E-Letters

BHAGs Worth Having

By Mark Haskins
Oct 06, 2009

Ever had a BHAG (pronounced, 'bee hag')? Bet you have. Have you ever replaced one BHAG with another? Bet you have.

In a classic business book, Built to Last, Jim Collins coined the term BHAG to stand for "Big Hairy Audacious Goal(s)." Importantly, he posited BHAGs as one of the differentiating factors between companies built to last and those that aren't.

Well, those men and women, young and old, who have fallen in love with the Heavenly Father who has wooed them from their youth are being built to last. We are being transformed (2 Corinthians 3: 18) for an eternity with the Lord (which has already begun, by the way), full of passion, peace, adventure, love, discovery, and perfect fellowship. How's that for a BHAG among BHAGs? But my BHAG journey has been anything but straight, predictable, or noble-how about yours?

As a young boy growing up in the foothills of Western Colorado, my BHAG was to maximize the adventures of the Brothers Haskins And Gang. We roamed the hills, and depending on the call of the land that day, we pretended to be soldiers, scouts, cowboys, outlaws, or wagon train leaders. We went to sleep each night anticipating the next day's adventure.

During my teen years, the dominant BHAGs in life became excelling at Baseball, Hoops And Girls. I must admit, those were seemingly great years. No cares. A fair amount of success. No pressures. A fair amount of success. No responsibilities. A fair amount of success. But, if I am honest, it was also a time of no real meaningful thoughts or reflections.

My early college years were mostly about Ballerinas, Heroes, And Grades. I dated ballerinas and music majors; had numerous heroes-Johnny Bench, Chuck Yeager, and Don Henley. And, I loved school. Nobody was going to get better grades than me.

But to be honest, and in the quiet of my own room and heart, I knew I was Bored, Hollow, And Grasping for more. I had no real direction or passion. I was a Blind, Hungry, Alone Guy, Broken, Hurting, And Going nowhere fast. I certainly knew of God and Jesus but I didn't see them in my daily life nor know how to have them be real. Deep down I knew there had to be more and man-made religion was not the answer.

Midway through college, my life was transformed. I started hearing a pastor speak of salvation as a relationship, an invitation into the greatest love story the world would ever know. I was mesmerized and moved, convicted and called, and fell in love with a triune God who loved me!

My BHAGs changed and I am thrilled to have them in common with you and all other believers. Life is now about having and enjoying the Blessed Hope & Abundant Grace intended for those who love him (Titus 2:13 and Romans 5:17). It is also about seeking to live in the reality that Believers Have A Guide who wants to walk with us, and is in us, each and every day, through each and every circumstance (Psalm 23:3 and Psalm 48:14). Moreover, we, the Body of saints, Have Access to God and we are invited to avail ourselves of that access every minute of every day (Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 10:19, and Ephesians 2:18). In addition, our Heavenly Father asks us to Boldly Handover our Anger and Guilt to Him and I need to do that several times a week. I have also learned that while Jesus walked this earth He was able to endure affliction, love others well, and witness of His Father, Because He Asked God for strength, obedience, and the ability to do so-and guess what, we are instructed to seek that same closeness and dependency with His Father and to make those same requests (John 16 and 17). That's not all. We are His Bride, Heir, And Glory (John 3:29, Revelation 21:9, Romans 8:17, Galatians 4:7)

Now those are some BHAGs worth having--ones that will make us built to last. Can they really be ours? All of them? Yes. Let's live like it! Such BHAGs differentiate us...they are a light showing Christ (Isaiah 60: 2, 3; Philippians 2: 15, 16) and a fragrance of Christ to those around us (2 Corinthians 2: 16). Let's embrace, love, and desire our Beautiful, Holy, Adventuresome, God who Beckons His to Anticipate His Generosity, the One who Brings Help And Gladness. Thank God my Broken Heart Accepted His Grace. And, may our prayer be that others might see His Beauty through us, Hear His words from us, experience His love by our Actions, and know His Goodness because of us.