Leadership Thought

For most people it's not what they think the are that holds them back. It's what they think they're not. John Maxwell, Becoming A Person of Influence.

As a reader if you are a leader help people become. Good times!!!

How Important Are You?

More than you think. A rooster minus a hen equals no baby chicks. Kellogg minus a farmer means no corn flakes. If the nail factory closes what good is the hammer factory? Paderewski's genius wouldn't have amounted to much if the piano tuner hadn't shown up. A cracker maker will do better if there's a cheesemaker. The most skillful surgeon needs the ambulance driver who delivers the patient. Just as Rodgers needed Hammerstein you need someone and someone needs you.

The above is from Laugh Again, Charles Swindoll. Pages 110-111 in Chapter 7.

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. Philippians 2:19-30

Praying

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

Matthew 7:7

I met this morn with some guys for a time of focused prayer. We meet once a month and pray specifically for matters of seeing people come to faith in Jesus, and a renenwal of God in local churches. What a time.

Home

Good to come home. Great time on the river, but greater still to be home.

Time On the River

I spent some time on the Mattaponi River with 5 other pastors Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. We had a good time playing Ping Pong, Pool, watching the basketball game, and sharing with one another how God worked in our lives and moved us to the point of serving Him in the local church. Good stuff. Lots of laughter, a few misty eyes and the presence of God. Sweet. Oh, we also had fresh fried catfish straight out of the river.

For SCC - 4-6-08 Joy In Your Circumstances

This past Sunday SCC continued our series Surprised By Joy and we looked at experiencing joy in our circumstances. Steve Gabe and Salsa did a fine job with the drama and helped us laugh a little. Anita Fritz and GLARE touched our lives with the song "Praise You In The Storm". We looked at a few verses found in the letter of Philippians and sought to glean a nugget of truth from God's Word that will help us live in joy and be more joyous.

The following is a brief of the message.

JOY IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

1. Look beyond the circumstances and see God's work.

12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Philippians 1:12-18

Paul was able to see beyond his difficult circumstances and see what God was doing. He noted that despite his situation the Good News of Jesus was being spread. God was actually moving in the midst of Paul's difficulties and being glorified.

2. Look beyond the temporary and see the eternal.

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

We need to see more than the eye can see. Thee is more to this life than the the physical. Paul lived as we do in the physical and yet also was very aware of the hope that lies ahead in a new realm of life and he desired that others experience that realm. We need to use our "stuff" to impact the eternal and think more often about the hope we have in JC.

3. Look beyond the bad news and see the good news.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Just do it. An old saying that needs new practice.

Book To Help With Philippians Study

Both of these books are good. Both are written to help the reader gain a better understanding of Philippians and experience joy.

A Letter To SCC - Joy In Your Circumstances

Hello,

I hope you are already sensing and experiencing your joy quota increasing as we continue learning from the book of Philippians during this “Surprised By Joy” series. I hope at various times this past week you were able to “turn that frown upside down” as you gave thanks for people in your life and sought to increase someone else’s joy.

In the book of Philippians it is obvious that Paul isn’t writing from a circumstantial point of view. If he was the letter would have been sour, negative, harsh, and disheartening. Instead, Paul is upbeat, warm, hopeful, positive, and even cheerful despite his circumstances. The letter is full of thanks, joy, and hope. It is clear that Paul is not focused on his circumstances and has been able to see beyond the temporary and focus on the eternal, see past the bad and focus on the good, and to see how the good news of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed despite his difficult situation. This letter is crazy or outrageous if you really think about it, but this is what can happen in our lives if we will choose to see and live life from a new perspective and not focus on circumstances.

Circumstances are much like the weather. They can be good, bad, and sometimes ugly. They can change very quickly. I remember one day not long ago in this area when in one day it was warm, sunny, cloudy, thundering, cold, rainy and then snow followed by a clearing blue sky, all of this in one day. It is not wise or healthy to base our lives on circumstances because they can change in a heartbeat and there are many circumstances that we have no control over. Instead we can choose to allow God to have reign in our lives, in our attitudes and begin experiencing real joy that is crazy, outrageous and contagious. Experiencing joy (peace, calm, anticipation, hope, a positive attitude, encouragement) in the midst of circumstances can be accomplished if we will focus on how God is working in our lives, the good news, and view life from an eternal perspective. I hope that you and I and Sunrise Community Church will continue to, “Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in Him at all times.”, and live with a sense of awe and wonder that will draw others to Jesus Christ.

As I end this letter I want to share some good news, really good news and great news with you. The good news is that you are reading this letter so you are currently alive. The really good news is that life is a gift from God and He really is in control no matter what your circumstances. The great news is that we can live with a deep sense of awe, wonder and joy if we will focus on God’s work in our life’s and those around us, the good around us, and live with an eternal focus.

God’s work is happening. You and I just need to adjust our perspective a little bit to see His wonderful work in our lives. You and I have plenty of good things to dwell on in our daily lives. We just need to choose what we are going to see. I have eternal hope because of my trust in Jesus Christ. If you have trusted Jesus you have that same hope. That is joyful news. This week take a few minutes each day to look at your life and the life of those close to you and begin to discover how God is moving and working. Make a list of all the good things in your life. Think of people, material possessions, and a positive story that you recently heard and write them down at the bottom of this sheet. Take few minutes now and thank God for eternal hope. Ask God to help you discover how you can help others come to know Jesus Christ personally and experience the eternal hope you have. As you act on these three items in your life watch your joy quota increase. Just be careful someone might think you are crazy.

Rejoicing,
Steve Nethery

How God is working or moving:

The good stuff:

How can you help others come to faith in Jesus Christ?

Some of Paul's Hardships

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23b-28 NIV

Sunrise is 8

Sunrise turned 8 today. Pretty good stuff. Eight years of ups and downs. Eight years of sharing the Gospel with people. Eight years of making disciples. Eight years of laughs. Eight years of some tears. Rejoice. Rejoice. Thanks to those who helped start Sunrise eight years ago with a great deal of prayer, work, planning, giving, serving and teamwork. "3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6 NIV

Stuart

Remember, God works in all things and people like you.

Sunday Morning Rest

Salsman backstage sleeping during the message. He really believes in meditation. JK. This is a planned photo. Just havin' fun.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

Good friends and co-servants of Jesus Christ. People like this help us live in joy and rejoice in life. I thank God for people like Tim and Phro. People who are helpful, encouraging, committed to Christ and who take risk when needed. What a joy and thrill to experience life with Joy Givers. I want to be a Joy Giver.

19-24I plan (according to Jesus' plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know yourselves that Timothy's the real thing. He's been a devoted son to me as together we've delivered the Message. As soon as I see how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And then I'm hoping and praying to be right on his heels.
25-27But for right now, I'm dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and companion in my work. You sent him to help me out; now I'm sending him to help you out. He has been wanting in the worst way to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you heard about, he's been wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, as you know, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him—he had mercy on me, too. His death would have been one huge grief piled on top of all the others.
28-30So you can see why I'm so delighted to send him on to you. When you see him again, hale and hearty, how you'll rejoice and how relieved I'll be. Give him a grand welcome, a joyful embrace! People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me that you started but weren't able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, he put his life on the line and nearly died doing it.
Philippians 2:19-30 The Message

The Friendship Factor. This is a good book. My suggestion. Order it. Read it. Discuss it. It will help you become a Joy Giver. The links below will take you to info about the book.
http://books.google.com/books?id=vqSa4Ii2LNQC&dq=friendship+factor&pg=PP1&ots=RKI8P_07dF&sig=vWP-wNhKaRhnIAPTCSCs4Ll5SF8&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=HPIB,HPIB:2005-19,HPIB:en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=friendship+factor&spell=1&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail

http://www.amazon.com/Friendship-Factor-Closer-People-Care/dp/080661711X

Leadership Thought

The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say "I." And that's not because they have trained themselves not to say "I." They don't think "I." They think "we"; they think "team." They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.
Peter Drucker

"Joy is the serious business of heaven." C. S. Lewis

"Joy is like peace dancing." G.K. Chesterton

Joy

Praying for others

This past week and weekend I was able to visit with people that I rarely see and yet have prayed for and served Jesus Christ with them for a good while. One was a college student at VT. She is an active part of SCC when she is in the Hampton Roads area and is missed by the music team and her family when she is at VT. She took some time from her full day at VT and gave my family a brief tour of VT so my daughter could get a feel for the campus. She is a blessing to my wife, SCC and my daughter. It is a joy to serve JC with this college student even though we are miles apart.
The other is a young man whom I've known for 12 or 13 years. He was an active part of a Student Ministry that I led in Chesapeake and I had the opportunity to serve with him on Summer Mission Trips. He and his family were instrumental in helping start Sunrise. He is a VT grad and has been and is an active part of a church that is sharing the Gospel at VT. He is soon moving to northern VA to begin a new phase of life and ministry. It is a joy to have helped this young man grow in Christ and serve JC with him even though we are miles apart.
Sunday evening my family, minus my daughter, had dinner with a couple and their two teens. This family was a part of Sunrise after we launched and SCC had the joy of baptizing them and serving with them. They now live in GA and are active in a church where they live. They are awesome people who are gracious and fun to be around. They bring joy to people. Their children are fun loving, kind and talented. Much like their parents. It is a joy to serve JC with these people even though we are miles apart.
These are people I have prayed for and served with for a good number of years. I remember them with joy in my heart and thank God for them as we continue to serve JC

Grace and Peace

"1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:1-2 NIV

Grace and peace. This is a fantastic way to greet people. Blessing them with God's grace and peace. Grace - God's undeserved favor towards you and I. God looking out for us. God, getting our back. God having our very best interest in His heart. Peace - A stillness and calm about life even in the midst of everyday life. A peace that allows us to move from fretting and frustration into a deeper faith in God. A peace that helps us sleep at night. A peace that clears our minds and hearts and allows us to enjoy life and relationships as we sit in traffic, correct mistakes at work, negotiate contracts, pay bills, study for exams, loose a game, and on and on the list goes.

Grace and peace. May we live in them a little bit today. Take a breath and ask God for that grace and peace and pray the same blessing for someone else right now.

ACT 16: 1-40 - Paul in Philippi

1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.
9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. 16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. 19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. 35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” 38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Acts 16:1-40 NLT

For SCC - 3-30-08 Joy In Your Relationships

This past Sunday Sunrise began a new series based on the book of Philippians found in the New Testament of the Bible. The book is really a letter written to the followers of Christ in the city of Philippi. The letter is written from prison by the apostle Paul who had started the church in Philippi ten years earlier on one of his three trips that he and others took to begin sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. You can read about about adventure in Philippi in Acts Chapter 16 of a Bible or in the post above.

Scott Salsman started the series with a message about experiencing Joy In Your Relationships. Sharing from the text found in chapter 1 of Philippians he shared these three truths that if we will apply them to our lives we can increase our joy quota in our relationships.

1. Put people in your thoughts and be thankful for them.

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

We tend to think about many things during the day. Scott encouraged us to think about people. Remember people. Paul remembered the people in Philippi and gave thanks for them. He remembered the positive and gave thanks for the people. Paul understood that people are a priority to God and therefore gave thanks as he remembered and prayed for those in Philippi. You and I need to give thanks for people in our lives.

2. Put people in your hearts.

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart..." Philippians 1:7a

Not only did Paul think about these people bu he also cherished his relationship with them and considered partners and friends. He cared for these people. He enjoyed these people. He had warm and fuzzy thoughts and feelings for these people and he expressed this to them throughout the letter. Two way for you and I to begin to put people into our hearts is to think about and practice partnership and fellowship. When we begin to flesh out that partnership and fellowship are important to God, relationships, and the Gospel we will begin to fan the flame of warm and fuzzy feelings for people in our lives the joy quota in our relationships will increase.

3. Put people in your prayers."And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

Praying for people will increase your joy quota as you spend time with God praying for others and watch God do a wonderful work in their lives. You can pray that they will grow in their capacity to love, in their knowledge of God's love, that they will live pure lives, and be filled with God truth and holiness as they live for Jesus Christ. Praying for others will also cause you to grow in Christ and will help you remember others, hold others in your heart and move you higher on the joyful scale of life.