So Full Of Ourselves

The story below comes from Jim Cymbala - pastor at Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York.

This hit me between the eyes.......maybe you too?


It was Easter Sunday, and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people. As I was sitting there, I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, "Could I talk to you?" We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, "What a way to end a Sunday. I've had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here's a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine."

He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I'd never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I'd talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn't inhale facing him. I asked him, "What's your name?" "David." "How long have you been on the street?" "Six years." "How old are you?" "Thirty-two." He looked fifty—hair matted, front teeth missing, wino, eyes slightly glazed. "Where did you sleep last night, David?" "Abandoned truck."

I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out, thinking, I'll give him some money. I won't even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don't give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, "I don't want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I'm not going to make it. I'm going to die on the street."

I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn't know what was happening. I pleaded with God, "God, forgive me! Forgive me! Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I'm so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody, and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!"

Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of his person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don't love this smell, I can't use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell.

Christ changed David's life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in six days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, "This is for you." It was a little white hankerchief. It was the only thing he could afford.

A year later, David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, "The man is a preacher." This past Easter, we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, "Here, take this; I'm a busy preacher." We can get so full of ourselves.

Turn The Pillow Over

The Cool Side of the Pillow
by Greg Atkinson

Okay, I’m going to be very transparent and honest about three of my favorite things to do. Besides using a Q_tip deeper than any Q_tip should ever go (which is probably my favorite silly thing to do), I also love getting my hair cut. I don’t know why, but it’s a very relaxing and fun part of my life that I look forward to. My third favorite thing to do happens at night when I’m lying in bed and just looking up at the ceiling and thinking. After a little amount of time, the pillow will become warm, uncomfortable and a little distracting. All I have to do to remedy the situation is flip my pillow over to the "cool side" and I experience terrific refreshment, a true AHHHHH moment. It’s crazy, really. All I do is turn the pillow over, but it brings me such joy and allows me to lie there a little longer: comfortable, happy and undistracted, to just think and pray.

Why do I bring this up? Because in our daily lives, I think we need to "flip the pillow" from time to time to shake things up, experience a new joy and see things in a different way. Here are a few thoughts on how to change things up in our everyday routines. Now, forgive me, these are random and I’m just going to spout them out...

Before you go to bed, put a bottle of water next to your bed. When you wake up, sit up on the side of your bed and take a big drink of your bottled water. I read an article on the many benefits of water a couple of years ago. One thing the article mentioned was the advantages (which I can’t remember all) of drinking water first thing in the morning. It refreshes, flushes, and replenishes your system and gets your body going bright and early. Another morning change would be to take a quick walk around your neighborhood before getting in the shower. So to rewind: sit up, drink water, put on your shoes and go out for an early morning walk (or jog, if you’re up for it). Then come back and shower before leaving for school or work.

Now, on the way to school or work, try taking an alternate or different route from time to time. If you drive the same way and see the same things each morning, your mind will resort back to a kind of blah mode and you can easily miss the beauty of God’s creation. Each day is a gift from God and an opportunity to pray, give thanks and talk with your Creator throughout your morning drive. Taking the back or side roads once in a while may just spur on a new appreciation of your surroundings and allow you to arrive at school or work in an unusually positive and peaceful mood. I’d also propose turning off the radio or i_Pod occasionally and just riding in silence – that’s when I find God speaks to me. It’s hard for me to hear Him when I’m listening to music or sports talk radio.

My next suggestion has to do with spending time with God. This includes private worship, prayer and time in God’s Word. I have a few thoughts on this. One is to try a different time of the day to do this daily discipline. If you always do this in the morning, try it one night before bed (or vice versa). Another suggestion is to connect with God during your lunch break, maybe even once in a while forego eating and spend that whole time in prayer and the Word.
Another thought on spending time with God is on the location. As often as you can, I’d encourage you to do this outside. There is something very special about connecting with the Creator while admiring His creation. Some of the best devotional times I’ve had were in scenic locations (like beaches, mountains and parks).

One final thought on this subject is a "praise break" sometime throughout your day. One thing that employees in other countries do well is take full advantage of breaks and times of rest and refreshment. If you stare at a screen from 9am to 5pm your life pretty much stinks. Did I say that out loud? I meant to say that though your day may be predominately sitting at a desk and typing on a computer, you can be intentional to stand up, stretch, take a walk down the hall or outside, take a break to pray, sing or just do nothing and listen. This will save your eyes, lessen headaches and allow you to "practice the presence of God" throughout the day as Brother Lawrence described in his book.

If you have the option, try going mobile for a day or an afternoon. I do this often. I will leave my office, tell my team I’m "going mobile" and go to a cool location with my laptop. Sometimes I find a local Wi_Fi hotspot so I can be online. Sometimes I just go "unplugged" and write or read for a while. Bring a journal with you. You never know when or where God may speak to you.
Besides when and where you have your quiet time with God, there are ways to change up how you spend that time. Here are a few thoughts on that. First, when reading Scripture, try a different translation. I highly recommend reading something from The Message at least once a week. God uses The Message to open my heart and eyes, so I can see His Word in a whole new way. Changing translations from time to time allows the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into passages that you may have read several times and tend to just glance over.

Here are a couple of thoughts on reading your Bible. First, read slowly. We’re all guilty of reading through Scripture too quickly. We let our eyes scan the pages and don’t give the Word time to soak and digest. For a change of pace, try reading one sentence at a time and reflect on that sentence before moving on. Secondly, read aloud. The Bible exhorts us to "shout unto God". There is something powerful and supernatural that happens when you read Scripture aloud. I will sometimes hold the Bible in my hand, walk around my bedroom and read the Scripture out loud with boldness. I can’t quite describe how it resonates with my spirit, but I know it’s powerful and the atmosphere in my room changes.

Third, I’d very humbly suggest that you read Scripture simply to know God more intimately. This might appear obvious, but believe me it takes a lot of intentionality to do this. Most pastors admit that they wrestle with reading the Bible purely to know God more and not in preparation for a sermon. Youth pastors struggle with reading Scripture purely and not just to find a new illustration to use in teaching. Worship leaders and songwriters often find themselves reading the Bible looking for inspiration for new songs. None of these things are bad. Pastors need to prepare their messages from Scripture. Youth pastors should look for Biblical illustrations and musicians should be writing theologically correct songs. I just bring this up as something to keep present in your mind when you’re reading Scripture as part of your daily quiet time or devotional. Try as best you can to read simply for the joy of knowing Christ more.

In addition to private worship, prayer and reading the Bible, I’d encourage you to check your church’s library or a Christian book store for devotional material or Bible studies that you can use to supplement your time in Scripture. God uses the writings and devotional thoughts of others to speak to our hearts in new ways and give you a fresh perspective on various topics and Scripture passages.

When you come home, you can change up how you have dinner. My family and I like to do picnics from time to time. Eating on our patio, walking to our neighborhood park or driving to a remote place are all things that we’ve tried to "flip the pillow" as a family. Sometimes you can cut off the TV for the night and play cards, board games or just talk. Again, these aren’t routines I’m suggesting; these are occasional breaks from the norm that just might be a catalyst for an unexpected moment of joy.

Friends, life is tough. Pain is real. We all have areas of our life, family or finances that we worry or stress over. The truth is: life is short and life is precious. One of the saddest things we can do is to lose our focus and live frustrated. God’s Word says that His joy will be our strength. Christ has not promised an easy or pain_free life, but He has promised to be our peace, our Comforter, our strength, our hope and to never forsake us. God’s not abandoning us in our time of need. He’s not distant. His ear can hear our cry and His hand is quick to catch us, brush us off and pick us up when we stumble and/or fall (and we will).

I think turning the pillow over from time to time; or as some used to say, "Stopping and smelling the roses" may be a refreshing change of pace. I think things like I’ve suggested and other ideas that God may prompt and put on your heart are ways to snap out of the norm, break free from the ruts and routines that we all find ourselves in, and wake up to the wonderful life that God has given us and called us to walk in Him.



Now, why would I put such an article here on the OAG Leadership blog? Here's why: We get into ruts. I know I do, and I'm guessing that you do too. Someone once said that a rut is a grave with both ends knocked out. Ouch! The problem with ruts is that they keep us from exploring new thoughts, new ideas, new vision.

You are leaders here, and great leaders at that! But in order to continue leading with greatness, we must remain fresh. One of the ways to remain fresh is to change up the "normal" and do some things differently from time to time. It keeps our minds fresh and our spirits in tune with God.

God is on the move here at OAG and we have much to be thankful for. But we can't stop where we are and bask in what God is doing when we know that He wants to do so much more. So I challenge you to "turn the pillow over". Take a fresh look at the things God is doing in your life and ministry. Step back and view what He's doing, but seek His face regarding what He wants to do.

The future is bright.......expecially when it's lit with God's direction and fresh vision.

I love you all!!!

PC

Thoughts from Catalyst

Team,

Most of you know I went to the Catalyst Leadership conference a couple of weeks ago.  I ordered the DVDs of the conference and will share portions of them with you when they arrive.  Until then, however, here are a few thoughts from some of the speakers/leaders who were there.

God bless!

PC

Andy Stanley’s talk to begin to conference was “vintage
Stanley!”  Some of the things that stood out…

• Moral authority is what we have when people people perceive that our creeds
  are our deeds–that we are living what we say we believe.
  
• Moral authority takes a long time to gain and can be lost in an instant.
  
• (To church leaders) Our message is forgiveness–we should be the first to
  forgive.

Brenda Salter McNeal

• If we are looking at God then there is no way we can stay the way we are. 
  (I LOVED that quote!)
  
• God came to shake things up, in Acts He shook things up, God always wants to
  shake things up!
  
• The disciples didn’t realize how much God was going to have to shake them
  up.

Steven Furtick

• LOVED his talk…PASSION was ALL over him!
  
• “There is a process between the promise & the payoff!”

Seth Godin

• People ask two questions when invited to something, “Who is going to be
  there & Who is going to lead us?”
  
• You have to be willing to do something other people will criticize–people
  are not looking for a safe leader.

Craig Groeschel

• Please do not insult the work of God by saying careless things about it.
  
• There is a big difference in building “His” church and building “my” church.
  
  
• Three prayers he is praying is, “God stretch me–God heal me–God ruin me!”
  
• We need to let God break our hearts with the things that break His heart

Interesting Statistics

The Barna Group has published some interesting research that
investigates the moral downfalls of adults (age 18+). Here is what they
discovered:

DURING THE PAST WEEK,

• 28% of adults cussed
  >> 64% of
  Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  >> 60% of Atheists
  >> 33% of
  Men
  >> 33% of Non-Christian Religions
  >> 24% of
  Women
  >> 19% of Baby Boomers (ages 44-62)
  >>
  16% of Evangelicals
  
  
• 20% of adults gambled (including purchased
  a lottery ticket)
  >> 25% of Catholics
  >> 23% of
  Men
  >> 18% of Protestants
  >> 15% of Women
  >> 2% of
  Evangelicals
  
• 19% of adults intentionally viewed
  pornography
  >> 50% of Atheists
  >> 33% of
  Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  >> 32% of Non-Christian
  Religions
  >> 30% of Liberals
  >> 16% of Baby Boomers (ages
  44-62)
  >> 12% of Evangelicals
  >> 8% of Conservatives
  
• 12% of adults gossiped
  >> 34% of
  Atheists
  >> 26% of Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  >>
  17% of Liberals
  >> 10% of Baby Boomers (ages 44-62)
  >> 9% of
  Conservatives
  >> 4% of Evangelicals
  
• 12% of adults got drunk
  >> 33% of
  Atheists
  >> 25% of Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  >>
  22% of Men
  >> 17% of Liberals
  >> 16% of Catholics
  >>
  9% of Baby Boomers (ages 44-62)
  >> 7% of Conservatives
  >> 7%
  of Protestants
  >> 3% of Women
  >> <0.5% of Evangelicals
  
• 11% of adults lied
  >> 37% of
  Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  >> 21% of Liberals
  >>
  18% of Non-Christian Religions
  >> 8% of Conservatives
  >> 6% of
  Baby Boomers (ages 44-62)
  >> 1% of Evangelicals
  
• 9% of adults had sex with someone to whom
  they were not married
  >> 38% of Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  
  >> 21% of Singles
  >> 20% of Liberals
  >> 13%
  of Men
  >> 6% of Women
  >> 4% of Baby Boomers (ages
  44-62)
  >> 4% of Conservatives
  >> 3% of
  Evangelicals
  >> 1% of Marrieds
  
• 8% of adults engaged in acts of
  retaliation
  >> 13% of Liberals
  >> 12% of
  Mosaics (ages 18-25)
  >> 11% of Atheists
  >>
  6% of Conservatives
  >> 5% of Baby Boomers (ages 44-62)

What I find most interesting is how much higher the percentages are for
Mosaics than Baby Boomers. Are Mosaics just that much worse than Baby Boomers?
Or were Baby Boomers just as bad but have learned self-discipline over the
years. My guess is both

What do you think?

Who's Your Bob?

I got this from Perry Noble.....I didn't write it......but WOW is it good!!

I have a friend who doesn’t know Jesus…I’ll call him “Bob” in this article,
although Bob is not his name.

I first met Bob several years ago at the gym…and over time he and I began
talking here and there for about five minutes at a time.

Let me be very clear…we have absolutely zero in common. He’s about 20-25
years older than me. He likes cats, he doesn’t sweat like me…you get the
picture.

About a year or so ago I invited him to church…and he came! (it’s amazing
what a personal invite will do!)

And then the next week–HE CAME BACK!

I think it would be safe to say that if Bob is in town–he doesn’t miss!
EVER!

He always tells me when we talk about how much he enjoyed the service. AND…if
he has questions he always asks.

One day I talked to him about his relationship with Jesus and he told me that
he isn’t ready to make that decision…but, “I think I’m getting closer,” he
always says.

There are weeks when we do not see each other…and then there are weeks when
we see one another several times. He always smiles…and always tells me either,
“I’ll see you this Sunday,” or, “I won’t be there this week…but I will make it
the next.”

Bob doesn’t know Christ!

I’m glad he comes to church…but my prayer is that he ultimately will give his
life to Christ.

I pray for this often!

We are supposed to go to lunch in the next month or so.

Bob doesn’t know Christ…but he needs to!

Here’s my question, “WHO IS THE ‘BOB’ IN YOUR LIFE?”

Who, in your life, needs Christ…but for some reason you have been unwilling
to invite them to church…or even begin a conversation with them about Jesus?

Why? What’s holding you back?

I once heard Brad
Cooper ask the question, “If you REALLY believe in the saving power
of Jesus Christ then why in the world would you show up at church every single
Sunday without a carload of people who need Him?”

Does Jesus save? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Does He change lives? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Has He called us to REACH OUT…or be obsessed with other things?

Jesus said in Luke
19:10 that He came to seek & save that which is “lost!”

If that was the heart of Jesus…and Jesus lives in our hearts…then that HAS TO
BE IN OUR HEARTS AS WELL!!

We CANNOT claim to be followers of Jesus and NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT HE CARES
ABOUT!!!

Who’s your Bob?

Who in your life, if they died today, would bust hell wide open?

What are you willing to do in order to be used by God to make a difference in
their lives?

Here’s something you might want to consider…INITIATE a conversation, INVITE
them to church. There has to come a day when we STOP USING, “Well, I’m prayin’
for them” as an EXCUSE!!!

Go for it!!!

Who’s your Bob?

Are you willing to get uncomfortable in order to reach out to them?

That’s EXACTLY what Jesus did in order to reach out to us!!!

Go for it! Today! Right now!!!

Let’s do what it takes to reach out to people far from God!!! They don’t need
to change their life–they need Jesus–and HE WILL change their life!!!

By the way…the next four weeks here at NewSpring Church are going to be AWESOME opportunities for
your friends and family members to hear the GOSPEL!

Once again–GO FOR IT!!!

Bob doesn’t know Christ!

Who’s your Bob?

What are you willing to do?

Change

We hear a lot about change. So what’s involved in changing something up?

C = Calculation

If a change is going to be made I believe some time must be spent
investigating the possible outcomes that will be associated with it. Some of the
biggest mistakes I’ve made as a leader have been changing something without
thinking it through.

H = Hesitation

When it comes to changing something that we’ve established…we always
hesitate. Don’t get me wrong, I think pausing before making the change is
healthy…however, when hesitation turns into an excuse to delay the
obvious…problems WILL occur.

A = Anticipate Resistance

The very first reaction to change will always be some sort of resistance. As
I leader I am coming more and more to understand that the first question a
person runs through their mind when change is introduced is, “How is thing going
to impact me?” And…if they detect that it may impact them in any negative sort
of way…their natural tendency is to resist.

N = Necessary

Change is SO necessary! That statement was EASY to accept when we first began
because we were changing the ways that other people did things; however, in the
past couple of years or so it has become a sobering reality that the changes
that are necessary are things we once thought of as edgy and innovative…which
ISN’T easy…but, like I said…is necessary.

G = God Factor

What changes are God telling you to make? This could be personal…or even
church wide. I know that He’s been speaking into me very directly lately and
telling me some personal changes that I need to make in regards to the ways I
lead myself and His church. God isn’t a dull God…and so following Him should
never be either. He isn’t telling me the “why’s” right now…just the “what’s”…and
getting comfortable with that has been an adjustment…but a good one!

E = Expectation

Whenever God leads us to change–we can expect fruit to come out of it. (See
John
15:4-5) I have found myself getting way to nervous in the past when God
leads me to change something when, in reality, I have NEVER screwed anything up
by simply being completely obedient to Him–even when that includes MAJOR change.

Reaching the Next Generation

Five best
practices of reaching the next generation

Churches everywhere including mainline denominations are waking up to the
need to reach the next generation. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, campus
ministry leader, small group leader, or volunteer, here are five best practices
when it comes to reaching the next generation:

1. Look for opportunities to engage in culture. Whether it’s
   music, movies, or modern technology, there are countless ways to help young
   adults bridge the chasm between the ancient world and today. Look for
   opportunities to dialogue or teach from the latest headlines, technological
   developments, and best-selling artists and authors. Consider hosting events with
   local artists who can speak on issues of art and faith. Invite a professional
   movie critic to talk about films. Remember that engaging in culture isn’t about
   being in on the latest or greatest as much as it is about engaging in the
   culture that’s all around you. And don’t forget that you can become so relevant
   that you become irrelevant. Never lose the core message of Christ in your desire
   to be hip or trendy.
   
   
   
2. Allow room for the tough questions. The next generation has
   tons of questions – many of them lacking instant or even easy answers. And
   that’s a good thing! One of the beauties of the next generation is their hunger
   to wrestle with the difficulties, complexities, and even the mysteries of the
   gospel. They don’t want an easy-to-follow program as much as they desire real
   relationship. They don’t want all the answers as much as they want to embrace
   the struggle and wonder of the journey. So don’t be afraid to tap into their
   natural desire to know God, and challenge them to pursue him on their own
   through personal times of study and worship.
   
   
   
3. Be yourself. Yes, be your real, flawed self. Though the
   very nature of pastoring, teaching, and leading will try to transform you into a
   spiritual superhero, make every effort to resist the pressure. Instead, be
   honest about your struggles, weaknesses, and failures. The most compelling
   stories you will ever share with those you minister to are ones where you admit
   your struggles, mistakes, and the tough lessons you’ve learned – in your faith,
   your family, and your personal life. Your transparency is a connecting point for
   this generation. Don’t miss out on the valuable opportunity to be
   authentic.
   
   
   
4. Don’t try to compete with the world. Though it’s important
   to engage in culture, allow for tough questions, and be vulnerable, never try to
   compete with the latest brands, trends, and fashions in order to get your
   message across. In addition to coming across as inauthentic, you’ll distract
   those who are trying to follow Christ from what’s truly important. Though the
   world may offer shinier, skinnier, and trendier offerings, the message you’re
   delivering is powerful, eternal, and truly transformative. Instead of responding
   to every whim of pop culture, create your own culture and remain true to the DNA
   of how God has built you and your community.
   
   
   
5. Pray, pray, and pray some more. Prayer is the foundation
   you’ll need for life and ministry – particularly when reaching the next
   generation. Carve out time between the countless needs and demands to connect
   with God. Ask for his wisdom and his strategies. Ask God to bring the people
   alongside you that you need to reach the next generation. Ask God for leaders
   that you can pour into and raise up to minister to others. And watch what God
   does!

The enemy still lives

A PBS Special covering the events that led up to the "Battle of the Bulge" in
WWII revealed some interesting insights. It was the autumn of 1944,
and Germany had been beaten back behind its borders. The Nazi war-machine
was in tatters, and repeated bombing raids by the Allies all but assured
that Hitler's forces would never rise again. Around the perimeter of
Germany's borders, the Allies spread a thin line of forces that one person
observed was so scattered that a man could slip between its lines without
being observed. All across Europe, there was celebration: parties,
dances, speeches, all rejoicing in Germany's defeat. The war was effectively
over.

The only problem was that somebody forgot to tell Germany. Even as
his forces were being shattered and driven back, Hitler was devising a
plan for one last onslaught. Underground factories churned out more
weapons,
armament and ammunition; more of Germany's young and old men
were conscripted and trained for war, and as Europe rejoiced, Hitler
planned. His goal was not to drive back the Allies as much as it was to
divide the British to the North and Americans to the South, and so demoralize
them that they would sue for peace on his terms. Hundreds of men died
because somebody forgot that the enemy still lived, and that the war was not
over.

Team, I don't believe we've forgotten that the enemy still lives, but we must never allow ourselves to drop our guards in that respect either. The devil is alive and well and he's still taking people to hell. It's our job to do all we can to prevent that from happening.

THANK YOU for being part of the team!!!!

A Key Element - Listening

Got this from Seth Godin's blog......and he has a GREAT point!

I had published a book about a political issue. An
activist's handbook. I had 20,000 copies in my garage when I found out about a
large march in Washington. I bought an outdoor booth and trucked the books down
to DC. I stood on the Mall in my little booth and watched more than 250,000
people walk by in less than two hours. Every single one an activist. Every
single one a demographically perfect match for my handbook. After 100,000 people
had walked by and we'd sold only one book, I lowered the price from around $10
to $1 just to prove my point--that it wasn't the book and it wasn't the price,
it was the ability of the audience to listen that mattered. This group, in this
moment, was there to march, not to shop.

The misconception we often have is that people don't care or people are rejecting Christ. This may not be the case. It may simple be that we are overlooking
the single most important issue: is the person you're talking to ready to
listen?

That's a huge question. If they're ready to listen, great. If they're not ready, how can we help get them ready? We never change the message, but we must constantly be changing the delivery........if we want them to listen, that is!

Simplifying.....and Prioritizing Life

In Richard Foster's book of discipline he divides discipline into
three parts:


Inward, Outward, and Corporate discipline. He places
simplicity under the category of the Outward Disciplines. Here are his nine
ways to order our world so that we can create simplicity in our
life.

First, buy things for their usefulness rather than their
status

Second, reject anything that is producing an addiction in
you.

Third, develop a habit of giving things away.

Fourth, refuse to be
propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry.

Fifth, learn to enjoy
things without owning them.

Sixth, develop a deeper appreciation for the
creation.

Seventh, look at a healthy skepticism at all "buy now, pay later"
schemes.

Eighth, obey Jesus' instructions about plain, honest
speech.

Ninth, reject anything that will breed the oppression of
others.

Tenth, shun whatever would distract you from you main goal: "Seek
first the
kingdom of God."

[Wow, do I have some growing to do!]

What If....

From Perry Noble:

I had some “what if” thoughts the other day that I wanted to share…

• WHAT IF the church really believed that Jesus was as powerful as Scripture
  says that He is?
  
• WHAT IF we were not afraid to BEG GOD for ridiculous things, knowing that He
  is able?
  
• WHAT IF we REALLY believed that Acts
  2:41-47 was actually the starting point of all that God wants to do through
  the church and NOT the watermark?
  
• WHAT IF we really believed that a life dedicated to Christ means that we are
  completely His…not just on Sunday?
  
• WHAT IF every church became a cheerleader of other churches and not critics?
  
  
• WHAT IF we really believed the church existed to CHANGE the world and not
  just to “meet my needs!”
  
• WHAT IF we really believe that teenagers and children are worth the
  investment and poured resources into them instead of making them sell doughnuts
  in front of department stores?
  
• WHAT IF we really believed God’s Kingdom should grow through the church
  instead of being stagnant?
  
• WHAT IF we were willing to lay aside our personal preferences for the sake
  of reaching those who are far from God?
  
• WHAT IF we refused to participate in slandering and tearing down another
  person?
  
• WHAT IF we sought to embrace God’s plan for our lives (and churches) instead
  of trying to get Him to bless ours?

Random Thoughts

Leadership Thoughts from Romans 9-16

If faith comes from hearing the message, someone needs to step up and preach the message so those outside the faith hear it. (10:14)

I have a responsibility to inspire others to fulfill God's purpose in their lives. (11:13-14)

I'm glad God values wisdom and knowledge, but I'll never know what he knows. (11:33-34)

Am I a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? That's real worship. (12:1)

God gifts us differently. Which is another way of saying it's silly for all of us to think we'll have the same gift. (12:6-8)

"Honor one another above yourselves." (12:10)

God establishes leadership authority including the government. And, one specific way that we're supposed to submit to God's authority is by paying taxes. (13:1-7)

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Imagine how the world would view the Church is we embraced that statement. (14:19)

God wants unity within his Church. (15:5-7)

Faith produces hope. (15:13)

I love it that our faith embraces the leadership role of women. (16:1-5)


Thoughts from Perry Noble:

"When the Gospel takes root in someone's life, everything changes."

"A 95% commitment to Christ is 5% too short."

"God doesn't want anything from you. He wants everything."

"God will forgive us for our past sins, but he will always deal with our current sins."

"We will never understand what he expects until we discover who he is."

"Until we understand what he expects, we'll never give him our very best."

Referring to Malachi 1:10: "This is where the fertilizer hits the fan...if you know what I mean."

"If your offering means nothing to you, why do we expect it would mean anything to God."

“Are you doing what you’re doing because you’re called to do it?”

“We don’t volunteer for this stuff. We’re called. If we’re volunteering, we’re stupid.”

We need to understand our priorities.
Our calling: (1) Be with Jesus. (2) We are supposed to preach. (3) We are supposed to have authority.

“God is not green, Kermit is. God doesn’t want us to save the planet while people are going to Hell.”

“It will be a cold day in Hell when I preach a message on recycling at the neglect of the Gospel message.”

“I’m crazy enough to think God has at least one more big move in him.”

“Stop walking in fear. Start walking in the authority that God has given us.”

“Do you really want to be a prostitute the rest of the life, or do you want to do what God has called you to do?”

“Sometimes God will call you to do some things that don’t make sense.”

God to Perry: “Boy, you do what I tell you to do and let me take care of the results.”

“You and I are going to experience temptation and spiritual warfare on a level that others in our congregation will never understand.”


From Mark Batterson (Author of In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day)

“I covet the favor of God.”

“God, you are so far behind what my human imagination can conceive of.”

We underestimate God…by a lot. Our dreams are too small.

“We confess are sin all the time, but when was the last time you confessed the smallness of your dreams.”

We need to start dreaming and stop imitating.

“It always starts with a dream that God conceives in our heart.”

“We all need dreams that are way beyond our ability to accomplish.”

“I’d rather have one God idea than a thousand good ideas.”

“We can do all things through Him who strengthens us.”

Bring 'em Back!

Why don’t guests come back to our church?

Good question! I am glad you asked.

I have been in the business of church for 30 years and this subject has no simple answers. However, there are some principles of which I would like to make note that might be helpful in your consideration of this issue for your church.

Are you doing things well? Of course all of us say “Yes, we are a church of excellence.” That question, by the way, is tantamount to someone asking a person if they keep their kitchen clean. Almost everyone says “Yes” to that one as well. But the reality is that “clean” for one person is “not clean” for another. The same is true in churches.

I have been to plenty of churches where there is no other way to describe it other than just plain sloppy. It has a “home” feel for the home folks but for the guests it is a mess. So let’s start here.

• The restrooms should be spic and span. I mean really clean. You should be able to eat breakfast in there. Well, that might be an extreme. SPOTLESS! CLEAN! No exceptions!

• Be better than Wal-Mart and Disney! The hospitality must be superb. You say, “But we live in the North or Northeast, and our people are not as warm as those folks from the South.” That is a lousy excuse. Get friendly and do it from the minute the guest enters your parking lot. Why not? Examine your hospitality and be willing to ratchet up your efforts with change. This is where everyone has the capacity to be better than everyone else…better than Wal-Mart, better than Disney, better than anyone!! Be the best in hospitality.

• Visitation. One of the things you must do is visit those who visit you. You might say, “We don’t do that in our area of the country because it is culturally unacceptable to do so.” Nice excuse but you asked the question above or at least clicked on this article for some advice. On Monday, immediately following Sunday services, mobilize your troops, including the senior pastor, and get out and say thanks for coming to your church. That is the least you can do. Take your guests a small gift from the church while you are at it. You are not forcing your way into people’s home. You are simply knocking on the door, giving a gift and saying thanks. If they invite you in that is fine. Who knows, in that case you might even be privileged to lead them across the line of faith to Jesus.

• Develop a turn-key guest system. You must have a complete process to take people from their thought of attending your church all the way through to them coming onto the parking lot and entering your building. Then everything from deciding to come once, twice, three times, etc. to making a profession of faith, moving into discipleship and community, experiencing the joy of giving and moving into full membership must be on your radar screen.

In addition to these core areas of church appearance and hospitality, be sure the three fundamental “sales” components of the church are in place; preaching, ministry in music, and ministry to children.

• Not Billy Graham. The preaching needs to be good. People want to hear Bible messages that are relevant to their lives. It does not have to be Billy Graham but it has to be well-prepared, well-thought out, and well-delivered. It might even be nice if it was anointed of God.

• Hillsong? The ministry in music has to be good. It does not have to be Hillsong but it has to be good. Whether you like it or not, you are competing with some great music on the market today. So be good, well-prepared, and fully directed by the Spirit. If your church is still stuck in worship wars you need to determine a way to whip that one. The new guest to your church who does not know God does not care which style of music is up for this week. It just has to be good music.

• The ministry to children has to be good. The age group of adults with young children is one of the most fluid in ministry today. If you can minister in a meaningful way to a child age two or age ten, you will capture the hearts of parents. Once a family buys into your children’s ministry you create an automatic feeder for your youth ministry in the years to come.

To answer your question as you think it before you ask it, “No, you don’t have to wait until you have full-time staff to do these things.” The issue is good preaching, good music, and good ministry to children. You can handle the good preaching and good qualified lay persons can do the other with your leadership.

So these are just a few starter-kit thoughts. Use these to zero in on the fundamentals.

• Make the place as neat as a pin.
• Do hospitality better than anyone else.
• Preach good, relevant Biblical messages.
• Present good, current Christian worship music.
• Have a children’s ministry second-to-none.

If you do these things, guests will come once and come again. Do them and you will be glad you did!

Have You Heard From God?

If you feel confident that you can accomplish what is in front of you with no problem at all…then you didn’t hear from God.

If no one is angry at you…then you didn’t hear from God.

If you don’t have to ask anyone to sacrifice to make the vision come true…then you didn’t hear from God.

If religious people are not steaming at you, blogging about you and/or leaving your church…then you didn’t hear from God.

If you have the money in the bank to do what God has asked you church to do…then you didn’t hear from God.

If every step is perfectly designed and nothing happens to totally throw you off along the way…then you didn’t hear from God.

If someone doesn’t try to talk you out of what you are about to attempt…then you didn’t hear from God.

If you don’t stay up at night thinking about the vision…then you didn’t hear from God.

If your vision is in contradiction to God’s Word…then you didn’t hear from God. (And no, you didn’t get a “special revelation” that gave you permission to trump His Word!)

If you know all of the answers…then you didn’t hear from God.

Growing by Subtraction

Here are some things you need to understand. Change happens. People leave churches and people stop being involved in ministries. There are many reactions when this happens, but here are some thoughts on how to handle it:

1. Don't talk people into staying when they want to leave. You rarely talk an unhappy person into being happy.

2. Love people, Love people, Love people, Love people!

3. Don't take it personal even though it hurts. No matter who you are or what your leadership position, people will leave from time to time. Don't take it personal (this can be hard).

4. Always take the high road. Even if people talk bad about you or say things that aren't true, take the high road and let God fight your battles for you. (Again, not always easy.)

5. Understand that there are times when people need to leave so that the church can go forward. A church really can grow by subtraction. We've seen it happen here at OAG on more than one occasion.

The Next Level

What is it that takes a ministry to the next level? Is wishing enough? Of course not. Taking a ministry - any ministry - to the next level requires some serious investment of time and work. Here are some things that are absolute musts:

1. Quality time with God. SERIOUSLY, crank up your prayer life and Bible reading and watch what God does in your life and ministry. It's easy to allow the ministry to replace quality time with God. The best decisions I make in ministry are birthed out of quality time with God.

2. Fasting. If you need a breakthrough in your life or ministry, go on an extended fast. Fasting does wonders.

3. Give like crazy. Some ministers and leaders are stingy. I know you're not one of them :). Give offerings over and above your tithe, give your time away and invest in ministry. Give away your great ideas! God always gives me back more than I give away! If you need a breakthrough, you NEED TO START GIVING!

4. Be open-minded. Some leaders are full of condemnation towards other leaders, ministers, churches and ministries because they are closed-minded. There is nothing worse than being judgmental and critical of everything that is different from you and what you are used too. There is a whole new world of opportunity awaiting you if you would be open to it.

5. Work harder: Some leaders are flat out lazy. They use spiritual mumbo jumbo to justify their laziness. If you want to go to the next level, it will require hard work.

6. Work smarter not harder: Some leaders work harder but not smarter. They don't struggle with laziness, but they are killing themselves by working harder and stopping the ministry from going to the next level. Learn to delegate (a big finger pointed right at me on this one!), build a team, less is more, focus on only what you can do, quit micro managing and don't confuse long hours with accomplishment. Work smarter not harder!

7. Take a risk: THIS IS HUGE! If you want to go to the next level, it will require risk. You have to quit playing it safe. After all, the Bible says we should live by faith. When is the last time you took a MAJOR faith leap to get your ministry to the next level?

People Skills

One of the things that hinder people and ministries from moving forward is a lack of people skills. If you want to have a healthy organization and a thriving life, you need to have good people skills. Here are a few things I've learned regarding the area of people skills.

1. People generally follow people they like.

2. People generally follow people who have a positive attitude.

3. People generally follow people who see the best in others.

4. People generally follow people they can get along with.



How to make people like you

1. Listen to them

2. Be generous with them

3. Genuinely care about them and their family

4. Help them accomplish their dreams

5. Admit when you are wrong or make a mistake



How To Make People Not Like You

1. Be a know it all

2. Only see things from your point-of-view

3. Gossip about people

4. Tear down others

5. Talk about yourself all the time

6. Always point out the negative

7. Always tell people what they can't do

The Vision

If I had to condense my heart for OAG right now it would be this: I'm hungry to see God do something bigger and better in my life and in the life of OAG.

I just read a portion of the commencement address Steve Jobs gave at Stanford a few years ago. It was titled: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. His words resonated with my spirit. He closed his address this way:

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewritters, scissors, and Polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along. It was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then, when it had run its course, they put out a final issue.

It was the mid-1970's, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early-morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

A New Pump Handle

150 years ago, 500 people died of cholera in just ten days in one London neighborhood, marking the beginning of another horrible epidemic. Victorian physician Dr. John Snow of London had already written a controversial pamphlet suggesting that cholera was not caused by "vapors,"but was instead a disease of the "gut," spread by contaminated water.

With the high number of deaths in this neighborhood, he studied the cases and was convinced that a pump at the intersection of Broad and Cambridge Streets was the sole source of contaminated water. In an emotional publicmeeting, he suggested removing the pump handle so no more water could be drawn from that location.

The rest is history. The handle was removed, cholera abated, and huge engineering projects were launched for sanitation systems and clean water across Europe. Dr. Snow's pump handle affected all of us. It led to improvements in the areas of sanitation and purification, and dramatically improved human life, lowering infant mortality rates and increasing lifespans.

Last week (26 February 2008) Starbucks got a new pump handle.

Were you one of thousands of unsuspecting people who were suddenly faced with an unexpected crisis? Heading into their neighborhood Starbucks to get a caffeine boost, customers were met with a terrifying reality: locked doors. Starbucks had shut down.

Okay, it was only for three hours (5:30-8:30). But for some of us the mere thought that all 7100 Starbucks in North America were closed was enough to jumpstart trembling hands and throbbing heads. Not even the knowledge thatDunkin Donuts was offering 99 cent "joe" to keep up community caffeine levels was enough to calm the no-Starbucks jitters.

Why did Starbucks take a three hour coffee break? To clean up their pump handle. The pump handle that had first turned on the Starbucks phenomenon had been so changed and corrupted that the company needed a new one.

Or in the words of CEO Howard Schultz, Starbucks shut down to open up andown up to its "first
love." Starbucks shut down to rediscover and rededicate the company to the "love, passion, and commitment" of the coffee experience. Starbucks had lost its original pump handle, and the one they were using needed to be replaced.

This quote is taken from the official Starbucks "Transformation Agenda Communication #8:"
Tomorrow evening, we will come together in an unprecedented event in ourcompany's storied history. We will close all our U.S. company-operated stores to teach, educate, and share our love of coffee, and the art of espresso. An in doing so, we will begin to elevate the Starbucks Experience for our customers. We are passionate about our coffee. And we will revisit our standards of quality that are the foundation for the trust that our customers have in our coffee and in all of us.

Howard Schultz insisted that this re-plumbing was designed to reconnect the company to the "soul of the past." "This is not about training," heinsisted to his employees, looking somewhat somber. "This is about the love and compassion and commitment that we all need to have for the customer." ("Starbucks Takes a 3-Hour Coffee Break," The New York Times, 27 February 2008)

It is a concept that sounds like a contradiction. Shut down your business in order to open up your business. But the same logic has been used by physicians for years. Doctors sometimes induce comas in patients with life threatening injuries, allowing them to regulate body temperature, reduceswelling, and stabilize fluid levels. Without experiencing the pain and anxiety that put additional stress on their injured body, these patientsare able to heal more quickly. They "shut down" in order to help the body come alive to health.

Maybe we in the church, the "body of Christ," should take our own "coffee break." Maybe we should consider a 3-day, or 3-week, or 3-month shut-down to reboot our churches in Christianity's original operating system. Maybe we need to find our original pump handle.
Our pump handle has been corroded partly because of our busy-ness. Look how busy we are. Our church bulletins tell the story of our busyness . . .. our weekly schedules, our outreach programs, our missions, our schools, our choirs, our committees. We feel good about our busyness. But has our"busyness" overwhelmed our true identity? Have we forgotten why the church exists at all?

Starbucks closed down to find the "soul of its past." Maybe the church needs to "close" itself off from all its programs and pageants and plans in order to rediscover why we are what we are.
And who are we? And why are we here? What was our original pump handle?

7 Things to Avoid

A lot of ministries begin with a bang, then explode with new growth. But after the initial growth, they plateau. It happens with women’s ministries, men’s ministries, small-group ministries, children’s, singles’, on and on – that they have an initial growth spurt, then stop.

God doesn’t want our ministries to stagnate. Not only does he want them to succeed, but he also wants us to succeed as ministry leaders. To help us achieve this goal, God has given us examples of errors to avoid – seven common traps of leadership – that Satan is most likely to use to keep your ministry from becoming all that God wants it to be.


1. You stop growing.

Whenever you find yourself resisting a new way of doing something, defending the status quo, or opposing a change that God has told you to make, watch out – you’re about to lose your place of leadership.

What’s the key to overcoming this leadership trap? You’ve got to continue to grow. Continue developing your skills, your character, your perspective, your vision, your heart for God, and your dependence upon him. Never stop learning. Read books and magazines, read and re-read the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, listen to tapes, and attend seminars.


2. You stop caring.

The leader who stops having a passion for ministry won’t last long. This is one of the subtlest traps in ministry – you go through the motions of serving the Lord because you know it’s the right thing to do, but your heart is not in it. That’s no way to serve God.

If you’ve found yourself in this trap, there’s hope. Just as when you want to restore love in a marriage, you do the things you did in the beginning. In other words, start acting the way you used to act when you were first in love. Even if you don’t feel passionate, act passionate. It’s easier to act your way into a feeling than it is to feel your way into an action. If you act loving, those feelings will come back. So, do the things that originally brought you joy in ministry.


3. You stop listening.

Learn to listen and be sensitive to others. Encourage the people you serve in ministry to talk to you. Let them tell you about their problems, their troubles, their fears, their aspirations, their dreams, and their hurts. Be open to suggestions and constructive criticism and look for other perspectives.


4. You get distracted.

Many things can distract you from ministry. Personal or health problems can distract you. Competing interests can distract you. Finances can distract you. Things that you think are fun and good and wonderful can distract you. Satan doesn’t care if you aren’t sinning while distracted, because as long as you’re distracted, you aren’t doing what God wants you to do.
But God wants us to stay focused. Never forget your mission. The Bible says, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 KJV) Stay focused. Don’t get distracted.


5. You get complacent.

Complacency is the enemy of a good leader. If God says go for it, stick your neck out! Never stop depending on the Lord. Stop coasting. Take some risks in faith. Push the envelope. Attempt something that cannot be explained in the power of the flesh. Say to yourself, “What am I going to try in my ministry this next year that I know is bound to fail unless God shows up?” Unless God is your only safety net, you’re not truly living by faith. Depend on the Lord.


6. You become arrogant.

When a leader becomes arrogant, it leads to ruin. When you think that everything depends on you, when you don’t think you need the Lord’s help in your ministry because you’ve got it all together, watch out.


7. You fail to delegate.

When a ministry plateaus, God is telling you that you’ve reached the limit of what he’s empowered you to do by yourself. You need to move from doing to delegating.

Involve other people in your ministry. Move from being a minister to a manager of ministers. Managing is a ministry in itself. D. L. Moody said it like this, “I’d rather put 10 men to work than do the work of 10 men.”

If you avoid these seven traps, you’ll go a long way towards building a ministry that lasts.

The Little Things Make a Difference

The title says it all.......so here are a few questions for all of us:

1. Do you do what you say you will do?

2. Do people trust you?

3. Do you follow through on your commitments?

4. Do you justify your behavior?

5. Do you blame others and circumstances for your lack of integrity?

6. Do you have hidden sin in your life?

7. Do you deceive people?

8. Do you lie to people?

9. Are you dependable?

There are no shortcuts when it comes to having and maintaining integrity. Either you are building your life on the firm rock of integrity or you are building your life on a very slippery slope. The little things make the difference!

7 Joy Killers in Ministry

One of the most powerful things a Christian (or any human being for that matter) has is JOY…

Scripture says in Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Yet there are many things that seem to rob us of the joy we have in the Lord - especially for those involved in ministry. Here are seven joy killers.......

#1 - Comparison - If you compare yourself to other ministries or other churches then you will always be in some sort of depressed mode–there is always someone else out there who is seemingly growing faster or being more creative. Compare yourself ONLY to the vision God gave you.

#2 - Critics - If you hyper focus on them they can seem larger than the world…my advice, don’t swim with the sharks, don’t eat yellow snow and don’t listen to people who don’t love you and desire nothing more than to tear you down!

#3 - Being Busy - There are so many people in ministry leadership who feel like all they do is spin plates…and that one day things “will just get better.” To make matters worse–we now have devices that we carry that make sure our schedule is always in front of us AND that we are always accessible.

#4 - Pride - Daniel 4:37 is so true! Trust me, I know! Anytime I’ve ever thought, “Dang I’m good,” God always brings me down a level…OR FOUR!

#5 - Loss of Perspective - Whenever I think that I am more concerned about the church and ministry than Jesus it always causes stress and anxiety, which negates joy! Remember–it is HIS church and HIS ministry!

#6 - Lack of Faith - Whenever I desire comfort more than obedience I always know that something is not right! Hebrews 11:6 is SO true!

#7 - No Growth - Whenever I stop reading, listening to other teachers and don’t network with other leaders I both feel alone AND I rob OAG of the collective wisdom of other people who are much wiser than me. When I feel the pressure of having to come up with every new idea–it ALWAYS robs me of joy!

So.....the answer?

1 - Keep focused on God and the vision He has given you for OAG and your minstry.

2 - Keep your nose in the Bible and your heart toward heaven.

3 - Grow, grow and grow. Challenge yourself and refuse to become stagnant and sit still.