Leah Rade

Amazing Exercise!

I used to exercise fairly vigorously when our kids were young, but I have to admit that during the past several years, while I have walked fairly regularly, fitness has not been the priority it should be.

Four weeks ago I started mountain biking with Mike.  Mike has biked consistently for 17 years and always feels great after his rides.  The memories of how great I felt mentally after a 6-mile run spurred me on to buy my own bike and join Mike.  After four weeks I have discovered or re-discovered some amazing benefits. And, for some of you who know me well, one benefit might just surprise you.

I am known for my coffee consumption.  Typically, I have 2-3 cups before I leave the house, then brew another pot at the church during our 10am check in meeting.  Only three days into our riding and I realized that I was only drinking 1-2 cups in the morning and not making the pot at the church.  Yesterday, I only consumed one cup of coffee the entire day!  Here's the amazing part - I have not experienced any withdrawal from caffeine and my energy levels have soared!  Gotta love those endorphins!

Another natural benefit from exercise is that I can "hear" my body signals much better and only eat when I'm hungry.  And when I eat, I'm choosing much healthier choices, because I really experience much more discomfort than in the past when I make poor choices. 

The third and probably most important benefit is that I am spending an extra hour+ each day with Mike doing something healthy together.  And, while I knew he was really fit, I get to watch him in action...mmm.

There are so many reasons to get fit, beyond the obvious reasons to lose/maintain weight.  I'm hooked again and I don't plan on stopping.  I might even have to Craig's List my double-pot coffee maker.  Not! My Small Group would mutiny!

Stewardship of Your Unique Design

The dictionary defines the word "steward" as: a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.  We are not owners of anything, but we are stewards of ALL of God's property, including the way He uniquely designed us to serve in ministry.  I've discovered when we operate outside of our God-given design, we become dull or useless & may even be damaging.  It's like using the end of a screwdriver to hammer a nail into a wall...way too much energy is spent and most likely the screwdriver, nail and wall might be damaged in the process.

The same is true when we try to minister with no thought to gifting or personality design.  In the long-run, we (leaders especially) are discouraged, disillusioned, and resentful.  We have to be good stewards of God's design...for ourselves and for those we lead.  You're in the danger zone when you are only vaguely aware of your God given design and potential contributions.  And, because you don't understand your unique design, you also aren't aware of your limitations.  You try to become all things to all people instead of developing necessary partnerships that let others do well in the areas in which you are weak.

Here are a few tools to help you better understand you unique design which will help maximize your potential to live and minister. Note - some of the tools have fees associated with them, but are well worth the cost. Personally, I have utilized all three tools and recommend them highly.

Spiritual Gifts Analysis - Free

Discover Your Strengths: Strengths Finder 2.0

Leading From Your Strengths Profile

Your Hidden Curriculum

I read an article by John Ortberg a couple of weeks ago which has really impacted my thinking.  The premise of the article is that institutions, businesses and people have a "formal curriculum" and a "hidden curriculum."

• The formal curriculum is intentional.
• The hidden curriculum is inherent.
• The formal curriculum is obvious.
• The hidden curriculum is subtle.

What you learn in the formal curriculum often evaporates after your finals. Sometimes even earlier.

What you learn in the hidden curriculum lasts a lifetime.

If there is a contradiction between what's taught by the formal curriculum and what's taught by the hidden curriculum, people always believe the hidden curriculum. Always.

The article continues in the context of church life:

We have a formal curriculum. It gets taught in classrooms and preached on weekends. It gets sung from the stage and facilitated in small groups. The formal curriculum is what gets taught when we study Romans, or learn about contemplative prayer, or take a spiritual gifts inventory.

But we have a hidden curriculum. Who gets fawned over, and who gets ignored? How do the staff and leaders get along when they're off the platform and think nobody's looking? How does a small group respond when someone shares a problem that is untidy and unresolved? Do leaders respond with panic or irritation or confidence or gentleness when a problem strikes? When there is a conflict, do people face it head on or go into avoidance mode? Does the church staff run on fear?

A couple told me recently of visiting a church in a city they'd just moved to. It was a church that prides itself on reaching unchurched people. But it was clear that the hip and the cool and the artists were prized above all there. The formal curriculum said God hangs with everybody. But the hidden curriculum said don't expect to get too close to the core if you tuck your shirt in.  John Ortberg

This really got me thinking about New Horizon Church?  I know our "formal curriculum. Do we have a hidden curriculum?  The article got me thinking about myself?  I know what I believe and I can tell people what I believe...Does my behavior mirror my "formal curriculum?  What are we really teaching?

Lot's to chew on here.  Check out the article here.

Rebelling Against My Indifference

I've been blogging and following blogs for over three years and recently have become very bored. Bored with my own blog and frankly, bored with the blogs that I read.  Hence, no recent blog posts.  Several of you have commented or sent emails asking if I'm okay or asked for reasons behind my blog abandonment. Thank you.

Your concern caused me to pause and realize my selfishness.  Several of you have helped me see that just because I'm bored or don't feel that I have anything to say, doesn't mean that some of you aren't interested.

So, I'm rebelling against my own indifference and promise to post more regularly.  Whether or not you read it, it's up to you, not me.  Thank you again for pushing me beyond myself.

Breaking Free From The Bondage of Bitterness

I have been fighting the nudge for quite a while to be more vulnerable in my blog. However, I woke up this morning and knew that today was the day to begin writing a series of posts that I hope God will use and is glorified through them.

I talk with people on a weekly basis who are so weary from the burden of hauling around anger and bitterness.  I know about anger and bitterness.  I too had succumbed to the "victim thinking" that pervades today's society.  I once read an article that compared bitterness to polluted air, it not only destroys the person harboring bitterness, but infects everyone coming into contact with that person.  I was once that polluted person who was polluting others.

Twenty years ago a little old man at our former church very innocently began for me the breaking free process when he handed me his business card one Sunday.  He was a retired handy-man who was a "jack of all trades" and the front of his business card reflected that.  It was what was on the back of the card that had such an impact...I still carry that card in my wallet today.

"Animosity is the acid that destroys from within the container in which it is stored." 

I began to accept that anger and bitterness was eating me up inside.  I had two wonderful young children and a sweet husband...and a heart full of anger that I had no idea how to deal with.

Even though I didn't realize it at that time, I had begun the process of breaking free from bitterness by acknowledging the problem. The first step to healing is to "own" your negative feelings and "own" your anger.  I was in a community group at the time and we were encouraged by our leader to journal.  I began compiling a list of all of the "wrongs" that had been done to me, not to rehash the anger, but to deal with it for good.  The "victim" rehashes anger, which only serves to stir the stink and fuel the animosity.  Breaking free from bitterness requires you to acknowledge anger in order to deal with it.

Jesus tells all of us that none of us are free from trouble, I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.  John 16:33   The Bible also tells us, Make sure that no one misses out on God's wonderful kindness. Don't let anyone become bitter and cause trouble for the rest of you.  Hebrews 12:15. 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31  But how?  During the next few days I'm going to share my process of "dealing and healing" in hopes that you too will find freedom from the bondage of bitterness.

Everyone Needs a Mentor, or Two, or Three

I woke up feeling refreshed today after spending a good part of yesterday afternoon with one of my mentors.  Georgie was my supervisor at the Museum of Life and Science from 1990-1995 and is the person who taught me the most about grace, teamwork and cultivating the best in people.  Being with her yesterday reminded me of everything she taught me through her life example and through her willingness to "wake me up and shake me up."  I've been very fortunate to have three amazing women in my life who taught me very different lessons, and their combined influence greatly shaped who I am today.

Websters Dictionary defines mentor as: a wise and trusted counselor and teacher.  Here is how one of my favorite authors, Leonard Sweet, describes a mentor..." [Mentors} bless you to go to what God is calling you to do so that you can receive peace in your life.  Everyone needs someone (often older) who is wild and crazy about them, who believes in them, and cares enough about them to wake and shake them up to dream big and live large."

Georgie cared enough about me and my potential as a leader to put me on the anvil, place a bit in my mouth and invest herself in teaching me.  The key in being the mentee is humility, putting trust in your mentor (especially when it's hard or humbling), otherwise, you won't grow.  Often, and in my case, coming under a mentor's leadership and teaching was not fun, as there was pruning involved.  However, I admit, I required strong rebuking and correcting, as I was fairly unbridled. But fortunately, I saw in Georgie the leader I wanted to be and I was willing to go through the pruning and shaping process to become the leader I admired in her.  Thank you Georgie, Sherry and Jan for your investments in me; as your time, teaching & leadership have shaped who I am today.

Do you really, really want to grow?  Are you ready, because there is pain involved...but it's the best thing you'll ever do.  Submit to a same gender mentor, or two, or three. 

A Great Resource

Piggy-backing on Pastor Dave's post giving a couple of great resources, here is another great resource that I have used for 20 years, Discipleship Journal.  Check it out.

"How do you raise a Michael Rade?"

If you regularly follow my blog you know how proud I am of our adult kids, Alana & Michael.  If this is your first time reading my blog...I'm really proud of our kids!

Michael, who is heading into his last semester at Wheaton College, will graduate May 10th with two degrees - BA in Biblical Studies & BA in Christian Education, then head off to seminary.  Michael served NHC this summer as our summer intern, serving along-side and building relationships with several NHC'ers.  Upon getting to know Michael, one of our NHC'ers asked, "How do you raise a Michael Rade?" 

My answer is born from simple origins..."Raise your children through the church!"  Neither Alana, nor Michael remember "life before church" because they were in their age-appropriate environments pretty close to coming from the womb.  For Alana, the consummate extrovert, going into her new class or any new environment was an exciting adventure.  Not so for Michael, who until age...well, um, age 18, was...clingy is putting it mildly.  I know you've seen the original cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the scene where the Grinch had to wriggle out of his dog Max,who had wrapped around the Grinch, holding on to the Grinch for dear life?  That was Michael. 

As hard as it was t pull a screaming child off of my hip and hand him to another adult, I did it because #1, I knew he would stop crying; #2, I trusted the teacher; #3, I was the mom and knew he would learn more about Jesus in his age-appropriate environment than he would sitting bored in the service with me.  We encountered this experience with Michael, literally until four years ago when we took him 880 miles away to Wheaton College.  Michael loved Wheaton College, he just wanted to stay in North Carolina near me and Rademan (Michael's pet name for Mike).  A well-respected couple, who Michael spent a lot of time with on a mission trip, tried to talk us into keeping Michael closer to home because Michael told them he wanted to stay closer to home.  As hard as it was to take him to Illinois, we knew our kid. Over the years we experienced, time-after-time, Michael's personal and spiritual growth, when we were...his parents.  That couple admitted to us later that they respected us for doing the right thing and taking Michael to a college that was a phenomenal fit (even though it was 880 miles away).  By-the-way...I cried the first eight hours of the trip home.  I didn't say it was easy leaving him.

Guess what happened when until at least age three, when I pealed Michael from my body and "left" him in his age-appropriate Sunday class?  At age 6, he accepted Christ through his teacher, Larry West.  He developed significant relationships with other significant adults, including many Sunday School teachers, whom he still has relationships with.  He became a leader in his youth group.  Yes, he not only stayed a Wheaton, he surprised especially himself by thriving there (880 miles from home).  I, on the other hand, wasn't surprised because he always adapted and thrived.

Michael will soon graduate as a well-equipped 22 year old man with the confidence he gained by experiencing many situations that as a child, he would have avoided, had he been allowed.  Parents, the payoff is when your kids grow up and become self-sustaining, God-loving, people-loving adults.  That happens when you are your kid's parent.  It's not easy, but it's right. 

People: Projects or Purpose? Part 2

A couple of years ago one of my community group members was so discouraged because her neighbor made excuse after excuse not to accept an invitation to church.  My friend was so discouraged that she proclaimed to our group, "I'm NEVER inviting her again!" 

After a cooling-off period, I began a dialog with my friend about a building a relationship with her neighbor and watch what happens then.  After a couple of weeks, my friend excitedly shared that she was going to take line-dancing classes.  We were all dumb-founded, as our friend had never indicated an interest in line-dancing before that night.  She went on to explain that she really wasn't interested in line-dancing, but her neighbor shared that she always wanted to take lessons, but didn't have someone to take them with.  Ahhh.  We were getting it.  Our friend was intentionally investing in a relationship with her neighbor, on her neighbor's terms.  Interesting...

After several classes, riding in the car together, sharing life-stuff over after-lesson coffee; the neighbor, having deeper insight into my friend's passion for NHC, came (unasked) with her entire family.  Guess what happened?  The neighbor, her husband and both sons accepted Christ! 

Invest in a relationship.  Find out what your neighbor or co-worker likes to do and if it's not illegal or immoral (I include shopping in that category...not...well sort of), ask them if you can join them, then watch God work through your investment in them.

People: Projects or Purpose?

I’ve repeatedly mulled writing this post today, but decided to in light of several conversations this weekend with people who invited friends to visit NHC…and none came.  A couple of folks even indicated their disappointment, which they admitted bordered on anger.  My response to these well-meaning friends was, “Be Jesus to your friends.  Invest in your relationship and build the relationship based on the fact that they are precious to God and worthy of a relationship.”  Especially today, people are so busy, combined with the isolation consequence of electronic communication…people need people more than ever.

It’s easy to write an email - make a phone call instead.  It’s easy to write email - send a hand-written note instead.  Even when you’re busy, stop, listen and ask a friend, “How can I help?”  We have to be intentional about demonstrating our value of people.  Through our intentional actions, God will bring conviction to their hearts.  We have to be friends first and foremost regardless of their conversion. 

I know this to be true.  One of my dearest friends, whom I considered and treated as family well before he accepted Christ, rejected my invitations for over 15 years before coming to NHC and accepting Christ.  On the eve of his baptism, he put his hand on my arm and said, “Thank you for always accepting me.”  That experience has influenced my ministry more than any other and affirmed what I know to be truth…Be a true friend, regardless, and let God be God.  The exciting thing is the Holy Spirit will use our words and actions to produce growth that we do not see happening.

 “I don't think the way you think.

The way you work isn't the way I work."
         God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
   so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
   and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
   and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
   producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
   not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
   they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

Isaiah 55:10-11 The Message

Historical data, according to Church Growth, Inc, indicates that 75% of all conversions occur in the context of personal relationships.  Only 6% of conversions happen in the context of a pastor relationship.  So, be encouraged.  Don’t make inviting people to church a project.  Make people your purpose and invite them as part of that purpose.  We cared so much for you, and you became so dear to us, that we were willing to give our lives for you when we gave you God's message. 1 Thessalonians 2:8