Movin' On

Personal and Not Private

Hey Jesus Followers,

Did you see the movie You've Got Mail?  Tom Hanks, as the corporate bookseller tycoon Joe Fox, tells Meg Ryan that putting her out of business was "strictly business not personal."  Ryan put Joe Fox in his place by declaring "It was personal to me."

If you follow me on Twitter, my "tweet" today was: "TeamLoft says a Christian's faith should be personal and not private. So, how about yours?"

I often have wondered if many of us are taking the "political correctness thing" too far by falling into the trap of declaring our faith as personal and private for PC sake.

I like what Rev. Mike Lindstrom of Pasdena, Texas recently posted in his Mike's Monday Musings:  "...the reality is that the political and social forces in our country and around the world have the idea that we can make this world a better place by our own wisdom and ingenuity...So how do we begin to change the hearts of people in our communities and around the world...our faith is meant to be personal but not private."

I agree with Rev. Lindstrom. The enemy loves to see our faith hidden behind closed doors.  We need to pray daily for opportunities to display and share our faith in Jesus. 

Come to think of it, we all daily have ample opportunities.  So I guess we need to daily ask ourselves, how am I doing? 

More later--tweet, tweet.

Selah

Making Life Work

Jesus Followers,

 

I was polishing up a list of books I recommend for Christian Lay Leaders around the world the other day and picked up Bill Hybels’ Making Life Work and scanned it for the first time in a while.

 

It’s a easy read and filled with little gems.  Hybels addresses the factors that are critical for one to learn and practice in order to achieve his or hers life goals.

 

I don’t know about you, but this heady stuff is something that I need to ponder....often.  Life goals or purpose and one’s governing values (core values) are intertwined at the hip.  Or should I say, are meant to be.  So, here’s the deal, ILI’ers and Lofters worldwide.  Is your hip aching a little or, maybe, a little separated?

 

Next to Hybels book was Bruce Wilkinson’s Prayer of Jabez.  So, for Twitter fans, here’s my Tweet for the day:  This I Believe:  We are all to give as we are able (Luke 21:2), pray big prayers, enlarge our mission and increase our influence as God leads.  God wants us to dream big and go deep 1 Chron 4:10).

 

How about you?  Has your Jehovah been speaking to you lately?  I’d love to hear from you.

 

More later,

 

Selah

Wet Blanket, Drums and ILI

Note:  This entry was posted earlier today on a blog I write for International Leadership Institute.  They provide leadership training programs for Christ Followers worldwide.

During the ILI conferences we teach about effective biblical leadership. I confess that the subject of leadership is a favorite of mine studying it and trying---to the best of my ability—living it as an adult for over 40 years as a small business owner and in ministry. Defining leadership, after all, is both simple and complex...hence the challenge.

Simply defined, leadership is the process of being an influencer toward others usually to accomplish a common task. For Christ-Followers, is it a role (e.g., “head of the table position" like a Pastor, ministry head, business owner, boss)? Is it an ability, talent, responsibility or function? Or, are the disciples with the spiritual gift of leadership the only biblical leaders?

You don’t want me to get started on the different theories of leadership like trait, behavioral and style, situational and contingency, functional, or transactional and transformational. I just know that we Jesus Followers need to drill deep into understanding extraordinary leadership, modeling Jesus’ example as faithful steward with which he was entrusted. Leaders of leaders need to “get” the Jesus concept of primus inter pares (first among equals). We need to begin to learn and practice what I call “organic leadership and stewardship.” That is, how we impact all those around us...below us; next to us and above us.

Here are some thoughts from Terry Vanderslice, another ILI alumni and member of the missions committee at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, about effective leadership:

“A wet blanket cannot muffle a drum” (African proverb) and ILI’s Eight Core Values---what do these have in common? I know from experience that many leaders in the mission field are blessed with a heart that sees the needs in the world AND a vision for God’s kingdom here on earth. However, often these same leaders are not well equipped for all the steps that come between seeing the need (vision casting) and developing and deploying resources, activities and people (transactional leadership) needed to finally and fully “experience the vision.”

I know, from hard experience, that the person who enumerates the steps to completion of the vision is often seen as the “wet blanket”, they are rarely seen as helpful. The “wet blanket” is said to be “quenching the fire” of their vision. ILI and teaching it's eight core values have stepped into this gap training leaders to transition from just seeing the need to fully developing the vision. I humbly believe that when God’s drum beat is heard and the vision is seen, the wet blanket of details cannot muffle the drum.

Thanks, Terry, for the thoughts....this is indeed food for thought.

I’m thankful to ILI’s vision to provide transformational leadership development learning experiences worldwide. As we learn more about ILI's new “Starfish” model for extending and expanding the mission, here’s a quote to contemplate from Nancy Ortberg’s book on non-linear leadership Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands:

“We greatly underestimate where great leadership is to be found and what we can learn from it...(Extraordinary leaders) know how to unleash the power that is already in the organization and how to fan the flame of that power in productive and transformational ways.”

I agree with Ortberg when she says “Good leadership is about developing a rhythm of life, not an equation.” For me, this is the transforming gift of our eight core values and understanding that to be an extraordinary leader, one must first be an extraordinary follower of The Christ.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you.

More later...

Selah

The importance of being available

This morning in another blog of mine, A Lofters Life, I shared some thoughts about a devotional written by George Mwangi, a History Maker in Kenya.  George recently challenged us to become "fishers of men."  One of the core values of History Makers and International Leadership Institute is Passion for the Harvest.

ILI training is for one purpose: to change lives.  Several days ago we received the following update from Grace, in Kenya.  She is a young leader who was trained through our young leaders initiative called History Makers.  After teaching from ILI's training materials, she writes:

 "This was the first young leaders' event I organized, being a new leader. There were 700 young    people from 5 churches. After my lesson on 'Intimacy with God,' more than 200 young people     accepted the invitation to receive Christ and be born again. Over 300 young people responded to  the call to better their lifestyle after the teaching on Visionary Leadership. Many young people realized their potential and made decisions to live for Christ. This was the best ever attended conference in our area!" 

I'd say that this is a pretty good present for Jesus' birthday...what do you think?  Thanks George and Grace for sharing two powerful stories with us.  So here's the deal, Lofters....are you ready to move on in your Christian walk?  There is nothing like starting now.

Selah

P.S.  For more information about ILI and History Makers, link to their web sites above.  Take some time and look at the eight core values that HM and ILI teach around the world...who knows...maybe God is just calling you to begin anew in 2009.

 

 

 

God moving in Romania

I often quote Henry Blackaby as a favorite saying..."Find out where God is moving and join Him there."  In one form or another, this is the "itch" of many who are called to the unique purpose of planting new churches.  Today we follow God's adventure for Scott and Paula Dunn, missionaries in Arad, Romania as they reported in their blog in October 2008.

Calling out to God

"For several weeks now I (Scott) have been planning a gathering of people with whom I have established relationship to begin talking about how we can work together to begin new churches. This is something I sensed God's direction in several months ago. Yesterday was the appointed day, and my hope was that 6-8 people would come to the Three Bean Coffee Housein Arad and make this small beginning with me. All last week I kept receiving calls, "Can I bring another person?" We ended up having 18 people attend, all of us passionate about starting new churches that will reach and transform a rapidly changing Romanian society with the always-relevant work of Jesus. According to plan, I presented three short talks about the need for new churches and new ways of doing "church." These were intended to spark discussion among the group so that together we began to discover and express the mind of God. All were encouraged to find that others are sensing the same direction of God for the future of the church in Romania and Hungary.

So, while this was just a beginning step, we all felt like it was a successful beginning, and we're excited to discover and do the next thing. Our ultimate vision is to see a multiplying movement of new churches that reach and transform lives for Jesus. "Movement" "multiplying" and "transform" are keys words that we encourage and invite you to pray about as you partner with us for new churches in our region of Europe!" (October 12, 2008)

God's Answer

"I (Scott) had the opportunity to attend a leadership training event Thursday thru Saturday. The event was held in the resort town of Sovata, Romania, and was sponsored by a relatively new network of evangelical churches here in Romania called BIG-Impact. The teaching sessions were on dvd (with Romanian subtitles) from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit, an event that always offers top-notch training in leadership development.

But the teaching sessions were not my primary reason for attending. I was there primarily to meet and network with other Romanian church leaders who want to reach their country for Jesus in new and relevant ways. A highlight for me was the opportunity to meet with a small group of church planters from all over the country. They are currently putting together a relational network to encourage and equip a Romanian church planting movement. So, it seems that God is consistently speaking about and leading His people in the same direction in regards to a church planting movement that reaches this country for Jesus in a way that has not happened before." (October 20, 2008)

Romania is a country of 22 million with approximately 3.5% evangelical Christian. Scott and I became friends as we both led sessions for a History Makers Journey in Sibiu, Romania in July.   Scott, Paula and others are working tirelessly and God is "showing up" in magnificent ways.  The Dunn's ask us to continue to pray for their ministry (www.thedunnsinromania.org) and to pray specifically for God to continue moving His people towards this new move of God?

Isn't it great to see and share examples of people fully devoted to our Lord God and following the unique purpose for why they were created?  So...what about you? 

Selah

Good old boy Moses

I like musing about the great Bible characters of the Old Testament...they were quite some lot of characters.  Do you know any one like them today?  Maybe...me...maybe you?

Think about Moses for a few minutes.  He started thinking about his “life purpose”...his mission and what did he do?  He went out and killed someone; I guess he thought he would make a statement that “he wouldn't take it any more” (for him and for the Hebrews) and he didn’t.  But, he did end up fleeing for his life in the desert for 40 years. 

You know what?  Even after 40 years, Moses was still faithful to his mission---the freeing of the Hebrew people, but...and this is a BIG but---he finally let God be God.  If there was to be violence, God would take care of it; if they needed to escape, God would show them the way; if they needed food, God would provide.  So, Moses’ strategy was different.  The forty years had taught Moses that for his mission to be God’s mission, it had to be on God's terms, timing, and way.

I think that’s a pretty good lesson for all us to firmly hold to...no, I’m not saying that we will be like Moses in the desert for forty years...but...

Let’s let God be God.  For He is and we're not.  Let’s let God speak clearly to us; to guide us; to follow Him on His terms; in Jehovah’s timing and way.  Does this sound like a plan or what?  But, you ask, then what?

Then, when Jehovah does open the door for us to plunge ahead, let’s “just” do it.  What do you think; is He opening some doors for you?  Is it a plan; is it time to plunge ahead?  It was for me recently.  Maybe, just maybe...you soon will be writing your story for one of my blogs. 

I hope so---I pray so.

Selah

Up to the task

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Note:  This is published both on Movin' On and the Scribbles blog.  I won't do this often; but this particular musing ideally fits the purpose of both blogs. 

I was an entrepreneur almost my entire working career beginning several firms and partnering with others to form larger private corporations. It was satisfying and rewarding in many respects and I was willing to take risks because I felt strongly about my capabilities and those with whom I associated. Fortunately, we “won” much more often than we “lost.” That said...my first thoughts when International Leadership Institute approached me about spearheading a new initiative for them to create a product line of new curriculum, I said to myself, “sure I can do that. I’ve written audio tapes, a lot of articles published on the Internet, contributed to books and resource guides and really have enjoyed designing or “retrofitting” Christian teaching and studies for small groups and other venues.”

As it developed into much a much larger Kingdom project than either ILI or I first envisioned, I began thinking “wow...I’ve prayed about enlarging my territory for Kingdom purposes (1 Chronicles 4:9-10), but this may be over my pay grade”, as a certain Presidential candidate would declare in a debate setting.

As I scribble this, I wanted you to know what I was thinking...for a little while. Isn’t Kingdom living and accepting Kingdom purposes all what being a devoted Jesus Follower is all about? This new initiative is above my pay grade...and I’m thankful about that. I desire earnestly to have a deeper walk with Jehovah; I look forward to being entirely dependent on Him for this Kingdom adventure.

So this brings me to your journey. Is God speaking to you about stepping out in faith? I don’t know what that may look like for you...leading a Bible study for youth for the first time; entering TWUMC Special Blessings shadow ministry, becoming involved in September Serve, organizing a mission effort locally or internationally, becoming involved in a church plant or helping The Loft launch its new Saturday night service---I just know this---until you are willing to enlarge your territory, kick out your preset boundaries and ideas, and let God be God, you really aren’t being truly sold out to Jehovah for His Kingdom purpose in your life.

“How do I start”, you ask? First, earnestly seek God and His purpose for your life...for this season of your life.   I’ve said this many times before, but just “Find out when God is working and be willing to join Him there."

On a personal basis, pray for ILI and their Kingdom purposes; for wisdom and direction with all their new initiatives and for the resources necessary to continue to enlarge their territory through changing lives every day in more than fifty nations by accelerating the life-transforming spread of the Gospel.

Selah

I am is Who I can become

Monday, September 1, 2008

Laurie Beth Jones in her book, Jesus CEO, has an interesting chapter titled "His "I AM" Statements are What He Became."

She states, "Jesus did not look back on the events of his life and say, Hmmm...I must have been the Son the God." He declared himself to be the Son of God, and the proof followed.

Do you believe that words have power?  I do..I hope my life is a testament to that.  In the last ten years or so, God's spiritual gift in me of exhortation has really taken off...I'm much more encouraging to others than I used to be.  Maybe, I finally grew up or maybe I AM who I can Become?  Yes, early on I realized that I had the gifts of leadership and teaching and these were confirmed in the body of Christ.  But, its only been these last few years that I've realized that God was calling me to be more---a special encourager. 

I have to confess that I like it.  I like who I am becoming.  The 2008 Olympics reminded me again how important "self-talk" really is---not only in athletics, in politics and in mega-corporations, but to YOU AND I as Jesus Followers. 

So, here's the deal.  If Jones is right in her book that Jesus' I AM statements are what he became, do you think it might just be a little important for us Jesus Followers to follow suit?

Here's something to try at her suggestion: "Whom do you tell yourself you are on a daily basis?  Remember, words have power.

Selah.

Special Friends

Sunday, August 31, 2008

I want special friends....let me rephrase that---I need special friends. Why, you may ask? Simply, because being a consistent, fully-devoted Jesus Follower is tough. We need special friends.

Let me give you one biblical example. Where would Moses have been when the going got tough without Josuha? Enough said...we need special friends.

I encourage you to open yourself to some friends; to enter into deeper intimacy with others through small groups, accountability groups---men to men and women to women. Special friends will lift us up; will pray for us; will rejoice with us and will hold us accountable, not only to them, but to our heavenly Father.

It's too easy for us to hid; to always be in safe places where no one really knows what's going on, isn't it? I've been there and I don't want to go back there again. It's draining, curbs one's passion as a Jesus Follower and, frankly, it is safe, but not joy-filled.

Here's a simple tip on picking special friends...don't pick "yes" people; pick Jesus Followers who are passionate about being one and sharing their lives with others.

This makes sense to me; I hope it does to you...as Jesus Followers who desire to remain fully devoted, we need special friends.

Selah

I'm working on not being a whiner

Friday, August 29, 2008

When I was waiting in a long line at the store today getting another four gallons of water for the big blow called Gustav coming into the Gulf area on Monday, I was in back of a old guy just humming away...how irritating.

Of course, like everyone else, I needed gas before it went back up to four bucks a gallon and I was in a hurry; why am I in a hurry all of the time...I really don't have much to do? Any way, you can tell I was angry, because I said this guy was old and you already know that I'm old as dirt.

When I got back to the car, I thought about Laurie Beth Jones' book Jesus in Blue Jeans. Like all of her books, it's an easy read and filled with profound Jesus truths---if you take the time to muse about it. Being a practical guy, I need all the help I can get from the easy reads.

So I sit here at 11:00 pm, scribbling away as the Holy Spirit leads realizing that Jesus was no whiner. Jones' book includes a chapter titled "He Was No Whiner--He Hummed." Jones proposes that we need more hummers in world, not whinners...hummers make the desperate situations more tolerable...brings comfort...is a sign of creativity..brings more energy into the world---you get the idea.

Well, Jesus Followers, I've been working on it. No one likes a grump---even a Christan one. I don't know about you, but I've seen my share of "Christan grumps" to last a lifetime.

So here's the deal. Read John 4:14, can't you see Jesus humming? I think the old guy was an angel sent to encourage me. What do you think? I'd like to hear from you.

Selah