This weekend is the beginning of daylight savings time. In the Spring, we “sprang forward”, meaning we lost an our of our day. But in the fall, we “fall back” and actually gain an hour back. This Sunday, we get an hour we already have used back! Most of us will use that hour to catch up on our sleep.

But I have challenged our LifeSpring Leadership Team (LLT) to do something different this year with that hour. Maybe you would be interested in joining us. Here’s the challenge:

Take 15 minutes a day on Wednesday 11/2/11, Thursday 11/3/11, Friday 11/4/11, and Saturday 11/5/11 (15 minutes a day times 4 days equal 1 hour) and do the following

1) Take 5 minutes & read 2 Peter chapter 1 and jot down anything God shows you. (Read expecting God to show you something). Continue to do this for the whole 5 minutes.

2) Take 5 minutes & memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 (speak it out loud as you practice)

“Trust I the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”

3) Take 5 minutes & Pray about what you have read, and memorized. Ask God to guide you and your church to becoming the loving, serving, & encouraging individual and community of believers that lead others to life changing encounters of Jesus love. Pray about whatever God lays on your heart.

Here is a sample of what I jotted down after reading 2 Peter 1:

Vs. 1. Peter identifies himself with Jesus as “a servant” and “an apostle” of Jesus Christ. As I looked at this , I realized that Peter is putting these words, these labels, in a certain order.

- Peter sees himself as a “servant” of Jesus before an “apostle”.

o Though the title of “apostle” or “disciple” may seem to carry some authority and power behind it, Peter seems to rather be identified as a servant of Jesus Christ first.

o Maybe I should do the same.

§ Would I rather have on my tombstone to identify what I did with my life …. “Pastor” or “Reverend” or “Husband” or “Father” or “Friend” or “Servant of Jesus Christ”.

o As I look at these words in print, I realize that in order for me to be the pastor, reverend, husband, father and friend God desires me to be, I must FIRST be the Servant of Jesus Christ that God calls me to be.

Thoughts on John 8:1-12

Here are a few of my thoughts and observations as I read John 8:1-12. I'd love to see your comments for additional discussion.

• Jesus got to church (temple courts) pretty early to serve and to teach. You would think that there wouldn’t be that many people interested in being taught (especially that early in the morning), but we read that there were people gathered around him to desiring to learn.
  • Is there an opportunity in my life to meet with people early in the morning, before work or school, to have a moment to teach/learn about Jesus and what it is to be an obedient follower?
  
  
• Jesus sat down to teach them. This is a very good posture to teach from; sitting down among the people, with them at their level (I’m referring to their spiritual maturity level, as well as their physical position of their bodies) to teach them. There is a place for “lecture” or “monologue” methods of teaching, but when teaching about applying the truths of the scriptures to our lives, this is best taught in a group discussion format with sharing and empathy.
  • How can I find and develop more “group discussion” dynamics with others to teach/learn about Jesus and what it is to be an obedient follower? Is social media an avenue to do this? If so, what are the pros and cons of doing it this way?
  
  
• I’m not sure what Jesus wrote down in the sand, but I do know that he waited until he was ready to speak before He answered the Pharisees questions. No matter how much they continued to question or how persistent the Pharisees were, Jesus waited until He was ready to speak, not letting the actions of the Pharisees coaxing Him into responding unprepared.
  • This is a good example of patience displayed to myself and others who tend to “shoot from the hip” when faced with a ton of important questions from others seeking our response. Being patient and getting oneself prepared to speak is a discipline we all need to practice.
  
  
• In a way, when Jesus says, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her,” His actions and His words are basically comparing all sin (that an individual commits) as the same as adultery while not ignoring or lessening the consequences of the sin. Jesus is implying that all sin is worthy of death and requires grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to overcome for us to sin no more. This is exactly what Jesus gave to the woman when He said, "Then neither do I condemn you" and "Go now and leave your life of sin."
  • As an obedient follower of Jesus, how do I distribute grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to others so they can overcome sin’s control in their lives?
  
  
• Just like the Pharisees, the religious leaders of that time, people today are always quick to point out the sins or problems in other people’s lives without giving much attention to the sin in their own lives. I guess it is easier to see other’s sins than our own. I think we also do this because it deflects the “light of truth” from us to others, and gives us a sense that our sins are “not as bad” as theirs sins, thus we must be better and more loved by God.
  • Pointing others sins out does not lessen my sins in God’s eye, or justify my sins. Sin is just that, sin, and we should seek Jesus’ grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to overcome our sins, as we freely give to others the same grace, mercy, forgiveness and encouragement to overcome sin.

So, what do you learn when you read John 8:1-12? Click "comment" below to join the discussion!

Is it a Job or is it Ministry

I just received a newsletter from a Warwick UMC, the church I was a pastor of before starting LifeSpring Church. In it, the pastor, Rick Hamilton, quoted a devotional that was read on his recent mission trip to the Dominican Republic. As I read it, I thought, WOW! Whoever first wrote these words has given a great description of the difference between “doing a job at church” and “being involved in ministry”. Take a look and see for yourself:

If you’re doing it because no one else will, it’s a job.
If you’re doing it to serve the Lord, it’s a ministry.

If you’re doing it just well enough to get by, it’s a job.
If you’re doing it to the best of your ability, it’s a ministry.

If you’ll do it so long as it doesn’t interfere with other activities, it’s a job.
If you’re committed to staying with it, even when it means letting go of other things, it’s a ministry.

If you quit, because no one praised you or thanked you, it’s a job.
If you stay with it even when no one seems to notice, it’s a ministry.

If you do it because someone else said it needs to be done, it’s a job.
If you do it because you are convinced it needs to be done, it’s a ministry.

It’s hard to get excited about a job.
It’s almost impossible not to get excited about a ministry.

The average church is filled with people doing jobs. A great church is filled with people involved in a ministry. If God calls you to do a ministry, for heaven’s sake (Literally), don’t treat it like a job. If you have a job in the church, give it up and find a ministry! God doesn’t want us feeling stuck with a job, but excited, fulfilled and faithful in a specific ministry

• What is God calling you to do?
• Is God telling you to do a “Job” in the church or to do “Ministry”?
• Which would of the two would you invite a friend to come join you in doing…a Job or Ministry?
• Which of the two would a friend be more excited about getting involved in with you… a Job or Ministry?

For me, I’m called to lead and grow a GREAT CHURCH for Jesus Christ, expanding His Kingdom by involving people in MINISTRY not in jobs!

May I never loose or deny doing the ministry God has placed in my heart! ... Nor may you!

Let’s Do Ministry Together,
LET’S DO LIFE TOGETHER

LifeSpring Church

Attitude Reflects Leadership

Ok, so now I’m watching all my favorite clips from Remember the Titans and I am getting ALL FIRED UP!

Today I was watching the clip where Gerry Bertier (played by Ryan Hurst) and Julius Campbell (played by Wood Harris) have, well let’s say it’s a coming together of the minds.

Take a look at the clip here….

First of all, both Gerry and Julius are extremely exhausted, basically because they have not been working together as the leaders of the Titans team to get their teammates to perform to the best of their abilities.  So, the coach has the entire team doing 3 practices a day.  Being an ex-football player and coach, that makes me sweat just typing the words “3-a-day practices.”

Gerry is trying to blame it all on Julius who isn’t doing his assignment.  He is trying to “blow right past ‘em” and is taking the bait of the other team and when he does, he leaves Gerry and the rest of his teammates “hanging out to dry.”

Julius on the other hand is questioning Gerry’s leadership as he is allowing half-hearted effort from his teammates (including from Gerry himself) all because Gerry and some of the teammates don’t like or respect the other teammates. Then he says the crushing line that every leader of a team would hate to hear, “I’m suppose to wear myself out for the team?!   What team?”  Julius is saying that we may look like a team, but we certainly aren’t acting like one.

And finally, Julius delivers the knock out blow that actually stuns both the sender and the receiver…”Attitude reflects leadership.”

The attitude of the team reflects the leadership of the team.

As individual leaders serving on the Leadership Team of LifeSpring Church or as leaders of other ministries in our church, or as leaders in other churches who are also working to expand the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, what attitude are you INTENDING to project to others and what attitudes are being PERCEIVED by those who you are leading?

Are you stepping up to the tough challenges that exist within the church and that exist outside the church and face them head on with the ATTITUDE of EXCELLENCE that  “We are fighting to expand God’s Kingdom, what’s the problem here, have you lost focus of the importance of that!”  It should be more than the exhaustion of the “3-a-day practices” that is driving our ATTITUDE of EXCELLENCE in what we are doing as the leaders of the church.  It should be that people’s LIVES are hanging in the balance of our actions that drives our ATTITUDE of EXCELLENCE!

Remember what Julius said… “Attitude reflects leadership, Captain”

I love you guys.

Strive for Excellence, Leave No Doubt

This week I sent the following email to the Leadership Team for LifeSpring Church.  In it I was reminding them of the importance of striving for excellence in all areas of our ministry.  I told them I was not looking for perfection, and I encouraged them to keep improving because there are lives at stake.

Maybe as you read parts of the email, you will be encouraged to strive for excellence when serving as a follower of Jesus Christ…He did!

I want to tell you with all my heart that I believe THIS IS the Leadership Team that God is loving, guiding, & pressing into as individuals and as a team to PROPEL LifeSpring Church to the next level of EXCELLENCE.

YOU ARE NOT HERE BY MISTAKE, BUT BY DIVINE DESIGN!   GOD has SIFTED out those who aren't BOUGHT IN AND SOLD OUT to this VISION... YOU ARE THE 10 that will get it done!... I personally am TRUSTING in you! And I Believe that GOD is ENTRUSTING you! ENTRUSTING you with His CHURCH and His PEOPLE.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!

WE HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE REMEMBER!

WE HAVE TO "LEAVE NO DOUBT" WHO WE SERVE IN EXCELLENCE!

We are in a battle with Satan...a War that has costly casualties... but a war that GOD will win through those of us who are loving, obedient followers of Jesus Christ!

This is were we draw the line in the sand and say to Satan... NO MORE... We will stand in the gap for God's children!  We are the warriors Jesus has chosen to lead the way.  Yes, we don't have a lot of money, yes, we don't have a lot of people, yes, there are a lot of uncommitted people hanging around ...

BUT JESUS HAS CHOSEN US TO LEAD HIS TEAM TO VICTORY THROUGH LIFESPRING CHURCH....

With that said, I want you to watch this clip from Remember the Titans:

When I watch this clip, I can imagine Jesus as the Assistant Coach Bill Yoast (played by Will Patton), who finally takes all he can take of the evil represented in the corrupt referees, and the punishment from the Evil One (the coach of the opposing team) and the Evil One’s followers (the opposing team themselves).

He pulls his team around him, to prepare them for the upcoming battle, having to make some last minute changes to insure that together, the whole team about to step on the battlefield is BOUGHT IN and SOLD OUT to His Vision of what could be.  All this is happening under the watchful eye of God, His Father, as seen in the Head Coach Hermon Boone (played by Denzel Washington).

Listen for two memorable quotes Assistant Coach Yoast says to his players before they take the field.

The first quote: “Alright, now I don’t won’t them to gain another yard. You BLITZ ALL NIGHT!  If they cross the line of scrimmage I’m gonna take every last one of you out! You make sure that they remember forever the night they played the Titans!”

Listen to the second quote that Assistant Coach Yoast yells to the team as they run onto the field, and then later he repeats to the Head Coach after his defensive team has STOPPED THE ENEMY.

“Leave NO DOUBT!”

To the LifeSpring Leadership Team… I LOVE YOU!  I don’t want Satan to gain another soul! YOU BLITZ ALL NIGHT!! You make sure they remember forever …JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!!!

LEAVE NO DOUBT!

I wonder how they will respond?  How would you respond?