Re-Post: Do Angels Go Camping?

25 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from April:

I’ve made it a habit to pray for my kids each day before they leave for school, or before I leave for the office, whichever comes first.  I started doing that a few years ago and see it as a VITAL role of me as a parent…to pray over my children.  I want them to KNOW that I pray for them, and for them to HEAR me pray over them.  I LOVE the fact that it has become such an important part of our morning that I don’t even ask if I can pray for them anymore.  They find me before they take off across the street to school and say “Dad, will you pray for me before I go to school?”  I LOVE that!

Well, a few weeks ago I gathered all three of the oldest kids in the kitchen to pray for them before they left.  I typically pray the same prayer every day, and did that day as well:  “Lord, I pray you would ENCAMP your angels around Jonah, Mariah and Makalah.  I pray you would protect their hearts, souls, minds and bodies.  Help them to be leaders for you!  I pray they would have an awesome day and to do their best.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

As soon as I said Amen, Mariah looked at me and said “Angels go camping?”  At first I wasn’t sure what she said, so I was like, “Huh?”  Mariah asked again “Do angels go camping?”  I replied “Why would you ask that?”  “Dad, you prayed for angels to be camping around us.”  I about lost it!  In the middle of my laughing I explained to Mariah that I didn’t pray for angels to be camping, but that God would ENCAMP them around her.  “What does ENCAMP mean?”  I then explained that it means we’re asking God to put angels ALL AROUND us to protect us throughout the day.  Like kids often do she said “OH” and bounded off to the playground at school.

I didn’t think anything of it until last week at family devotions.  We had finished reading the Bible and everyone had shared their prayer requests they would be praying for.  We went around the table praying and came to Mariah.  I don’t even remember who or what she was praying for, but she prayed one of the most mature prayers I’ve ever heard her speak.  And in the middle of her prayer, in the proper use, she prayed “And God, I pray you would encamp your angels around them to protect them.”  WHAT?  Did she just pray that?  ABSOLUTELY she did.  Wanna know why?  Because she heard her DAD pray it!

Hearing her pray that prayer only FURTHERED my firm belief in what Donna Reed said during our panel discussion on Sunday:  “Much more is CAUGHT from us to our kids, than it is TAUGHT!”

Parents?  What are your kids catching from you?  Are they hearing your prayers?  Seeing you read your Bible?  With you when you serve?  Do you let them put the tithe check in the offering and then have the JOY of explaining to them why you give that much money to God?  Don’t be fooled.  Your kids are watching, listening AND learning from what you do!

Do angels go camping?  Not that I know of?  But with that one question, my daughter learned a VALUABLE lesson in prayer and spiritual warfare.

Hoping they catch it,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Family, Personal, Prayer

Re-Post: Why Do You Praise Him?

24 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from March:

Maybe a better question is “Why do I praise Him?”  I was having my quiet time with God the other day, read one verse, and stopped for several minutes in contemplation.  God spoke to me…no…He CHALLENGED me in those moments on my own motivations for praise.

I was reading in Isaiah, came to chapter 25, and I read this in Isaiah 25:1  Lord, I will honor and praise Your name, FOR you are my God.  You do such wonderful things!  You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. (emphasis added)

Now don’t get me wrong, but isn’t this verse in the wrong order?  “What?”, you ask.  “Are you saying God made a mistake in Scripture?”  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  I’m just saying that, if an American Christian like me were “writing” this, we wouldn’t put it in that order.

Here is how I would have written it, and then how God challenged me in it:  Lord, I will praise you for you do such wonderful things.  And SINCE you do such wonderful things I will honor and praise Your name. 

OUCH huh?  So often, MY praise is determined by HIS action.  IF He comes through for me.  IF He provides this for me.  IF He does what I want.  IF He answers that prayer. IF He does wonderful things…THEN I will praise Him.

Isaiah here says “NO!  I don’t praise you for what you DO, I praise you for WHO YOU ARE!  I praise you for YOU ARE MY GOD!”  What an AMAZING truth in that one verse.  That’s good enough isn’t it?  It should be.  God DESERVES our praise BECAUSE He is God, NOT because He does wonderful things.  Does He do wonderful things?  YES!  Does He deserve my praise regardless?  ABSOLUTELY.

So, why do you praise Him?

Praising Him,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Personal, Worship

Re-Post: No one else…(A note to lead planters)

23 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011.  Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most.  Enjoy this one from February:

Been thinking about something lately that I thought I’d take time to blog about.  It really is directed specifically to pastors who have planted a church and are still leading that church.  Not that this couldn’t or doesn’t apply to anyone else.  You could make parallels to start up business owners, para-church ministries, ministries inside the church and pastors who lead but didn’t start the church…but I want to specifically talk to the lead planter.  (Don’t even know if any other lead planters read my blog, but if anything, it’s good journaling for me)

In May of 2008, Pastor Adam and I attended the Whiteboard Sessions, a conference hosted by Ben Arment.  It was the first conference I went to as the pastor of Element Church, and I left FULL of practical information and help.  At Whiteboard there were 8 speakers, each given 30 minutes to share their one idea with church leaders.  It was one of the best conferences I’ve ever attended.  One phrase though stuck out to me and I’ve been reminded of it lately.  Ed Stetzer was the last leader to speak, and he said this:  “Most of you will not experience ministries like you’ve seen here today, but if you do…it will probably hurt more than you thought, and you’ll struggle more than you ever imagined.” I think I said “WOW!” out LOUD from the 2nd row where we were sitting.

Now, I sure don’t lead a ministry like any of the ones we saw represented on that platform that day, but the Lord has definitely blessed us at Element, and we’ve been able to see things happen in 3 1/2 yrs that I wasn’t sure would happen over the life of our ministry.  Then I read Paul’s defense of his Apostolic Authority in  2 Corinthians 11.  Now remember, the church at Corinth was “planted” during Paul’s second missionary journey.  He was the one who started that church, and in a very real sense, while he wasn’t there in person, was still the “pastor” of those people.  He was comparing himself to other “false” apostles and he said some very emotional things in 2 Corinthians 11:22-29.  You can read it HERE.  (Go ahead, read it)

Pastor…specifically, lead planter:  As I read those words, I was reminded of some things about the position we are in.  I hope this is encouragement to someone, ’cause I know what it’s like to be in your position.  (I realize that Christ goes beyond ANYTHING I’m about to say next.  I’m referring to other people within humanity.  Just thought I’d point that out)

1.  No one else CAN or WILL sacrifice as much as you do for the church.  Paul says in v. 23 “I know I sound like a mad man, but I have served him (Christ) FAR MORE!”  There will come a day where you feel “MAN, it seems like I’m sacrificing so much more than anyone else.”  YOU SHOULD!  No one else was there when God gave you the vision.  No one else was there when the thought of planting the church was birthed in your heart.  No one else!  It’s like parents having a child.  You’ll do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for your children.  Why?  No one else was there when they were conceived.  No one else went through the pain of delivery.  No one else put together a plan of how to care for that child.  No one else…

2.  No one else CAN or WILL be wounded as much as you are for the church. When people take shots at the church, it’s YOU that receives the wound.  When people criticize the ministry, it’s YOU that bears the scar.  When someone attacks the vision, it’s YOU that wonders if you made a mistake.  When someone says “I love the church…BUT…” It’s you that remembers everything they say next.  Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and yes even physically, NO ONE ELSE will be more wounded than you for the church.  That’s why the first thing I tell ANYONE considering ministry “DON’T DO IT, unless you’re called by God.”  Paul says “I worked harder…was put in prison…beaten times without number…stoned…shipwrecked…spent whole nights adrift at sea…faced danger…endured sleepless nights…been hungry and thirsty…cold and naked…MORE than ANYONE else.” No one else…

3.  No one else CAN or WILL feel more pressure about the church than you do. Paul says “Besides all this I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.”  You know what that daily burden feels like don’t you?  Waking up at night.  Not being able to sleep.  The constant weight and pressure of the enormity of responsibility that you want to handle with the UTMOST integrity.  That weight…that pressure…that daily burden of concern NEVER goes away.  EVER!  No one else…

4.  No one else CAN or WILL care more deeply for the people than you do. Paul continues with “Who is weak without my feeling that weakness?  Who is led astray and I do not burn with anger?”  No one else hurts more than you when someone falls into sin.  No one else worries more than you about the marriage that’s about to fall apart.  No one else is angered more than you when the volunteer leader has that affair.  It’s you that takes responsibility for every moral failure in the church.  No one else…

Now, if I stopped there you might want to quit right now.  Or maybe you might find encouragement in knowing you are not alone.  At the very least, Paul experienced some of the same struggles you do.  Maybe you know now that other pastors out there walk through the same hurts, struggles and pain that you have.  BUT, it doesn’t stop there.

5.  No one else CAN or WILL celebrate as much as you celebrate.  Love like you love.  Rejoice like you rejoice.  Be satisfied like you’re satisfied.  Smile like you smile.  Receive like you receive. And the list goes on and on and on.

Pastor, I can honestly say that (outside of parenting) leading a church has been THE MOST DIFFICULT thing I’ve EVER done in my life…but it’s also been THE MOST REWARDING.  Does a pastor hurt?  Absolutely!  Does he get wounded?  Often!  Does he sacrifice?  Greatly!  Does he care?  Maybe more than anyone else knows or will ever know!  Would he do it all over again?  For a MILLION years!

Pastors…no one else!  I hope that encourages you today!

Till the end,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Element Church, Leadership, Personal

Spreading Christmas Cheer

16 12 2011

Yes folks, it is that time of year again.  The time where yule tide joy and Christmas cheer take over our lives.  Speaking of  Christmas cheer, Buddy the Elf says: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”  So that’s just what we’re going to do.  We’re gonna spread some cheer.  Here it is, my yearly tradition of sharing “Jeff and Ben’s Old Fashioned Family Christmas”  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Personal

T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G

24 11 2011

NOT in order of importance, here are some thoughts of thanks!

T  — I’m thankful for TODAY!  I’m learning to live and lead with a sense of urgency.  I am but a breath, and my next breath is ONLY a gift from God.  Lord thank you that I’m alive today.

H  — I’m thankful for a new HEART!  Every day I am more and more blown away that God chose ME!  He sent His Son for ME!  He died for ME!  He called ME!  It just doesn’t make sense.  Thank you Lord for SAVING me, for CHANGING me, for CALLING me and for giving me a NEW HEART!

A  — I’m thankful for ARKANSAS!  Ok, totally shallow and wishful thinking but COME ON RAZORBACKS!  Don’t want to see LSU and the fighting Mad Hatters in the championship game.

N  —I’m thankful for NORDY’S!  Again, totally shallow but this is tough.  Thinking up stuff that starts with these letters.  Nordy’s is a BBQ joint and will stand in place for FOOD.  One of these days, my wife and I are going to go on a week long vacation across the country to visit famous restaurants.  We call it our FOOD VACATION!  It’s gonna happen Sabrina.

K  —  I’m thankful for my KIDS!  Jonah, I’m more proud of you ever day.  Mariah, I’m so impressed with your love of learning.  Makalah, I’m so pleased that you love to serve.  Jaydah, I’m so glad you love to cuddle.  Can’t imagine life without them.

S  —  I’m thankful for my wife…SABRINA!  Where do I begin?  Words could not and would not do justice to my love for you.  I would not be the man I am without you and could not be the pastor God called me to be without you by my side.  I love you!

G  —  I’m thankful for GENEROSITY!  My life has been so blessed by generous people and it has challenged me to be more generous.  One of the things I pray over my kids is that they would be GENEROUS!  I’m trying to model this for them.

I   —  I’m thankful for ILLUSTRATIONS!  Just to think, all those things that happened in my life.  All the stupid stuff I did…God has now redeemed into GREAT sermon illustrations.  HA!

V  —  I’m thankful for VICTORY!  WOW!  January 20th, 2003 and January 10th, 20o6.  Those two dates are KEY MOMENTS of victory in my spiritual life.  “The same power that conquered the grave LIVES IN ME!”  Thank you God!

I  —  I’m thankful for INNOVATION!  Because of creative people serving a creative God, the opportunities for the church to advance the Gospel message of Jesus has become EXPONENTIALLY greater.  I reap the benefits EVERY DAY, from people who led the way in being innovative.

N  —  I’m thankful for (can I say Nordy’s again?) Non-Essentials!  Huh?  The little things in life.  We NEED water, air, food.  Those are essentials.  I’m thankful for those, obviously.  But I’m also thankful for the non-essentials.  A roof over my head.  A heater in the winter. Air conditioning in the summer. Cable TV.  Cell phone with a data plan.  Two vehicles that run.  Going out to eat.  Vacations with the family.  Going to the movies.  A closet full of clothes.  Choices in the pantry.  You know…Non-Essentials.  They are GIFTS, that in America, we view as RIGHTS.

G  —  I’m thankful for GOD!  Without You we are NOTHING…with You we can accomplish ANYTHING.  Without You we HAVE nothing…with You we have EVERYTHING we need!  WOW!

Thankful,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Element Church, Personal

It Only Takes One

15 11 2011

ONE act of indiscretion.  ONE word spoken without thinking it through.  ONE turning of the eye to sin.  ONE covering up immorality.  ONE selfish act.  ONE!  EVERY good thing you’ve EVER done no longer matters, when that ONE TIME brings upon you a disaster. 

I’ve delayed on purpose blogging about this, and this blog is NOT a declaration of my opinion on Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno, or the apparent HORRIFIC activity that was done in the Penn State athletic department.  It’s been one week now since the tragic news broke of the accusations against the aforementioned men (and others).  The accusations alone are disgusting, horrifying, heart breaking and infuriating.  It sure seems like, in the court of public opinion, they have already been arrested, tried AND convicted.  Yet we all understand, the proper process still needs to take place where a judicial court will decide some of their fate.  But like I said, this blog is NOT about their guilt or innocence, their purity or impurity.

This entire situation has CLEARLY and BOLDLY reminded me of the unbelievable weight that ONE decision can make in my life and ministry.  And I’m speaking specifically to pastors and Christian leaders.  The GRAVITY of responsibility that EVERY decision we make carries, should NEVER leave our hearts or minds.  As leaders in GOD’S church!  As pastors to HIS sheep!  As the caretakers, if you will, of the BRIDE OF CHRIST…may this serve as a reminder to us, just how SERIOUSLY our lives can affect God’s ministry.

Joe Paterno, JoPa as many a sports fan like me have affectionately referred to him as, potentially, will FOREVER be remembered for this ONE ACT of turning a blind eye for a friend!  (I say potentially for the sake of letting the due process take place)

Most wins EVER in college football.  Most bowl appearances AND bowl victories.  Forty Six years as a head coach of the Nittany Lions.  National Champions.  Big Ten titles.  All Americans.  Future NFL Hall of Famers.  For many people, you think of college football, and JoPa would be on the tip of your tongue in that conversation.  Yet now, a legacy that took a LIFETIME to fulfill, is crumbling around him in ONE moment!

I’m reminded of this as a Christian man and a Christian leader:  Titus 2:7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let EVERYTHING you do reflect the INTEGRITY and SERIOUSNESS of your teaching.

EVERYTHING!  Pastors, may we carry the name of JESUS with integrity, not just in our pulpits, but in our personal lives.  I’m so challenged by this!  It’s why we have a very HIGH accountability standard we hold our staff too.  This is NOT a stinkin’ game!  ETERNITY hangs in the balance.  The reputation, NOT of our church, but of our GOD is of utmost priority in EVERYTHING we do.  No matter how many people attend our church.  No matter how many campuses we ever launch.  No matter how many “accomplishments” we EVER have in ministry… may THIS serve as a reminder…to ALL of us, it only takes ONE, and it all comes crumbling down!

Heavy hearted,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Leadership, Personal

Element Church: Five Things I Want You To Know

5 10 2011

Hey Element Church!  Just wanted to take today and share five things with you that are on my heart and I wanted you to know.  There are probably a 1,000 things I want to share with you, but since I love you, I’ll keep it to five.

1.  THE BEST IS YET TO COME!  Can you believe we are only four years old as a church?  I hope that puts things into perspective a bit.  FOUR YEARS!  We have seen God do things in four years that many people dream of seeing in a LIFETIME!  I want you to know, the things that are happening in our church just don’t happen all the time.  I tell us that, because I think we can take it for granted.  We can get USED to people finding LIFE in Christ.  We can get USED to lives being transformed.  We can get USED to incredible acts of generosity.  We can get USED to the church growing like crazy.  That’s not NORMAL but it IS expected!  God WANTS people to be saved, He WANTS people to be generous, He WANTS lives to be transformed and He WANTS His church to grow.  We just happen to be smack dab in the middle of seeing ALL of that happen.  I’ve been praying and asking God for Habakkuk 1:5 over our church “For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”  Friends, we’ve seen AMAZING things, but I truly believe THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

2.  Inviting people to church STILL WORKS!  We had 46 first time guests who filled out a connection card on Sunday.  EVERY ONE of them that answered the question “What brought you to Element Church?” answered with some form of “Invited by a friend/family member”.  We sent a mailer to EVERY home in our city.  That mailer might make people AWARE of who we are and what we are doing, but an invite from YOU brings them in! KEEP INVITING!

3.  This sermon series has JUST BEGUN!  We did a LOT of build up and promotions leading up to this sermon series.  But we are only ONE WEEK IN!  This Sunday we are talking about the issue of purity.  The following week the issue of leadership.  The next week we’re talking on authority and how to use it.  Don’t stop PRAYING over this series, don’t stop INVITING to this series, and don’t stop ATTENDING this series.  The potential for greatness that comes from the men who attend our church is UNLIMITED with Jesus!  When God captures the hearts of the MEN in a city, the city begins to change.  And it starts in the local church!  I truly believe that this series has some of the GREATEST potential for change that we’ve ever seen.

4.  Just because they didn’t come last week, doesn’t mean they’re not going to come!  If you invited your husband, your dad, a friend, a co-worker and they didn’t come, don’t be discouraged.  You are only responsible for the invite, leave the rest up to God!  Talked to a staff member today who was REALLY hoping one of their buddies would come to the series; they didn’t come Sunday, and he said “The Sunday God brings them to church will happen to be the EXACT Sunday they need to be here, and the EXACT sermon God wanted them to hear!”  And that is SO TRUE!  God knows when they need to come and will bring them at JUST the right time.  You just keep inviting and keep praying.

5.  I LOVE OUR CHURCH!  If I weren’t the pastor OF this church I’d want to attend with you AT this church.  You guys are the GREATEST!  I am so honored to serve WITH you and to SERVE you!  I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.  Let’s take what happened last Sunday, give GOD the glory, celebrate what HE did, but may we NEVER live in what HAPPENED, may we ONLY live for what’s YET TO BE!  I LOVE our church, I love what God’s DONE in our church, but the BEST is YET to come.  I love you guys!

Waiting Expectantly,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Element Church, Personal, Updates

Are You Willing

30 08 2011

It’s easy to say that you’ll DIE for Christ, the question is, will you LIVE for Him?  I remember a youth camp speaker saying that when I was a youth pastor, and have NEVER forgotten it; and I’ve used it in sermons myself.  Today in my quiet time I saw it in a whole new way.

In Mark chapter 14 Jesus again warns the disciples that He was going to be killed, BUT on the 3rd day be raised from the dead.  (Side Note:  It always strikes me that EVERY time Jesus mentioned dying BUT rising from the dead, the disciples never said “Wait, did you say RISE FROM THE DEAD?”!  They just always protested that He would die.  They focused on the problem not the promise.  That’ll preach there) A dialogue then ensues between Jesus and Peter that we’ve all heard a 1,000 times, but it hit me in a new way today.

Mark 14:29-31  29Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”  30 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”  31 “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.

Yet we all know the story.  Jesus is arrested, and Peter denies his involvement with Christ, even to a young girl!  Where had the fire gone?  Where was the passion?  Where was the zeal and determination that made him the first to stand up and say “Even if I have to DIE for you I will NEVER deny you?”  I mean, even in the garden, as Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his sword and was ready to fight toe to toe with the Roman guard, and side by side with his Lord.  And THAT’S where it hit me.

Peter was HOPING for and EXPECTING in a Messiah that would start a new regime.  A Savior who would overthrow Ceasar, take His rightful throne in Jerusalem, rule the entire nation, and PETER would be His right hand man.  Jesus said it to him once before “You’re seeing things merely from a human perspective, not God’s.”  So here it is:

Peter was willing to DIE for Jesus, as long as Jesus was willing to LIVE for Peter.  Think about that.  It’s SO true for SO many of us.  As long as Jesus does things MY way and in MY time and with MY plan, I’ll do ANYTHING for Him.  I’ll even DIE for Him.  But we aren’t really willing to die for HIM are we?  We’re willing to die for OUR CAUSE.  Jesus just happens to be attached to IT!

It’s easy to say you’ll DIE for Christ, the question is, will you LIVE for Him…EVEN in the face of death?  EVEN when it doesn’t go your way?  EVEN when it doesn’t fit your plan?  EVEN…

Choosing to LIVE even if I DIE,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Personal

Don’t overlook the “ONLY THEN”

17 08 2011

It’s amazing to me how God will reveal something in Scripture that I’ve read a HUNDRED times, but only really SEE it for the FIRST time.

Every leader LOVES the story of Joshua, and every Christian CLINGS to one of God’s promises Joshua received.  I look forward to reading Joshua every time I come to it in my quiet time.  Outside of a few occasions that God has led me to do something different, when I do my devotions I read from Genesis to Revelation and start all over again.  Every time I start working my way toward Joshua, I get excited.  This time was no different, but this time God showed me something IN it for the first time.

As Christians, we tend to focus on verses like Joshua 1:5  “I will never fail you or abandon you.” 

As leaders we tend to focus on PARTS of verses like Joshua 1:8 “…you will PROSPER and SUCCEED in all you do.” 

I’ve got to admit, that many times reading through Joshua I have gravitated toward words like “prosper” and “succeed”.  I focus on “Don’t be afraid or discouraged.  Be strong and courageous” and in doing so, I’ve overlooked the “only then”.  What is the only then?  I’m SO GLAD you asked, and it’s what the Lord revealed to me as I read it.

Joshua 1:7-8 says 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. ONLY THEN will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Did you see it?  I hope so, I bolded – italicized – AND underlined it.  ONLY THEN will you prosper and succeed.  When is then?  Study this book of instruction CONTINUALLY.  Meditate on it DAY and NIGHT.  Obey ALL the instructions written in it.  THEN!  THEN you will prosper and succeed in all you do. And let me drive home a point I think we MUST understand and one I pound into our staff ALL THE TIME.  I don’t OBEY God so that God will GRANT me success.  Obedience IS our success!  Whether we ever achieve “worldly” success, we are a success simply by OBEYING the Word of God.

But I do think we must pay attention to what God says here.  The ONLY way we will prosper and succeed is WHEN we study AND follow the Word of God!  ONLY THEN!  Pastor…are you struggling with vision?  ONLY THEN!  Christian…are you struggling with direction?  ONLY THEN!  Are you stuck?  Are you afraid?  Are you apathetic?  ONLY THEN!

Don’t overlook the “only then”!

Looking,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Leadership, Personal, Vision

Remain In The Tent — Things I’m Learning As A Leader (Pt. 3)

11 08 2011

Sometimes in order to LEAD the way, you’ve got to be willing to REMAIN behind.  It sounds like an oxymoron in leadership but it’s actually a principle we need to follow.  I mean, a leader at their very nature wants to GET OUT FRONT and lead.  Otherwise they wouldn’t be leaders.  What we leaders almost ALWAYS struggle with though is, in order to be a leader we must first be willing to follow.

This is my final thought on some things I’m learning as a leader.  You can read the first two posts HERE and HERE.

Exodus 33:11 has always inspired me.  It’s one of those verses you can read and COMPLETELY miss some impact inside it.  Exodus 33:11 says this:  Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.  Afterward, Moses would return to the camp, BUT the young man who assisted him, Joshua Son of Nun, would REMAIN BEHIND in the Tent of Meeting. 

The Bible doesn’t say WHY he remained behind, it just says that when Moses spoke with God Joshua was close by, and when Moses went back to the camp, Joshua remained behind.  I like to think that Joshua remained behind because he DESPERATELY wanted the wisdom, leadership ability, understanding, humility and most importantly RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD his leader Moses had, and he was willing to do WHATEVER it took and wait as LONG as it took to get it.  I like to think that Joshua knew, sometimes in order to LEAD the way you’ve got to REMAIN behind.  I bet every chance Joshua got, he was willing to sit at Moses’ feet, serve him in a task, or watch him as he led.

Then I read Deuteronomy 31:7 which says Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land.

Because he REMAINED behind, he was allowed to LEAD the way. 

So who are some Moses’ in YOUR life that you need to or want to sit at their feet for awhile?  To let their leadership mojo rub off on you a little bit?  Who could you “remain behind with” so when YOUR time comes you’ll be able to “lead the way”?  If you could have lunch with ANYONE about leadership, who would you want to have lunch with?  (Lunch, is the modern day equivalent of remaining behind by the way, HA)  I created my list, and here it is:

1.  Perry Noble:  I found Perry’s blog about 5 months before we launched Element Church in 2007, and his leadership was INFLUENTIAL in many of the early decisions I made in how I/we would lead this church, and he still is.  Perry leads NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC.  In a town of under 30,000 people, this church has grown to close to 15,000 (if not beyond).  I had the great honor of being in Perry’s Fall coaching network in 2010, and consider him as a leadership “Moses” to me.  I’d love to sit down with him and “remain behind” a bit to learn from his leadership wisdom.

2.  Erwin McManus:  Erwin is a definite leadership “Moses” in my life.  God used his book “The Barbarian Way” to ignite a calling in my heart to plant Element Church.  On January 10th, 2006 I read on page 54 these words “We look to Jesus not to fulfill our shallow longings or provide for us creature comforts.  We look to him to lead us where he needs us most and where we can accomplish the most good.”  I made a commitment to pray a prayer that day “God put me where I can do You the most good”, and 2 months later, Element Church birthed in my heart.  Would love to “remain behind” a bit with Erwin and capture some of his barbarian spirit.

3.  Shannon Odell:  Shannon wrote the book called Transforming Church in Rural America, and is leading a HIGHLY influential multi-site church in RURAL Arkansas called Brand New Church.  The wisdom, insight and knowledge he has on creativity, leadership, spiritual formation and the nuances of pastoring a rural church are second to none.  Would love to “remain behind” a bit with this leadership “Moses” to catch some of his creative passion.

4.  Mark Batterson:  Mark leads National Community Church in Washington, DC, and while he is an incredible leader, gifted communicator, and inspiring author, those aren’t any of the reasons I’d like to “remain behind” with him.  Mark’s first attempt at a church plant failed, yet when MANY people would have never tried again, he followed the call of God into Washington, D.C. where he started National Community, and they are starting campuses (part of their DNA) all over the metro area.  I’d love to “remain behind” and be inspired by some of Mark’s dogged determination to follow the call of God at all costs.

5.  Judah Smith:  Judah leads The City Church in the Seattle, WA area.  He took over as lead pastor of The City when his father became ill in 2009, and led to his eventual and unfortunate passing in December of 2010.  Judah is one of the most dynamic and inspirational preachers I have EVER heard.  As a preacher trying to “better” my craft, he is one of the “Moses’” I listen to EVERY week.  Not only am I inspired to be a better preacher, but I feel like it’s a chance for me to be fed as well.  I’d love to “remain behind” with this leadership “Moses” in my life and be challenged by his gift of preaching.

NONE of these men would call themselves a “Moses”, and probably wouldn’t even like that I use that term…but isn’t that part of what makes a leader a “Moses”?  I hope you have people in your life like I do, who whether they realize it or not, are allowing you to “remain behind” a bit, so you’ll be able to “lead the way”.  (I could have made a much longer list, but those are my top 5 right now.  Who are yours?)

Staying behind,

Jeff


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : Element Church, Leadership, Personal

« Previous Entries Next Entries »


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 174 other followers