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Friday, May 28, 2004
"We're taught to remember the significant moments, the rites of passage. In truth, the smaller steps that get us to these momentous occasions are just as significant. Looking back, you see it's not just the high points, but the low points that define who we are -- and who we will become."
- Everwood, "Your Future Awaits", Episode #221
posted by Kevin at 5/28/2004 11:26:19 AM
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Tuesday, May 25, 2004
2004 Church Health Award
Congratulations to these Southern Baptist congregations in the US for winning the 2004 Church Health Award in honor of their purpose-driven ministries. This award is given in recognition of ministries that have excellent balance, health and strength.
- Bay Area Fellowship, Corpus Christi, Texas
- Brookwood Community Church, Greenville, S.C.
- Centro Familiar Cristiano Betesda, Orange, Calif.
- The Church at Rock Creek, Little Rock, Ark.
- Clovis Hills Community Church, Clovis, Calif.
- Crosspoint Chinese Church, Milpitas, Calif.
- El Buen Pastor, Kenner, La.
- Flamingo Road Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Grace Church, Des Moines, Iowa
- High Pointe Community Church, South Hill, Wash.
- Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover, Ala.
- Iglesia Bautista Resurrección, Miami, Fla.
- New Covenant Community Church, Lincoln, Neb.
- New Horizons Fellowship, Apex, N.C.
- Rabbit Creek Community Church, Anchorage, Alaska
- SpringWell Church, Taylors, S.C.
- Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.
- West Ridge Church, Hiram, Ga.
Link
posted by Kevin at 5/25/2004 04:03:59 PM
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Sunday, May 23, 2004
Effective leaders . . .
. . . Know they must be able to persuade others to work with them in order to succeed.
. . . Do not think of themselves as having charisma and have little use for the term. The effective leader isn’t concerned with being loved or admired. The effective leader does the right thing and helps others do the right thing. Results, not popularity, defines leadership.
. . . Are visible and set examples of what they need and expect from others. Leaders are not caught in contradictions between what they say and what they do.
. . . Are not focused on honors, titles, rank, or money. Leadership is responsibility.
. . . Constantly seek to understand and adhere to the mission and goals of the organization, changing them if necessary but not violating them.
. . . Constantly seek to answer the question: “What can and should I do to make a difference?” And the difference they want to make has nothing to do with their own preferences but with the good of the organization. They want to be remembered for making a difference in the organization, not for selfishly pursuing their own agenda.
. . . Do not look for carbon copies of themselves and are very appreciative of diversity. They try to instill an appreciation of diversity in others.
. . . Are not afraid of working with strong people. They seek out the very best people for every position and defer to the opinions of those who are more knowledgeable or experienced than themselves.
. . . Delegate many things and trust others to complete tasks, but they are also doers. They have a clear sense of what they need to do themselves and of what will make a difference in the organization.
Link
posted by Kevin at 5/23/2004 07:13:26 PM
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Thursday, May 20, 2004
Several books
For an application questionnaire I am completing, I had to answer this question: "List several books that have had the most influence in your life and ministry and why?"
Here was my answer...
Lectures to my Students, C.H. Spurgeon – This book solidified God’s call on my life for both ministry and Seminary. In his witty and practical way Spurgeon showed me that ministry was bigger than myself and I was running from fear of commitment rather than fear of being inadequate. After reading it I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the next step was Seminary.
Disappointment with God, Phillip Yancey – One of the greatest books ever written, other than Job, on the problem of pain and suffering in the Christian life. This book is a must read for every Christian who wishes to understand why God is sometimes silent and why bad things happen to good people. Personally, it transformed my understanding of dispensationalism.
Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders – I’ve used this book in small group study in the past and always found it to be compelling to all who read it. It is a continual challenge to me to place my talents and powers at God’s disposal if I am to be a Biblical leader. His emphasis on the Holy Spirit has taught me that natural charisma isn’t really the key to true spiritual leadership, but a life given totally to God is. It is one the best books on leadership I have ever read.
The Seven Laws of the Learner, Bruce Wilkinson – This book by Bruce Wilkinson transformed my philosophy of education, teaching, and even preaching. The principles and techniques provided have greatly impacted my ability to teach for life change.
Feeding and Leading, Kenneth Gangel – Dr. Gangel is my favorite author on Church administration, business, and organization. He excels at melding Biblical principle and contemporary theory. Of all his books, this one remains my favorite. Along with many other topics that hit the mark, it impacted my philosophies on servant leadership, goal setting, long-range planning, communication, and delegation. It even taught me that “ministry” and “management” are not contradictory terms.
Knowing God, J.I. Packer – This book altered my understanding of God and his character. Dr. Packer’s methodical look into the attributes of God left me both blessed and humbled that such a Being could/would ever love a sinner like me. I found the chapter on the “Anger” of God to be the most compelling and convicting.
The Bible – I would be remiss if I did not list the book that has transformed my life and given me direction for my daily walk. It (almost) goes without saying that this book is, and will always be, the most important book in my life.
posted by Kevin at 5/20/2004 10:59:20 PM
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Monday, May 17, 2004
American Idols
I scared myself today...
This is quite possibly one of the most horrific truths that I have ever discovered in the Bible. If it is true, then it changes EVERYTHING.
"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I even let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the Lord will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry.'" Ezekiel 14:3-4
Let me tell ya the end first: Sometimes, God gives us EXACTLY what we want.
Normally we applaud people who come and seek out God's face, who fervently seek His will and pray for Him to show the 'right path' for life. Normally these people are lauded and lifted high for their spiritual moorings. Normally they are seen as the most spiritual among us.
Not so here.
These men is Ezekiel did just such a thing. In fact, they were so concerned about making the right decisions that they went to the foremost religious guide of their day for answers, the Prophet Ezekiel. From our vantage point, these men were impressive.
These men truly wanted to seek God's face, but they had things in their life... stumbling blocks... that had come between them and God. And they seemingly did not even realize it! They THOUGHT they were looking for God's will, but in fact they were just looking for their own will to be approved by God. And God said, "Should I even let them inquire of me at all!?!"
When they ask the Prophet what the Lord's will is, God tells them that when someone 'prays' for God's will and does so having an idol in their heart, then He will answer them in accordance to their multiple idols.
Let me distill that out, if I may: When one prays for God's will, but really simply wants God to give a stamp of approval on our will, then God will do so... give us our will.
That is HORRIFIC. If we pray with unclean hearts than God may just give us the desires of our hearts... and we will most likely continue to think that it was His will we received instead of our own, all the while receiving the due punishment we deserve.
I wonder how my times I have been guilty of this? Getting what I wanted because I talked myself into believing that I truly wanted what God wanted?!?
What we're seeing here should be frightening, because it indicates if we are not completely sold out to hearing the truth - regardless of how unsavory the truth may be - we are subject to be deceived. Furthermore, the very fact that this principle exists is tantamount to a prediction that there will be believers that think they are truly seeking the truth, but in actuality they have placed their idolatrous doctrines in their hearts, and are going before the LORD to ask Him to validate the "idol" that is their false interpretation.
Sometimes, God gives us EXACTLY what we want.
posted by Kevin at 5/17/2004 01:14:53 PM
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Saturday, May 15, 2004
Frontline: the choice: george w. bush
Gandhi once said, "He who says that religion and politics don't mix understands neither one."
This article is a long read, but it is one of the most poignant, insightful, and honest discussions I've ever read about the place of faith in the Office of the President. I've never been more proud of my President than I am today.
And PBS of all places aired this?!? Kudos. Rarely do they get any credit from the right. This is one time where they have definitely earned it.
Frontline: the choice: george w. bush
Link
posted by Kevin at 5/15/2004 12:45:19 AM
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Thursday, May 13, 2004
Called & Compelled
Those who know me well will know that C.H. Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students is one my favorite books ever. It changed my life. I was caught unawares today by this quote from it...
"'Do not enter the ministry if you can help it,' was the deeply sage advice of a divine to one who sought his judgment. If any student in this room could be content to be a newspaper editor, or a grocer, or a farmer or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a senator, or a king, in the name of heaven and earth let him go his way; he is not the man in whom dwells the Spirit of God in its fulness, for a man so filled with God would utterly weary of any pursuit but that for which his inmost soul pants. If on the other hand, you can say that for all the wealth of both the Indies you could not and dare not espouse any other calling so as to be put aside from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, then, depend upon it, if other things be equally satisfactory, you have the signs of this apostleship. We must feel that woe is unto us if we preach not the gospel; the word of God must be unto us as fire in our bones, otherwise, if we undertake the ministry, we shall be unhappy in it, shall be unable to bear the self-denials incident to it, and shall be of little service to those among whom we minister." (Spurgeon: Lectures to My Students, pp. 26-27)
posted by Kevin at 5/13/2004 11:27:42 PM
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Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Again, please pardon my silence... time in Indiana and some allergy flair-ups have sapped my time and energy. Give me a day or two to recoup.
posted by Kevin at 5/11/2004 11:10:41 PM
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Tuesday, May 04, 2004
I've been away for awhile, for that I apologize. You can't possibly begin to imagine what I am going through. Or maybe some of you can. But anyway, I'm back.....
__________________________
Take this as you will. According to executives polled recently by The Creative Group, the four most common mistakes that can undermine a manager's credibility with employees:
Deserting your team. Managers who fail to stand up for staff members when they're unfairly criticized or when times are tough lose their employees' trust.
Sending mixed signals. If you're receiving contradictory messages from a client or senior executives, you may be passing this confusion on to your team. Make sure you have all the facts, and be consistent in the direction you give. If parameters or goals change, explain why.
Not giving credit where it's due. Acknowledge employee contributions on projects, and never take credit for someone else's ideas or efforts. Shining the spotlight on your team makes everyone look good.
Breaking promises. Only promise what you know you can deliver to your staff. If, for example, employees have been told they will receive a promotion, raise or bonus when company profits improve, follow through on your word as soon as feasible.
posted by Kevin at 5/04/2004 06:20:50 PM
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