It just happened again. A professional that I depend on failed to keep his word, much less honor it--for the third time this week. From his point of view, it's a failure of organization--he just got too busy, he lost track of his schedule, he couldn't be on this side of town, he forgot to let me know.

For me, it's a failure of integrity. He said he would do something and then he didn't. Then, in an effort to look good or at least not look bad, he lied about it. He tried to make it right by saying that he would do it on Friday of this week. Then he called Friday morning to say that he wouldn't be able to get to it, again with a long list of reasons.

He doesn't understand why I am upset. In his mind, his reasons are good reasons (and I agree, they probably are.) He doesn't understand what happens to a relationship, even a professional one, when you give your word to something and then don't do what you said you would do--and then rely on fudging the truth to look good.

I mentioned our commitment on integrity to a man in my church over dinner this week. He manages a beautiful ranch down here in the Texas hill country. He talked about how much of his work depends on people keeping their word with him. We agreed that the gospel is often compromised by our failure of integrity. I said that sometimes ministers had trouble with this and he nodded vigorously.

I am watching myself more closely right now--am I keeping my word? When I can't keep my word, am I honoring my word? Am I more interested in looking good or at least not looking bad than I am in my basic integrity? How about you?

From Jim:

Yesterday and today Michael Frost, co-author of ReJesus: The Wild Messiah for the Missional Church, spoke in three settings in Houston. At the lunch meeting he challenged and inspired me. I want to recapture what I heard him say for my own learning. This are my notes.
Throughout modernity the Church has focused on four purposes - worship, discipleship, community, and mission. During this period, we have done discipleship and community around worship - on Sunday mornings, with the preacher as the center piece of the experience. And for a long time that worked.
He suggested that in this era a more effective way to think about the work of the Church is to do worship, community, and discipleship around mission. He proposes that the Church is a collection of the sent ones. While on mission, worship, community and discipleship take on a much more powerful focus.
What would happen if the vision for local missional congregations was to equip missional leaders who, as they were on mission were worshipping, building community, and making disciples? Does this seem really different to you? It does to me.

It was truly wonderful to see you all again, in Holland this time. You challenge and inspire us and we love to work with you. Thank you for the privilege one more time!

We'd love to hear what you're hearing from your leadership teams. What seems to be the main take-away from the weekend? What kind of emotional connection did they forge with the concepts that were presented?

You can comment on this blog or post to it OR if that's too techno-challenging, email me and I'll post your comments.

Next, Jim and I will comment on your next steps and offer some coaching for the near future.