You Worship Your Past Success!
It’s easy to get caught in the trap when you stop seeing yourself as responsible or accountable for the ministry results you produce. I read a fascinating article from Forbes about how General Motors destroyed its Saturn division. Among other things, David Hanna, the author of the article, suggested:
Saturn, a GM company that had great promise in the early 1990s, ultimately failed because senior GM leaders couldn’t see the benefits of new ways of doing things and a new kind of organizational culture.
We’re all familiar with the demise of GM, so this is a very vivid image of what can happen when an organization becomes so stuck in its traditional approach of doing things that the world passes it by. Ultimately, when organizations stick to "the way we do it," the safe approach of avoiding innovation and change becomes the riskiest approach.
Hanna goes on to explain:
There were just two underlying forces behind Saturn’s demise: GM’s insistence on managing all its divisions centrally with a tight fist, and the demand by leadership at both GM and the UAW that Saturn get in line with traditional ways of doing things.
That highlights one of the biggest challenges in leadership. Leaders have to choose between control and innovation. You can’t have both. You can define the desired outcomes. You can create the boundaries, but you can’t expect your team to be creative, innovative, or artistic if you try to control every element of the execution. If you must have full control, you just need to know that you are also choosing to shut down new ideas and innovations in your organization.18
Unfortunately, the church is notorious for religiously keeping things the way they’ve always been but hoping we’ll somehow achieve different results. Avoiding new approaches. Top-down, centralized leadership. Preserving the traditional ways of doing things. Sound familiar?
It’s a great reminder that our past successes can be one of the greatest contributing factors to our future demise. GM used to have a winning formula. It worked in previous generations. Recently, though, it’s not been working so well.
They may be coming out with some new, innovative automobiles now, but it wasn’t too long ago that it seemed GM still wanted to make cars as though it were 1979 while expecting to get the same results. By sticking with that approach, they dropped from 45 percent of the market share thirty years ago to hovering around 20 percent today. In fact, back in 2008, Toyota ended GM’s seventy-seven–year reign as the world’s largest automaker.
It’s easy to look at churches that might still be "driving the Chevy Impala" and easily draw conclusions for why they are in decline. Before you do that, though, I think it’s good to remember that GM was once a very successful company. When you experience success, it’s tough to let go. You want to control the formula because it works. You are reticent to try new approaches. The only problem is that eventually the world around us is going to change.
In His Grip,
Pastor J
It takes a Free man to set a man Free!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
~Going Deeper~ Part 4
Your Structure Inhibits Growth!
It’s easy to get caught in the trap when your organizational structure and internal processes haven’t evolved and are largely the same as they were three or five years ago. Or sometimes you get stuck when your internal processes are too confusing to navigate and stifle new ideas rather than spur innovation.
One of my favorite blogs to monitor is Accidental Creative. Todd Henry wrote a brilliant article about the danger of implementing permanent solutions to temporary problems. This quote grabbed my attention:
The more structures we have to navigate in order to do our work, the more difficult it is to do our best work. When we are required to resolve the dissonance of complex systems, reporting relationships, and accountability structures just in order to get our objectives and check off our direction, we will begin to lose our drive to do brilliant work. Over time, this complexity only pulls entire organizations toward systematic mediocrity.
One of the attributes of a church in decline is a complex structure. The natural tendency of organizations is to add complexity to their structure and systems. The longer an organization exists, the more complex it typically gets. (Think government, big business, denominations . . . and older churches.)
One of the reasons I think new church plants are so effective reaching new people is because they are typically very lean. The structure is simple. The ministry strategy is very focused. The mission is clear. Then, as the church ages, the ministry strategy gets more complex as multiple new programs and events get layered on. Eventually growth slows or plateaus as the complexity increases. Ironically, then, our solution, oftentimes, is to create new structure or systems or rules to fix the problem.
• If there’s a problem, our natural tendency is never to do less—we always try something new.
• If there’s a problem, our natural tendency is to increase controls—we think people are the problem, and we implement rules and policies to make sure they get it right.
• What if the solution to the problem is fewer controls? What if the fix is less complexity?
Are you willing to get focused and lean again? Are you willing to attack complex structure and rules?
Hummmmm... Thinking....
In His Grip,
Pastor J
It’s easy to get caught in the trap when your organizational structure and internal processes haven’t evolved and are largely the same as they were three or five years ago. Or sometimes you get stuck when your internal processes are too confusing to navigate and stifle new ideas rather than spur innovation.
One of my favorite blogs to monitor is Accidental Creative. Todd Henry wrote a brilliant article about the danger of implementing permanent solutions to temporary problems. This quote grabbed my attention:
The more structures we have to navigate in order to do our work, the more difficult it is to do our best work. When we are required to resolve the dissonance of complex systems, reporting relationships, and accountability structures just in order to get our objectives and check off our direction, we will begin to lose our drive to do brilliant work. Over time, this complexity only pulls entire organizations toward systematic mediocrity.
One of the attributes of a church in decline is a complex structure. The natural tendency of organizations is to add complexity to their structure and systems. The longer an organization exists, the more complex it typically gets. (Think government, big business, denominations . . . and older churches.)
One of the reasons I think new church plants are so effective reaching new people is because they are typically very lean. The structure is simple. The ministry strategy is very focused. The mission is clear. Then, as the church ages, the ministry strategy gets more complex as multiple new programs and events get layered on. Eventually growth slows or plateaus as the complexity increases. Ironically, then, our solution, oftentimes, is to create new structure or systems or rules to fix the problem.
• If there’s a problem, our natural tendency is never to do less—we always try something new.
• If there’s a problem, our natural tendency is to increase controls—we think people are the problem, and we implement rules and policies to make sure they get it right.
• What if the solution to the problem is fewer controls? What if the fix is less complexity?
Are you willing to get focused and lean again? Are you willing to attack complex structure and rules?
Hummmmm... Thinking....
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Thursday, December 29, 2011
~Going Deeper~ Part 3
You Blame Outsiders and External Factors
We live in a culture where no one is responsible for anything that happens to them. If you don’t believe me, invest a couple of hours watching one of the multitude of judge shows on television.
It’s amazing that people instigate litigation as a result of something that happened because of a decision they made. On television, blaming others is entertainment. In the church, it’s tragedy.
There is a tendency among church leaders to blame their ineffectiveness on the changing community, the struggling economy, or the big church that obviously watered down its message in order to reach people who are interested only in being entertained. Staff meetings must look a lot like the talks that take place every fall in the locker room of the Chicago Cubs: "This was going to be our year, but the other teams got hot, our star player got hurt, and the wind was blowing in more than out." Maybe it’s time to man-up and say, "We didn’t get the job done, and we’ve got to figure out a new approach."
I’m amazed at the "new" ideas that come from some Christian organizations that experienced their best years in the ’60s and ’70s. If you look closely, those new ideas look a lot like old ideas with new packaging. They are hoping to recapture their past glory by repositioning their past products. Good luck with that!
The problem, according to the organization’s leaders, is the increase in competition. In other words, if people didn’t have so many options, they’d be perfectly fine buying subpar products. Victims, huh?
Victim-thinking will only lead to bitterness and competition. Leaders who blame outsiders and external factors actually are confessing their own failure to think creatively and inspire their team. Churches in their leisure suits are victims of the changing taste in clothing. When the world returns to thinking the way they thought forty years ago, they’ll be dressed for success. Until then, they’ll look sadly out of place!
What a great point today!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
We live in a culture where no one is responsible for anything that happens to them. If you don’t believe me, invest a couple of hours watching one of the multitude of judge shows on television.
It’s amazing that people instigate litigation as a result of something that happened because of a decision they made. On television, blaming others is entertainment. In the church, it’s tragedy.
There is a tendency among church leaders to blame their ineffectiveness on the changing community, the struggling economy, or the big church that obviously watered down its message in order to reach people who are interested only in being entertained. Staff meetings must look a lot like the talks that take place every fall in the locker room of the Chicago Cubs: "This was going to be our year, but the other teams got hot, our star player got hurt, and the wind was blowing in more than out." Maybe it’s time to man-up and say, "We didn’t get the job done, and we’ve got to figure out a new approach."
I’m amazed at the "new" ideas that come from some Christian organizations that experienced their best years in the ’60s and ’70s. If you look closely, those new ideas look a lot like old ideas with new packaging. They are hoping to recapture their past glory by repositioning their past products. Good luck with that!
The problem, according to the organization’s leaders, is the increase in competition. In other words, if people didn’t have so many options, they’d be perfectly fine buying subpar products. Victims, huh?
Victim-thinking will only lead to bitterness and competition. Leaders who blame outsiders and external factors actually are confessing their own failure to think creatively and inspire their team. Churches in their leisure suits are victims of the changing taste in clothing. When the world returns to thinking the way they thought forty years ago, they’ll be dressed for success. Until then, they’ll look sadly out of place!
What a great point today!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
~Going Deeper~ Part 2
You Are Unclear About Your Vision and Mission
A church without a clearly articulated vision is a church that’s in danger. Vision is to the church what headlights are to a car in the dark. You can’t go very far very safely without them. The funny thing is there are lots of churches with vision statements, but I don’t think there are very many churches that really have a vision statement that clarifies who they are as an organization. Among other things, a solid vision:
• Clarifies the purpose of the organization
• Pursues a preferred future
• Inspires people to engage
• Makes it easier to define what the organization won’t do
Even with that, you may be wondering whether or not your organization has clearly defined and communicated its vision. Here are two surefire ways to know whether or not you’ve accomplished the goal:
A clear vision that is properly communicated will rally people. People will look at the present situation and agree together that there’s a better future that must be pursued. People will give their time, energy, prayer, financial resources, talents, and gifts to help accomplish that vision. Lots of people will do that. If people aren’t attracted to your church, your vision either isn’t strong enough or it hasn’t been communicated clearly.
A clear vision that is properly communicated will repel people. Think of the most successful businesses or churches—Apple, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Willow Creek, Saddleback, Billy Graham, etc. Each of these businesses or ministries have experienced huge success. If you were to Google the names of each of these organizations and the word "haters," you’ll also find there are plenty of people who consider these organizations evil. Clarifying your vision will help some people determine they don’t want to be a part of your cause. (And, don’t be surprised if some attack.) If people aren’t leaving your church, your vision either isn’t strong enough or it hasn’t been communicated clearly. I want to challenge you to think about the purpose of your ministry. Does it rally people to your cause? And, does it repel some people? Of course, a healthy vision worth pursuing must attract many more people than it turns away; however, a strong vision will always help some people determine, "That’s not for me."
If your sense is that you have a vision that makes everyone happy, you don’t have a strong vision.
In His Grip,
Pastor J
A church without a clearly articulated vision is a church that’s in danger. Vision is to the church what headlights are to a car in the dark. You can’t go very far very safely without them. The funny thing is there are lots of churches with vision statements, but I don’t think there are very many churches that really have a vision statement that clarifies who they are as an organization. Among other things, a solid vision:
• Clarifies the purpose of the organization
• Pursues a preferred future
• Inspires people to engage
• Makes it easier to define what the organization won’t do
Even with that, you may be wondering whether or not your organization has clearly defined and communicated its vision. Here are two surefire ways to know whether or not you’ve accomplished the goal:
A clear vision that is properly communicated will rally people. People will look at the present situation and agree together that there’s a better future that must be pursued. People will give their time, energy, prayer, financial resources, talents, and gifts to help accomplish that vision. Lots of people will do that. If people aren’t attracted to your church, your vision either isn’t strong enough or it hasn’t been communicated clearly.
A clear vision that is properly communicated will repel people. Think of the most successful businesses or churches—Apple, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Willow Creek, Saddleback, Billy Graham, etc. Each of these businesses or ministries have experienced huge success. If you were to Google the names of each of these organizations and the word "haters," you’ll also find there are plenty of people who consider these organizations evil. Clarifying your vision will help some people determine they don’t want to be a part of your cause. (And, don’t be surprised if some attack.) If people aren’t leaving your church, your vision either isn’t strong enough or it hasn’t been communicated clearly. I want to challenge you to think about the purpose of your ministry. Does it rally people to your cause? And, does it repel some people? Of course, a healthy vision worth pursuing must attract many more people than it turns away; however, a strong vision will always help some people determine, "That’s not for me."
If your sense is that you have a vision that makes everyone happy, you don’t have a strong vision.
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
~Going Deeper~ Part 1
Over the next 8 days I want to go into a little more detail about the 8 reason churches get stuck. Aswe start to plan, pray and put down our visions and dreams for the next year I want to look into even deeper on the things that keep Chuches and ministries to the level Christ wills for them. Today lets look a little deeper into "You Lack a Leadership Empowerment Plan".
Outreach magazine interviewed Brad Abare and Phil Cooke about personality-driven churches. Here’s a paraphrase of the list of warning signs that they identified in the interview:
• The pastor doesn’t go on a vacation for any significant length of time. And, when he does, it isn’t announced.
• When the pastor doesn’t preach, the attendance drops.
• There’s an unspoken fear that if something happened to the pastor, the church would be in trouble.
• The pastor is unwilling to listen to and consult other team members.
• The staff and volunteers are there to carry out the directions of the pastor.
• There’s no succession plan in place; therefore, leadership development isn’t happening.
So, what other options are there? After all, aren’t we supposed to create pastoral rock stars who roam from place to place with an entourage of iPhone-toting handlers? I hate to break it to you, but . . . no. That’s not the point.
Real leaders cast vision and train the next generation of leaders. Real leaders empower people to lead, refuse to step in at the last minute, and provide coaching and encouragement along the way. (this point I have been teaching for years in my Jonathan David Ministries)
I’m still a big proponent of clear vision in churches. Clear vision leads to unified effort that results in ministry impact. A clear vision also provides a lot of freedom for people to be empowered to be who God created them to be. I’ve heard it described as freedom within a framework. That’s essentially a picture of the Christian faith. There’s actually more freedom for us if we stay within God’s designed framework. We see this reflected in Paul’s writings on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 as well. Each believer is given one or more gifts. Paul uses the human body as a metaphor to express how the various parts of the body of Christ are indispensable. In other words, we have failed as leaders in the church if we do not embrace 10
the unique gift-mix that God designed. And we won’t fully know the power and impact of the local church until people are empowered to be the people God wired them up to be.
We aren’t telling them what to do to accomplish the vision. We are helping them discover their gifts and freeing them to use them to fulfill the vision. It’s not delegation. With delegation, I’m still responsible. It’s empowerment. Someone else is responsible, but as a leader I still hold them accountable. At a recent meeting with a church staff, one of the members asked My dear friend Tony about leadership growth. With him having worked with churches of various sizes between 100 people and more than 10,000, they wanted to know how leaders change to grow with organizations. Here’s what he summarized with a little bit more detail. Some of this reflects his own experiences in the churches he has served in. Some of it reflects the conversations he's had with leaders in other churches. on a side note I think this would be a great class to tech or even a great sermon to work on... who knows! :)
Lead by Example. This is the type of leadership that is required when new ministries launch. During this season, leaders have to do most of the work themselves. That happens out of necessity because no one else is around. It also happens to establish a foundation for the future. "Leading by doing" gives leaders the opportunity to shape the mission, vision, values, and strategy of their churches. These folks may not necessarily be gifted as leaders, but they are in a positional leadership role. They are the "leaders of tens." Ministries with this style of leadership can grow to about one hundred people.
Lead Other People. During this season, leaders recruit other people to join their ministry team. Rather than doing all the work on their own, leaders begin to delegate tasks and responsibilities to other people. The leaders still own the responsibility for making things happen, they’re just including other people in the effort. These are the "leaders of fifties." Ministries can grow to several hundred people with this style of leadership.
Lead Other Leaders. This is when a transition happens, where leaders begin to empower other leaders. Instead of a hands-on role where they’re on top of all the tasks, they shift to a role where they’re really more concerned about leading, caring for, and raising up other leaders. They don’t give up responsibility for the outcome, but they begin to release team building, decision-making, and execution to other people. These are the "leaders of hundreds." Ministries can grow to several thousand people with this style of leadership.
Lead by Vision. At some point, there are leaders who may continue to embrace functional leadership of specific areas of ministry, but their focus is really on the overall health of the church. Rather than a ministry-specific focus, they have a global perspective that encompasses every aspect of the organization. These folks are leading other leaders, but they also have influence that reaches beyond their direct reports. They are coming alongside the senior leader to champion the vision that God has given the 11 church. These are the "leaders of thousands." Ministries can grow to tens of thousands of people with this style of leadership.
By the way, all of these approaches to leadership are vital in a healthy, growing church. Even if I’ve moved to a place in my leadership where I’m primarily leading by vision, there will be instances when I need to lead by example. Where churches get stuck, though, is when only one style of leadership is evident in the top leadership team. So, before you continue reading, do you agree with my summary of these different stages of leadership growth? What would you add or delete from my descriptions? Also, where are you? What do you need to do today to prepare to step into a new leadership role tomorrow?
Something to think about
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Outreach magazine interviewed Brad Abare and Phil Cooke about personality-driven churches. Here’s a paraphrase of the list of warning signs that they identified in the interview:
• The pastor doesn’t go on a vacation for any significant length of time. And, when he does, it isn’t announced.
• When the pastor doesn’t preach, the attendance drops.
• There’s an unspoken fear that if something happened to the pastor, the church would be in trouble.
• The pastor is unwilling to listen to and consult other team members.
• The staff and volunteers are there to carry out the directions of the pastor.
• There’s no succession plan in place; therefore, leadership development isn’t happening.
So, what other options are there? After all, aren’t we supposed to create pastoral rock stars who roam from place to place with an entourage of iPhone-toting handlers? I hate to break it to you, but . . . no. That’s not the point.
Real leaders cast vision and train the next generation of leaders. Real leaders empower people to lead, refuse to step in at the last minute, and provide coaching and encouragement along the way. (this point I have been teaching for years in my Jonathan David Ministries)
I’m still a big proponent of clear vision in churches. Clear vision leads to unified effort that results in ministry impact. A clear vision also provides a lot of freedom for people to be empowered to be who God created them to be. I’ve heard it described as freedom within a framework. That’s essentially a picture of the Christian faith. There’s actually more freedom for us if we stay within God’s designed framework. We see this reflected in Paul’s writings on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 as well. Each believer is given one or more gifts. Paul uses the human body as a metaphor to express how the various parts of the body of Christ are indispensable. In other words, we have failed as leaders in the church if we do not embrace 10
the unique gift-mix that God designed. And we won’t fully know the power and impact of the local church until people are empowered to be the people God wired them up to be.
We aren’t telling them what to do to accomplish the vision. We are helping them discover their gifts and freeing them to use them to fulfill the vision. It’s not delegation. With delegation, I’m still responsible. It’s empowerment. Someone else is responsible, but as a leader I still hold them accountable. At a recent meeting with a church staff, one of the members asked My dear friend Tony about leadership growth. With him having worked with churches of various sizes between 100 people and more than 10,000, they wanted to know how leaders change to grow with organizations. Here’s what he summarized with a little bit more detail. Some of this reflects his own experiences in the churches he has served in. Some of it reflects the conversations he's had with leaders in other churches. on a side note I think this would be a great class to tech or even a great sermon to work on... who knows! :)
Lead by Example. This is the type of leadership that is required when new ministries launch. During this season, leaders have to do most of the work themselves. That happens out of necessity because no one else is around. It also happens to establish a foundation for the future. "Leading by doing" gives leaders the opportunity to shape the mission, vision, values, and strategy of their churches. These folks may not necessarily be gifted as leaders, but they are in a positional leadership role. They are the "leaders of tens." Ministries with this style of leadership can grow to about one hundred people.
Lead Other People. During this season, leaders recruit other people to join their ministry team. Rather than doing all the work on their own, leaders begin to delegate tasks and responsibilities to other people. The leaders still own the responsibility for making things happen, they’re just including other people in the effort. These are the "leaders of fifties." Ministries can grow to several hundred people with this style of leadership.
Lead Other Leaders. This is when a transition happens, where leaders begin to empower other leaders. Instead of a hands-on role where they’re on top of all the tasks, they shift to a role where they’re really more concerned about leading, caring for, and raising up other leaders. They don’t give up responsibility for the outcome, but they begin to release team building, decision-making, and execution to other people. These are the "leaders of hundreds." Ministries can grow to several thousand people with this style of leadership.
Lead by Vision. At some point, there are leaders who may continue to embrace functional leadership of specific areas of ministry, but their focus is really on the overall health of the church. Rather than a ministry-specific focus, they have a global perspective that encompasses every aspect of the organization. These folks are leading other leaders, but they also have influence that reaches beyond their direct reports. They are coming alongside the senior leader to champion the vision that God has given the 11 church. These are the "leaders of thousands." Ministries can grow to tens of thousands of people with this style of leadership.
By the way, all of these approaches to leadership are vital in a healthy, growing church. Even if I’ve moved to a place in my leadership where I’m primarily leading by vision, there will be instances when I need to lead by example. Where churches get stuck, though, is when only one style of leadership is evident in the top leadership team. So, before you continue reading, do you agree with my summary of these different stages of leadership growth? What would you add or delete from my descriptions? Also, where are you? What do you need to do today to prepare to step into a new leadership role tomorrow?
Something to think about
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Monday, December 26, 2011
~8 Reason Churches are stuck~
This is the time of year right between new years and after Christmas where people around the world and even in churches sit down for a week and do some goal planning for the next year. It's very important to set these goals or "Wins" as I like to call it. for any ministry, church or even in your own life. One topic I have talked about many of times with church and ministry leaders is the goals and wins of a church and even the down falls of it as a whole. One question I am asked a lot is why churches are stuck and what keeps them from getting them to where God wants them to be. Here is a little jot of about 8 reason churches are stuck where they are.
1. You lack a leadership empowerment plan. We have failed as leaders in the church if we do not embrace the unique gift-mix that God designed. And we won’t fully know the power and impact of the local church until people are empowered to be the people God wired them up to be.
2.You are unclear about your vision and mission. There are lots of churches with vision statements, but I don’t think there are very many churches that really have a vision statement that clarifies who they are as an organization. A clear vision that is properly communicated will both rally and repel people.
3.You blame outsiders and external factors. Victim-thinking will only lead to bitterness and competition. Leaders who blame outsiders and external factors actually are confessing their own failure to think creatively and inspire their team.
4.Your structure inhibits growth. One of the attributes of a church in decline is a complex structure. The natural tendency of organizations is to add complexity to their structure and systems. The longer an organization exists, the more complex it typically gets.
5. You worship your past success. Our past successes can be one of the greatest contributing factors to our future demise. When organizations stick to “the way we do it,” the safe approach of avoiding innovation and change becomes the riskiest approach.
6. You focus on activities instead of outcomes. While many church leaders are full of vision and passion, they lack an effective strategy to accomplish their mission. That leads to a feeling of disorganization, and ultimately they become stuck.
7. You fail to equip God’s people. For whatever reason, smaller churches I work with have a tendency to rely on the pastors and paid staff to carry the ministry load rather than equipping lay people.
8. Your ministries ignore people outside the church. When churches become inward-focused and start making decisions about ministry to keep people rather than reach people, they also start to die.
I think all these points are very important however I have to say churches start to walk on thin ice when they hit point 8.... in my years of ministry I have seen this so much over and over again. Churches make decisions to keep people rather than reach people.... At times when I walk into a church I have to stop and ask myself are they all about entertainment of Christianity and what keeps people laughing and all smiles or are they about more. It brakes my heart to see churches lost so far in the world they honestly believe it's how Christ would do ministry. I guess if I had to add another reason chuches are stuck it would be 9. They lose their passion. May this be a great time of year to plan, pray. and dream where God can take you this next year!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
~Luke 2~
Luke 2The Birth of Jesus 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
And the Word is Good!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Day of Rest!
Today is a day of much needed rest, prayer and time to spend with family and God. I am thankful for many things this year that God has given us. He has kept us safe and given us many blessings during the year. I was even able to pick up The Horse (aka my Truck) and I am sl glad to have it back. Praying all the issues with it are done and we are free of having to put anymore money into it. Thank you Lord for the little things this year!!!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
TC - Day 3
Another long drive back to SC....opps GA. However at times I wish it was to SC. I do miss my home state but I know God has me where he wants me for now. It was a great time spending with my students on the drive back and we where even able to stop for a nice lunch not far from Rock Hill, SC. what a great place. As We came back I had to pray over and over again for God's will for my life. As the days move on I do think he is speaking to me more and more. I feel a pain at times however I have a overwhelming feeling of Great love and peace in my life right now. While in WV the past few days we heard a song written and sung by Klye and I have gotten the freedom to share this song with you... Maybe one day it will be for sale as It's so powerful. Listen to the Words and may it give you hope this Christmas.
Kyle MacCallum
Why Would I want to?
Copywritten (C) Annasings.com
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
TC - Day 2
well I guess I can say alot of things today from the stresses of the little things to even the drama and stress of the bigger things however I give thanks today for how great God is and the power of his love. I can't say this trip is turning into what I planned however God is in control and doing things His way. I am so tired and ready to fall in my bed so off I go. Again I have to say tonight that how blessed I am to have Anne and her family leading us in powerful worship. God is speaking in me in great ways and I can't wait to see what He is going to do in my life over the next year. Today He has reminded me that all things are in His hands and he will lead us in where we are to go. May be blessing my ministry and mission in the coming year. Tonight during worship I am giving a great word from God and it's as simple as one song that can make one feel loved by God. I wish to share on this night! May this christmas season you are filled with the Love of our all mighty Father!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Monday, December 19, 2011
TC- Day 1
Wow what a long day of Driving... I do have to say I am so glad we took this trip however it was a long drive. I do have to say I enjoyed the drive with great music and fellowship. Another Early morning as we have to get up and drive two hours to the Ski place. My prayer is it all works out. Powerful worship tonight. I am so glad we ask Anne and her family to come lead worship for us this week. Off to bed!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Sunday, December 18, 2011
~The Climb Ski Trip~
Off to The Climb Ski Trip with Diversity Student Ministries. Praying the Lord will be done on this trip. Having to get up way to early however God is good and I know God will do great things.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Blah....
Putting my trust in the Lord today! This trip planning is not turning out too well... Having to move ski places from one place to another place and waiting on the Lord to move.... It seems he is waiting til the 9th hour!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Christmas Coffee!
One of the greatness things about Christmas is Starbucks Coffee and all the fun drinks they come out with... I have yet to have one but my goal this year is to get something new from starbucks this year. Merry Christmas Starbucks! :-) Off to do more ski trip planning. Praying for a good trip and that the Lord would move in the hearts of the students who attend.In His Grip,
Pastor J
Sunday, December 11, 2011
~Changes~
I was reading over a few of my friends and dear brothers in Ministry's blogs and came across this great post about leadership and Change... I find it makes one think and I find it to be very good to take some time and pray over.
What would change if we didn’t operate as if leadership was the primary lever by
which change happens? What if our perception that being the person in your
church to lead the community to faithfulness is a barrier to what we hope for in
the lives of people? What might happen if we spend a year not trying to change anyone or anything, but only created space for others to do what they thought was faithful as a
church? What would it require of our hearts? Would we be able to do it? Is there
something about the way we lead that feeds our needs and deflects ideas of others in our church with different perspectives? Could we even give up our agenda for a week to listen to what else God is doing? Are we so certain that our agenda and God’s agenda are the same that we can’t
even fathom the questions above? Could our internal resistance to the questions
above, in fact be a sign that our agenda isn’t the only one God is concerned
about? What’s at risk if we change as leaders? Are the things that come to mind related to fears we have and refuse to face? What’s at risk if we as leaders refuse to be changed ourselves? What kind of leadership is that? What’s at stake if we never dig within ourselves to discover the motivations we hide from ourselves? What would change if we focused on changing ourselves and letting our communities focus on changing themselves as a community? What would change if we
stopped trying to fix people, or get the to agree with our doctrine, theology, or perspective?
What would it look like to trust the Holy Spirit more than ourselves?
What would change?
which change happens? What if our perception that being the person in your
church to lead the community to faithfulness is a barrier to what we hope for in
the lives of people? What might happen if we spend a year not trying to change anyone or anything, but only created space for others to do what they thought was faithful as a
church? What would it require of our hearts? Would we be able to do it? Is there
something about the way we lead that feeds our needs and deflects ideas of others in our church with different perspectives? Could we even give up our agenda for a week to listen to what else God is doing? Are we so certain that our agenda and God’s agenda are the same that we can’t
even fathom the questions above? Could our internal resistance to the questions
above, in fact be a sign that our agenda isn’t the only one God is concerned
about? What’s at risk if we change as leaders? Are the things that come to mind related to fears we have and refuse to face? What’s at risk if we as leaders refuse to be changed ourselves? What kind of leadership is that? What’s at stake if we never dig within ourselves to discover the motivations we hide from ourselves? What would change if we focused on changing ourselves and letting our communities focus on changing themselves as a community? What would change if we
stopped trying to fix people, or get the to agree with our doctrine, theology, or perspective?
What would it look like to trust the Holy Spirit more than ourselves?
What would change?
Friday, December 9, 2011
Rise and Shine!
I woke up way to early this morning however I enjoyed a nice breakfast with some good friends. Sometimes it always good to have someone just listen. Even when we we are not the best company to always been around. I am reminded over the past few days how Big and great our God is. Even in the dark times of life He is our light unto our path. A great truth I have been chewing on over the past few weeks!
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11
In Greek one would put it:
"καὶ λογιοῦμαι ἐφ' ὑμᾶς λογισμὸν εἰρήνης καὶ οὐ κακὰ τοῦ δοῦναι ὑμῖν ταῦτα"
In Greek one would put it:
"καὶ λογιοῦμαι ἐφ' ὑμᾶς λογισμὸν εἰρήνης καὶ οὐ κακὰ τοῦ δοῦναι ὑμῖν ταῦτα"
In His Grip,
-Pastor J
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Noel
As Christmas is around the block I stop to think of all the many Christmas songs I enjoy. One of the 1st that come to mind is "The 1st Noel" I have to stop and take time and get some history and back ground on this word "Noel" The Wikipidia states Noel (or noël) is an alternate word for Christmas. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas" which derives from the old French word noël, a variant of nael. The Latin origin is the word natalis ("birth"). Some even believe the word comes from and meaning "The good news". Did you know "good news" in the Greek is simply "Gospel". I hear over and over again people use the term "That's Greek to me" and it's funny as in truth most people know Greek they just don't know they know it. Most people know one one the 1st places I ever worked was a Greek restaurant and during my many years of middle school (yes I worked under the table at a young age) and high school the Greek family took me under their wing and if you know anything about the Greeks you would know they are like one big mafia family who love hard but will to die for one of their own if they had too. In many ways I was adopted by this family and become one of their own. From lifestyle to who I hung out with, to what I ate and even to being able to attend a church with the family. It was a great part of life I will never forget. Well all that to give a little bit of a background on who I am today. In the town Debbie and I are currently living in there is a Greek restaurant up the road and many of times I have enjoyed some fellowship and even a free glass of tea there. While I was their this week I asked about the Holidays and the family views Christmas. Here is how things went.
Me: Τι είναι επάνω με τα Χριστούγεννα εδώ;
C: Ένας χρόνος από την οικογένεια και το καλό φαγητό, όπως γνωρίζετε
Me: Χριστούγεννα είναι κάτι περισσότερο από τα δώρα
Me: νομίζετε
Me: Τι είναι επάνω με τα Χριστούγεννα εδώ;
C: Ένας χρόνος από την οικογένεια και το καλό φαγητό, όπως γνωρίζετε
Me: Χριστούγεννα είναι κάτι περισσότερο από τα δώρα
Me: νομίζετε
C: ναι πάντα
Me: Καλά είμαι μακριά Μαΐου έχετε μια μεγάλη Χριστούγεννα
C:Εν Χριστώ
Me: Καλά είμαι μακριά Μαΐου έχετε μια μεγάλη Χριστούγεννα
C:Εν Χριστώ
In a nutshell after a short chat It can't down to the true meaning of Christmas and that's Christ ( Χριστώ)
Have your ever wonder where XMas comes from? From the Greek word Χριστώ.
Have your ever wonder where XMas comes from? From the Greek word Χριστώ.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
~CHRISTmas~
The Devil is here to kill, steal and destroy!
I prayer this Christmas everyone would find to Truth in Christmas.
May it not be about the gifts, the food, the football games, But something MORE!
May it be about life, a new that you have never face before But a ever living Life!
In His Grip
-Pastor J
I prayer this Christmas everyone would find to Truth in Christmas.
May it not be about the gifts, the food, the football games, But something MORE!
May it be about life, a new that you have never face before But a ever living Life!
In His Grip
-Pastor J
Sunday, December 4, 2011
~SONday~
Oh I am so ready for Christmas I love the lights, the smells, the gifts and even more the time we stop to give thanks to God for sending His son. I was reminded this morning of a song from years ago.
Greater is he that is in me
Greater is he that is in me
Greater is he that is in me and He that is in the Lord
Satan like a roaring Lion
rowing to and foe
Seeking whom he may debower
the bible tells us so
the bible tells us so
O many souls have gone a stay
to fall in some weak hour
God have given us today
His over coming power!
In His Grip,
Pastor J
Not sure why Blogger has not updated may last few post from the past few weeks but will work on it this monday.
Friday, December 2, 2011
~London~
Today we pray for London
58% of people in london say they are Christians
however 15% say no God or no religion are a part of their life.
In His Grip,
-Pastor J
58% of people in london say they are Christians
however 15% say no God or no religion are a part of their life.
In His Grip,
-Pastor J
Thursday, December 1, 2011
~Johannesburg~
Johnannesburg is a city in South Afica.
Johnanneburg is one of the most unchurches areas in the world.
Most people just don't know anything about Christ much less any God.
In His Grip,
-Pastor J
Johnanneburg is one of the most unchurches areas in the world.
Most people just don't know anything about Christ much less any God.
In His Grip,
-Pastor J
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