The Power of If

"God helps those who help themselves."

You can't find the word 'if' in this oft used phrase, but it's definitely an 'if' statement. I've heard people use this phrase as though it's in the Bible. Of course it's not in the Bible and as a matter of fact, it's not even a true statement about God. The whole idea that God will only help the helpful is not even in His nature. I think what's happened over time, as usual of course, is that people have taken what is true about them and made it true about God. We would do well to reverse the flow and have what is true about God be true about us.

Now that's not to say God isn't an 'if' God, because He is. In the search engine I use, there are 3,473 occurrences of the word 'if' in the King James Version and 3,522 occurrences in the New King James Version.

The word 'if' is a pivotal word for sure. It is the kind of word that puts pause, hope or doom in any statement. And therein lies the power of the word. 'IF' It's the ultimate conversational speed bump.

Not always is the word 'if' a speed bump, there are times even within the above mentioned occurrences that the word 'if' is used less dramatically as in the example of Noah in Genesis 8:8; "He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground." However, even in this context the word 'if' is still pivotal in that Noah needed to know whether the water was still high or was it beginning to recede.

Think about it, without the word 'if' we wouldn't be able to frame or define consequence. The word 'if' is the fulcrum or tipping point in all our lives. The question that must be used when working with others, or even ourselves is; where will the tipping point be placed? Where you put the word 'if' in relationship is critical to how failure or success will be measured.

For example, the word 'if' introduced too early in the relationship can derail intention and placed too late in the relationship can weaken hope that anything will ever change.

IF is a powerful word.

Quoting part of a verse doesn't help either, as in; "I'm the head and not the tail." Partially quoted from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 13, which in it's entirety says; "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."

Spoiler Alert! You're not the head or above anything baby unless (if) you obey God and keep His commandments. IF you are an obeyer of God and a keeper of His commands - then quote on brother, I'm with you.

God has indeed placed 'if' in our relationship with Him and as a wise Father has measured 'if' for us in just the right places - not too early and not too late. He has placed the tipping points in all the right places. He loves us unconditionally and has forgiven us far more times than we've even forgiven ourselves - and yet has critically embedded 'if' so that we may know the boundary of our straight and narrow followership of Him ... now that's love. That's God!

Here's today's question, starting with yourself and then moving towards others; "Where is the critically placed 'if' in the conversation of relationships you're in"?

If the word 'if' is too early in the relationship, you're far to legalistic to be free enough to free others and if it's too late in the relationship, you're far to loose to be of any real service to those around you.

This is why I teach principle six in my Rescue Intensive; "Time is not a factor when you pursue the inevitable of God". When you take time off your wrist and build time into the person or relationship, then and only then will you know where the fulcrum or tipping point of the word 'if' belongs.

Dan
A Runner

The Speed of Solution

No matter what your observation based opinion has been regarding the folks from Idaho taking Haitian children over the border to the Dominican Republic, the speed they chose to serve Haiti, the children and parents of the village, was entirely unappreciated by the Haitian government.

Why is their decision to aid hurting children in an earthquake torn country being called into question? Their cause was noble. Their desire to help children admirable. So what's the complaint?

Well, according to Haitian officials - everything. The folks from Idaho didn't follow legal protocol required to remove children from their own country and unfortunately, when asked at the border where the children were from and how they came to be on the bus, the group deceived the authorities.

An old sharp-shooter term comes to mind; slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

A hurried rush to remove the children from danger and a swift effort to aid the Haitian children to a better future in the Dominican Republic did not end well for those who were caught up in the crisis. As a matter of fact, their swift response to the crisis of others resulted in a very slow quagmire of legal and international wrangling.

And therein lies the problem. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIX AND SOLVE.

The speed of fix moves at the speed of the crisis, and crisis moves very quickly. For those of you who have been caught up in running after the crisis in someones life and have even from time to time successfully matched speed with the crisis - you just as quickly realized that the crisis has another speed and just as you were able to offer your fix, the crisis moved out in front of you once more.

Now that's exhaustion.

The speed of solution and unfortunately the speed less chosen, rejects legacy building, grand standing and one-up-manship. The speed of solution is much slower than anyone wants. But it is the right speed if we want to ultimately move faster. The speed of solution suggests the momentary relief of a problem through fixing it, is not valued over the arduous pursuit of lasting and sustained endurance.

Frankly, the consultation I would have given to my well intentioned brothers and sisters from Idaho, would have been to sell all that you have and follow Jesus. I would have encouraged them to take the proceeds from the sale of their homes in Idaho and instead of removing the children from the village and from their parents, move into the village themselves and spending the rest of their lives improve the life of the village by serving the parents of the children and actively participating in something truly noble - village transformation.

There you go. The problem of poor children not being raised in a Christian home without a good education needed to have a better life is solved. Solved for generations of villagers to come.

It's hard to follow Jesus, that's why so few actually accomplish it. To follow Jesus requires everything and everything is often harsh. The rich young ruler faced the same harsh dilemma in the Gospel of Luke chapter 18 verses 18-23.

Here's today's question; 'Am I living toward God in such a way as to answer His imminent observation with an everything response?

Dan

A Brand-New Ending

For those of you who follow and/or forward my weekly blog, thank you for your patience as I intentionally took the month of January off.

One of the axioms of Cherry Street is; 'Rock bottom is a firm foundation from which to build'. Based on this, we who serve in this part of the river of the human condition have a rather developed belief system which allows us to have high comfortability creating and being in an environment of 'rock-bottom crashers' who are encouraged to get on with it .... and crash.

David, in Psalm 139 verse 8 wrote; 'If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, you are there.'

Now listen, many who follow God these days do not know - in the Biblical sense of knowing - what David is talking about here, nor have you embraced God's complete comfortability with us as He watches and waits for us at rock bottom.

In fact, many of us who have potential 'rock-bottom crashers' in our lives are trying to slow their rate of speed as we witness them spiraling out of control, while others of us try to cushion what we know is going to be a hard landing ... why?

God is there - are we?

Scottish Theologian Carl Bard once said; 'Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.'

Frankly, its hard to start something new if you're still holding onto something old. It's as though we want for others what we know is not even possible for ourselves. Life has amply taught you by now that rock bottom, though harsh, was your salvation. It was there that you found God - I mean really found Him. You found Him waiting to bind the wound of your fall and solve the reason for your decline.

Here's today's question; Are you willing to risk standing where God is standing?

To stand at rock bottom is to stand at a brand-new ending. The Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:17; 'Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.

We now live in a world who largely wants the new start without having a new ending. If you are to be an effective voice of rescue in 2010, learn the lesson of 'a brand-new ending'. Develop your relationship to God in such a way that those around you will know, really know Him, as the One who waits like no other at rock bottom.

As you do, you'll also be known for the same quality.

Dan

2009

The fullness of heart as 2010 advents compels, even obligates me to express the deepest gratitude accompanying my thoughts of 2009 and of the many who have and continue to be shining examples of God in the darkest places of our community.

Gratitude for Family

First as a friend of God, provided through Jesus Christ, I remain happily enslaved to His will, His purpose and His intention. Crystal, as the prime earth bound constant is without equal in her love towards me and her followership of God. My sons, daughters and grandchildren continue to make me glad for being on this planet.

Gratitude for Cherry Street Mission Ministries

The Board of Directors:
From Jamey Schmitz our Board Chair to all who serve in this vital position of leadership your kindness for the community is realized each day we serve the hundreds of men, women and families arriving at one of our doors.

The Staff:
With nearly 70 men and women on staff at Cherry Street I am grateful for each one. Here are a few who stand the gap in amazing ways. Liz, who assists me with the smallest and largest of detail, serves without hesitation. Rodney who tirelessly serves to communicate the message to our donors and volunteers. Cheryl who keeps the lights on and helps us live to serve another day. Charles who loves our men, Angie who loves our women, Cindy who loves to educate, Renee who feeds the multitude, Bob who keeps our facilities in working order, Amy who is devoted to integrity of message, Roz who loves our volunteers. The list of staff, their accolades and their epic feats of service could go on for ever - like Kim, Evangeline, Matt, Molly, Jacob, Jenny and so many more ... thank you.

Gratitude for the Social Fabric Partnership:

1Matters, Food For Thought, LifeLine, The Pharmacy Counter, Mercy Health, Promedica, UT, BGSU, Joshua Generation, TLCHB, TAAEH, Reentry Coalition, Toledo Area Ministries, WLMB TV 40, WPOS, YMCA/JCC, New Life, New Harvest, Vision, CedarCreek, 1st Alliance, Westgate, 1st Church, Truth at Work, Hylant, Andersons, Toledo Community Foundation, LaSalle Cleaners, BrandEd ... this list is only the beginning of a rather exhaustive body of work - thank you.

Gratitude for the Friendships of Service:

Dennis, Martha, Ken, Don, Tana, Calvin, Christine, Warwick, Roz, Charles, Doug, Linda, Stephanie, George, Sarah, Jim, Lee, Gary, Mike, Keith, Dave, Steve, Randy, Deb, Chris, Tricia, Pete, Larry, Brand, Kevin, Scott, Jerry, John ... too, too many more, all great in the sight of man and God - thank you.

Gratitude for our Guests:

The many men, women and families who are served each day through the ministries of Cherry Street are the vital rebuilders of ruined places and are the mighty Oaks of God's planting so that generations to come will testify of His love for humanity - that none should perish.

Happy New Year All!

Dan
A Runner

Inefficient

Last night Crystal and I stopped across the street at a friends house who has a monthly community dinner for friends and neighbors. While we didn't stop by out of some undisciplined sense of obligation, we could only stay for a minute and without even taking our coats off wished all well and we were off.

The season of 'the rush' once again, is upon us.

You want to talk about the ultimate in schizophrenia, I'm the guy who teaches; 'you must be efficient with stuff, so you have time to be inefficient with people'. Relationships, the great ones anyway, need a tremendous amount of what can only be defined as ... inefficient.

In order to connect with people, you must invest unbelievable amounts of time doing seemingly nothing, like sitting for hours on end talking, laughing, drinking coffee and making merry - oh that reminds me, Merry Christmas before I forget and rush out of this conversation ....

The marketers are on to us. They have officially synthesized a word complete with a definition and an accompanying list of behaviors which frame like a set of bookends a neat little package so we can, I suppose, feel better about not being better - which is what a good definition and solid list of behavioral traits accomplishes.

Polychron: An ultra busy person experiencing chronic busyness.

Chronic busyness results in high expectations for convenience and the need for control and choices. While there are three specific behavioral traits associated with polychronism, let me give you the most important ... a polychron will frequently shut down emotionally.

Shut down emotionally.

Ironic isn't it? The one time of year where emotions are likely to run the highest; joy, exuberance of visiting friends and family, love, peace and an abiding sense of God's embrace ... is also the time of year we're the most likely to disconnect.

Here's today's question; 'In what way will you (and me obviously) intentionally commit lavish inefficiency's upon those around you?

The powerful Dickens tale of 'The Scrooge' hopefully reminds us today; it's not too late to be inefficient. For many of us, we've had our visits from the memories of seasons past, are reminded of our seasons present and perhaps concerned for seasons yet to come ... now what?

The good news is - we know what the what is!

For each of us it will be different. Each of us already know the relational intersections we're blowing through. Our speed is so fast through these intersections, there's no cautionary slow down nor is there even a looking both ways manner.

Eventually of course, we'll cause an accident, some of us will leave the scene acting as though we weren't culpable - others of us will mourn the loss and some will remember for seasons to come, the time when we ....

You know what the what is, because the Who lives within you. Go ahead, give the greatest gift this year - the one God gives every day through Jesus Christ; lavish inefficiency.

For me? I've got some friends across the street who need to see me with my coat off.

Dan
A Runner

Humanity Intersects

At Cherry Street, our largest volunteer day of the year by far is Thanksgiving. On a single day more than 500 of our fellow citizens will arrive at one of our ministry sites to serve.

As a side note, this year we're doing something a bit different. Instead of only having a single service site where the community can come for a delicious Thanksgiving meal, more than 300 volunteers will be delivering nearly 500 family Thanksgiving boxes so families can stay in their homes. We're doing this to rally support for the sanctity of the home and to encourage the family meal whenever possible.

This is the time of year service to others becomes most visible. But what causes our community to show up during this season, like at no other time of the year?

There are two intersecting realities at play; it's getting colder and it's the holiday season. The cold reminds us there are those who are not warm and the holidays remind us there are those who are not happy.

Thankfully - these end of the year human intersections are fantastically attractive to the community. Social profit organizations like Cherry Street, look forward to the last twelve weeks of the year. We can historically count on the community to show up in ways that makes the first 40 weeks of the year look like a blur.

News and media outlets are on hand to both promote and report on community involvement.

For those of us who by calling and vocation serve in the human intersection all year long - we are both grateful and humbled by the generosity of the loving communities of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

For the listening and generous heart it may go without saying - but let me say it anyway; 'The need for humanity to intersect is a year long responsibility.'

Here's today's question: 'In what way will you purpose a human intersect?'

The reality is, none of us were conceived in a relational petri dish experiment. No - all of us are where we are ... all of us ... because someone engaged and intersected with us. Someone in your past shared a substantive experience that became part of you - there was a powerfully molecular exchange that changed you, set your course and gave you compass.

God from the beginning wrapped Himself on earth in vessels made of flesh - humanity ... you and me. Given the reality that God is completely invisible He designed the relationship we have with Him to depend on our visibility.

Consider this:
A warm, nutritious and seasonally appropriate Thanksgiving meal will stabilize hunger but only God can settle old accounts.
A warm coat, gloves, hat and scarf will stabilize against the cold, but only Jesus can redeem a history.
A warm human experience can stabilize the fragile, but only the Holy Spirit can breath new dimensions of hope.

The capacity of life transformation only God can bring, is dependent on the infrastructure of life stabilization that only we can bring.

Of the many things that can transpire within human intersections my prayer is that God, through the gift of His son will find a way from you to someone else or from someone else to you - ensuring that the greatest of all human intersections may see the light of day.

Humanity Intersects!

Dan
A Runner

Complex

I was in New York City recently. We stayed in the theater district in mid-town Manhattan at a conference discussing the success of the Harlem Children's Zone and the impact this organization has had in Harlem over the past two decades.

My traveling companions, along with my wife Crystal, were Dave and Kelly Kaiser. Dave has been to the city many times and for the rest of us was an excellent host. In just four days, in addition to a rather intensive conference schedule, we took a boat tour of Manhattan which included the Statue of Liberty, a bus tour that took us to Brooklyn and back to Manhattan, went to the observation deck of the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Wall Street, Times Square, Ground Zero of the World Trade Center, Battery Park, rode the famous NYC sub way, prayed with about 2,000 fellow laborers at the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and oh yes, ate without shame or hesitation some NYC pizza - whatta ya gonna do?!

All cities are a complex maze, but in NYC I found this to be overwhelmingly true. It is so vast and complex a place, that all you truly can have confidence in is your ability to put one foot in front of the other and see where it takes you.

For the first time in my life and career of working and serving the human condition, I finally have an appropriate metaphor for humans.

All of us are very New York City synonymous!

For example, NYC is as deep as it is tall. The Empire State Building stands at 1250 feet while there are water main pipes that are 1000 feet below the sidewalk. There are some buildings with names in which are visited frequently and many more buildings with no names that are walked by each day without as much as a passing glance. Some buildings are dressed in bright colors attracting all to their doors and some buildings that are non-descript and uninviting.

You get the point.

Here's today's question: How does someone minister within the context of complexity?

The person in whom you will encounter today will need you to appreciate how exhaustingly complex their vertical issues are. As it is for all of us our issues are both in the 'all can see' places and especially below the surface in the 'out of sight, but not out of mind' places.

Serving one another is not too terribly complicated, but serving the human condition is extremely complex. You and I will need a one foot in front of the other approach ... step lightly will you please?

The sidewalk conversation you're involved in right now towers over you with quiet anticipation and rumbles beneath you with disquieted confusion.

Are you prepared? Are you confused over your own vertical issues? What will you do with those pesky moments you know God is going to give you today that involves another person?

Can I encourage you to receive a new dimension of the Holy Spirit? If Jesus needed it before starting His service to humans, then I can imagine a followership of His example on this one to be quite a non-negotiable.

Here is the answer to today's questions: 'Get a new dimension of the Holy Spirit's leading'. Ask Him, seriously ask ... what do you have to lose? I'll tell you the alternative to trying to keep up with the complex in you and around you all by yourself will leave you less than satisified.

In contrast, when you receive a new dimension of the Holy Spirit, you'll be empowered, those in whom you intersect will be served and God will get a chance to redeem a past and renew a future.

Dan
A Runner