"Under New Management"

Have you ever been by a restaurant or business and noticed a sign in the window that read, "Under New Management?"  Sometimes this can be a good thing or a bad thing.  I noticed one the other day in one of my favorite restaurants and it made me wonder...

You see, we all enter this world under management.  We all live our lives under management.  And at the end of the day, we all die under management.  Sadly, too many people are living their lives--and too many people are dying--with the same management under which they were born.

The Bible says that we were all born into sin--which we have from birth a nature that is sinful. So many people around us are living and dying in that sin. But the Bible also says that you don’t have to live in sin... and you don’t have to die in sin.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are no longer under the old management.  Because of what Jesus did on the cross you have a new nature, and you have been placed under new management. 

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:1-10

If we are in Jesus Christ, you WERE dead, but NOW you are alive.

You WERE unrighteous, but NOW you have been purified in the blood of the lamb.

You WERE objects of wrath, but NOW you stand before God forgiven.

Because of God’s love, we have been brought out of our past condition...

And he has given us a hope--an assurance for the future that can come about only though a decision to follow Jesus Christ.

I wonder today if this is a sign that you can honestly hang in the window of your heart.  Perhaps it may have been placed there long ago, but it's dusty or covered.

Blessings!

"Heart and Sole" Fellowship versus Factory

A few years ago I was at a conference where we honored a Salvation Army officer who was retiring after over 40+ years in ministry.  He was given an opportunity to speak briefly and what he said continues to influence me to this day.

He spoke of his childhood, of being a "troubled" young man, always in trouble.  He found his way to The Salvation Army as many a troubled young man or woman often do.  He began to notice the way in which the officer interacted with people in need and it had an affect on him.  He told a story about a time when he had seen a man come into the building without shoes.  The officer was down the hall unaware of the young man looking from a distance.  He saw the officer bend down, take off his own shoes, and put them on the feet of the man.  That simple act made such an impact on him that is was one of many things that led to him being an officer in  The Salvation Army.

I have reflected over this story for many years.  I believe we have to be careful in the church and in ministry not to lose that personal and sacrificial aspect of our ministry.  In today's culture of mega churches, government funded programs and state of the art facilities, when we identify a need like; a man without shoes, we are more likely to build a shoe factory or develop a shoe ministry than we are to simply bend down and take off our shoes.

I love the story of when the Holy Spirit came during Pentecost in Acts 2.  Towards the end of that chapter, we have a few verses 42-47 titled, "The Fellowship of The Believers."

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Oh that we would be a fellowship of believers who are quick to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Who give sacrificially from what we have been blessed with to those who are in need.

So the question is are you the kind of person who builds a shoe factory or who bends down and takes off your shoes?

"Back That Thang Up!"

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

(Isaiah 43:19)

One of the hardest things to deal with in leadership is in organization stubbornly stuck in it's ways.

One of the things I fear the most is getting in a rut or doing something simply because "that's the way we've always done it."

Nobody really likes change, it's not easy, it not comfortable, and it will almost always face opposition.

That being said - the larger and the older your organization is the more difficult it is going to be to interject change.  It won't be impossible, but it sure won't be easy.

A rowboat only needs 8 ft for a u-turn...


An oil tanker takes 18 miles ...

Amateurs built the ark - Professionals built the titanic!

I think too often people have amazing dreams and ideas, but never see them through because they feel inadequate or incapable.

I imagine there are employees sitting in cubicles that have ideas about how to turn the company around, but don't want to risk not being taken seriously or being made fun of.

I imagine there are church members who have passions and ideas for ministry and outreach, but don't feel like they are educated or experienced enough.

As leaders we have to be on the lookout for those people who have these ideas and visions and passion and encourage and develop them into the leaders that they have the potential to be.

Never be afraid to do something new!

Remember, amateurs built the ark; 

professionals built the titanic!

"Look Busy - The Lord is Watching"

It's a natural phenomenon - that instantaneous reaction that occurs when a boss walks around the office observing employees at work.  Whether he is simply walking to a meeting, getting his morning coffee or surveying the troops - everyone perks up, hangs up the phone, minimizes facebook and solitaire and tries to look busy!

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Jeremiah the 1st chapter.  As a young pastor / leader / administrator, it resonates with me in a very personal way.

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew^[a] you,
   before you were born I set you apart;
   I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
 ⁶ “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
 ⁷ But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
 ⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Regardless of your age, your confidence or what you perceive yourself to be capable of, the Lord has called you and IS calling you.  Not only that, but he holds us responsible to the calling; if we are not fulfilling our calling he will begin to questions us via his "supervisor" aka the Holy Spirit.  We don't always feel up to the job, we don't always know the right "words to say," but the Lord literally will put his words in our mouths if only we will be faithful and obedient followers of his will for our lives.

And in verses 11-12 it says;

 ¹¹ The word of the LORD came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
   “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
 ¹² The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching^[b] to see that my word is fulfilled.”

The Lord wants to ensure that his will is fulfilled.  As unlikely as it may seem to us at times, we are the chosen vessels by God to proclaim the Good News of the light of the Glory of God!

So perk up, and get to work - The Lord is watching!

Three P's to Building "Right"

In the 28^th and 29^th Chapter of 1 Chronicles, King David announces that he will not be in fact the one to build the temple, and announces his son, Solomon would do the work.  David gives Solomon a charge, encouraging him to acknowledge God, serve him with wholehearted devotion, and to be strong and finish the work.  David also give Solomon all of the plans and preparations.

And in verse 20 David tell Solomon about his “staff”

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. ²¹ The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”

Many leaders have a great staff, and many of them will obey your every command.   There is more to “building a house” than having a capable leader with obedient staff.  There has to be a certain amount of Personal Investment.   Solomon in 1 Chronicles 29:3 lets his staff know that he is giving out of his personal resources to see the job completed.  After he announces his personal investment, his staff follow his lead by “willfully” giving of their own resources.  In verse 9 it says;

⁹ The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.

Solomon also knew how to keep it in perspective and that in the end it was all God’s anyway

¹⁴ “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. ¹⁵ We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. ¹⁶ LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

If you want to be an effective leader, and build “right,” we must always have:

• Planning and Preparation
• Personal Investment
• Perspective

The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.