Mark R. Spencer

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)

I ran into an old friend yesterday.  In the midst of a very hard time they conceded that somehow they’ve lost their ability to hear from God.  That’s incredibly sad news.  BUT most troubling to me is that they are planning to plod ahead without stopping to address this deafness.  As crazy as it sounds, it is far too easy for us to slide into that pattern.  We say, “Well I have to do this or get this done and THEN I’ll take care of it”.  That busyness tempts us by offering some strange comfort via distraction, but it will leave us spiraling off course with no eternal sense of direction and purpose.  In the end, our distractions leave us exhausted, confused and frustrated with God.  But the real culprit is our lack of hearing.  Here are some hearing aids that can help:

1. Be confident-you are wired to hear from God!  Jesus declares repeatedly that His sheep WILL hear His voice.  One of the enemy’s biggest tricks is to convince you that hearing from God is either beyond your ability or just plain weird.
2. Are you lost?  We are wired to FOLLOW.  The big problem with plodding ahead without hearing God is you get lost.  Then you are moving along like the stubborn driver who refuses to stop and get directions!  Stop.
3. Are you alone?  On one hand hearing God is our personal responsibility, but on the other hand it is meant to be a community affair.  We need others who help us listen.  These aren’t people who are telling us what God is saying, but rather listening along side us and helping us make sense of what we are hearing.  If you don’t have a number of folks that you can process with you are in danger of going deaf.
4. Are you distracted?  Oh there’s a weird comfort by saying “la, la, la, la I’m not listening”.  I know people who get addicted to that.  Don’t.  If this little post is poking at you it’s for a reason.  Take some time to listen right now.  Notice where your thoughts go.  Watch what feelings come up.  Remember the last thing God said to you.  Now find a friend you can confide in.  Stop plodding ahead aimlessly and ask for directions!

12  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  (John 1.:12-13)

I watched some of the N.F.L. draft last night.  Incredible how these teams scrutinize each player.  They go through elaborate testing, evaluations and interviews while being considered.  Then starting last night, these players wait to hear their name called.  When drafted families and friends shout, cry, clap and and hug one another like there’s no tomorrow.  Then the player takes center stage while their new home team whoops it up as well.  It’s quite a scene.  But nothing like getting picked by God.  Think about that today.  You are God’s pick.  Nice.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1.2 NLT

The trouble with trouble is that it is extremely challenging to do what James instructs us to in verse 2.  But moving on in the text gives us great incentives.  Verse 3 tells us that our endurance can grow.  This is critical, because next time trouble rolls around we will be just that much more able to rejoice.  Furthermore verse 4 tells us that continued practice brings a “completeness”.   James says, “you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”  Wow, think of the trouble you could give the devil!

Here’s an important distinctive: mature people are not necessarily more blessed or gifted than others; they simply practice more.  Scientists have investigated this question of expertise — specifically, skill at a level that seems unobtainable by normal, motivated individuals. In one study, researchers led by Florida State University professor K. Anders Ericsson studied musicians at a Berlin conservatory. Students were divided into three skill levels, including one the faculty had identified as having the best chance of becoming world-class soloists. The researchers had the students keep diaries of their schedules and looked at such information as when they started playing and their practice habits as children.

DIFFERENT APPROACH
The results were clear-cut, with little room for any sort of inscrutable God-given talent. The elite musicians had simply practiced far more than the others. “That’s been replicated for all sorts of things — chess players and athletes, dart players,” says Ericsson. “The only striking difference between experts and amateurs is in this capability to deliberately practice.”

So this is my exhortation.  Practice joy in those troubling moments.  Pray for wisdom and worship for grace space…but seize the moment!  Each time you practice you are laying the solid groundwork of spiritual maturity and increasing your capacity to face trouble with God-fueled joy!

What’s the difference between being “busy” and being “hurried”?  Is there a difference?  I believe there is absolutely a difference between the two.  Think about it…Jesus was incredibly busy…but I seriously doubt he was ever hurried.  So in the midst of intense public demands and incredibly trying human needs Jesus found a way of being “unhurried”.  I suspect we can too.

Now, there are a number of distinctions to note between hurried and busy.  The first distinction is that busy is something that is out side of our hearts and souls.  We have places to go, people to see and problems to address.  Those are very real, but those are not “us”.  Hurriedness, on the other hand, is very personal and internal.  It is a sense or motive for how we approach those people, places and things to do.  So pay attention to what happens to your “internal clock” when busy times hit.  This is why Paul urges us to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5.25).  In light of this, I try to pause during my day and listen for just how high my heart is “revving”.  I do this during meal times and between appointments.  If I notice I am running on panic, I enlist God’s help immediately!  Why don’t you pause right now and listen for the “idle of your internal engine”.

A second distinction to note is how hurriedness produces a sense of isolation in us.  We become so preoccupied with our “stuff” that we race past the grace-packed awareness of God with us.  By losing that precious sense, we are soon running on our own strength and limited resources.  This leads to a certain sense of doom and panic because we know we are going to “run out”.  Dallas Willard says, “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day because it will keep you from experiencing God’s goodness and care for you from one moment to the next.”  This can also happen with the people in our lives.  We stiff arm family and friends because we are “so busy”, but in doing so we are isolating ourselves and allowing hurry to set the pace.  What helps me combat this isolation is having a few people who watch out for me.  I have told them the warning signs to look for and they have full permission to apply the “brakes” when necessary!  Do you have people like that in your life?

Finally, when I am in touch with God’s leading there is a sense of accomplishment and completion.  It probably mirrors the Genesis account of God reviewing his construction and announcing, “it is good”.  If that sense is lost, I notice a growing feeling of meaninglessness.  I am doing a lot, but not getting a lot out of what I’m doing.  Days bleed into weeks which fade into months and I’m not sure what I’ve done and why.  For me having weekly times to plan and review time helps immensely.  I do this in a devotional manner where I am conversing with God and praying through my calendar.  By doing this I re-yoke with Jesus and experience the ease of His yoke which is gentle.

Fresh from my Cincinnati learning community I’ve been thinking a lot about what I experienced.  Crossroads is a very active mega-church.  They began 16 years ago ago with a few couples that wanted to create a church where they wouldn’t be embarrassed to bring friends.  Since that time they have grown to over 12,000 people on any given Sunday. They certainly have a lot of friends! Their challenge now is to transition a massive group towards the focused intensity of huddles.  It won’t be easy.  However, they did a number of things I thought were genius:

1. They involved 250 influential leaders who have a heart to disciple others.  Here’s a reality that’s becoming clear to 3DM: not every leader wants to multiply!  Consider this important point when looking for people of peace.

2. They are giving time for process and dialogue.  Even the driven Bill Hybels admits that process is so integral to buy in.  Don’t be afraid of questions, push-back and wonderings as people think about discipleship.  The unfortunate reality for the church is discipleship has become foreign.  It seems weird to us.  So you will get a lot of questions.  Allow for the discussion to unfold and keep in mind that there is a difference between an honest question and a resistant heart-just ask a Pharisee.

3. They are thinking EVOLUTION not REVOLUTION.  Discipleship is a process that unfolds not flips.  It’s spiritual transformation so it requires time, energy and focus.  Pacing is also very important.  When leading consider both the group’s development as well as the individuals.  The goal isn’t to “finish the program” but to all Jesus to continue His “finishing” work on you!

If you are at all like me writing a book may seem to be a daunting task.  While it is a challenge it certainly must be do-able: consider the millions of books to date!  Today I spent 8 solid hours organizing and planning my first book.  It was unbelievable how easy the pieces fell into place with just a little bit of coaching from David Sluka.  Please check out his very affordable and extremely helpful workshop at: http://www.hitthemarkpublishing.com/Hit_The_Mark_Publishing/Writers_Workshop.html

The identity triangle is a powerful tool in helping disciples understand how to work from rest.  One of our big challenges is to rely on grace rather than self effort.  What happens when we don’t is a feeling of exhaustion and failure because we can’t “do it all right”.

When you hear that in your huddle go to the “identity triangle”:

Here’s how a simple step to the right can help:

1. If they are struggling in obedience…it is likely tied to their identity.  Help them see they are fully acceptable in Christ.

2. If they struggle in their identity…it is likely tied to their understanding of God.  Do they see God as a harsh task-master?  Can they see Him as their caring Abba?

A lot of the challenges your people face will stem from one of these two things.

Here’s an excellent post from Doug at 3DM: http://mikebreen.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/the-difference-between-huddles-and-small-groups-and-why-many-people-use-both/

One additional thought.  Small social spaces give us a place where we as leaders can notice those who despise “status quo”.  In other words they are leaders!  They want to influence and impact.  They desire change.  They are the ones that ask “is this all we’re going to do?”.  So as you move about keep your ear tuned for those who are desiring something more, something deeper.  They may in fact be your next huddle.

If your huddle is going to learn and grow…you will have to move SLOWLY!  That is so contrary to our culture’s inflamed pace, but every learning study affirms this.  Look at these educational diagrams and notice how similar they are to what we are practicing in huddle with the circle:

For decades now we have known how important a reflective process is for learning, but have adamantly ignored it for convenience sake.  We delude ourselves that we are making learning happen by plowing through reading assignments and regurgitating disconnected facts on paper (ok enough ranting Mark!)

Lets not make the same mistake as many of our educational institution-let REAL learning run its full cycle through the process of reflection (using the circle).

Now to do that you and I as leaders are going to have to be vigilant in a number of ways:

1. Don’t rush!  The goal isn’t to hit as many kairo as you can in a meeting or get through the shapes in record time!

2. Review often.  Check back with people in and out of huddle.  Ask them what they are learning and noticing.

3. Practice ourselves.  As leaders we are busy people.  There are a lot of demands on our time.  FOCUS.  Find a way to note what God is teaching us and stay on it like a dog on the hunt.  Do the same for your disciples.  Stay focused.

4. Make fruit your aim.  Ask your huddle, “how will I look/act different if I really get what God is saying to me”.  You’ll know you are there when you see it!  So to the person who says, “Oh God wants me to slow down” ask them, “and what does a slowed down Mark look like?”  They may need time to really think on that…fine give them time.  BUT be sure to come back to it because the clearer they SEE it the sooner they will move towards it.