Like millions of Americans, I was flabbergasted and deeply saddened January 6th by the words and behaviors flying across social media sites and news programs.

The Washington Post had a heckuva lede in telling the story:

Washington_Post_Lede_Evangelical_Pastor_Trump_Insurrection

Every person who cherishes their democratic freedoms should feel shaken today.

This is was not democracy in action; this was an attempted coup.

I say this as a pastor and a student of history.

For what it’s worth, here are 3 Pastoral Thoughts on the Washington, D.C. Insurrection:

1. THIS IS NOT OUR HOME.

Like Daniel, we are exiles. As C.S. Lewis once said, “We were made for Another World.”

Waving Confederate flags, Jesus 2020 banners, and political signs to the cameras while forcefully desecrating a place of government cherished by millions is not how we will reach the world for Christ.

”Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Blessed are those whose help is from the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.”

(Psalm 146: 3 + 5)

What happened on January 6th makes self-professing Christians look crazier than Mike Tyson in a Spelling Bee.

Gen Z was just handed yet another pitiful example of what happens when you mix politics with religion: you get politics. You want to know why the younger generation has stopped going to church? It’s because they’ve been to a church.

There is a difference between making a point and making a difference. Wednesday’s actions did neither.

2. WALK AWAY FROM YOUR MEDIA ECHO CHAMBER

With so many entertainment and news options offered by whomever we choose to follow on social media / radio / streaming news services, we now live in a time where we can self-isolate within a chosen media echo chamber.

False narratives are unhealthy (and ultimately are what led religious people to crucify Jesus!). Rhetoric is not just empty words; the Scriptures warn us over and over about how the tongues has the power of life and death.

"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”
(Isaiah 8:12-13)

Let’s choose our fears wisely.

The more you pursue an idol, the less it delivers and the more it demands.

Let’s choose conversation over condemnation.

Cancel Culture is not the Way of Jesus.

3. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF POLITICAL DISCIPLESHIP.

Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world, for if it was His servants would fight (John 18:36).

Peter struck out with sword, but Jesus said, "No more of this!" (Luke 22:49-51).

Love is:

• patient

• kind

• does not boast

• not arrogant

• not rude

• not irritable

• not resentful

• does not rejoice at wrongdoing

• bears all things

• believes the best

(1 Corinthians 13)

As a pastor, I was disappointed seeing social media responses in the Insurrection’s aftermath from Christians: conspiracy theories, leaps of logic, trumpeting freedom of speech over loss of life.

me in my life.

I'm walking through a season of refining my character and redefining my dreams for the future.

Bob has been gracious to step in as a personal coach during this season and he is challenging my socks off in grace-filled ways.

Bob unpacks the Dream Big Framework in 7 parts:

Set Absurd Expectations
Explore Opportunities
Clear the Path
Take Action
Expect Setbacks
Sustain Belief
Land the Plane

Everyone walks away from Dream Big ready to take on the world in positive ways.

For me, there were three big ideas that Bob challenged me with that I thought I'd share here...

1) WHAT DO I WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR?

When I spend time with Bob on the phone for coaching calls, he keeps asking me the same powerful question: "Who is in my chair?"

What he's asking is, what do I want to be known for?

My titles range from 'Daddy' to 'Comedian' to 'Pastor' to 'Author.' That's a lot of titles to carry! But a title is not who I am; they are roles I have the privilege of stepping into.

What I'm wrestling through now is how do I take the richness of my past experiences/wisdom and make them more accessible to help more people going forward?

Jesus was always going around changing people's names and their destiny's for the better. He's making some changes in my life right now as well. I'm working on making a quarter-twist that will bring greater clarity to my life's mission of helping others. Nailing down what that exactly looks like is the challenge.

I would rather fail as myself rather than succeed pretending to be someone I’m not.

“I would rather fail as myself rather than succeed pretending to be someone I’m not.

2) UNLEARN THE RULES I'VE TOLD MYSELF

Bob pulled out a 16 inch softball invented during the Depression called a 'Clincher Ball.'

The big idea was that the ball was soft enough that you wouldn't need to buy an expensive mitt to catch it and it was large enough that nobody could possibly hit a homerun.

One of the rules I've unconsciously made in my life is that I always have to hit homeruns. If it's not going to ship perfectly, I won't ship it at all.

Bob told me I need to give myself a Clincher Ball: It's not always about hitting homeruns!

Somewhere along the way, I invented this Homerun Rule in my head because something unfair happened to me. Bob told me not to go for FAIR... Go for BEING PRESENT!

Unlearning the rules I've told myself requires just a little bit of time and a little bit of courage.

3) BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SUCK AT SOMETHING NEW

Playing it safe is too risky.

Somehow along the way, I've slipped into playing it safe.

Bob is challenging me to set absurd expectations in my life again: "Don't let applause or affirmation dictate your choices. Applause is for the circus!"

He boiled it down to three key ideas that are kicking my butt: