Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category
Kick Jezebel to the curb
Rick Warren recently tweeted (yes, I said tweeted) the following “NEVER follow a pastor who belittles others success, doubts others motives, or criticizes others efforts. Rom.14:4“. This really blessed me because out of the three churches I have ever attended in my life … two of them did just that. They belittled others success, doubted others motives and criticized others efforts. If it wasn’t tied to the “their” church then it wasn’t of value or it wasn’t God.
This is nothing more than the spirit of Jezebel showing its face in our churches. Those that allow the spirit of Jezebel to have access their life often discredit (or belittle) those around them. Falls right in line with what I believe is the root of all sin “Pride”. They think that they are better than everyone else although they will never say that directly.
The spirit of Jezebel isn’t just a spirit looking to belittle things it is also a very perverse spirit – sexually. I won’t go down that road today but I have been studying about Jezebel lately and it’s sad to see that it is still in the church today.
I think it’s interesting that there are two Jezebels in the Word of God. One in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. Both had the very same characteristics. I just think that’s interesting … anyways … I know I personally am always evaluating my life and I have seen even some things that I have done that I personally shouldn’t have done both in action and in word that could be tied to the spirit of Jezebel. It’s time the church does some evaluating. It’s time the church starts acting like the church and stops acting like a religious organization. Let’s kick Jezebel to the curb
Ok … I will stop now … just had to get that off my chest! 
UPDATE: This post was not aimed at anyone or any church. It was not meant as an attack at any church. It’s about a spirit that is attacking our churches. A spirit that has to be knocked out.
Balance (Ministry vs Other)
Have been working on finding a good balance between ministry and life outside of ministry. It’s been interesting … and difficult to be honest but I believe all that is about to change.
This past week I had the awesome opportunity to sit down with Pastor Kevin and share some of the things I am dealing with in my personal life. It was awesome to just be able to sit and share this stuff with someone. Anyways, as always he gave me great ideas and shared his wisdom in this area.
This week (actually later today) I will be sitting down and planning my week out. Seriously! I have to learn how to manage my time a little better. I need to be able to set time aside for ministry and then (even though it’s tough) time outside of ministry.
It’s important to have time outside of ministry. For me, I have to wonder if this is why I have not found my wife. Have I been to busy with ministry to even notice her? Is she right in front of me? Or is she coming and so I am being prepared. I know my family is going to require time from me outside of ministry. So this is an excited thing for me to learn and address.
What do you do to keep balanced? What are you thoughts on balancing ministry with your family (personal) life? Any Thoughts?
Set The Tone
A couple weeks ago God began to speak to me on watching what I say and how I say it. I am not talking about speaking mean things or talking about people as we all know that that is inappropriate but what I am talking about is the tone of our life.
I never realized the tone that I kept. I am not saying that my tone was always negative but I think sometimes the negative tone was heard more than the positive tone (at least in my head).
Twitter is a great tool to use while trying to find out your tone. If you have a Twitter account and use it often, go to your twitter profile page and just read the last week or so of tweets. What’s your tone? Do you have a positive tone or a negative tone?
1 Timothy 4:12
says “Let no man look down on your youthfulness but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself – an example of those who believe”.
We have to be an example? We are leaders. People are watching us and are seeing how we deal with issues. I am not saying be fake. That’s not what I am saying at all … what I am saying to do is to look for the positive side in everything. Serious … last week … I had an early morning meeting with a few local pastors and then I had to get to work. On my way to my meeting the car broke down … but PRAISE GOD, another vehicle was waiting for me to use. Seriously there is a positive thing for every negative thing so why do we focus on the negative?
Let me say it again … WE HAVE TO BE THE EXAMPLE. The word example means to be “Imitated”. The Greek word means “to mimic, “ to behave in such a way that another can copy it exactly. Do you like being around negative people all the time? Then be the example of a positive person. Be the one that people chose to imitate! That’s what Paul told his disciples (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1)
Anyways … just something I am working on in my own personal life. I want to be an example. I want to be an example of good Godly leadership. I want to be that person who is always thankful and full of joy. Don’t you?
Pick a god — any god will do (Guest Post)
The following is a post written by a powerful woman of God who is the founder of Kids In Ministry International. Many of you may know her from the documentary “Jesus Camp” of which was released a few years ago. If you have a negative taste of this documentary in your mouth you really need to read what really happened by clicking here.
Anyways, she wrote this post about a week ago and I keep thinking back to it. I asked her last night if I could repost it here on my blog so that more people could read it and she said that would be fine so … without any further jabber … here is “Pick a god — any god will do“.
I was shocked to recently discover that according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 52% of all Christians and 47% of all Evangelical Christians believe that some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life. I expect those kinds of statistics in the population in general, but NOT Evangelical Christians.
The very definition of evangelical Christianity is believing the essence of the Gospel lies in the doctrine of salvation by faith in the death of Christ, which atoned for man’s sins, and his resurrection from the dead. Evangelicalism insists on the importance of the individual’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They denounce that neither good works or the sacraments can bring these same results, but put particular emphasis that it is faith in Christ alone that secures our salvation.
So what in the world is being preached in our evangelical churches today? I just don’t get it. If there are many roads to heaven, then everything we do as Christians is a farce, Jesus is a lie and a joke, and as the Apostle Paul says, “we are the most miserable people in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:19
So what does this mean to us as children’s ministers and parents? Well, if we don’t want to see our kids worshipping before a statue of Buddah someday, we need to take the time to deliberately explain the gospel thoroughly. By that I don’t just mean teaching them to ask Jesus to forgive their sins so they can go to heaven when they die. They actually need to know why Jesus is the only way to heaven. It’s not a matter of cramming it into them by saying, “Because that’s just the way we believe it and you have to believe it too!” But we must actually explain the amazing, intricate, marvelous understanding of God’s enormous and beautiful plan of salvation.
Do you yourself understand why it is important to believe that Jesus was equally God and man? Do you yourself understand why it was necessary for Jesus as God to come to the earth in the form of a human being? Do you yourself understand why it is critical to believe that Jesus lived a totally sinless life on earth? Do you yourself understand the signficance of the sinless blood of Christ in regards to the salvation to man? Do you yourself understand why Jesus Christ is the one and only way, the truth, and the life?
If you cannot adequately answer all of these questions, then you cannot explain it to the children you minister to. If you cannot explain this to the children you minister then they are sitting ducks to buy into any feel-good belief system that comes along and are helpless to stand up against those who demand equal rights in the salvation category.
This is the reason we write the curriculums we do. One children’s minister told us, “You have taken theology for kids to a new level.” Others have said our curriculums are like “apologetics for kids.” If you cannot answer the above questions or have never taught them to your kids, then I highly recommend you purchase two of our best selling curriculums—”Our Amazing God” which pits our God against all other gods in the world explaining in detail why our God is the greatest, and the Blood of Jesus. If you don’t understand the significance of the Blood of Jesus, then you don’t understand your own salvation. I’m firmly conviced you need to repeat these curriculums every 2 or 3 years to your kids. Once is not enough in todays religious climate.
More than ever before the lines are being drawn in the sand between the truths of the Bible and all other religions. Let’s make sure we know the Truth.
You can read Becky’s blog by clicking here.
Beyond The Tent
Several weeks ago I promised that I would be writing a Part 3 called “Beyond the Tent” in my series on Abraham. For some reason I kept struggling with writing it though. It was really odd because I would keep hearing things related to what I believe God told me and so I kept thinking … I gotta get that written but every time I would sit down to write I would get distracted.
At first I started thinking it was just my flesh getting in the way but I now understand why it was happening. God wasn’t done sharing with me everything that He had for me. This past week He showed me more and now I get to share it with you all.
As you all know I have been studying the life of Abraham. He was an awesome man of faith. In Part 2 (“Move”) of this series, I talked about how Abraham moved when God told him to move. He didn’t bother looking at the circumstance or how much work it would entail to accomplish the move. He just did it. He believed in what he saw beyond the tent. God told him in Genesis that the land was his and that not only would he have a large family but he would be the father of a nation. He caught the vision … God’s vision … it wasn’t even his own vision but it was something close to his heart.
We as ministers sometimes get boxed into our own ideals of church and what we can and cannot accomplish. We refuse to use our faith and step out but in reality if the church is ever going to reach the World then we have to look beyond the tent. We have see the vision God has for us. We have to stop looking at the tent walls and start looking out. We have to operate in a new way. Faith is operating outside of your means. If you had the means to do something then it wouldn’t require faith. The vision IS greater than you.
As many of you know I recently moved to Appleton, Wisconsin to partner with a new church plant here called Overflow Church. It wasn’t my decision (not that I am fighting it). God told me to go … and so here I am. I am the children’s pastor here and believe God has given me an awesome vision for the children’s ministry. Everything from a huge stage with awesome props, lighting, puppets, life size mascots and rocking music to a room packed with kids worship and praising God. It’s a vision that would require a children’s ministry staff of 30 or more. It’s a HUGE Vision for a church plant but I am looking beyond the tent. Yeah, I see the tent. I see that we are currently a small church plant with about 10 kids, 2 children’s ministry volunteers and a very very limited budget but I refuse to operate inside the tent. We moving … we are taking territory. Yeah, to start of with I might have to start a little smaller (I mean Abraham didn’t claim all the land right away … He took the vision … STEP BY STEP) Yeah, we are small now but even though we only have 10 kids I am starting by operating like we have 50 kids. When we get to 50 kids … I will be operating like we have 100 kids. Ohhh and when we reach that 100 mark … I will be operating like we have 250 kids. I refuse to stop … I refuse to limit God and what He has planned. Who are we to limit His vision? The unfortunate (sometimes) thing is that He gave us free will. His vision will be accomplished with or without us … have no doubt about that but I would rather be part of it … that to be part of the hindrance. Overflow Church in Appleton, Wisconsin will have a children’s ministry unlike any other children’s ministry in the World. There’s a God given vision … beyond the tent. I refuse to sit inside the tent and look at my boundaries. The vision goes further than the tent.
I believe I heard Pastor Steven Furtick bring this up in one of his appreciation messages once in which he always wanted to operate at the next level. If your ministry only has 20 people involved serve like you have 50. When the 50 come … step it up again. Hold on to the vision and don’t let what’s in the tent distract you.
NOW … hold the phone here. Let me throw caution to the wind. Always make sure you hear from God about your next step before taking it. Sometimes we have the vision but it might not be time to take that next step. God told Abraham when to move. He didn’t just wake up one day and start moving. Sometimes we take steps out of our emotions or flesh. What we have to remember is that when we are the leader giving (and living) the vision it’s not just affecting us … but it’s affecting everyone around us as well.
While I hate giving personal examples I think that I should share something with you that might help you understand what I am talking about. I believe that God has an awesome woman of God for me. I have believed this for years. As a matter of fact, I started praying for my wife when I was 11 and while I have had some awesome relationships over the years I am still single.
Over the last few weeks I have been dealing with a full brunt of that wonderful “loneliness” emotion. You know, the emotion that can’t be filled with friends. Just being real. It would be great to be able to hold my wife and snuggle around a campfire or even just to have someone I could share everything with. All you married people know what I am saying.
The unfortunate thing is that I looked beyond the tent (looking at the vision) with my own emotions. I ended up posting a personals ad on a website only wake up the next day wondering why I posted it. You see … emotions come and go. I allowed a temporary emotion to not only affect myself but all those who read my ad. You see, at the moment, I am not ready for a relationship. I just moved here and still haven’t found a job so I am living with my parents temporarily. Not only does that sound horrible to a female “Unemployed guy who lives with parents … looking for wife” but it also bothers me because when I love someone I want to provide for them in every way I can and I am not at a place I can do that right now. I will be soon once a job opens up and I can move out and get my own place but I just can’t right now. Instead I should be preparing myself for that step rather than actually taking the step.
So, I had to sit down and write a letter to each and every one of those wonderful women that responded to my ad. I had to apologize and explain the situation. I felt horrible. I allowed my emotions to push me to take a step (to find my wife) when it wasn’t the right time and because of that 20+ other people were inconvenienced.
If you move in ministry based on emotion you are not only setting yourself up for stumble but your move will affect everyone else involved. We have to walk in prayer. We have to hear the voice God and take steps only when He tells us to. I encourage you to keep looking beyond the tent and to be prepared for the next step but don’t the take the step without God’s instruction.
One final thing … complacency should never exist in ministry. If you are comfortable with where you are at, then you truly don’t have the vision of God in mind. We have to be thankful for where we are at but we should always be pressing further. Don’t ever stop pressing. Don’t ever stop looking beyond the tent.
3 Important Leadership Thoughts
Tonight I had the wonderful opportunity to attend an Easter Drama entitled “Watch The Lamb” by Apostolic Truth Church in Appleton, WI. The drama was fantastic! Everyone did a great job! Seth Boyte really rocked the drama. He played Jesus and started to sing during the Last Supper and … WHEW … blew me away. It was awesome.
The drama was your typical Easter Drama and wasn’t meant to be something to teach about leadership but during the drama I was reminded of three things that I wanted to quickly share with you on leadership before I head to bed.
First Thing!
Jesus never attended college, He had no degree, no excellent work history, hadn’t written any books, cut any records, nor was He wealthy with physical goods. What made Jesus who He was, was the Spirit of God in Him. He spread joy and love. He was peace. He walked with patience. He was kind and good to those around Him. He was gentle to both the weak and the strong. He walked in self-control even when He was wrongly accused. He went about His Father’s business. Want to achieve greatness? What to be respected? Be more like Him!
The Second Thing!
John 13:1-20 tells us that Jesus (the leader/master) washed the feet of His followers. He (Jesus) served His followers. As leaders, we need to make sure that we are serving those that follow us. I have seen many leaders get this mixed up and expect the followers to always serve when the leader hasn’t ever served them. You want servants in your ministry? You want people to submit to your authority. Serve them.
This leads me into my Third Thing!
Watch this quick clip!
Simon Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash His feet. I believe Simon Peter was speaking out of true humility but when I watch the scene unfold tonight I seen pride issue. Sometimes we don’t want to accept blessings or have people sow into our lives. We don’t think we are worthy but Jesus said “If I do not wash your feet you will no longer be my disciple.” … I believe that was God reminding us that we need to allow those around us to sow into us, to bless us. It’s humility. It’s something we all need to walk in.
I know these things might not have been fresh revelation to you or you may even disagree with me on them but they are some things that were brought into remembrance tonight during the drama and I really wanted to share them with you.
Let me know your thoughts!
Who, what and why do I? Part 1 (Twitter)
Twitter has been an awesome tool for me. Not only do I use Twitter to network with others but I also use it as a tool that I can grow from. If you are on Twitter already then you know how much of a help Twitter can be for you. If you aren’t … well … your missing out.
I was thinking the other day. Who do I follow on Twitter and why? Now if you look at my twitter account right now you will see that I am following 132 people but reality is that I am not reading every tweet out there from these 132 people (although I do read a majority of them). I have to admit that I have my favorites.
I decided yesterday to write down my favorites and why. I know this may sound kinda prideful although that’s not the heart behind it, but I noticed that I follow some awesome people and that I tend to admire and be like many of my Twitter peeps.
I would love share my list with you as some of the people I follow; you may want to consider following as well. If you are not on this list … PLEASE don’t send me hate mail. LOL It doesn’t mean I don’t respect or look up to you. I am just listing the Top 5 people I follow and why. You are probably #6. LOL
The Top 5 include (in no specific order)
1. @BrianCHouston – I really enjoy following Pastor Brian Houston because he tweets some really awesome leadership goals and wisdom. I will be reposting several of his leadership goals in an upcoming post but some of the stuff he posts really gets me thinking and creates change in my life. Not only that but he is also the Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church in Australia which has one of the best children ministries (and leaders) that I have ever seen.
2. @StevenFurtick – Pastor Steven Furtick is one of those preachers that I get. Seriously, I listen to all of his messages online (my ipod is packed with his messages). He just really knows how to throw a punch politely. Every time I listen to a message he preaches …. I grow. He also periodically shares some really deep stuff via Twitter which I soak up!! The anointing is all over Pastor Steven Furtick.
3. @RickWarren – Everyone knows who Pastor Rick Warren is. Personally I didn’t know to much about Pastor Rick Warren until about two years ago. Since I found him on Twitter I have enjoyed reading his tweets as they push me to be all that I can be and to really think about ministry “outside of the box”.
4. @kidinspiration – David Wakerley is in my mind one of the best children’s pastors I have ever “followed”. He is the Children’s Pastor at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is doing an awesome work there in Australia and I am looking forward to seeing him at the “Napkin Conference” in February.
5. @nerdfeliz – Carlos Dyonisio (aka Cadu) is in my mind CRAZY! Crazy about reaching kids for Christ!! He has such an awesome passion for children’s ministry and an awesome sense of humor! I am also looking forward to seeing him at the “Napkin Conference” in February.
Like I said there are 132 people I am currently following on Twitter and I only follow awesome people. People who inspire and people who are reaching souls for Christ!! If you want to see everyone I am following click here! I encourage you to follow them as well. They are really awesome people.
I hope that by sharing my Top 5 and the list of people I follow on Twitter that you will find some people to follow who may inspire you and challenge you to reach further and to do more. At the minimum, I would encourage to follow the Top 5 listed above. I think if you followed them alone … your life would be forever changed.
Coming up in Part 2 – Blogs I read daily and why?