We Have All We Need

Since moving back to Greensboro, my mantra has been "we have all we need when we need it". And now 10 months into this transition, I believe it even more so. If God has called us to a task, He either has given us what we need or will provide it when we need it.  


This applies to every facet of life not just in the "spiritual" context. When progress is made and the company is in need of additional help, God has the right person in mind. When the church recognize a move of God, a need in the community, or is challenged to empower believers to exercise their giftings, no doubt we have what we need and the opportunities to go with it.


When we first moved to North Carolina, I shared with students a desire to see the Friday night program led by a full band. Now this may not seem like a big deal, but truly it was all faith considering most of the students weren't even engaged in the praise. It was challenging trying to lead students in songs about God only to get blank stairs. But in a matter of a few months, a drum set was donated, a brother from another ministry volunteered to teach our students drums and bass, and now we have the beginnings of a student led band. Though still in the works, you cannot deny this has got to be more than a coincidence. In fact, I believe it's providence.  


 2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."


Yes, our hope in Jesus emboldens us to take great leaps and even higher levels of risk. That's the life of a Christ-follower or at least it should be. But the point I want to make here is we can say "we have faith" all we want, but it is only when we ACT on it that we experience the heart pumping, adrenaline rush that can only be described with "Wow!"


Here's to all the "Wows" seeing God confirm that he has given you all you need when you need it.

Crazy Love

Listening to Crazy Love by Francis Chan at the moment. I have grown to appreciate his leadership and insights this past year.  

I love the follow up and how he is harnessing the conversations stirred from it.  


Personally during these last two months, I'm learning more and more the importance of follow-up and follow through. Far too much have I been involved in planning and leading the team to the event/message/moment while neglecting the moments after.  


It's the follow up that solidifies the hard work. This is discipleship. This is mentoring others into leaders. This is empowering others.  


And this is where we need "finishers" in our lives. I certainly need them. How about you? How do you make sure that you make your efforts count? Do you think follow up is a big need in your area of work or ministry?

Home Base

Great video. The enthusiasm and excitement among boys ends up being a moment that one would rather forget and quickly. I wonder what words ensued.  


The great moments of our lives will always be accompanied by or preceded with ones we would rather "pass" on. But don't fret; rather, choose to make the best of it. Enjoy the moment.  But it's in these moments that your character is honed and tested. Don't abandon it. Don't dismiss it.  

James 1:4 (NIV)  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Perseverance is something EVERY leader should work on and through purposefully.  It's all too easy and quite common to complete a year or two in one ministry and then jump ship when the next "late and greatest" comes along.  In doing so, I believe may youth pastors and ministers missed out on the harvest that would have been theirs.   

My wife and I have always believed in building home base. You can hit a single or a double, but the goal is to tag home base. That's true in kickball as it is in baseball.  No point in loading up the bases if you never get to eventually tap your foot or plant both feet at home base.  In the same way, we don't want to just do an evangelism event then jump to the next thing on schedule or sponsor an event whether at church or at work and then move one. Our plan of action must be  based on a plan that is intentional and purposeful- get to home base. Do we follow up on new converts? How is the follow up to your hoo rah rah at last week's staff meeting? Do we seek to mentor a new trainee at work or a new ministry team member at church? Thats part of the route to home base.

In closing, what do your bases look like (plan of attack, business plan, vision/goals, etc). You gotta know what first, second, and third look like before you get there. And most importantly, what does home base look like? As one applicant asked me during his presentation, what is considered a "win"?  

Father, thank you for ultimately getting us around the bases to eventually tag home base. Direct us today to be good stewards of our time and resources. Teach us to persevere and see things though.  In Jesus' name.   

Stuck

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shatch/

How we quickly choose to follow rules over principles because they are convenient and easily measurable. The reason why Christians pose the question "how far is too far" is because there is a misunderstanding of the ultimate "prize" of singleness. Many singles struggle with purity because they think the ultimate goal of singleness is virginity. This cannot be further from God's intentions.

The old way to address this question was to give a good round about answer- if you have to ask you've gone too far. But it would be better if we taught our people, the ultimate "prize" of singleness is PURITY.  If two young people loved each other and kept purity in view, there would never be a question of ever "going" too far because the purity preempts this. When your goal is to never encroach on what is not yours until the appropriate time, you walk on firm footing.  

On the other hand, you hear of stories and statistics that students who committed to "True Love Waits" were almost as likely to have sex before marriage. Why? Because they made virginity the end goal instead of purity. And the question of virginity and all the technicals is just about rules. It is easily achievable for one to be a technical virgin but dishonor Christ.

1 Samuel 15:22But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Let's live by the principles found God's word instead of striving to accomplish a checklist of Christian "to do's". Find out what matters to God and live by it.

Makeshift

http://malate.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/a-breather-in-camarines-sur/

What is the cost of "makeshift solutions" that will eventually deteriorate? Yes, the job is done faster, progress can be made instantly, but if we do not build as an "expert builder" using the right materials with careful planning, so goes longevity and sustained usage and the growth of commerce from one side of the bridge to the  other.

When an organization begin to use "quick fixes" to get things accomplished without regard for longevity, it is a good sign to reconsider your commitment to its tenets. Is what I'm working for a temporary fix that will lead to a permanent solution or am I applying a temporary fix to a problem that will always look for quick fixes for this problem?

Regardless if this is ministry or running an organization, a leader knows where the temporary fix should be applied and when it is wiser to wait to properly plan a permanent solution.

On another note, I like pastors and leaders who use creativity and add a bit of humor in their communication.  Ed Young, Jr. is a gifted communicator but I think his true asset is his high leadership acumen.

Be Righteous

Psalm 31


3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?"

7 For the LORD is righteous,

he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

When the foundation of all that you stand for and believe in is being attacked, what can you do? Do you fight back with a heavier hand or do you wimper in the corner resenting anything or anyone who could have or at least should have kept you from this? I can't say thats a good approach can you?

The Psalmist practiced a few things here that I like:

1. He took note that the righteous' ways were being attacked (frame work of godly belief and integrity).

2. He brings it back to the big picture- God is righteous and his portion would be rewarded if he remain at his post as a righteous man.

3. He deferred to God and trusted in Him. He sought to please God.
Regardless of the change or challenge you face, resolve that in the end, like Job during his trials, you will choose to turn to God who is a righteous judge and resolve not to act like ungodly men.

God help me to live honorably before you. Be my help and my shield. Keep my eyes on you even as I see the foundations being attacked. I trust in you. Now deliver the help needed in this hour. I am grateful. Thank you, Lord.

Listen to the Stories- Tell Yours Later

Proverbs 15:22  Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

A common mistake of leaders when joining a new organization (company, church, social group) is to move forward with an agenda without considering the history of the organization and its members. Even though you may hear a few perspectives, never let a few snapshots paint the whole picture. Ask tough questions, listen to the stories, and research the history of the organization and its people. Savior mentalities are sure to cause hurt feelings, unnecessary work and thus, the progress of your organization.

If you've been given the opportunity to lead a new organization, take time to learn about its history, its leaders and the people that currently run it. You may be surprised. In most cases, organizations and churches don't stay open long unless it has a strong history at some point- maybe even innovative. Why would this be helpful to you? Simply put, some people come into an organization or join a church as the self-labeled (whether consciously or not) "savior", but eventually they take on a burden not meant for them. After a short time, burn out is staring at you down the road where resentment befriends weariness.

John 15:4-5
4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

What was meant as whole "Body" or complete Team participation becomes relegated to people looking to a “savior”. No one is meant to be a savior- no one. That role is strictly reserved for one and one alone- Jesus. There are no superstars in ministry just fellow servants. When you identify yourself as a servant you communicate you are part of the team. Even though you may be exceptional, you still need a team to move forward.

We are saved for community. No man is an island, not even the Savior.

Jesus, I need your help today. I trust in you. I lack nothing. Thank you for the skills and traits you've given me that makes me who I am. I offer my life as a living sacrifice that it would bring You glory, because in the end, it’s all about You. Amen.