We're at Walt Disney World

For Christmas, we got our family a trip to Walt Disney World. We found airfare for $109 per person round trip and a 3-bedroom condo for $59 per night. We're splitting it with Amberly's parents! Think of it $30 per night. I know, I know. There are five of us and two of them. We should pay 5/7, but if they don't ask about it....

We fly back tomorrow. I look forward to seeing everyone Sunday.

We get to Keep the Gravel...For 18 Months

Good news. The Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 to let us keep our gravel parking lot for 18 months as we settle the arbitration with Rochon. Thank you to everyone who prayed for God's favor on these proceedings!

10 Questions Leaders Ask (Part 2)

Here are the next three questions leaders ask:

5. Who's next?
This is the question of administration. Who can be brought onto the team to take it closer to the destination? Who will move the team to the next level?

6. What's new?
This is the question of innovation. Peter Drucker said, "Innovate or die!" We've got to keep changing and moving into new ideas and strategies of ministry.

7. What the atmosphere?
This is the question of culture. The leader is the chief cultural architect of the organization. He sets the pace, but more importantly, he sets the tone. The leader constantly evaluates the atmosphere to make sure the cultural indicators of the organization are moving in the right direction.

We'll make it to number 10 next time.

Ten Questions Leaders Ask (Part 1)

Leaders simply think differently than followers--not necessarily better, just different. Leaders approach life with a series of questions that guide them and their organizations. So, what questions do leaders ask?

1. Where are we going?
This is the question of destination. The leader constantly asks the question that is driven by purpose and mission. What is our target? What is our goal? What is our destination?

2. Where are we now?
This is the question of location. Leaders evaluate their present location in terms of the destination. Are we moving closer to where we want to be. There is an ongoing analysis determined by the mission. In other words, the destination is the template that evaluates the location.

3. How do we get from here to there?
This is the question of navigation. We are at point B, but we want to get to point A. What strategies do we employ? What path do we take? What changes do we make to go from here to there?

4. What's next?
This is the question of implementation. You can't make it to point A in one step, but several. So, the leader is always asking, "What's the next step?" Leaders constantly set their priorities with this question: What next thing can I do to get us closer to the vision?

We'll stop at four for now, but there are more questions leaders always ask on the way.

Revolution--Commitment

There are four ingredients for a revolution:

• Cause
• Company
• Commitment
• Concentration

Of the four, commitment is the least glamorous. Fighting for the cause and joining up with the company excite the heart, commitment can lull us to sleep. It's more exciting to fire the rifle than pay for the rifle, but someone has to commit the resources for the revolution to be successful.

God gives us a way to finance the revolution that we desire in our city, our church, and our families. It's called tithing. In Malachi 3, the nation of Israel weren't' leading a revolution and they weren't tithing. God takes them up on this all throughout the last book of the Old Testament.

The Purpose

God gives us the purpose of the tithe throughout the book. The tithe exists to demonstrate our commitment to God. That's the point--God wants to know that we are committed to him--all the way down to our wallets. Our money is often the last thing we give to God. It was true in the days of Malachi and it's true in our time as well.

The Problem

The primary problem is that they weren't putting God first in their sacrifice, their family, or their money. They had strayed from God. When we stray from God several things happen:

• We don't know how to return
• We grow insensitive about it
• We leave a tangible trail
• Our talk is better than our walk

The Proposal

In Malachi 3, God challenges the people to test him! He invites them into a partnership.

My Part

• Bring the whole tithe to the storehouse
• Test God's faithfulness

God's Part

• personally provide for my needs
• Personally protect my possessions

What's amazing is that God asks us to test him and allow him to prove that he will partner with us. It's like the Pepsi Challenge, only it's the tithe challenge. Test him and you'll know that with God, $10-$1=$10+.

Blogs

I want to recommend a couple of blogs this morning. First, my friend Tom Jacobs has begun to blog. You can connect with him at www.magleadership.blogspot.com. Also, I love going to www.markbatterson.com every day. Mark is one of the most creative people I know. I know you'll enjoy checking these sites out every few days.

Prodigal Friendly Church

I've heard of all kinds of churches:

• Seeker sensitive
• Purpose Driven
• Fundamentalist
• Charismatic

Here's a new one: Prodigal Friendly. I met Dary Northrup, the pastor of Timberline Church (www.timberlinechurch.org) at General Council in Denver last year. I wanted to attend the Prodigal Friendly Church Conference at his church last fall, but couldn't make it happen. So, I'm watching the DVD's instead.

Molly was a prodigal--raised in church until age six and then never attended until an Easter Sunday in college. Here are some highlights of what she said:

• I thought church was all about rules and lectures.
• I never understood the sermons.
• I thought church would be boring.

At Timberline, she found something entirely different. Here's what she said:

• It's not about rules, it's about living your life for Jesus.
• I look forward to Sunday.
• I'm comfortable bringing my friends because I know they'll be accepted where they are.
• I can't believe going to church can be this much fun.
• I have found a place to call home.

How do you develop a culture that is prodigal friendly? How do you develop a church where people say things like that? Well, I'm going to watch the rest of the DVD's and find out. My prayer is that Christian Life Assembly will become more and more of a prodigal friendly church.

Holy Disorganization, Bat Man!

I really like our church services to run smoothly, but Sunday we had about 10 minutes of holy disorganization. We prayed over student kits for the Seven Project at Lincoln High School. The Seven Project combines a multi-media assembly during the day with a festival at night, giving seven answers to the six greatest questions students face.

We're partnering with other churches for the one at Lincoln, February 15. To get the students ready, we were selling Seven Project kits loaded with stuff for them to use to promote the event in their schools. We prayed over the kits then I said that I would pay the $10 for one student who really wanted a kit--a student raised their hand and came forward. I gave them a kit and thought we were done.

We moved to our fellowship and greeting time. Someone gave me another $10. Someone else gave our youth pastor $50. I announced that another six students could come kit a kit.

Then it happened.

Without prompting, people just came up with checks and cash and said give these kits away. We wound up with enough money to give away all we had and order 17 more! For a few minutes the service was filled with disorginization--kits flying of the platform, money changing hands. Finally, we got back to the order of service.

It was disorganization...but it was holy disorganization, Batman!

Remember the Adventure

I'm excited about going to Tommy Barnett's Pastor's and Leader's School at Phoenix First Assembly in just a few weeks--we've got a total of 17 going in our group. It's going to be great.

Tommy Barnett was incredibly influential in convincing me not to give up when I want to give up so badly. And, he didn't even know it. My mother-in-law got me the tapes (yes tapes, not CD's back then) from the conference. Things weren't' going well at church. I had no real identity as a pastor. I had no clear vision for the church. We were averaging just over 100 in the school facility.

I listened to one of the tapes--For Such a Time as This. At the end of the tape, he began to pray for people who wanted to give up. I sensed God's Spirit so strongly in the car that I had to pull over. It was amazing! I couldn't stop crying.

That was a a little more than five years ago. Here are two lessons I've learned since then:

1. If you don't quit, you can't lose.
2. If you quit, you remember the ordeal. If you don't quit you remember the adventure!

Friday Book Review: Flashbang!

Here's the description from www.amazon.com: Mark Steele found himself trying to be a good Christian...but his life was turning into a flashbang--something that makes a lot of noise but leaves no permanent indentation.

Now, here's my take. The book made me laugh out loud. I started reading it then Amberly stole it from me because she couldn't take me laughing while she tried to read Ted Dekker! The next night, I couldn't' sleep because of her laughter.

But it's more than humor--after he gets you laughing, he makes some great points that grab you by the nap of the neck. The subtitle tells it all: how I got over myself. After reading the book, you'll determine not be be a flashbang, but instead leave teeth marks!

New Feature: Life Giving Leadership Interview

I'm going to start a new feature called The Life Giving Interview each week on the blog. Our first guest is Dick Hardy, the vice president of college advancement for Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Dick a great friend and a life giving leader, working to raise up a new generation of life giving leaders.

1. What gives you the greatest sense of being alive?
Spending time with the my wife--the beautiful redhead!

2. What tempts you to fly out of life giving mode and into ticked off mode?
People who directly (not inadvertently) disobey directives.

3. What's the last book you read and do you recommend it?
The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership-Yes.

4. Who's had the best influence on your life as a leader?
John Lindell--the pastor of James River Assembly (www.jamesriver.org)

5. What's the greatest life giving leadership lesson you've learned?
1) Lead for the purpose of accomplishing mission without regard for who gets the credit. 2) Deal with conflicts sooner rather than later. Don’t be angry but be firm and direct.

Bringing It All Together

Something happened last night that hasn't happened since I was three years-old. Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt in Lexington! It was a horrible game to watch. There is no cohesion as a team. The players admitted as much after the game. To make a difference as a leader (of a business, family, or church) the following systems have to be unified and aligned:

1. Your Purpose--Kentucky players don't seem to have a common purpose--winning. For many it seems their purpose is to just make it to the NBA or see their name on the top of the boxscore.

2. Your Strategy--The team has no idea what strategy is being employed on the offensive end of the ball. They seem to be making it up each trip down the court. That's why they barely scored over 20 points in the first half. The last three games they've scored fewer points in three games than any Kentucky team since before the 3-point shot was added.

3. Your Culture--The team has no chemistry with one another. There is not a culture of winning among these athletes. There is no sense of family, according to the players.

4. Your Structure--Coach Tubby Smith should be the one in charge, but it seems that he can't get the guys to listen to him. He keeps complaining about the same things after each loss. Until a structure is in place that determines who's calling the shots and who's implementing the shots, the team will never win.

5. Your Rewards--The team doesn't seem to have an understanding of the rewards of playing like a team. They seem to be focused only on the rewards for individuals.

Until Kentucky can unify these five systems, they will never succeed. (It wouldn't hurt if they could shoot better from outside, either.) The same is true for your family, church, or business--until these systems flow together in unity, you'll fight against yourself for the win.

B There!

I met a great new friend last Thursday. Gary Lydic is vice president of America's Family Coaches. His work centers on the Divorce Proofing America campaign. What a challenge! I knew I'd like the guy when I heard that he worked for Focus on the Family for over 20 years and before that he spent 12 years working at Walt Disney World! That's my kind of guy!

One of the things we talked about was the message on a bracelet he wore. It simply said, "B There." It's a commitment to keep the greatest appointment in life . . . and death. The idea is that one day, I'm going to die and I'm going to go to Heaven. I'll be waiting for you just on the other side of the gate. It's an appointment like none other. And, you better B There!

The Edge: School of Leaders

One of my goals for Christian Life Assembly this year is to expand our network of trained leaders. In order to do that, we're starting The Edge: School of Leaders. This will be a three trimester approach to leadership training that will prepare leaders to take their roles as small group leaders, hosts, ministry leaders, deacons, etc.

Each trimester will last nine weeks, with the first trimester starting February 12. The trimesters will center on:

Trimester 1: The Source of Life Giving Leadership
Trimester 2: The Power for Life Giving Leadership
Trimester 3: The Practice of Life Giving Leadership

The Source will cover the following:

February 12 Leading from the Tree of Life
February 19 Self Leadership
February 26 Visionary Leadership
March 5 Problem Solving
March 12 Leading with a Life Giving Attitude
March 26 Living Out Life Giving Priorities
April 2 Integrity and Trust
April 9 Developing New Leaders

Revolution! Keys to Revolutionary Relationships

One is too small a number for greatness. To be part of a revolution, you've got to have some revolutionary relationships around you. Throughout the letters from Paul to the early churches, we discover some great insights in how to treat one another. When we apply them, we'll be able to live out relationships that stir a revolution.

1. Honor One Another Above Yourself

Romans 12.10 says that we should "be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." The revolutionary idea is that we prefer other people over our own agenda. That's counter-intuitive for most of us who think that if we don't look out for our own agenda no one else will. I've discovered the opposite: when I help other people they want to help me. Together, both of us achieve our goals.

2. Live in Harmony with One Another

Romans 12.16 says it simply, "Live in harmony wit one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position." To find your perfect match on e-harmony.com, you've got to be connected on 29 points of compatibility. My problem is that not everyone I live with and work with matches me on all 29 points. I've got to learn how to get along with people who don't fit my profile or I'll never be part of a revolution!

3. Serve One Another

Galatians 5.13 says, "Do not use your freedom to indulge . . . but serve one another." I'll never forget the talk I heard at Promise Keepers by Wellington Boone--Your Wife is Not Your Mama! His challenge was for men to try to outserve their wives--now that's a revolutionary relationship.

4. Bear One Another's Burdens

Galatians 6.2 says, "Bear one another's burdens." I don't walk alone when I walk in revolutionary relationships, but we walk together. Together, my load is lighter. And with my free hand, I can lift someone else's burden, too!

5. Forgive One Another

Colossians 3.13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another." Revolutionary relationships are not perfect relationships. Instead, they are relationships were grievances are forgiven, not carried. You'll never find a perfect job, church, or wife. People who think that leave a string of broken relationships behind them. Lasting relationships require forgiveness.

6. Teach and Admonish Each Other

Colossians 3.16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom." Here's the idea: You better do 1-5 before you start on #6! You earn the right to correct me when you forgive, serve, and bear with me!

7. Encourage One Another

Hebrews 10.25 says, "Let us not give up meeting together . . . but let us encourage one another." To encourage, simply means to "give courage." Your smile, prayer, or presence may be all that is needed to give someone the courage they need to face one of life's battles. For that to happen, you've got to be there--together. One of the greatest ways to be together is to worship together where you receive encouragement from God and give encouragement to each other.

Think Systems, Not Symptoms

Too often we wind up treating the symptoms when we should be transforming the systems. The symptoms reveal a inherent flaw in the systems, yet we feel like we've done enough when we make the symptoms go away for a while. Let me give some examples.

Family--They symptoms may include a husband and wife increasingly dissatisfied with each other. To treat the symptom, they go out on a date. Then, it's back to usual. The system of communication, interaction, and togetherness needs to be changed, not just the symptom.

Workplace--There are reasons some business continually find themselves on the short-end of the stick. They need to change the systems, not just treat the symptoms.

Church--If people don't feel cared for in the church, the tendency is to rush and shower some care on them. Then, it's off to the next brushfire. Instead of just treating the symptoms, new systems of care need to be implemented.

What systems are there in your life that if changed could eliminate a lot of symptoms of dis-ease and make your life easier?

Identity Theft Series Available

If you would like to order the CD set of our latest message series Identity Theft, you can e-mail Julie at clagsecretary@aol.com. She'll send you the set along with an invoice for $15 (shipping included). If you don't pay the invoice, she'll hunt you down. Just kidding!

It's a great series where you discover how to become the person you were created to be. The six-CD set includes the following messages:

The 5 R's to a New Identity
It's Never Too Late
Trapped in the Identity Cycle
Who are You?
Renew Your Mind to a New Identity
Steps to Recovering You Identity

I think you'll enjoy the series. It was one of the most well-received ever at Christian Life Assembly.

Believe in Miracles, but Trust in Jesus

Before I went to bed at 11:45 last night I tuned into Fox News to see elated family and friends of the West Virginia coal miners. They were praising God, hugging, and rejoicing because they had been told that their fathers, sons, brothers, and friends had been found alive.

Before I came to prayer this morning, I tuned to Fox News around 6:15 and saw a completely different scene. Apparently, the report had been wrong and after three hours of celebrating, the family and friends were told that only one miner lived while the others perished.

What a horrible emotional roller coaster. Then I wondered how God fit into the picture. They all praised God when the miners were reported saved. Now, will they blame him because they are dead. What potential for a faith wreck.

Then, I remembered a quote from Adrian Rogers, former pastor of believe Baptist Church in Memphis. He said, "Believe in miracles, but trust in Jesus." Rogers had experienced tragedy himself with the death of a newborn years ago due to SIDS. That thought is my prayer for the family and friends of the miners--that they will still believe in miracles, but even more that they will trust in Jesus.

Priorities in 2006

I just re-read some great stuff on how to set priorities. The key is to remember the 3 R's:

1. What is required?
There are some things that we simply must do. I've got to write a sermon every week. For me, it's simply required. Whether I was on vacation the week before or not, the sermon is due on Sunday. It's a requirement. Fortunately, most of my requirements are in areas that I love--though not all. Those we need to get done first. I remember the old saying, "Eat the frog first."

2. What gives me the greatest return?
The effort expended should be in proportion to the results expected. This has to do with operating in the area of strengths, rather than weaknesses. For me, that deals with strategy, communication, and creativity. As you work in the areas of your strength, the return on your investment increases.

3. What gives the greatest reward?
These are the things we love doing because we get the greatest charge out of them. We enjoy them personally.

Here's the big key: when all three line up you're living your dream. When the requirements are met by your strengths that give the highest return and they also bring you the greatest reward...that's the sweet spot of living.

Revolution

Today, we have sanitized Jesus, making him ready for mass market, but when you read the gospels you discover that Jesus was nothing short of a revolutionary. His ministry was a revolution of life.

Revolution is defined by www.dictionary.com as "a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving, the overthrow of a government." That's what Jesus was all about: drastic and far-reaching change in people's lives. Further, he was about overthrowing the Kingdom of Darkness and Death in favor of the Kingdom of Light and Life!

The revolution that Jesus leads is a Revolution of Life. Wherever Jesus went in the gospels he gave life: healing a leper, forgiving the woman in adultery, freeing the demonic, confronting the religious leaders, and ultimately dying on the Cross. His revolution was, and still is, a revolution of life!

God is calling us to join him in this revolution of life. To lead a revolution in your family, workplace, and city, four ingredients are required:

1. A Cause
2. Some Company
3. A Commitment
4. Concentration

Understanding the Cause

The Cause: Lead a Revolution of Life

1. You were Born for the Cause

You are not an accident; instead, you were created on purpose and for a purpose. When Pilate asked Jesus about his kingdom in John's gospel, he replied, "For this cause I was born." You and I are born for the cause, as well. No matter the circumstance of your birth, the predicament of your background, or the situation you find yourself in at this moment, you were born for the cause.

2. You can Live for the Cause

Jesus said in John 10.10, "I have come that you might have life and have it to the full." That's living for the cause.

Cause and Effect

The cause had a dramatic effect on the way Jesus lived.

For the cause, he defeated the devil at the temptation.
For the cause, he turned down the opportunity to lead a civil revolt.
For the cause, he developed a network of relationships and trained future leaders.
For the cause, he traveled across his country.
For the cause, he spent night in prayer.
For the cause, he healed the sick, preached the Word, and taught the multitudes.
For the cause, he gave his life.

Is there a cause and effect relationship in your life? Are you living for the cause. I love the song Every Day:

Everyday, Lord, I'll
Learn to stand upon Your word
And I pray that I
That I might come to know You more
That You would guide me with every single step I take, that
Everyday I can
Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for
Everyday, I'll follow after You
Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

That's living for the cause every day.

3. You must Die for the Cause

Obviously, Jesus died for the cause. And, he asks the same of us: not that we'll give our lives to death, but that we'll simply give our lives for the cause.

At the root, I am a selfish person. All of us are. To die for the cause means that we die to ourselves and live for the cause. It means that we lose our lives so we can gain his life. It's a paradox of the gospel, but it's true: real life comes when we give our lives away!

We've got to refuse to drink the water of the culture that says, "Look out for number one. It's all about you. Stick up for yourself. You deserve it." Instead, we've got die for the cause.

Let's start a life giving revolution in our city by understanding the cause: born for the cause, live for the cause, and die for the cause.

Top 5 in 05--Books

I didn't make my goal of a book a week, but I did read some pretty good books in 2005. Here's a top 5 in 05 for books:

1. Devotional--The Message Bible
2. Spiritual--Beyond Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson
3. Biography--Family Man (James Dobson) by Dale Buss
4. Fiction--the Red, White, and Black trilogy by Ted Dekker
5. Leadership--Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard

Honorable Mention
Rules for Revolutionaries by Guy Kawasaki
How to Be Like Walt by Pat Williams
Planting Churches in a Post Modern Age by Ed Stetzer
Kid CEO: How to Keep You Kids from Running Your Life by Ed Young
Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley
In Pursuit of Peace by Joyce Meyers
For the Cause by Brian Houston
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni

Top 5 in 05--Experiences

Here are my top five experiences in 2005:

1. The first Sunday in Christian Life Assembly's own worship facility.
2. Seeing people make a decision for Christ almost every week.
3. Hiking with Amberly in Rocky Mountain National Park.
4. A 10-Day Park Hopper Pass to Walt Disney World with my family.
5. Being named Central Bible College's Distinguished Young Leader for 2005.