Learns for the new year.

42. Learning all the time. Some learns are mainly observations that might not be generalized to the “this I have learned” genre’. Not sure if they count then… Well, one thing I do know, is that all learns begin with observation, about myself, others, God, the world around me. I am convinced that I am a player in a meta narrative that is true reality. This is a story that is God’s and get to be a part of it for a few years here on earth.
So- in “stream of consciousness” style is some learns from the last year:
(probably in backwards order)

 

1. Power pop doesn’t get old, and new bands can make new songs that sound fresh with the same old chord progressions.  Check out the 88′s.
2. My wife is some kind of woman.  Committed, strong, sexy, self immersed and giving all at the same time, confusing- and yet there’s no one else i’d rather try to figure out over the next few decades than her.  I am also aware that she feels the same about me, but it is difficult for her to access these feelings when I make it difficult by not taking care of myself or her or the basics of life.
3. As much as I preach about doing what you are made to do- there is merit is just making a living, and having some space to do some things you like (or are called to do).  It seems that you can lose yourself in the pursuit of doing what you are made to do when you can’t make a living at it.  This can lead to all kinds of miscues you would have never thought of due to lack of margin on all fronts (economical, time, focus, travel, organizational, spiritual).  Being entrepreneurial can be great- however the cost is high- and the cost has direct impact on core structural entities in one’s life.  I am thankful I am seeing both sides of this now, and thankful I have taking the risk to learn such things.
4. Grace is the deal.  I’m not sure anything else compares.  This is why I stick with Jesus.  I’m not entirely sure of why He sticks with me.  I know its not because of me, and I’m told its all because of Him.  I know that mainly because of my relationship with my children- whom I would stick with at any cost. (no matter what they do.)  Thank you God.
5. I am more fragile then I believed a few years ago.  I am also stronger.  How can that be?
6. I have questioned my worth this year in several situations, professionally and personally.   Its interesting that I am learning to let go of things, and ways of being that I would hold on tight to in my younger years.  And while that can seem like a positive thing- when there are consequences to this that aren’t necessarily positive, It hits me deep inside.  So, is it better to hang on?  Do I hang on to certain things just to be a good manager of consequences?  When consequences impair relationships, or work, or life- I would think that it is good to not let go quite so easily.
7. I’ve run into many people in the last year who had interaction with me from New Life Ranch in the last 20 years- many who I have had no contact with in recent years.  This has reminded me of the impact of legacy.  People living in Australia, professionals I’ve run into in our new work of CQ Missional who are all grown up now and have big person jobs and families, old friends who I’ve lost touch with…. I’ve also been blessed with continued interaction with my friends there and the opportunity to contribute in NLR programs.  God blesses this on so many levels way beyond any interaction that involves me.  Again, I’m drawn to the Creator, and Redeemer.
8. Speaking of that- Meet Your Maker is probably the life song for me.  I still love it.  I play it all the time when I’m just picking around on my guitar.
9. Speaking of that- I haven’t written a complete song since moving back to Tulsa.  Failure.
10. Riding the Mountain bike this year?  Failure.
11. Canopy Tour.  Success.  I can’t overstate the value of joining the work of friends who know what they’re doing.  I am also in love with the Buffalo River Valley in Arkansas.  Wouldn’t mind living there some day.  Here’s the link to our partners over there:  www.buffaloriver.com
12. GPS Tulsa.  Success- in ways that are difficult to measure.  I am convinced that everyone has value, and the young adults who are “directionless” have a whole bunch to offer- they just need someone to walk beside them to remind them of the truth.  Like a whole bunch, and often.  I believe in this work, and there are lots of ways in which I believe it is such a powerful ministry and yet it doesn’t provide many of the things essential for growth or even possibly survival in our corporate/ ministry world today.  It reminds me of the question my friend Greg Robinson reminds me of periodically:  ”Does the priest offering communion to 1 person on a given day believe their work is not successful?  The answer is no, because their job is to continue to tell the story.”  I mean, The Story.  Whats interesting here is that we are doing this work somewhat separated from a particular flavor of Christianity, which makes it difficult to align with for some folks.  I’m learning that its ok to be that way, but there are roadblocks to progress in growing when you decide not to attach various adjectives to your work like denominational names, buzzwords, political affiliations, etc…  I guess I’m just asking would Jesus do it this way, or at all?  I am learning that answer- but its taking time.  (its “perhaps but better than me”, and “Yes”)
13. Surprise parties rule.
14. Zip lines are really fun again.  Being outside is essential for my life.
15. I like my Dogs.  Bono is now a 10 month old 120 lb friend.
16. I want to help people.  I know that about myself, but I mean in a give people clean water or feed the poor kind of way. I am wondering now, that I have arranged my job to where I get to help people do those kinds of things, is how much I really want to help those people, versus, seeing myself as the kind of guy who does those things- as well as being seen as the kind of person who does those kind of things.  This is one more ‘ah-ha” that goes back to a sometimes destructive need to be liked.  I am learning how to make that part of me less of a priority.   What would it be like if my “others” focus was about them, and not about any feeling about me that my benevolence may trigger?
17. My family is helping me learn this one above.
18. I still love the Beatles and am glad they’re on Itunes.
19. Wondering if I will get to go to the places I want to go to before I die- like seriously for the first time.  Will it be OK if I don’t go to Northern California, or British Columbia?
20. Reminded like all the time that what I know about life and how I live it can be disconnected in ways that defy logic.  Is that what Paul’s talking about when he says that the very thing he doesn’t want to do- he does?
21. I can’t do it on my own, and neither should anyone else.
22. I now like living in Tulsa.  Specifically the renewal of downtown, the river, and surrounding- as well as the people of the city have won me over.  However- one cannot afford to go to every good concert available.  Thats a hard call for a music lover.  Should I have seen Paul McCartney and Dave Matthews this year when they were like 10 miles from my house?  Yep probably.
23. “I just want to scream- Hello!” is a favorite line of mine from Pearl Jam’s “Elderly Woman behind the counter in a small town.”
24. Eugene Petersen need more air time this coming year.
25. Romans 12 is providing me with the closest thing to a systematic theology that I’ve ever clicked with.  I can talk about it for hours, and the well never runs dry.
26. John 17 is similar in how Jesus’s words touch me deeply.  I have difficulty escaping the disconnect of His prayer for us and the way we are divided in the church of Believers.  Maybe its just because we are all different and have an inability to see things outside of our own context.  I’m not sure how much of that is ok.  I mean some of that is surely wrong and selfishness, and some of it occurs in the arena of utter humbleness and charity.  I look forward to an answer here.  I know it is framed by the general overall limitation of just being people.
27. Resources are for investing.  Resources are meant to create more life on all levels.  I am learning this and getting better and being a steward (slowly.)
28. Take responsibility.   I am learning to own what is meant to be owned, and let go of what is not mine.

Please pray for us this year as we grow more into the us that God intended.

Chris

 

Recent work and musings…

GPS Tulsa is a highlight.  Every Tuesday, I gather with 6 great young adults and talk about what they’re going to do with their lives, and serve Tulsa in the process.  What comes up is interesting- like 2 of our volunteers getting “fired” from their after-school class.  I think I know why, but haven’t heard any explanation from the teacher, just from the program coordinator, who believes in what our kids are doing.  Btw- the median annual income in the school district where we serve is $18K.

Recent Challenge Quest work:  I lead teambuilding days for Leadership Norman, a big concrete company based in Oklahoma and with regional plants all over, Oklahoma State Engineering students and staff.

I had an awesome weekend as the keynote speaker and facilitator  at the New Life Ranch mother-son retreat.  Um…not sure my friends have noticed, but I’m not a mother.  I am, however, a son (of an amazing mother)- and the perspective of the grown son speaking to moms about their relationship with their sons, and God- was refreshing.  I had such a great time, and believe the work had an impact.

There has also been some speaking at Tulsa Metro Worship, and leading worship at Garnett Church of Christ on a couple of occasions.  Trying to stick to my one degree…. and do what I’m great at, and steward my work for helping people grow towards God, and in relationships with each other.  This can be an economically challenging state of being.

The canopy tour continues to grow and go well.  Lots of full days- and every day I go over there and work I meet great people from all over who share the experience of the Buffalo River Valley and our cool ziplines.  We bought a little staff house over there in a great location.  I like working with my partners in this venture- and we believe it will grow.   Lots of investment right now.  Thats good.

Looking forward to going over to the Buffalo River to help the Williams Companies doing a wilderness leadership training, and will be going to Missouri to facilitate a board of directors retreat for Camp David ( a camp that serves the children of people in prison).  I am not pumped about missing my children’s fall break this year to work- but we’ve also have many flexible times as well- so I am rolling with it.

Also- excited about some new partnering opportunities for CQ Missional with a local camp ministry, and also considering expanding our personal life coaching offerings.

Thats some boring stuff- but people have been asking- and I’m staying busy.  Please pray with me that the work makes a difference, and that I am able to support my family well.

This could be a fat one.

No posts since spring.  Much has happened since then.  I was overwhelmed by some recent events in the new project I’m working on called GPS Tulsa.  I’d like to share some of them in this post and the next few ones as well.

I miss working with the kids and volunteers from my old youth pastor job.  I don’t miss working at the church.  I do miss the paycheck.  Actually, my whole family misses the paycheck.

Our canopy tour is doing well- lots of folks going through with very positive feedback.  You can search Buffalo Outdoor Center on facebook or go to www.buffaloriver.com and check it out.  I am spending 4-5 days a month there unless there is building going on- which will be taking place in December and January.  We are expanding.  We served 100 people over Labor Day weekend.

I’ve been amazed by how things are shaking out with our new GPS program.  We’re serving at Kendall Whittier elementary school which is a “community school” in Tulsa.  That means, amoung other things, that they have a full time community service liason staff person who helps the school keep its doors open for all kinds of community service (the median annual household income in the neighborhood is $18K a year).  We are helping with 2 cooking classes and one archery class after school as a part of my students’ experience.  I want them to have more responsibility- and I am putting together a proposal for the school where we will run a program that will live and die by our students’ involvement.  The children at the school are beautiful.  and, when waiting outside at the endof the program last week this woman walks up to me and says “Chris King!” and I say “I know you, you worked for me at New Life…and I can’t remember your name.”  (i’m a loser.)  Its Bridget Brock, and she was on summer staff 1997.  Turns out she is the school counselor- and is really pumped about what we’re doing.  God is at work.

So, I tell that story, amoung others about our GPS kids, on my fund raising warpath in a sunday school class this past sunday.  Monday I get a $1000 scholarship gift for Imran, one of our students.  Tuesday I get another $1000 scholarship gift.  Wednesday I get a confirmation of another monthly supporter.  Its been a good week on that front.

On the “we’ve got the right idea” front- well, we’ve got the right idea.  There is stuff to tweak for sure, but GPS works.  I met with most of the parents Tuesday night and it was powerful.  They want to come back to download with each other each month.  I am thrilled to facilitate it.  Our kids are trusting each other now- so its time to stretch them a bit more.  Their life stories were powerful as well- many themes of hurts from childhood, broken families, and a common shifting sand for everyone involved in their present circumstance.  One day we sat at a corner booth at the route 66 diner and talked about the history of that road, and what the waitresses might say to people driving across the country over the years.  ”hows the trip?  what do you need?  you tired?  you getting close to the destination?  can i get you some water, or some sweet tea?”

We asked each other- “On your journey- hows it going?  Are you headed in the right direction?  what do you need?  Where are you on the trip?”  Answers were all thematic- lost, stuck, wagon ruts, gravel and bumpy road….  we have a group brought together by each individual’s “lostness.”  The beauty of it is that they are all speaking of the reality of that, and they are willing to take on the adventure of getting found.  they do indeed have a destination, and a role in God’s story to embrace.  They are people worth believing in.

I found out tonight that I am a “controversial figure” at a church here in town.  It didn’t bother me.  I am tired of trying to look good for people.  I am wondering more and more- what does Jesus want from me?  I am getting stripped down to a life of thanking God- and trying to love those people in my life the best I can.  I used to say things like that and believe I was doing it- and the whole time I was the center of that story.  I would like to believe that I am moving out of the center bit by bit.  God help me.