mattmehaffey

Danny Santiago on Showtime

Almost two months ago I blogged about being in The Miami Herald with Danny Santiago, one of the trainers at South Florida Boxing.

A couple weeks ago Danny told me some big news. He is fighting Antonio Tarver at Foxwood Casino near Boston this Saturday, Dec. 1. The fight is going to be on Showtime. I am going to be in Boston for the first time of my life on Sunday, Dec. 2. Too bad I couldn't get there a day earlier because Danny said he'd get me a ticket. I so wish I could change my travel plans.

This is a big fight for Danny. He's a bit of a long shot to win but I can't wait to see this fight. Saturday night when he climbs into the ring I imagine I'll feel a bit like Buddy the Elf when he screamed, "I know him! I know him!"

Congrats to Josh!

When I worked as Minister of Students at Traders Point Christian Church, many of our students came from Pike High School in Indianapolis. Pike's basketball team was always a force unlike their football team. Despite being a very large school, Pike couldn't put together a winning football team.

My, my how things have changed! I couldn't be happier for them. The QB, Josh Carpenter is a great young man who loves God and if I had a son I would be thrilled for him to turn out like Josh. He got banged up last week in the Semi-State but it sounds like he is going to play.

I hope the University of Miami and Randy Shannon is paying attention. Josh, you have free room and board if you play for the 'Canes!

The Disabled Gospel

I am sure many great ideas occur when time is spent in the bathroom. I wonder how many take place when walking into the bathroom?

The church that I used to work at rented office space in an industrial park during it's relocation process. The church offices were on the second floor.

While I had always noticed before that the bathroom was handicap accessible, it struck me one day for the first time how inaccessible the church offices were to people with disabilities. Really. There was no elevator or ramp that led to the second story of the office building. The closest thing to it was a lift that was used to carry heavy objects like copiers and office furniture up the staircase through the service entrance. Not exactly the most welcoming sight for someone who uses a wheelchair.

Seriously, how ironic is this? We had a bathroom for the disabled but there's no way for them to get there. The designers had made access next to impossible.

Obviously, this is wrong. Fortunately, the church staff is now in their snazzy new offices (all on the first floor).

But this got me thinking...

Often times, I get more than a little annoyed by Christians. (By Christians I mean people who love and try to follow Jesus, not those who think saying they are Christian is the equivalent of saying, "I'm American.") To be fair, my annoyance is also pointed at myself, as I am one of those who loves Jesus and tries to be more like him.

The root of the annoyance? We have Jesus. Others need Jesus. We've made Jesus nearly inaccesible to them.

Let me prove my point...

Jesus ordered us to go into the world and tell others how much he loves them (Matt 28:19). Instead of going into the world, we've created our own. We've got our own music. Our own bookstores filled with our own books. Our own Yellow Pages but ours are blue! Our own movies (Left Behind, End of the Spear). Our own nightclubs. Our own schools/home schools. Our own video games. Our own myspace. Our own clothing. Our own Halloween, er, I mean Fall Festival parties.

Is this what Jesus meant when he sent us to be his witnesses to all people groups? It seems to me all of these things are more for Christians than for those who don't know Jesus. Some how I doubt he is pleased with the way we have run from the world so we could be content with our second rate entertainment and safe environments. We create our little Christian culture and expect non-Christians to see it as relevant instead of taking Jesus, WHO IS RELEVANT, into culture.

I have become more and more impressed with artists like C.S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Bono, and Johnny Cash. They understand (or understood for those who are no longer with us) that Jesus is indeed relevant here and now in this age. They have gone into popular culture and point others to the way of Jesus. How many millions of people have seen and heard clear portrayls of the love of Christ because of their works?

We have a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is always relevant. We have been called to "contend for the faith that has been entrusted to us (jude 3)." The word contend sounds to me like a call to get into culture, mix it up, take risks and show the relevance of Jesus to a culture that needs him and his followers more than ever.

Leadership & The Office

I love The Office. Thursday nights cannot come soon enough. There are so many reasons my TiVo has this show rated with "three thumbs-up."

1. Watching the melting pot of personalities that are brought together by a job that no one cares about is like driving by the accident on the interstate.

2. Dwight. Every office has one, or five.

3. As corny as it sounds, I am helplessly riveted by the office romance of Jim and Pam (probably because my wife and I are a product of a secret office relationship).

However, there is no reason so great as the role of Michael Scott, Regional Manager of Dunder-Mifflin. My wife calls him "uncomfortable." I think this is a good description. My first impression of this character was that he was unrealistic. No way someone could be this oblivious and out of touch with those under his leadership. Oh how I wish I could go back to the dream world where I once thought this to be true. I am finding out that art really does reflect life.

I have started looking at those in leadership positions (including myself) and asking myself the following question: "Do they/I lead out of position or influence?" One way to easily answer this question is by observing those who follow a particular leader. If you take the leader's title away are those under his/her authority still following? In most cases, I observe the employees or volunteers work in spite of that person in authority.

Here's the point. A title never equals influence. Only character and integrity equals influence. A title comes quickly with a handshake or signing of a contract. These are both highly overrated. Character takes times. When volunteers or employees see character in you that is congruent over time, influence always follows. Then they will follow you anywhere.

One week an episode of The Office was entitled "Grief Counseling." Michael faced his own mortality when the man who previously held his position died suddenly in a car accident. All of a sudden Michael was driven by the question, "Would anyone in the office miss me if I died?" I know the character is fictional but I felt my heart hurting for him.

I cannot think of someone more lonely or pathetic than someone who leads out of position. They live in their own little world which they create in their minds. In this world they are successful, respected, and followed. When in reality, a harsh truth awaits.

The Bible & the Slam Book

This is an interactive post and your nominations are encouraged.

I imagine we have all had an experience in Junior High or High School with a Slam Book or Burn Book (as made popular by The Plastics in the teen movie Mean Girls). I still remember sitting in the choir room and seeing the dreaded notebook being passed when the teacher would turn her back to the class. It was filled with mean-spirited words that targeted anyone and everyone in my class.

Not all Slam Books are meant for evil. Many are used as a fun and creative way to build community and poke a little fun at the same time.

This got me thinking...what if there were a Bible High, all the people in the Bible were classmates, and a Slam Book was passed around? Who would be who? Below are my nominations. Feel free to comment and suggest new categories and/or your own nominations.

Two rules:

1. God, or any form of God (Jesus, Holy Spirit), cannot be used. Nominating Jesus as the most likely to succeed is too easy!
2. Please cite Scripture references next to your nomination.

Most Likely to Succeed: Joseph (Genesis 29:23)

Most Athletic: Elijah (I Kings 18:44-46)

Hottest Guy: The Rich Guy (Luke 16:19-24)

Hottest Girl: Esther (Esther 2:12, 15-18)

Cutest Couple: Aquila and Pricilla (Acts 18:2) Come on, their names even rhyme! You know they had air brushed T-shirts that read "Aquila loves Pricilla" and vice versa!

Best Dressed: John the Baptizer (Matthew 3:4)

Biggest Flirt: Potiphar's Wife (Genesis 39:7-20)

Most Likely to Wind Up in Prison: Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Most Likely to Get Away with Everything: Jacob (Genesis 25:24-34 & 27:1-41)

Worst Driver: Absalom (2 Samuel 18:9)

Yours & His

For the past decade, I have ended my correspondences with the words, "Yours & His" and then my name. Every time I write those words they remind me of a personal hero of mine.

He passed away on Saturday.

In the summer of 1997, I attended the North American Christian Convention in Dallas, TX. It was there I witnessed Russ Blowers, the Senior Minister of East 91st St. in Indianapolis, IN, receive a life-time of service award. I don't remember what he said that day as he accepted the award. I do remember what went through my mind. Here was a man who made a difference. He wasn't flashy or trendy. He led a church out of his love for Christ and that was enough for him. Every thing else (a loving wife, the respect of many, leadership in a large and influential church) was just gravy.

The question I asked myself was, "When all is said and done in my own life, will Jesus be enough for me?"

Afterwards, I felt prompted to write Mr. Blowers a letter. I thanked him for setting such a great example as a man who loved Christ, his wife, and the Church (in that order). A few weeks later, I received a response. I've never shared it before. It's been my private encouragement from a personal hero for over a decade now.

Here's to a life well-lived, a legacy left behind and a party like no other in Heaven going on right now.

Yours & His,

Matt

Beach Discovery

On my recent archaeological dig in the Sahara, I was fortunate to unearth the ruins of ... OK, I'll come clean, actually I discovered two side-by-side sand castles on the beaches of Captiva this past Saturday. Here are my assumptions regarding the creator/artist who was not present:

1. This person is very creative.
2. This person has way too much time on their hands.
3. This person will come back the next day and the tide (and little kids) will have demolished it.

I wished for a moment, as I stared at the very cool sand castles, I was a little kid again and had my G.I. Joe action figures because I would have been in heaven!

My 2008 Calendar just Opened Up

A group of writers have done what a variety of terrorists, the U.S. government and CTU could not ... Jack Bauer has been stopped. Well, at least until the end of the strike. Probably for the best, it's not like I've got anything going on in January 2008.

Two Day Break

Friday, Janie and I, took off for Ft. Myers (Ft. Myers is to Miami as Indiana is to a foreign country) because our good friends Paul and Ali offered up their condo to us for the weekend. Yes, please! When we arrived we pretty much dropped our bags in the room and went off to the pool. As I relaxed soaking in the sun, I began to realize for the first time how tired I was and how much I needed this down time.

Church planting is by far the hardest thing I've ever done. Don't get me wrong ... I love it. I can't imagine doing anything else. The challenge is one that drives me because it's teaching me to rely completely on God. That's a good place to be. However, it's easy to get caught up in the infinitely long list of things to do: Get ready for the meeting, write a message, keep Alex in line =), plan the calendar, raise more money, lead small group, write a report, return emails, make the contact, raise more money, blog about raising more money...

All that came to a halt this past weekend.

A new list was created: Hang out with Janie by the pool, hang out with Janie as we walk Jeter (our dog) around the lake, go out to eat, drive to Sanibel Island and Capitva with my parents (who also have a condo in the same resort ... crazy ironic!), compete in several fierce rounds of euchre with Janie as my partner against my parents (it got pretty competitive but that's the Mehaffey way), do nothing, do nothing some more...