Heb 10:35-36
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
If you are going to have a Christlike ministry then you will be misunderstood…and you will be criticized by religious people. The lost people LOVED Jesus…the religious people could not stand Him!!!
Mark 15:10 - this is why they killed Jesus! Most attacks in ministry come against you because of jealousy!
* When you are little, they ignore you. When you are growing, they criticize you. When you are large, they resent you. SO IGNORE THEM! Just remember…it’s NOT ABOUT YOU!!!
* When people say negative things to you like you think that you are cool by wearing that outfit. (They are using words to steal your confidance) Why? They have no confidance of their own.
* Little people (insecure) will always try to say something to make you feel small, so that they can feel bigger. (satan did this when he said, "I can do what God does" and he tried to ascend by bringing God down.
* People who try to steal your confidance see something in you they want. Confidance is not arrogance or pride, it is knowing who lives in you and what is in you.
* The only way they can steal your confidance is if you agree with them. Choose to disagree, they are not you friends.
* If you hold onto your confidance, it will cause you to persevere and recieve your reward.
* A lack of condfidance is discouragement, which means to lose courage.
Here is the last thing I want to leave you with. There are two facts about satan and God.
1) God is truth and He can't lie. It is impossible for God to lie. Even if He did, what he lied about would become what He said. God can speak at anytime to anything and it will become what he said. You have that ability to (Mark 11:20-24)
2) satan is the father of lies, there is no truth in him, meaning he is incapable of telling the truth. His whole ploy was to get Eve to agree with him. Whatever satan is telling you (mostly through people), the opposite is true.
For example, if someone tells you that your are always going to suffer from paycheck to paycheck and you will never have enough money. It is because satan heard God whisper that your finaces are about to shift. Anytime a seed is sown (word) the thief comes immediately to steal that word while it is in seed form. As soon as God says something, as soon as you recieve a word from God, the enemy will create scenerios and circumstances that oppose what God said. Why? To get you to belive that what God said was a lie. No! Let God be true and every man a liar.
Last example, when satan was roaming through the earth looking for someone to harass, he couldn't find anyone, so he approached God. God said, have you considered my servant Job, there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and upright man... It wasn't till God said something about Job that the enemy began to create opposition (opposites) to what God said.
If Job had agreed with satan or his friends (really enemies) he would have never recieved what God said. But because he refused to throw away his confidance, He recieved double for his trouble.
Friend, God has made great boast about you! It is after He says something concerning your potential, that the enemy comes. If you are being tested it is because:
1) God had announced something over your life in heaven.
2) God is allowing the test to validate what He knows is true but is waiting for you to know it.
3) By the enemy opposing what God has said, God sends reinforcments (Grace and Mercy) to release even greater blessings than what He said. This means that your enemies are really your friends, they are accelerating God's blessing and multiplying them into your life.
Don't throw away your confidance!
Craig
Wednesday
"Wisdom From Rick Warren"
Here is some great stuff from Rick Warren's recent conference.
1) NEVER confuse prominence and significance!!! Your ministry matters to God!!! Every church is BIG in God’s eyes–HE DIED FOR IT!!!
* Some guys preach it all their life and have never felt the unconditional, unrelenting love of God!
* Until you settle the issue of grace you will fall into the trap of trying to win the approval of man!
* When you FINALLY feel the love of God you won’t struggle with inferiority & won’t worry about what the deacons think!
* “Is your church deacon possessed?” (Now that’s funny!)
* We need to get past the idea that we have something to prove!!!
2. Ministry is RECEIVED, not ACHIEVED!
* If you are going to last in ministry you have to be authentic. If you try to live a life to win the approval of others you will always be under stress, manipulate people and be scared of “being discovered.” (II Corinthians 4:2) Paul had NOTHING to hide!
* You don’t have to be perfect for God to use you…but you do have to be honest. “Everybody knows my weaknesses at Saddleback because I talk about them.”
* Obvious imperfections in a pastor is a good thing. We never grow from people’s strengths…we grow from their weaknesses.
* You have to decide whether or not you want to impress people or influence people. You can impress them from a distance…but can only influence them when you get up close…and they can see you warts and all. (man is that good!)
* When you are not authentic it only gets worse for you…that’s why many guys have to keep changing churches.
* You can fake love for people! And the church knows when you love them.
3. If you are going to last in ministry you have to remember that it’s not about you…and when you forget that you either get bitter or prideful. You take everything personally. (The average pastor leaves a church for about seven critics.) If the pastor stays the critics leave!
* II Corinthians 4:5, “it’s not about you” is the most counter culture statement that you can say in the world…everything in our society says that it’s all about you.
* When you figure out why you do what you do…God will show you the how. If you are doing ministry for yourself or for approval…you will not last.
* You have to constantly be asking yourself, “why are you doing what you are doing?” Why are you in ministry? Why are you planting a church? It’s not about you!
* A lot of guys start off as servants and end up as celebrities. II Corinthians 4:5 & II Corinthians 4:11, Paul did what he did for Jesus!!! II Corinthians 11:23-28, “you think you’ve got problems!”
* People always want success without suffering!
* If we are doing what we do for Jesus’ sake then it doesn’t should not matter to us what He’s doing in other churches–STOP COMPARING.
* If you forget that it’s not about you then you will crumble under criticism. If you are going to call the shots you are going to take the shots. The most blessed ministries WILL be criticized…and not from unbelievers…but for believers!!!
* If you are going to have a Christlike ministry then you will be misunderstood…and you will be criticized by religious people. The lost people LOVED Jesus…the religious people could not stand Him!!!
* Some people haven’t learned that you can be friends with someone and still not agree with them.
*If you have no friends that are unbelievers then you are not Christlike! If all your friends are other Calvinists or Charismatics or Baptists or…then you have a lot of growing up to do…and you are NOT Christlike.
Mark 15:10 - this is why they killed Jesus! Most attacks in ministry come against you because of jealousy!
* When you are little, they ignore you. When you are growing, they criticize you. When you are large, they resent you. SO IGNORE THEM! Just remember…it’s NOT ABOUT YOU!!!
4. If you are going to make it in ministry then you need to accept your human limitations. You are NOT superman, you are human. You can’t fix everyone’s problem. You can’t fix stupid…and the Bible says not to answer fools!
* The pastor who is available to people all the time isn’t worth much when he is there.
II Corinthians 4:7 - our frail bodies are jars of clay.
*God often puts His greatest gifts in the weakest individuals…that way His power shines through. Other than Jesus God has always used flawed instruments.
* There is NOTHING perfect on this planet EXCEPT the Word of God.
Four stages in dealing with weaknesses–denial, then hiding, then accepting, now he glories in them…and it all goes back to grace.
* Humility is NOT denying your strengths but rather being honest about your weaknesses.
* It’s not about church growth…it’s about people growth.
* The church isn’t dependent upon my creativity and ingenuity in order to make it happen! It’s HIS Church!
*Church growth doesn’t happen overnight…when God wants to grow a mushroom it takes six hours, when He wants to grow a oak tree He takes 60 years. Do you want your church to be a mushroom or an oak tree?
* Saddleback has baptized 20k people in the history of the church!!!
5. If you want to last in ministry, DO EVERYTHING OUT OF LOVE!
* Some of you are asking, “Where do I start?” How about your wife? (Dead silence in the room.)
Guys…listen to your wife!!! The purpose of marriage is not to make you happy but to make you holy! “I can’t tell you the number of times my wife has saved me from embarrassment.”
* “How is it that the people we love the most we spend the least amount of time with?” (Dead silence!)
* “Your wife is God’s gift to you!”
II Corinthians 4:15…Paul did what he did out of love. Paul kept on going because he knew he was helping other people.
* The people in your church are not for your benefit…you are there for theirs.
* The truth is…the bigger your church gets the more problems you have.
* The church that doesn’t want to grow is saying to the world, “You go to hell…we’re doctrinally correct…you go to hell.”
* Every church caters to somebody. If you don’t believe me–change your music style next week. A church either caters to selfish church people are either those who don’t know Christ.
It takes UNSELFISH people go grow a church.
* “I don’t care if you love to preach…do you love the people you preach to?”
* I am unafraid to tell people the truth because I love them.
6. If you want to make it in ministry–make time for daily renewal. Divert daily–withdraw weekly and abandon annually.
* Do things on a daily basis that de-stress you. If you are going to de-stress…don’t do something competitive.
* “Are you taking a day off every week?” (Dead silence!!!) God made the Sabbath for our benefit. If you are not taking a day off you are breaking one of the ten commandments. Do NOT call it your day off…call it your Sabbath!!!
* A lot of pastors are like poor photographs…overexposed and under developed. II Corinthians 4:16!
* For you to renew…you’ve got to have a plan (make a list) and a partner! NONE of us are very good in balancing ourselves. We have an amazing ability to lie to ourselves about what we are doing!
* “WHO PASTORS YOU?” Every pastor needs a pastor. Don’t just have one pastor–have ten!!! “I have mentors in different areas because they are all good at different things.”
Pastors are lonely!!!
* If you are serious about fellowship you have to set aside your ego and form a pastors small group. A SMALL group! If you get more than six in a room it will not work…that is why most pastors prayer breakfasts are worthless.
* Don’t wait for someone to build a fellowship for you!
* You will not last in ministry without peers around you.
* Pastors in the area should not be your competition…they should be your best friends.
7. If you are going to last in ministry then you need to live in light of eternity. You lose your perspective when you are tired!!!
* Most pastors want to resign on Monday!
II Corinthians 4:17-18!
There are three motivations–internal, external and ETERNAL! Paul did what he did because, not of what he saw, but because of what he did not see.
* “I’m not looking at here and now…I am looking to eternity.” When you do this–you can see your troubles as small. Only he who sees the invisible can accomplish the impossible.
A mans greatness is determined by what it takes to discourage him. (Via Jerry Falwell.) What does it take to discourage you? A negative comment? A blogger?
* The secret of overcoming criticism is outlasting, out loving, our serving and our praying your critics.
* DON’T GIVE UP!!! It is always too soon to quit. God’s purpose for your ministry is GREATER than the problems you are facing right now!!!
* Nothing happens in your church until you get personal renewal down!!!
About this entry
You’re currently reading “Rick Warren’s First Session–REALLY Worth Your Time!!! Amazing!
1) NEVER confuse prominence and significance!!! Your ministry matters to God!!! Every church is BIG in God’s eyes–HE DIED FOR IT!!!
* Some guys preach it all their life and have never felt the unconditional, unrelenting love of God!
* Until you settle the issue of grace you will fall into the trap of trying to win the approval of man!
* When you FINALLY feel the love of God you won’t struggle with inferiority & won’t worry about what the deacons think!
* “Is your church deacon possessed?” (Now that’s funny!)
* We need to get past the idea that we have something to prove!!!
2. Ministry is RECEIVED, not ACHIEVED!
* If you are going to last in ministry you have to be authentic. If you try to live a life to win the approval of others you will always be under stress, manipulate people and be scared of “being discovered.” (II Corinthians 4:2) Paul had NOTHING to hide!
* You don’t have to be perfect for God to use you…but you do have to be honest. “Everybody knows my weaknesses at Saddleback because I talk about them.”
* Obvious imperfections in a pastor is a good thing. We never grow from people’s strengths…we grow from their weaknesses.
* You have to decide whether or not you want to impress people or influence people. You can impress them from a distance…but can only influence them when you get up close…and they can see you warts and all. (man is that good!)
* When you are not authentic it only gets worse for you…that’s why many guys have to keep changing churches.
* You can fake love for people! And the church knows when you love them.
3. If you are going to last in ministry you have to remember that it’s not about you…and when you forget that you either get bitter or prideful. You take everything personally. (The average pastor leaves a church for about seven critics.) If the pastor stays the critics leave!
* II Corinthians 4:5, “it’s not about you” is the most counter culture statement that you can say in the world…everything in our society says that it’s all about you.
* When you figure out why you do what you do…God will show you the how. If you are doing ministry for yourself or for approval…you will not last.
* You have to constantly be asking yourself, “why are you doing what you are doing?” Why are you in ministry? Why are you planting a church? It’s not about you!
* A lot of guys start off as servants and end up as celebrities. II Corinthians 4:5 & II Corinthians 4:11, Paul did what he did for Jesus!!! II Corinthians 11:23-28, “you think you’ve got problems!”
* People always want success without suffering!
* If we are doing what we do for Jesus’ sake then it doesn’t should not matter to us what He’s doing in other churches–STOP COMPARING.
* If you forget that it’s not about you then you will crumble under criticism. If you are going to call the shots you are going to take the shots. The most blessed ministries WILL be criticized…and not from unbelievers…but for believers!!!
* If you are going to have a Christlike ministry then you will be misunderstood…and you will be criticized by religious people. The lost people LOVED Jesus…the religious people could not stand Him!!!
* Some people haven’t learned that you can be friends with someone and still not agree with them.
*If you have no friends that are unbelievers then you are not Christlike! If all your friends are other Calvinists or Charismatics or Baptists or…then you have a lot of growing up to do…and you are NOT Christlike.
Mark 15:10 - this is why they killed Jesus! Most attacks in ministry come against you because of jealousy!
* When you are little, they ignore you. When you are growing, they criticize you. When you are large, they resent you. SO IGNORE THEM! Just remember…it’s NOT ABOUT YOU!!!
4. If you are going to make it in ministry then you need to accept your human limitations. You are NOT superman, you are human. You can’t fix everyone’s problem. You can’t fix stupid…and the Bible says not to answer fools!
* The pastor who is available to people all the time isn’t worth much when he is there.
II Corinthians 4:7 - our frail bodies are jars of clay.
*God often puts His greatest gifts in the weakest individuals…that way His power shines through. Other than Jesus God has always used flawed instruments.
* There is NOTHING perfect on this planet EXCEPT the Word of God.
Four stages in dealing with weaknesses–denial, then hiding, then accepting, now he glories in them…and it all goes back to grace.
* Humility is NOT denying your strengths but rather being honest about your weaknesses.
* It’s not about church growth…it’s about people growth.
* The church isn’t dependent upon my creativity and ingenuity in order to make it happen! It’s HIS Church!
*Church growth doesn’t happen overnight…when God wants to grow a mushroom it takes six hours, when He wants to grow a oak tree He takes 60 years. Do you want your church to be a mushroom or an oak tree?
* Saddleback has baptized 20k people in the history of the church!!!
5. If you want to last in ministry, DO EVERYTHING OUT OF LOVE!
* Some of you are asking, “Where do I start?” How about your wife? (Dead silence in the room.)
Guys…listen to your wife!!! The purpose of marriage is not to make you happy but to make you holy! “I can’t tell you the number of times my wife has saved me from embarrassment.”
* “How is it that the people we love the most we spend the least amount of time with?” (Dead silence!)
* “Your wife is God’s gift to you!”
II Corinthians 4:15…Paul did what he did out of love. Paul kept on going because he knew he was helping other people.
* The people in your church are not for your benefit…you are there for theirs.
* The truth is…the bigger your church gets the more problems you have.
* The church that doesn’t want to grow is saying to the world, “You go to hell…we’re doctrinally correct…you go to hell.”
* Every church caters to somebody. If you don’t believe me–change your music style next week. A church either caters to selfish church people are either those who don’t know Christ.
It takes UNSELFISH people go grow a church.
* “I don’t care if you love to preach…do you love the people you preach to?”
* I am unafraid to tell people the truth because I love them.
6. If you want to make it in ministry–make time for daily renewal. Divert daily–withdraw weekly and abandon annually.
* Do things on a daily basis that de-stress you. If you are going to de-stress…don’t do something competitive.
* “Are you taking a day off every week?” (Dead silence!!!) God made the Sabbath for our benefit. If you are not taking a day off you are breaking one of the ten commandments. Do NOT call it your day off…call it your Sabbath!!!
* A lot of pastors are like poor photographs…overexposed and under developed. II Corinthians 4:16!
* For you to renew…you’ve got to have a plan (make a list) and a partner! NONE of us are very good in balancing ourselves. We have an amazing ability to lie to ourselves about what we are doing!
* “WHO PASTORS YOU?” Every pastor needs a pastor. Don’t just have one pastor–have ten!!! “I have mentors in different areas because they are all good at different things.”
Pastors are lonely!!!
* If you are serious about fellowship you have to set aside your ego and form a pastors small group. A SMALL group! If you get more than six in a room it will not work…that is why most pastors prayer breakfasts are worthless.
* Don’t wait for someone to build a fellowship for you!
* You will not last in ministry without peers around you.
* Pastors in the area should not be your competition…they should be your best friends.
7. If you are going to last in ministry then you need to live in light of eternity. You lose your perspective when you are tired!!!
* Most pastors want to resign on Monday!
II Corinthians 4:17-18!
There are three motivations–internal, external and ETERNAL! Paul did what he did because, not of what he saw, but because of what he did not see.
* “I’m not looking at here and now…I am looking to eternity.” When you do this–you can see your troubles as small. Only he who sees the invisible can accomplish the impossible.
A mans greatness is determined by what it takes to discourage him. (Via Jerry Falwell.) What does it take to discourage you? A negative comment? A blogger?
* The secret of overcoming criticism is outlasting, out loving, our serving and our praying your critics.
* DON’T GIVE UP!!! It is always too soon to quit. God’s purpose for your ministry is GREATER than the problems you are facing right now!!!
* Nothing happens in your church until you get personal renewal down!!!
About this entry
You’re currently reading “Rick Warren’s First Session–REALLY Worth Your Time!!! Amazing!
Tuesday
"What a Weekend!"
We facilitated our third Encounter Retreat here in Chicago this past weekend. It was an amazing time of praise and worship, powerful teaching, and explosive prophetic ministry. We were able to bring a praise and worship team from south Florida. They were off the chain. Here is the things that totally blew me away.
* How God can take any vessel that will surrender to God and show off through them!
* Passionate Praise and Worship engages God's presence, He can't resist.
* God's presence is attracted to heart and not talent.
* People can see Jesus in you. We had a woman who worked at the hotel come to us and ask if she could attend one of our session so we could lay hands on her in proxy for her husband who has cancer. I know he is healed.
* I can't stay up till 3:00 am and wake up early anymore, I'm still trying to catch up on the sleep.
* Running down the hall at full speed at 2:00 am is totally crazy.
* The atmosphere in a service is not determined by the speaker or praise team, it is determined by the hunger of those in the room. God fills those who are hungry and thirsty for him.
* Every Church should have an Encounter weekend at least twice a year, it is amazing! It will spark a move of God in your Church. (I have been invited to several Churches to help facilitate an Encounter). Email me if you are interested in having your team trained.
* One of the praise band members who is from Tampa Florida, took it back to his Church. He told one of the leaders in his Church that he felt the same anointing that was at the Encounter!
* When the devil fights you the hardest, the bigger the thing that God is about to do.
* The theme this weekend which we did not plan was "You look a whole lot better in your future than you do right now". If you can see yourself in your future and talk you future, your picture and your words will pull you there! Your potential is greater than your problem, your past is not a prophecy of your future.
I will post some of the video footage later today. I will share some of the main thoughts that God shared with us tomorrow.
God Rocks!
Craig Sloan
* How God can take any vessel that will surrender to God and show off through them!
* Passionate Praise and Worship engages God's presence, He can't resist.
* God's presence is attracted to heart and not talent.
* People can see Jesus in you. We had a woman who worked at the hotel come to us and ask if she could attend one of our session so we could lay hands on her in proxy for her husband who has cancer. I know he is healed.
* I can't stay up till 3:00 am and wake up early anymore, I'm still trying to catch up on the sleep.
* Running down the hall at full speed at 2:00 am is totally crazy.
* The atmosphere in a service is not determined by the speaker or praise team, it is determined by the hunger of those in the room. God fills those who are hungry and thirsty for him.
* Every Church should have an Encounter weekend at least twice a year, it is amazing! It will spark a move of God in your Church. (I have been invited to several Churches to help facilitate an Encounter). Email me if you are interested in having your team trained.
* One of the praise band members who is from Tampa Florida, took it back to his Church. He told one of the leaders in his Church that he felt the same anointing that was at the Encounter!
* When the devil fights you the hardest, the bigger the thing that God is about to do.
* The theme this weekend which we did not plan was "You look a whole lot better in your future than you do right now". If you can see yourself in your future and talk you future, your picture and your words will pull you there! Your potential is greater than your problem, your past is not a prophecy of your future.
I will post some of the video footage later today. I will share some of the main thoughts that God shared with us tomorrow.
God Rocks!
Craig Sloan
"Things Learned From Rick Warren" Guest Blogger Nelson Searcy
Last week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my friend and former boss, Rick Warren. Being back in the zone with Rick made me start reflecting on some of the key things that he has taught me over the years– both when I was at Saddleback and since starting The Journey. This week, I’m going to pass some of those great lessons along to you, in a new blog series called, “Lessons Learned From Rick Warren.”
Lesson #1: Pastors change the world.
As pastors, you and I have much more influence than we may realize. When we stand up to teach, we have the opportunity to speak into people’s lives in a way that no other community leaders can. Just think about it – Government leaders may have influence over laws and political issues, but not over individual hearts. Business leaders may have power in their area of expertise, but they don’t have the opportunity to speak truth to many people. And if they did, who knows what that “truth” would be? You and I, on the other hand, are uniquely positioned to stand on God’s Word and instill His truths into the people in our churches, in a way that can change them completely.
So, you and I are God’s catalyst for changing the world. It works like this – Change a few individuals and you can change a group. Change a group (an entire local church) and you can change a community. Change a community and you can change a city. Change a city and you can change a nation. Change a nation and you can change the world!
As you go through your daily routines and rigors of ministry, work with purpose! You have a big calling… The calling to change the world one person at a time!
- Nelson
P.S. - Check back tomorrow for the second “Lesson Learned From Rick Warren.” Here’s a teaser: It will help you reach more people!
Good Stuff!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Lesson #1: Pastors change the world.
As pastors, you and I have much more influence than we may realize. When we stand up to teach, we have the opportunity to speak into people’s lives in a way that no other community leaders can. Just think about it – Government leaders may have influence over laws and political issues, but not over individual hearts. Business leaders may have power in their area of expertise, but they don’t have the opportunity to speak truth to many people. And if they did, who knows what that “truth” would be? You and I, on the other hand, are uniquely positioned to stand on God’s Word and instill His truths into the people in our churches, in a way that can change them completely.
So, you and I are God’s catalyst for changing the world. It works like this – Change a few individuals and you can change a group. Change a group (an entire local church) and you can change a community. Change a community and you can change a city. Change a city and you can change a nation. Change a nation and you can change the world!
As you go through your daily routines and rigors of ministry, work with purpose! You have a big calling… The calling to change the world one person at a time!
- Nelson
P.S. - Check back tomorrow for the second “Lesson Learned From Rick Warren.” Here’s a teaser: It will help you reach more people!
Good Stuff!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Monday
Guest Blogger: Larry Brey
I have been studying about "Honor" for most of this year. Here is a great blog from Larry Brey who is the Assimilation Pastor for one of the most cutting edge Churches in the nation.
Larry Brey:
When you follow a visionary leader there is a certain tension you will carry. They have an innate ability to see things off in the future. Pastor Furtick is usually 4-6 months ahead of everyone else in the organization. Time and time again he has been able to position the church in the right lane of traffic to avoid major accidents or lose momentum because we’ve had to slow down.
We’re in the midst of one of those “off in the distance” places right now. When we started Elevation we made a conscious choice to honor the office of Pastor and I feel like we’ve done extremely well on that front. We have honored God’s man and He has blessed that decision. We have tremendous unity around a singular vision of “seeing people far from God filled with life in Christ.” But several months ago Pastor Steven began emphasizing how important it is for us as a staff to honor each other.
Now, if you have ever visited Elevation on a Sunday morning one of the things you notice is that you’ll walk through an army of greeters. Each week our guests comment on how welcomed they felt, it’s truly amazing to watch as people experience a genuine smile, a handshake or a hug. I think we’ve created a welcoming environment that rivals any organization. Our volunteer force is incredible; they are truly committed to making people feel welcomed. I think we’ve taken welcoming as far as we can and it’s tempting to pat ourselves on the back thinking “we’ve arrived.” Here’s where the visionary leadership of Pastor Steven comes in…he’s been months ahead preparing us for the next shift the church will go through.
We’ve worked extremely hard at creating a welcoming experience…but Pastor has been getting us ready to shift to a ‘hole ‘nutha level. When you realize what Pastor Steven has been talking about for months is right in front of you, it’s a light bulb moment. The shift he’s been preparing us for all along is to take us from a welcoming church to an honoring church. That sounds simple on the surface but it’s much more profound when you dig deeper. Welcoming is easier, put smile on your face and shake hands as people walk by. Honoring is a heart so captivated by the gospel that you run to the guest and walk them in. It’s pushing the stroller for the single mom as she tries to corral her three kids into the building instead of saying welcome as they walk by.
This shift from welcoming to honoring is a challenge that is in front of us. It’s the thing that positions Elevation Church in the place to give our guests an entirely different experience.
Pastor Steven has seen this coming for months and he’s been preparing us all along. His emphasis on the staff honoring one another is the foundation of a church honoring one another. Because this shift isn’t just tweaking how we train our volunteers, it’s a colossal change in perspective. It starts at the top and flows down throughout the church.
As the leaders of Elevation honor one another so will it permeate into our volunteer culture.
The story of the prodigal son displays the honoring heart of God. Even though the son had taken his inheritance and squandered it, the father went running out to meet him when he saw his son returning. He put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet and threw a big party because his son came home. That’s what Sunday should be like in all of our churches…to honor our guests because they’ve come home. Thanks Pastor Steven for preparing us for something you saw off in the horizon months.
Larry Brey:
When you follow a visionary leader there is a certain tension you will carry. They have an innate ability to see things off in the future. Pastor Furtick is usually 4-6 months ahead of everyone else in the organization. Time and time again he has been able to position the church in the right lane of traffic to avoid major accidents or lose momentum because we’ve had to slow down.
We’re in the midst of one of those “off in the distance” places right now. When we started Elevation we made a conscious choice to honor the office of Pastor and I feel like we’ve done extremely well on that front. We have honored God’s man and He has blessed that decision. We have tremendous unity around a singular vision of “seeing people far from God filled with life in Christ.” But several months ago Pastor Steven began emphasizing how important it is for us as a staff to honor each other.
Now, if you have ever visited Elevation on a Sunday morning one of the things you notice is that you’ll walk through an army of greeters. Each week our guests comment on how welcomed they felt, it’s truly amazing to watch as people experience a genuine smile, a handshake or a hug. I think we’ve created a welcoming environment that rivals any organization. Our volunteer force is incredible; they are truly committed to making people feel welcomed. I think we’ve taken welcoming as far as we can and it’s tempting to pat ourselves on the back thinking “we’ve arrived.” Here’s where the visionary leadership of Pastor Steven comes in…he’s been months ahead preparing us for the next shift the church will go through.
We’ve worked extremely hard at creating a welcoming experience…but Pastor has been getting us ready to shift to a ‘hole ‘nutha level. When you realize what Pastor Steven has been talking about for months is right in front of you, it’s a light bulb moment. The shift he’s been preparing us for all along is to take us from a welcoming church to an honoring church. That sounds simple on the surface but it’s much more profound when you dig deeper. Welcoming is easier, put smile on your face and shake hands as people walk by. Honoring is a heart so captivated by the gospel that you run to the guest and walk them in. It’s pushing the stroller for the single mom as she tries to corral her three kids into the building instead of saying welcome as they walk by.
This shift from welcoming to honoring is a challenge that is in front of us. It’s the thing that positions Elevation Church in the place to give our guests an entirely different experience.
Pastor Steven has seen this coming for months and he’s been preparing us all along. His emphasis on the staff honoring one another is the foundation of a church honoring one another. Because this shift isn’t just tweaking how we train our volunteers, it’s a colossal change in perspective. It starts at the top and flows down throughout the church.
As the leaders of Elevation honor one another so will it permeate into our volunteer culture.
The story of the prodigal son displays the honoring heart of God. Even though the son had taken his inheritance and squandered it, the father went running out to meet him when he saw his son returning. He put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet and threw a big party because his son came home. That’s what Sunday should be like in all of our churches…to honor our guests because they’ve come home. Thanks Pastor Steven for preparing us for something you saw off in the horizon months.
"Diligence A Key to Success"
Diligence is doing a little thing a long time till the big thing comes (what created for).
Potential is discovering all that you were created to be and do.
"Nothing great every comes easily."
Success is doing everything that God created you to do and be.
We live in society that is a microwave crazy. We want everything the way we want it and we want it now. We don't like process, preparation, waiting... We watch television and define our lives by what is a false reality. We see what we believe is perfect lives but in reality is imperfect lives covered by the glitz and glamour of shiny lights but when the lights are off what seems perfect is filled with confusion and emptiness (see Britney Spears, Heath Ledger).
Here is the hard core truth. Nothing great ever comes easily. The promises of God come by faith and sweat. I come from a Pentecostal background that believes that God shows up in gold dust and smoke. I believe that God shows up in our faith and endurance (hard work). The bible tells us that it is through faith and perseverance (hard work) that we inherit the promises of God, not by staying in a cloud waiting for God to come down. The reality is that God has done everything he is going to do, it is now up to us to roll up our sleeves and begin to activate God's promises through much endurance.
We often blame God for our lack of receiving but it is not a God problem it is a me problem. We need to quit chasing fantasies and begin to be diligent with what God has given us. Don't give up on your dream, pay the price. Pray as if it depends on God, and work as if it depends on you. be diligent and God's blessings and favor will come on you.
Here are a few examples:
Noah preached the same sermon for 800 years and built the ark (it was huge). He spent most of his life preparing for something he had never seen while everyone else was partying.
Gideon was in a wine press threshing wheat (wrong place doing the wrong thing) but at least he was doing something.
David was watching his father's sheep (killed a lion and a bear).
Moses was working for his father in law (40 years) in the backside of the desert.
Ruth was working in the field when one moment of favor came and caused her to own the field she was working in.
Joshua was serving Moses...
Elisha was plowing with oxen when Elijah came and threw his mantle on him.
Peter, James and John were mending their nets.
Nehemiah was serving the King.
Paul was persecuting the Christians (thought he was serving God).
Whatever your potential is, it is up to you to work out what God has worked in you. You never know when your moment will come. You may be like Colonel Sanders who was past the age of sixty when he took what he had (a chicken leg) and stepped into his moment.
You may be like Kurt Warner who went from bagging groceries to winning a Super Bowl and setting the record for completion percentage.
Take what you got and work it. Your day is coming. Don't become weary in doing good, for in due season (your time is due) you will reap a harvest if you don't give up (Gal. 6:9). God is getting you ready for what he has ready for you. You may not think you have much but take it and work it. Just do it!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Potential is discovering all that you were created to be and do.
"Nothing great every comes easily."
Success is doing everything that God created you to do and be.
We live in society that is a microwave crazy. We want everything the way we want it and we want it now. We don't like process, preparation, waiting... We watch television and define our lives by what is a false reality. We see what we believe is perfect lives but in reality is imperfect lives covered by the glitz and glamour of shiny lights but when the lights are off what seems perfect is filled with confusion and emptiness (see Britney Spears, Heath Ledger).
Here is the hard core truth. Nothing great ever comes easily. The promises of God come by faith and sweat. I come from a Pentecostal background that believes that God shows up in gold dust and smoke. I believe that God shows up in our faith and endurance (hard work). The bible tells us that it is through faith and perseverance (hard work) that we inherit the promises of God, not by staying in a cloud waiting for God to come down. The reality is that God has done everything he is going to do, it is now up to us to roll up our sleeves and begin to activate God's promises through much endurance.
We often blame God for our lack of receiving but it is not a God problem it is a me problem. We need to quit chasing fantasies and begin to be diligent with what God has given us. Don't give up on your dream, pay the price. Pray as if it depends on God, and work as if it depends on you. be diligent and God's blessings and favor will come on you.
Here are a few examples:
Noah preached the same sermon for 800 years and built the ark (it was huge). He spent most of his life preparing for something he had never seen while everyone else was partying.
Gideon was in a wine press threshing wheat (wrong place doing the wrong thing) but at least he was doing something.
David was watching his father's sheep (killed a lion and a bear).
Moses was working for his father in law (40 years) in the backside of the desert.
Ruth was working in the field when one moment of favor came and caused her to own the field she was working in.
Joshua was serving Moses...
Elisha was plowing with oxen when Elijah came and threw his mantle on him.
Peter, James and John were mending their nets.
Nehemiah was serving the King.
Paul was persecuting the Christians (thought he was serving God).
Whatever your potential is, it is up to you to work out what God has worked in you. You never know when your moment will come. You may be like Colonel Sanders who was past the age of sixty when he took what he had (a chicken leg) and stepped into his moment.
You may be like Kurt Warner who went from bagging groceries to winning a Super Bowl and setting the record for completion percentage.
Take what you got and work it. Your day is coming. Don't become weary in doing good, for in due season (your time is due) you will reap a harvest if you don't give up (Gal. 6:9). God is getting you ready for what he has ready for you. You may not think you have much but take it and work it. Just do it!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Friday
"There Has To Be More Than This"
I found this and thought it is relevant to what God has been dealing with me on potential.
I caught the tail end of the 60 Minutes' piece on Tom Brady. At the very end of the
interview, he made a comment that raised my eyebrows...
“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out
there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ʻHey man, this is what is.ʼ I
reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ʻGod, it's got to be more than this.ʼ I
mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be.”
The reporter asked him if he had any answers. Brady's response:
“I wish I knew. I wish I knew...I love playing football and I love being quarterback
for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that
Iʼm trying to find."
Here's a guy who is on his way to shattering every single season record there is for a
quarterback in the NFL, is the field general of what go down as the greatest NFL
team of all time, already has 3 Super Bowl victories, dates whoever he wants, wears
whatever he wants, has a contract worth $60 million, etc. and he admits that
sometimes he looks at his life and wonders, "Is this all there is?"
I caught the tail end of the 60 Minutes' piece on Tom Brady. At the very end of the
interview, he made a comment that raised my eyebrows...
“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out
there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ʻHey man, this is what is.ʼ I
reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ʻGod, it's got to be more than this.ʼ I
mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be.”
The reporter asked him if he had any answers. Brady's response:
“I wish I knew. I wish I knew...I love playing football and I love being quarterback
for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that
Iʼm trying to find."
Here's a guy who is on his way to shattering every single season record there is for a
quarterback in the NFL, is the field general of what go down as the greatest NFL
team of all time, already has 3 Super Bowl victories, dates whoever he wants, wears
whatever he wants, has a contract worth $60 million, etc. and he admits that
sometimes he looks at his life and wonders, "Is this all there is?"
"How Do You Know You Are Not Leading"
How To Know You Are Not Leading:
* You wait for someone to tell you what to do rather than taking the initiative
yourself.
* You spend too much time talking about how things should be different
* You blame the context, surroundings, or other people for your current
situation.
* You choose not to speak the truth in love.
* You are more concerned about being cool or accepted than doing the
right thing.
* You seek consensus, rather than casting vision for a preferable future.
* You aren't taking any significant risks.
* You accept status quo as the way it's always been and always will be.
* You start protecting your reputation instead of opening yourself up to
opposition
* You sleep a little too sound.
* You procrastinate to avoid making a tough call.
* You talk to others about the problem rather than taking it to the person
responsible.
* You don't feel like your butt is on the line for anything significant.
* You think what you say doesn't matter.
* You ask for way too many opinions before taking action.
* You wait for someone to tell you what to do rather than taking the initiative
yourself.
* You spend too much time talking about how things should be different
* You blame the context, surroundings, or other people for your current
situation.
* You choose not to speak the truth in love.
* You are more concerned about being cool or accepted than doing the
right thing.
* You seek consensus, rather than casting vision for a preferable future.
* You aren't taking any significant risks.
* You accept status quo as the way it's always been and always will be.
* You start protecting your reputation instead of opening yourself up to
opposition
* You sleep a little too sound.
* You procrastinate to avoid making a tough call.
* You talk to others about the problem rather than taking it to the person
responsible.
* You don't feel like your butt is on the line for anything significant.
* You think what you say doesn't matter.
* You ask for way too many opinions before taking action.
"What is Success?"
I want to share some thoughts with you concerning Potential. Here goes...
Where purpose is not know there is mistaken identity. The word sin in the bible means to miss the mark or bulls eye. Sin is the result of mistaken identity. When you don't know who you are and what is in you, you will live a life of trespassing. Paul refers to trespassing in the book of Ephesians. It means that you are living a life on someone else's property. You are pursuing and possessing what is not yours. This is sin. In fact to covet means to desire something that God did assign to you. I believe that many people that have accomplished great things will get to heaven and find out they spent their life climbing the ladder of success, only to find out it is leaning against the wrong building! I call this running a race in someone else's lane.
* Success is not the accumulation of stuff, success is finding out your purpose and fulfilling it before you die.
* God has promised you the days to fulfill your purpose, there is a difference between dying and being killed. Purpose keeps you alive until you fulfill it, when you are killed, you are taken before you fulfilled your purpose.
* The moment you lose purpose, death begins to set in.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:12 that it is not wise to compare ourselves amongst ourselves... Most people measure their success by someone else's ruler. When we do this, we think we are something we are not (cat thinking you are a bird).
* The only comparison we are to make is what we should do and what we can do, what we should be . You are only required to fulfill what is inside of you. You are not required to outdo everybody else.
* God wants us to die empty. The richest place in the universe is the grav yards where unfulfilled potential lies. Books never written, songs never composed, stories never told...
* You are to compare yourself to your potential. What's in me? How much passionate pursuit do I have to live it out in my lifetime.
On the television show "The Cribs", the idea is that they show you how somebody lives that made it and if you get that crib you have made it. There are people with the crib but because they are not fulfilling their potential, they are miserable.
* Don't go to the television to define success for you. Define your success by who God made you to be. Remember nobody ever recognizes a carbon copy, but everybody notices something different. Being different attracts opportunities, advantages, favor, notoriety. How do you separate yourself from the crowd so God can use you? By finding out what is in you, and being passionate to get it out. Give birth to the real you!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Where purpose is not know there is mistaken identity. The word sin in the bible means to miss the mark or bulls eye. Sin is the result of mistaken identity. When you don't know who you are and what is in you, you will live a life of trespassing. Paul refers to trespassing in the book of Ephesians. It means that you are living a life on someone else's property. You are pursuing and possessing what is not yours. This is sin. In fact to covet means to desire something that God did assign to you. I believe that many people that have accomplished great things will get to heaven and find out they spent their life climbing the ladder of success, only to find out it is leaning against the wrong building! I call this running a race in someone else's lane.
* Success is not the accumulation of stuff, success is finding out your purpose and fulfilling it before you die.
* God has promised you the days to fulfill your purpose, there is a difference between dying and being killed. Purpose keeps you alive until you fulfill it, when you are killed, you are taken before you fulfilled your purpose.
* The moment you lose purpose, death begins to set in.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:12 that it is not wise to compare ourselves amongst ourselves... Most people measure their success by someone else's ruler. When we do this, we think we are something we are not (cat thinking you are a bird).
* The only comparison we are to make is what we should do and what we can do, what we should be . You are only required to fulfill what is inside of you. You are not required to outdo everybody else.
* God wants us to die empty. The richest place in the universe is the grav yards where unfulfilled potential lies. Books never written, songs never composed, stories never told...
* You are to compare yourself to your potential. What's in me? How much passionate pursuit do I have to live it out in my lifetime.
On the television show "The Cribs", the idea is that they show you how somebody lives that made it and if you get that crib you have made it. There are people with the crib but because they are not fulfilling their potential, they are miserable.
* Don't go to the television to define success for you. Define your success by who God made you to be. Remember nobody ever recognizes a carbon copy, but everybody notices something different. Being different attracts opportunities, advantages, favor, notoriety. How do you separate yourself from the crowd so God can use you? By finding out what is in you, and being passionate to get it out. Give birth to the real you!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Wednesday
Guest Blogger: Perry Noble
I had to share this blog by Perry Noble, this is so right on!
Four Fears I Have Regarding The Church Today…
I am obsessed with the church…Psalm 69:9 JUMPED off the page the other morning at me…I love what I get to do, this past Sunday I stood backstage with Shane and asked him, “Can you believe we get to be a part of this?”
Yet…there are some fears that I have in regards to the church–here they are…
#1 - Our Refusal To Dream Big!
It breaks my heart when a church loses it’s desire to dream. We serve a God who is able to move mountains, yet I am afraid some have lost their awe and reverence in regards to what He can do and seem to be satisfied with taking a missions offering once a year and repainting the restrooms in the fellowship hall.
HE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE!!! (Ephesians 3:20!)
It’s a sad day in our churches when we hear that God is doing something awesome in another church…and we pack buses and vans and take off to visit another place when we ought to be on our faces saying to God, “If you can do it there then you can do it here–RAIN ON US!”
#2 - Politics
This article by Todd bothered me. It seems that the SBC has, once again, became obsessed with the political process. As I read the Scriptures I just don’t see evidence of men jockeying for position to obtain a title that, in the end, doesn’t really mean anything.
When a church becomes obsessed with politics…it’s pretty much the end of that church. I pray that the SBC wakes up and will passionately fall back in love with Jesus instead of churches and leaders that seem to give the most to the Cooperative Program.
#3 - Insecure LeadersOne of the biggest problems that NewSpring faced in our early days was MY insecure leadership!
When I heard of another church experiencing success…I always felt the need to attack it OR find something wrong with it. When I heard a speaker that was better than me I often sought to say,
“Well, yeah…but I didn’t agree with him when he said…”
When I saw another church experiencing growth I would begin to point out the things I perceived that we did better…OR I would attack a particular aspect of the pastors life.
Then I grew up! It SERIOUSLY bothers me (because I did it) when I see a church planter and/or pastor begin to blog or preach about all of the things they are NOT doing.
Don’t let who you are NOT define you…let who God has called you to be define you…and be that person and/or church no matter what!
Pastors attack other ministries MOSTLY for one reason…insecurity! Men, we need to put our big boy pants on and realize that John 3:25-30 is an example given to us that we should follow!
#4 - Us Not Realizing How Good We’ve Got It
What if Paul and Peter would have had the technology we have today? What if Paul would have had a blog? (The Bible would be MUCH thicker!) What if Peter would have had a cell phone…OR an iphone?
Yes, there are more people on the planet than we’ve ever had…but there are also more ways to reach them than ever before.
Jesus blew my mind when He said what He said in John 14:12–BUT…I believe He was telling the truth…and I believe that if the church would realize the tools that God has placed at our feet and combine that with the supernatural power that exists through His Word, Spirit and anointing…IF we got that–HOLY SMOKE…I am about to freakin’ SCREAM OUT LOUD RIGHT NOW! DANG…the church could flippin’ explode!!!!!!!!
WOW…just had a Pentecostal moment on my blog!!! :-)
Four Fears I Have Regarding The Church Today…
I am obsessed with the church…Psalm 69:9 JUMPED off the page the other morning at me…I love what I get to do, this past Sunday I stood backstage with Shane and asked him, “Can you believe we get to be a part of this?”
Yet…there are some fears that I have in regards to the church–here they are…
#1 - Our Refusal To Dream Big!
It breaks my heart when a church loses it’s desire to dream. We serve a God who is able to move mountains, yet I am afraid some have lost their awe and reverence in regards to what He can do and seem to be satisfied with taking a missions offering once a year and repainting the restrooms in the fellowship hall.
HE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE!!! (Ephesians 3:20!)
It’s a sad day in our churches when we hear that God is doing something awesome in another church…and we pack buses and vans and take off to visit another place when we ought to be on our faces saying to God, “If you can do it there then you can do it here–RAIN ON US!”
#2 - Politics
This article by Todd bothered me. It seems that the SBC has, once again, became obsessed with the political process. As I read the Scriptures I just don’t see evidence of men jockeying for position to obtain a title that, in the end, doesn’t really mean anything.
When a church becomes obsessed with politics…it’s pretty much the end of that church. I pray that the SBC wakes up and will passionately fall back in love with Jesus instead of churches and leaders that seem to give the most to the Cooperative Program.
#3 - Insecure LeadersOne of the biggest problems that NewSpring faced in our early days was MY insecure leadership!
When I heard of another church experiencing success…I always felt the need to attack it OR find something wrong with it. When I heard a speaker that was better than me I often sought to say,
“Well, yeah…but I didn’t agree with him when he said…”
When I saw another church experiencing growth I would begin to point out the things I perceived that we did better…OR I would attack a particular aspect of the pastors life.
Then I grew up! It SERIOUSLY bothers me (because I did it) when I see a church planter and/or pastor begin to blog or preach about all of the things they are NOT doing.
Don’t let who you are NOT define you…let who God has called you to be define you…and be that person and/or church no matter what!
Pastors attack other ministries MOSTLY for one reason…insecurity! Men, we need to put our big boy pants on and realize that John 3:25-30 is an example given to us that we should follow!
#4 - Us Not Realizing How Good We’ve Got It
What if Paul and Peter would have had the technology we have today? What if Paul would have had a blog? (The Bible would be MUCH thicker!) What if Peter would have had a cell phone…OR an iphone?
Yes, there are more people on the planet than we’ve ever had…but there are also more ways to reach them than ever before.
Jesus blew my mind when He said what He said in John 14:12–BUT…I believe He was telling the truth…and I believe that if the church would realize the tools that God has placed at our feet and combine that with the supernatural power that exists through His Word, Spirit and anointing…IF we got that–HOLY SMOKE…I am about to freakin’ SCREAM OUT LOUD RIGHT NOW! DANG…the church could flippin’ explode!!!!!!!!
WOW…just had a Pentecostal moment on my blog!!! :-)
Tuesday
"Purpose and Potential"
I will sharing over the next few days concerning purpose and potential. I will never forget Dr. Myles Monroe making a powerful statement that rocked my world and still does.
"Until Purpose Is Known, Abuse is inevitable."
Let me explain, how many of you have taken a knife and tried to brush your teeth with it, taken a hammer and used it to eat with, taken your socks and used them as earplugs? I hope none of you, if you have you might want to get checked out. When you don't understand your purpose, you will run with anybody and do anything. You will wake up and go to bed, wake up and go to bed, stuck in the normal routines of life.
If you don't know your purpose, you will:
* Be frustrated
* Be unfulfilled
* Spend life stuck on one season, unable to transition to the next season.
* Allow anyone to put whatever label they want to put on you.
* Be a victim
* Live far below your potential.
* Blame everybody else for your lack of success.
* Produce generations of cycles of failure and disappointment.
* Have a numb feeling that you are missing something.
* Be miserable and make everybody else miserable.
* Always be living in the dream stage but never fulfilling them.
I will be dealing with this for the next several blogs. I want to start by asking you some questions.
* Are you satisfied with your present life?
* Do you have a clue where you are going?
* Do you know what you will need to get there?
* Do you have confidence in your tomorrow?
* Do you live in fear and anxiety over tomorrow?
* Do you dread waking up each day?
* Do you believe that it can get better?
* Are you willing to change and do whatever it takes to break out...?
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
"Until Purpose Is Known, Abuse is inevitable."
Let me explain, how many of you have taken a knife and tried to brush your teeth with it, taken a hammer and used it to eat with, taken your socks and used them as earplugs? I hope none of you, if you have you might want to get checked out. When you don't understand your purpose, you will run with anybody and do anything. You will wake up and go to bed, wake up and go to bed, stuck in the normal routines of life.
If you don't know your purpose, you will:
* Be frustrated
* Be unfulfilled
* Spend life stuck on one season, unable to transition to the next season.
* Allow anyone to put whatever label they want to put on you.
* Be a victim
* Live far below your potential.
* Blame everybody else for your lack of success.
* Produce generations of cycles of failure and disappointment.
* Have a numb feeling that you are missing something.
* Be miserable and make everybody else miserable.
* Always be living in the dream stage but never fulfilling them.
I will be dealing with this for the next several blogs. I want to start by asking you some questions.
* Are you satisfied with your present life?
* Do you have a clue where you are going?
* Do you know what you will need to get there?
* Do you have confidence in your tomorrow?
* Do you live in fear and anxiety over tomorrow?
* Do you dread waking up each day?
* Do you believe that it can get better?
* Are you willing to change and do whatever it takes to break out...?
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Monday
"Who Moved My Cheese" Part 2
I remember one of my mentors saying many times that you can talk about change, plan change, sing about change, think about change but change is not change till it is change.
The word Repent in the bible has an interesting meaning. Let's break the word down.
Re- To return
Pent - To the top (Pentagon, Penthouse)
Repent means to return to the top or the previous order. Another word we see in the N.T is Renew. Renew means to return to what was in the beginning. To return to what Adam had before sin. Let's go back to the garden and see what Adam had.
* Power and Dominion
* Ability to create and multiply perfection.
* Ability to name then animals and creations (whatever he called it, it became). In other words He had heaven's weight and authority behind his words (Heb.11:3).
* Accomplishments without sweat of the brow (Grace)
* Perfect peace and harmony
* Everything was under his feet, never allowed things to get on the top of him.
If you are going to go back to the top, be the head and not the tail, above only not beneath, the lender and not the borrower, it will require a change of your thinking. If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always got. I call this being stuck. You will stay where you are until you make up your mind to change, do whatever it takes to move out of deadness and routine into an exciting life filled with adventure.
Here are some more lessons I am learning from "Who Moved My Cheese"?
* Entitlement is when you expect everything to come to you, in the Church we call this name it and claim it, blab it and grab it. The promises of God are never placed in your mouth but they are always within your reach. God told Joshua, Moses my servant is dead, now therefore arise (Joshua 1:1-2). He was saying the old way of doing things is dead, stop worshipping your past successes and position yourself for God to do something new. God is bored with the last thing you accomplished. he is daring you to believe Him to do something no one has ever done (Eph. 3:20). Quit putting God in a box.
* God also told Joshua wherever your feet tread I have given it to you. For example, if you receive a word or a promise that you will have a best selling book, don't just stand there and say shabba, shabba, shabba, go out and buy yourself some paper and pens and start writing. Start where you are with what you have. I know people who received a promise from God years ago but they are still standing in the same spot, sitting in the same chair, living the same old routine. Put your feet on your promises and plans and with one step at a time you can go anywhere and do anything! (Man, I felt that)
* What causes you to resist change? Is it pride, comfort, ignorance, laziness, fear of failure? You must take a risk and step out into the unknown. How do you know if a promise or word is from God. Hebrews 11:1-2, tells us that faith is the substance and evidence of things not seen. In other words, when you hear a promise and faith rises up in you, the faith in you is the evidence that what you are believing for is already yours. If you don't have faith for it, it isn't yours. I have seen people try to copycat something that someone else accomplished and they failed miserably. Why? Because they didn't have the faith for it.
* Great accomplishers are people who get the faith and step out into the impossible. I call this crazy faith. People are looking at you and saying I can't believe you are going to do that... This makes you peculiar, weird, strange, but it is also what separates you from average and mediocre.
* You are not entitled, you have to create your success by God's grace. No great person has ever done anything great without work. People look at Tiger Woods and say man I wish I could play like him. They go out and buy Tiger clothes, drink Tiger drink, hit the tiger balls with a tiger club but they don't get Tiger results, why? They haven;t done the tiger work.
All of us have what is called a gift cluster. This is comprised of:
Natural abilities
* Michael Jordan wasn't lucky, he had natural abilities. If you are 5'3 and you weigh 135 pounds you probably won't play in the N.B.A. He took his natural ability and through hard work perfect his abilities. What is it that you are naturally good at? What are you passionate about? What do you spend most of your time thinking about?
Acquired Skills
* This is what you are not necessarily good at but you can learn to improve. This could be people skills, communicating, organization, team leading, handling your money... This comes through books, attending seminars, talking to coaches in your field... You take the primary thing you are good at and you compliment it with acquired skills. This is becoming an expert in your field.
Holy Spirit Empowerment
* After you have discovered your strengths, applied yourself to learning necessary skills, and developing a plan of success, then God's anointing (empowerment) (grace) comes upon you and causes you to exceed your natural abilities. The anointing makes you look better than you really are. You give what you have to God and He multiplies it.
One last thing, refuse to allow people to draw a circle around you and define your future. People who do great things have to leave the crowd of approval and comfort and be willing to be lonely because they are walking in an arena of faith and expectation that others can not and will not understand. Listen, if God tells you to do something, it does not matter what someone else says. They are not God and your destiny is not in their hands. They can not curse you or hold you back. Go after what God has said to you. You may hit some bumps in the road and experience some setbacks but in the end you will live the life God planned for you.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
The word Repent in the bible has an interesting meaning. Let's break the word down.
Re- To return
Pent - To the top (Pentagon, Penthouse)
Repent means to return to the top or the previous order. Another word we see in the N.T is Renew. Renew means to return to what was in the beginning. To return to what Adam had before sin. Let's go back to the garden and see what Adam had.
* Power and Dominion
* Ability to create and multiply perfection.
* Ability to name then animals and creations (whatever he called it, it became). In other words He had heaven's weight and authority behind his words (Heb.11:3).
* Accomplishments without sweat of the brow (Grace)
* Perfect peace and harmony
* Everything was under his feet, never allowed things to get on the top of him.
If you are going to go back to the top, be the head and not the tail, above only not beneath, the lender and not the borrower, it will require a change of your thinking. If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always got. I call this being stuck. You will stay where you are until you make up your mind to change, do whatever it takes to move out of deadness and routine into an exciting life filled with adventure.
Here are some more lessons I am learning from "Who Moved My Cheese"?
* Entitlement is when you expect everything to come to you, in the Church we call this name it and claim it, blab it and grab it. The promises of God are never placed in your mouth but they are always within your reach. God told Joshua, Moses my servant is dead, now therefore arise (Joshua 1:1-2). He was saying the old way of doing things is dead, stop worshipping your past successes and position yourself for God to do something new. God is bored with the last thing you accomplished. he is daring you to believe Him to do something no one has ever done (Eph. 3:20). Quit putting God in a box.
* God also told Joshua wherever your feet tread I have given it to you. For example, if you receive a word or a promise that you will have a best selling book, don't just stand there and say shabba, shabba, shabba, go out and buy yourself some paper and pens and start writing. Start where you are with what you have. I know people who received a promise from God years ago but they are still standing in the same spot, sitting in the same chair, living the same old routine. Put your feet on your promises and plans and with one step at a time you can go anywhere and do anything! (Man, I felt that)
* What causes you to resist change? Is it pride, comfort, ignorance, laziness, fear of failure? You must take a risk and step out into the unknown. How do you know if a promise or word is from God. Hebrews 11:1-2, tells us that faith is the substance and evidence of things not seen. In other words, when you hear a promise and faith rises up in you, the faith in you is the evidence that what you are believing for is already yours. If you don't have faith for it, it isn't yours. I have seen people try to copycat something that someone else accomplished and they failed miserably. Why? Because they didn't have the faith for it.
* Great accomplishers are people who get the faith and step out into the impossible. I call this crazy faith. People are looking at you and saying I can't believe you are going to do that... This makes you peculiar, weird, strange, but it is also what separates you from average and mediocre.
* You are not entitled, you have to create your success by God's grace. No great person has ever done anything great without work. People look at Tiger Woods and say man I wish I could play like him. They go out and buy Tiger clothes, drink Tiger drink, hit the tiger balls with a tiger club but they don't get Tiger results, why? They haven;t done the tiger work.
All of us have what is called a gift cluster. This is comprised of:
Natural abilities
* Michael Jordan wasn't lucky, he had natural abilities. If you are 5'3 and you weigh 135 pounds you probably won't play in the N.B.A. He took his natural ability and through hard work perfect his abilities. What is it that you are naturally good at? What are you passionate about? What do you spend most of your time thinking about?
Acquired Skills
* This is what you are not necessarily good at but you can learn to improve. This could be people skills, communicating, organization, team leading, handling your money... This comes through books, attending seminars, talking to coaches in your field... You take the primary thing you are good at and you compliment it with acquired skills. This is becoming an expert in your field.
Holy Spirit Empowerment
* After you have discovered your strengths, applied yourself to learning necessary skills, and developing a plan of success, then God's anointing (empowerment) (grace) comes upon you and causes you to exceed your natural abilities. The anointing makes you look better than you really are. You give what you have to God and He multiplies it.
One last thing, refuse to allow people to draw a circle around you and define your future. People who do great things have to leave the crowd of approval and comfort and be willing to be lonely because they are walking in an arena of faith and expectation that others can not and will not understand. Listen, if God tells you to do something, it does not matter what someone else says. They are not God and your destiny is not in their hands. They can not curse you or hold you back. Go after what God has said to you. You may hit some bumps in the road and experience some setbacks but in the end you will live the life God planned for you.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
"My Favorite Lady"
Before I continue to talk about change, I would like to honor a true Proverbs 31 woman. She is my wife, my best friend, my lover and my partner in ministry and so much more. She is the most unselfish person I know. Years ago when I traveled as an evangelist all over the world she supported me without ever complaining. I was gone for most of four years straight during that time. I was scheduled to preach many times for a weekend and would end up staying at one Church preaching for weeks every night (one Church for 7 weeks). I would call home and inform my wife that the Pastor had requested I stay another week, she would support me and encourage me although I was ready to go home (She stayed with our four daughters). Here is some of the things she represents to me.
* Loving and compassionate
* Diligent, hard worker yet she never complains.
* Giving
* Doesn't gossip but speaks positive about others, even when they don't.
* Positive influence of others
* Non religious (not just going through the motions)
* Amazingly creative (wait till you see some of the things she is working on).
* Patient (I'm not)
* Powerful communicator of God's word, with a prophetic in season anointing.
* Non judgmental of others (I'm tired of the Church's self made rules), she loves people for who they are.
* Unbelievable mom, because of her all five of are girls are wonderful (4 in school make A honor roll).
* Futuristic, is always planning ahead.
* Amazing writer and author.
She has at times been looked down upon because of the priority she places on her family and home. She has refused to allow the ministry to become more important than her family. Because of her faithfulness God is going to reward her with a world wide impacting ministry, in fact He already is.
Doors have began to open for her to minister in major women's conferences. I am so proud of her. One am honored to return the favor by supporting her in the doors of opportunity that God is opening for her. Tara, you are the best!
* Loving and compassionate
* Diligent, hard worker yet she never complains.
* Giving
* Doesn't gossip but speaks positive about others, even when they don't.
* Positive influence of others
* Non religious (not just going through the motions)
* Amazingly creative (wait till you see some of the things she is working on).
* Patient (I'm not)
* Powerful communicator of God's word, with a prophetic in season anointing.
* Non judgmental of others (I'm tired of the Church's self made rules), she loves people for who they are.
* Unbelievable mom, because of her all five of are girls are wonderful (4 in school make A honor roll).
* Futuristic, is always planning ahead.
* Amazing writer and author.
She has at times been looked down upon because of the priority she places on her family and home. She has refused to allow the ministry to become more important than her family. Because of her faithfulness God is going to reward her with a world wide impacting ministry, in fact He already is.
Doors have began to open for her to minister in major women's conferences. I am so proud of her. One am honored to return the favor by supporting her in the doors of opportunity that God is opening for her. Tara, you are the best!
Friday
"Who Moved My Cheese"
"The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation." —Al Reis
"To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing" —Craig Groshel
300,000 unchurched people within a 10 mile radius of Buckhead Church (170,000 North Point, 35,000 Browns Bridge). I don't want this to ever stop bothering me. The more successful you are, the more you'll feel good about who IS coming instead of who is NOT coming.
"Become preoccupied with who you haven't reached as opposed to those you are trying to keep." —Reggie Joiner
"What do I believe is impossible to do in my field, but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?" —Future Edge
_The revolution that video preaching has created, allowing leaders to be separate from communicators.
_Existing (but dying) churches that own real estate need to give it up to new churches that are reaching a new generation.
-You have to have both hands up and a blindfold on if we're taking over" (Andy on converting existing churches to our model.)- Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules. Who has the biggest church in America? Oprah. 3 million people and no parking problems.
What's in decline? Where are we having to manufacture energy?What would fresh eyes see? What would they set out to do?
"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near"
Don't let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the vision out in front."There has to be something that breaks your heart, that reflects the broken heart of God.
" —Andy Stanley"We could give away free gas (referring to the political issues in the news) all summer long and it wouldn't stop one husband from leaving his family. What we have to offer is the most important answer for life's questions." —rough quote from Andy Stanley
I am reading a book that has been in my library for some time but I never read. In fact I am not even sure where it is right now. One of my mentors in life and ministry sent it to me, it is call "Who Moved My Cheese".
I read it in one sitting without stopping and as I was reading I wrote thoughts all over the pages. Man, did God ever speak to me through that book. It should be a required reading for all Church staff. I want to share some of the thoughts with you.
* Most people are afraid to let go of the old cheese (ways of doing things) but if you don't let go of the old, you can't grab the new.
* If you refuse to change you become extinct and a museum of what has been.
* Smell the cheese often so that you know when it is getting old. In other words what you don't access will regress (go backwards).
* Those who eat the cheese (success) are those who imagine it when it is still far away. They can smell success before they step into it.
* Whatever your dream is you must visualize on a daily basis.
* Most people are afraid of change because they ask what will I lose? The proper question is what will I gain?
* If you don't enjoy the journey, you will not have the strength to finish the journey.
* It is safer to take a risk and search in the maze then to remain in a cheese less situation.
* Your behavior follows your beliefs. Most try to change the behavior but the behavior will not change till your belief system changes. If you have a mindset of poverty and you win the lottery, withing a short period of time you will be broke again.
* Timing is important to change, if you wait too long, the door of change will close and you will be locked in you present from your future.
* Successful people anticipate change, plan for change, and ride the wave of change.
* Don't worship the brook that God uses to bless you, it will eventually dry up and you will have to move to the next thing. Some people are still sitting at the brook waiting for God to do something, when God said through the brook it is time to move on.
To be continued tomorrow (Man this book is off the chain).
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
"To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing" —Craig Groshel
300,000 unchurched people within a 10 mile radius of Buckhead Church (170,000 North Point, 35,000 Browns Bridge). I don't want this to ever stop bothering me. The more successful you are, the more you'll feel good about who IS coming instead of who is NOT coming.
"Become preoccupied with who you haven't reached as opposed to those you are trying to keep." —Reggie Joiner
"What do I believe is impossible to do in my field, but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?" —Future Edge
_The revolution that video preaching has created, allowing leaders to be separate from communicators.
_Existing (but dying) churches that own real estate need to give it up to new churches that are reaching a new generation.
-You have to have both hands up and a blindfold on if we're taking over" (Andy on converting existing churches to our model.)- Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules. Who has the biggest church in America? Oprah. 3 million people and no parking problems.
What's in decline? Where are we having to manufacture energy?What would fresh eyes see? What would they set out to do?
"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near"
Don't let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the vision out in front."There has to be something that breaks your heart, that reflects the broken heart of God.
" —Andy Stanley"We could give away free gas (referring to the political issues in the news) all summer long and it wouldn't stop one husband from leaving his family. What we have to offer is the most important answer for life's questions." —rough quote from Andy Stanley
I am reading a book that has been in my library for some time but I never read. In fact I am not even sure where it is right now. One of my mentors in life and ministry sent it to me, it is call "Who Moved My Cheese".
I read it in one sitting without stopping and as I was reading I wrote thoughts all over the pages. Man, did God ever speak to me through that book. It should be a required reading for all Church staff. I want to share some of the thoughts with you.
* Most people are afraid to let go of the old cheese (ways of doing things) but if you don't let go of the old, you can't grab the new.
* If you refuse to change you become extinct and a museum of what has been.
* Smell the cheese often so that you know when it is getting old. In other words what you don't access will regress (go backwards).
* Those who eat the cheese (success) are those who imagine it when it is still far away. They can smell success before they step into it.
* Whatever your dream is you must visualize on a daily basis.
* Most people are afraid of change because they ask what will I lose? The proper question is what will I gain?
* If you don't enjoy the journey, you will not have the strength to finish the journey.
* It is safer to take a risk and search in the maze then to remain in a cheese less situation.
* Your behavior follows your beliefs. Most try to change the behavior but the behavior will not change till your belief system changes. If you have a mindset of poverty and you win the lottery, withing a short period of time you will be broke again.
* Timing is important to change, if you wait too long, the door of change will close and you will be locked in you present from your future.
* Successful people anticipate change, plan for change, and ride the wave of change.
* Don't worship the brook that God uses to bless you, it will eventually dry up and you will have to move to the next thing. Some people are still sitting at the brook waiting for God to do something, when God said through the brook it is time to move on.
To be continued tomorrow (Man this book is off the chain).
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Thursday
"How to Handle Criticism" (Perry Noble)
My guest blogger today is Perry Noble. I will be back tommorrow.
Perry Noble dot com
Five Phases In Dealing With A Critic
Posted: 08 May 2008 06:01 AM CDT
I had lunch with JR Lee. a church planter from the great state of Georgia last week, and we began the topic of how I deal with criticism. I’ve been very transparent here on this site about my struggles in the past…but I shared some things with him that I don’t think I’ve ever put into words…so I will try it here.
In my opinion–there are basically five phases in dealing with a critic.
#1 - The Explanation Phase
Early on in the days of NewSpring Church I honestly felt that if I could sit down with the people that were critical of the ministry that the Lord has called me to do that I could reason with them and help them to fully understand why we did ministry the way we did it.
It didn’t take me long to realize that most critics don’t want an explanation…they want an argument. They want the chance to shame you, to speak down to you, to tell you how right they are…and how much you suck dirt!!! I tried the explanation phase for a short while…but it was fruitless and pointless.
#2 - The Argument Phase
The next phase is the one where I tried to argue with everyone…I mean EVERYONE who had a negative word to say about the ministry. This was dangerous for me because I developed an “us versus them” mentality and began to think that everyone who wasn’t doing ministry like us just wasn’t doing ministry.
The Apostle Paul warns in II Timothy 2:23 not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments…and it took me a long time but I finally realized that the arguments I was involved in were both foolish and stupid…so I moved past that phase and moved to…
#3 - The Anger Phase (aka…the Punch Someone In The Throat Phase!)
There was a period in my ministry (December 2005 until March of 2007) where I was letting anger get the best of me. I was allowing myself to be controlled by it. I was spending most of my time trying to respond to my critics rather than really listening to the Lord…and it damaged me emotionally and spiritually.
Paul warns in Ephesians 4:27 NOT to give the devil a foothold…but I ignored that warning and allowed it anyways.
I won’t go through all that Jesus had to do to pull me out of this phase…but I will say that Craig Groeshel was a MAJOR instrument that God used to free me up from this attitude. I remember him saying once at a round table, “Some of you in the room (and he looked at me) are beating up hundreds, possibly even thousands, of people in your church up every week just because of one e-mail from a negative person.”
Church leaders…DON’T ALLOW satan to control you through your critics…the price is too high…AND, you spend all of your time on defense rather than on offense!!!
#4 - The Ignore Phase
This is where I am right now…I ignore critics. I don’t read their blogs…I don’t receive their e-mails…and this either does one of two things to them…
First of all–it REALLY ticks them off…but then second of all…they usually go away. Seriously, if you refuse to put fuel on the fire they start…it will eventually go out.
I love what Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 6:1-4 when his critics tried to get him to take his eyes off of the work, “I am doing a great work…and I cannot come down.” That has actually became a rallying cry around our office…people actually say to me, “Hey Pastor P–stay on the wall…don’t come down.”
I will admit that it’s hard at times…but…by not getting into arguments with critics…it has set me free in a major way.
(I will ALWAYS listen to someone who loves Jesus and loves me…but I will never listen to a blogger who has no life OR someone who sends in an email with a fake address…I don’t have time for them–and neither do you!)
#5 - The Compassion Phase
I am almost here…not quite. (Just being honest.) I wrestle with this. I see in Luke 15 when the prodigal son comes home and the older brother doesn’t come in the house to meet him that the Father goes outside and pleads with the older brother to come in.
I think we are called to do the same because…in that story…it would seem that the oder brother (who was the critic) was just as lost as the younger one.
Jesus dealt with this as well…He did weep over Jerusalem…but He also turned over temple tables. There IS a time to respond in boldness…but there is also a time to respond with compassion because, well, people just don’t understand.
Compassion does not mean trying to explain to them…or even exchanging emails with them…but praying for them (NOT the Psalm 3:7 prayer) and asking God to allow them to come into the house and celebrate what He is doing–even it it isn’t their style.
I’m almost here…and, with God’s help, maybe one day I will be! (Once again–just being honest!)
Perry Noble dot com
Five Phases In Dealing With A Critic
Posted: 08 May 2008 06:01 AM CDT
I had lunch with JR Lee. a church planter from the great state of Georgia last week, and we began the topic of how I deal with criticism. I’ve been very transparent here on this site about my struggles in the past…but I shared some things with him that I don’t think I’ve ever put into words…so I will try it here.
In my opinion–there are basically five phases in dealing with a critic.
#1 - The Explanation Phase
Early on in the days of NewSpring Church I honestly felt that if I could sit down with the people that were critical of the ministry that the Lord has called me to do that I could reason with them and help them to fully understand why we did ministry the way we did it.
It didn’t take me long to realize that most critics don’t want an explanation…they want an argument. They want the chance to shame you, to speak down to you, to tell you how right they are…and how much you suck dirt!!! I tried the explanation phase for a short while…but it was fruitless and pointless.
#2 - The Argument Phase
The next phase is the one where I tried to argue with everyone…I mean EVERYONE who had a negative word to say about the ministry. This was dangerous for me because I developed an “us versus them” mentality and began to think that everyone who wasn’t doing ministry like us just wasn’t doing ministry.
The Apostle Paul warns in II Timothy 2:23 not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments…and it took me a long time but I finally realized that the arguments I was involved in were both foolish and stupid…so I moved past that phase and moved to…
#3 - The Anger Phase (aka…the Punch Someone In The Throat Phase!)
There was a period in my ministry (December 2005 until March of 2007) where I was letting anger get the best of me. I was allowing myself to be controlled by it. I was spending most of my time trying to respond to my critics rather than really listening to the Lord…and it damaged me emotionally and spiritually.
Paul warns in Ephesians 4:27 NOT to give the devil a foothold…but I ignored that warning and allowed it anyways.
I won’t go through all that Jesus had to do to pull me out of this phase…but I will say that Craig Groeshel was a MAJOR instrument that God used to free me up from this attitude. I remember him saying once at a round table, “Some of you in the room (and he looked at me) are beating up hundreds, possibly even thousands, of people in your church up every week just because of one e-mail from a negative person.”
Church leaders…DON’T ALLOW satan to control you through your critics…the price is too high…AND, you spend all of your time on defense rather than on offense!!!
#4 - The Ignore Phase
This is where I am right now…I ignore critics. I don’t read their blogs…I don’t receive their e-mails…and this either does one of two things to them…
First of all–it REALLY ticks them off…but then second of all…they usually go away. Seriously, if you refuse to put fuel on the fire they start…it will eventually go out.
I love what Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 6:1-4 when his critics tried to get him to take his eyes off of the work, “I am doing a great work…and I cannot come down.” That has actually became a rallying cry around our office…people actually say to me, “Hey Pastor P–stay on the wall…don’t come down.”
I will admit that it’s hard at times…but…by not getting into arguments with critics…it has set me free in a major way.
(I will ALWAYS listen to someone who loves Jesus and loves me…but I will never listen to a blogger who has no life OR someone who sends in an email with a fake address…I don’t have time for them–and neither do you!)
#5 - The Compassion Phase
I am almost here…not quite. (Just being honest.) I wrestle with this. I see in Luke 15 when the prodigal son comes home and the older brother doesn’t come in the house to meet him that the Father goes outside and pleads with the older brother to come in.
I think we are called to do the same because…in that story…it would seem that the oder brother (who was the critic) was just as lost as the younger one.
Jesus dealt with this as well…He did weep over Jerusalem…but He also turned over temple tables. There IS a time to respond in boldness…but there is also a time to respond with compassion because, well, people just don’t understand.
Compassion does not mean trying to explain to them…or even exchanging emails with them…but praying for them (NOT the Psalm 3:7 prayer) and asking God to allow them to come into the house and celebrate what He is doing–even it it isn’t their style.
I’m almost here…and, with God’s help, maybe one day I will be! (Once again–just being honest!)
Wednesday
"Proud Father"
Is has been a interesting transition from the deep south to Chicago. Here are a few of the changes we have experienced.
* Crazy Weather!
* Extremely cold (Freezer Burn)
* From Southerners to the entire planet (nationalities)
* Great food (smell it everywhere)
* People not as friendly
* Traffic
* Did I say traffic?
* High Gas prices (almost $4.00)
*Tight space (I can shake my neighbors hand out my window)
* Lack of parking
* Crazy drivers (they pull out in the middle of the road)
* Da bears and cubs...
* Much more
The most radical change has been that when we talk to people some laugh at the way we talk (southern drawl). I always thought we talked normal, but they see us as from another planet. In spite of our strange way of talking (again I think it is normal), my daughter Haley was chosen by the school to represent the entire school for Earth Day. She is speaking in front of the entire school today representing the south (ha!) What can I draw spiritually from this? I'm glad you asked.
1 Cor 1:26-31
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." NKJV
God chooses the things that we consider foolish to confound the wise.
* God chooses the unlikely. Whoever you would pick, no not him.
* God chooses those nobody else picks (least likely to succeed).
* God chooses the failures, those who are down and pulls them up to display His power.
* God picks the impossible to display His power, so that He gets all the credit.
* If you are last, God will take you from the back and walk you to the front and say there is my grace.
If you are facing a impossibility and everyone has counted you out, watch out you are a prime candidate for God to turn your life around and show you off to the world.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
PS- Did I say I'm proud of Haley (you go girl!)
* Crazy Weather!
* Extremely cold (Freezer Burn)
* From Southerners to the entire planet (nationalities)
* Great food (smell it everywhere)
* People not as friendly
* Traffic
* Did I say traffic?
* High Gas prices (almost $4.00)
*Tight space (I can shake my neighbors hand out my window)
* Lack of parking
* Crazy drivers (they pull out in the middle of the road)
* Da bears and cubs...
* Much more
The most radical change has been that when we talk to people some laugh at the way we talk (southern drawl). I always thought we talked normal, but they see us as from another planet. In spite of our strange way of talking (again I think it is normal), my daughter Haley was chosen by the school to represent the entire school for Earth Day. She is speaking in front of the entire school today representing the south (ha!) What can I draw spiritually from this? I'm glad you asked.
1 Cor 1:26-31
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." NKJV
God chooses the things that we consider foolish to confound the wise.
* God chooses the unlikely. Whoever you would pick, no not him.
* God chooses those nobody else picks (least likely to succeed).
* God chooses the failures, those who are down and pulls them up to display His power.
* God picks the impossible to display His power, so that He gets all the credit.
* If you are last, God will take you from the back and walk you to the front and say there is my grace.
If you are facing a impossibility and everyone has counted you out, watch out you are a prime candidate for God to turn your life around and show you off to the world.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
PS- Did I say I'm proud of Haley (you go girl!)
Monday
"Why Do People Talk About You?"
Prov 6:12-19
A worthless person, a wicked man,Walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes,He shuffles his feet,He points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart,He devises evil continually,He sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the LORD hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look,A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans,Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren. NKJV
It is the enemies primary job to create scenarios on the outside that are contrary to the picture of possibilities on the inside. In fact he wants you to believe that what God told you on the inside is a lie. The bible tells us to let God be true and every man a liar. This tells me that what is on the inside of you is not lying, but what on the outside is lying. You need to point your finger that the circumstances that have been fabricated by the enemy and declare boldly, you can't hold me.
Secondly, when a manufacturer makes a claim about a car that is will go from 0-60 in in 30 seconds (Shazam!), they will put it through a series of tests to validate the claims that they have made about the vehicle. In other words a great demand has to be placed on the car because the manufacturer knows the potential that is under the hood. When God makes a claim about you that you are more than a conqueror, you make not be conquering at the moment but God is making a boast of you because He knows the potential that is in you. This means that when God gives you a word such as He did with Mary who was 15 at the time, on the outside she is surrounded by impossibilities, on the inside nothing is impossible with God. Let me break this down.
Nothing (No Rhema), No freshly spoken word from God
Impossible - To be without ability or power.
No word from God lacks the ability or power for its own fulfillment.
So why do people talk about you? (Even in the Church)
* They have been assigned by the devil. (messengers of satan the accuser of the brethren). Most of the time they are cloaked in religious garments.
* They are insecure in themselves and are intimidated by your potential.
* They don't who they are or what is inside of them, so they try to sabotage your potential. They don't have anything better to do with their time.
* They feel bigger by trying to make you smaller.
* They are deceived.
* Everytime they talk about you, they become smaller and you become bigger.
I remember Mike Murdoch telling me a story that he was sitting around a table with other ministers and the entire time they were talking about people (negative). He got up, excused himself and walked out!
I have seen through the years I have been in ministry this happen many times. They are so consumed with destroying you, that they don't realize they are on the devil's payroll.
1 Peter 12-15 tells us that when they talk.
* God's hand comes upon you.
* Blessings are multiplied in your life.
* God accelerates the timing of your promise.
* God rests upon you as a tent of Favor and blessing.
So let them talk! And as my dad said many times, "Son, if you can't say anything nice about them, don't say anything at all."
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
*
Here is some things I have learned about why people talk about you.
A worthless person, a wicked man,Walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes,He shuffles his feet,He points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart,He devises evil continually,He sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the LORD hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look,A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans,Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren. NKJV
It is the enemies primary job to create scenarios on the outside that are contrary to the picture of possibilities on the inside. In fact he wants you to believe that what God told you on the inside is a lie. The bible tells us to let God be true and every man a liar. This tells me that what is on the inside of you is not lying, but what on the outside is lying. You need to point your finger that the circumstances that have been fabricated by the enemy and declare boldly, you can't hold me.
Secondly, when a manufacturer makes a claim about a car that is will go from 0-60 in in 30 seconds (Shazam!), they will put it through a series of tests to validate the claims that they have made about the vehicle. In other words a great demand has to be placed on the car because the manufacturer knows the potential that is under the hood. When God makes a claim about you that you are more than a conqueror, you make not be conquering at the moment but God is making a boast of you because He knows the potential that is in you. This means that when God gives you a word such as He did with Mary who was 15 at the time, on the outside she is surrounded by impossibilities, on the inside nothing is impossible with God. Let me break this down.
Nothing (No Rhema), No freshly spoken word from God
Impossible - To be without ability or power.
No word from God lacks the ability or power for its own fulfillment.
So why do people talk about you? (Even in the Church)
* They have been assigned by the devil. (messengers of satan the accuser of the brethren). Most of the time they are cloaked in religious garments.
* They are insecure in themselves and are intimidated by your potential.
* They don't who they are or what is inside of them, so they try to sabotage your potential. They don't have anything better to do with their time.
* They feel bigger by trying to make you smaller.
* They are deceived.
* Everytime they talk about you, they become smaller and you become bigger.
I remember Mike Murdoch telling me a story that he was sitting around a table with other ministers and the entire time they were talking about people (negative). He got up, excused himself and walked out!
I have seen through the years I have been in ministry this happen many times. They are so consumed with destroying you, that they don't realize they are on the devil's payroll.
1 Peter 12-15 tells us that when they talk.
* God's hand comes upon you.
* Blessings are multiplied in your life.
* God accelerates the timing of your promise.
* God rests upon you as a tent of Favor and blessing.
So let them talk! And as my dad said many times, "Son, if you can't say anything nice about them, don't say anything at all."
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
*
Here is some things I have learned about why people talk about you.
Friday
"Get Out of My Garden"
Prov 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence,For out of it spring the issues of life. NKJV
Solomon admonishes us to guard our heart for out of it flows the issues of life. Why?
* Most of your issues don't come from the devil, they come from you.
* If you let hell get in your life, then you will have hell in your life.
* Everything that comes into our life comes as seed, if we allow the seed of unforgiveness, frustration, bitterness, fear to get into our heart then our lives will be encompassed with the fruit of what we allowed in.
* Adam was given the responsibility of guarding the garden, He had victory in every arena of his life, it was a perfect place until he allowed the serpent to come into his garden. I think it is interesting that after Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she handed it to Adam, which tells me he was there all the time. He was not guarding his garden.
* It is not our wives responsibility to guard the atmosphere of our home. We need men to become the doorkeepers of our homes. If you don't want it in your lives, don't let it in your home. Paul tells us don't give place to the devil (not even a peep hole).
* If a robber wants to break into your house all he needs is an opening. Once he is inside he has access to any room in your house. Spiritually speaking when we allow the robber to have access in our lives through any opening, he can wreak in any area of our life.
* Divorce is not the result of a big thing most of the time, it is the results of a seed (something small) such as lack of time spent together, loss of respect for each other, not putting God first in your home). A criminal is not the result of something but but a person who is the product of seeds that were sown in his childhood.
* The word heart in the Hebrew is from a root word that is a picture of a garden. The writer is saying guard your garden for out of it flows the issues or circumstances of your life. We reap what we sow. What you allow in as a seed will produce fruit in your life.
* I am not a garbage dump for you to pour all your negativity and gossip into. I remember when me and my wife were counseling a couple and they began to bring an accusation against a leader, my wife slammed her hand down on the table and said "Not in my house". Some of you need to do this!
* Your outer world is a mirror of your inner world. In a book titled "The Tipping Point", the author explains how to lower crime in a city. He explains that gangs are attracted and migrate towards areas where the grass is unkempt, there is trash, windows broken... The reason he explains this happens is because the gangs assume that because of the appearance of the properties and homes that no one cares and that no one is in charge.
If you don't take charge of your garden someone else will. Monitor what you are allowing in your heart (also mind). If you let trash in, then you will have trash out. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
What have you allowed in your garden?
What issues are you dealing with as a result of not guarding your heart and mind.
Who have you given your ears to? What you hear, determines where you will end up in life.
Is your life unorganized on the outside because your inner world is unorganized?
Ask God to uproot everything in your heart that has caused your issues. Ask Him to forgive you of allowing satan into your garden, and to give you a new garden (Psalms 51).
Blessings,
Craig
Solomon admonishes us to guard our heart for out of it flows the issues of life. Why?
* Most of your issues don't come from the devil, they come from you.
* If you let hell get in your life, then you will have hell in your life.
* Everything that comes into our life comes as seed, if we allow the seed of unforgiveness, frustration, bitterness, fear to get into our heart then our lives will be encompassed with the fruit of what we allowed in.
* Adam was given the responsibility of guarding the garden, He had victory in every arena of his life, it was a perfect place until he allowed the serpent to come into his garden. I think it is interesting that after Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she handed it to Adam, which tells me he was there all the time. He was not guarding his garden.
* It is not our wives responsibility to guard the atmosphere of our home. We need men to become the doorkeepers of our homes. If you don't want it in your lives, don't let it in your home. Paul tells us don't give place to the devil (not even a peep hole).
* If a robber wants to break into your house all he needs is an opening. Once he is inside he has access to any room in your house. Spiritually speaking when we allow the robber to have access in our lives through any opening, he can wreak in any area of our life.
* Divorce is not the result of a big thing most of the time, it is the results of a seed (something small) such as lack of time spent together, loss of respect for each other, not putting God first in your home). A criminal is not the result of something but but a person who is the product of seeds that were sown in his childhood.
* The word heart in the Hebrew is from a root word that is a picture of a garden. The writer is saying guard your garden for out of it flows the issues or circumstances of your life. We reap what we sow. What you allow in as a seed will produce fruit in your life.
* I am not a garbage dump for you to pour all your negativity and gossip into. I remember when me and my wife were counseling a couple and they began to bring an accusation against a leader, my wife slammed her hand down on the table and said "Not in my house". Some of you need to do this!
* Your outer world is a mirror of your inner world. In a book titled "The Tipping Point", the author explains how to lower crime in a city. He explains that gangs are attracted and migrate towards areas where the grass is unkempt, there is trash, windows broken... The reason he explains this happens is because the gangs assume that because of the appearance of the properties and homes that no one cares and that no one is in charge.
If you don't take charge of your garden someone else will. Monitor what you are allowing in your heart (also mind). If you let trash in, then you will have trash out. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
What have you allowed in your garden?
What issues are you dealing with as a result of not guarding your heart and mind.
Who have you given your ears to? What you hear, determines where you will end up in life.
Is your life unorganized on the outside because your inner world is unorganized?
Ask God to uproot everything in your heart that has caused your issues. Ask Him to forgive you of allowing satan into your garden, and to give you a new garden (Psalms 51).
Blessings,
Craig
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