We Should Be Asking What

We ask God why.

I think that is the wrong question.

The question we should be asking God is what?

 

 

 

• What needs to be removed from my life?
• What do I need to say no to?
• What do I need to shift my focus to?
• What do I need to give more of my time too?
• What do I need to say yes to?
• What do I need to value more?
• What do I need to give to God?
• What do I need to make a priority?

Too many times we ask God why instead of what.  Through the what God in his time will answer His why.

What are you asking why about when you should be asking what?

 

Pay The Price

“Don’t wish for the success of others because you have no idea the price they paid to get there.” Not sure where I heard that quote but it has rocked me several times as I think about it over the last year.

Success doesn’t happen overnight.  It takes time and there is a price to pay.  Too many times nobody wants to pay the price.  We want instant satisfaction.  We want instant success.  We are so used to pushing a button and getting what we want right away.  The problem that I have learned the hard way is if it is easy it is usually not worth a whole lot.  There is something about fighting though your faith or working hard to achieve a goal.

I’ve always envied the success of others.  I see leaders like Winston Churchill and Barack Obama in the world and I see leaders like Andy Stanley, Perry Noble and Steven Furtick in the church world and I catch myself saying I want what they have.  Here’s the deal I’m not them and I will never be them.  The best I can be is me.  The best part about that is that is all that God requires of me.  He didn’t create me to be them.  He didn’t create me to experience their success or their blessings, I have my own prepared for me.

With more success is more problems on a different level.  God gives us what we can handle when we can handle it.  There is no way I could run a church of 20,000 people or run a multi-million dollar company.  But what I can do is my best.  I have had to learn the hard way.  God has been working on stripping me of all pride and measure of what I valued and thought success was.  God has been taking me back to the basics.  Because of that I have learned an entire new respect for authority, serving and what true success in His eyes looks like.

Nobody was asking the church leaders that I mentioned to speak at conferences when they had a church of 20 people.  However they trusted God, were faithful and because of that they are seeing success that is not the norm.  If it was easy everybody would do it.  Truth is though, whether they have a church of 20 or a church of 20,000 it is not the size of the church that matters it is their pursuit of God and how that transcends into their everyday lives and into their everyday relationships.

So the key is pay the price by doing the little things.  Do what you can do.  Don’t wish for the success of other because you have no idea the price they paid to get there.  Just remember with others success comes others problems.  Learn to enjoy the journey and not rush the season of small beginnings.

Leadership vs. Management

I have really learned to enjoy corporate America.  At first I was caught off guard by the cut throat abrasiveness that comes with it but I have also been fortunate enough to connect with some key individuals which I have learned a lot from.  One of the biggest differences between the church and corporate America is that in the church, generally, the mindset is one of service.  Where as in corporate America there does tend to be more of a selfish mindset.  That doesn’t mean that you don’t find both of these mindsets in both organizations from time to time.

So here are some of my observations that I have seen between Leadership vs. Management.

Management:

Managers tend to be more about using people than utilizing people.  They tend to have a personal agenda and are focused on moving up quickly.  Managers tend to be more standoffish.  They don’t let others into their lives in fear that it will appear to be a weak spot or show vulnerability.  They only take risks that benefit them.  They do just enough to get to the next level.  They don’t listen to those around them.  They don’t take criticism well.  They use their title to threaten others.  They tend to take others ideas and sell them as their own.  They do not earn trust or buy in.  They surround themselves with others who are weaker so they appear to be stronger.

Leaders:

Leaders tend to be more about investing in people than the program.  They show a loyalty to those who they work with.  They tend to be more about utilizing people than using people.  They are transparent and vulnerable which earns trust and buy in to the vision.  They are not afraid to take calculated risks for the sake of all concerned.  They listen to the stories of those that follow them so they can better understand who they are and put them in positions to be successful.  They have learned to surround themselves with people who’s strengths represent their own personal weaknesses so together as a team they are more complete.  Leaders tend not to be tied up in titles.  They embrace those who are a stronger than them and are not intimated by others success.  They are focused on the goals, mission and vision of the organization and project.  They want you to be successful.  They reproduce themselves in others.

This is not true of every manger or every leader.  These are just some of my observations that I have seen in both the church and corporate America.  I do believe there are managers who are leaders and will one day posses the title and authority to accompany their characteristics.  I also believe there are leaders by title and position only who simply management and will potentially never take it to the next level.

I am learning more and more to learn from everyone I can.  I have so far to go as a young leader.  I believe wholeheartedly that no matter the age you can learn from the life lessons of others.  My challenge to you is don’t just manage what you have but be a leader.  Be more concerned about others than you are yourself.  Step outside your comfort zone strive to make others better than yourself.

I

Political Religion

There is a phrase that is used by many churches all over the world.  “It’s all about relationships and not religion.” I wonder what an unchurched person thinks when they hear that?  I wonder what those who have gone before us think about that statement?  I personally love the statement.  I love the meaning behind it because I know the meaning behind it.

It truly is all about a relationship with Jesus Christ and a relationship with others.  Building community between us and God and us and others.  It’s a very powerful and relevant statement.

It is not about religion, or is it?  I get what the statement is saying.  It’s not about the politics and the rules and the regulations.  It’s not about a list of do’s and dont’s.  It’s not about guilting people into a relationship with Christ.  However, for me I want to be careful that I just don’t throw out religion.

I work with people who are “religious” and they have questioned my thought process on this statement.  Many have shared a concern that when you say it is not about religion that you close doors to share about the relationship aspect of it.  Many are turned off when in one statement you marginalize potentially everything they have been taught to believe.  Perhaps they are right.

So many people, organizations and institutions have spilled blood, sweat and tears all in the name of religious freedom.  All of them have done that to give me the freedom to serve in a local church and share about a relationship with Jesus.  Christianity is a religion.  The church is a religious institution.  Christ died for everyone.  Christ died for those who would sit in a church and worship Him.  Christ died for those who would stand outside of a church and mock Him.  Christ died for everyone.

I think it is important to honor the past.  I think it is important to honor past spiritual giants. True some of the things in the past have hurt peoples perception of the church and Christ today.  However there is a negative past to almost every organization but does that mean you burn the history and forget where you came from?  Not saying anybody or any organization does that, it’s just a thought.

For me the statement goes like this in my head: It’s about relationships and not the politics of religion. For me it is about some aspects of religion.  The good parts of religion.  The parts that give me freedom not the parts that keep me in bondage of rules.  I’m not here to argue semantics, but it’s just a thought.

What’s your thoughts?

Weird Concept

Farmers impress me. They get up early, they work hard, they are good stewards of the land they have and they labor and sweat for the harvest. Truth is no matter how hard a farmer tries, he alone can’t make corn or tomatoes or cucumbers grow. He tills the ground, plants the seed, waters the seed, weeds the seed and in the end it is nature that produces the harvest. There is no special formula to the growth of the crop. There are the basics and there is hard work.

I’ve been learning so much from God about patience which is not my strength, even writing this I can’t wait to get to the end of this post. I’ve been watching God strategically put me in places that I would never thought I’d be in. I’ve been watching God give me opportunities that other pastors rarely have.

I am so quick to get to the next thing, I don’t even punch in 3 minutes for my microwave popcorn, I simply hit the popcorn button for the sake of speed. We can get the same way in life and and forget that the journey not the destination is sometimes more important.

I know what God has planned for me and what is the next chapter of my life, He has put it on my heart and given me a passion for it.
However, I am learning to celebrate the seasons of preparation for the harvest. Maybe your not experiencing the harvest in your life that you thought you would because your not ready for it.

As I have been studying the Bible I am seeing person after person that did this simple principle that is so hard to apply, “Listen to God, do what He says.”
That’s it. Even when God does not make sense.

• Noah- Built an ark even though it had never rained.
• Moses- A man of a stuttering tongue confronted Pharaoh and demanded the Egyptian slaves freed and then proceeded to march them out of Egypt through the Red Sea.
• Paul- Quit killing Christians and became one of the most influential people for Jesus in his time.
• Jesus- Jesus even said I do what the Father tells me to do.

“Listen to God and do what He says.”

Sometimes He says go, sometimes He says stay, sometimes He says listen but all the time God is preparing us for the harvest and if we are so quick we will miss out on the journey of small beginnings and small lessons.

Just as a farmer can’t force the harvest of a crop but must work hard to see the fruit of it, so must we work hard and be patient.  Trust me when I say it is not easy.  I’m living it.  I don’t like it most of the time but I am learning to listen to God and do what He says.

140 Characters or less

A picture is worth a 1000 words but I don’t find myself moved by pictures nearly as much as I am by words.

Words carry so much meaning and words have the potential to motivate and inspire or to deflate and destroy lives.

Words can say how we feel, describe something we want and words have the ability to ironically paint pictures.

Everyday I am constantly challenged by 140 characters.

Today I wanted to share some of those 140 characters that have shaped me, challenged me, intimidated me, made me cry, made me angry, made me laugh and inspired me to be better.

 

• “The common problem facing employees at all levels is not their own motivation. It’s work environments that demotivate.” @tonymorganlive
• “We need less religious professionals & more people who will put themselves in a position to do whatever God is asking.” @perrynoble
• “We will either be defined by the voice of the critic or the voice of Jesus…who we listen to the most will determine our direction!” @perrynoble
• “The level of influence increases the level of criticism.” @theswizzle
• “Leaders are not concerned about who is catching them but who is watching them.” @brandonaldson
• “God can’t give you the blessings He has for you until you first put down the other things you are clutching in your hands.” @jennicatron
• “God is much more worried about who we’re becoming rather than where we’re going.” @jennicatron
• “Instead of focusing on building your platform, build your character.” @flowerdust
• “A great leader doesn’t care about being the leader, but instead cares about the mission, the vision & the people they lead.” @jeremyerndt
• “If the size of your vision isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.” @stevenfurtick
• “In this season of your life, what is the main role, the primary job God has given you to advance His kingdom?” @wilmington
• “If we’re not secure in our own skin, we’ll spend our whole lives either: 1. copying everyone else; 2. condemning everyone else.” @shawnlovejoy
• “Either the size of your vision will determine the size of your budget or the size of your budget will determine the size of your vision.” @markbatterson
• “The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers.” @johncmaxwell
• “The end of an era does not mean the COMPLETION of your destiny. When something comes to an end, commit to the future.” @brianchouston
• “There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is every nourished by memorizing menus.” @scottiesellers
• “Leadership goal: Surrounded by leaders who are WISE enough to say NO, but COURAGEOUS enough when they need to say YES.” @brianchouston
• “People who purposely choose an unfrosted pop tart when frosted is available should not be trusted with big decisions.” @jonacuff
• “You’ve lost focus of your purpose when you are more focused on what your against instead of what you are for.” @garylamb
• “Loyalty is a two way street…the leader who always demands it but never offers it doesn’t understand it!” @perrynoble
• “Presumption, assumption and miss-communication KILL organizational unity” @pastorjgerdes
• “How do you know your church has become a social club? You don’t associate with people who need Jesus but talk about how much you love them.” @jeffwhickman
• “The higher up in an organization you go the harder it is to get honest feedback” @pwilson
• “More people will visit your church website than will visit your church building.” @edstetzer
• “Geniuses aim at targets that others can’t see and hit them.” @mark_sanborn
• “A fundamental of leadership is to develop & attract people who will flourish in your unique culture.” @maclake
• “The 3 “C’s” of team-building have been Character, Competency, and Chemistry… it’s time to add a new “C”: Culture.” @taddgrandstaff
• “There are times you sit back and watch certain things change and it confirms why you were called to do something months earlier.” @garylamb
• “Your wisdom, not your age, is what matters in leadership. Age only matters if you’re cheese.” @johncremeans
• “Never follow a leader who cares more about WHAT you do than WHO you are!” @perrynoble
• “Most great people attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” @czaucha
• “Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.” @jarrettstevens
• “I believe that no matter what you are going through if you are willing to place yourself in God’s hands he will carry you to the other side.” @scottchapmanorg
• “It’s always harder than it looks. Never desire to succeed like others until you know what they gave up to get there.” @rickwarren
• “I find it interesting that not all leaders actually lead. Some just seem to want a title!” @joelabell
• “No one likes religious people except other religious people.” @trippcrosby
• “Before the success of your goals can be realized, the success of the people you lead must be prioritized.” @stevenfurtick
• “Ever noticed that hospitals don’t do much marketing. If your church welcomes the sick and broken u wont have 2 either.” @cmsucks
• “Don’t be so quick to judge people or write them off. People who are willing to learn can always change.” @stovallweems
• “When people tell u it can’t be done u just found out who’s not willing to do it with u.” @timjchambers
• “Often times a single act of courage, is the tipping point for something extraordinary.” @andystanley
• “Never be ashamed of your scars-they are proof that healing has taken place!” @buddycremeans
• “The only way to make it look easy when everybody’s watching, is to bust your butt when nobody’s watching” @matt_ortiz
• “A CHURCH is only a church if it’s about REACHING the UNCHURCHED!!!” @edyoung
• “So thankful for those people that you just know are put into your life for a reason.. If for no other reason, just to be there.” @jonathonpearson
• “To have authority one day you have to learn to work under authority today.” @shaneduffy
• “When senior leadership hold themselves to different standards than those they oversee there are no real standards.” @rickowerton
• “How you treat those who can do nothing for you is a true judge of your character.” @thelock
• “Conflict leads 2 making up. Making up leads to making out. Making out is good, therefore conflict is good!” @jeffkapusta
• “success is connecting with people in your communities who have pain and staying with them” @bradlomenick
• “People often associate their value with their place on an org chart. Your best value is doing what you’re wired to do.” @anthonycoppedge
• “A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.” @pastormark
• “God loves the version of me now, not the version 10 years from now.” @mattchandler74
• “Continuously improve your processes. Always ask “why,” but more importantly ask “why not?” @disneyinstitute
• “RELATIONSHIPS: Some need to be initiated, Some need to be developed, Some need to be restored & Some need to be severed.” @scottwilliams

 

In This Journey…Part 1 of ?

I have been a way for a while simply because I currently do not have the time.  I have so much to say and I have so much to share and yet sometimes the words escape me and the will eludes me.  I have never been more passionate about those who are outside the church and I have never been more passionate about those who are skeptical about a relationship with Christ. I can say there have been times of brokenness, fear, joy, excitement, anger, insecurity and loneliness.  I guess it is all part of the journey…

For the last nine months I have been working in the “secular” world and connecting with people who are hurting, broken and confused…ironically they are not any different than those I have worked with inside the church for the last nine years, except for one thing, those in the church cling to a hope because of their relationship with Christ.

I can say that I am not the same Christ-Follower, Husband, Father, Friend or Pastor as I was a year ago.  I see God differently as I live in the grace that I share with others.  I see my wife differently as someone who I work with and serve with passion.  No longer is it all about me in the relationship.  I see my kids differently as they are a gift from God and no longer a burden because of my inability to show patience and understanding towards them.    I see my friends differently as they are the ones who never left me through difficult times in my life.  They expected nothing and were there whether I could give or not.  I see mentors differently as I have watched them and listened to their prayers for me and seen them chase their dreams and encouraged me to never give up on mine.  I see being a pastor differently as it is no longer a position to abuse power but to leverage it to serve other.  It is a privilege and and honor to be in front of people and have their trust.

I could go on and on but I think this is a good start for me tonight.  There will be more blogs to come although I don’t know at what speed and consistency.  I encourage your prayers as I figure out what is next in my life as it pertains to my relationship with God and how I serve Him.

12 Characteristics For Leadership

Read this over on the Catalyst Blog…

12 Characteristics For Leadership

1. Be Humble

2. Be Authentic

3. Be Generous

4. Be Christ-like

5. Be the Best at What you do

6. Be Consistent

7. Be Courageous, willing to go first and take risks

8. Be Honest and trustworthy

9. Be Thankful

10. Be a Learner

11. Be Inspiring and vision giving

12. Be Adaptable and open to change

What’s your thoughts?

God Can’t Use A Broken Vessel

I read this post below that is bolded from Jason Curlee’s blog and it totally resonated with me.  There are days when in all honesty you just want to throw in the towel.  When you question if you have ever really made a difference?  When you question will you ever feel like God can use you?  When you question, why is this so difficult?  When you question why others don’t get it when they have been told over and over?  When you question why you don’t get it when you have been told over and over?  I wake up some days so excited about how God wants to use me today and in the future and then I go to bed deflated feeling like I have lost the battle and the will to try again.

It comes down to this question, who is it really all about? You?  Others?  God?  You probably know the answer and yet our emotions and our feelings get in the way.  Our pride and our anger get in the way.  Our self-pity and horrible excuses get in the way.  Just in case you didn’t know the answer, it has nothing to do with you or with others so that leaves only that it is all about God.  It is only God that frees you from your past and from chains that are holding you back today.  I love what Jason wrote below and I ask you the same questions, what’s holding you back?  How can you start living free today? Trust me this is a journey that I am on and I don’t have the answer, but then again neither do you.  We struggle with this together, but we struggle because we focus on us.  There should no struggle when we focus truly on Christ and the grace that He presents us with.

“There are often times I feel God won’t ever use me fully. I mean how could He…my past is not the perfect one. I messed up A LOT. There are even days now that I walk between self-doubt and self-confidence.

I feel God wants to use me and yet I feel how can He use me.

It is in those days I have to realize I’m making it about me and not about Him. I’m not allowing myself to just be the vessel for Him to use.

BUT how can God use such a broken and ugly vessel I think……

Have you ever felt like that? If you have you are not alone. That’s why I love Ephesians 2:8-9 which says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.“

Take that verse today and think on it…

what’s holding you back? how can you start living free today?”

The A21 Campaign and Human Trafficking

Anybody who knows me knows how passionate I have become about speaking out for social justice issues.  It wasn’t until last year that I learned that all of these issues existed.  I guess I can attribute that to a lack of caring and a product of my white, suburban, upper middle class surroundings.  However becoming aware of an issue is only part of a solution because there are many more parts that can be done to make people aware and work towards an end.  Today I am introducing you to an  organization called The A21 Campaign.  The A21 Campaign stands for abolishing injustice in the 21st century. Anyone can join – everyone can make a difference.  Below are some thoughts, stats, ideas and opportunities taken from a recent brochure of theirs.

[def.] the movement of individuals, with the primary purpose of forced servitude or sexual slavery.

Today, an estimated 27 million people are held in slavery, with statistics estimating that 99% of these victims are never rescued. Trafficking in women is the second largest global organized crime, and in some cases girls are forced to service as many as 40 men a day.

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the issue of human trafficking and think that we cannot make a difference.  But do not forget that each one of us has at our disposal the most powerful weapon of warfare – and that is prayer.

PRAY…

FOR THE VICTIMS

For their strength & salvation

For their protection, freedom and justice

For their hope and healing

FOR THE TRAFFICKERS

For conviction, repentance and salvation

For criminal networks to dismantle

For the oppressors to be arrested and prosecuted

FOR GOVERNMENTS

For corruption to cease

For the implementation of just legislation

For discernment in forming alliances

AGAINST ROOT CAUSES

Against poverty

Against greed

Against prejudice

FOR INCREASED GLOBAL AWARENESS

The reality of trafficking is unveiled

For strategies to raise awareness

For people to be stirred to action

THE CHURCH

For the church to prevail

For advocates and laborers to emerge

To unite against injustice

THE A21 CAMPAIGN

For divine favour

For divine wisdom

For divine provision

21 WAYS TO HELP

1. Spread the word
2. Use your talent
3. Invest in freedom
4. Lobby politicians
5. Organize a fundraiser
6. Support survivors
7. Fast on the 21st
8. Volunteer
9. Start an awareness group
10. Buy fair trade products
11. Sponsor those at risk
12. Intern for a summer
13. Educate yourself
14. Stay current
15. Work the web
16. Pray
17. Motivate the media
18. Stay alert
19. Work for freedom
20. Make connections
21. Help victims escape

ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMP IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. -Edmund Burke

Next Page »