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Leadership Chaos (Feature Friday 08/16/19)

The day was almost over. Having just wrote and sent that last email of the day, I was excited to turn off my computer, gather up my things, and head home for my day off. Before shutting down my computer I checked my task list to see where I stood and there it was. The long list of things that were yet to be done with additional ones I thought of to add.

At that exact moment my wife texted and asked me to stop by the store on the way home, one of our kids was sick. So I headed out with a few things on my mental to do list when I was stopped by a co-worker on the way out the door who asked me for my help with another project. In that moment, life felt chaotic.

Leadership can be that way…chaotic. But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be. Which is why I needed to reminders from Carey Nieuwhof’s article “5 Signs You’re a Slave to Leadership Chaos“. I have to admit I still see bits of all 5 signs in my life, but I’m working on them.

If you are a leader or hope to lead in the future do yourself a favor and read this article. I hope it challenges, convicts, and encourages you to take action like it has for me.

As always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day!

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

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Prayer Is Hard (Feature Friday 08/09/19)

I know that it is good for me. It has proven fruitful and helpful in times past. There have even been occasions where I saw immediate results. And yet when it comes to prayer and being consistent in prayer, it’s difficult. I guess that is why they call it a discipline.

But what I have discovered over the past few years about prayer is interesting. What is difficult as a personal discipline is often difficult as a corporate discipline as well. In the multiple small groups I have led in the past few years, the prayer time can still be awkward, uncomfortable, and difficult to say the least. I have often wondered, is it worth it to keep forcing the issue.

The answer is a resounding YES! Keep praying as a group. Keep praying for one another and with one another. Ian Carmichael gives some great encouragement and ideas as to “How to Continue Steadfastly in Prayer at Group.” He provides needed optimism on praying together and helpful tips for the group.

So don’t give up, keep praying, read the article, and be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day!

Photo by Rosie Fraser on Unsplash

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Kingdom Following (Feature Friday 08/02/19)

We were going on an adventure. My kids were excited and couldn’t wait to get started. They love “adventures”. This was no different. I hadn’t told them exactly where we were going, but they expected great things. There was just one hitch…they had to follow me. To get to our destination and experience the adventure all my kids had to follow me.

There is similar teaching from Jesus that often gets overlooked. We love the idea of experiencing the journey, reaching the destination, and enjoying the coming perfect kingdom Jesus promises. However, to get to the destination and experience the adventure with Jesus it requires more than just praying a prayer at some point. It is very clear that God’s Kingdom and Following Jesus go hand in hand.

Bill Hull explicitly challenges the idea of getting the kingdom without following the king and what is often missing in gospel presentations today. Enjoy the article and as always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day!

Photo by Stacey Gabrielle Koenitz Rozells on Unsplash.

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Turning Selfishness into Servant heartedness (Feature Friday 07/26/19)

It was weed pulling day at our home. I started with three little helpers yanking weeds around me in our flower beds and around the house. As the morning went on they dropped like flies. The first one was done after fifteen minutes, the second child lasted just over thirty minutes, but the third kid was still with me after an hour. I was shocked, surprised, proud, and curious. What caused one child to last longer in an act of hard work and service while two others more quickly dropped?

Some of it was age, the younger ones dropped out first. But I couldn’t help ask if there were other factors involved. This line of questioning led me to seek to understand and learn “How to Teach My Kids to be Servant Hearted“. In a world that repeatedly shows and teaches kids to pursue their self-interest above all else, we want our kids to be counter-cultural and others oriented. What makes this endeavor even more difficult is that their own hearts naturally bend to self-satisfaction.

The endeavor as parents to turn selfishness into servant heartedness in my own life is hard enough, but to seek to help my kids in it is another level. While my wife and I are intentional in trying to shape our kids to be servant-hearted, this article was a quick, concise, and helpful reminder with 3 easy tips.

If you are a looking to become more servant-hearted yourself or helping others do so make sure to check out the article. As always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day.

Photo by Maddy Baker on Unsplash

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Feature Friday (09/19/19)

Have you ever felt like you’re just not being heard? You’ve entered into a conversation with another person and at some point during the interaction the other person seems disengaged. Maybe you’re simply getting the subtle head nod or the bland “mmm hmmm”. Whatever form it takes we all know it leaves you, the one talking, feeling unvalued.

Unfortunately, I have been guilty of not listening well. I have done with my wife, my kids, and my friends. As a leader I am ashamed to admit it, but it’s the truth. Thankfully Jim Putnam wrote a helpful article on intentional listening.

If you are a leader, and we all are to some degree, we must value those we lead and interact with. We need to know how to listen well, to listen with purpose. For help in doing so check out “These 4 Levels of Intentional Listening“.

Enjoy the read and as always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day!

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Feature Friday (07/12/19)

It happens every day to everyone. There is not a person on the planet who does not encounter this at some level every day of the year. Even those who seek to avoid it, deal with it. This is part of being human. It’s a normal aspect of relationships. What is it…

Conflict! There is no way to avoid it in our world. The fact is whenever you get two or more people in close proximity (or even not so close proximity) with one another, conflict is bound to ensue. While we could go into all the reasons conflict exists, Kevin Fontenot writes a great article about conflict resolution.

If you are an aspiring leader, especially a church leader, you may be thinking, “Conflict? That should not exist if the leader is doing her job, especially within the church”. But anyone who has been around people, especially church people will affirm that you need to know these “Keys for Conflict Resolution in the Church“.

Check out the article and as always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day!

Photo by jean wimmerlin on Unsplash

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