New Creation (or, don't pull a Lucas)

There is a question I've been wrestling with for the last several days. It's not new and it may not be incredibly profound, but for whatever reason it has caused me to stop, think, and pray differently than it ever has before:

Am I trying to become more Christ-like or just a better version of myself?

This is a question all Christians should probably ask themselves frequently, but for leaders it is way more important to come up with an answer. Why? Because by definition you are having an impact beyond just your own life.

What I'm discovering is that it's much easier to try to be a better me. Trying to be more Christ-like, well, that's going to take some work. Unfortunately, as leaders and as followers of Christ, that's what the Bible demands. Paul lays it out in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when he calls us a new creation. Fortunately, Jesus has done most of the heavy lifting already.

The cool thing about being a new creation is that it means we are a blank canvas; we can become just about anything and do almost anything if we let God lead us rather than us trying to lead Him. Trying to improve on the existing version is what got George Lucas in trouble and basically destroyed Star Wars and Indiana Jones (at least for me!). Instead of channeling his creativity into something new, exciting, and unknown, he just tinkered with the previous formula and the result was Jar Jar Binks and a much less intimidating Darth Vader.

Hopefully this new creation, this blog, will be a canvas where we can help one another to think, to grow, and to create. You may not find the answers you would if you were reading Andy Stanley, Perry Noble, Seth Godin or any number of more accomplished leaders, but hopefully together we can share ideas, ask questions, and see what happens. This will also be a spot where leaders within our church, Christian Community Church, can go for important information, tools, and fun as we grow and build something special together.

So here we go. Let's see what happens. What are your thoughts on the question,
"Am I trying to become more Christ-like or just a better version of myself?"