Does Character Matter? Part 3 “Influence”

 Leadership  1 Response »
Apr 092008
 

thermometerthermostatMy earliest memories associated with a thermometer were not pleasant.  I knew when my mom pulled the thermometer out where she was going to stick it!  It was going “where the sun did not shine” and it wasn’t going to be pleasant.  OUCH!

Thermometers read and reflect what the current temperature is.  Thermostats are designed to set the temperature.  People are either like thermometers and reflect the culture or they are like thermostats and set it.  Leaders should always be like thermostats and set the culture around them.

Dr. Tim Elmore in his Habitudes series emphasizes that godly leaders set values and principles in place in their life to live by and as a natural result live a “thermostat” lifestyle that results in influence. 

Living with “thermostat”, culture setting values begins with godly character and results in influence. 

What do “culture shaping” values and principles look like?  Let me share some of my personal values and principles:

  1. I value God’s Word as my standard for life.
  2. I value my role as husband and father according to the standard set forth by God.
  3. I value my role as a missionary carrying out Jesus’ Great Commission.
  4. I value putting others first with an attitude of compassion that persuades people to consider Jesus.
  5. I value authentic relationships that lead to genuine community.
  6. I value a simplistic lifestyle that maximizes my time for the Kingdom of God.
  7. I value being a faithful steward of the resources that God has entrusted to me. 

We all know where thermometers are often stuck…….and we know that they always come out stinking as a result of where they have been. 

I want to lead with godly character that results in setting the climate around me and leaving a pleasant scent wherever I have been.

What about you?

 Posted by at 9:38 pm

Recently Read or Currently Reading

 Culture, Leadership, Reading  1 Response »
Apr 082008
 

Choosing to Preach by Kenton C. Anderson  -  Great book on the different “genres” of biblical preaching.  Excellent tool.

Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels  -  This book has been a lifesaver for me personally in the early part of this year.  Recommended by my friend and mentor, Mike Linch, it will become a must read every year.

Preaching with Conviction by Kenton C. Anderson  -  Great book on preaching with passion and zeal in a way to connect with post-modern listeners.  Easy and quick read.  Recommended by my friend, accountability partner and mutual church planter, Chip Wheeler.

Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill – Great History book that gives insight to the day of Jesus and comes from a non-evangelical writer.  It is great to have a different perspective sometimes.

The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – I am currently reading this book and it is life-changing!  It addresses how we take the Kingdom life and allow it is to be lived through us.

First Impressions by Mark L. Waltz – Great and practical book on hospitality and guest-services in your church.

The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch – Next on my stack!  This book is about going back to the early church as an example of how God can work in the church today.

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount by John R. W. Stott – One of the great commentaries on the counter-culture life Jesus describes in Matthew 5-7.

Serving with Eyes Wide Open by David A. Livermore – I read this on the plane to Africa.  New perspectives on short term missions.  It ruined my trip…….In a good way.

The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane – Great and easy read on spiritual warfare.  I repented of my sin of insecurity while reading it.

Transformation by Bob Roberts Jr. -  Great book on the personal role of transformation as a disciple and how the church must re-think our role in bringing transformation back to the forefront of what we are doing and why we are doing it.

Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels – Great book on living a personal, missional life.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  Church is happening on Sunday morning!  It happens when we walk outside our door and “just walk across the street, room etc.”  By all means, simply follow God’s lead in having conversations with people.

 Posted by at 7:25 am

Sunday afternoon Download 4.6.08

 Church at the Grove, Random Thoughts  No Responses »
Apr 062008
 

Well, we made it through Spring Break week here in Walton County and someone did actually show up to gather at CATGrove this morning. 

  • It was actually an awesome morning and a surprisingly good crowd considering it was spring break. 
  • I love the sense of “anticipation” in CATGrove right now.  It may only be ME anticipating, but I feel something GREAT on the horizon.
  • I am so thankful for all those that come early, set up and work in the children’s areas, sound, worship, technical and media shout, greeting, and everything else that gets done.  We couldn’t do what we do without faithful volunteers.
  • I am thankful for our staff team.  It is becoming an awesome team.
  • I am thankful that my taxes are done.  I am not thankful for the check I have write and put in the mail.  What does this have to do with anything today?
  • I loved seeing some of our guest today AND continuing to see some families back that have started attending lately.
  • I am excited about this week coming ahead and the fact that it is spring break.  I will spend some time with the family AND I will make my yearly trek down to Augusta for the greatest week in the golf world. 
  • I feel like I need to take more risks in ministry.  I feel like CATGrove needs to take more risks.  We all need to take more risks!
  • I know I say this all the time, but I love our community group.  Although it is spring break, we didn’t want to take a break.  We had a great night talking about how we handle our time, treasures and schedules in life.
 Posted by at 8:48 pm

2nd Mile Living

 Bible, Church at the Grove, Jesus  1 Response »
Apr 032008
 

Matthew 5:41 (NIV)
41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

When Jesus taught the sermon on the Mount that we read in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, it was accepted by law that a Roman Soldier could force a Jewish person to carry his gear for one mile.  The Romans were oppressive to the Jews and it probably wasn’t received well when Jesus made this outlandish statement regarding the 2nd mile. 

What do you think the Roman soldier did when the Jewish 2nd miler offered to carry his gear for an additional mile?  He most certainly would have been surprised and would likely have asked “WHY?”  When this soldier asked “Why?”, it created a conversation opportunity that would surely lead to sharing about the Jewish carpenter named Jesus and what He was teaching. 

When we go the second mile with people in our circle of influence, especially when it may be with unlikely people, it creates conversation opportunities that lead to sharing the hope found in Jesus. 

This past Sunday I challenged CATGrovers to do a “second mile act of kindness” for someone in our circle of influence.  Have you completed your “second mile act of kindness” this week?  Have you made plans?  Have you thought about it?  Go ahead, make some plans and carry out a “second mile act of kindness” with someone and create a conversation opportunity.  You never know where it might lead. 

 Posted by at 6:04 pm
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