One day just wasn't enough...

My wife's birthday was yesterday.  We celebrated with brownies and ice cream and gifts as part of our weekly Family Night.  But I felt like one day just wasn't enough to celebrate this incredible woman's birthday.  So I surprised her Sunday night with a "schedule" for the entire week to help celebrate her birthday all week long.  Clothes shopping, a massage, conversation with friends, time with me, and more are all on the docket this week.  We already accomplished the clothes shopping, but it's fun to know she has more things ahead to remind her how special she is to me and the kids.

I have been so blessed to be given such a faithful, loyal wife, who is not only passionate about me and our relationship, but even more passionate about a relationship with Christ.  I marvel at how she makes just about everyone feel accepted, and how she accomplishes so much with 4 kids to care for.  She truly has been, is, and will continue to be a wonderful gift from God.  And when something this wonderful comes along, you just can't celebrate it on only one day.  And so our family has declared this "LeAnn Bird Week!"

Happy Birthday, Le.  I love you!

Not getting away with it...

I've recently heard several stories in the news about high profile individuals or organizations being discovered as deceivers:

• A pastor in Australia lies about having terminal cancer (and undermines the inspirational worship song he wrote).
  
• A former presidential candidate finally admits to having had an affair.
• A country official has an adorable 9-year-old girl lip sync to another girl's voice (who was considered not cute enough to represent the country) to present a "perfect" Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

What makes people think they can get away with lies and hypocrisy of this magnitude?

I will admit - as a human I sometimes have thoughts of doing sinful things.  Really, really sinful things.  But everytime I play the scenario out in my mind, I get caught.  And even if I think I've created the "perfect crime", I still know that God has witnessed my imaginary sin-escapade.

As someone who desperately want to be like Christ, thinking through an action before I engage in it has kept me from making some huge blunders.  It is what allows my wife to trust me, my kids to admire me, my co-workers to respect me, and my friends to listen to me.

But let's say I did blow it.  If I were to screw up - God's grace is still there for me.  I am forgiven, even for my future sins.  Thank God for that!  But even though I am justified through Christ, there are still natural consequences for my sin, as the pastor and presidential candidate are currently experiencing.  And personally, I don't want to do that to those I love, to myself, my reputation, nor the Kingdom of God.

If you have screwed up in the past, the worst thing you can do is keep it hidden.  And rather wait until it is discovered and you are found to be a deceiver, be proactive and admit it.  Confess your sin not only to God, but to those who will be hurt by it.  Step into God's grace and move forward toward Christlikeness.

If you are being tempted to create a lie to get attention, or to have an affair, or to embezzle some money, or whatever it might be - confess that to someone.  Confession not only works retroactively, but also proactively.  If others know how you are being tempted, you are less likely to engage it the act.  But not only do I encourage you to confess it, but I also encourage you to think the matter through.  Imagine getting caught.  Who gets hurt?  What happens to your job?  What happens to your relationships?  What happens to your faith?  What happens to your reputation?

Something as simple as thinking the matter through can spare you and others a ton of pain.  Because even if you think you can keep the matter hidden, it will be discovered eventually.  You won't get away with it.  So don't even try - it's not worth it.

Learning to Do Church from DGrin

On September 5 & 6, New Covenant is hosting a conference about mid-sized groups (Adult Bible Fellowships, Sunday School Classes, Ministry groups, whatever you want to call those groups that are 15-60 people in size) called Growing Groups, Growing Lives. Our speaker will be Josh Hunt who has been studying, writing, and speaking about mid-sized groups for most of his adult life.  Josh puts out a weekly email, and this latest edition was so good, I thought I'd share it here.

If you are interested in the Growing Groups, Growing Lives conference, simply email growing AT newcovenantbible DOT org to register or request more information.

------------

Learning to do church from DGrin

by Josh Hunt

A good metaphor compares something unknown with something known. In this way, we come to understand by analogy. We understand that Google is like a giant phone book for the web.

Well, I want to do the opposite: I want to explain what is known--church--by learning about something that is unknown--DGrin. I have discovered some insights here that I just can't keep from telling about.

What is DGrin?  http://www.dgrin.com/

DGrin is an online photographer's forum. The participants range from long term, hard-core professionals, to semi-pros, to those just getting started, to serious hobbyist. Most everybody there has a DSLR--Digital Single Lens Reflex camera--a real camera as opposed to point and shoots.

There are two things that every church could learn from DGrin. First, it is a very welcoming community. These people love photography and they want to encourage every budding photographer. You can go onto DGrin and post any photo you want. It can be the most lame, out-of focus, badly composed, high-noise, low resolution, piece of junk you can imagine, and if you post it with a heading like, "First post" you will get responses like these:

*   Good to have you!
*   Welcome aboard!
*   Great photo!
*   Nice expression!
*   Cute kids!
*   You will love it here!

Churches should be more like that. We should be totally welcoming of newcomers, and especially those who are not very far along in their faith walk. We should be totally enthusiastic of people with bad habits and bad language. People who don't dress right and smell right should be welcome at church.

There is a second thing most churches could learn from DGrin

DGrinners won't let you stay crummy. They will gently lead you to be a better photographer. They will encourage you in what you did right and offer suggestions about how you can get better. Better, and better and better.

DGrinners will never leave you alone. They are relentless. Once you have been posting for a while and they feel they know you, and ask for "cc please" (comments and critic) they will let you have it. They will find a million ways to improve your photographs and when you think about it for a bit, you realize they are right. Usually. There is even a place they call the Whipping Post when you think you have a photo that can withstand the scrutiny of the DGrinners watchful eye. I have not had the nerve to do the whipping post yet.

Good churches should do that. We should push one another higher and higher up the rungs of the ladder of spiritual maturity. We should be relentless, from one glory to another.

How churches actually are

Here is the bad news. In many cases, I have found churches are just the opposite. They are not that accepting of people who are far from God. And, they don't do particularly well at pushing people up the ladder of spiritual maturity. We shun people we ought to accept and we are too easy on the bad behavior of people who ought to be leaders.

How we can do better

DGrin doesn't work on auto-pilot. It is not that photographers are just better people than everyone else, although, that is probably true. ;-) There is an unseen force that makes it work. It is the same force that makes a church work well or a business run smoothly: leadership.

Leadership, in the case of DGrin, takes on the form of moderators of the various sections of the forum. There work is largely unseen, but I have spent enough time on DGrin to see it at work and cause me to realize that it is the vigilant work of the moderators that makes this whole thing work.

A time or two I have seen constructive criticism go south and turn into meanness. (Of course, we all know there are no mean people in church, but just stay with me anyway.) The moderators step in and give a polite but firm warning. Of course, what might happen behind the scenes next I am not privy to. I assume if someone would not fall into line, the moderate could and would kick them off the forum and remove all of their entries.

I myself received a warning at the hand of a moderator. The conversation was about what makes a photograph a photograph and not a snapshot. One person had posted a famous picture that was apparently snapped rather snap-shot like, but the photo certainly had all the qualities of a photo. I responded by posting a photo in a similar vein. What I had not picked up on was the first photo included an attribution--it said who took it. Mine hadn't. I was told quickly, politely, but firmly, to dig up the name of take it down. DGrin does not allow the posting of third party photos without attribution. You must give credit where credit is due.

If we would create communities that welcome newcomers no matter what their habits and hang ups, if we would create communities that push people farther and farther up the mountain of spiritual maturity, it will require ongoing, vigilant leadership. It will require constant vision casting around the goals.

We will not be able to speak of things just once and expect it to be so. Vigilance to the dream is the key. We want to create a community that accepts everyone as they are, as they saying goes, but loves them too much to leave them that way. We must say it over and over. We must say it publically. We must say it in small groups. We must say it privately. We must confront one another when we fail to live according to these values.

We must all say it. The pastor must say it. The staff must say it. The group leaders must say it. It must become part of the culture, part of the DNA, part of the conversation. Part of conversations at church and  part of conversations at Starbucks.

This was the Acts 2 church: they loved people the way they were, and loved them to much to leave them that way. They pushed people to higher and higher levels of glory.

This was the ministry of the apostle Paul. He accepted people no matter what, but pushed them higher and higher up the rungs of the latter of spiritual maturity.

This was the ministry of Jesus, accepting prostitutes, but pushing the Pharisees and his own disciples to be more like God.

This must the ministry of every church: to accept people the way they are, but challenge them to be more like God.

And the Darwin Award goes to...

If I ever get 15 minutes of fame, I don't plan to waste it like this...

Summer Blessings

With school beginning in just a few hours for my girls, summer break has officially come to a close.  As part of our family night this past Monday, we each shared highlights of our summer.  I thought I'd share some of my highlights here, but I'm going to share them in two sets - the "expected" highlights, and the "surprise" highlights of the summer of 2008.

Expected Highlights/Blessings

• Our trip to Topeka over the 4th
• Our trip to Indianola the first weekend of August
• Seeing K use her birthday as an opportunity to serve
• Officiating 4 weddings
• Celebrating T's 2nd birthday with lots and lots of balls
• Celebrating 14 years of marriage in June
• Swimming laps almost 3x per week
• Leadership Summit
• Some good family time

Surprise Highlights/Blessings

• The Flood of 2008 (because it allowed the Church to shine and serve this city like never before)
• LeAnn's broken leg (because it showed me I'm not as great of a servant as I thought I was - and gave LeAnn time to actually sit and read)
• Tsion's mysterious infection in July (because it forced us to rely on God)
• Officiating a funeral for a 5-month old (because I got to minister to his parents, who are also my friends, in a way I never would have otherwise)

In each of these surprise highlights, I think I would gladly give up the "blessing" so that others could have back their homes, legs, and children.  Yet I can't help but realize that even in the darkest of times, there are still linings of God's grace and blessing.  Romans 5:3-5 (which was just preached this past Sunday at church) encourages us to rejoice in sufferings, because of what they can lead to in the long run - endurance, character, and hope.

With this thought in mind, I'd like to close with a Franciscan blessing I've had hanging in my office for several years, and I heard shared at the Leadership Summit a few weeks ago.  It has a similar sentiment as my "surprise blessings" of this summer:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Election boycott?

NOTE:  IF YOU ALREADY PLAN TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN OR OBAMA, THIS POST MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.  BUT IF YOU AREN'T SURE WHO YOU'LL VOTE FOR, YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THESE THOUGHTS...

For a few month now, I've been hearing rumblings that some Christians may boycott this November's presidential elections. I first heard from various sources that this idea was expressed by James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame. Then I heard the idea again from others on the Catalyst podcast.

The reason some are thinking of skipping the elections entirely is because they don't like Obama or McCain. They hate Obama's pro-choice stance, and McCain isn't conservative enough for them. (On the Catalyst podcast, frustration has been expressed that the Republican Party is taking evangelicals for granted.) Christians think neither candidate represents them or their values, and so they are deciding that skipping the presidential election is the best way of communicating their disdain for the candidates served up by the two big parties.

Before I proceed with my thoughts on this, let me share somethings. I am not a very politically-active person. I didn't caucus in January. I haven't given any money to any candidate. In fact, I am registered as an independent and have no plans to change that. (However, I watch the political realm casually, and have a vague idea of what is going on, especially in the presidential race.) My primary reason for not being uber-active is because politics seem to divide people more than unite them, and (to paraphrase Bill Hybels in "Courageous Leadership"), politics can only move the yard markers in the game of life - they can't truly bring change (I believe only Christ can bring the change people truly need - the changes needed are personal and cultural, not governmental). And so I don't get caught up in certain candidates because they can't be the savior so many people want. I already have a Savior, and I'll keep following him.

But while I am not very active on the political scene, I still believe it is my duty as an American citizen AND as a follower of Christ to vote. There are people who died in order for me to have this freedom and right, so I will not waste their death by boycotting an election simply because I don't like the presented candidates.

I think a better option is to research the other candidates from other parties. Sure, their chances are beyond slim to none that they'll actually win, but you still cast your vote as a citizen and let your voice be heard. If you don't like any of the other candidates presented by the smaller parties, then find one you do like and write them in.

So if you can't find a way to vote for one of the two primary candidates, then find someone you can vote for. Hopefully this option will allow you to exercise your right to vote, but to do it with a clean conscience and not feel like you are either picking the lesser of two evils, or worse yet, boycotting the election entirely.

And like a good neighbor...

Last Saturday night, we hosted our almost-annual neighborhood BBQ.  We had a GREAT turnout!  Everyone brought their own meat to grill, a side to share, and a chair to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of great neighbors.  When LeAnn and I moved into the neighborhood 6 and a half years ago, only 1 neighbor intentionally welcomed us to the neighborhood.  Since that time, almost every home around us has since sold and gotten new owners.  These new neighbors have all been eager to not only get to know one another, but also help each other.  It is common to see one neighbor snow blowing another neighbors driveway, to know one neighbor is taking care of another neighbors pets while they are gone on vacation, or to see different neighbors out on a walk together.  In our neighborhood the ages range from baby to grandparent; but what truly matters is people truly are friendly and we can trust one another.

LeAnn and I had our first neighborhood gathering 5 years ago, and the whole neighborhood looks forward to it every summer.  If your neighborhood or apartment complex doesn't do something like this, I'd encourage you to consider recruiting some neighbors to help you start one.  And it doesn't have to be an outdoor barbeque - you could host something around Christmas, or do something around a football game.  I know one person whose whole neighborhood gets together a couple of times a year to watch a movie - they hang a big sheet on the back of their house, set-up a projector, and enjoy treats everyone brings to share.

So get creative!  It will be worth it.  I know - I spent 6 hours in the yard Saturday just getting ready to host the event in our side yard, and don't regret a minute of it.  Because I can't let State Farm be the only good neighbor!

Small changes, Big results

I recently had a conversation with a ministry leader who is frustrated with the current state of things, and so this leader is considering some big options: personally moving into a different ministry, closing the current ministry down, relaunching the ministry with new direction, or anything he can do to help the ministry recapture "It".  I could completely relate to how this friend was feeling - I've had similar feelings and thoughts many times in the past concerning different ministries.

Yesterday, I read about Rotating Sockets.   Rather than have the electrical sockets at the standard stationary parallel position, someone came up with the idea of having the sockets rotate so that you can plug two power bricks into the same socket.  Such a small change, but the result is huge.  (Okay, it's not earth shattering huge, but you don't have to go buy a 6-prong outlet just to plug two things in).

Sometimes it isn't the big decisions like relaunching a ministry, or finding a new job, or jumping into a new relationship that will bring the biggest changes.  Sometimes it is simply the small adjustments that give the big results.  If a ship makes just a small 1, 2, or 4 degree change in direction, the ending port is very different than the original ending place.  A small change can bring big results.

What small change might you need to make rather than the sweeping change you are being tempted with right now?  Maybe it is simply getting back to the discipline of prayer and Scripture intake.  Maybe it is just a correction to your attitude.  Or perhaps it is simply changing how you eat, or being disciplined to get enough sleep.  There is a time for big changes - a move, a new job, a new ministry.  But sometimes the biggest changes can come simply through small things.

Baptized!

Last night our church family celebrated the 33 lives that have been changed by Christ who also chose to be obedient to God by being baptized.  The rainy weather that was threatened in the forecast stayed away and we had a beautiful evening to enjoy the sun, the cool air, the testimonies, the fellowship, the worship through song, and more.  It was a wonderful evening.

The photo to the right is from my spot in the grass using my phone's puny camera.  But I just had to capture the moment my friend Shane Ohrt was baptized by his mentor, Don Purdy (they are the two white dots in the center of the photograph).  When I moved here 6 years ago, I remember playing ping-pong in my basement with Shane.  As we talked, it was clear he was really young in his faith in Christ.  Now, he is a leader, a godly man, a maturing disciple of Jesus.  It was a joy for me to get to see him baptized. It was also fun for me to see Shane him baptized by Don, an awesome man I've had the joy of co-laboring with for the past 6 years.

Seeing Shane baptized reminded me yet again that I live for changed lives.  Nothing gives me a rush like hearing how God has worked in the lives of people.  I am in awe of His grace!

8 Days of Hope is coming to CR!

This is SUPER exciting news - hot off the press!

God has orchestrated plans for a group called 8 Days of Hope to come to Cedar Rapids!  8 Days of Hope was originally supposed to be a one-time event to help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  Instead, several "8 Days" have occurred, and this non-profit organization has decided to make their 6th event the city of Cedar Rapids.  When I first hear about 8 Days of Hope and a potential event here in Cedar Rapids, I was rather cool to the idea.  But after hearing Stephen Tybor speak and his passion for Christ, I was really excited and prayed that God would work it out for them to come.  And He has answered those prayers!

This will be HUGE for our city, and an awesome way to open doors to conversations about Christ.  This will also be a great opportunity for you to help out, whether you have done anything yet to aid the recovery effort.  Rather than type out all of the details here about the event this fall, I'll post the email that 8 Days of Hope has sent out themselves:

Friends of 8 Days of Hope,

 

Wasn't this supposed to be a one time trip? Isn't our God awesome? Are you ready for 8 Days of Hope VI?

 

Today, it is with great excitement that we are able to share with you that tomorrow (Tuesday, August 12th) at 11:05 EDT/10:05 CST, we will be announcing our next trip on American Family Radio. Please tune in to listen on your local station or listen online atwww.afr.net. We will be announcing this trip on Today's Issues.

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa here we come!!!

 

The flooding that hit this area back in mid June has caused over One BILLION dollars of damage. There are over 3,000 families that are not yet back in their homes! It is a very unique situation because this area is no longer in the news or national media with the Olympics, the election, the economy and with gas prices but this is where you and I come in!

 

Are you once again ready to make a difference for Jesus? Are you ready to serve these homeowners and show them the love of Christ? We pray the answer is YES!

 

There is great organization called "Serve the City".  This is a large group of churches in the Cedar Rapids area that is helping us as we prepare to go to America's Heartland. They are well organized and are preparing as we speak, for our visit in late October!

 

We desperately need people who know how to hook up furnaces, install water heaters and yes, we still need hundreds of volunteers to do the usual drywall, electrical, painting, carpentry and other jobs that we do at an 8 Days of Hope missions trip! We need skilled volunteers as well as the unskilled variety! This is an unique chance for the body of Christ to come and serve in HIS name!

 

We are modifying our minimum stay from three days to two days on this trip. To all of our past volunteers that live in the Midwest.....this is your chance to rally your church, your friends and your family to experience an 8 Days of Hope missions trip at a much closer venue!

 

Once again we will have a nightly devotional and worship time..... and YES, Mike Failla will once again be leading worship!

 

What can you do help us prepare for this trip?

 

1.) Pray that God will be exalted! Pray that when people see us they see Jesus!

2.) Pray that God will send His army of saints to 8 Days of Hope VI!

3.) Pray that God will show us favor in regards to travel mercies, safety and the logistics that will be different from what we are use to in past trips.

4.) Pray that lives will be changed. That not only the homeowners lives but us as volunteers, as we leave this area we are refreshed in HIM!

5.) Pray for our finances! We know that God will provide!

 

We are ready for you to sign up! Please go to www.eightdaysofhope.com and learn more about this trip! Click on the FAQ link for answers to your questions. Also, you can donate online if God leads you to do so! Also, please consider passing this email on to people you think might be interested.

 

We are so excited! This is going to be a unique trip like we have never seen before! I pray that you will be a part of 8 Days of Hope VI!

 

May God Bless your week!

 

Stephen Tybor III

1st Peter 4:10

Free Software to one lucky winner...

My "luck" could be yours!  I won a free copy of Invoice through MacZot.  I figured if I ever won, it would probably be for something I wouldn't need - and it turns out I was right!

However, I don't want the software to go to waste, so if you own a Mac and could use Invoice (or know someone who could) then leave a comment.  First person to leave a comment telling me how they will use the software will receive the registration number.

For more on Invoice, visit the software creator's site.

Two for One

To save my time and yours, here are two posts in one!  (And "two" is very significant as you'll see in a moment...)

T Turns Two

Today, T woke up from his nap chanting to himself "Aboo Day Day Do Di-un" (Translation: "Happy Birthday To Me").  Yes, the youngest Bird has entered the Two-Year-Old Zone.

The theme was balls and balloons.  The afternoon was filled with the fun of kicking 12 balloons around the family room with no purpose except to kick and make boy-noises while in the process of swinging his foot.

Before we ate, each child prayed to God, thanking Him for something about T.  Then after a great supper (provided by the wonderful Paulson family to help care for us while LeAnn recovers from her broken foot), we opened presents.  Each sibling presented T with their respective gift, which was followed by play with that gift.  The highlight gifts were the basketball hoop from the Bird Grandparents (T is surprisingly a really good shot!  But then again he is the grandson of Larry Bird!), and the blow-up football-ballpit from the Wojakowski Grandparents.

T is a special little boy, and it is such a blessing to have him part of the Birdnest.  "Abu Day Day" T!

Thoughts and Updates

• LeAnn finally put weight on her leg Sunday, and used it even more yesterday.  It's nice to have her mobile, but we'll all be glad when the cast is off.  But we are thanking God right now that it is only one bone.  My uncle was in a car accident last week where the woman who hit him died, and he was left with a broken foot, ankle, leg, and arm.  It's going to be a long road to recovery for him, but as I read an update from my aunt, he is very positive, joking around with the staff.  He got my grandfather's personality, and if I were in that situation, I would hope I would respond like my uncle has.
• We registered K yesterday for school.  Hard to believe I am the father of a middle school student.
• Had an AWESOME weekend in Indianola, IA visiting an old friend.  He and I played together in the church nursery when we were infants, and this past Sunday our youngest kids played together in the church nursery.  But not only did my family get to stay with his family, we got to see several other old high school friends on Saturday night as well.  I couldn't help but remark to my friend after everyone had left, "we sure have been blessed with some great friends".  Makes me wish they all lived closer to Cedar Rapids.
• Weekends like this last one make it hard to meet my weight-loss goal. :o)
• I'm going to Leadership Summit this week.  I'm also taking a college friend who is pastoring a young church in the Des Moines area (Dallas/Grimes area to be exact).  But I have to hustle home Friday for a wedding rehearsal.
• The more I work in my yard, the more spiritual lessons I learn.  The latest - I had noticed on Monday that some crabgrass had starting growing in my yard.  I knew I needed to kill it as soon as possible.  So on Thursday before we left for the weekend, I ran to Menards to buy some crabgrass killer.  I thought I had just a few spots in the front lawn and along the street.  Boy was I wrong!  The stuff was everywhere!  As I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed, I couldn't help but recall the first "character assassin" in the book Deadly Viper Character Assassins: Character Creep. When you allow your character to "creep" away from integrity, it starts small, but it just keep going and going and going, until you are doing something you never thought you'd ever do.  Rather than having a "pure" lawn of a life, you have the crabgrass of dishonesty or deceitfulness growing everywhere.  Thankfully, God is a God of radical grace, and his forgiveness will kill the crabgrass-sin we've allowed to creep in and spread, but it means submitting to His discipline.
• I'm way behind on everything - email, tasks, mowing the lawn, etc.  There's no way I'm going to get it all done before I have to leave early Thursday morning for the Summit.  I have GOT to get more organized to handle all of this!

And the last thing - I finally figured out why these "catch up" posts are good for me personally.  Last Tuesday, we had an all-day staff meeting (it's not as bad as it sounds - they're actually quite fun!) and one of our assignments was to share about the last 6 months of ministry.  But I can barely recall last week!  However, never fear - the blog is here!  My memory was jogged by going through my old posts, and I could complete the assignment without looking like I was brain-dead.  I think I may finally be understanding why some people journal...