Anchors. Big, heavy pieces of metal that sailors use to keep the wind or current from moving their ship. The ship may swing, sway, and be tossed around, but the anchor is there to keep it secure. Every leader has to know when is the right time to drop their anchor. Likewise, there may be times when dropping an anchor is actually detrimental. In doing so, it may cause more harm than good. In general, we use the term "anchored" as a good thing. Effective leaders hold deep convictions; in a sense, they are anchored to them. Cultural winds or situational storms may beat against the boat, but the presence of an anchor allows them to hold their ground. Convictional anchors may sound like ... "This is who we are." "This is what we stand for." "This is what we believe." Leaders who hold no deep convictions may wake up…
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In theological and scientific circles, the words creation and evolution are used in reference to the origins of the universe. How did our world and surrounding solar systems come to be? At the risk of being overly simplistic, they generally mean: Creation - the world was immediately and instantly brought into existence Evolution - the world gradually evolved into more complex states of existence Remember, I warned you that these definitions would be overly simplistic. But the point of this post isn't to debate the origins of the universe but to show how our words (those we use and those directed towards us) shape our personal and collective world. Little children discover the power of words the moment they learn their first words. They quickly realize that saying a familiar sound can direct and redirect attention. And every parent remembers when their children discovered the wonders of saying "no." Do…
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Michelangelo is one of history’s best-known artist. He once explained his artistic process this way: "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Our story this weekend highlights this important truth: Jesus sees your potential even when others do not.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at Warner University church planter with Stadia former former president, Church Planters of the Rockies masters in business administration (mba) helped start 2 for-profit tech companies Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more.
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John 4 tells the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. While the conversation initially begins with a request for water, Jesus quickly steers it into a topic that she was trying to avoid: her shame. There was a reason why she was drawing water at a time of day when few other people would be there. She had been married multiple times and was currently living with someone who was not her husband. When Jesus asks about her husband, he is not trying to embarrass her but to prove that he is from God. In this story, there are several levels of outcast involved: how Jews viewed Samaritans, how men treated women, and the fact that she had been married many times. Like people today, Jesus does not let her past or her status disqualify her from God’s love.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel.…
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If you’ve ever felt rejected or unwelcomed, then you are good in company – the same thing happened to Jesus. Although many of the common people were attracted to Jesus and his message, the Jewish leaders and authorities viewed Jesus as either a threat or a blasphemer. Isaiah 53 reminds us that Jesus was “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:3). In many respects, Jesus was the ultimate outsider both then and now.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here. Professor at Warner University church planter with Stadia…
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