Staff Meeting Done Well

Just finished a staff meeting discussing Will Mancini's book, Church Unique. This is what the conference table looked like after we were done. Loose leaf tea, water, note pads, markers, Bibles. Great meeting.

The cross has always been a non-negotiable to God’s people. In the Bible, Paul says, May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... Gal 6.14.

But, these days, many people would prefer a God without a cross. Here is the contemporary thinking. Why couldn’t God just forgive and forget? Why can’t God just accept everyone who says they’re sorry and move on? Why not just say we believe in a loving God and a forgiving God – good enough? Who needs a cross anyway?

One reason we need a cross is because forgiveness is always costly. Especially when the stakes are high, especially when the evil is great; to forgive is always costly. Dietrich Bonheoffer, the great Christian leader who was imprisoned and ultimately killed in Nazi German Concentration Camp, put it this way, “Everyone who forgives someone bears the other’s sins.” And we know this from life. When we choose to forgive, it always means absorbing the debt ourselves. It is a form of suffering.

Simply overlooking sin was not an option. Especially when you consider the massive evil of the world. But instead of making us pay, God bore the suffering Himself! The cross is a forever reminder that forgiveness is costly. But God paid the price we could never pay.

That is why I cling to the cross.

Wordle

OK, I found the coolest site online. It takes the text of a message and turns it into a word picture. The more you used the word, the bigger it is. Here's this morning's message as a Wordle.

Fun at Home

Party of Four?

Perhaps what's weirdest about sending our oldest son off to college is that we will be living, travelling, and eating out as a party of four. We've been the five of us for so long! Appreciate your prayers. We are so excited for Chris. He is definitely ready and we are so proud of him. But it's still really tough.

Sabbatical in Review

Also see Some random things I did over Sabbatical.

This summer has been a great break from day-to-day ministry. Although it was busy, I was truly able to disengage from the daily load of ministry and think big thoughts about God, His church, our church, and my calling.

As I reflect on my summer experience, I relate to the words of John Steinbeck. As Steinbeck prepared to journey across the United States he said, "We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; the trip takes us." In the same way, as I consider all the ways God worked in my life during this time, I feel as though I didn't take a sabbatical; the sabbatical took me.

What has the Lord done with me over this sabbatical?

• Gave me great times in His Word
  


• Took me through the death of my father.
  
  


• Gave me a lifetime experience with my family in Europe.
  


• Gave me fresh perspective on my strengths and areas of greatest effectiveness through the Pastors on Point Process.
  


• Allowed me to read several great books and visit several churches.
  

How would I define my "point" in ministry?

• God has made me a unique pastor. The themes of my life show that He put me together so that I was made to LEARN, DREAM, INVESTIGATE, EVALUATE, CREATE, ORGANIZE, PLAN, DEVELOP, OVERSEE, INFLUENCE, and COMMUNICATE.
  

• 
  
  I like to minister with and through GOD'S WORD, VALUES; RELATIONAL TEAMS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, NEW GROWTH, SHAPE, PEOPLE ON THE FRINGE OF FAITH.
  
  
  

  
  



• 
  
  I work best in ministry environments that are NEW OPPORTUNITIES, UNIQUE, CHALLENGING, CONTAINED, WITH TEAMS, AFFIRMING, WITH MEASURABLE IMPACT, and WITH KEY RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESULTS.
  
  
  

  
  



• 
  
  I am at my best when I play a role of a CATALIZING PRIME MOVER, INFLUENCER, at the FRONT END OF A NEW MOVEMENT.
  
  
  

  
  



• 
  
  So that I can TOGETHER WITH OTHERS, PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN DOING SOMETHING NEW, UNIQUE, AND CREATIVE, WHICH WILL HAVE AN ETERNAL IMPACT.
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

What do I most look forward to in the days ahead with our church?

• Reinforcing our missional mandate (grounded in Scripture).
  


• Solidifying our values (which never change)
  


• Refining our strategy (the map we will follow to fulfill our mission).
  


• Developing our measurements (the way we know we are doing what we planned to do)
  


• And seeing God show up in amazing ways as His compelling cause for us uniquely as a church is unleashed.
  

Some of the random things I got to do over sabbatical

• Read an entire book in one sitting beside a High Sierra river
  
• Took my daughter on a date to a Broadway production of Phantom
  
• Got my motorcycle license
  
• Sputtered around Poway on a borrowed Vespa
  
• Began doing our own yard work
  
• Ate outside a lot
  
• Drove historic Highway 395 with the top off our 1973 Porsche
  
• Drove historic Highway 101 with the top off our 1973 Porsche
  
• Went to a charming Bed and Breakfast in La Jolla with my wife
  
• Got to be "customer of the week" at Peet's Tea House
  
• Drank a lot of tea
  
• Hiked the Torrey Pines cliffs
  
• Touched a 12 foot Python (on purpose)
  
• And a bunch of other stuff

My sabbatical so far…

I'm about ¾ of my way through my sabbatical, so I thought I'd give you a progress report.

What has the Lord done with me over this sabbatical?

• God has confirmed the key passage:

PS 90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

PS 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom
PS 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.

• God has walked with me through the death of my father.
  
• God has given me the experience of a lifetime with my family in Europe.
  
• I have been able to go through the Pastors on Point SIMA Process. This is a GREAT process. More on that later.
  
• God has used great passages such as Jeremiah 1:5-10 and many others to reconfirm my call.
  
• Yosemite (still to come)
  

What has been most significant to me?

• Fresh times in God's Word.
  
• Reflecting on an analogy of a lobster shedding its shell. The shell (of any organization … i.e. the church, needs to occasionally be shed in order to grow. So in order to grow we need to ask, "What is just the shell (not the life)? How can we shed it (even if it means becoming vulnerable)?
  
• Reflecting on the organizational life cycle as it relates to my personal gifting.
  
• The values I truly cherish are GOD'S WORD, FAMILY, RELATIONAL TEAMS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, NEW GROWTH, SHAPE, and PEOPLE ON THE FRINGE OF FAITH.
  
• And much, much more that I'm not ready to share yet (because it is still percolating). Check back!
  

If you think about praying…

One of the things prescribed for me in the Pastor on Point experience I am going through this summer is a SOLO DAY. This is a day alone with God where I allow the insights He's been teaching me during this sabbatical to trickle down from my head into me heart. My solo day will be tomorrow, July 24. It is very loosely organized but ends with a nice dinner with Cindy. Pray with me that God will use it for His purpose in my life. Thanks!

FOLLOW UP REPORT - Thanks! It was an awesome day. God showed up in some amazing ways!

My dad is a big part of my testimony

With the passing of my father, I've been reflecting on his life a lot. In many ways his testimony has been as strong a part of my testimony as my own. When I became a Christian at age 14, I began praying for my dad's salvation. It was mustard seed faith at best (i.e. tiny) because I couldn't imagine, in my wildest dreams, my dad becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. He was an atheist, and a psychologist grounded in Freudian thought. To see my father not only profess Christ, but also become an enthusiastic disciple, and a student of His word still blows me away. During my last visit with him I read the Bible to him for two hours. He loved it. It gave him great peace. And it reminded me of how vital God's Word in our lives.

Preparation vs. Planning

I am awed by the truth of Will Mancini in his book, Church Unique. Rather than giving you a thorough overview (I can't since I'm still reading it), let me give you some of the "I get it" insights for me.

Mancini shows how the strategic planning revolution of the 60's and 70's is coming to an end. Life just happens too quickly for a ten-year plan. He says, "Leaders must focus more on preparation than on planning. Planning relies on predictability. But preparation helps leaders stay clear amid uncertainty." (More on clarity later). I love this idea because it reminds me that the leader's edge is his/her ability to be adaptive.

Today was my dad's memorial service

Dad was amazing.

I had the privilege to lead the graveside service. For those who couldn't be there, but wanted to, here's what I said:

Welcome
Let me begin, on behalf of our family by saying, “Thank You” for being here today. Your love and support mean a lot.

And I am most grateful that God is here.

In the Bible we read these words: God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…. And He is the one … who comforts us in all our troubles, 2CO 1:3-4

That God is available today. PRAY

We have gathered to remember the life of our dad. Neville LeRoi Kyle.

Survived by…

Sister – Marguerite
My mom, Joan.
His Kids, Robert, Haydee, Jenny, Lauren, and myself.
And 6 grandchildren. Christopher, Anne, David, Corrina, Trygve, and Thorsen.

I’ve been thinking about Bouquet Canyon Drive. Dad and I took a reminiscent trip down it a few years back. It was the road he drove my mom to the hospital where I was born. It is a curvy road but he drove it straight. By the end of the day he would forever be cast in this new role – father.

As one of his 5 kids we cherished our remarkable, colorful, gifted, extravagant dad.

We marveled at stories of him.
· Enduring the great depression
· Newsie selling newspapers
· travelling with the circus
· working on a fishing boat
· walking the hills of Griffith Park
· painting murals
· serving in Coast Guard during WWII
· going to art school in Hollywood
· Graduating from USC
· making King Kameamea surf boards in Hawaii
· working for Sheriff’s Dept in a prison
· getting his PhD in Nottingham England
· becoming a world class Psychologist
· living on a boat
· travelling the globe
· and always, always loving the high life, fine clothes, and good food. (in fact, dad always loved to dress up – I feel strangely under-dressed even though I put a handkerchief in pocket – for him – one of his).

He was a remarkable, colorful, gifted, extravagant man. And we cherished him.


One of the treasures we came across as we cleaned out his apartment was his high school yearbook. Many fellow students mentioned his artistic ability.

Dad above all was an artist. His flair early on.

But my favorite comment in his yearbook – a stern looking teaching – who wrote just a few words. “Bob, when will you reform?”

You see, in addition to an artist, he was a rascal.

In fact, dad was a latecomer to the Christian journey.

I remember the week we spent together in England in 1985. I was on my way to Jerusalem … he was on his way to Austria … I to the homeland of Jesus – he to the homeland of Freud … and both destinations were very reflective of our lives at the time … and it worked out for us to spend a week together in England …

We talked and discussed and debated Christianity … I waved goodbye in Heathrow Airport … not knowing the next time I saw him he’d be a Christian.

Dad was a latecomer to the Christian family – but made up for it in last 20 years.

In fact, this is his Bible. I played a trick on my kids asking them if find his favorite verse – saying it is the one that is underlined. As you look at it, every verse is underlined. In the New Testament they have been underlined 3 or 4 times.

He told me God’s Word was his constant companion.

My last time with him we simply spent 2 hours reading scripture. He lifted and lowered his hand like symphony conductor… sometimes mouthing the words …

We read one of his favorite verses which is the end of Isa 40 and I feel it is appropriate to read it now:


ISA 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

ISA 40:27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

ISA 40:28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

ISA 40:29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

ISA 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

ISA 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

That is where our hope is today!

Young or old we grow weary … and eventually we all fall … as dad finally did …

But our hope is in the Lord who promises that one day we will soar with wings of eagles!

Dad struggled to walk in his final years … but God promises now he runs!

None of this RIP stuff for the Christian. He is walking, running, soaring!
___________.

I feel a little like the angel at the tomb of Jesus – same announcement –

He is not here! He is risen!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus – same is true!

We take care of his body … because that is how we knew him and loved him in this life …

But this, all of this, is only to honor his body …

He is not here! He is risen!

He is with his father – God – and with his Lord – the Lord Jesus Christ!

Walking, Running, Soaring!
_____________.

One more thing:

To his kids and grandkids:

I believe Dad would want me to say thank you for your care.

Dad loved to write: On his Blog he wrote this about God’s gifts in his life:

“Not far away, within minutes, are kith and kin, dear people who care about me; they would come if I called. From some immeasurable richness came children … and children's children -- a family I always yearned after, but never quite dared to believe that I had, before now. …Happiness is not for the squeamish...These are gifts that I usually dare not look at directly: I glance sideways and away. I know they are not deserved.”

Dad would want me to say to each of you, especially kids and grandkids, that he loves you and proud of you and knows you were there for him.

And he would encourage you to cherish God’s good gifts ...and to trust God the Father of Lord Jesus Christ as he did.

A Jewish view of Sabbath

Just finished reading Abraham Joshua Heschel classic book on The Sabbath. I think what I appreciate the most is the idea that, while many religions think of God in Space (and thus set up shrines, cathedrals, and altars); the God of the Bible also occupies Time. He is the God of seasons and rhythm. Good stuff.

Also, for Heschel, the Sabbath is a time to let go of both work AND worry and trust God for what he has done and is doing. I like it.

Europe was awesome!

We had the time of our lives! Here are some photos:

My dad

The day before we returned from Europe I received news that my dad died. He was 85 years old and a latecomer to the Christian family. Nonetheless he cramed a lifetime of Christian experience into his last 20 years and now he is with the Lord.

I loved him. He loved me. He will be missed.