Leadership Thought

"What gets rewarded gets done."- Reggie McNeal, Get A Life (Broadman & Holman, 2007)

I received this from Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox Issue #344

TRUST - A somewhat acrostic for praying

T - Thanksgiving. Give thanks
R - Repent. Confess your sins
U - What will U do today. God working in and through you
S - Supply. Asking of God
T - Trust God throughout the day

This is a simple way to help guide you in your personal prayer time. I learned this yesterday from a very intelligent and Godly man. This hit home with me because I really do want to trust God, but so often do not really trust God. This TRUST will help me rely on God and grow in my faith walk.

This dude is funny. Hit the site.

Mmmmm...

These were sent to me via the net. Mmmmm.....

Only in America ......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in America ......do people
order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in America ......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America ......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America ......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America ......do we use the word "politics" to describe the process so well: "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures."

Only in America ......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

EVER WONDER ....

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery?"

Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice?"

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Why are they called apartments
when they are all stuck together?

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

A Thought Provoking Read

Funny Website

Think and grow

Want to make me laugh, Tell me your plans.
A Billboard signed God

Think about this and it will make you laugh with joy and humility.

Call and Encourage

Pick up your phone and give someone a call today and give them an encouraging word. Tell them something you like about them. Tell them something you think they do well. Tell them a funny joke and then laugh. Tell them.... Just be positive and encouraging. It will be a blessing to them, you and God. Have fun.

For SCC - Fellowship: I'll bring the cookies 1-20-08

The Following story out of the Bible was the text for this past Sundays topic.

1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Scott Salsman spoke from this passage about the importance of having relationship a and friendships in our lives that are helpful to us. It is also important that in our relationships and friendships that we are helpful to others. We all have our own "mats" and we need to be help and we need to help.

Fellowship is really about relationship and friendship. Fellowship is about sharing, caring, encouraging, assisting, and correcting. Christian fellowship is about these things and more. The more is followers of Christ are to help one another grow close to God and serve others and share God's love with others so they can begin to experience a new and abundant life, and a new kind of fellowship.

I shared the following Fellowship Busters and Boosters.

Fellowship Busters:

The Chronic Canceller (Low commitment)
The Serial Self-Centered (me, myself and I)
The Jealousy Junkie (MINE)
The Walkie Talkie (no confidentiality)
The Bold and the Beautiful (high pride)
False Forgiveness (let it go)

Fellowship Boosters:

Listen
Laugh
Celebrate
Grieve
Exercise your dialing finger and typing fingers
Return calls and emails promptly
No perfect people allowed

Famous Last Words

"I know Bob said it looks like real dynamite."
"Of course it's sturdy"
"What could go wrong?"
"Oops..."
"I think I turned it off."
"What does this button do?"
"Do you smell smoke?"
"All right, sir, I won't tell you the building is on fire."
"It's perfectly safe."
"Welcome [hic] aboard. This is [hic] your, um, captain. [hic]"
"We'll be fine."
"I've done this opperation twice already!"
"Where's my parachute?"
"No! Not THAT button!"
"I can't swim!"
"Where's my pet tarantula?"
"Cut the green wire!"
"Wow, honey... Are you fat or what?!"
"Nice doggie"
"Is that snake poisonous?"
"Relax... I've done this before."
"Watch this..."
"Looks good to me..."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"I have read that this tribe stopped being cannibals a few decades ago"
"What's this thorn on the back of that strange fish?"

Top Ten Reasons You Were Too Busy To Pray Today

1. You wake up feeling rested, then realize your alarm should've gone off an hour ago.
2. Your spouse is away on a two-day business trip that's lasted all week.
3. None of the clean clothes you were able to find match.
4. Your teenager shaved…the left half of his head.
5. Your bills are due, and your toddler hid the checkbook.
6. A strange fluid is dripping from your car.
7. You accidentally delete your quarterly report ten minutes before a meeting with your boss.
8. You're in charge of games for the church youth night tonight.
9. Your dog is throwing up.
10. Your toilet's overflowing, but at least you found the checkbook.
Ten reasons you really should pray today:
(See list above.)

Reliabiblity of the Bible

The link below will take you to downloadable PDF file with a good article about the reliability of the Bible.

http://www.rbc.org/uploadedFiles/Bible_Study/Discovery_Series/PDFs/Can_I_Really_Trust_The_Bible.pdf

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

Matthew 7:7-11

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

7 practices of effective ministry

#1 Clarify the Win - Define what is important at every level of the organization

#2 Think Steps, Not Programs - Before you start anything, make sure it takes you where you need to go.

#3 Narrow the Focus - Do fewer things in order to make a greater impact

#4 Teach Less for More - Say only what you need to say to the people who need to hear it

#5 Listen to Outsiders - Focus on who you're trying to reach, not who you're trying to keep

#6 Replace Yourself - Learn to hand off what you do

#7 I am not going to write it. Find the book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones

Bible Reading Helps

The Bible Experience (Audio Bible) published by Zondervan
My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers
Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado
Our Daily Bread published by RBC Ministries http://www.rbc.com/
Understanding The Bible, John Stott
How to Read the Bible Book by Book, Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
A NonChurchgoer’s Guide To The Bible, Michael Gantt
http://www.biblegateway.com/

Have fun. :)

For SCC - 1-13-08 Scripture Reading: Transformational Truths

This past Sunday we continues our series New Year, New You - Life Changing Resolutions as we looked at the importance of Word of God in our lives.

Passage of Scripture:

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

II Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation

We looked at the following questions people ask about the Bible.

1. What is the Bible?

The Bible is big, very big. If you were to read the Bible through in one year it would be like reading ten non-fiction books in one year. The Bible contains a great deal of information. It is a collection of many pieces. The Bible is 66 books. 39 books in the Old Testament. 27 books in the New Testament. It is much like a library. The pieces are organized from beginning to end. The Bible is God's Word to us. It is God's revelation.

2. What is the message of the Bible?
In very simple terms, the message of the Bible is the story of creation, the fall of mankind and God's redemption of mankind.

3. What are some benefits of reading the Bible?
It provides a moral compass for life and for making decisions. It provides comfort and hope. The Bible provides stability in life. It builds up your faith. These are by no means the only benefits to reading the Bible and applying it to your daily life, but they are some of the benefits.

4. How do I go about reading the Bible?

• Choose a good translation
• Start Small
• One Year Bible
• Devotional Bibles and books
• Listen to it on tape, CD, MP3
• Bible Helps
• Group studies
• Classes or Seminars

Reading the Bible is not just about reading the Bible. As you and I read the Bible we are to apply it to our lives. Scripture reading is about life transformation. Scripture reading is about GIGO. GIGO = God In, God Out. Christianity is about transformation. God working in our lives and bringing about Christ likeness as we follow Jesus Christ.

SPACE for God

When reading through the bible it is important that we learn how to discover ways we can apply God's Word to our daily lives. The acrostic SPACE is one way to discover how we can incorporate Scripture into the 24/7.

While reading scripture you and I can ask the following questions?
Is there a Sin for me to confess?
Is there a Promise for me to claim?
Is there an Attitude for me to change?
Is there a Command for me to obey?
Is there an Example for me to follow?

18And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth. 19Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 20teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20

Goals

Goal = something to accomplish

Goals are important to think about, to set, to write out and to seek to accomplish via a plan that is thought through and doable.

Quotes:

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. - Anthony Robbins
Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement. - Brian Tracy
Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination. - Fitzhugh Dodson
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. - Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
Goals are dreams with deadlines. - Diana Scharf Hunt
You must have long-term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures. - Charles C. Noble

These were taken form a recent newsletter I receive from http://www.daveramsey.com/

Remember

19 days
2 weeks and 5 days
456 hours
27,360 minutes
REMEMBER

God is near. God is real. God does care. God is involved. Gos is at work. Remember. Live the Spirit of Christmas year round. Give. Forgive. Contact friends. Serve and help the needy. Move beyond yourself and your idea of Christianity into Christmas Christianity. The following is just a little of Christmas Christianity:
Giving
Forgiving
Christ Is the Center
Receiving
God's Presence
Worship
Humility
Obeying God
Weird Decisions
Faith stretching
Gentleness
Others
Relying on God
Moving Past the Tithe
Going All Out
Dangerous
Crazy
Out of the Comfort Zone
Fresh
Serving Others
Pausing to Reflect on God's Wonder
God Centered

Psalm 34

1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34 found in the Bible

For Leaders

The Great Boss Simple Success Formula

1. Only hire top-notch, excellent people.
2. Put the right people in the right job. Weed out the wrong people.
3. Tell the people what needs to be done.
4. Tell the people why it is needed.
5. Leave the job up to the people you've chosen to do it.
6. Train the people.
7. Listen to the people.
8. Remove frustration and fetters that restrain the people.
9. Inspect progress.
10. Say "Thank you" publicly and privately.

Taken from How To Become a Great Boss, Jeffrey J. Fox.

proseuchomai

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.' "

Matthew 6:9-13

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase

Radical Hospitality - Move beyond welcoming just those we know or who are like us to welcoming and inviting all people. This takes work and is counter intuitive to most if not all groups of people. The local church is to be a place of relationships and radical hospitality is needed.

Passionate Worship - Worship is to be alive, vibrant, life changing and connect people to God.

Intentional Faith Development - Be purposeful in making disciples. Making disciples is much more than education, Sunday School and even small groups. An intentional plan or strategy is need to help people accept Jesus Christ and begin to live in and by faith.

Risk-taking Mission and Service - Take a risk. Do missions and service. Out of the comfort zone and into joining God in His Kingdom work.

Extravagant Generosity - Give. Give and make a difference. Give not out of your surplus, give because God gives, Christ gives, the Holy Spirit gives, and Christians give. A generous church is a world and Heaven changing church.

Recommended Readings

I just finished reading my first book for the year 2008. I purchased the book in late December '07 with the intent of reading it sometime prior to Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. This book is worth the purchase and read. It is thought provoking and will help you better grasp God's infinite, power, love and hope.THE DAY I WAS CRUCIFIED as Told by Jesus the Christ by Gene Edwards. The link below will take you to a site where you can read some about the book and purchase it if you so desire. You can also purchase the book at local bookstores or go to http://www.destinyimage.com/

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=422248&netp_id=330150&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=details#curr

I have also read A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards.

Three other books worth purchasing and reading are The Singer, The Song and The Finale by Calvin Miller. These books are a trilogy and are about Jesus, the early church, and the return of Jesus Christ. They are fictional and written in a poetic form. The link below will help you with more information about the three books.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=0813217&netp_id=125012&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=details#curr

These books will help you think in new ways about God and His love for you. The will warm your soul, cause you to cringe and rejoice, and will lead you to to a deeper relationship with God and others. You will be encouraged in your faith and will seek to discover ways to lead others in your life to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

For SCC: Remember...

This past Sunday, 12-30-07, we ended the year '07 with the topic Remember...

The Lord's Supper/Communion

Take a look

This clip was sent to me via the net by a friend. Good clip to start the year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTcZ9xfFBqQ

"If we fill our hours with regrets of yesterday and with worries of tomorrow, we have no today in which to be thankful."

Pause for a few seconds and be thankful. Happy New Year.