I just got back from a three mile jog. I’m not a religious runner. I’m a recreational runner. When I run it’s amazing the way my mind thinks new thoughts. I think the physical change facilitates intellectual change. It goes back to my formula: change of pace + change of pace = change of perspective. Jogging is a change of pace.

When I jog I start thinking new thoughts. Some of them are half-baked ideas that don’t even deserve to get cooked. I still blog them, but they float off into the blogosphere and disappear like a helium ballon. But some of them will resurface when I reread my blog down the road. Or someone will run with one of my half-baked ideas. I just think it’s important to “take every thought captive” (II Corinthians 10:5) and “write down the revelation” (Habakkuk 2:2).

I’m dreaming new dreams right now. One of the things I sense in my Spirit is that I’ll be doing some things in a few years that aren’t even on my radar screen right now. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I think God has some surprises up his sleeve. I think some of my passions will find new expressions. I hope I’m doing what I’m doing (pastoring NCC) twenty-five years from now, but I’m not limiting my world to “traditional ministry.” I think we too often limit God by our preconceived notions of what He can and “cannot” do or does and “doesn’t” do. I think my passion to help people reach their God-given potential will find some non-traditional and unorthodox expressions.

For some reason, I was thinking about one of my defining moments today. I was in a Sunday School class at Lake Shore Family Church when I was in Seminary. And we went around the room sharing our dreams. I said something that somehow “clicked” with me. It was like a Eureka moment. It was like I said it and then realized what I’d just said. I said, “My calling is to help people reach their potential.” I know that doesn’t sound especially unique. Potential is an overused word. But I feel like that is at the very core of my calling. Pastoring isn’t my calling. Helping people reach their God-given potential is my calling. Pastoring is my position. It’s the way I give expression to that calling.

So here are a few ideas I thought about while jogging:

I think it’d be cool for NCC to do an annual summer celebration on the mall. Instead of doing services in our theaters, do it outside. If it rained we’d already have our backup plan in place. I think it’d allow all of us to be together and worship in the same place at the same time once a year. I also think it’d be a cool witness to do it on the National Mall. I’m thinking the Sunday before July 4th or Labor Day weekend would make a great weekend.

Here’s another idea I’ve blogged a few times, but it seems to be like a polaroid picture that is coming into focus. What if we reinvented church and did a “service” at the coffeehouse that was more like an interactive talk show? What if it revolved around quarterlife issues? What if we broadcasted or podcasted it? I’m thinking something like a Tuesday @ 7:25 (I’m thinking :25 to brand it after the quarterlife crisis). I think it could be a quasi young professional group, church service, talk show. I think Ebenezers would give us a perfect environment to experiment with something like that.

Note to Self: I need to jog more!