Good Food. Very Good Food.

Confession - I love a great burger! When Tanya worked at 3rd and Marion in downtown Seattle the Metropolitan Grill was literally right out the back door of her office building. We would meet for lunch every Wednesday and once in a while slip into the Met to grab a Works Burger. The Works is arguably one of the best burgers under $10 (10 years ago) that you will ever eat. It is killing me right now just thinking about it. The quality of beef, the rich flavor that only comes with that kind of meat prepared perfectly. Oh man! Those burgers are so satisfying!

But are they really? My perspective is shifting.

When the disciples said, "Rabbi, eat something." Jesus reply was "I have a kind of food you know nothing about." Thinking that maybe he had already eaten lunch they asked, "Did someone bring you food while we were gone?" Logical question, right? His response was this, "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God."

How interesting is that? Being so satisfied from obedience to God that hunger is a non-issue. Wow!

In this snapshot Jesus had just spent his entire lunch hour reconnecting someone to God. Sharing painful truth, bringing to the surface the sin that had been a barrier in relationships and worship. Loving beyond imagination in order to restore broken relationship and this person find the peace for which they had been searching so long.

Recently Jesus has been up to some amazing things at Life at the Ridge Church and I have had the opportunity to enjoy some of the best conversations I have had in years. I am finally starting to understand what Jesus is talking about here. Some conversations have been with friends wrestling with very difficult situations and other conversations have been with new friends disconnected from God. In those moments, to share truth and see the power of the gospel work in people has been so satisfying. I am not talking about the kind of satisfy you experience after a great meal, I am talking about the type of satisfaction so deep in your soul that nothing can compare.

I do not want to live day to day trying to find deep satisfaction in things that only satisfy for a moment. I am craving more of the food Jesus speaks about.

It is so much more satisfying. Very deeply satisfying.

Tired or Feeling Burned Out?

Are you a pastor who is tired and ready to quit? Are you friends with a pastor who is tired and ready to quit? More of us struggle with depression, anxiety and insecurity than I ever imagined. I came across this promo video today and felt the need to do what I can to get it out there. Jesus changed me two and half years ago and I believe he can do the same for you. I love Perry and what he does. This promises to be a refreshing and potentially life changing day for many! Check it out.

Impossible is Nothing

My good friend @petercblue tweeted a pic of this paragraph and it really resonated with me. What do you think?

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.

Impossible is nothing."

What do you think?

What Am I Afraid Of?

Great post from Godin today. I have experienced exactly what he is explaining.

Thanks Ben for the link.

The Hour of Power

Not too long ago I was having lunch with a friend and I happen to mentioned that I have a bad habit. My habit?

Throughout the week, I focus the majority of my attention on the tasks I enjoy. This produces some interesting results. First, I typically LOVE my work. Primarily because I only work on what I love. Second, I end up with a long list of tasks that I don't want to do, but need to be done.

After I shared my habit he simply replied, "You need an hour of power."
To which I replied, "A What?"

He explained. One hour per day, preferably earlier rather than later in the day, in which I simply work on the important tasks that I typically avoid. The concept is to give that task list at least an hour, maybe no more than that. Unfinished items can simply be moved to the following day. But, no less than one hour. If I should get into a task and find that it is pushing an hour and I decide to keep going until completion I can. As long as it is not time sensitive, it is up to me.

I decided to give it a shot. It has been a few weeks and I have not had the Hour of Power every day, but I have had many.

As expected, I get more done. Many important, yet uninteresting tasks are being completed and this is a good thing.

I have also experienced some significant results which I did not expect.

I was not aware of the tension and pressure that was building internally due to unfinished tasks. Moving these items forward even a little each day caused such a relief. When I put off the tasks I don't enjoy I am actually creating a backlog of stress. Those unfinished tasks are like the little apps running in the background on your PC. Not until you clear those out do you realize how much more resources are available for the tasks at hand.

Also, I have experienced much more freedom with the rest of the day to focus on what I love. One of the biggest benefits I have noticed is a surge in creativity and interest in learning. When I am cluttered with unaddressed tasks I don't have the capacity for creativity and learning. I simply want to rest, even sleep. With forward motion in these important yet not interesting tasks I experience so much more energy. When it is time to turn my attention to the areas I love most I am so much more energized and ready to fully invest in what I love.

Bottom line, I am getting more done and I am enjoying what I love even more!

What would your hour of power look like? What is your system like?

The Resurrection

My friend Brian McCormack posted this video on his blog here. I found it meaningful, clear and very moving. take a couple minutes to check it out. Then make sure you follow @brianmccormack on twitter, you will be glad.

Jesus Paid It All

I listened to this song a few times this morning. What a good reminder.