From Calgary - Swimming in Big Small World

Sitting with Neal in Banff, Alberta enjoying the beautiful Canadian Rockies I made a comment - I have been talking too flippantly about the world, changing the world and reaching the world. Every time I travel this far I realize how big it is. The professor replied in typical fashion: Yeah, it's a dichotomy (division into two usually contradictory parts, had to look it up) it's big, but it's small.

John Piper helped in Let the Nations Be Glad. He gave the illustration of coming upon a shipwrecked ocean liner with 1000's of people frailing away in the water. What a dilemma! How do I decide whom to save?

When we decided to spend a week in Canada, we decided by default not to spend that week any place else. We picked a group of people to swim toward. The only way we could do that is swim away from others.

What is the solution? How can we make a big world small? Acts 1:8 complicates the matter further, when we get the directive, go everywhere in the world at once, as fast as you can.

The answer is multiplication. Swim toward a group, invest in the strongest to help them swim toward and rescue the people in their group. Then, Acts 1:8, swim quickly to another group. Help others see do the same thing.

As we sat with Canadian leaders on Monday we were overwhelmed with them. We could not be so arrogant to think we could help them solve every problem. For every limitation, leadership shortage, geographical challenge, cash shortage, the professor and I will figure out a way to help. Yeah, right.

No, we will pick out a few, the willing, and yes, the strongest. We will invest in their vision to partner with God to reach their nation and beyond. They, in turn, will do the same. Then, we will we swim to other places. We will invest in strong networks and let them rescue, and we will swim to other places. The heart of God is supernatural, grassroots, multiplication. He gets the credit, only He has the capacity. No other way makes any sense. The world is way too big.

We plan by God's grace to swim home today. Big homecoming at the Senesi house. Cynthia first, then Airman David Mikusek, and finally me, Lord willing. Can't wait.

From Calgary - Crazed Fans

Funny where you can find stuff. We were on the C-Train with a bunch of crazed Saskatchewan Roughrider fans Saturday. Dressed in green, face paint, men wearing green dresses. Even in the fan category . . . a bit nuts.

I learned the rest of the story about these fans. They love being fans so much that they show up at Canadian Football League games in which their beloved Roughriders do not play. All for the love of the game and of being a fan, dressed in green. Everybody loves them.

As we sat with Canadian Movement makers Rob Blackaby, Tim Williams, and Bo Neal yesterday, I wondered. Would they try and put a positive spin on the work to impress us? Would they explain away the tough spots because Canada is a hard place to reach people for Christ? Would they feel more like we were rivals?

In spite of recent progress and incredible barriers they asked questions. They wanted more and better for God. Because the work of the Lord and the souls of people are at stake, they held their work with an open hand. I am a big fan of movement makers in Canada.

Someone needs to hear a loud cheer from you today. Could it be someone outside your daily circles? Someone from your past? Maybe even someone you don't know? Get a little crazy. Give them a yell.

Seeing more of the beauty of Canada today. Will keep you posted.

From Calgary - Long vs. Short, Big vs. Small

It only makes sense (Ps 145). Anyone would agree regardless of spiritual background. No matter if you think like a business person, a doctor, a preacher, or a young mother. Invest the most in the greatest. Make long term investments. Beware of impulse, trends, and hunches.

In Calgary today I will be at the table with key Canadian movement makers, Rob Blackaby and Tim Williams. U.S. movement makers Larry Bateman (FBC Taylors) and Neal McGlohon (SCBC, Charlotte Network) will be there too. I'm thinking I'll need a yellow pad. Looking for the greatest and longest investment in God's kingdom. I will keep you "posted."

By the way, take action today. Get out your yellow pad and a pencil. Lay down the laptop. List the three major issues in your life that are slowing you down. Prayerfully choose one. Then take one action, solid, and concrete that will move you forward.

Lift Off - Southwinds Church

Great Day. Great Conversations. I love launch days. I compare them to Super Bowl Sunday. But today it was The Grey Cup (Calgary Stampeders whipped Saskatchewan Roughriders 44-22, Saturday) in the name of cultural relevance. The Grey Cup (Nov. 25, 2007 in Toronto) of the Canadian Football League http://www.cfl.ca/ is the equivalent to the Super Bowl of the NFL.

Everybody had fun. Do you think they had fun in Acts 2? More than Super Bowl and Grey Cup combined. When did being a Christ-follower stop being fun to you? Why? Go back and rediscover the fun of it all. I'll bet (wait I'm not supposed to do that), I think (wow, a little wishy washy), You will (I feel a high D rush here) be much more interesting to those far from God when the fun comes back.

The numbers I know were 14 people from the community. Core group was around 23 (37 for Southwinds future). The crowd, well wishers and South Carolina Team made the head count around 70.

One couple with two children told Pastor Rob they had been watching all Southwinds had doing in the community for two years. They did not participate in anything. First Sunday they wanted to see what Southwinds was all about. Home run! I mean, touchdown!

From Calgary - Six Guys Who Will Carry My Casket

Today is launch day. Larry introduced a provoking idea to us yesterday. The six guys, you know, who will carry my casket . . . What will they really know about me? How much of my life will I have poured in them? What kind of difference will they make in the world?

When I left New Orleans after 17 years God convinced me that I needed to spend more time with less people if I really expected to change the world. I think there is an example of that in the Bible, right?

Mid afternoon launch update will come. We are two hours behind Eastern time

Personal Record Set in Calgary - My Feet are Mad at Me

No applause, please . . . our team went to roughly 6000 homes yesterday. We were on the pavement in Calgary for eight hours. We were hanging invites to Southwinds Church (www.southwindschurch.ca) launch service on Sunday.

First door I ever knocked on was at age 9 in East Tennessee. In New Orleans I served in many roles that provided opportunities to go door to door. Yesterday was not door to door. Yesterday was door to door to door to door to door. No doubt a personal record. My feet are mad at me.

Had some great conversations. Canadians are not easy to talk to. But, just like any place on the planet (I think, I have not been every place as of today), when the conversations went places they were passionate about, a dramatic turnaround took place.

Upon advice from locals my first feeble attempt to connect was through the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains. Beautiful mountains, I said to the first few people. To a person they looked at me like an over zealous salesman try to close a deal. So, I kept fishing.

On this day connecting points were beautiful yard, you must work hard . . . how bout those Calgary Stampeders? . . . the Calgary Flames open Sunday in Calgary and are sold out. Canadians take great pride in their small yards. The Calgary Stampede of the Canadian Football League beat their hated rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos, twice this year. The National Hockey League is a universal passion in Canada.

The first part of the day yesterday was cold. So were the first few conversations. But as conversations moved to passions, most everybody wanted to talk. I am not expert on Canadians, although I admit, I am jazzed at trying to understand them. Living here for years would be needed. Here is the learning of the day: Everyone we meet today wants to talk about something. Discovering that something is the key to a deeper relationship. A deeper relationship will be they greatest avenue to deeper conversations . . . about deeper things, like God, Jesus, and eternal life. Patience is needed for most. Keep moving forward!

From Calgary - Change is a Team Sport

Sjogren's quote - you know - partnership is the heart of God . . . Tony Stoltzfus said it in Leadership Coaching this way: No individual can fulfill the call of God on their life without other people.

Doing more reading with the travel. God reminded me yesterday through Reggie (Get a Life) and Blackaby (Experiencing the Cross) that I could be the answer to someone's prayer. That's not about my value to the world, it is about partnership and me listening to what God says. Who do you need to help today?

Southwinds Church,Calgary, Alberta - Launch

We arrived in a "much colder than South Carolina" environment today. God is doing some exciting stuff here in Calgary. Neal McGlohon and 9 people from FBC Taylors are on the team. We get to watch a launch, do footwork, and encourage. I can do encourage. A well-trained monkey can do encourage. Wonder why we don't do it more?

The launching pastor of Southwinds (http://www.southwindschurch.ca/) is Rob Blackaby. Famous names for 100? Yes, it is Henry's nephew and the president of the Canadian Baptist Seminary. Southwinds vision is to help communities by introducing neighbors to neighbors. I like it.

Taylors FBC has been sending teams for well over a year. Great partnership. Steve Sjogren said to me once "partnership is the heart of God." Simple, but profound. Plus he is famous in the Kingdom. Wanted you to know I know somebody beyond Stetzer and Reggie.

South Carolina planters, a great potential project for you (you know the Acts 1:8 deal). The late Keith Green said: If God has not called you to stay then you have already been told to go (he did not say that to me, personally, but at a concert). Where are you going?

Blogging Canada for awhile. We will be here 7 days. More Learning from Leaders later. Pray for us, please, and the lauch of Southwinds Church.