January 27

THE BEAUTY OF INDEPENDENT PEOPLE

One of my favorite moments in life is when I see a person who's really cool, a young leader who could call a million different friends and they would love to hang out with him, but he opts for being alone. He's intelligent and has a charming personality and is looked up to, but he chooses to read a book in a park alone. Or go on long walks alone. Or runs errands by himself. Or sits behind his computer for hours not to watch YouTube but to write. I can't help but be inspired by that.

When I was in high school I needed to be around people. I found my security in how many friends I could hang out with. But now that I'm in my 20's, I really want to spend time by myself. I love being independent. I love reading books. And practicing writing by myself. And going on walks by myself. And visiting a waterfall or Redwoods all alone. Because the people who inspire me do that, I want to follow their example.

And it just so happens I have the most fun being by myself. I do like hanging out with people in moderation, but not too much. People are too fickle. One day they're nice. The next day they're a jerk face. It is what it is. But no one can hurt you when you're alone.

The most confident people don't feel the need to be around people 24/7. I've noticed that sometimes the most looked up to people will sit alone at church. They don't need to surround themselves with a posse. They're their own person and don't need to find their identity in how many people they can surround themselves with.

The greatest Bible characters were so attractive because they knew how to be alone. Jesus could be all by Himself for 40 days straight (Luke 4). Moses was in a desert for 40 years before he became the leader of the masses. When David was to be anointed king, they had to fetch him because he was all alone with his sheep.

The greats need alone time.

Language . . . Has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone.
- Paul Johannes Tillich

January 26

THE COURAGE OF LEGENDS

The most repeated commandment in the Scriptures is, "Do not be afraid." God tells His people to be brave hundreds of times in the Bible. Which is perfect, because the one emotion all creatures share is fear.

Understand - being brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you're scared to death, but you do the brave deed anyways. Bravery means your feelings tell you to flee from the blood and screams of battle…but your actions charge the front lines.

Doing the very thing that scares you most - that is courage.

However…

It is possible to purge your emotions of fear as well.

Only the greats know how to do this. Only the legends know how to master their senses so completely that they don't even let themselves feel the emotion of fear.

How do they do this?

By bringing their worst fears upon themselves, they overcome fear itself.

If you do what you're afraid to do on a daily basis, bringing your worst fears upon yourself regularly, you will have the courage of legends. When you keep on doing the things that scare you most, you'll stop fearing them. You'll find that you actually survive your fears. They're not invincible after all. You're still standing.

David, one of the bravest men of history, put it this way, "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart" (Psalm 27:4). As you perform the action of bravery (be of good courage), the emotion of courage will come as a by-product (your heart will be strengthened).

If you can train your emotions to not even feel scared, then no one can stop you. Purge yourself of fear, and you'll be made of the stuff legends are made of.

Every day, do what terrifies you.

Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.
- Author Unknown

January 25

THE GUY WHO SHOWS UP IN EVERY WAR MOVIE

Wise people aren't surprised by anything.

Fools are shocked by everything.

A fool experiences grief or glory as if he's the first human to ever encounter such emotions. He gets overly giddy in times of glory as if he's the first man to experience victory, then panics in times of perturbation as if he's the first man to chance upon defeat. Every event in his life is entirely unforeseen by those amateur eyes of his!

Experienced sages like Solomon, however, know better. They know that everything which happens to them has already happened to their fathers before them (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). Why be surprised by anything, then? After all, there's nothing new under the sun. They know that every emotion they encounter in 2011 has already been experienced by cavemen multiple millennia ago, so they'll treat grief and glory as two familiar acquaintances, unsurprised by each.

A perfect picture of this unsurprised wise man is found in the veteran soldier who shows up in every war movie. He's the guy who's been around the block. He's seen heads roll. He's seen bloodshed. He's heard the shrieks and horrors of battle. He's unafraid. By his 100th battle he's a pro, totally relaxed, because he's seen it all already.

My Dad once pointed out to me the amusing contrast between this veteran and the rookie soldier. The vet's helmet is unbuckled and falling off the side of his head. His gun's dangling loosely at his side. A cigar's hanging out of his mouth. He's cool as a cucumber. The rookie soldier, however, has his helmet buckle strapped tightly to his chin, grips his gun with two sweaty hands, triple checks his rounds, and is throwing up before battle. When he and his men engage the enemy, he's bewildered by the screams and cannons and cannot believe such horror could exist! He's jumpy and sweaty and surprised by everything that happens to him.

Which soldier are you?

Do you behave as if you've never fought a battle in your life? Are you astonished when you see a little blood? Or do you accept that life is bloody and that being a coward isn't going to help you or anybody else? Have you learned to anticipate both glory and grief and not be shocked when either of them comes?

Death will come. Heads will roll. The victories will be many. And so will the defeats. Expect it all.

If you can learn the art of never being surprised by anything, if you can learn to relax, you'll be a vet in the war of life.

How ridiculous and what a stranger he is who is surprised at anything which happens in life.
- Marcus Aurelius

January 24

THE LEGENDARY ARMY OF MACEDON

The legendary army of Macedon is perhaps the most deadly force to ever set foot on the field of battle. Under Alexander's leadership, they successfully embarked on the conquest of the world. Even today, more than 2 millennia after their heroic adventures, their feats still fascinate the modern reader. But a large reason why they became great (a large reason Alexander was ever called "The Great") was because of his father, King Philip.

For over 2 decades, Philip had been preparing his men for battle. His requirements were great, for to be a soldier in his army you had to be tough. You had to be brave, for Philip would position horsemen behind the battle line to chop down any coward who ran away from the battle. You had to possess endurance, for Philip's officers were made to march 30 miles in the summer or carry 30 days’ worth of flour on their backs. You could not be a man who needs your woman with you, for females were not allowed to come into camp. You could not cherish comfort, for once Philip scolded a Macedonian for bathing in warm water because warm baths were only for women who had just given birth.

Conditions were adverse for the Macedonian warriors, yet look at how hardy their adversities made them - look at what they were capable of accomplishing!

If you wish to be heroic and fight epic battles, you must master the art of toughness. You must learn to embrace discomfort, stand your ground (Ephesians 6:13), and never complain like a coward (Philippians 2:14). You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3) and beat your body until it becomes your slave (1 Corinthians 9:27). You must master fear (Isaiah 41:10) and be of good courage (Psalm 27:14). Only then you will accomplish deeds of daring that may just rival a man of Macedonia.

For a tree to become tall it must grow tough roots among the rocks.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

January 23

XERXES

Once, when Xerxes, king of Persia, beheld his enormous army, he wept, for he knew that within a hundred years’ time, every one of his men would be dead.

The cruel reality of human impermanence is most saddening. Man is but a breath, returning to the dust the moment he starts to learn how life ought to be lived. Swiftly does humanity rise and fall. During every baby shower celebration, a grown baby is in a morgue, being mourned. Every time a human is born in a hospital, another human is dying upstairs.

This is a most vain vanity!

Ecclesiastes 1:4 says, "Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever." We are but transient folk, pilgriming through the world, headed toward an inevitable grave. Yet the earth, being something of a living creature itself, lives on. Even though it feels no emotion, and does not care whether it lives or dies, it has a far greater lifespan than we emotional beings do, who wish for immortality.

Plato considered the planet to be an animate being of sorts, with trees serving as it's hair, rivers as veins and rocks as bones. The earth is a creature which endures forever, yet our hair and veins and bones will be in a coffin within a few short years.

Reflect on your transience today, and live accordingly.

For the more you think about death, the more fully you will live life.

Mere man is but the dream of a dream, but the generations of a fancy, but an empty vanity, but the curious picture of nothing, a poor, feeble, unable, dying flash.
- John Trapp

January 22

SEIZED WITH A LONGING

Alexander the Great was afflicted with a dream - he knew he must accomplish some outrageous goal. He would often declare he was "seized with a longing." This is not to say he was a man with his head in the clouds, for he knew he must convert his longings into practical accomplishments.

Although the heroic conqueror was surrounded by great generals, who were indeed the creme de la creme, they never showed signs that they were "seized with a longing." This trait belonged to Alexander alone. In fact, he'd frequently walk in the lonely mountains, looking for hidden trails to gain triumph over his opponents, but also, it was said, in hopes that he might reach the mountain of the Olympian gods.

The hunt for transcendent realms is shared by all legendary men.

Are you seized with a longing? Are you possessed by non-negotiable desires, rooted so deeply in the fabric of your being that you couldn't remove them any more than you could remove your heart from your chest and live to tell the tale?

Take heart! When the Lord wants you to attain some unusual feat, He puts the longings in you not to upset but to uplift you (Psalm 37:4 and 1 Peter 5:6).

Do not question your sanity when you feel compelled to meet some extraordinary goal. Was Alexander crazy? His goals were preposterous, yet he did pretty well. Was Joan of Arc crazy? She heard voices, and what's more, she obeyed them! Yet she was quite a remarkable woman, wouldn't you say?

Follow the voices, and embrace your divine desires…for only then will you reach the transcendent heights which you were destined for.

Dreams are like stars…you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.
- Author Unknown

January 21

LEADERS HAVE KILLER PERSONALITIES

So I've been really inspired by a book called Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. I've been talking about it and bringing it up in teachings a lot. Gladwell has a premise that anyone who's got a skill, and puts in 10,000 hours of practice, will become a master. 10,000 hours of practice is a mathematical formula for success. It's almost magical.

You will succeed if you can practice this much.

However, there is a danger in taking this to an extreme. I've noticed that I've been so focused on practice recently that I've neglected personality. It's made me boring. I've noticed that the people who inspire me are hard workers, yes, but it's who they are that draws people to them.

My Dad has a saying I'll never forget, "It's not what you do, it's who you are."

Look at Jesus. He wasn't just a hard worker. He also had a killer personality. Luke 2:52 says He was loved by God and everyone who knew Him. He had an undeniably charming persona that drew people in.

It's not just about practice. It's equally about personality.

My friend Reynolds is a perfect example of this. I was just in Georgia last week, and I got to see first-hand the revival he's leading among college age kids in downtown Atlanta. I was trying to figure out his secret to success. I surmised that his influence is largely due to the fact that he's got an out of control personality. It draws people in. Who he is draws people in more than all the work and practice he puts in.

One night, for example, we talked and hung out 'til around 5 AM. We figured out that he is an Epicurean by nature, whereas I'm drawn more to the Stoic lifestyle. He's a party animal for Jesus and is a free spirit who loves to be alive. Whereas I tend to be more boring and focused on forcing myself to practice even when I don't feel like it (I don't do that at all like I want to, but it's my life goal).

Yet when I saw this out-of-the-box 27-year-old leader heading up a miniature, growing revival in Atlanta, it hit me that it's who Reynolds is that makes people so attracted to what God is doing. It's not just that he's practiced a ton.

The same is true of many leaders. Do they work hard? Of course. But they also have killer personalities. They take time every day to do what they love. To develop their personality. Whether it's watching America's Best Dancers or Rory McIlroy golf (as we did) or watching an inspiring movie or viewing YouTube interviews of people who draw you in, it's important to set aside time in your day to develop who you are as a person.

If you're merely a workaholic, you'll be a gray person. And you'll get kind of weird because you'll lose touch with reality. You've got to be alive if you want to lead. If you're always stoically pushing down your personality to work, you're going to sacrifice the core of who you are.

Work hard, yes. But make time today to do what inspires you. Watch a good movie. Hang out with friends. Play golf.

It's not what you do, it's who you are that inspires.

We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.
- Albert Einstein

January 20

A WORD FOR PASTORS

A couple weeks ago, I was touched by a plaque I spotted in a pastor's office which read, "A pastor is one who speaks to your spirit, listens to your heart and understands what words can never say."

That's the definition of a super-shepherd.

Most pastors tend to specialize in one of those 3 traits:

1) Some shepherds speak to your spirit. They're master communicators - only this talent has a dark side. Great speakers have a tendency to be critical towards those who aren't as talented at talking as they are. Therefore, when sheep approach them, they hurry on the conversation and cut off the lamb mid-sentence because they have gifted mouths but clumsy ears.

2) Other pastors listen to your heart. They're so good at hearing you out, in fact, that lambs often fix their own problems out loud because they have a patient ear to talk into. Yet if you're a great listener, but not faithful to study and work hard, you'll have few insightful comments to contribute, and the lamb will question your wisdom and won't come back for help.

3) Still others understand what words can never say. They get people. For example, if you're a pastor with an abusive dad, and one of your lambs also has a cruel father, you will surely empathize with him. But sympathy alone can be dangerous, for it can encourage the lamb to delve deeper into his wounds and feel sorry for himself.

It's only when you put all three pieces together that you've attained the killer combo. Understand people without them having to say a word, but also speak wisdom into their situation without cutting them off. Listen to their heart.

If you do, when the Chief Shepherd returns, he will crown you for being, by the grace of God, a super-shepherd (1 Peter 5:2-4).

“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.”
- William Arthur Ward

January 19

AN INSULTING TRIUMPH

One of the most fascinating historical references in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 4:9, where Paul writes, "Sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display like prisoners at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world - to people and angels alike."

Paul's referring to a procession called a Triumph. In ancient times, when a Roman general achieved a great victory, he'd march his victorious army through the streets of the city with a crown over his head, parading the trophies he'd won. But at the end of this procession came a small group of captives who were condemned to die. They were being led to the arena to fight with the vicious beasts.

Paul says the apostles are like that group of captives. They were humbly marching to their death for Jesus.

But interestingly enough, the captives were not the only ones being humiliated - the conquering general was humbled as well! During a Triumph, 2 things would happen to keep the general from getting a big head. First, as he rode through the streets like a champion, the people would indeed shout their applause, but they'd also shout over and over again, "Look behind you and remember you will die." The group of doomed captives were a grim reminder to the general that he, too, was mortal.

Secondly, at the very end of the procession, the general's own soldiers came marching through. They sang his praises, but they also shouted rude insults and jeers to keep their general from becoming arrogant.

This ancient picture is a perfect description of what every triumph is like. They're all bittersweet. With every victory we achieve, there are always people present to insult us. God does this so we remain humble. Look at Justin Bieber - his music video is the #1 most played video on YouTube…but it is also the #1 most "disliked." That's how it is when you have great successes. God will send people your way to poke fun at you, hurt your feelings, and remind you that you're still a mortal just like everyone else.

As a Christian, you're even greater than the conquering general, for you are more than a conqueror in Jesus…but that doesn't mean you won't have your fair share of insults and haters along the way.

Embrace the insults. You need them.

God won't use arrogant people.

No one ever choked to death swallowing his pride.
- Author Unknown

January 18

AN 8,600 MAN ARMY

GK Chesterton once said "The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and our enemies probably because they are generally the same people."

Can I get an amen to that?

For me, it's hardest to love and forgive those I'm closest to. I'm a grudge holder by nature. Most humans are. We all want to know how to let go of a grudge toward a loved one who has hurt us so badly.

Jesus taught us how to forgive. In Matthew 18, He told a parable about a forgiving king. One day, this king wanted to update his accounts. A certain man was brought before him who owed him 10,000 talents. There was no way he could pay that off, so he begged for more time. But the king wouldn't give him more time. No…he simply erased the debt completely!

The forgiven man then went on his jolly way. But then he found one of his own servants who owed him 100 denarii. Instead of spreading the forgiveness, the creditor grabbed this man by his throat and demanded that he pay up. The servant begged for more time, but the creditor wouldn't give him mercy. So he tossed him into prison until he could pay off every last penny.

The king found out about this…and he was furious. He called his servant and asked why he would not forgive a mere 100 denarii if he was just forgiven 10,000 talents! The king threw his wicked servant into prison, and wouldn't release him until he paid off every last cent.

Now here's the astounding thing about this parable. 10,000 talents is roughly 15 year's wages! Whereas 100 denarii is only, roughly, 100 day's wages! One Biblical scholar pointed out that, if you broke up the debt into small coins, you could carry the 100 denarii in one pocket! Whereas it would take an army of 8,600 men, lined up for five miles, each carrying a 60 pound sack to carry the 10,000 talent debt!

If my King forgave me of that debt, how dare I not forgive the pocket change my debtor owes me! When I look at the cross of my King, and see the infinite debt He forgave me of, suddenly the debt my loved one owes me looks like mere pocket change in comparison.

When you don't know how to forgive, just compare debts.

And forgiveness will become automatic.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.
- Lewis B. Smedes

January 17

LEADERS OBEY THEIR OWN COMMANDS

It isn't an easy task to persuade men to follow you to the ends of the earth, conquering the world. Few leaders can convince their followers to bleed for them, when they need not to.

Yet Alexander the Great was able to do just that. He did not merely persuade his men to fight obligatory battles (like when one defends his country) but to fight voluntary battles (like finding new foes to fight in order to take over the planet).

Alexander's Macedonians followed him with more loyalty and fervency than perhaps any army to ever live. How was the great conqueror able to elicit such devotion from his troops?

Because, it is said that he never asked his men to make an effort which he himself was not willing to undertake.

The king didn't merely sit on his plush throne, sending his soldiers to bleed and die for Greece. He fought right beside them. He bore the marks of war on his own body. He brawled with more daring and courage than perhaps any ruler ever had. He was a warrior king.

Therefore, even when his men doubted his direction, they couldn't help but follow him.

If you wish to be an effective leader, you must follow this rule: I will never ask others to do what I myself am not going to do.

You obey that rule, and you will arouse loyalty in your men.

Is this not how the greater than Alexander inspired a larger army to follow Him than any world conqueror? The King of kings did indeed demand much of His followers…but He obeyed His own commands.

Jesus told His men they must die on a cross if they wished to enlist in His army (Luke 9:23). When He said that, He hadn't yet been threatened with a cross Himself. But He predicted one was coming (Matthew 20:18-19). His men hadn't seen Him carry a cross - but they would. And it was after He died that He gained a greater following than any which history had ever witnessed.

Every day Jesus woke up knowing He would bleed on a cross. With eyes like flints, He marched to Jerusalem to die. That is why He could demand His followers to do the same.

You want to shout commands at people? Shout them at yourself first…then you're ready to lead an army.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
- John Quincy Adams

January 16

HOW TO MAKE IT BIG TIME

Years ago, my Dad took 22 young guys to the desert for a Pastors in Training school. Out of all the wise things he said, my favorite was, "What you do with your free time determines if you make it big time."

This really spoke to me, because I have a tendency to dink around when I have free time. All of us young pastors-in-training were inclined to roll rocks, play cards, or walk to the candy store during our time off the clock. But those who go the furthest refuse to waste their time on unproductive trivialities.

After all, how many legendary gamers who spend all their time on the Xbox are also legends in real life? (Proverbs 13:4)

How far you go is almost entirely contingent upon how well you use your time. In fact, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called Outliers, wherein he studied the stories of success, and in every case each great person had a ferocious work ethic. In the 2nd chapter, Gladwell discussed the 10,000 hour rule. Perhaps you've heard of it. He argued that those who reach world class expertise in any given field are those who've invested 10,000 hours of practice into their craft. Whether you're looking at world-class athletes, fiction writers, or violinists, 10,000 hours is the number of greatness.

That means if you want to make it, you've got to work on honing your skill for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, over a 10 year period.

So get going! You've got no time to lose. What you do with your free time determines if you make it big time.

All the so-called "secrets of success" will not work unless you do.
- Author Unknown

January 15

LIZARDS

In Proverbs 30:28, the sagacious Agur considers the wisdom of the lizard. The lizard can be caught with the hands, yet he's found in king's palaces!

The lizard represents someone who finds a way in. And once he's "in" he discharges a sticky substance and holds on. That's why he can hang out on the king's walls and ceilings.

What a wonderful life lesson we find in the lizard. He schemes his way into impossible places, and hangs on once he gets there.

Many people talk of writing books, launching out on business ventures, or getting into acting, but they make all these excuses about how hard it is to get "in." They say things like, "I can't make it because I don't know the right people or have any connections."

But the lizard doesn't have any connections. He's not in the "in" crowd. He doesn't get invited to the king's party. Yet there he is, hanging out in the corner next to the punch.

You have a dream? Fantastic. Find a way in.

Then, when you're in your dream, hold on. When times get tough, exude your sticky substance (your faith) and don't let go!

The lizard finds a way in. We're being shamed by a lizard for crying out loud.

Let's fix that.

No one ever excused his way to success.
- Dave Del Dotto

January 14

STOIC CHRISTIANITY

The Stoic philosophy could be summed up in one word: acceptance. The Stoics sought to achieve peace by accepting whatever came their way as Providence.

We could implement some Stoic philosophy into Christianity. Paul seemed to. In Romans 8:28, he famously wrote, "All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Paul may have had Stoic philosophy in mind when he wrote that.

The Stoics believed that the Mind of God had a plan for every person. They believed nothing happened that wasn't part of His plan. Therefore, to resist His will was as futile and foolish as trying to stop a speeding freight train by ramming your head against it.

In fact, Epictetus (a famous Stoic) once wrote, "Have the courage to look up to God and to say: 'Deal with me as thou wilt from now on. I am as one with thee; I am thine; I flinch from nothing so long as thou dost think that it is good. Lead me where thou wilt; put on me what raiment thou wilt. Wouldst thou have me hold office or eschew it, stay or flee, be rich or poor? For this I will defend thee before men."

Like the Stoics, we Christians must learn the art of acceptance if we are to obtain peace. Welcoming God's will, not ramming our heads against it, is the only path to serenity.

You can't tackle a freight train.

Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well.
- Epictetus