Yesterday I attended an area-wide gathering of a new grassroots network called "Breakthrough Leaders Network." Their purpose is simple: how do we best stimulate the creation of new churches in Denver? Depending on the part of Denver you might live in, only 5-10% of the population attends a church of any kind. When I first had coffee with Joe Beckler, BLN founder, I was impressed with his passion for helping all churches reach more people. While the focus is on starting new churches, BLN offers principles all churches can benefit from. One aspect of BLN that I appreciate most is the diversity of people at their monthly coaching forum and quarterly gatherings. Yesterday we had pastors from the Southern Baptist Convention, Independent Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ, Converge, Evangelical Free, Assemblies of God, and several others. At the coaching forums, you will find suburban pastors alongside urban pastors, black pastors…
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Over the past week, I've been reading two books from the Gallup Organization: "Now, Discover Your Strengths" and the more recent, "Strengths Finder 2.0". The idea is simple: discover your strengths and build on those. Actually, it only sounds simple. Much of what has been written in leadership development -- or even personal development -- has focused on how to improve in your areas of weakness. Growth plans outline how to develop new skills or improve weaker ones. It's not all bad. Some areas of weakness can be deadly if not improved upon. Take the ability to listen. If you're not a good listener, you had better learn how to hear what your spouse (or boss) is saying to you. However, what makes these two books different is the idea of focusing on your strengths. It's our strengths that make us productive, creative, and energized. While we don't ignore our…
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Lou Holtz once said, "It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." There are times when life is downright heavy. We watch those we love battle a disease that withers them away and wears us down. The concern parents feel for their children can be all-consuming. The baggage we may carry from a bad decision takes the spring from our step. When life is heavy, we need hope -- not wishful thinking. We need an assurance that everything will work out, perhaps not the way we would like it, but in the most beneficial way. Hope in better things is what allows us to pick up and carry on. Hope is what Jesus offers: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and…
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We are a nation of consumers. Where I went to college, a town of only 3,000 people, there were more restaurants than places to get your hair cut. Surprisingly, no enterprising entrepreneur ever combined the two. We consume ... food, toys, gadgets, data, information, internet, news, entertainment ... in short, we consume everything. Just this morning, I consumed bacon, eggs, and coffee. The problem is not with consumption per se* but when we develop a consumer mentality. What does a consumer mentality look like? It's when you ask, "What will you do for me?" before you ask, "What can I do for you?" It's when you would rather have your hand out than to offer a helping hand. It's when you process every decision through the filter of your own feelings instead of asking, "Is this the right thing to do?" When the consumer mentality shows up at work, it…
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In Proverbs 29:18, the King James Version of the Bible reads, "Where there is no vision, the people perish ..." Everybody needs to have a living, breathing vision inside of them. Your kids need your help to see their own potential. Students need a teacher to birth a vision within them of what can be. Adults can navigate tremendous obstacles when compelled by a compelling vision. Helping people see God's vision for their lives is another reason I love preaching. As humans, we are confronted with the realities of living in a fallen world. It's not just "them" that need help; it's me. Long after he had penned the words to "Amazing Grace," John Newton reflected: "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior.” While it's true that biblical preaching shines a light on our…
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