A Broken Fisherman

A man. His face buried in his hands. Tears find their way through the cracks between his fingers.

A man. Broken.

He used to carry the weight of his years of sin until Jesus Christ pulled him out of the pit he was in. As he shares his testimony, it is evident that he is still carrying a weight...but it is different. He is no longer burden by sin but now carries the weight of grace and forgiveness. While it is still a weight, it is not a burden. He is broken because he realizes how unworthy he is of salvation. He is broken because he realizes how much he needed a Savior.

It was during this testimony that I realized this was much more than just a fishing trip.

More than 50 men traveled to Red Lake, Ontario, Canada to go fishing. Sure, each one of us were looking forward to giving our best shot at catching "the big one," but that was not the main purpose of this trip. There were lost souls that needed to hear about Jesus Christ.

One morning, I watched a group of men gathered around a young teenage boy seated on the back steps of the lodge. I watched as they opened the Bible and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with this young man and then I saw this young man bow his head and ask Jesus to forgive him and save him.

The next day I watched a group of ladies huddled around a young girl. They opened the Bible and shared with this young girl what Jesus Christ had done for her. Then I saw this young girl bow her head and accept Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Another man, whose wife has been praying for him for over 40 years, prayed while out on a boat and started his relationship with Jesus! That evening I watched as a man, who accepted Christ as his Savior as a result of this same trip last year, his wife, his grandson (the boy that gave his life to Christ earlier in the week) and the young girl gave testimony of their belief in Jesus by following the Lord in baptism right there in Red Lake!

A fishing trip that was much more than just a fishing trip.

May we, who have been forgiven, never forget the weight of our sins that were lifted. May we always remember the great price that was paid for us.

May we never lose sight of the souls in need of a Savior that are all around us and may we use any means necessary to lead them to Jesus. Even if it means taking them fishing.

No Signal

5:00...4:59...4:58...4:57...

You may recognize this scenario. The projector has lost its signal and is counting down. Unless it regains a signal its lamp will turn off.

3:30...3:29...3:28...3:27...

I've seen this happen so many times during a church service. I try not to let it distract me but how can I NOT count down with it!

2:15...2:14...2:13...2:12...

Except this time it is different. This time the Lord is using this situation to teach me something. I don't want to miss this lesson.

1:44...1:43...1:42...1:41...

Unless we are connected to a source, our lamp will go out. In I Samuel 3:2-3, we read that Eli allowed the lamp of God to go out in the temple. It wasn't too much longer that Eli lost control of the temple, his sons and eventually his life. Today we don't have a lamp to keep lit in the temple but we do have a lamp...a light...a SOURCE. Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy WORD is a LAMP unto my feet, and a LIGHT unto my path."

0:35...0:34...0:33...0:32...

Unless we have a constant incoming source, we too will lose signal and the countdown will begin. Until eventually...

0:04...0:03...0:02...0:01...

BLACK.

*see Psalm 119:129-135

Who's leading who?

I once had a discussion with a man who proclaimed that his pastor was "gifted in all things regarding leadership." He went on to explain about the books that were written, the sermons that were preached, and the missions trips that were taken (which, interestingly enough, the pastor did not go on.) The "topping" for his case was that the churches that had been planted out of this pastors church.

I must admit...at first I was slightly impressed even without ever having met this pastor who is "gifted in all things regarding leadership." This is a guy I'd like to meet. Someone I'd like to learn from. Perhaps he could even help me become a better leader.

However, as our conversation progressed I began to evaluate this pastors leadership resume. (Please understand, I've never met this guy so I am not judging him personally-just the idea of who he is-a fictional character if you will.) From my understanding, he did not plant the church he is currently pastoring. He did not directly plant any of the baby churches his current church gave birth to. (Each of these had their own pastor from the very beginning) He apparently is a terrific communicator of God's Word and he has even written a book on the topic of leadership.

All of that got me thinking...

In this day and age of blogging, tweeting (that's the verb form for Twitter for all those who refuse to join the parade), recording podcasts and publishing books, I am wondering if we have lost the true definition of what a leader is. Are you a leader based on the fact that you have a popular podcast? Because you have 10,000 Twitter followers? A popular blog? A top-selling book? Being a leader requirers followers, so why are people following you? Because you are a dynamic preacher? A good writer? A witty blogger? Even more, where are you leading those who follow you?

Perhaps I'm wrong (even though I don't think I am) but a good leader is someone who is doing something worth imitating. I am not sure we need more people leading others to be dynamic communicators, podcasters, Tweeters, bloggers....

Let me interject here that I follow several well-known spiritual leaders on Twitter and I enjoy reading their blogs. I myself enjoy blogging (as you've probably determined as you read this blog post). I do not think this is bad or wrong...on the contrary, I find great value in the blogs I read, the tweets I receive and the thoughts I write out.

Back to the point...

This pastor who is "gifted in all things regarding leadership" may be a great leader for all I know. It is the definition of what earns him that title that bothers me. I don't want to be a "gifted" leader who takes those that follow me to somewhere meaningless. I don't want to be a "gifted" leader that is only know for the things I write and/or say. Nor do I want someone to follow me because I write good, preach good or talk good. I want to be a leader who is known more for what I have done and am doing than what I write or say about leadership.

Are you a leader? Where are you leading those that follow you? Maybe it is time for all of us leaders, and followers, to take another look at what true leadership is and evaluate what it is that we are leading people to.

May we all be leaders who are demonstrating leadership and not just talking about it.

20/20 Re:Vision

I have been in Mexico for two weeks and have yet to experience one thing that I was expecting for this trip. I came to Orizaba with plans that have all been changed. I came to Orizaba with ideas of what I would be doing once I move here in January. I had a vision.

God has used the last two weeks to give me a Re:Vision.

I was not expecting what would happen when we took a group (visiting from the US) to the plaza located just two blocks from where we are hoping to live. I spent a couple hours playing futbol (that's soccer for all my fellow gringos) and interacting with at least 20 teenage boys. I was in my element. I was having a blast. I was being...burdened.

I was not expecting what would happen on the last day of our trip to Vallodalid. Adolfo and I were asked to join a group that would be setting up a medical clinic in a local village. They set up the clinic and treated almost 300 patients! What did I do? I entertained and interacted with over 60 children...by myself! I was in my element. I was having a blast. I was being...burdened.

I had a vision of coming to Orizaba to plant a church (and I still want to and see that happening) but God has given me a new vision...a Re:Vision. There are not many people reaching out to the young people here in Mexico: there are A LOT of young people. The opportunities are endless. God has used the last two weeks to show me the need, give me the burden and place within me the vision. What better way to learn the culture and language AND minister to a large group of people in need!

I now have 20/20 Re:Vision. I can't wait to begin reaching these young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!