Jonathan Herron

I Prefer My Flights Explosion-Free: My Experience with the TSA

I fly quite a bit speaking and connecting with church leaders.

This past week I encountered the TSA's brand new full-body screening. 

I entered what looked like a Star Trek transporter bubble.  

I did my best impersonation of Beyonce and put my hands up.

I felt like I was inside a giant, man-sized photocopier as the light passed around me with a whir.

Took 2 seconds.  Didn't hurt.  No sweat.

I exited and was pulled aside for an additional, enhanced pat-down. 

Yes, the same pat-downs that are screaming through the 24 hour news cycle right now.

And you know what?  I was happy to do whatever the friendly TSA worker asked of me.

Because flying is a privilege, not a right.

Nobody was forcing me to fly. 
I could easily drive instead. 

Flying is a helpful tool, not an irrovocable right. 
And ensuring that my flight is explosion-free is important to me.

Thank you, TSA.  I like you.

Happy Birthday Jon!

Hey everyone!  This is Jon's wife, Amber, sneaking into his blog account! 

Today is Jon's birthday.  It would make his day to hear from all of you in blog land.   I know many of you may have never met him "in real life" but he has helped or encouraged you in some way.  Now's your chance to send some love his way - leave a comment to encourage him and wish a Happy Birthday! 

 

Quick Follow-Up to Believing the Best

As a leader, when I'm looking to add someone to my team, I want a Jesus-loving, grace-oriented, prayer-permeated risk-taker who always chooses to believe the best about people.

Erwin McManus once said that when we're walking in the center of God's will, we do not become risk-free, but instead we become free to risk.

Ministry is messy.  Scandalous grace is essential. 
And prevailing faith resists assuming the worst in people.

Believing the Best is a form of Yes, And-ing every situation in life.

Believing the Best pours life and energy into meetings and worship experience planning.

Believing the Best is enthusiastically contagious.

Believing the Best is the heart-attitude I want need on my team.

Assuming the Worst vs. Believing the Best

What makes our lives interesting is that the journey we are on is always changing.

How we react to change in our lives says a lot about our spiritual condition:

We either assume the worst or believe the best.

When there's a change in status at work, in a relationship, in your church, in your world, do you choose to assume the worst? 
Spiritually this reveals a posture of fear. 
And what you fear becomes your master.

The Bible is clear that we are to fear God alone. 
Jesus Christ is our Master. 
When He is central, the changes in life become opportunities to believe the best about plans and people.

Choosing to believe the best is faith. 
And the Scriptures remind us that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Impossible. 

So where are you at spiritually today? 
Assuming the worst about someone/something?
Or choosing to exercise God-fearing faith by believing the best?

“When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.” – Patrick Overton

Video Blog: Conducting Real Job Interviews... with a Dummy

Lethal Combo:

Two pastors + wall-to-wall Skype job interviews + caffeine =

Boom. Fire. (part 2, for introverts)

God came through with the spectacular in 1 Kings 18.
Fire from heaven.
Now that's high tech.

But our God is also high touch.

After ministry success, where does Elijah find himself?
Alone.  Fearful.  Indulging the lies of the Enemy:

"Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life... into the wilderness."

Pastors call this experience, "Monday."

God pursues Elijah (He always chases after us; just ask Jonah):

"And after the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire."

Boom.  Fire. 
But this was a divine-reversal of what happened earlier.

Now God would do the spectacular in the most intimate of ways:

"And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."

High tech fire?  Yes.  That's how God moves through you on Sundays.
High touch whisper?  Yes.  That's how God speaks into you on Mondays.

Also further proof that God uses introverts for spectacular purposes.

Boom. Fire. (part 1)

Elijah's ministry in the Old Testament was spectacular:

"If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven..."

Boom.  Fire.

God wanted Elijah closer to homebase?

"Behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire...
(took up) Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven."

Boom.  Fire.

450 fake prophets going up against Yahweh?

"Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering...
 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces..."

Boom.  Fire.

Three public acts of ministry in God's Name.
Three overwhelming moments of supernatural fire.

The lesson? 
God uses ordinary men to do the extraordinary.
Our God is not content with low tech, but high tech.
The spectacular.

Why?
Because God is creating an army of worshipers.
Unapologetically.

And here's my question:
Are we bold enough to ask for fire from heaven?