Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Bethlehem Star
I just finished watching a DVD presentation about the Star of Bethlehem. Interesting. Visit The Star for yourself. I will need to watch it several more times, but I must admit the presentation is compelling.
Leadership Thought
Leading Ideas: Getting Unstuck (part 2) “ID-ing Catalyzing Leaders”
Orginally published on Monday, December 08, 2008 at 9:19 AM by Alan E. Nelson
In the last LeadingIdeas, I pointed out that the primary reason that churches find themselves stuck is because they’ve marginalized or run off their catalyzing leaders. These are the people who have the God-given ability to sense where organizations are stuck and are able to strategize ways to move them forward. The typical scenario is that managers or do-gooders get selected to serve on the church board, people who’ve never really led much in their lives, but find themselves in a situation where they can “be in charge.” If and when a catalyst is nominated to serve on the board or even considers the outside chance of volunteering for the role, he looks at the current board, doesn’t spot any other catalysts, and then graciously excuses himself. Fat chance they want to spend endless hours in board meetings, nit-picking over paint chips or micro-managing ministry budgets. So how do you find these elusive, catalyzing leaders, when you’re surrounded by teaching, relational, and managerial types? The problem is a big one because the old adage is true, “it takes one to know one.” When non-catalyzing leaders try to find catalyzing leaders, they nearly always come up with their own kind. So here’s a cheat sheet of sorts to help you discern who has a catalyzing wiring in your congregation, so that you can seek them out one on one for some loving arm-twisting. Since these people almost never respond to cattle calls from the pulpit or bulletin announcements, and healthy ones rarely volunteer to help (unhealthy controlling types sometimes do), you’ll need to do some personal recruiting. Sounds a lot like Jesus’ approach to disciple-inviting, doesn’t it? Here are 5 traits for identify catalyzing leaders:
1. They currently supervise at least 10 people in their work; 20 or more is even better. Don’t just look for talented individuals, sole business owners who sell insurance or run a ma and pa type store. People who manage more than a handful of others often have the catalyzing gene.
2. Interview the person and listen for past experience in terms of being in charge of clubs or groups. For example, “I was student body president of my high school.” “I was the captain of our debate team.” “I was the youngest to be promoted to district manager in our company.” In our work with young leaders in KidLead, we’ve found that catalyzing leaders tend to emerge early in life, as early as preschool when socializing distinguishes the followers from the followed.
3. They’ve successfully established ministry teams at church. When you give a catalyzing leader a task, he or she will round up a group of people and gidder done. Others will tend to overwork themselves, stress out over limited resources, and fail to attract others to the cause. They’ll say things such as, “Nobody showed up. Everyone was too busy. People just aren’t committed.” Use your local church as a laboratory to test for those able to catalyze others and accomplish things through teams.
4. They’re talked about when absent or are looked to when in a group. This is the EF Hutton symptom, “when they talk, others listen.” This person may not be brash, outgoing, or an extrovert, but they do carry a presence about them that is noticed when they are absent. Listen for names that get mentioned frequently and look for those who are asked about by others.
5. Look at those in your church who get things outside of the church. Catalyzing leaders can’t not lead. Because most churches don’t have enough room for them to spread their wings, they gravitate toward community, parachurch, or business arenas that recognize and reward them with opportunities. Google, read the paper, and interview those in your church who may be sitting in the back or attending sporadically, to see who is making the chips fly on the outside .
You may find one or two of these indicators in people who aren’t catalyzing leaders, but most catalyzing leaders will have at least four of them, if not all five. When you ID them positively, do your best to cast a personal vision. Better yet, find three or four of them and get them all together at one time. They’ll recognize the trait in each other and when they realize they’re not alone in the church, they’re more apt to hope things really can change. Then, let them go. Don’t tie them down with protocol and constraints. Let the horses run.
Alan E. Nelson http://www.alanenelson.com http://www.kidlead.com
I read this at www.mondaymorninginsight.com
Orginally published on Monday, December 08, 2008 at 9:19 AM by Alan E. Nelson
In the last LeadingIdeas, I pointed out that the primary reason that churches find themselves stuck is because they’ve marginalized or run off their catalyzing leaders. These are the people who have the God-given ability to sense where organizations are stuck and are able to strategize ways to move them forward. The typical scenario is that managers or do-gooders get selected to serve on the church board, people who’ve never really led much in their lives, but find themselves in a situation where they can “be in charge.” If and when a catalyst is nominated to serve on the board or even considers the outside chance of volunteering for the role, he looks at the current board, doesn’t spot any other catalysts, and then graciously excuses himself. Fat chance they want to spend endless hours in board meetings, nit-picking over paint chips or micro-managing ministry budgets. So how do you find these elusive, catalyzing leaders, when you’re surrounded by teaching, relational, and managerial types? The problem is a big one because the old adage is true, “it takes one to know one.” When non-catalyzing leaders try to find catalyzing leaders, they nearly always come up with their own kind. So here’s a cheat sheet of sorts to help you discern who has a catalyzing wiring in your congregation, so that you can seek them out one on one for some loving arm-twisting. Since these people almost never respond to cattle calls from the pulpit or bulletin announcements, and healthy ones rarely volunteer to help (unhealthy controlling types sometimes do), you’ll need to do some personal recruiting. Sounds a lot like Jesus’ approach to disciple-inviting, doesn’t it? Here are 5 traits for identify catalyzing leaders:
1. They currently supervise at least 10 people in their work; 20 or more is even better. Don’t just look for talented individuals, sole business owners who sell insurance or run a ma and pa type store. People who manage more than a handful of others often have the catalyzing gene.
2. Interview the person and listen for past experience in terms of being in charge of clubs or groups. For example, “I was student body president of my high school.” “I was the captain of our debate team.” “I was the youngest to be promoted to district manager in our company.” In our work with young leaders in KidLead, we’ve found that catalyzing leaders tend to emerge early in life, as early as preschool when socializing distinguishes the followers from the followed.
3. They’ve successfully established ministry teams at church. When you give a catalyzing leader a task, he or she will round up a group of people and gidder done. Others will tend to overwork themselves, stress out over limited resources, and fail to attract others to the cause. They’ll say things such as, “Nobody showed up. Everyone was too busy. People just aren’t committed.” Use your local church as a laboratory to test for those able to catalyze others and accomplish things through teams.
4. They’re talked about when absent or are looked to when in a group. This is the EF Hutton symptom, “when they talk, others listen.” This person may not be brash, outgoing, or an extrovert, but they do carry a presence about them that is noticed when they are absent. Listen for names that get mentioned frequently and look for those who are asked about by others.
5. Look at those in your church who get things outside of the church. Catalyzing leaders can’t not lead. Because most churches don’t have enough room for them to spread their wings, they gravitate toward community, parachurch, or business arenas that recognize and reward them with opportunities. Google, read the paper, and interview those in your church who may be sitting in the back or attending sporadically, to see who is making the chips fly on the outside .
You may find one or two of these indicators in people who aren’t catalyzing leaders, but most catalyzing leaders will have at least four of them, if not all five. When you ID them positively, do your best to cast a personal vision. Better yet, find three or four of them and get them all together at one time. They’ll recognize the trait in each other and when they realize they’re not alone in the church, they’re more apt to hope things really can change. Then, let them go. Don’t tie them down with protocol and constraints. Let the horses run.
Alan E. Nelson http://www.alanenelson.com http://www.kidlead.com
I read this at www.mondaymorninginsight.com
Possible Joseph Thoughts
In the first Christmas Story Joseph obeys. He hears God and obeys. May I do the same.
Brain and Life Food
"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Today's Whistling
Hark the herald angels sing"
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:"
Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing"
Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing"
Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing"
Glory to the newborn King!"
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Pray This Prayer - Regularly
The prayer below was offered in a Community Group by a person who is growing in Christ and branching out into new territories of faith in order to touch more lives.Father,
We thank you for this study tonight and this time to learn about complete forgiveness. Thank you for making us all equal in your eyes. You forgive us no matter how big or small we may have sinned. Thank you for forgiveness even when we cannot forgive ourselves. Thank you for seeing our heart, we are truly grateful. Teach us to be more like you and to forgive others. Help us to remember it is not by our deeds but by our faith in you that we are saved. Thank you for providing this way for us. Let us seek to honor you in everything we say and do. Let us show others love and kindness. Help us and move in our lives to show us what we can accomplish in your name. Help us to put our faith into action. Help us to be more like you in everything we say and do.
In Jesus Name, Amen
We thank you for this study tonight and this time to learn about complete forgiveness. Thank you for making us all equal in your eyes. You forgive us no matter how big or small we may have sinned. Thank you for forgiveness even when we cannot forgive ourselves. Thank you for seeing our heart, we are truly grateful. Teach us to be more like you and to forgive others. Help us to remember it is not by our deeds but by our faith in you that we are saved. Thank you for providing this way for us. Let us seek to honor you in everything we say and do. Let us show others love and kindness. Help us and move in our lives to show us what we can accomplish in your name. Help us to put our faith into action. Help us to be more like you in everything we say and do.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Christmas Cheer
For those who are a part of SCC. Keep bringing in nice, clean, gently used coats for adults and children and plan on giving above and beyond your regular offering to help with ministry throughout Virginia. You can also help with Compassion International, Tamani Africa.
See Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2 for the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Worship
1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
Worship: Recognise God's greatness. To bow down before God. To offer yourself to God. Recognize God is the King and you are the servant. Acknowledging that God is in control.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Bethlehem in Santa Clara
Take a quick tour of Bethlehem in Santa Clara. This is a pretty cool way to help people understand Christmas. Offer up a brief prayer for this church and Bethlehem Experience. Offer up a prayer for someone you know who has not yet accepted Jesus Christ. Offer up a prayer for the local church in which you serve. Offer up a prayer for yourself and thank God for life.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Social Event Questions
7 Easy To Ask Questions For Social EventsHow do you like the band/food/play (fill in the blank) so far?
How do you know the hosts? (This tells me about connections and helps me find possible similarities.)
What do you do when you're not at cookouts? (work/family/hobbies)
What do you do for a living? or Do you work outside the home?
What do you do for fun?
How did you end up in ___________ (Name of city)?
How did you two meet (if you're talking to a couple)?
Thanks to John Chandler of The Spence Network for the above.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Bonfire - SCC
We had a good time at the bonfire. Thank you Kirby and Janet for having us out. Thanks JT and the other Studnet Ministry Leaders for touching the lives of students and leading them to accept Jesus Christ and become totally committed followers of Jesus Christ. Fan the flame. Fan the flame.
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:3-7
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving - He Rocks!
STEVE,OKAY I LOVED THIS VIDEO AT CHURCH AND ON YOUR BLOG! (See The Post: Neverending Thanksgiving Prayer) THAT IS HOW I PRAY TOO! OKAY AND I WANTED TO PRAY LIKE THAT WHEN I GOT UP TO THE MICROPHONE. ONE LAST THANKS I WANTED TO SAY AND I DIDN'T WAS TO THANK GOD FOR SKINNIER JEANS! HE HAS BEEN A BIG HELP TO ME! AWESOME SERVICE! I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT UP TO SPEAK THIS YEAR! SUNRISE CHURCH ROCKS AND IT TOUCHING SO MANY LIVES! IT IS AMAZING! NOT REALLY! IT IS GOD! HE ROCKS!
KATHY HOLLAND
Some Scripture
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1: 3-6
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1: 3-6
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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This post may seem long and yet it is only the beginning. Followers of Jesus Christ need to turn to God, worship Him - surrender to Him, see...
