tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185109802024-03-07T02:00:23.492-08:00Deliberate SimplicityAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-54109272721907636582014-03-10T17:18:00.000-07:002014-03-10T17:18:25.198-07:00Cultural<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have been reading quite a bit about cross-cultural ministry.
A statement that John Perkins made in his forward to John Hayes' book
Submerge has stuck with me. "Cross-cultural is where the war is and
that's where the violence comes from." He was thinking of national
cultures when he wrote that, but I was thinking "all cultures...everywhere...even
the church." The church is multi-cultural by design. And
challenges to unity come along predictable fault lines.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can those who are committed to evangelism get along with those
who are committed to discipleship?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can those who are of Apollos get along with those who are of
Paul?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can those who are emotional in their approach to God get along
with those who are intellectual in their approach?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can those who are pioneers get along with those who are
settlers?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
are perhaps a thousand of these cultural distinctives that can be found in the
body of Christ. One of the roles of a Christian leader is to help people
build bridges across these divides. Remember what Jesus said?
Blessed are the peacemakers. It is near and dear to God's heart to
help people put down the weapons (even if the weapon is a twitter account), and
get along. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-77755219336865153092014-02-04T13:21:00.000-08:002014-02-04T13:22:59.977-08:00Fors<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">As a Christian leader you have people around you, and they typically fall into two categories: The Fors, and The Froms. The Froms are the ones who want something From you. They want your counsel, they want your teaching, they want your approval, they want your support, they want your friendship. Based on Jesus' experience, this is probably the majority of the people around you. And it's ok. We are called to give of ourselves to others. Like Jesus, we may need to get away from the Froms occasionally to refill the tank, but as a servant leader filled with the Spirit, you are ready, willing and able to serve.</span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">But every leader is blessed to also have a few (maybe a precious few) who are there For them. They are for your marriage. They are for your ministry. They are for you on a personal level. They rejoice when you rejoice. They weep when you weep. They may be happy to receive from you, but they are intent on being a blessing more than a burden. Generally, you can tell that you are dealing with a For because after an exchange with them you don't feel depleted. They are positive. They are uplifting.</span><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">I bring this to your attention, because some leaders make no room in their schedules (lives?) for Fors. They are so busy with Froms (whom they will always have with them) that they feel guilty or frivolous about spending time with those who need nothing from them. Remember, Jesus washed others feet. He also got his feet washed on occasion. Are you O.K. with that?</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-76877167475384364532013-12-17T14:34:00.000-08:002013-12-17T14:34:27.318-08:00Glory<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Why precisely are we here?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">To create an authentic Christian community? Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">To effectively reach out to unchurched people? For sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">To express love, acceptance and forgiveness? Of course.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">To draw people into the joy of salvation and a purposeful life
of discipleship. Obviously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">But those are just reasons with a small “r”. There is a
much greater Reason we are here. To bring glory to God. His glory
is the reason behind all reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Probably no text in the Bible reveals the passion of God for his
own glory more clearly and bluntly as Isaiah 48:9-11 where God says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my
praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the
furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to
another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">These words come like six hammer blows to a man-centered way of
looking at the world, or ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">· For my own name’s sake!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">· For the sake of my praise!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">· For my own sake!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">· For my own sake!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">· How should my name be profaned!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">· I will not yield my glory to another!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">What this text hammers home to us is the centrality of God in
everything. The most passionate heart for the glorification of God is
God’s heart. Throughout scripture there is no mistaking…it is ALL ABOUT
God’s glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">1. God chose his people for his glory: Ephesians 1:4-6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">2. God created us for his glory: Isaiah
43:6-7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">3. God called Israel for his glory: Jeremiah
13:11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">4. God rescued Israel from Egypt for his glory: Psalm 106:7-8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">5. God raised Pharaoh up to show his power and
glorify his name: Romans 9:17<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">6. God defeated Pharaoh at the Red Sea to show his
glory: Exodus 14:4,18<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">7. God spared Israel in the wilderness for the
glory of his name: Ezekiel 20:14<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">8. God gave Israel victory in Canaan for the glory
of his name: 2 Samuel 7:23<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">9. God did not cast away his people for the glory
of his name: 1 Samuel 12:20,22<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">10. God saved Jerusalem from attack for the glory of his name:
2 Kings 19:34<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">11. God restored Israel from exile for the glory of his name:
Ezekiel 36:22-23<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">12. Jesus sought the glory of his Father in all he did:
John 7:18<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">13. Jesus told us to do good works so that God gets glory:
Matthew 5:16<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">14. Jesus warned that not seeking God’s glory makes faith
impossible: John 5:44<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">15. Jesus said that he answers prayer that God would be
glorified: John 14:13<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">16. Jesus endured his final hours of suffering for God’s glory:
John 12:27-28<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">17. God gave his Son to vindicate the glory of his
righteousness: Romans 3:25-26<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">18. God forgives our sins for his own sake: Isaiah 43:25;
Psalm 25:11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">19. Jesus receives us into his fellowship for the glory of God:
Romans 15:7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">20. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of
God: John 16:14<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">21. God instructs us to do everything for his glory: 1
Corinthians 10:31<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">22. God tells us to serve in a way that will glorify him:
1 Peter 4:11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">23. Jesus will fill us with fruits of righteousness for God’s
glory: Philippians 1:9,11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">24. All are under judgment for dishonoring God’s glory:
Romans 1:22,23; 3:23<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">25. Herod is struck dead because he did not give glory to God:
Acts 12:23<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">26. Jesus is coming again for the glory of God: 2
Thessalonians 1:9-10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">27. Jesus’ ultimate aim for us is that we see and enjoy his
glory: John 17:24<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">28. Even in wrath God’s aim is to make known the wealth of his
glory: Romans 9:22-23<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">29. God’s plan is to fill the earth with the knowledge of his
glory: Habakkuk 2:14<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">30. Everything that happens will result in God’s glory:
Romans 11:36<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">31.
The New Jerusalem will be lit by the glory of God: Revelation 21:23</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-26458065970757301852013-12-04T13:00:00.000-08:002013-12-04T13:00:50.111-08:00Band
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Lead singer Jon Foreman was asked
if Switchfoot is a “Christian” band. His response is worth pondering.
</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“To be honest, this question
grieves me because I feel that it represents a much bigger issue than simply a
couple SF tunes. In true Socratic form, let me ask you a few questions: Does
Lewis or Tolkien mention Christ in any of their fictional series? Are Bach’s
sonata’s Christian? What is more Christ-like, feeding the poor, making
furniture, cleaning bathrooms, or painting a sunset? There is a schism between
the sacred and the secular in all of our modern minds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The view that a pastor is more
‘Christian’ than a girls volleyball coach is flawed and heretical. The stance
that a worship leader is more spiritual than a janitor is condescending and
flawed. These different callings and purposes further demonstrate God’s
sovereignty. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many songs are worthy of being
written. Switchfoot will write some, Keith Green, Bach, and perhaps yourself
have written others. Some of these songs are about redemption, others about the
sunrise, others about nothing in particular: written for the simple joy of
music. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">None of these songs has been born
again, and to that end there is no such thing as Christian music. No. Christ
didn’t come and die for my songs, he came for me. Yes. My songs are a part of
my life. But judging from scripture I can only conclude that our God is much
more interested in how I treat the poor and the broken and the hungry than the
personal pronouns I use when I sing. I am a believer. Many of these songs talk
about this belief. An obligation to say this or do that does not sound like the
glorious freedom that Christ died to afford me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do have an obligation, however, a
debt that cannot be settled by my lyrical decisions. My life will be judged by
my obedience, not my ability to confine my lyrics to this box or that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We all have a different calling;
Switchfoot is trying to be obedient to who we are called to be. We’re not
trying to be Audio A or U2 or POD or Bach: we’re trying to be Switchfoot. You see,
a song that has the words: ‘Jesus Christ’ is no more or less ‘Christian’ than
an instrumental piece. (I’ve heard lots of people say Jesus Christ and they
weren’t talking about their redeemer.) You see, Jesus didn’t die for any of my
tunes. So there is no hierarchy of life or songs or occupation only obedience.
We have a call to take up our cross and follow. We can be sure that these roads
will be different for all of us. Just as you have one body and every part has a
different function, so</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> in Christ we who are many form one body and each of us
belongs to all the others. Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a
different calling.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foreman mentions the Christian
"box" that many people want to stay in, and put others in. I
agree with Foreman that this box is particularly limiting when it comes to art.
So go out and create something - something beautiful, something wonderful
- and do it to the glory of God.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-55410708451502855082013-11-19T14:47:00.001-08:002013-11-19T14:47:36.219-08:00Scope<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Legendary college basketball coach, John Wooden, used to advise: "Look in the microscope and the telescope." His point was that we need an appropriate balance between seeing the long-range bigger picture, and keeping an eye on the details. I have found this to be an important truth, both in the work we do, and the emotional equilibrium we must maintain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have met leaders who are constantly thinking huge, visionary thoughts, and tending very little to the details which matter so much, to so many. People around them are asking, "When are we going to solve problems around here...When are we going to actually make progress?" I have met other leaders who micro manage, but get disoriented in a sea of minutia. People around them are asking, "Where's this all going...What are we doing here?" The ratio may be different depending on how God has wired you, but there needs to be a mix in a leader's profile between the the 30,000 foot view, and where the rubber meets the road. You may have to "lean against the prevailing wind" as you chart your course; alternating between sweeping questions that start with "Why", and more pragmatic queries that start with "How." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The macro/micro balance also has helped me emotionally through the years. There are times when the "smaller picture" is discouraging. The specifics of the ministry are not going very well. I feel that I am bogging down in the details. It is at those times that I need to expand my vision to see the much, much bigger picture. Where is this story heading overall? What is God doing in the meta-narrative (sorry, had to throw some jargon in there for the emergent, resurgent types)? But there are times where I have literally had to read the book of Revelation again to remind myself that God actually wins in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At other times, the bigger picture doesn't make any sense. For instance, there have been many times where I have had no idea where we're going. I don’t feel real comfortable at those moments, but they happen, more often than a leader might like to admit. It's at those times that I will take a more microscopic view of the body for encouragement. I'll take joy in the person who has recently been save and baptized, or the marriage that is being reconciled. When the bigger picture is fuzzy, I look at the smaller picture. When the smaller picture is fuzzy, I look at the bigger picture. When a marriage blows up, for instance, I look to the heavens and remind myself that God is still on the throne.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you tend to get more joy out of looking through the telescope or microscope?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What ratios do you normally express between large and small scope?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What ratios do you need to express between large and small scope?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-12177329008744658372013-10-09T16:20:00.001-07:002013-10-09T16:20:34.555-07:00Decade<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The timelines that we like to work in - weeks, months - are often not the ones that He likes to work in - years, decades. This can create a lot of angst for us as we try to "speed Him up." But what I've found is this: We are not going to speed Him up, so we need to allow Him to slow us down, by praying more and planning less, listening more and talking less, trusting more and worrying less.<br /><br />You may have heard the old saying, "Rome was not built in a day." Having had the opportunity to visit Rome this summer, this saying made more sense. When you see the magnitude of, say, the Coliseum (which seated over 60,000 people) you realize that building it was a major undertaking that took a lot of persistency and consistency. May I suggest that you, as a Christian leader, are involved in that sort of an enterprise. Building up people is painstaking work, that doesn't get accomplished overnight.<br /><br />Having pastored in the CTK International story for 14 years now, I've had the joy to see quite a few people mature in Christ. But some of them have just recently begun to bloom. The years of planting and watering eventually bring a harvest. But we have to be patient. Not for years. For decades. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-20614550376479159732013-09-03T16:05:00.000-07:002013-09-03T16:05:10.241-07:00HIjack<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">As an experienced church planter I've come to realize that special care needs to be shown when a group is in the incubation stage. During this stage the new group is especially susceptible to hijack by unhealthy extremists. In fact, many churches that start with great promise are taken off course almost immediately by radicals. For one, when a group is just starting out it doesn't yet have a history to set precedent (which, while sometimes limiting in a bad way, can also be limiting in a good way). But also, when a group is small it is easier for a single individual/family to push it around or dominate it. One person in a living room exerts much more influence than one person in a group of a thousand. This may actually explain why some people are "church start-up junkies." They love having such inordinate influence, and when that begins to wane (i.e. the church begins to grow) they become dissatisfied, sense that "the Spirit is moving" somewhere else, and move on to the next place where they are "needed."</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><br style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Being part of a network such as CTK can help. You can borrow some history and mass for protection. When I first came to Skagit County in 1999, our group was new, but the move of God had roots going back more than a decade. So when people came into our fledgling story with alternate agendas, I was able to point them in the direction God was leading us, and had been, for years.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-1057297483569689102013-08-28T13:22:00.000-07:002013-08-28T13:22:04.864-07:00Repetition<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">With the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream speech," many have been reflecting on one of the greatest pieces of leadership oratory, ever. I've been reflecting on not just what was said that day, but how it came to be. You see, the speech he gave was not precisely the speech he had planned. Dr. King was asked to give a very brief series of remarks, which he had scripted, and dutifully delivered. But when he came to the end of what he had planned, he felt that "the Spirit moved" him to continue on, and it was then that he got into the stirring "I have a dream" and "Let freedom ring" riffs. How was it possible for him to deliver such a lucid, compelling speech impromptu? Answer: He had spoken those words many times before, in various contexts. He was well-versed in the cadence of these lines. He had repeated them often. When the big moment came, the words fervently rolled off his tongue, and into the psyche of America.</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><br style="background-color: black; color: white;" /><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is difficult to come up with world-changing oratory in a single attempt. (I know that every pastor, given seven shorts days to prepare a sermon, is saying "Amen.") But I think it is an important leadership principle to identify repeated themes in which one will become well-versed. Jesus certainly did this. In the gospels we get to see His variations on themes (the golden rule, loving your neighbor, the light of the world, etc.). In Paul's writings we see a fair amount of repetition, as well (grace, etc.). Does your ministry have a theme? Have you been honing lines and phrases? Could you give a spontaneous sermon? Probably the most famous pastor of the 20th Century showed us the way, not just to racial equality, but to leaving a legacy with words.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-11363053931964063512013-06-26T13:39:00.001-07:002013-06-26T13:39:47.237-07:00Leaders<br />
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CTK is an inherently leader-dependent proposition. Yet, our mission statement says nothing about leaders...or does it? Our mission is: "To create an authentic Christian community that effectively reaches out to unchurched people with love, acceptance and forgiveness, so that they may experience the joy of salvation and a purposeful life of discipleship." While leadership is not a stated activity, it is an implied one, and right off the bat. The statement begins "To create..."</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don't get two words into the statement without someone incurring responsibility to create. And the responsibility is human, not just divine. Obviously, we could have written this statement in a more spiritual-sounding way (not more spiritual, mind you, just more spiritual sounding), and said, "To watch God create." And truly, unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain. But we do labor with Him (not in vain). We are co-laborers with Christ. We are engaged in a great co-mission. He has given us direct orders to go and make disciples. It is by His authority that we are indeed sent.<br /><br />So someone is going to have to take responsibility to create an authentic Christian community, and that someone is what I would call a leader. And the reason I know for sure that it's a leader who will fulfill this "creating" is because of what is being created: an authentic Christian community. As Erwin McManus opines in Defining Leadership: "After three decades of stumbling through this leadership journey there is one theme that prevails: leaders create human communities." I agree. This is what they do. Leaders create communities. They always do. What makes leadership in the CTK story different is just in the type of community that is being created. We are challenged to create an authentic, Christian one.<br /><br />So what makes you an ideal candidate to lead the CTK story?<br /><br />• You resonate with the call to create community. You want to see a community created that is authentically Christian, and that reaches out.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />• You have the tools to create community. Th</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ere are various tools that one can use to create community (communication skills, relational skills, administrative skills, etc.) and there are tools available to you to get the job done.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• You are willing to make creating community your life's work. There may be other ways that you pay the bills, but there is nothing more important than the work you are doing to create an authentic Christian community that effectively reaches out to unchurched people with love, acceptance and forgiveness, so that they may experience the joy of salvation and a purposeful life of discipleship.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-18015672883067298552013-05-19T17:16:00.001-07:002013-05-19T17:16:02.131-07:00Givers<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Adam Grant is a young, but notable, Professor at Wharton School of Business. He has written a book entitled <u>Give and Take</u>, in which he divides the world into three groups: Givers, Takers and Exchangers. You can see an entertaining explanation of the three at </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1baNQmnRCVw" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?feature=player_<wbr></wbr>detailpage&v=1baNQmnRCVw</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Which group proves to be most successful? The answer, according to Grant, is the Givers. Givers go out to make a difference in the world, to make things better for others, to share what they have, and to be a blessing (sounds like what Jesus had in mind, right?). But in the process, they gain many friends and associates who prove loyal and important. They usually get back more than they put in. Nice guys finish first. Takers, on the other hand, may succeed in the short run, but over the long haul end up losing more than they win, particularly relationally. Associates weary of them. Exchangers, who do some of both giving and taking, end up predictably in the middle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Grant then teases his students with a trick question: Which group ends up at the bottom? The answer is a surprise. You might think it is the Takers, but it is the Givers. The Givers actually split, with some ending up on top and some ending up on bottom - the Exchangers and Takers in between. How can Givers end up both on top and bottom? Grant answers that there is a certain percentage of givers who end up bamboozled by the Takers, and thus end up on bottom, wiped out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">As I have reflected on his research, I've been thinking of pastors that I know. I have seen some of the most caring pastors eaten alive by Takers. They are as Giving as any pastor out there, maybe more so. But they don't know how to manage the incredible drain of Takers, and thus end up with nothing more to give. I believe that pastors must take care, if they want to be able to Give for the long haul.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I wonder if this discretion was what Jesus showed us when he went away from the crowds, instead of toward them. For instance, at the end of John 2 we read: "Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,<sup style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26119AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup> many people saw the signs<sup style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26119AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup> he was performing and believed<sup style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26119AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup> in his name. <sup style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. <span style="font-size: 12px;"><b> </b></span>He did not need any testimony about mankind,<sup style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26121AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup> for he knew what was in each person." Jesus was not willing to cast his pearls before swine. As you grow in your ministry, you too will want to grow in your discernment so you can give wisely. You can even give to the Takers, but stop short of letting them take you down with them.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-85569915281097719042013-04-24T13:25:00.002-07:002013-04-24T13:26:09.065-07:00Yes<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
are four 4 words to be spoken at CTK: "Yes, Sure, You Bet."
God has good works that He has prepared in advance for people to do.
We want to get out of the way, so those good works can happen. This
has been a consistent theme for CTK over the years...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Always a Place for You (CTK Orientation)…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At
CTK we have a can-do spirit. We say, “Yes, Sure, You Bet” instead of “No,
Sorry, We Can’t.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Deliberate Simplicity…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At
Christ the King we don’t like the word “control.” We like the word
“empower.” Authoritarian cultures spawn passivity and create
codependency. To combat that tendency we train our organization to be
ready and able to say “Yes, sure, you bet.” Often, those are words that
cannot be spoken in church. Typical of a bureaucracy, church leaders tend
to have the power to say “no” but seldom have the power to say “yes.” We
want “yes” to be a valid answer again in the church. God is at work in
people’s lives. We want to unleash the church. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Opportunistic Leadership…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ
the King Community Church (lovingly referred to as CTK), in a dozen years, went
from one location in the Pacific Northwest to over four hundred locations
around the world. How did we/God do that? We got the board out and
waxed it. God sent the waves and we rode them, partly by learning to
speak four words that are seldom heard in church: “Yes, Sure, You
Bet.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About
a year after we began holding services in Mount Vernon, Washington, I came off
the platform after one of the services to be greeted by an older couple who
said, “I sure wish there was a CTK in Oak Harbor.” Oak Harbor is an
island community about forty-five minutes southwest of Mount Vernon. The
response I gave shocked them. I said, “Let’s do it.” They asked,
“Do what?” I replied, “Start CTK in Oak Harbor. You want to do it,
and I want to do it, so let’s do it.” Shortly thereafter I began to drive
to Oak Harbor on Saturday nights and began holding meeting with this couple and
some of their friends in a local coffee shop. Within a year the group had
grown to over a hundred people, outgrowing the coffee shop. At the same
time we began holding Saturday evening services in nearby
Anacortes. Within three years we were convening in ten towns in
four counties. Now we are meeting in more than four hundred
locations. But it all began with three words: “Let’s do it.”
As Greek statesmen Demosthenes opined: “Small opportunities are often the
beginning of great enterprises.” Surfing begins with a “Let’s do it”
spirit, that becomes a ride, that ultimately eventuates in a culture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Intrepid Faith…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faith-inspired
guts is not only required on a personal level, but also on a corporate one.
Faith or fear appear to be the options, for you individually and for the church
as a whole. One of the greater decisions a church can make is deciding
which side of the line they want to be on. Will we be on the faith side
as it relates to God and people? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
know when you are on the fear side of the line when you keep hearing words like
accountability, process and authority. Fear-based congregations
habitually say, “No, sorry, you can’t.” You know you are on the faith
side of the line when you keep hearing words like support, story and
empowerment. Faith-based congregations habitually say, “Yes, sure, you
bet!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Our Values (Staff Training)…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key
words in the CTK vocabulary are “Yes, Sure, You Bet.” Often, those are
words that cannot be spoken in church. Typical of a bureaucracy, church
leaders have the power to say “no” but seldom have the power to say
“yes.” We want “yes” to be a valid answer again in the church. God
is at work in people’s lives, and we want to fan into flames the gifts and
passions that are resident in the body. We want to unleash the church. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
is not to say that we have no structure or accountability. We have
freedom, with handrails. But what structure we have serves mainly as a
supportive handrail, not as a restrictive barricade.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
our context the role of the pastors and staff is to create and sustain an
environment where the people of the church (the ministers) can carry out their
ministries with minimum obstacles and maximum fulfillment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Wild (dMail)…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
church, it seems to me, should provide generous fairways on which people can
play the game. I have used the phrase “freedom with handrails” to
describe the organizational philosophy of CTK. The handrails are our
beliefs (doctrinal statement) and our brand (mission, vision, values). As
Chesterton noted, there has to be “rule and order.” But the chief aim of
boundaries is “to give room for good things to run wild.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How
do we as leaders give room for good things to run wild? One of the key
ways is to repeat four words: “Yes, Sure, You Bet” to people and their “wild”
ideas. Caution is acceptable, but you can’t lead with it. Caution
needs to come later, in the shaping of things. In a wild kingdom our
predisposition needs to be “Yes.” Then, we come alongside to train and
support. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From<i>
Ideas that Matter…<u5:p></u5:p></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn
to say "Yes, sure, you bet." Our goal is to cooperate with God
in what He is doing in the lives of people.<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<u5:p></u5:p></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-62998733116025883192013-03-18T18:45:00.003-07:002013-03-18T18:45:45.542-07:00Determined<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">I don't know if you have seen the show Shark Tank on TV. The "sharks" are investors to whom entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas for a successful business. Some times the sharks are enticed to invest. At other times they are not. As I have watched this show a few times, I have noticed something interesting. The sharks will decline to invest in a great idea, when they are unconvinced of the entrepreneurs drive to succeed. On the other hand, they will sometimes invest in an inferior idea, if it is championed by an entrepreneur with determination. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I recently read an fascinating article by Paul Graham (who invests in startup companies). He talked about what he's learned to look for as a predictor of success in new ventures...determination. He says, "In most domains, talent is overrated compared to determination—partly because it makes a better story, partly because it gives onlookers an excuse for being lazy, and partly because after a while determination starts to look like talent. " I tend to agree with him on this. I have seen very talented church leaders not "get it done," and leaders with lesser talent, but greater determination succeed. Paul enjoins: Therefore, my dear brothers and sister, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Paul encouraged determination in the Lord's work.</span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">What constitutes determination? Graham says it it a balance of willfulness and discipline. And balance is a key word. He makes the analogy of squeezing a slippery melon seed with two fingers ("The harder they squeeze, the further the seed flies, but they must both squeeze equally or the seed spins off sideways." ) He says tha<span>t equivalent discipline is even more vital the more willfulness one possesses ("T</span><span>he dangers of indiscipline increase with temptation....</span><span>If you're sufficiently determined to achieve great things, this will probably increase the number of temptations around you. Unless you become proportionally more disciplined, willfulness will then get the upper hand, and your achievement will revert to the mean.") I believe this last statement explains about 95% of the pastor "blow outs" I've seen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>What gives direction to determination, Graham states, is ambition. ("H</span><span>ere in sum is how determination seems to work: it consists of willfulness balanced with discipline, aimed by ambition.") As a believer, we might add the importance of love as our motivator. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-83504985374389251862013-03-11T08:32:00.000-07:002013-03-11T08:32:22.725-07:00Empathy<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">IDEO is known for its innovation. The noted Silicon Valley company is responsible for such game-changing inventions as the computer mouse, the laptop, and the "Lavatory Occupied" sign on airplanes (among others). David Kelley, the founder, was asked the secret of innovation. His one-word answer sounded spiritual: "Empathy." By empathy he meant genuine concern for the customer's needs. Kelley said the key is to watch the customer closely and see at what point they encounter difficulty, and cringe. Then fix it so that never happens again.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">As an example, Kelley noted the frustration airline passengers had when trying to use the restroom. They would get up out of their seat, only to find that someone was already using the restroom. Kelley asked himself, "Isn't there a way that we can send a signal to everyone when the restroom is available?" The question led to a solution - a lighted sign that ties into the bathroom door lock. Frustration solved.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">One of the "arrows out" expressions of CTK is empathy for the unchurched. We try hard to eliminate obstacles, remove confusion and squelch insecurity. We try to make it as easy as possible for a non-churched person to feel at home with us.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Why do we...</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Have greeters and ushers stationed at key entry points to welcome attenders? Empathy...a person may not know whether they are wanted.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Dress in everyday clothes, instead of "dressing up"? Empathy...a person may not have special clothes to wear.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Try to speak in plain language, instead of theological jargon? Empathy...a person may not have the training to understand.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Hand everyone a program with upcoming events and a teaching outline? Empathy...a person may not know what is going on.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Picks songs that are both understandable and enjoyable for all? Empathy...a person may not relate to sacred music or insider phrases.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Have clear signage that leads to the bathrooms or kids rooms? Empathy...a person may not know where they need to go.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Conduct a one-hour service? Empathy...a person may not be used to sitting for an extended period of time.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Provide free coffee for everyone to enjoy? Empathy...a person may need to have a cup of coffee to feel at ease...or to stay awake!</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Empathy is why we go to great lengths to make things easier and solve problems. Empathy is why we have staff meetings. Empathy is why we organize. Empathy is why we try to keep improving. If we are lagging in our execution, it may be because we are lagging in our empathy. Do we really care about these people? Are we willing to do the work necessary to answer questions and eliminate obstacles?</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Another word for empathy is love.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-64162745537387923132013-03-06T07:35:00.004-08:002013-03-06T07:35:55.034-08:00How<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">One of the most beautiful things I've heard in a while was said during our recent Arrows Out Conference. Andy Geer, who pastors the new CTK in Monroe, Washington, was recounting his first meeting with Missy Willis from CTK Network Resources. He said that at the end of the meeting, Missy turned to him and asked, "How can we help you and your Worship Center? What do you need?" The question was sincere. Missy really wanted to know. Andy said, he couldn't remember ever being asked that in all of his years of being a pastor.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Come to think of it, the question is way too rare. Yet, it gets at the very heart of caring, doesn't it? Wouldn't you love to be asked that today?</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I remember as a young pastor (in a traditional setting) how that question changed the dynamic in a very structured and intense meeting (we had a lot of those). Our Board was meeting with a man who had recently begun attending our church. This man was a representative from a ministry with which we were unfamiliar. So he came to the board meeting to be interrogated. We stopped just short of water-torture, as I recall. But as the man got up to leave, one of the few servant-leaders in our midst said, "One more thing. How can we help you? How can we support your ministry?" The man's shoulders suddenly relaxed as a smile hit his face. He said, "Thank you so much for asking. That means a lot to me." He sat back down and he shared with us the needs he had, both personally and in the ministry. With that one question, the mood of the room snapped into love. I think we all realized in the moment we had been asking the wrong questions. We were behaving as if we were the center of the universe and he was orbiting around us. The question "How can I help..." reoriented us all to see his needs as the point of the meeting.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-72585083418614193282013-02-15T08:44:00.000-08:002013-02-15T08:44:16.075-08:00Civilian<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">As a soldier of Christ, you may not be able to get to participate in activities that others do. These are areas of involvement that are not necessarily wrong, in and of themselves, they are just not prudent for you. Paul instructed Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer" (2 Timothy 2:4). "Civilian affairs" might include:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Time wasters, such as TV, internet, etc.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Amoral worldly activities that take time and energy away from God’s work.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Draining relationships that take energy away from those who need you most.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Ministries that are not “core” to how God has gifted and wired you.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Intractable conflicts or disputes, that are not about the main thing.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Others may have freedom to get involved in things that are not eternal, life-changing, or life-giving. As a servant of Christ, you will not have these freedoms. You are not your own. You are bought with a price. You are a living sacrifice. Your involvements will be limited. Why? Because...</span></div>
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<ol style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> You recognize God’s call on your life (“serving as a soldier”). You are no longer a civilian. You're in the army now...the Lord's army ("Yes Sir!").</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> You desire to please Him most of all (“he wants to please”). Others may not understand why you cannot do the things they do, or the things they want you to do. But you are not living for "others." You are living for Him. You only want to do what pleases Him.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> You desire to obey His commands (“his commanding officer”). What He says, goes. Period. He says "Jump." You say, "How high?" </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: small;">By signing up for His service, what you get in replacement of the "civilian" is the "eternal" - eternal victories, eternal joys, eternal rewards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Onward Christian soldiers. March on!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-44034686723930703142013-01-28T17:23:00.003-08:002013-01-28T17:23:40.452-08:00Faithful<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">If we are faithful with what we have been given, God will give us more. This simple maxim has proven true over the course of the CTK story.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When CTK met in a single location, and involved less than a hundred people, there was a concerted effort to do the best we could with what we had. Our worship team was small, but well rehearsed. Our signs were informative and well placed. Our coffee was hot (we had someone stationed near the table to clean it and keep it stocked). The greeters were friendly. The kids rooms were clean. The bathrooms had toilet paper and towels. The kids workers were in their rooms ahead of time, and they were identifiable with shirts and badges. The service started, and ended, on time. We made a big deal out of the coffee mug we were giving to our guests. We did what we could think to do to meet the needs of those who were coming our way. And God ended up sending more people, maybe because we did pretty well with the ones he had sent already.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Contrast that with a small church that is not tending to detail: The worship team is still practicing as people are arriving. The powerpoint slides are being formatted just minutes before the service is to begin. Kids workers are showing up at the same time as the kids. Because someone is absent, a classroom has a sign posted, "Sorry, no class today." The coffee pot is empty, and the information table is a mess. The programs are being just laid on a chair for people to pick up, instead of handed out personally. The service starts late, and of course, runs over. People don't greet the newcomers, but instead jump into cliques when the service is over. The whole experience is half-baked, as if this church was not planning on having guests that weekend. This lack of attention to detail does not work for people. People can understand that you may be a small congregation. What they don't understand is why you are sloppy congregation. They appreciate cozy; they just don't appreciate careless. They like little, they loath lazy.</span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">But of bigger concern is God's opinion about all this. He has already gone on record that faithfulness precedes fruitfulness. So before you ask God for more people, ask "How are we doing with the ones He has already sent?" You will be a bigger church, after you are a better church.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-3362572081511096792013-01-18T08:22:00.001-08:002013-01-18T08:22:21.910-08:00Easy<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Some solutions are simple, but they are anything but easy. Consider, for example, the debt crisis in America. It is actually very simple what needs to be done to balance the national budget and pay back the debt. It's simple math, requiring simple adjustments. But it's anything but easy. The consequences of budget cuts are so painful to consider that no one really wants to consider them (so they aren't). Plus the political implications of being the instigator of such draconian measures - well, that's a recipe for a pretty short political career, so everyone wants someone else to go first. But no one can say that the solutions aren't obvious. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But isn't this how it almost always falls for those in leadership? It's simple. It's just not easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Perhaps the location in which you are meeting is working against you, not for you. The solution is rather simple: move to a better location. But that's not easy. Not easy to find a better spot, or convince people of the need, or actually get stuff packed up. The challenge is all in the implementation, not the decision.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Maybe you have a staff person is not getting the job done, nor will they. That's a simple one. Replace them with someone who will or can. But it is not easy to make a move like that. It's emotionally taxing and organizationally perilous. So many trudge on for years with an untenable situation rather than do what needs to be done.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It's possible that in your Worship Center there is a very small percentage of people connected in small groups. You know what to do. But small group work is very difficult work. It's easy-er to just get up and preach another sermon. It's hard to make the phone calls, schedule the meetings, and actually get people connected.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Why is the distinction between simple and easy important? Well, for one thing, you might be praying the wrong prayer. You might be praying, "God help me to know what I must do" when you should be praying, "God help me to do what I must do." For many of us, it is not a lack of insight that is holding us back. It is a lack of courage.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-70390381771232113942013-01-09T09:04:00.002-08:002013-01-18T08:26:13.605-08:00Discreet<br />
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<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">There is a lot of talk about guns in the wake of the Connecticut shootings. Our regional paper conducted some interviews with local leaders about their feelings on gun control, particularly the idea of stationing armed officers in schools, etc. One of those questioned was the superintendent of a nearby school district. He said that he didn't want to comment on gun control, but that he would discuss school security. When asked about an important subject, he didn't answer. I know him. He's a pretty sharp guy. I'm sure he has a point of view on guns. He just wasn't willing to offer it up. Wise man. He knows that no matter what he says, he will alienate half of his constituency. He knows that he is in the education business, not the gun lobbying business. So he is discrete. He stays focused on the bigger mission.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I wish more Christian leaders would learn the art of non-disclosure. Just because you have an opinion doesn't mean that you need to offer it up. Masterful leaders learn to keep their big trap shut, about a whole host of topics that aren't "the main thing." This can be taken to extreme, of course. Where a leader will not disclose enough about what is really going on. But for every leader who is too tight-lipped, there have to be ten who talk too much, about too much. Loose lips sink ships.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This, to me, was one of the better takeaways from Spielberg's movie Lincoln, chronicling the president's political maneuvering in passing the thirteenth amendment to the constitution of the U.S.A. At the time when a bill abolishing slavery was making its way through congress, something else was happening. The war-weary south was reaching out to bring an end to the war. Not the end of slavery, just the end of war. Lincoln slow-played those negotiations, while he pushed hard for the amendment, fearing that those in the the northern states would lose their gumption on the real issue if offered a cease-fire. But the rumor was circulating that the south was offering a truce. Lincoln dodged. When Lincoln was asked whether Confederate delegates were in Washington, he deftly replied, "I don't know of any delegates in Washington." (The delegates had been directed to go to Hampton Roads, Virginia.) </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If it would have been me, knowing how much pain people were in over the war, I would have been tempted to say, "Yeah, the rebels might be ready to capitulate!" But saying that would take all the focus off of slavery and onto pain relief. Lincoln was too great of a leader for that.</span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-25323569486138143342012-12-11T09:43:00.003-08:002012-12-11T09:52:14.811-08:00Initiative<br />
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If someone were to ask me about the characteristics of an ideal church leader, initiative would be at the top of my list. There are people who make things happen, people who watch things happen, and people who ask, “What just happened?” Leaders make things happen.<br />
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Things don’t happen without someone taking initiative. Let me repeat: Things don’t happen without someone taking initiative. This is especially true in church. In<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>What Leaders Do</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I break it down like this: Leaders see what needs to be done (they see both current reality and a preferable future), and do what needs to be done (they enlist others and follow through). To reverse engineer this, if something needs to be done, and it isn’t getting done, it’s because someone isn’t taking initiative. Someone isn’t leader. They are either watching things happen, or wondering what is happening. <br />
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Initiative has to come from within a person. It can be encouraged, but not created, by others. For some inner reason, people of initiative actually care about what is going on. They take responsibility for results. They activate themselves and others to grow, build, develop, expand. They have goals. They have aspirations. They cannot abide the status quo. Whatever they are looking at, they are thinking about how to expand it and improve it. Growing ministries are led by such types. <br />
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In a grace-based, relational ministry I sometimes fear that people get the wrong idea: I don’t have to work hard…it’s all love here. Grace both inspires us and frees us up to do the right kind of work, in the right kind of way. Love, acceptance and forgiveness is how we do the work, but not the work itself. The work itself is outreach. The work itself is disciple-making, the hardest work of all. “Loving” is not work. Actually inviting, including, involving people – that’s work. We may do it because of love, and we should. But the work will not grow without someone actually doing the work of setting up meetings, replying to emails, making phone calls, writing job descriptions, training leaders, etc. <br />
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It is the ultimate dream to build an expanding team of people who take the highest initiative for God, his church, his people. In this regard, there are levels of initiative, from lowest to highest: <br />
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1)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>wait</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>until told <u></u><u></u></div>
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2)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>ask</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>what to do<u></u><u></u></div>
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3)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>recommend</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>what to do<u></u><u></u></div>
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4)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>act</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>but inform<br />
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One of the statements our value of empowerment makes is, “We are encouraging high initiative of everyone.” Among pastors, staff and directors, levels 3) and 4) are required. </div>
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In the parable of the talents, various servants were entrusted with opportunity. God was only upset with the one who did nothing; the one who seemingly had to be told what to do. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-33126289992099652432012-11-19T16:38:00.002-08:002012-11-19T16:38:37.312-08:00Keepers<div class="MsoNormal">
Recent experiences have given me some insights and
resolve regarding organizations institutionalizing. Why do groups
institutionalize? Because that is the default setting. Your group will
too, given time. You don't need to do anything for it to happen. And
that really is the challenge. It takes intentionality and effort to
keep (a key word) it from happening. If you and others do not show that
kind of intentionality, it is just a matter of time. </div>
In the CTK
story, what specifically do we have to "Keep"?<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
We
have to KEEP the main thing the main thing. The
main thing (according to Jesus) is love for God and people. We have to
keep getting better at being loving. We know that we are becoming the
disciples that Jesus had in mind, when both God and people feel loved by
us.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. </div>
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We have to KEEP the arrows pointed out. This is not
about us. This is about the countless lost souls all around us.
"Arrows out" means a lot of things. It means that those
of us who are already here pay the price for those who are not. It
means
that we behave in a way that is winsome to the broader community. We
need
to keep saying, "Always a Place for You." </div>
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We have to KEEP following the bread crumbs. The CTK
story has been about individuals following the leading of God. But we
have to keep following. We cannot settle, or stagnate. Where does
God want to take us next?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember, someone has to keep it from happening, to
keep it
from happening. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-1814997045156660672012-10-19T20:27:00.000-07:002012-10-19T20:27:03.408-07:00Guardrails<div class="MsoNormal">
Cliffs prove dangerous, but guardrails are helpful
to
protect us from disaster. The ideal
placement for a guardrail is not right the edge of the cliff, but back
aways. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One
of the great threats in ministry is the temptation for a
pastor to develop an inappropriate relationship with a member of the
opposite
sex. In order to keep away from this
danger, the guardrails should be placed as follows, as it relates to the
opposite sex:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Do not meet with a woman on
an ongoing basis
(including prayer meetings). Make the
handoff to a counselor or another woman.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Always meet in a public place, and during normal
business hours.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Do not sit next to them, and if possible, have a
desk or table between you. Sit with good
posture, in a professional manner.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Never meet at your home, or theirs, unless your
spouse is present. Never meet in an
undisclosed location, or in secret.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Do not give a frontal hug – only side-armed
hugs. If possible limit physical contact
to a brief handshake, or none at all.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Never say, “I love you” or “You are special to
me,” etc. Always make clear that any
caring is from a spiritual perspective.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Do not ride alone in a car.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>If they correspond with you, let them know that
you share correspondence with your wife or husband.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Maintain eye contact when in conversation, do
not look elsewhere.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>When
having conversation with a couple, look at the person of the same sex,
more
than the person of the opposite sex.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
11.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Never
wink, or give what could be perceived to be a flirtatious gesture.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="border: medium none; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40px; padding: 0px;">
12.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Do
not use innuendo, double meanings, or tell an inappropriate joke.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-52044937065024554282012-10-08T17:43:00.003-07:002012-10-08T17:43:28.424-07:00Agitation<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Islamic world is up in arms over a movie
produced by a half-rate amateur film-maker in California: Innocence of
Muslims. Ironically, the vast majority of Muslims have not seen the
movie, and never will. So why are they so upset? They've listened to
their leaders, the imams and mullahs. The islamic leaders have told the
people how to feel about it. The movie was an excuse to agitate. What
it proves, though, is that people will be motivated when they get angry
enough. People respond to emotion.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">What is the application for us as Christian leaders?
I think we need to get in touch with the emotion of the gospel. We
need to have a passion for grace. We need to get excited about loving
the lost. We need to be stirred by the Holy Spirit. We need to be
passionate about Christ. </span></span></span></span><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">A</span></span></span></span>re
we being stirred up, and are we stirring up our people? John Maxwell
said, "<span style="text-align: justify;">People change
when they </span><em style="text-align: justify;">hurt</em><span style="text-align: justify;"> enough that they have
to, </span><em style="text-align: justify;">learn</em><span style="text-align: justify;"> enough that they want
to, or </span><em style="text-align: justify;">receive</em><span style="text-align: justify;"> enough that they are
able to." What our people need to receive from us is a Spirit-inspired
agitation. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">But it has to start in our own hearts, first.
Old-time saints said it well, "If we want a fire in the pew, there has
to be an inferno in the pulpit."</span></div>
</span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-87537090199300565752012-09-21T05:42:00.000-07:002012-09-21T05:42:01.222-07:00Inauthentic<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The first words of the CTK Mission Statement are: To create an
authentic Christian community. An authentic Christian community is
difficult to create. An inauthentic culture is a little easier to
develop, partly because there are so many characters who will come along
to "help" you, like:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The “Expert" - this is the
person who is not interested in learning from others, only teaching
others. They overestimate their own contributions, and underestimate
the contributions of others. This arrogance precludes them from the
benefits of true community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The “Pious” - this is the person who is mostly
concerned with how good they are, and how good others are. They takes
great pains, and gives them to others. They are not grace-based; they
are works based. They make it difficult for others to feel loved and
accepted in their current state.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The “Silent Observer” - this is the person who does
not engage. They are completely at ease sitting back and watching
others the work of relationships. They don't share, they only receive. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The “Mind Reader” - this is the person who spends a
bulk of their time assessing other's thoughts, behaviors and
motivations. They are no good at it, but that doesn't keep them from
trying to live everyone else's life. (And as long as they are living
someone else's, they'll never have to live their own.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The “Placator” -
this is the person who only wants to see everyone "get along," even if
it means forsaking reality. They don't want to face real issues,
preferring to just cover them up. They vote for the superficial over
the substantive. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The “Devil’s Advocate” - this is the person who is
contrarian "just because." They just can not bring themselves to be
positive, or affirm others. It's hard to have community with them,
because you can only align with them on the downbeat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The “Non-Stop
Talker” - this is the person who never gives up the mic once they get it
in their hands. They filibuster the conversation - losing touch with
the fact that relationships are intended to be a back and forth
proposition. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-77634058472827270552012-09-17T13:42:00.000-07:002012-09-17T13:42:39.278-07:00Damage<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
When people gather together in Jesus' name it is usually a good thing.
People are usually blessed by getting to know each other. But not
always. People can also get hurt in relationships, in several ways.
Christian Education guru Roberta Hestenes identified seven ways that
communication can actually damage community.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /><div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Gossip
and false witness - Sharing ideas/opinions/news that damages
reputations,
effectiveness and self-esteem of others </li>
</ol>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Triangulation - avoidance
of face-to-face, indirect communication, appeals to outside
authority as
referee, involving third parties before direct conversation.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Withholding pertinent
information - knowing important facts or realities but not
volunteering
information helpful to others, enjoying “insider secrets.”</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Using verbal or nonverbal
speech to control - domineering, interrupting repeatedly, rudeness,
loudness/anger, hostility, overtaking, not pausing or stopping,
disruptive
humor.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Attacks or
Accusations/Labeling - quick criticism or negative reactions,
assumption of bad
motives, undermining credibility, name-calling, nonverbal expressions or
gestures that undermine speaker.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Favoritism or
Neglect/Indifference - affirming one or two people consistently
more than others, not noticing or ignoring one or more of those present.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Persistent Silence or Distracting
Behaviors - habitual silence or prolonged withdrawal from
participation, changing the subject prematurely, unfriendly
stubbornness, inappropriate
gestures or behaviors.</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With this list in hand, it's a good idea to:</div>
<div>
1.
Review your own ways of relating. Are you, as a leader, putting the
unction in dysfunction? Remember, the pace of the leader is the pace of
the team.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
2. Review your team's
behavior. When you gather with your staff, is everyone on their best
behavior? Or is your team being sabotaged? Think through your team
with this list in mind.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
3. Review your groups.
Do they know what bad behavior looks like? Maybe it's time to review
the list. Equipping sometimes means informing people of what doesn't
work.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
4. Review the body. Are there cancerous
cells that are destroying your community? If so, leaders see what
needs to be done, and do what needs to be done. Gently instruct, and if
necessary, take action to protect your people from damage.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18510980.post-23168289690821772562012-07-23T09:29:00.002-07:002012-07-23T09:29:50.560-07:00Catalyst<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When a church has “outreach momentum” the ministry
can grow
rapidly. When the whole church gets
involved in outreach - inviting, welcoming, including, reaching – there
is
positive reinforcement. Without momentum,
the few in your body with evangelistic fervor can get to feeling lonely
and discouraged. As the old saying goes, “a single log
makes a
lousy fire.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Who is responsible
for creating and sustaining outreach
momentum? The leader. The pace of the leader
is the pace of the
team. Saints used to say, “If we want a
fire in a the pew, we must have an inferno in the pulpit.” So
in addition to keeping your own fire going
for outreach, as a leader you must be a catalyst for others and the
organization, perhaps through one of these means:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Events</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">An
event is a one-time activity
that can bring a “spike” to energy and catalyze momentum. Events
are a way to hyper-activate “bringers
and includers.” Events can also place
your ministry in people’s awareness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Campaigns</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Campaigns
are sustained efforts for
outreach. Sometimes campaigns are
themed, such as 40 Days of Purpose. A
campaign amplifies momentum by having everyone’s attention focused for a
period
of time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Emphases
</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">An emphasis is a repeated
idea or
ideal, with the hope that it will prompt new behaviors. Hybel’s
“Just walk across the room” is an excellent emphasis, as would be,
“Let’s try to all meet our neighbors by the end of this
year.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Initiatives</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">An initiative is an outward-focused
objective that can stir people’s passions for outreach. An
initiative might be, “We don’t want to see
any child in our county go to bed hungry.”
Or, “We are going to pray every Wednesday at 6am for the lost
in
our
county.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Collaborations</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Collaboration is a partnership with
another outreach organization to create synergy. “We are
partnering with Young Life to see if
we can send the entire Senior Class to camp.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These
are just some of the means for stoking the fire. However a leader does
so, s/he must keep the mission stirred up in the minds and hearts of
God's people. </span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770281813330186239noreply@blogger.com0