Tony Wheeler dot Net

Been doing a lot of introspection lately. One of the things that I have never been good at is pointing out my weaknesses. Think of that strange moment of silence while sitting in a job interview and the interviewer asks you about your weaknesses. I’ve been there a number of times and usually end up spitting out some junk about something. I’ve tried on numerous occasions to dig deep and figure it all out…but don’t do it well.

In the interest of self disclosure, let me tell you why I suck.

• I am a fixer by nature. If there is a problem, I probably think I have the answer and I want to be a part of the solution. I want to fix things that other people don’t even know are broken. I want to fix things at the expense of other things that need my full attention.
• I struggle in my walk with God. I don’t always read the Bible and pray like I should. It is not easy when life is going a thousand miles per hour to etch out time with God. In reality, this is the priority over everything else. It takes determination and stick-to-it-ivness.
• I am an extremely selfish person. Having a daughter made me realize this. It isn’t about me anymore. Truth be told, it never was.
• When the going gets tough, I want to quit. There are days when I want to quit my job, my ministry, my business and almost anything that can be tough. The old saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I guess I’m not that tough. I’ve had some serious victories in this area of my life like graduating college and committing to one person for the rest of my life. Fact of the matter is, I still struggle with wanting to quit. I know that the things that I work the hardest for or fight the hardest to keep are the things worth doing/having, but sometimes my feet don’t believe that.
• I am totally insecure. I take it very personally when I am criticized, no matter what the subject. I don’t think that I am good enough or smart enough. I think that someone else would be better suited to do the things that God has called me to do.

What does all this mean? It means that at the end of the day, I am still a man in need of a savior. I need Jesus as much as the next guy. I have many more areas of weakness than I care to admit to myself or to anyone else. I have to work on this every day of my life…There are no rest periods because if I rest, then I start to believe the lies that are found in the preceding list.

The second sermon series I’m preaching: “Let Me Tell You Why I Suck as a Pastor.” This would of course feature a post-mortem cameo from Chris Farley as Tommy Boy.

Peace Out.

Silly Thursday. Go here to Simpsonize yourself!

Go. Do. Heal. Revolt. Unleash. Follow. Pray. Break. Come. Stop. Proclaim. Ask. Find. Seek. Knock. Teach. Baptize.

Throughout the entire Bible we find words like those above. They all are calls to action. They all require movement of some sort on the listener’s behalf. I was reading a tagline for The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus earlier today that really got me thinking about these action words. I know for me, these words inspire me. They motivate me. They stir up something inside of me that makes me want to do great things for the great God I serve. I don’t think that it is by accident that words of action are included in Scripture. I don’t think that it is by accident that the Great Commission is filled with words of action. Nowhere are we instructed to sit around in pews or smalls groups or board meetings waiting for people to come to us. We are called to go unto all peoples sharing the Good News. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for doing these things, but in my estimation, we spend too much time excercizing our glutes when we should be excercizing our feet. In my own life, I have spent way too much time riding the pine when I should have been moved to action. I’ve spent a lot of time running the opposite direction from God’s general calling on my life (to tell people about him by any means available).

Imagine what transformation could take place in a city if every church in town shut their doors for one Sunday morning and simply went out. Maybe they go to Panera and get coffee with people. Maybe they mow someone’s lawn, or a neighborhood worth of lawns. Maybe they go down to the park and pick up trash. Maybe they give out bottles of water at the soccer fields. Maybe they spend a couple of hours hanging out with seniors at the assisted living facility. The possibilities really are endless. A community of believers mobilized to do ministry in some strange ways. Most churches would frown on this idea because for most churches Sunday is what it is all about.

This is really what I am dreaming about. Getting a community of believers to reach out to the community at large in ways that have not been thought of yet. Getting a community of believers to understand the fullness of the Gospel. I can tell you this: It ain’t about Sunday mornings. I’ve got some things up my sleeve for the next year of ministry that I am pumped for. I’m not ready to share these yet as they are really fetal in development, but I am excited. Journey Church be ready.

There is a time and a place for attractional models of Churchianity. There is a time and a place for missional Churchianity. It really is a both and, but I think that New Testament Christianity is based upon the missional aspect way more than the attractional model. “If you build it, they will come” doesn’t really fly for the generation that is coming up behind us. They would rather go to a hole in the wall dive than Starbucks. You know why? Because the hole in the wall knows their name, remembers their favorite drink and has an atmosphere that is comfortable. Not hacking on Starbucks because they serve a great purpose as well. What is that purpose? They serve as low cost office space for hundreds of church planters across the county, of course!

Just some thoughts that were stirring in me today.

If you have been watching any news outlet you undoubtedly seen the bridge collapse in Minneaopolis. Be praying for the people involved, their families and rescue workers. I’m about 90 miles away from this bridge and this will undoubtedly have an effect on the next few days in my line of work. Could be interesting. Just pray.

Been listening to some podcasts from Craig Groeschel from LifeChurch.tv over the weekend. I’m taken with the story of Jonah and his attempts to run from what God had called him to. God called Jonah to Ninevah and Jonah decided to go to Tarshish. Over the past few months I have been wrestling with some of the same ideas. God has called me to a specific place and to a specific people. I had reasoned myself into two other scenarios that are more comfortable and more manageable under my own power. Spent some time just hanging out with my wife and baby today and really had a chance to chat about what God is saying to me. It was great to be able to share my heart to the fullest extent with her and hear what God is saying to her. She is also a great filter for the stuff that is going on in me. The cool thing is that she, after listening to what I had to say, affirmed that she thought that was a good summation of is going on in our life. Some of you reading this will play an important role in fulfilling this calling on our lives. Some of you will be prayer warriors. Some of you will help us in ways I can’t really share right now. Some of you will think we are nuts. Some of you will be mad at us for ‘abandoning’ you. We need your prayers and support. We aren’t abandoning anyone and nothing is set in stone, but there is a change on the horizon, but how long the horizon takes to get here we don’t know. For those of you who are wondering about the church that I currently serve at, I’m there with all of my heart. I’m doing what I’ve always done and I will keep doing what I’m doing until God decides it is time to go. Make no mistake, I’m here while I’m here. I love the church that I am at and I love what we are doing in this community. Ultimately, however, this isn’t the place that I’m called to. I’ve been here for 24 years on and off, it is home, but like Nazareth for Jesus, it isn’t the ultimate focus of my ministry.
I was reading an article today for a leadership development process that I am about to begin with four other people from church. This article basically talked about the differences and similarities between the leadership style of the boomer generation vs. Gen X. I was really convicted and encouraged through this reading. I’m really pumped about this experience and I’m excited to see what God will do through us all in this time. I’m excited to grow with these other leaders and be challenged. I’ve known for a long time that when I’m not challenged I’m lazy. Challenges are good, they produce character.

Keep us in your prayers and be praying about how you can be a part of what we are called to do. It is huge and cannot be accomplished without you and God on our side. Thanks!

Blessings…

That is a big number. Can you guess what it is? That is the number of spam comments Askimet has blocked since I first installed it about 2 months ago. If you aren’t using something like this, then you have to wade through all the comments that wind up in moderation and then delete them manually. I’m pretty thankful for Askimet. If you aren’t on WordPress for your blogging format, I can’t help you except to say that GoDaddy has now made it even easier to use WordPress by using something called Metropolis. Metropolis basically installs a blog on your hosted website. It is literally as easy as pushing a button. I’ve done this for a store I set up using Zen Cart. Very simple!

Anyway…my tech advice for the day.

Just returned from a week with my family. My grandparents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary a little early, so family from all over the country flocked to the Northwoods of Minnesota to help them! Our daughter got to meet her great-great grandmother, her mamaw and papaw from Louisiana (my dad and step-mom), her uncles from Louisiana, her cousin Austin and her Great Aunt Connie. She also met a whole slew of other people who showered her with gifts and love.

50 years of marriage in this day and age is truly a feat. I know that my grandparents have been through for better or worse, richer and poorer and sickness and health. They could have given up many times. They could have said I quit! They didn’t. They won’t. Their commitment to the vows they made all these years ago stands firm. Their commitment to each other and to their Lord is an example to those of us who come after them. They have taught me much about loving unconditionally, bearing with each other and standing firm in faith. Grandmother and Grandfather, thanks for being who you are and for loving us at all costs. Without your example in my life, I wouldn’t have the life that I do. Thanks for teaching me to love Jesus.

I think this picture exemplifies how most everyone felt this past week. Isn’t she beautiful??!