Brett Tilford

This was just fun.

Kudos to California on this move.  I hope more states follow.  Obesity is getting absolutely out of control.  

Great Talk by Kevin Kelly.

Thank God For Evolution.  Michael Dodd, a Christian and former evangelical, is spreading the good news of evolution- not as an enemy of faith… but as it’s friend.  I spent an hour on his website fascinated by his passion and unique perspective on science and spirituality.  His book “Thank God For Evolution: How The Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World” is making quite a stir in the evangelical world.   So what do you think?  Could evolution be a friend of Christianity?    

Here is the second post in the ongoing “Brilliant Things My Pastor Said” series. For the first post, and a general overview of where I’m coming from with these, click here.  

The question “what is success?” is a rather big deal.  I mean who hasn’t asked this question about their work, marriage, friendships, or just life in general.  Who hasn’t wondered “At what point can I say ‘hooray! it’s working!’”?  

Of course there are many answers out there.  Some are socially acceptable enough for people to verbalize, while others are simply derived from observing their lifestyles. Here are a few that come to mind.  

“Success is making those around me happy.  Success is making an ass load of money.  Success is sleeping with the most beautiful women.  Success is not failing.  Success is making my dad proud.  Success is getting revenge for all my pain.  Success is climbing the corporate ladder.  Success is fitting in.  Success is attaining the American Dream.  Success is proving my family wrong.  Success is proving my family right.  Success is making a decent living and being honest.  Success is attaining spiritual enlightenment.  Success is being the prettiest.  Success is being the strongest.  Success is being fastest.  Success is not worrying too much about being successful.”

Because of the massive nature of this question in my early days I despaired of ever answering it.  Like Socrate’s friends in Plato’s Republic who discouraged him from asking the big questions like “what is justice” or “what is virtue” because they thought it was impossible to answer, I was discouraged before I ever began.  However, even though I’m still skeptical about pinning this down I think it’s worth attempting, for a few reasons.  First, we still have lives to live so why not attempt a little reflection on the big issues.  Sure we may get it wrong but if we never try I think our odds of figuring it out really plummet.  Second, we are probably operating according to subconscious answers to this question whether we like it or not so again, why not try to step back for a second and think through your current answers.  Third, I think in some mysterious way God has revealed some of himself through people, the church, the bible, and other religions.  Based on that assumption I don’t think we’re wandering completely in the dark here.

So without further ado, here is the brilliant answer my pastor gave.  ”Success is engaging the process.”  

Was that anti climactic?  

His thinking goes like this.  God is in the process of making us more like Jesus.  In other words he is in the process of making us more kind, loving, gentle, patient, humble, etc.  He is going to use every aspect of our lives to accomplish this: work, marriage, friendships, hobbies, good times, bad times, the whole kit and kaboodle.  So success is simply saying in every moment of my life, “God help me to engage what you are trying to teach me here” or “help me to engage the process.”  Success comes when we do that.

I have been attempting to live into this for a few years now and I can say it has really altered my perspective- specifically on the mundane and difficult things in my life.  

For example, I went through a really hard time a few months ago leading my youth ministry through change and it was super beneficial to remember that success wasn’t based on the answers to questions like “how many kids came tonight?” or “does everyone feel good about my ministry right now?” but is instead “how well am I engaging what God is trying to teach me here, right now, in this moment?”  If I’m doing that then I’m successful.

A few months ago I was talking with a pastor who recently started a church.  By most church planting standards it’s been a disaster of sorts: struggles in leadership, little to no growth, and many wondering if they should close up shop.  However, because of this perspective on success we had a beautiful conversation.  I didn’t ask how many people are coming.  I didn’t ask if their number of small groups has increased.  Instead I asked how he felt he was doing engaging whatever it was that God was teaching him.  He recounted to me lesson after lesson that he’s learned.  The deep, difficult, and wonderful things it’s done for his marriage.  The way his leadership team has gained perspective and maturity through the process.  I walked away feeling that whatever happens to this church in the long run, up this point it’s been quite a success.

Another weird/cool/insightful thing about adopting this view of success is that you begin to view stereotypical “successful” people differently.  In the past if someone was rich I automatically thought, “Wow, they are so successful!  Look at all that money!” or I would see someone in a position of power and think, “Very impressive.  I’m sure their family is quite proud.”  However, now I’m more inclined to view the character of the person and judge from that perspective.  So a senator may or may not be successful and a homeless man may or may not be successful- it all depends on how well they are engaging the process God has laid before them.  Are they more loving and Christlike?  If so, then congratulations on engaging the process.  If not, well there’s still time to start engaging.

It’s also forced me to take a more holistic view of success.  I agree with the idea that God is concerned with our whole life and not just some snippet.  Too often my past views of success were myopic, they were focused only on business, spirituality, or relationships.  However, I think it’s quite beautiful to think of life holistically and attempt to engage God at every level.  

Finally, the simplicity of the answer is wonderfully vague and specific all at the same time.  Like it’s broad enough to encompass all of life and yet at the same time you find it penetrating all the little details of your day.  How did you treat your co-worker?  What are you doing with your money?  Why did I say that to my wife with that tone of voice? It’s depth constantly forces me back to myself, my community, and my God to question “How am I doing on the journey?  Am I engaging the process?”

Thanks for listening.

So how about you?  What do you think success is?

Check this video out over your lunch break- it’s about 17 minutes long.  Pretty amazing outside perspective.

I’m on a Billy Graham kick of sorts. I remember seeing this video live and it completely caught me off guard.

Woody Allen and Billy Graham part two.

Billy Graham and Woody Allen Part One. A fascinating conversation. I’ll post part two tomorrow

The modern education system is something I’ve devoted alot of thought and energy to. As a former youth pastor I interacted with many young people and saw that the system was simply not working for them; they didn’t love to learn and they were forced to go to school and seemed to hate every minute of it. The teachers I knew weren’t thrilled with their jobs and were deeply frustrated with the kids they were attempting to teach. Parents were uninvolved and seemed to view school more through the lens of “free day care”. It is a very complicated problem with no easy answers. I loved this talk by Ken Robinson because of his clarity and passion for education. Enjoy.