Advent Conspiracy, Legacy Style

This Advent, Legacy Church has joined a conspiracy, the Advent Conspiracy. We have adopted the creators' concept to fit who we are at Legacy, and this past Sunday we invited the church who is Legacy and their friends to join us to "make Christmas a world-changing event again."

We will join the AC group as they call us all to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All, but we will give our folks the opportunity to invest in groups associated with Legacy. Here they are:

Bolaven Farms is a coffee farm in Laos we support through purchasing and using their coffee. Our motto is "Importing Coffee. Exporting Hope." We are the first church in the world to brew Bolaven Farm coffee for its guests and members every week.


The Student Aged Parent Program of PISD and Legacy have been partners for some time, and we invite people to bring gifts as they would to the baby shower of a loved one to give to the parents and their children.



We are partnering with a homeless mission in New Orleans with whom we have worked with for three years now. We are collecting warm clothing, which we will take to the mission in January.

We are also asking people to consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International. A CI representative will be present each week to answer questions and show you how to give a life of hope to an orphan somewhere in the world.

Join the conspiracy and help us bring back the life-changing celebration of God's Presence in His greatest gift to all people: His Son, Jesus.

barefoot running on trails

While my friends were cycling and running around White Rock Lake Saturday morning, I ventured out to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano for my first trail run in my Vibram fivefingers.

I had worn them for a couple of weeks, ran to and alongside the Chisholm Trail near my home, and walked and ran in them on my parent's farm while there for Thanksgiving. But, I had not taken them out on true trails.

I chose the well-worn mountain bike trail at Arbor Hills for my test run. It was closed to bikes because of the mud, but I jumped on anyway knowing I would leave few if any tracks.

I made two loops (with a double loop about half way). I ran for an hour and 7 minutes total. The terrain was varied with exposed roots, rocks, mud and leaf cover. I was cautious at first, but I had gotten the feel of the non-shoes before so it was just getting familiar with this trail. The rocks, of course, slowed me down the most, and the deeper troughs left by bikes were difficult but no different than running in shoes. You can run on rocks in these things--you just run lighter over those parts.

Leaves covered some objects which I stepped on, and strikes to the instep were the worst; but, the foot has a way of recovering in a way the pain subsides fairly quickly. No sticks between the toes, and the mud did not stick to my fivefingers like it does to shoes. I never stopped to rake mud off my feet like I do with shoes.

At the end of the run the balls of my feet were somewhat sore, but no blisters or hot spots on my feet. Wearing and jogging in them two weeks plus prior was the key. I even dropped my car off for an oil change on the way home and jogged on the concrete to the house. No problems.

Don't try running barefoot on trails unless you have trailrunning experience. Foot placement is everything in trail running and more so with bare feet. I concentrated more than usual, but eventually got into the rhythm of running trails as time went on. Going uphill was easier than in shoes, but downhill slowed me down. It's mental, and I'll gain confidence as I learn how to increase my speed without fearing stepping on something.

All in all, it was a great first run, and I'll do it again. You can run barefoot in these "shoes"--even on rocky trails.

My meditation as I ran was the Psalmist's praise: He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. (Psalm 18:33) A song I have sung many times before on trails.

I set two goals today: Grasslands 50 miler in March and Wheeler Peak in May in my fivefingers.

Thanksgiving!

Legacy's English Language Program hosted its annual Thanksgiving Feast Sunday night. It is one of my favorite nights of the year because we see the extent of our ministry in the community in the faces of those who attend.

Legacy people turned out to cook, carve, serve drinks, and host tables for our guests. They even love to tear down, set up and carry out the trash. I love the servant hearts of those who are Legacy.

Students from the 6 level of classes ate, talked, and read Psalm 100 in their native language. We heard the Thanksgiving Psalm read in Bengali, Japanese, Gujarati, Armenian, Farsi, Tamil, Portuguese, Korean, Spanish, Malayalam, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, and Taiwanese.

Here's a picture of some who sat at our table. So many stories from each life could fill a book. Kim is talking to Professor Wu who came to America as a Communist atheist who taught at a prestigious Chinese university. He came to our ELP ministry to learn English and in the process found the Lord. The room was filled with stories like his--and many who still claim the religion of their country of origin. We're okay with that.

I told the crowd as we concluded that what happened at Legacy Sunday night was not just a taste of an American Thanksgiving meal but a taste of heaven. For we are told that one day because of Jeus we would see "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." Revelation 7:9, 10


SURVEY: if you would like to help give input to a friend who is wants input about starting a company for bottled water with a cause, fill out the survey here. It's only 11 questions. Takes a few minutes. I'll let you know what he finds out from you.

In the dirt again

Saturday I returned to my favorite trail in the metroplex, Northshore at Lake Grapevine, to reunite with the North Texas Trail Runners for the 14th annual Rockledge Rumble. It was good to be with people I have run with for over a decade. I only did the 15k run, but I'll get back to my favorite distances as my season continues. My running hero, Jay Norman, ran the 30k at age 71. No excuses to stop now.

Trail running is in my blood. Give me a trail or a neighborhood street, and I'll choose the trail every time, especially this time of year when the trails and trees are painted in multiple colors and the air is cool. We were born to run on dirt, not concrete.

Speaking of "born to run," I heard Christopher MacDougall, speak about his new book Born to Run at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas last week before I returned to the trails. He caught my attention with his passion for running--and running barefoot. He told about the Tarahumara Indians, who run for miles in sandals alone. I had heard of them and seen the sandals from some of my ultrarunning buddies a while back, but it was just a story then. Christopher's passion made me want to return to the trails, long distances and try barefoot running.


Yes, vibrum makes a glove-like foot covering called fivefingers. I bought a pair last week and will try them out on the trails in a couple of weeks. I took a picture of Cindy wearing a pair at the Rumble to show Kim (and you) I was not the only crazy person out there. Okay, there's two of us now...three counting MacDougall.

Yesterday, at Legacy I taught that just as we were "born to run" like the Tarahumara Indians, in the same way, in Christ we were "born to trust" with bold resolve just like the ancient tribe called the church and exemplified by Stephen.

Listen and tell me if you agree or not.

Bradford Pears and Redwoods

The tree of choice in my suburb is the Bradford Pear tree. The city planners and home builders chose it because it is fast growing, colorful in the spring and fall, and has a full crown. Its primary problems are that it is good for about 15 to 30 years, and its long, vertical branches break more easily in storms. The Bradford Pear is a perennial, fast-growing, ornamental tree that line our suburb streets and sidewalks.

Then there is the Redwood trees of the Pacific Coast that can live over 2,000 years and grow to be over 200 ft. tall. These trees live in the rugged coast of the Pacific Northwest, and they can weather the torrential rains and wind that batter the coast each year. These massive trees are divided into "old growth" and "young growth" relative to their length of days. The Redwood is an evergreen, rugged, long-lasting tree that lives before and after you and I walk the earth.

I believe you can divide organizations into two types: Bradford Pears and Redwoods.

BP organizations plant for rapid growth, seasonal beauty and plan a 15 to 30 year existence before it is sold or goes out of business. These organizations turn out to be more ornamental than providing a core service to the community, and they are found in more populous areas. Storms often split or down them. They provide a service for a season, and many people appreciate what they do.


Redwood organizations are those who plant for longevity, strength, and reproduction. They can weather most any storm, and they will outlast those who plant them. Their seemingly slow growth and evergreen color do not intrigue the masses but the relatively few who see them or use their wood are struck by their strength and beauty.

I, like you, will contribute something to building a school, home, church or business today. We will have the choice to invest in what it takes to build a Redwood or a Bradford Pear organization. I'm choosing Redwood today. What about you?

Servant Leadership in the Church

Last Sunday, I spoke about how the early church leaders shared responsibility and authority to meet a greater need. (Acts 6:1-7; You can hear the message here.)

I have always struggled with why churches spend so much time on the ceremonies and organizations of leadership rather than simply allowing the people who are the church to address the needs that arise from among them as their share life together on mission with Christ.

Here's what the first servant leaders in the church did to address the racial tension raised because of limited resources:

1. They clarified their roles. They knew what they brought to the table and guarded that with diligence. They were not creating positions of rank or status (clergy and laity), which we seem to think are important these days.
   
2. They turned to qualified servant leaders identified by their peers and closest to the issue to implement change. They did not put off the people or try to solve the problem themselves.
   
3. They shared their authority to make decisions through prayer and the time-honored practice of laying on of hands. This was NOT the first deacon ordination service! Stop making it that.They empowered servant leaders to solve a problem, and the church grew as a result of their actions.
   

There's much more to the story, but I want church leaders to get back to the practice of serving the body by empowering those on mission with them to solve the problems and meet the needs of their friends and families while being the church.

I have offered some of direction for this in my workbook, Paul On Leadership. It's a bit edgy for those in conventional churches, but I would recommend it to those who see themselves as a missional church on a mission field.

Dinner with Friends at Legacy was awesome last night! Over 300 women gathered to share dinner together and hear a message of encouragement from our own, Lisa Lloyd. This was our eleventh annual event, and it was as great as all the others. Lives were touched and changed by the event. Thanks to the guys who served drinks, food, and clean up. Everyone did a fabulous job!

Riding With A Friend

When Paul, the Apostle, wrote his friends in Philippi he sent the letter with Epaphroditus. In that same letter Paul called his messenger, "my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier." (Phil. 2:25) You can tell by the words Paul used that Epaphroditus was a close friend who shared much of his life and ministry.

We are blessed by God when he sends an Epaphroditus into our lives, and this past weekend I had the privilege of riding with and for a guy whom I consider Epaphroditus in my life.

Paul Olson is a two time cancer survivor. His wife, Karen, is a breast cancer survivor. I have known them and their children since the 1980s when Paul moved down here from NY with J C Penney. I baptized him, walked through cancer with him, and Kim and I have shared the same life group with Karen and Paul over the years.

Paul began cycling about three years ago after his last battle with cancer and has been a regular rider with Legacy Cyclists since he started riding. He had ridden the Austin LiveStrong ride two other times before this one. After hearing of his rides with Jim Craig and others, I wanted to honor him and others by riding and raising funds for the cause. (That's my back with the names of those I rode for--including my sister. Paul wears the LiveStrong jersey with names. That's Marcel, Tom and Shirley and Paul. Jim and Jason are not pictured.)

This past Sunday, I worshiped with a friend on a bike in the Hill Country of Texas. The friendship, hills, wind, pain, and beauty melted together to make it a sacred day of praying for and remembering those I know who have defeated, are battling, and have lost the battle to cancer. I rode the entire time with Paul (catching up to Marcel at rest stops) and finished with him.

I cried with him as we hugged after the finish and friends and family gathered around to congratulate him on not only finishing the 90 miles of hills but for beating cancer another day.

Paul is a man of faith and inspiration, and we who know him are motivated by his gentle spirit and resilient trust in God to never complain and to take up challenges others say you should not try.

Thank you, Paul, for inviting me to ride with you.