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Friday, April 30, 2010 at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Quick.
Look at Luke 5. The passage on fishing for people.
Jesus teaches (disciples) His leaders to reach the lost at any cost.
What does verse 7 say?
"They signaled to their partners to come and help them."
My takeaway?
The church is not the church when the pastor ministers to the people.
The church is the church when the believers minister to the people!
Your local church needs you to partner with their leaders.
Your pastor doesn't want something from you,
your pastor wants something for you.
Colwood friends, our next Partnership Learning Experience is THIS SUNDAY at 12:30pm. Explore partnering with us (we'll watch your kids and feed you lunch!). Register now: [email protected].
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 07:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The founders of 37Signals are
rewriting what it means to lead.
And its blowing my mind.
Still processing thoughts like these...
On passivity:
"The 'real world' isn't a place, it's an excuse. It's a justification for not trying. It has nothing to do with you."
"Learning from mistakes is overrated. Contrast that with learning from your successes. Success gives you real ammunition."
On traditional business plans:
"Planning is guessing."
"Plans let the past drive the future. Plans are inconsistent with improvisation."
On workaholics:
"Working more doesn't mean you care more or get more done. It just means you work more."
"Workaholics miss the point. They try to fix problems by throwing sheer hours at them."
"No one makes sharp decisions when tired."
Wow, right?
I'm not saying I agree with all these paradigms, but they do give me mental gymnastics to chew on in seeking to increase my leadership capacity.
More later.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 06:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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We are like kites in God's hurricane at the church I love.
We asked "What If?" back in January with the white-hot vision of reaching the lost at any cost... and now we're seeing it come to fruition (almost 150 salvations in 7 months; half of them now baptized!).
Totally unexplainable. Only God.
And here's what I'm learning along the way:
As a leader chasing God's vision for our church,
I'm learning that God doesn't ask me for results;
He asks me to TRUST Him completely and to fearlessly JUMP!
My friend Jason Haymaker gave me this advice yesterday:
"Leaders don't have to justify the vision -
that's defensive and rooted in insecurity."
If I am softening our vision and strategy to please someone, I am trying to seek their approval instead of God's. And that's leadership sin.
My job isn't to defend God's vision for this church;
my job is to unpack and explain God's vision for our people.
Over and over again.
Standing up and declaring, "This is who we are."
Perry Noble shared this verse with me a few days ago:
"But you, take courage!
Do not let your hands be weak,
for your work shall be rewarded" - 2 Chronicles 15.7.
Yes, there are days where I feel spiritually overwhelmed by all that God is doing at Colwood (and the feable efforts of the Enemy to create chaos and disunity).
But that's where the intersection of faith and biblical leadership converge: trusting and jumping. Fearlessly.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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My wife shared these words on The City; worth reposting here!
It was about a year ago this week that Jonathan and I began our season of transition. We knew we were about to embark on the journey of discovering where God would have us serve for the forseeable future. It was scary. It was exhilirating. It was a test of faith. It was an opportunity for God to once again show His great faithfulness and love for us.
We had several prayer requests as we began the journey and maybe even a few “wants.” One of the biggest prayers we floated up to God’s ear was, “Please send us to a church body that we can love without abandon.” We witnessed this type of love a pastor has for his church first-hand w/a pastor friend’s church that we attended semi-regularly over the summer. He certainly had his share of trials with the flock entrusted to him. He always came out of it every week, however, proclaiming his great love for the people. So, that type of love is what we prayed for as we sought God’s leading for the future.
We had the privilege of visiting Caro in the late summer. We met the staff, their spouses and the search team. They were all so loving and gracious. Some said good-bye with hugs even though we had only known one another a couple of days. A deep bond was already beginning to form in our hearts. I have to venture a guess that this was happening on the other end as well. In our last moments of determing where God would have us go, it was this love and connection that pointed us to Colwood. We felt like we could love freely and be loved just as freely.
All this to say, thank you, Colwood, for being an answer to our prayers. At the end of the day, we feel tremendously blessed to serve with you! We love being here and getting to know you. Thanks for loving us well!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Although the queen did not know God,
God knew her.
He had created her and given her breath.
One day she heard of all God was doing.
She beheld the evidence of God.
And it took her breath away.
That's what divine splendor and majesty does.
God gives and takes away our breath.
Hubble telescope scientists released
this photograph from deep space this week:
From the Carina Nebula, it is a small glimpse of God's nursery.
Its a tiny pocket of the galaxy where He forms new stars.
He gives breath to new creativity.
And it takes my breath away.
Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 11:14 AM in God | Permalink | Comments (0)
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"If any one enquire of me, 'How shall I obtain the most proper text?'
I should answer, 'Cry to God for it.'
Seek God in prayer for choice of passage.
If prayer alone should not guide you to the desired treasure, it will in any case be a profitable exercise to you to have prayed.
Praying is the best studying." - C.H. Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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"Why should it seem incredible that God Almighty should be able to foretell the future? God has lived all our tomorrows and knows no yesterday and no tomorrow but swallows up yesterday and tomorrow in one everlasting now.
It would be easy for God to know what would take place in our tomorrow when He has already lived it and looks back upon all our tomorrows as something already accomplished." - A.W. Tozer
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 07:42 AM | Permalink
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Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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