Mountains, Metaphors, and Motivation...

Have you ever heard of Sir Mallory?

Mallory led the initial expeditions to try to conquer Mt. Everest in the 1920s. The first expedition failed, as did the second. Then, with a team of the best quality and ability, Mallory made a third assault. But in spite of careful planning and extensive safety precautions, disaster struck. An avalanche hit and most of his party were killed. Mallory and his partner Irvine continued in an effort to reach the summit, they were never seen again. When the few who did survive returned to England, they held a glorious banquet saluting the great people of Mallory's final expedition. As the leader of the survivors stood to acknowledge the applause, he looked around the hall at the framed pictures of Mallory and his comrades who had died. Then he turned his back to the crowds to face the huge picture of Mt. Everest which stood looming like a silent, unconquerable giant behind the banquet table. With tears streaming down his face, he addressed the mountain on behalf of Mallory and his dead friends. "I speak to you, Mt. Everest, in the name of all brave men living and those yet unborn. Mt. Everest, you defeated us once; you defeated us twice; you defeated us three times. But, Mt. Everest, we shall someday defeat you, because you can't get any bigger and we can."

Listen, team, we’ve got Everest-sized dreams to accomplish this year. When you start looking at the size and scope of our dreams this year, from Monroe Circle all the way to India, it’s breath-taking in height. But, you’re the kind of people that live for the challenge. You don’t want to dream about climbing the curb. I think we all have profound confidence that we’re on mission; we’re about the building the Kingdom. This dream is not just a man-made deal ; it’s a God-given. Jesus is calling us up the mountain.

As we climb, we will push the envelope of our capacity and character. No one takes Everest without breaking a sweat, without taking risk, without absolute trust in their team-mates, without absolute trust in their guide.

I love what Mallory said, “Mt Everest, we shall someday defeat you because you can’t get any bigger and we can.”

As we climb, Jesus is committed to making us bigger. He doesn’t just “use us” to get the job done. He’s committed to us, not just the goal. As we climb the mountain this year, I’m committed to us becoming bigger people. People who are becoming better spouses, parents, friends, employers, or employees. People who are changing internally, becoming more and more like Jesus. People who know what it means to live with a divine rhythm.

So, as we climb, this blog will be a place for us to gather around the campfire, share a meal, tell stories, and grow in strength. I hope you make this a normal part of your week. You’ll stop by this campfire to be warmed, inspired, sustained, and challenged.

Mission Metaphors

Our conversations this year will orbit around the seven missional metaphors. If you were at the leadership retreat, you’ll remember we got start with the first two.

Holistic Ministry Focus

Become a Knight.










Become a Jedi










Why don’t you open up another window, right now and go to www.entermissionmedia.com Download the first podcast and take a listen. Next week, Jack will get the conversation going around that first metaphor, the Knight of the Kingdom. Please share this with everyone on your team. Please engage them in dialogue. Use these as tools to inspire and inform those who follow you. These metaphors define who we are. These metaphors define how we will travel up the mountain. We’ll keep posting new podcasts. Count on it!

Coaching

I also want to introduce you to a new member at the campfire. His name is Dr Ron Craker. Ron is one of my great friends. He is licensed clinical psychologist. Ron’s been working with families and individuals for 25 years. Ron has been an amazing coach to me as a father, husband, and man of God. You may remember Ron from a weekend service a while back where he shared the teaching with Mark Waltz.

You’ll notice I used the word coach, not counselor. (Ron’s the coach on the right. ☺) Over the past 10 years, Ron has been pioneering a new approach to help people like you and me face the challenges of a very demanding world and schedule. He’s worked with 100’s of families and professionals with incredible success. This model involves a shift in focus from the traditional counseling model of diagnosis and treatment to the role of life coach. The goal of coaching is to help you uncover your greatest strengths and discover new ways to experience the life God intended. The goal of coaching is to help you and I become “bigger.”

Counseling is for hurting people who want to heal. Coaching is for exceptional individuals who are poised to do great things with their circumstances.

Effective Counseling
Analyzes Problems
Looks to the past for clarification
Identifies what drags you back emotionally
Looks for meaning in your night’s dreams
Teaches ways to control your emotions
Alleviates your symptoms

Effective Coaching
Discovers Solutions
Looks to the future with clarity
Explores what pulls you forward emotionally
Helps you live dreams that give your day’s meaning
Teaches ways to release your passions
Elevates your purpose

As you and I pour our lives out this year, Ron is going to help us stay healthy and strong. He’s going to help us keep our eye not just on the “mission” ball, but on our whole lives. He’ll help us think about God’s kingdom not just coming “out there” in the world, but coming “in here” inside our hearts, minds, marriages, families, friendships, and workplace.

• I am radically committed to us climbing the mountain God has set before us.
• I am radically committed to us not dying on the way up too!
• I am radically committed to helping you become the man or woman God wants you to be.

Ron’s going to be a great friend to us in this journey.

As you come to this blog, you’ll see that we’ll focus one week on the metaphors. Then, the next week Ron will put up a post that will coach us toward health in the journey.

I can only say that I am totally stoked about this journey. I love doing this with you. We’d love to hear your thoughts! So, post a comment. Come on back this week for Ron’s first installment.