I love my kids.  And I love a good bargain.  So whenever I find a great deal on toys that I think one of my sons will like, I’ll buy them while the price is right and save the goods for later, to be given as future birthday gifts or rewards for when my oldest son does an exceptional job in the discipline department.  The problem is, he’s a preschooler and discipline is such a challenge these days…

We now have a stockpile of toys just waiting to be released to him.

It’s not that I bought a lot of things for him– it’s that whenever he does need to be disciplined, his mom and I put his existing toys on time-out, one at a time. And before he can get any of the new toys as a reward, he first has to earn back the timed-out toys, one by one.

As his father, I know that he needs to be disciplined for his own sake, so I try to be firm with him outwardly, but inwardly, I’m rooting for him to do a good job because, in addition to wanting him to grow into a productive member of society, I really want to give him the toys I bought– the gifts that are now stockpiled in a cupboard, gathering dust as they wait to be awarded.

And every time I see this stash of toys, I wonder if God also roots for us to learn our lessons so that He can release more of what He already has in store for us.

There might be times in our lives where it seems like the LORD is withholding blessings.  Maybe He is, but perhaps there’s something we can or need to learn through the process.  There might be old habits or sinful behaviors that we keep falling back into, and while the LORD might be patient and gracious with us as He waits for us to work through them, what we might fail to realize is that greater things lie ahead and we might not get there if we don’t “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Heb. 12:1).

God disciplines His children 

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

   “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, 
   and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, 
   and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

 ⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

(Hebrews 12:4-11)

[Stephen Bay is the Prayer Ministry Pastor of Newsong Church. He is a fellow friend and an anointed writer. You can read more of his writings at www.stephenbay.com]

Why did you get into the shoe business?

* I wasn’t trying to get into the shoe business.
* He encountered people doing a shoe drive in Argentina.
* He was touched by it but didn’t see it as being a sustainable model.
* He wanted to do something to help people but didn’t want to start a charity.
* Instead of looking to charity for help, he wanted to go to business.
* That’s where the idea of one-to-one began.

How important is the word “give” to TOMS?

* TOMS was started as a spontaneous response to want to give.
* Giving feels amazing.
* Giving not only feels good, but it’s also a good business strategy.
* Giving is a good life strategy.
* All we have to do at TOMS is focus on giving.
* If we focus on giving in a sustainable and authentic way, our customers take care of the marketing.

What are your company’s distinctives?

* We encourage our employees to be a part of giving.
* Employees are actively engaged in the process of giving.
* Giving has a transformative effect.
* When people start serving they forget about their own problems.
* When you include giving and service into your organization, there is a strong transforming effect.

You seem to have a non-profit culture being a for-profit company. Why not be a non-profit?

* 8 months into TOMS Blake sold an online educational company he owned and took the profit and invested it in TOMS.
* With that money he could have purchased 40K pairs of shoes.
* They’ve had no other investments since then.
* They’ve helped 680K children get shoes as a result.
* Being for-profit they’ve been able to help more children and it’s continued to be more sustainable.

Earlier this year TOMS did a “One Day Without Shoes” campaign… how did you do it?

* 250,000 people participated in One Day Without Shoes.
* It started amazing conversations and didn’t cost anything.
* They got passionate people involved who respond in a huge way.
* Microsoft and other large organizations got involved.

What was it like when you first came up with the idea for TOMS?

* It was just an idea. He was running another business at the time.
* When it became more than an idea was when he went on his first shoe drop.
* It changed his life.

TOMS has captured younger generations. What has grabbed their attention and created their loyalty?

* Young people want to have a voice and want to do something that matters.
* They have the passion but it isn’t always easy.
* TOMS makes it easy for them to act and do something that matters.
* They give them an opportunity to show people what matters to them.
* It’s a beginning for much greater things they are going to do in their lives to come.

As you look at the past four years, you’ve had some strategic partnerships. Why are those important?

* TOMS gives people an authentic story to tell.

How important is asking people to do audacious things?

* You have to do it.
* If you really want to do something or create change you have to ask people to join you.
* People enjoy giving because it allows them to be a part of the journey.
* You can’t be bashful if you want to make change.

How has your faith impacted TOMS?

* TOMS illustrates many biblical principles.
* We didn’t start a shoe company to make money then give.
* We started a business to start giving.
* They gave their “first-fruits.”

What would you say to other young leaders?

* Come join us
* We need fantastic people to get us from HERE to THERE!
* It’s never too early to start giving and start serving.
* It’s better to start now than waiting til later.

How can church leaders get involved?

* April 5, 2011 is the next One Day Without Shoes
* GO BAREFOOT!
* It doesn’t cost anything but the difference you can make is HUGE.
* That will not only raise awareness but it will start transformative conversations.
* Learn more by going to TOMS Shoes website.

Special thanks to TimSchraeder.com for the stellar notes

What is God’s Global Urban Mission? from Redeemer City to City on Vimeo.

Rev. Tim Keller, Senior Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, shares at the Luasanne Congress event in South Africa. As I watched, he brought affirmation to the belief that Suburbia is one of the most dangerous places of this world and the City is the mission field, especially for the Artisan Warriors.

Here are some key insights from his talk.

WHY WE MUST:

• The 21st century will not be dominated by US, China, Brazil or India but by the City (New York, Beijing, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Rio De Janeiro)
• Over Half the world population lives in Cities.
• 100 cities account for 30% of worlds economy and almost all of the innovations.
• The new generation lives in the city
• The immigrants (unreachable), young adults, artists and the poor all reside in the city.
• In the cities, there are more image of God per square inch than any other place in the world.
• No more than 300 years ago, 3% population lived in cities. Now over 50% live in cities.
• 8 million (size of Bangkok, Thailand) move into the city every 2 months.
• Church has to be where the people are because God loves people more than plants. (City more than Country.)

HOW WE SHOULD: Church in the City

• Patient with charges of cultural sensitivity
• Integrate Faith and their work
• Constantly open to disorder and change
• Intensely evangelistic and Famous for concern for justic
• Commitment to the Arts
• Churches have to be cooperative

WHY WE CAN:

• Genesis 18: God visits Abraham, “I’m going to go destroy these cities.”
• 3 things Abraham did to try to save the Cities: (1) Prayed for the unbelieving Cities. (2) Endangered himself for the Cities. (3) Made a theological case. “Is it possible that the righteousness of the few, saved the undeserving many.”
• It didn’t work. The City was destroyed. Why? Because they didn’t have the right priest. But today, we do: Jesus.
• Jesus Christ is the Reality to Abraham pointed.
• We can be  priest for the people of the city that need us and point them to the ultimate High priest.
• Look at the cities of this world, look at the masses of these cities, God says. Why are you not moved by them, why are you not going there… So let’s go.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  -Hebrews 11:13-14

Earlier this week, I took my family to an ocean-themed animal park where we watched a dolphin show.

I used to love this place as a child, but as an adult, I found it to be rather depressing: here were these beautiful creatures of God, confined to man-made tanks, swimming around in circles, forced to perform tricks in order to earn a reward (which usually consisted of one or two little fish). Apparently, many of these animals were born and raised in captivity, so they’ve never tasted freedom in the open seas before. To them, these little tanks have been the only reality they’ve ever known.

They have no idea that they were created for so much more.

Many of us go through life just like these dolphins: going around in circles, caught up in a false reality, jumping through hoops in the hopes of having a few meager rewards tossed our way when, in fact, we were created for so much more. Though we were born into a fallen world, we were made in God’s image (Gen.1:27) to do good works (Eph. 2:10), a chosen people and a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) whose true citizenship is in heaven (Phil.3:20). We are spiritual beings caught up in a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:12), and as God’s children, we are given the authority to cast out demons and heal the sick (Mark 16:17-18). This is the true nature of our reality, and the world, with all it has to offer, is often nothing more than a dolphin tank, an artificial environment designed to make us forget where we really came from and prevent us from discovering who we really are.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. -Hebrews 11:15-16

[Stephen Bay is the Prayer Ministry Pastor of Newsong Church. He is a fellow friend and an anointed writer. You can read more of his writings at www.stephenbay.com]

History has proven that one person can cause an irrevocable shift in direction of mankind. One brave soul can pivot the course of humanity. One sacrifical lamb can save an entire people group. A single zealot can force change, stop evil, or inspire a new generation of leaders. The power of one can make a difference.

Recently, in a lunch conversation with an artisan friend, Chad Markey, I said something that actually felt supernatural.

“Life is not about becoming significant, but discovering your significance.”

Chew on that a little.

There is a dangerous trap in doing things just to be significant. I think that is where burn out and discontent happens. You try to define your identity with what you do rather than who you are. You find comfort in the clarity of your title or role.

However, as you slow down, and pay attention to the Beauty all around you, you will see that many things that are beautiful is beautiful because they simply are who God design them to be.

Flowers are flowers. Birds are birds. Babies are babies. It’s not necessarily what they do but who they are. We have been losing sight of seeing ourselves as unique, beautiful creations that God loves so much.

In that Love, we are significant.

When we bask in the deluge of His Love, our love for people become supernatural. It’s gets easier to love people when you yourselves are experiencing His Love. The overflow of His Love motivates us to move to action. The same Love that doesn’t waver no matter how much or little you do.

So will you start or continue your journey to discover your significance?

**Sam Song is the Creative Arts Pastor of Newsong Church. He also is the Founder/Executive Director of Story of Yellow.**

One of the defining elements of jazz is improvisation, the act of composing on the fly.  Anyone who’s heard a classic Miles trumpet solo knows the potential beauty of individual improvisation within the group setting. The team depends on each person to contribute his unique skills, ideas and views to the collaboration, and the individual relies on the team for support, guidance and judgment.

Since it depends on improvisation, jazz is highly interactive.  A player must be responsive to the moment-by-moment actions of the other musicians. Like a properly tuned creative team, jazz is above all a collaborative pursuit in service to the composition (the agreed upon goal), and the individual voices in the band (the members of the team). READ MORE >>

Here are the five skills they recommend to have:

Study of the Prophet Jeremiah:

This is MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI painting, “Jeremiah”. Spend some time asking yourself these questions.

1. Who is this man?
2. What was his calling?
3. Read Jeremiah 1

What are your thoughts?

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Previous Posts on Jeremiah:

“A Letter to the Exiles” (Artisans)