Here's a fundamental belief I have as a pastor: people want to be involved in something special. Whether or not it is unique is not the issue. What matters is this ... are we making a difference? What makes something "special"? Here are few random thoughts: It goes beyond what is acceptable. People are not inspired when they are asked to just get by or be mediocre. People are most fulfilled when they are challenged to succeed. It touches the heart. Meaning comes in different forms for different people. Good leaders are those who help attach meaning to even the simplest task or responsibility. If it's just a job, it's probably not that special. It has the faith factor. Special projects or special teams have this in common: there is an element of "what are we doing!" "How can we do this?" "Are we crazy?" Are you creating special opportunities…
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"Action is the antidote to despair." -- Joan Baez, singer-songwriter Desperation can have a paralyzing effect on us. We might feel surrounded by our circumstances, unable to find the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel." Sensing no hope, we become immobilized -- thinking there is nothing we can do. We look at the high numbers of children in foster care and wonder, "What can one person or family do?" We see the faces of poverty and feel poor in our ability to do something. It might be our own financial situation or a difficult season with a child. When a problem moves from an annoyance to a nuisance to an albatross ... we're closer to despair. Joan Baez is right: action is the antidote to despair. Often when we take action, even a small action, we begin to feel better. We might not be able to feed the…
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Good reminder for pastors: Before you were called to be a minister, you were called to be a Christ follower.
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On Friday night at Opportunity Camp, one of our older boy campers came up to me and said, "Kensley, have you always been a good guy?" (For those who don't know, Kensley is the most efficient way of saying Ken Hensley!). "Not always." Before I could say more, he continued, "No, I mean have you made any mistakes? I've made lots of mistakes." Smiling at him, I added, "I've made lots of mistakes, too, but I've tried to learn from them." "Me, too, Kensley. But's it hard." "Yes, it is but it's not impossible. That's how you get better." He smiled back at me, adjusted his hat, and said, "Thanks, Kensley." With that, he took off running across the field.
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I'm sitting in the San Jose airport appreciating the fact that San Jose is in the heart of Silicon Valley -- there are electrical and USB plug-ins everywhere. Even on the bottom of my Starbucks cup. The San Jose airport is about thirty minutes from Felton, where Opportunity Camp is located. But it might as well be across the country. The people coming and going, parked at their laptops, are in their own world. I imagine many of these folks are in the tech industry, or want to be. Anywhere in Silicon Valley you might be ten feet away from a millionaire (meaning ... don't judge people by their sandals). Felton sits between San Jose and Santa Cruz on Highway 17. For many of the kids just now waking up at Opportunity Camp, Felton sits between the life they have in foster or group homes and the life they want…
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