Theology Thursday 17 - Walk of Shame?

Last week at Catalyst Reggie Joiner spoke about the prodigal son. I’ve obviously heard the story before, I even taught from it a few weeks ago. Joiner asked a question about the story, though, that I had never thought about. He asked: what if the older brother had met the prodigal before the father?

The story would be completely different. Instead of exemplifying love and forgiveness, the story would exemplify fear and rejection. Instead of returning home amidst celebration and grace, the prodigal probably would have turned back around, carrying away more shame and regret than he had arrived with.

Joiner’s question challenged me to examine my own life and ministry. When prodigals meet me or come to our ministry, are they meeting the loving father or the judging brother?

I know that I have experienced grace, but is my life a conduit for that same grace to others?

I know that I have been accepted into the family of God, but is our ministry accepting of any and all?

Does my life make prodigals want to celebrate or walk away in shame?

I haven’t fully thought through what this means for my life and ministry. At this point, however, I know that I don’t want to be the older brother. I want my life to lead to celebrations of grace not walks of shame.

Who in your life, because of their acceptance and love, has caused a celebration grace?

Leadership Wednesday 18 - Lead Apologizer

I hate apologizing but it’s a skill leaders must learn. A few times in my life I have had to apologize to students for my behavior. It is a terrible feeling knowing that I have reacted to a student is such a way as to warrant an apology. I tell students every week how they should strive to live like Jesus, that his way is the best way to live. Inevitably I fail to reach that standard and sometimes I miss the mark when interacting with students.

When that happens, when I miss the mark and I offend a student, I need to practice the skill of apologizing. I hope to hurt or offend students as little as possible, but when I do, I have to be willing to apologize. If the students can’t see me, their pastor, making every attempt to reconcile a broken relationship, then I’m not much of a leader. This goes beyond simply practicing what I preach; this involves not only leading when I’m right, but leading when I know I’m wrong. And very often, leading when I’m wrong, involves admitting when I’m wrong and apologizing.

How does apologizing impact your leadership?

Topical Tuesday 21 - Famous to the Famous One

I went to Catalyst last week, a leadership conference for next generation leaders. There were a few highlights from the conference that will likely show up in future posts, but today I want to focus on something I heard during one of the lab sessions.

I went to a lab titled “Off the Blogs – Into the World,” which focused on allowing what happens within virtual conversations to positively impact the actual world. The speakers at the lab were Anne Jackson, Carlos Whitaker and Jon Acuff. Jon Acuff writes the blog Stuff Christians Like and is someone who I admire; I like his writing and how he created a platform for himself. Acuff shared a little of his story and how the rise in popularity of his blog pushed him one night to ask God for fame. Acuff felt that God responded by telling him that he was already famous; the God of the universe knows Acuff’s name so what other notoriety does he need?

I know that this blog isn’t going to make me famous; it’s really more about the exercise and personal practice. That doesn’t mean, though, that I don’t want to be famous; I would love for people to know my name and desire to hear my thoughts and ideas. But God already knows my name.

God has known me since before I was born.

God has known me since before I wrote my first blog.

God has known me since before I posted my first podcast.

God already knows me and that should be enough. God already knows me and loves me; he’s passionate about me and is waiting for me to turn my thoughts and focus to him. Why should I care if thousands want to listen to me talk if the creator of the universe is just waiting for me to talk to him?

I don’t need to chase after fame; I need to chase after the Famous One.

How do you respond knowing that God thinks you’re famous?

Music Monday 23 - First Date with an Album

I’ve bought five new albums in about a week and a half and I’m having trouble finding time to listen to them all. New music is a lot like a dating relationship: I find myself trying to get past the awkwardness of the first few dates to see if we have something that will last.

First Date
In ancient history when I used to buy physical albums, I loved the sensation of opening the new CD as I walked out of Best Buy to my truck. There was so much excitement as I readied myself for my first date with this new album. Would I like it? Would it sound good in my manufacturer’s sound system? There is a certain anticipation when listening to a new album, whether it’s by an artist you love or someone you’re just checking out. We want to know whether or not the $10 we just invested will be worth it, if it will lead to something more. Just like, when sitting across from our date at The Cheesecake Factory, we wonder if the investment of time, money and energy is going to amount to anything.

Second Date
I contend that the second date is harder to get than the first date. Most people will say “yes” to one date because the possibilities are endless, there’s no telling what could happen. But after one date, after we see the way they twirl spaghetti or how they can’t stop talking about their collection of fur balls from their eight cats, we’re less inclined to invest time in a second date. After listening to an album for the first time, the excitement has worn off and we have to decide whether or not we’re willing to invest another hour of our time into the album. My iTunes is littered with plenty of albums that got a first date but couldn’t make it to the second date. I would like to let those albums down easy, tell them that it’s not them ,that it’s me, but that would be lying.

It’s them because they weren’t as good as I thought they would be.

It’s them because there weren’t enough catchy singles to hold my attention between the moody ballads.

It’s them because they’re not Lady GaGa.

In a Relationship
I have only been in two relationships in my life and there’s nothing better than seeing that little heart in my Facebook status that says “Scott Higa went from being single to being in a relationship.” While I am a firm believer in monogamy when it comes to my relational life, I am a polygamist when it comes to my musical life. If an album survives the awkwardness of the first few dates, I like to think that we’re now in a relationship. That doesn’t mean I’ll listen to the album every day, but I’ll come back to back to it again and again, like Bernard Slade’s play Same Time Next Year. Some of my longest relationships have been with U2’s Joshua Tree, Norah Jones’ Come Away with Me and MJ’s Thriller.

I love having a relationship with new music, but only time can tell how that relationship will end up. Will the initial excitement and sizzle lead to something more substantial, a comfortable pattern of lifelong partnership? Or will it just be a summer fling, something we look back on fondly as a symbol of our reckless youth? Who knows, but at least we have a lot of time and music to figure it out.

How do you incorporate new music into your listening habits?

Music Monday 22 - Christian Covers

There is a lot of really good Christian music. I’m more than happy to listen to David Crowder Band, Hillsong United or Family Force Five. Those bands create original music with a very distinctive sound, to which I enjoy listening. Some Christian bands, however, aren’t as creative and simply release Christian covers of secular music.

I’ve heard terrible covers of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” Collective Soul’s “Shine,” and U2’s “Beautiful Day.” I understand that covers are part of the music industry, plenty of bands or artists will cover a song and release it on an EP or as part of a live album. I just don’t understand why Christian radio stations will play covers of songs they wouldn’t normally play. If U2’s version of “Beautiful Day” isn’t Christian enough, then why is a subpar cover?

While I may not be a huge fan of Christian covers, that doesn’t keep me from recognizing secular songs that are ripe for a working over by the Christian music industry. One such song is Orianthi’s “According to you.” Here are the lyrics to the first verse and chorus.

According to you
I’m stupid, I’m useless,
I can’t do anything right.

According to you
I’m difficult, hard to please,
Forever changing my mind.

I’m a mess in a dress,
Can’t show up on time,
Even if it would save my life.
According to you. According to you.

But according to him
I’m beautiful, incredible,
He can’t get me out of his head.
According to him
I’m funny, irresistible,
Everything he ever wanted.

If there was ever a song that was crying out to be covered for Christian radio, it is this song. It carries a good Christian message that, regardless of what others think about us, we have value to God. It may be a bit of a stretch to think that God thinks I’m funny or that I’m everything he ever wanted, but it’s probably still positive enough to sneak onto Christian radio.

What other secular songs need to be covered by Christian bands?

Freeform Friday 13 - Diary of a Fat Kid, Part 01

Transparency breeds accountability. At least I hope it does.

I’ve lost some weight recently and, until now, haven’t really discussed it that much. There may be two people in my life who know where I began and where I ultimately want to end. Losing weight is somewhat embarrassing because it obviously means there was weight to lose in the first place. And, up until now, I was a little uncomfortable sharing how much weight I have to lose. It’s my hope, though, that my openness and transparency about my weight loss will inspire me to maintain my focus and hit my goal.

I began counting my calories with the LiveStrong application on my iPhone in the middle of December. When I began counting calories I weighed 205.5 pounds with a BMI of 32.2, which placed me in the obese category. Because I counted calories over the holidays, I was able to maintain that weight and on January 2, 2010, I again weighed 205.5 pounds. In the 15 weeks since then, I have lost 27 pounds and now weigh 178.5 pounds with a BMI of 28; according to my BMI, I am now only overweight.

My ultimate goal is to lose 50 pounds and weigh around 155 pounds. In future posts, either on Topical Tuesdays or Freeform Fridays, I’ll share my plan, my motives and some of my experiences. For now, though, I just wanted to be a little more transparent and lose the stigma and embarrassment of having 50 pounds to lose. And now I’ve added the people who read my blog to the ranks of those who can hold me accountable; it’s probably only four people, but it’s four more than I had before.

Theology Thursday 16 - Showering with God

Sometimes I go through life thinking that God can only speak to me in specific places or situations.

If I’m at church then God is really going to speak to me.

If I’m at a retreat in the mountains then God is going to have plenty to say.

If I’m at a conference then God is really going to communicate his truth through the speakers onstage.

If I’m at the beach then God is going to whisper something into my heart as I watch the sunset.

Those are all great places for God to speak to me. If I think that God will only speak to me in those situations, though, then I am putting him in a box. And God doesn’t fit in a box, even if it’s a really big box.

God has been showing me that he can speak to me whenever he wants. Lately that has meant the Holy Spirit speaking to me and giving me insight while I’m in the shower. I don’t know what it is about the shower or why it’s a good place for God to speak to me. Recently, though, he has regularly used those ten minutes of shampooing, washing and shaving to give me insight into issues I’m facing or sermons I’m preparing.

I would have never guessed that God would use my daily shower as a place of revelation, which is probably why he does use it. Not only is he speaking to me but he’s also showing me that nobody puts God in a box, just like nobody puts baby in a corner.

What unexpected places has God spoken to you?

Leadership Wednesday 17 - Openness and Honesty

Preaching is one of my favorite things to do and I really feel like it’s an arena in which God wants to use me. When I first started preaching my focus was on being really funny and telling a lot of jokes. While I was in seminary my focus was on doing a thorough analysis of the passage. Now, while I still like to tell jokes and want to stay true to the scriptures, I’m focusing on how I can be open and honest in the pulpit.

One of my seminary professors told me that we shouldn’t focus on ourselves during our sermons, that we shouldn’t use our own lives as an example. Recently I’ve been ignoring that advice; I have been sharing applicable stories from my own life. I appreciate openness and honesty, especially from the pulpit; it makes the preacher seem much more authentic and the lessons taught much more practical.

As a preacher and a leader I need to embrace openness and honesty. Obviously there is a balance between authenticity and giving out too much information, but I would much rather struggle with those questions than whether or not to open up at all. When we’re open and honest over a period of time, people recognize that and are more willing to allow us to speak truth into their lives. Openness and honesty lay the foundation that really allows us to build into people.

How has the openness and authenticity of another impacted your development?

Music Monday 21 - Disney Music

Some friends and I were driving home from Lake Havasu yesterday. The soundtrack for our trip included various artists and bands from various genres. About four hours into our trip, though, we made the switch to Disney music. Everyone in the car was over 20-years-old, yet we still remembered all the words to classics such as “A Whole New World,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Kiss the Girl.” Classic Disney songs like those are wrapped in so much nostalgia that it’s easy to sing them and feel like a kid again. Listed below are a few of my favorites.

“Gaston” – Beauty and the Beast
When I first saw Beauty and the Beast I probably didn’t like Gaston very much. He was wicked, he was evil and he wanted to kill the Beast. As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve realized I like Gaston more and more with each passing year. He really is a man’s man and I’m thinking about following in his footsteps by eating five dozen eggs every morning to help me get large.

“The Circle of Life” – The Lion King
The first cassette tape I ever bought was the soundtrack to The Lion King. I remember cleaning my room and singing songs like “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Hakuna Matata” at the top of my lungs. I always liked “The Circle of Life” when I was growing up, but my interest in the song is growing as my wedding draws nearer. Eventually I am going to have kids and, when my first born is dedicated, I want to play “The Circle of Life” and thrust my child in the air like Simba.

“I’ll Make a Man Out of You” – Mulan
I don’t really have strong feelings for Donny Osmond either way, but I feel inspired when he tells me that I should be as swift as the coursing river. Honestly, I’m not much of a man; I don’t know much about cars or tools and I like Celine Dion way too much. But when I listen to “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” I have hope that I can have all the strength of the raging fire and be as mysterious as the dark side of the moon.

What are some of your favorite Disney songs?

Freeform Friday 12 - Taking the Fun Out of Target

I went to Target today because I needed three things: sunscreen, Burt’s Bees and undershirts. I went to Target for three items that I needed and I left with only those three items. I remember when my Target trips were far more exciting.

When I was living with my parents, Target trips were like going to Disneyland. I would go to Target because I needed pens or contact lens solution, but I knew in the back of my mind I would walk out with much more than those needed items. Every time I went to Target I would get what I needed and then head to the electronics section. There was never a trip to Target when I didn’t walk out with a new CD, DVD, video game or toy. Those were the days.

Now when I go to Target and spend $100 it’s on boring items: laundry detergent, trash bags, deodorant, hand soap. Target used to be so much fun but that entertaining sheen has worn off. I still like Target, but now it’s like eating my vegetables: I know it’s good for me, but it’s just not that much fun.

What’s your favorite part about Target?

Theology Thursday 15 - Easter Afterglow

I’m still feeling the effects of Easter. I wish I meant that in a super spiritual way, but at this point it’s an issue of practical life. I still feel like I’m trying to recover from this past weekend, which was very busy, and a lot of conversations at the church have revolved around Easter and all our services. At this point I feel like our church’s celebration of Easter is having a longer lasting impact than the reason for which we celebrated.

I remember saying in my sunrise sermon how much I love Easter and how much I love Jesus. Preaching on Easter Sunday those feelings are natural, that’s how I should have felt. Yet, in the days since Easter, I don’t know if those feelings have welled up within me. I want to be excited and passionate about the resurrection and its universe-altering impact every day, not just Easter Sunday. Just because we’re not having four services in two different venues doesn’t mean the resurrection doesn’t hold just as much value for me today.

Easter Sunday is significant in the life of a church, but its significance shouldn’t overshadow the resurrection or Jesus’ love the rest of the year.

I need the resurrection today as much as I did Sunday.

I need to know that Jesus loves me today as much as I did Sunday.

I need to be as willing to live my life for Jesus today as I was on Sunday.

Easter is wonderful; it’s a perfect day to celebrate the resurrection of our loving Lord. But so is every other day.

How can you celebrate the resurrection today?

Leadership Wednesday 16 - Leadership Lessons from @robackercbc

I’ve been working at my church for almost three years now and I still thoroughly enjoy it. I consider myself rather blessed because I know that isn’t always the case. A lot of pastors I know feel trapped or underappreciated in their jobs and can’t seem to find any way out; I have never felt anything remotely similar to that. I wake up every day thankful for the job I have, and a lot of that has to do with our senior pastor, Rob.

Technically, I guess Rob is my boss, since he’s the one who ultimately made the decision to hire me and is the one who could ultimately make the decision to fire me. But, beyond him being my boss, I consider Rob to be my pastor and someone from whom I can learn a lot about leadership.

This week, after Easter and all the preparation put into our services, Rob made the decision to close the church office the following Monday. It wasn’t a vacation day and we didn’t have to take time off, the office was just closed. It’s not a huge deal to close the office, it’s not like the church was going to miss out on any big bids or massive sales, but it does show a lot of concern and care for staff.

Properly caring for subordinates is definitely a lesson I want to learn. At this point I don’t have that many subordinates, but those I do oversee and the volunteers I work with absolutely deserve my care and concern. I’m not really a warm, fuzzy guy, but Rob has shown me what it means to care for and pastor those God has placed in our care.

Hopefully this isn’t seen as some sort of virtual suck-up because that’s not my intention; I just enjoy when I don’t have to open a book or go to a conference to learn a leadership lesson. Rob is one of the many people I can learn lessons from; I just pray that my heart stays malleable enough to continue learning.

From whom in your everyday life do you learn leadership lessons, positive or negative?

Topical Tuesday 20 - Financial Peace Update

My 13 weeks of Financial Peace University are getting close to wrapping up. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the class and the lessons I’ve learned from Dave Ramsey. I was telling a friend that before I started FPU I would always hear people preface statements about money by saying “Dave Ramsey says…” I would always wonder about the Kool-Aid these people had drunk and why they were such passionate disciples of Dave Ramsey. Now, after my time in FPU, I have drunk the Kool-Aid; I often find myself saying “Dave Ramsey says…,” trying to get people to believe in the principles that have changed my financial life.

I’m still a long way off from where I would like to be. However, I am making smarter decisions about my money and I’ve been able to save more than I ever have before. Pictured below you can see the status of my savings accounts.


And below you can see where I was at almost three months ago.


That’s a difference of $1,448.15. Knowing where I was, that’s a huge number for me, yet I know I’m still a long way off. However, it does feels good to have a plan in place and a goal in mind. I’m also very thankful that I’m armed with Dave Ramsey’s principles before getting married; I know that having a clear financial plan and sticking to it will make my marriage a lot stronger.

If you have any questions about the steps I’ve taken or the plan I’m on, please let me know. I’ve got to warn you, though, I’ll probably start out any answer with, “Dave Ramsey says…”

Music Monday 20 - Entrance Songs

When attending a live baseball game I am always fascinated by the songs the players choose when they come up to bat. At any given game one might here a mixture of rap, rock, country and Latin music. My personal favorite was the song selected by Julio Franco. Franco played for a number of teams and chose Crystal Lewis’ song “People Get Ready…Jesus is Comin’” for when he came up to bat. I always enjoyed hearing a soft, Christian ballad amidst the songs chosen by the other players.

I don’t know if “People Get Ready” got Franco fired up to take his at-bats or if he simply liked the message but it always made me think about what song I would choose. I don’t know if I would choose a song that had a message like “People Get Ready,” a song to fire me up like “Faint” by Linkin Park or just a joke to make people laugh like “Like a Virgin.” I would probably end up picking “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2 because it’s my favorite song and it does a good job of getting me fired up. I would try to work it out in my contract, though, that I would get to choose a new song every home stand. U2 may be good in April, but maybe by August I’d want to listen to Celine Dion or Justin Bieber. Just kidding, who would want to listen to Justin Bieber?

If you were a Major League Baseball player, what song would you choose to play before you came up to bat?

Freeform Friday 11 - Good Friday

I feel the same way about Good Friday that I do about a memorial service for a truly committed follower of Jesus. There’s always this tension, on Good Friday and at such memorial services, between sorrow and celebration. When my grandmother passed away we truly celebrated her life and her love for Jesus, but to this day I still feel an amount of sorrow because she’s gone, because she won’t be sitting with my family on Sunday for Easter dinner. So I celebrate my grandmother’s life and what she did for God’s Kingdom, but also feel the sorrow over her absence.

I also feel sorrow on Good Friday, reflecting back upon Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. At churches all over the world, people will gather and remember what Christ did. They’ll think about the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, Jesus’ beating at the hands of the Roman soldiers, Jesus carrying his cross to Calvary and ultimately his crucifixion, the Son of God hanging on a twisted tree. With images such as these, it’s almost impossible not to feel some amount of sorrow or to carry around the somber weight of what Christ did for us. The sorrow and weight, though, need to be held in tension with the reality that Sunday dawns and, with it, a new reality.

We shouldn’t be filled with sorrow to the point of breaking on Good Friday; Jesus already went through that. Good Friday should be a somber celebration: we recognize what Christ did, yet celebrate what his death means for us and the entire universe. Because Jesus died on a cross the world is being renewed: from the hearts of people to every corner of creation. And while Christ’s death, which initiated that renewal, is a somber reality, we need to willingly celebrate it, because it is good.

Theology Thursday 14 - April Fools'

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let those who boast boast in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

April Fools’ Day has been around for centuries. One of the first references to April Fools’ Day came in a 1539 Flemish poem about a man who sends his servant on a number of different wild goose chases. As soon as the servant realizes what his master has been doing, the servant regards himself a fool.

No one likes to be regarded as a fool. When I hear the word “fool” I think of a court jester or someone who makes increasingly bad choices. When I call someone a “fool” it’s usually because I do not want to use a harsher word like “stupid” or “moron.” I have no desire to think myself a fool or to live my life in a foolish manner. Once again, though, my desire for my life is different from God’s desire for my life.

We’re told that God chooses to use the foolish, the weak and the lowly because the foolish, the weak and the lowly bring more glory to God. An army of 300 defeating overwhelming odds glorifies God more than an army of 25,000. Uneducated fishermen glorify God more than educated teachers of the law. A crucified carpenter glorifies God more than a conquering king. If we want to glorify God to the best of our ability then we need to be regarded as fools in the eyes of the world.

It’s foolish to think that God uses broken, weak and flawed people to fulfill his purposes, yet he does. We’re just asked to acknowledge our foolishness and brokenness, and then trust in God’s wisdom and righteousness.

How can you acknowledge your foolishness and trust God this April 1st?