modeling it has inspired some but there are still so many nodding their head, "Yes" when I preach but are not tracking with it in their actions. Again, it sounds good to everybody: helping people and serving but it still comes back to, how does this become a lifestyle? How can you connect this into a lifestyle and not temporary behavior modification. There is no one answer but I have been seeing the answer to this as a positional question. What I mean is how do I see myself, my life, my job, and my family positionally. I have been put here, with these people, in this time for mission. I am not working downtown but rather I am positioned downtown. I am not just going to the grocery store but rather I am being sent by God to that position. Seeing my job not as "that's not where I have chosen to work" but rather this is WHERE GOD HAS POSITIONED ME. When we see what God has done to position us we will begin to have MISSION as a lifestyle. I have yet to take someone overseas who did not see this. They knew they were there on mission...that's why they came on the trip! They were in a certain place for a certain purpose. They were in a position for mission. So, if we can teach viewing our life as one of divine positioning we can more easily be ready to be on mission with God where we are and with WHAT we are doing!