leadership

leadership

Cover Me – Day of War

Men’s Mid-Week Life Group Starting Wednesday, 1/28/2015, 6:30 pm Cliff Graham’s Lion of War series is powerfully resonating with readers through its intense and gritty depiction of epic biblical struggles. By addressing heart-felt issues that transcend time, Graham’s work invites us into deeper introspection by igniting a desire for lasting change. In the first study guide for the Lion of War series, Cover Me satisfies the desire for authentic life-transformation by taking us on a unique journey from Graham’s historical…

Fight – Winning the Battles that Matter

Pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel explores the life of Samson, helping you uncover who you really are—a man created with a warrior’s heart in the image of God—and how to stand up and fight for what’s right. Find the strength to fight the battles you know you need to fight—the ones that determine the state of your heart, the quality of your marriage, and the spiritual health of your family. The battles that make you dependent on God as…

There’s No Place Like Home

Don’t you love it when you get a chance to sit down with a old friend you haven’t seen in forever and you are easily able to pick up your relationship right from where you left off? Getting caught up on the happenings of life is fun but what’s really fulfilling is the connection — knowing someone and them knowing you. It’s then you realize that time and distance doesn’t change that. Recently I was writing an email and asked the…

That You May Tell

Love the exaltation of Psalm 48. You can’t help but sense that their deliverance is fresh and that in the face of impending doom their God not only protected them but also routed their enemy. It is the song of one who is on the backside of threat, trial and attack. But it is also significant that the song was not just a celebration of the now but also a powerful declaration to the generations that would follow – Great…

Multipliers

The following are some notes from The Global Leadership Summit (Willow Creek Association) presentation by Liz Wiseman taken from her book Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter. As leaders in Christ’s church we are stewards of those that Jesus calls to join our team including their talents, creative ideas, and passions. Liz says that leaders can either be a Diminisher or a Multiplier. The diminsher actually has a draining influence of those they lead. They shut down others…

How to Lose Your Best People

Patrick Lencioni shared a presentation at Willow Creek Association’s Global Leadership Summit from his book, The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: A Business Parable. Lencioni’s focus was on employees but the principles he sets out also apply to volunteers. This makes the implications of these observations critical for church leaders and pastors.  Patrick nailed three signs of a miserable job that destroy a work culture and lead to separation – Anonymity, Irrelevance and Immeasurement. Anonymity Lencioni – People cannot…

Come Check Us Out

While reading Psalms 66 I was reminded of the interplay between the purposes of our public gatherings and the invitations that we extend to our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to come and check us out. We recognize that our public services will be one of the front doors of NineSevenZero Church and that each gathering must be planned and designed with those we haven’t met yet in mind. Anticipating and preparing for guests in our public gatherings will give…

Lessons from the Vineyard

The Grand Valley of Colorado is known agriculturally for the quality of the fruit that it’s orchards and vineyards produce. The unique sediment soil, abundant sun light, protection by the massive Mesa and Book Cliffs mountains, and the life giving flow of the Colorado River make this desert fertile and productive.  Recently while walking down the rows of vines, I was reminded of the parable Jesus told his disciples in John chapter 15 and some of the faith-life lessons that come…

The Heart of the Shepherd

I love Luke chapter 15 where Jesus tells three parables that are incredible windows into the heart of God and His mission to the world. Three stories about something valuable that was lost and the depth of the effort that went into its recovery. There was a woman who lost a coin, a father who lost a son, and a shepherd who lost a sheep. But while reading this passage recently my attention was drawn to the fact that the shepherd…

The View from the Other Side of the Fence – Part 3

Through the Eyes of a Visitor This is the final set of observations from my recent foray on the other side of the fence. It’s a list of perspectives as a visitor that will hopefully help us create a church that that is inviting and welcoming. 1. How do I get there when you are there? It was surprising to me that in the www days that we live in how many churches do not have any web presence. I…
looking over fence

The View from the Other Side of the Fence – Part 2

While I have been out visiting churches it occurred to me that I am very much like someone looking for a new church home. I come to the church like a secret shopper with a checklist and an agenda. I’ve noticed that the things I am sampling are more of the objective, doctrinal, programatic part of the church. I take the temperature, measure the atmospheric pressure, and record the direction and the intensity of the wind. It’s not only like…
peering over fence

The View from the Other Side of the Fence – Part 1

I’ve had a couple opportunities in recent years to observe churches from a different perspective. The first was the two years I was in Springfield, Missouri attending seminary. It reminded me of when Sue and I moved to Massachusetts to start my professional career. We were like resident tourists enjoying the varied geography from the ocean of Cape Cod to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We delved into the historical events and people that were part of the formation…
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