We have an amazing church! This weekend in Kings was our Miracle Cash Offering and Pledge Sunday toward our Campus development. Over $2.4 million was pledged for the coming twelve months, which will allow us to destroy our current debt to open the door to our future dreams.
Kings also gave a cash offering of about $100K yesterday toward our building fund. This is brilliant, but particularly amazing when you consider that just last weekend we gave almost $25K to the work of Watoto, for the care of orphans and raising of leaders in Uganda. A few weeks before that we gave our Sunday AM offering of $19K toward aid relief in Burma and a few weeks before that gave a spontaneous $100K toward our building development.
Many churches experience a slump in financial support toward their building programs once they have moved into new facilites, as paying off a debt can be far less compelling than possessing new facilities. However we have received our biggest pledge (up $600K on previous best), one year into our new facility, the Champions Centre.
I think that this unusual generosity could be attributed to two things:
Firstly, the fact that our church gave to the poor. Proverbs 28:27 states, 'He who gives to the poor will not lack...' Few Senior Pastors would have faith enough to give almost $45K out of their offerings in the weeks leading up to a building pledge. God gathers possessions for him who will pity the poor (Proverbs 28:8).
Secondly, the power of progressive expectancy. From the moment Kings moved into the Champions Centre we have known that it is only stage one of our campus development. The progressive vision is clear and compelling. We know that we have not yet 'made it' and there is still much to do; this is the greatest way to live.
The weekend's events reminded me of this from J. John's E-letter on June 19th:
About 350 years ago a shipload of travellers landed on the north east coast of America. The first year they established the site for a town. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.
In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. After all, they thought, who needed to go there anyway?
These were people who had the vision to see 3,000 miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there, who nevertheless couldn’t see the point in venturing five miles further out of town, a few years later. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries.
A missionary society wrote to pioneer missionary David Livingstone and asked, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you." David Livingstone wrote back: "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."
When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of Britain with his Roman legions, he took a bold and decisive step to ensure the success of his military venture. Ordering his men to march to the edge of the cliffs of Dover, he commanded them to look down at the water below. To their amazement, they saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames. Caesar had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but advance and conquer. And that’s exactly what they did...
Let’s be expectant, adventurous and let’s embrace the motto of another great missionary William Carey: “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God."
To receive J John's newsletter visit www.philotrust.com
June 30, 2008
June 23, 2008
10 Questions Leaders Ask
Pastor Rick Roberts of Gympie Christian Church spoke at Kings Training College last Friday. He passed on to me 10 questions that leaders ask themselves, helping to take stock of their progress.
1. Am I investing in myself?
- This is a personal growth question
2. Am I genuinely interested in others?
- This is a motive question
- Mature leaders motivate by moving people for mutual benefit
3. Am I doing what I love doing and loving what I do?
- This is a passion question
- If I go to work only to fulfill processes and functions, I am effectively retired
- Passion gives you the energy advantage over others
4. Am I investing my time with the right people?
- This is a relationship question
5. Am I staying in my strength zone?
- This is an effectiveness question
- I don't have to be a jack of all trades
- Delegation frees me to focus on what only I can offer to the organisation
- The church needs more genius and less average
6. Am I taking others to a higher level?
- This is a mission question
- Longterm influence is determined by the seeds I sow
- My mission is to add value to leaders who will multiply value to others
7. Am I taking care of today?
- This is a success question
- Success is determined by my daily agenda
- Are my habits utilizing my time or frittering it away
8. Am I taking time to think?
- This is a leadership question
- A minute of thought is greater than an hour of talk
- Taking time to think allows me to live life purposefully
- I author my life by clearing my schedule for thinking
9. Am I developing leaders?
- This is a legacy question
- Am I striving to create successors who go beyond myself
10. Am I pleasing God?
- This is an eternity question
- Is my conscience clean before God and man?
1. Am I investing in myself?
- This is a personal growth question
2. Am I genuinely interested in others?
- This is a motive question
- Mature leaders motivate by moving people for mutual benefit
3. Am I doing what I love doing and loving what I do?
- This is a passion question
- If I go to work only to fulfill processes and functions, I am effectively retired
- Passion gives you the energy advantage over others
4. Am I investing my time with the right people?
- This is a relationship question
5. Am I staying in my strength zone?
- This is an effectiveness question
- I don't have to be a jack of all trades
- Delegation frees me to focus on what only I can offer to the organisation
- The church needs more genius and less average
6. Am I taking others to a higher level?
- This is a mission question
- Longterm influence is determined by the seeds I sow
- My mission is to add value to leaders who will multiply value to others
7. Am I taking care of today?
- This is a success question
- Success is determined by my daily agenda
- Are my habits utilizing my time or frittering it away
8. Am I taking time to think?
- This is a leadership question
- A minute of thought is greater than an hour of talk
- Taking time to think allows me to live life purposefully
- I author my life by clearing my schedule for thinking
9. Am I developing leaders?
- This is a legacy question
- Am I striving to create successors who go beyond myself
10. Am I pleasing God?
- This is an eternity question
- Is my conscience clean before God and man?
June 21, 2008
On Provision
“Depend on it. God's work done God's way will never lack God's supplies."
James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
June 16, 2008
Example and Leadership
I was reading 1 Timothy 4 this morning and reminded of the imperative of leading by example. Paul is writing to Timothy, his disciple and now young pastor in the city of Ephesus, about personal conduct and leadership in his life and ministry. In chapter 4:12, Paul writes, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers..."
Paul's advice to Timothy is that a life of example will silence any critics who believe that he is too young for the responsibility of leadership. Leadership credibility is earned through example, not received with a title.
Why is example so important in leadership?
1. Example is more readily followed than instructions
The most helpful instruction manuals contain more than just points and principles, they contain pictures. In my experience it is the pictures that I look to first and that are most helpful to me (maybe it's a guy thing). The same is true in leadership. People follow the example of other people more readily than they follow a set of principles or teachings.
Robert Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln, England, from 1235-1253 once wrote, “The life of the pastor is the book of the laity.” Leaders are readers and leaders are read.
34th President of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower said it this way: "Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all."
2. Example joins people to the leader
Paul writes in Philippians 3:17, 'Brethren, join in following my example...' It's interesting that Paul doesn't simply say 'follow my example', but instead includes the word 'join'.
The leaders who (by his words or lifestyle) says 'Do as I say, not as I do' creates a great divide between himself and his followers, creating a 'them and us' scenario. The leader who says 'join in following my example' creates an 'us' environment.
Command based leadership alienates people from their leader. Example based leadership inspires people toward their leader. It is interesting that when Jesus wanted some fishermen to be joined to Himself, He did not say 'Obey my teaching', but instead declared 'Follow me'. The disciples joined themselves to the person of Jesus before they did the principles of Jesus.
Command based leaders sit above their followers and give directions. Example based leaders walk amongst their followers and give inspiration. People obediently follow those who direct them; people willingly follow those who inspire them.
3. Example creates a pattern to follow
In Titus 2:7 Paul writes, '...in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works...' Forgive me for returning to Primary School arts and craft time, but the most simple feature of a pattern is its element of predictability. Patterns allow people to predict a future action by reason of past habits.
The beauty of example in leadership is that it affords followers the confidence to guess how their leader would act in a given situation. Therefore, when their leader is not around the follower can confidently answer the question 'what would my leader do in this situation?' and act accordingly. This comfort is reserved for the followers of predictable, exemplary leaders.
This does not remove from leaders the responsibility to be creative, rather it reinforces the leaders responsibility to be consistent. Creativity and consistency in leadership are not at odds with each other, but instead are indispensable to each other.
4. Example recognizes an entrustment
1 Peter 5:23 says, "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, nor for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being masters over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock..."
Leaders who view their followers simply as 'employees' or 'resources', care little about the example that their leadership provides. Why? Because this type of leader is not concerned with building people, but is only concerned with building their own empire.
On the other hand, when the Christian leader knows that their followers are an entrustment from God they live in such a way that provides a positive example, which followers can emulate to bring good success to their own lives.
In committing to build people, leaders of example attract people to themselves who willingly fulfill the common vision. Why? Because the leader's vision has become the followers vision. Why? Because the follower recognises more than just vision in their leader's heart; they see themselves in their leader's heart.
Renowned officer of the US Navy, Admiral James B. Stockdale once said:
“Leadership must be based on goodwill…It means obvious and wholehearted commitment to helping followers…What we need for leaders are men of heart who are so helpful that they, in effect, do away with the need of their jobs. But leaders like that are never out of a job, never out of followers. Strange as it sounds, great leaders gain authority by giving it away.”
I agree emphatically! From my experience, the leaders who I follow most devotedly are those who I know are committed to my wellbeing. Although this can appear to be a relationship based on selfishness, it's actually a relationship built on trust.
My commitment to an exemplary life is proof positive of that fact that I view people as an entrustment from God; I care too much for them to give them a bad model to emulate.
Paul's advice to Timothy is that a life of example will silence any critics who believe that he is too young for the responsibility of leadership. Leadership credibility is earned through example, not received with a title.
Why is example so important in leadership?
1. Example is more readily followed than instructions
The most helpful instruction manuals contain more than just points and principles, they contain pictures. In my experience it is the pictures that I look to first and that are most helpful to me (maybe it's a guy thing). The same is true in leadership. People follow the example of other people more readily than they follow a set of principles or teachings.
Robert Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln, England, from 1235-1253 once wrote, “The life of the pastor is the book of the laity.” Leaders are readers and leaders are read.
34th President of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower said it this way: "Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all."
2. Example joins people to the leader
Paul writes in Philippians 3:17, 'Brethren, join in following my example...' It's interesting that Paul doesn't simply say 'follow my example', but instead includes the word 'join'.
The leaders who (by his words or lifestyle) says 'Do as I say, not as I do' creates a great divide between himself and his followers, creating a 'them and us' scenario. The leader who says 'join in following my example' creates an 'us' environment.
Command based leadership alienates people from their leader. Example based leadership inspires people toward their leader. It is interesting that when Jesus wanted some fishermen to be joined to Himself, He did not say 'Obey my teaching', but instead declared 'Follow me'. The disciples joined themselves to the person of Jesus before they did the principles of Jesus.
Command based leaders sit above their followers and give directions. Example based leaders walk amongst their followers and give inspiration. People obediently follow those who direct them; people willingly follow those who inspire them.
3. Example creates a pattern to follow
In Titus 2:7 Paul writes, '...in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works...' Forgive me for returning to Primary School arts and craft time, but the most simple feature of a pattern is its element of predictability. Patterns allow people to predict a future action by reason of past habits.
The beauty of example in leadership is that it affords followers the confidence to guess how their leader would act in a given situation. Therefore, when their leader is not around the follower can confidently answer the question 'what would my leader do in this situation?' and act accordingly. This comfort is reserved for the followers of predictable, exemplary leaders.
This does not remove from leaders the responsibility to be creative, rather it reinforces the leaders responsibility to be consistent. Creativity and consistency in leadership are not at odds with each other, but instead are indispensable to each other.
4. Example recognizes an entrustment
1 Peter 5:23 says, "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, nor for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being masters over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock..."
Leaders who view their followers simply as 'employees' or 'resources', care little about the example that their leadership provides. Why? Because this type of leader is not concerned with building people, but is only concerned with building their own empire.
On the other hand, when the Christian leader knows that their followers are an entrustment from God they live in such a way that provides a positive example, which followers can emulate to bring good success to their own lives.
In committing to build people, leaders of example attract people to themselves who willingly fulfill the common vision. Why? Because the leader's vision has become the followers vision. Why? Because the follower recognises more than just vision in their leader's heart; they see themselves in their leader's heart.
Renowned officer of the US Navy, Admiral James B. Stockdale once said:
“Leadership must be based on goodwill…It means obvious and wholehearted commitment to helping followers…What we need for leaders are men of heart who are so helpful that they, in effect, do away with the need of their jobs. But leaders like that are never out of a job, never out of followers. Strange as it sounds, great leaders gain authority by giving it away.”
I agree emphatically! From my experience, the leaders who I follow most devotedly are those who I know are committed to my wellbeing. Although this can appear to be a relationship based on selfishness, it's actually a relationship built on trust.
My commitment to an exemplary life is proof positive of that fact that I view people as an entrustment from God; I care too much for them to give them a bad model to emulate.
June 5, 2008
On Discipline
Tonight we commenced our 'School of Financial Stewardship' at Kings Training College, with guest speaker John Chapman.
My favourite quote from the evening: "Poor people eat a lot of chocolate".
My favourite quote from the evening: "Poor people eat a lot of chocolate".
June 3, 2008
Coldplay
I know I'm a little slow, but I finally heard Coldplay's latest single Violet Hill last night; it's hot! Sarah and I went to their last concert in Brisbane which was amazing. Surely they'll tour Australia again with their new album - if anyone knows of potential tour dates, let me know!
See Violet Hill video here.
See Violet Hill video here.
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