XANetwork has a new web site at www.xanetwork.org.  Thank You

Today marks the 30th wedding anniversary for Jo Ann and me as we continue to live, experience, and celebrate life together!  In all honesty, these past 30 years have been amazing.  Sure, there have been challenges, because after all, that’s life; but it has been an incredible journey of loving, learning, and living together.  We met the summer before our senior year in high school and we’ve been together since then- chasing dreams, taking on the challenges, sharing life, and keeping it all in perspective; we only get to go around one time in this life so why not do it right and enjoy it!

If I could pass along some counsel to those looking to have a 30th wedding anniversary some day I’d say find someone with exceptional character, who has a strong commitment to both God and family, and who cares for others more than for themselves; and then endeavor to model those same qualities in your own life.  That marriage will not only survive whatever is thrown at it, it will thrive through it all!  I’ve been blessed to have such a person in my life for over 30 years and without question, Jo Ann has made me a better person.  Here’s the thing about life- you don’t get to do it alone.  God never intended for any of us to go it solo.  I’m not suggesting at all that this means every person has to get married.  I’m simply saying that life, to be really lived and enjoyed, is all about right relationships- being connected to exceptional people who add value, significance, and make you a better person because of the kind of person that they are.

No doubt, I’ve been blessed these past 30 years with such a person- Jo Ann is absolutely my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the love of my life and I know she feels the same way about me.  Because in the end, that’s what marriage is all about.  What’s even more remarkable about this 30th year wedding anniversary is that we are now almost full-circle in life: the kids are all off on their own for the most part and it’s just the two of us!  The difference between now and 30 years ago is that we’ve got a ton of life experience and more craziness than ever.  So, instead of settling into a rocking chair on the back porch and getting cranky, we’re signing up for another 30 years, starting an entirely new adventure with the XA Network, and setting sail for a continued journey of loving, learning, and living together!

Happy 30th Anniversary Jo Ann!  You’re once, twice, three times a lady, and I love you!

In his book, Tribes, Seth Godin says, “If your organization requires success before commitment, it will never have either.”  I couldn’t agree more, basically because things like innovation, developing a new strategy, or setting a new standard take time and dedicated people more than willing to stay the course, break through the barriers, and bring something better to fruition.  But sadly, most already established, doing-it-the same-way-for-a-very-long-time organizations want the results now!

The problem with this is that you can’t really have new, or different, or especially better results without some innovation and some people to champion the innovation for however long it takes.  Again, therein lies the crux of the problem- we want change without having to change anything!  I’ve long tired of meetings where the same sad data is presented and a new initiative is proposed to make things better primarily because in the end, what seriously lacks is the commitment to get it done, see it through, make it happen.

Someone once said that nothing happens without commitment- you can’t buy a house without it, have a successful marriage, or build a business.  There’s no question that at the onset of every organization or business or movement, there were some people who were simply very committed to seeing it accomplished.  They sacrificed, served, and were sold out completely.  Every cause needs a champion or some champions, but it also requires great commitment from those involved.

I’m guessing that’s the real challenge today when it comes to accomplishing just about anything- can you find people who will be totally committed; will you be fully committed?  I hear it from pastors and parishioners, both blaming the other for a lack of, yes, commitment!  You see it in relationships, in business, in every aspect of life- where there is no commitment, there is certain frustration, or worse, failure.  And where there are organizations that demand, or at the very least foster an environment of expected success, without a commitment to endearing a culture of creativity, innovation, and yes, real change, you find people and groups that are completely out of touch with reality!

We need causes (and as church folk we can’t really deny what that is); but just as importantly, we need a commitment to whatever it takes to be as productive as possible regarding the cause.

I just finished reading a great article in ESPN- The Magazine about Adrian Rodgers, the starting quarterback for the Green Packers.  I must say that after reading it I am now a big fan of Rodgers especially considering that he was not recruited by any D1 schools coming out of high school, waited 3 years before getting the opportunity to play for Cal, and waited another 4 years before getting his opportunity to be the QB for the Packers- only after Bret Farve was traded to the Vikings.  What I love about Rodger’s story can be summed up in his own words, “I’ve dealt with adversity.  I’ve dealt with disappointment.  I’ve dealt with not being picked and not being one of the guys.  When I see adversity now, I look forward to it.  When I see opportunity, I make the most of it.”  Please read the article to get the real feel for what he is saying!

The back story here is that Rodgers has had to work very hard to get where he is today.  Interestingly he was the backup to one of the games most prolific quarterbacks of all time, but they never had a very good relationship.  As a matter of fact, Farve apparently saw Rodgers as a threat and did very little to help him develop and grow as an NFL quarterback.

My point here is the parallel with established leadership today in many organizations; especially the church.  Sadly, most starting, long-term “QB’s” (a term I’ll use to denote leaders) never seem to know when, don’t know how to, or just won’t step aside.  Worse yet, most, likely for reasons of insecurity, feeling threatened, or pride, among other things, just won’t make the investment in the young stud.  In my opinion there is nothing more pathetic than an old QB trying to play a young man’s game (some of you will say that Farve had one of his best years ever last season at 40, but how long can that really last, and what effect does that have on a “team” in the long-term if there is no, or little commitment to preparing a replacement?  Sure, you may win now, but can you still win later?).

There’s no question it’s tough letting go, moving on, or “retiring”, let alone making a way for the QB of the future of the franchise to get some playing time, hone his skills, develop his game, lead the team, face a Dwight Freeny rush or a Darrelle Revis coverage!  I can attest to how challenging this can be.  But how else can the “kid” with the big arm, the fresh legs, and even some cockiness learn to lead; and more importantly, be very good at it?  I’m a huge Colts and Peyton Manning fan, but eventually, and hopefully he’ll not only step aside at the right time, but do so after imparting all he knows into the kid that will take his place- that’s legacy and that’s real success!  After all, Football is a team game and almost everything else in life is too.  Players come and go, but the team remains.  The reality is that a “team’s” ultimate success year in and year out depends completely on older players transitioning out and younger players transitioning in, and having the right timing, system and/or process that makes sure that the team is always getting better at its primary purpose- winning.

I’ve got more to say on this so stay tuned…

It’s been a year since I sat with Harv Herman, a Chi Alpha lifer and long-time leader in the organization, at a Starbucks in Gainsville, Virginia.  We essentially had a conversation that has radically changed my life, leading me to resign my lead pastorate role at a great church and directorship of the Lifehouse Church Network, and join Chi Alpha as a full-time missionary and director of the XA Network.  Early on I told people that this was either the craziest thing I’d ever done, or that it was absolutely the stuff of radical faith in the pursuit of God’s will.  Now a year later I can unequivocally tell you it’s both!

As some of you know the XA Network is a pioneering endeavor to provide a means for graduating XA students to exit the secular university campus and enter the marketplace “on mission” for God to cause marketplace transformation.  I was surprised when I first talked with Harv that although many XA campus directors were training their students to be missional, there really wasn’t a strategy to intentionally send them into the marketplace with a missionary mindset.  I can certainly understand this when there is so much effort that needs to go into reaching and teaching students in the university campus experience.  However, I am grateful that God has given me the opportunity/responsibility to serve alongside these great XA leaders and provide graduates with networking opportunities beyond college to continue to spiritually grow, lead, serve, and transform the world!

My utmost intention is to create a means for XA students preparing to graduate to literally have at their fingertips, via a website/database, opportunities to get connected with ongoing educational, vocational, social projects, and church/church planting efforts anywhere around the country where they may feel led to live, work, and be an agent of marketplace transformation.  Basically the XA Network is an intentional “exit strategy” via relational connectivity and networking for the purpose of taking Jesus into the marketplace through a missional life of servant-leadership.  In reality it’s simply all about God-arranged connections!

Being new to Chi Alpha I may be the least experienced, yet best observer to proclaim- even prophetically (that’s right!), that XA is a tribe/movement that is on the verge of an entirely new level of thinking, acting, and living that will literally not only transform the marketplace, but create a movement that destroys the status quo, markets “Jesus” by being remarkable, and unleashes radical, innovative, fearless marketplace, Kingdom “heretics” (someone not obsessed with organizational structure, restrictive rules and regulations, and archaic measurements of Christian success; but rather is completely sold out to the cause of Christ, “trying to find common ground with everyone, doing everything to save some” I Cor. 9:22).  We need to remember that Jesus was considered a heretic of the highest degree which led to his crucifixion.  Perhaps the Church in America has been playing it way too safe and what we need is a movement of emerging generation Jesus followers who may come across radical, revolutionary, and yes, even heretical in respect to established religious systems and structures; but they are all about change and being changed! They are “disturbing the status quo- both in the city and in the established church” (Acts 17:6), and they are highly motivated by their faith, not mere religious activity!

I will be 49 years old in a few months and as I look at the latter half of my life, like Caleb, I want to spend it “taking mountains with the strength of my youth” (Joshua 14).  And I am totally convinced this is possible by being a “heretic” that is engaged in, and passionate about the mission of Jesus, and believes that Chi Alpha has the right spiritual DNA to produce radical and real transformation because XA students and grads are abandoned to causing a “disturbance” (Acts 17:6) of New Testament proportions!

In his book, “Tribes”, Seth Godin writes, “If you hear my idea but don’t believe it, that’s not your fault; it’s mine.  If you see my new product but don’t buy it, that’s my failure, not yours.  If you attend my presentation and you’re bored, that’s my fault too.  If I fail to persuade you to implement a policy that supports my tribe, that’s due to my lack of passion or skill, not your shortsightedness.  If you’re a student in my class and you don’t learn what I’m teaching, I’ve let you down.  It’s really easy to blame the user/student/prospect/customer for not trying hard, for being too stupid to get it, or not caring enough to pay attention… But none of this is helpful. What’s helpful is to realize that you have a choice when you communicate… Most of all, you get to choose who will understand (and who won’t).”

I share that lengthy statement so you can truly get the gist of what Seth is saying; that ultimately the posture of a leader has to be one of taking full responsibility for literally everything within the context of the tribe/followership, especially communication.  We get to choose how we engage people and if we’re not engaging them then we’re not leading!  After all, in my opinion, leadership is less about a position is so much more about posture, a.k.a. attitude!  And attitude is everything.

A friend who is a pilot once told me that a plane cannot fly without the right attitude- nose up!  A great analogy of life and leadership.  Nobody wants to follow a whiner, but literally everyone and anyone will follow a winner.  And in regard to the above Seth Godin quote, a right attitude/posture of a leader is being fully responsible for whether or not you are actually connecting with people.

I experienced both sides of this communication dynamic- the high and the low in the same event a week ago!  What I communicated in a 10 minute presentation really connected and what I said in a 5 hour seminar really didn’t.  Sure, some will debate this in both cases, but for my own convictions and based on the feedback, the truth is the truth!  But wow- what a great learning experience in every respect and what a great culture, like Chi Alpha to learn it in.

As the Director of the XA Network I take full responsibility for all the communication that goes along with this deal- but not from a positional aspect, I do so purely as the posture of my leadership.  For those in the seminar, I owe you the real me.  For those at the presentation, I owe you the follow-through!

And I am posturing here!

For the past six weeks I’ve had the privilege of working with Kate Schmidgall and her company, Bittersweet Creative, to build the XA Network Database system that XA students can utilize to make connections to the marketplace after graduation.  We hope to officially roll out the website/database system and go “live” in early August; however, for all intents and purposes, we expect XA Campus Directors to begin to promote this opportunity to their students and get them potentially engaged in the XA Network in October.  This will allow campus directors and students to get settled in after the start-up activities, etc. that take place in August and September.

In the meantime we will be beta testing the database system with several XA campus groups, as well as continuing to make strategic “marketplace” connections to businesses, corporations, church planters, etc. so students have legitimate opportunities to check out as they explore next steps beyond graduation.  I’m also expecting to use the next two months to ramp up the XA Network in two key areas:

1. Expanding the XA Network team- I’m searching for someone with Human Resource experience who can connect and network with businesses and corporations, great and small, across the country, who also has a missional mindset and either has experience with, or greatly appreciates the ministry of Chi Alpha.  I may also need some admin or management help, especially as the XA Network database system comes online and grows, etc.  Perhaps an MA or two would be a great asset in these areas.
2. Continuing to connect with potential partners for resourcing this mission!  For more in formation on how you can partner with us, go to

   http://xanetwork.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/xa_nework_pledge_form.pdf

Along with the above, Jo Ann and I are in the process of selling our house in Maryland and prayerfully considering a potential move that will better facilitate the needs and opportunities of pioneering and growing the XA Network.  Please join us in praying for God’s direction and favor in this area.

Finally, any and all thoughts, ideas, or references in regards to the above items, please pass them along.  This is an important time for all of Chi Alpha, especially as the new 2015 Initiatives were promoted recently at the Campus Missionaries Conference- XA Network is one of those 5 key areas of focus for the next 5 years and so it is critical that we lay a solid foundation now, have the right people on the team, and prioritize the things that will best enable Chi Alpha grads to be on mission, resulting in true marketplace transformation!

Jo Ann and I have had the privilege of attending the 2010 Campus Missionaries Conference here in Phoenix, Arizona this week.  Being new to Chi Alpha, joining six months ago as the director of the XA Network, we have come to appreciate several things about Chi Alpha “Nation.”

First of all, Chi Alpha, at least at the national level and I’m sure at many other levels as well, are committed to doing everything with excellence.  This week alone at CMC has only confirmed how well the leadership and Chi Alphians can do a conference, a party, any event.

Secondly, Chi Alpha is committed to its cause to reconcile students to Christ and transform the university, the marketplace, and the world!  There is a profound sense of responsibility to be a difference-maker, take the mission seriously, and continue to be better at getting it done!

Thirdly, Chi Alpha Nations loves God!  Jo Ann and I have been touched by how fervently and passionately everyone wants to serve God, live in His presence, and share His love.

Fourth, there is a true sense of community and team.  People compliment one another and competition simply doesn’t exist.  There really is a “one for all and all for one” spirit in Chi Alpha.

Finally, honor, acceptance, appreciation, respect, among many other such attributes, truly characterizes the attitude of all Chi Alphians.  People genuinely love one anther, care for each other, and extend fellowship overwhelmingly.  We have truly felt embraced!

Certainly there are many other things about Chi Alpha that I could share, but at least for now, we’ve enjoyed and experienced the above for ourselves and feel wonderfully blessed to be a part of Chi Alpha Nation!

This Saturday Jo Ann and I will be flying to Phoenix, AZ for the Chi Alpha Campus Missionary Conference.  Over 600 XA leaders from across the country will be there and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to connect with more of these great leaders.  Actually this will be the first time in over 4 years that most of Chi Alpha nation has come together for such an event.  I have a sense this gathering is going to be historic as vision is cast for the direction of XA for the next 5 years!

I will have the privilege of rolling out the XA Network on Wednesday morning as well as conducting a pre-conference seminar on University Church Planting on Monday.  We will also have an XA Network booth set up in the Exhibit area so campus missionaries and others can familiarize themselves with the opportunities that the Network will provide.  We also hope to glean as much as we can from the experiences of these missional leaders so we can truly partner together in seeing the vision of Chi Alpha to transform the university, the marketplace, and the world fulfilled like never before.  Please join us in prayer that God will orchestrate divine appointments!

I’m most excited about rolling out the XA Network national website and database system that will enable XA students preparing to graduate from their university to build a profile on the system, perform search queries, and receive dynamic results of opportunities across the country for taking the next step in living a missional life in the marketplace.  The new site will be “live” at CMC and we will present an overview of what it can do and how people can utilize it, etc.  I am humbled and honored that God would call Jo Ann and I into the world of Chi Alpha and the lives of the emerging generation.  Our hope and prayer is that God will greatly bless the efforts of the XA Network and all of Chi Alpha as a means of enabling graduates to transition into the marketplace on purpose and on mission for God.

I had the privilege to speak today at a Church Multiplication Network Forum held at Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse in Washington, DC.  Dr. George Wood, the A/G General Superintendent, had the speaking slot right after mine- talk about pressure (for him that is)!  Seriously, I was the one feeling the pressure.  That is up until the time I began to talk about what I literally live for- setting the next generation up for success as marketplace missionaries!  I realized that the “foundation” for what I’m doing right now in regard to the XA Network had been laid many years ago when I first said “Yes” to the calling of God on my life.  It continued to be laid down over the years as I learned to submit to that call more and more; especially as it relates to being a transitional leader so the emerging generation can have every opportunity possible to expand the kingdom.

Something that Dr. Wood said today really resonated with me and summed up well what I feel like I’ve been doing for most of my leadership life.  He stated that early in his life in the ministry he learned to pray this prayer: “Lord, help me to lay foundations strong enough that will later bear the weight you will put on it!”  Wow!  I can’t express adequately how key a prayer and a life like that is.  Basically, without a solid foundation what bears weight on your life will cause collapse- unless of course, you’ve built a strong foundation consistently over time.  A foundation of submission, sacrifice, service, humility, graciousness, teachability, reverence, love, compassion, kindness… the list can go on and on.

Even at this point in my life- rather, especially at this point in my life, I want to pray and live by that prayer: “Oh God, may I continue to lay foundations strong enough to bear what you want to put on my life!”