Welcoming "The New Guy"...

This week I (Heidi) get the opportunity to capture an amazing Historic Faith win story, so my plate has been feeling rather full, and my bloggin' noggin a little depleted.  

I have recently learned of an enthusiastic LIFER who is more than willing to share some of his story on the blog and I'm hoping he'll make periodic visits to "Shaping Your Spirit."   

So, give a warm welcome to the new guy, Kent Roberts, guest blogger extraordinaire.  He's got some great stuff to share.  (Hey, those last two sentences rhyme...I love it when I do that!) =D

 

Hi, I’m the new guy on the block, er . . . blog.  Yeah, that’s right, “guy”.  You see, I’ve been in contact with Heidi about doing some possible writing for her on “Shaping Your Spirit”.  She thought it might be interesting as well: In giving the blogsite another perspective; In giving herself a much needed break.  Still though, as one of her co-workers joked, “It's called 'Shaping Your Spirit'...what guy is going to want to read that?”

The scene: An AA-style meeting hall: rickety folding chairs placed in uneven rows, an old makeshift podium, a dozen people in various states, from mild attentiveness to all-out boredom and the pungent smell of burnt coffee permeates the air.  A man sheepishly approaches the podium, grasping it with white knuckles as he chuckles in awkward apprehension:

Me: “So, umm, Hi, my name’s, uh, Kent.”

Crowd: “Hi, Kent!” (Said as supportively as feigned interest can get.)

Me: “And I’m a, umm, I’m a guy.”

(With growing interest and knowing nods the crowd looks to each other with raised eyebrows and half-smiles of affirmation.)

Me: “A-a-and, I read ‘Shaping Your Spirit.’”

(Amid gasps of surprise, the crowd stands to their feet with spontaneous applause)

Facilitator: (steps to the podium, squeezing my shoulder in brotherly support as I pass by to sit down) “Thank you, Kent.  You’re a brave, brave soul.  I know how hard that must have been for you.”

Okay, not really; and I see I’m not the only guy here.  But I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself.  To tell you a little about what brought me here in the first place: To the world of blogging: To the world of ministry through writing: To co-leader of our home group and as volunteer at RLM?   
It all started in earnest last January, when I unshackled myself from the wild, untamed jungles of retail customer service. It was ten years of my life. I’m not a fan.  I certainly don’t recommend it for the faint of heart or weak of fortitude.

The internal conflict I’d been battling for over a year came to a head over the last Christmas season.  I was NOT a happy guy: Ask my co-workers; my family; my wife!  Something was missing, I just knew it. How could I call myself a Christian, yet act the way I did towards others within my role in retail customer-service. I was amazed at the stuff I got away with saying. I was tired; mentally, physically and spiritually. I would come home and had nothing left: I didn’t want to play with my kids; I didn’t want to talk to my wife; I wanted only to veg, to do nothing more than zone out.

It was more than a little frustrating.

Then . . . something clicked.

I was driving to work, replaying various conversations with numerous people about where I was in my life and my spiritual journey. It felt like I was being asked to step out in faith, and trust: Just walk away from a secure job and comfortable paycheck and trust God.  The pat answer I used as a response to this prompting was, “I don’t have that much faith.”

All at once, it hit me. A new voice entered the mix, rocking me so much I had to write down the words that were said . . . while I was driving:

Faith—you either have it, or you don’t!
It’s not a question of degree.
You either believe that I will walk with you through this, or you don’t.
You either believe that I will work this out for what’s best for both of us, or you don’t. There’s no degree…no sliding scale…no averages.
It’s a yes, or no.
You either have faith, or you don’t.
You either have hope, or you don’t.
You either believe . . .
or you don’t

I gave my two-week’s notice that weekend.

Where I’m going now, I have no idea. Yet I rest in the confidence that He not only knows the road we’re on, but knows the destination. It may not be where I think we’re going, but it will be where I’m supposed to be. God has a sense of humor that way. 

God began slowly and seriously working on my heart about fifteen years ago. Still, I feel I’ve grown more in my walk with Him within the last year than I have at any other time in my life.  Now, all I know, really know, is that I’m not alone: God, family, friends . . . relationships, and time to grow them all.

So, Hi, my name’s Kent and I read “Shaping Your Spirit” (and quite a few others . . . I can give you a list, they’re all fantastic.)  Someday I hope to do this for a living, but for now, I’m doing it for God.  Oddly, that seems like just enough.

The Discipleship Process...Polly Pocket-Style.

This week, I got schooled by a six year old - I'm referring to it as, "Lessons by Libby."

This is Libby.

She is precious and sweet and missing a few teeth.  She is also my daughter's bestest friend.

Libby loves Polly Pockets.  This week Libby's mom spied her playing a new game.

Libby was playing, "Home Group."

Libby's parents (Josh and Cassidy) are very involved LIFERS, participating in and leading groups since Libby was a year old.  This week Cassidy and I asked Libby what her Polly Pockets were doing in their little group.  Libby said, "They are doing what mommy and daddy do - having Home Group."  

Libby's mom asked who was leading, Libby pointed out John.  (His wife Carol was unavailable for the photo.) 

Libby said John and Carol lead and host this Polly Pocket Home Group - in the backyard of their Polly Pocket home.  

I asked Libby what kinds of things to do they do in Home Group?  Do they watch cartoons together?  Sit and crochet blankets?  "No," giggled Libby, "they get together and talk about Jesus.  They want to make disciples," she smiled.  

Then she pushed her bangs out of her face and continued, "You are supposed to get together - like Jesus got together to make disciples."

And then it clicked for me.  

I'd been schooled by a six-year old.

You see at Real Life, we have entire leadership trainings on our process.  We've identified "keys to making disciples,"...it comes with a whole slide show power point presentation, trust me.

This is what we teach our leaders about the key components (everything a disciple-making group must possess): 

Four Key Elements:
     1. There is a biblical foundation.
     2. An intentional leader is present.
     3. It involves a relational environment.
     4. The process is reproducible.

Those are big fancy words to describe what a six-year old discovered by simple observation. 

Libby has been brought up in a home with parents who participate in this very process.  Libby, in her afternoon playtime, knew instinctively that she needed a leader, a nice, comfy place for people to get together and  to talk about God's word in the same method Jesus modeled.  And clearly, the process is reproducible...even Polly Pocket-Style.

The thing I love most about Libby's little lesson is the reminder that our children are watching.  Every time we choose to fight for relationship, repent and turn to Jesus, and continue to go to Home Group week after week, we are teaching our children something.  It's discipleship at it's finest. 

We get the opportunity to teach the next generation that it's not just about obeying Jesus' words, but following his methods as well.

Nice work Miss Libby.

H =D

This is Where...I Feel Safe.

I just gotta say, my husband does a great job leading our home group.

I'm a bit of an odd-ball, and I tend to get off track easily.  I love Jesus with all my heart, but He did make me a little quirky, so quirky I shall be.  I love to laugh and I can't ever be serious for longer than a half an hour at a time (and that's on a good day.)  So, you can see why my husband might have his hands full when he's leading our home group.

That being said, he does a good job laying down the law week after week.  He recites the guidelines religiously (sometimes I think it's mostly to keep me focused) but here's really why he does it: it actually makes me feel safe.

As much as I'd like to think I'm not a rule follower, and I like things to feel organic, free-spirited and spontaneous - I need those guidelines every week in group.  They might seem like inviting the "no-fun" monster to the party, but really, if the group isn't SAFE...it isn't a place where I'm free to be me anyway, and neither is anyone else.

My husband also doesn't just read off the list of guidelines, he always does it in this really cool way where he has a little conversation, he starts off each week a little something like this:

"I'm so glad you all could make it to group tonight, it's great to have everyone here.  I just want to thank you for making this a safe group, where everyone gets a chance to share.  We all have stuff God is working on, so let's try our best not to fix one another or offer too much advice, but encourage everyone to let the Holy Spirit do his job within us.  I appreciate that what is said here, stays here, we keep everything confidential and if you have an issue with something that's said or with someone in group, let's deal with it biblically and go right to the person, okay?"  

This is where everyone nods.

Then he reaches for his cell phone and says, "and let's turn off our phones, respect everyone in group and try not to cross talk.  So, who's ready to open up and pray and get into God's word?"

( Okay, so maybe that's not verbatim, but if he wants to change it he can start his own blog. =D )

There are times I've been irritated with the guidelines, I worried group would feel stale or get boring; but as he sat and went through the guidelines before group this past week, I thought about how much I've come to really appreciate that little set of rules and boundaries.  

I might joke on how the guidelines feel like the restrictive bar on a roller coaster, preventing me from feeling free to do as I feel.  The guidelines allow me to practice in good listening, in dying to myself and my own selfish desires.  They really allow people to express themselves without feeling judgement or shame or condemnation.  If they are followed appropriately, they allow for a healthy group to grow.  Plus, you gotta admit, relationships can get messy, and it's good to feel safe.


Until next week, H =D