Here is my guest blogger Perry Noble.
One of the questions that is often asked of me by pastors and church leaders is, “Where do you get your vision?”
My answer usually seems to frustrate them because…well…it’s simple. Leadership (and vision) is as easy as listening to God.Vision does not come through a committee. Good ideas may come that way. Much needed discussion may come out of a meeting like that…but not vision. Vision does not come through a conference. You may get INSPIRATION…but not REVELATION. I think of of the sad things in conference world today is pastors will attend a conference, go home & then try to be EVERYTHING except for what God called them to be.
Vision does not come out of books. Once again–excellent ideas do. Wisdom comes from reading. You can seriously be challenged and stretched by reading…but vision isn’t in the pages of the next best seller.
Vision does not come from trying to repeat what has been successful in the past…that’s not vision, that’s the leader being a victim of previous success. I still say that passionate, white hot, hell charging, world changing & people inspiring vision comes from intentional and uninterrupted time with Jesus…in HIS Word, seeking HIS face through prayers–staying connected with HIS Holy Spirit throughout the day.
So when people ask me, “Where do you get your vision?” My answer is always the time…I meet with God & I don’t move until He tells me to move…but WHEN He tells me to move I go until He tells me to stop.
I am just finished reading through the first five books of the Bible…and most of those books are about Moses…who God totally messed up his life of comfortability and asked him to lead a MAJOR relocation project. He had never done that before…he was CLUELESS…yet…
God used him in an incredible way…and, in my opinion, he is one of the most incredible leaders in all of Scripture.
In reading through Moses’ story I discovered that one of the MOST REPEATED PHRASES in Moses’ leadership journey is, “The Lord told Moses…” and then He would just do what the Lord told him to do. Leadership is as easy as listening to God. I always advise pastors and church leaders to get on their face and stay there until God says otherwise. I have NEVER made a bad or wrong decision when I clearly heard from God and followed–EVER!
So how do you know when your vision is from God?
Great Blogging Perry
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Wednesday
Friday
"Essential Things for Leaders" (Interview with Andy Stanley)
Here is a few thoughts from a interview with Andy Stanley. I would encourage all you leaders to go to www.catalystspace.com. One of the most important things in being a leaders is maintaining a learning posture. Leaders who become cynical and say "I have tried everything it doesn't work for me" or " That is their opinion" are short sighted and stuck in a non growing posture.
You may not be able to fly halfway across the country to learn leadership secrets but "Catalyst" has done it for you. Bishop Tony has said many times, "The only difference from five years from now and today, is the people you meet and the books you read".
Andy Stanley:
What is the most important thing for a young leader?
Courage to try new things.
* To ignore critics, be willing to try things that may have failed in the past or nobody has ever attempted.
* Surround yourself with people smarter than you, be willing to overcome insecurities, find the place where your fear is so big that it inflates your insecurity causing you to miss out on opportunities.
* Courage distinguishes between an average leader and a great leader. Leaders who are doing the same thing they they have always done will not grow.
* Look for the leaders in the organization that have the courage to initiate new things. They are not the smartest, brightest, but they are the ones who seize a opportunity (make things happen).
* If you don't initiate, somebody else will. The first one to seize the opportunity is the one who steps into greatness.
How do you maintain accountability in your organization?
I have established a three tier accountability structure which includes:
1. Elders
2. Staff
3. Stewardship team
* When making major decisions I go to all three, if they all agree then I know it is God. We then begin to explore the idea in greater detail.
* We never have all the information, sometimes we have to move out in faith on partial information (navigation).
How do you measure success?
Most organizations measure by things they can count. As people say if you can't measure it, you can't monitor it. Although this is true, we have found success by measuring through life changing stories.
* Rally around the idea of life change. You can't measure it but you know when you see it and if it is not there you can tell.
* We call this a win for us.
* For us it is stories of people crossing the line of faith.
What is the one thing you would say to a new pastor?
Your success is tied to your ability to find out what you are good at, and what you are not good at. Staff based on your weaknesses and build on your strengths.
* If your vision requires a gift that you don't have, staff that gift.
* The sooner you figure out where you excel and don't excel, the sooner you position yourself for success. Spend the majority of your time in your sweet spot. Operate out of your giftedness.
What is one thing you did in the early days that helped you succeed?
Before we started we made a organizational chart for a large organization.
* Fill in the spots with your present team (most will have several areas when start), as you grow you work yourself out of each spot as new people step in.
* This helps your volunteers and team to understand the scope of responsibility, that ministry is not easy and that people are needed. It also gives a sense of vision of something that is bigger than you.
How do you run your staff meetings?
* Meet every Monday to read through a book together and we dialogue about concepts in the book. For example one of our favorites is a book by Marcus Buckingham called "One Thing".
* Every other week, we deal with the nuts and bolts of the Church.
We have been doing this for ten years. We found out early that we couldn't afford to bring in people to train our staff but we could read their books and discuss them.
* Once a month all of our leadership gets together and half of the time is spent with me training them (leadership) and the other half we bring someone from the outside to train us.
* Three time a month we get together and discuss wins for us (stories) of success in our ministries. If it is not happening in you and your staff, it isn't happening in the rest of the organization. We then pray together.
Years ago a leader asked us "Is what is happening here worth exporting to other Churches? If it is not happening with us, it is not happening in our organization. Stories tell us if we are accomplishing our mission.
Blessings,
Craig
You may not be able to fly halfway across the country to learn leadership secrets but "Catalyst" has done it for you. Bishop Tony has said many times, "The only difference from five years from now and today, is the people you meet and the books you read".
Andy Stanley:
What is the most important thing for a young leader?
Courage to try new things.
* To ignore critics, be willing to try things that may have failed in the past or nobody has ever attempted.
* Surround yourself with people smarter than you, be willing to overcome insecurities, find the place where your fear is so big that it inflates your insecurity causing you to miss out on opportunities.
* Courage distinguishes between an average leader and a great leader. Leaders who are doing the same thing they they have always done will not grow.
* Look for the leaders in the organization that have the courage to initiate new things. They are not the smartest, brightest, but they are the ones who seize a opportunity (make things happen).
* If you don't initiate, somebody else will. The first one to seize the opportunity is the one who steps into greatness.
How do you maintain accountability in your organization?
I have established a three tier accountability structure which includes:
1. Elders
2. Staff
3. Stewardship team
* When making major decisions I go to all three, if they all agree then I know it is God. We then begin to explore the idea in greater detail.
* We never have all the information, sometimes we have to move out in faith on partial information (navigation).
How do you measure success?
Most organizations measure by things they can count. As people say if you can't measure it, you can't monitor it. Although this is true, we have found success by measuring through life changing stories.
* Rally around the idea of life change. You can't measure it but you know when you see it and if it is not there you can tell.
* We call this a win for us.
* For us it is stories of people crossing the line of faith.
What is the one thing you would say to a new pastor?
Your success is tied to your ability to find out what you are good at, and what you are not good at. Staff based on your weaknesses and build on your strengths.
* If your vision requires a gift that you don't have, staff that gift.
* The sooner you figure out where you excel and don't excel, the sooner you position yourself for success. Spend the majority of your time in your sweet spot. Operate out of your giftedness.
What is one thing you did in the early days that helped you succeed?
Before we started we made a organizational chart for a large organization.
* Fill in the spots with your present team (most will have several areas when start), as you grow you work yourself out of each spot as new people step in.
* This helps your volunteers and team to understand the scope of responsibility, that ministry is not easy and that people are needed. It also gives a sense of vision of something that is bigger than you.
How do you run your staff meetings?
* Meet every Monday to read through a book together and we dialogue about concepts in the book. For example one of our favorites is a book by Marcus Buckingham called "One Thing".
* Every other week, we deal with the nuts and bolts of the Church.
We have been doing this for ten years. We found out early that we couldn't afford to bring in people to train our staff but we could read their books and discuss them.
* Once a month all of our leadership gets together and half of the time is spent with me training them (leadership) and the other half we bring someone from the outside to train us.
* Three time a month we get together and discuss wins for us (stories) of success in our ministries. If it is not happening in you and your staff, it isn't happening in the rest of the organization. We then pray together.
Years ago a leader asked us "Is what is happening here worth exporting to other Churches? If it is not happening with us, it is not happening in our organization. Stories tell us if we are accomplishing our mission.
Blessings,
Craig
Thursday
"Being Broken"
Here is a guest blog by Craig Groeshel.
The Blessings of Brokenness
God rarely (if ever) uses good things to break you. The “breaking” is painful.
On the other side of brokenness, you’ll find many blessings:
* The problems that used to seem big barely register as problems in your world. People’s opinions of you don’t mean nearly as much.
*You fully embrace that you “don’t have enough.” Then—and only then—can God become everything you need.
* You discover an intimacy with God that sustains you moment by moment.
* Scripture becomes the bread that nourishes you. Heaven becomes closer. This world doesn’t hold you as tightly. I
f God is breaking you, I feel for you. I also know that on the other side, you’ll find strength and comfort in the presence of God greater than you’ve ever known.
Craig Sloan's comment:
It is through the process of being broken that God is able to distribute you in a multiplied measure. Jesus takes you like the 5 loaves and two fish (not enough, insufficient) and after he breaks and blesses you, He gives you out to those in need in multiplied form (more than enough). In other words brokenness is the process of multiplication. Though you be small you shall become a thousand times more! God tears us to repair us, and when we are down to nothing, God is up to something!
Be blessed,
Craig Sloan
The Blessings of Brokenness
God rarely (if ever) uses good things to break you. The “breaking” is painful.
On the other side of brokenness, you’ll find many blessings:
* The problems that used to seem big barely register as problems in your world. People’s opinions of you don’t mean nearly as much.
*You fully embrace that you “don’t have enough.” Then—and only then—can God become everything you need.
* You discover an intimacy with God that sustains you moment by moment.
* Scripture becomes the bread that nourishes you. Heaven becomes closer. This world doesn’t hold you as tightly. I
f God is breaking you, I feel for you. I also know that on the other side, you’ll find strength and comfort in the presence of God greater than you’ve ever known.
Craig Sloan's comment:
It is through the process of being broken that God is able to distribute you in a multiplied measure. Jesus takes you like the 5 loaves and two fish (not enough, insufficient) and after he breaks and blesses you, He gives you out to those in need in multiplied form (more than enough). In other words brokenness is the process of multiplication. Though you be small you shall become a thousand times more! God tears us to repair us, and when we are down to nothing, God is up to something!
Be blessed,
Craig Sloan
Tuesday
"Vertical Vision Versus Horizontal Copycat"
The following thoughts are from Jeremiah 23:28-32.
* When we chase someone else's word we lose the power of a personal word from God. The pain in the process of receiving is the power to demonstrate it!
* The reason we lack power in Church and our lives is because we are trying to copy the next big thing. If it is already big, then why does it need you to repeat it? Do a new thing!
* What is it that you want to do with your life? What desire has God put in your heart to fulfill?
* I believe that the primary way God speaks to us other than His word, is how we are hardwired with desires that He put in us.
* Bishop Tony has told me and many others that the proof of your desire is your pursuit!
* One of the ways to know something is from God is the willingness to pay the price for it.
There are many that say they want it, but few are willing to pay the price for it.
* Pastors are you willing to pay a price for a word from God that will burn like fire in your bones or will you take the easy route and copy someone else's? (God asked me this today)
* One way to know it is yours, is when you look at the price tag, you will say I'm willing to pay for that when others around you say, there is no way I would pay for that!
* Are you willing to pay the price?
* Pursue vertical vision instead of horizontal copycat.
* What does God have for me, that is only for me?
* People are attracted to originals, Be you!
To be continued tomorrow...
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Desiring to be a great original rather than a cheap copy!
* When we chase someone else's word we lose the power of a personal word from God. The pain in the process of receiving is the power to demonstrate it!
* The reason we lack power in Church and our lives is because we are trying to copy the next big thing. If it is already big, then why does it need you to repeat it? Do a new thing!
* What is it that you want to do with your life? What desire has God put in your heart to fulfill?
* I believe that the primary way God speaks to us other than His word, is how we are hardwired with desires that He put in us.
* Bishop Tony has told me and many others that the proof of your desire is your pursuit!
* One of the ways to know something is from God is the willingness to pay the price for it.
There are many that say they want it, but few are willing to pay the price for it.
* Pastors are you willing to pay a price for a word from God that will burn like fire in your bones or will you take the easy route and copy someone else's? (God asked me this today)
* One way to know it is yours, is when you look at the price tag, you will say I'm willing to pay for that when others around you say, there is no way I would pay for that!
* Are you willing to pay the price?
* Pursue vertical vision instead of horizontal copycat.
* What does God have for me, that is only for me?
* People are attracted to originals, Be you!
To be continued tomorrow...
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Desiring to be a great original rather than a cheap copy!
Monday
"Dream Big Dreams"
God has really been challenging me to live life beyond limitations, to dare to do the impossible, to reach for the unreachable. What is Christ's death on the cross worth to you? Did he go through the painful and excruciating experience so that we would live a normal, mediocre (Latin - the mess we are in)life?
Many of you that are reading this blog are frustrated because you are living a life below the privileges that Christ died for. My definition of frustration is when you lock up extraordinary in ordinary. One of my favorite bible passages is about Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 5). There was something extraordinary locked inside of him despite the fact he had spent most of his life begging, receiving whatever life threw his way. Are you tired of just accepting whatever life dishes out at you? Are you tired of allowing life's circumstances and situations to dominate you?
Jesus did not intend for you to live subject to life's problems, He intends for you to get on top of what has been on top of you. Jesus told the man who had been lame, carried on the mat to get up and take up his mat and go home. I want to prophecy to some of you, it is time for you to get a hold of what has been holding on to you. Paul when he was on the island of Malta (Acts 28) was bitten by a serpent, scholars say that a person who was bitten by this kind of serpent would die in less than three minutes. The islanders watched to see when he would die (people who saw you make it through the last one, think this one is going to do you in for sure). Paul shook it off. Watch this, what was in Paul was greater than the venom in the serpent and what is inside of you is greater than any venom from life's bite. All you need to do is shake it off. In fact what was meant to kill you, you are going to kill it! Nothing can stop you from your destiny.
Here is what Blind Bartimaeus teaches us:
* A cry needs to rise up inside of you, "I refuse to stay here".
* Religion will always try to get you to lower your expectations to the level of your surrounding environment or experience, but revelation will always raise your situation to the level of the revelation (expectation) inside of you.
* Until your revelation becomes greater than your environment, you will remain stuck there!
* Whatever you tolerate you are powerless to change. You are anointed to change it, and if you are not you need to say see ya later alligator!
* Labels do not define you, Bartimeaus means the offspring of a contaminated and polluted spirit. If you allow it it will define your world, you must refuse to lose and know who you are in Christ! You are not who they say you are and you are not what they say you did!
* He couldn't see but he could holler! Don't let life or religion shut you up. You need to get a crazy praise. Silence is deadening.
* He was in Jericho, a cursed place. Jesus walked through the curse and reversed it. No matter where you are Jesus will step through it and change your world!
* Jesus asked him what he wanted, he could have asked for a new begging garment (how they were identified) but he threw his old identity away and say I want to receive my sight. God is about to open your eyes so that you can see what you are destined for. But before Jesus did this he had to take him by the hand and lead him outside the city. God wants to take you out of your present environment and give you a new perspective so that you will have the power to change it. If you can see it, you can be it!
* The price of popularity is conformity (be quiet!), but the price of a reformation is the willingness to be reshaped. God wants to morph you into His origination of your life. He has created a you that is greater than what you are presently experiencing.
* What do you want me to do for you (blank check)? You must be prepared to answer that question, God is about to change your old address and when people come looking for you, they won't find you. God is about to change your location.
I want to challenge you to let a cry rise up inside of you, I refuse to stay here. There is more to life than what I'm presently experiencing. If you don't like it you can change it or leave it!
Blessings,
Craig
Many of you that are reading this blog are frustrated because you are living a life below the privileges that Christ died for. My definition of frustration is when you lock up extraordinary in ordinary. One of my favorite bible passages is about Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 5). There was something extraordinary locked inside of him despite the fact he had spent most of his life begging, receiving whatever life threw his way. Are you tired of just accepting whatever life dishes out at you? Are you tired of allowing life's circumstances and situations to dominate you?
Jesus did not intend for you to live subject to life's problems, He intends for you to get on top of what has been on top of you. Jesus told the man who had been lame, carried on the mat to get up and take up his mat and go home. I want to prophecy to some of you, it is time for you to get a hold of what has been holding on to you. Paul when he was on the island of Malta (Acts 28) was bitten by a serpent, scholars say that a person who was bitten by this kind of serpent would die in less than three minutes. The islanders watched to see when he would die (people who saw you make it through the last one, think this one is going to do you in for sure). Paul shook it off. Watch this, what was in Paul was greater than the venom in the serpent and what is inside of you is greater than any venom from life's bite. All you need to do is shake it off. In fact what was meant to kill you, you are going to kill it! Nothing can stop you from your destiny.
Here is what Blind Bartimaeus teaches us:
* A cry needs to rise up inside of you, "I refuse to stay here".
* Religion will always try to get you to lower your expectations to the level of your surrounding environment or experience, but revelation will always raise your situation to the level of the revelation (expectation) inside of you.
* Until your revelation becomes greater than your environment, you will remain stuck there!
* Whatever you tolerate you are powerless to change. You are anointed to change it, and if you are not you need to say see ya later alligator!
* Labels do not define you, Bartimeaus means the offspring of a contaminated and polluted spirit. If you allow it it will define your world, you must refuse to lose and know who you are in Christ! You are not who they say you are and you are not what they say you did!
* He couldn't see but he could holler! Don't let life or religion shut you up. You need to get a crazy praise. Silence is deadening.
* He was in Jericho, a cursed place. Jesus walked through the curse and reversed it. No matter where you are Jesus will step through it and change your world!
* Jesus asked him what he wanted, he could have asked for a new begging garment (how they were identified) but he threw his old identity away and say I want to receive my sight. God is about to open your eyes so that you can see what you are destined for. But before Jesus did this he had to take him by the hand and lead him outside the city. God wants to take you out of your present environment and give you a new perspective so that you will have the power to change it. If you can see it, you can be it!
* The price of popularity is conformity (be quiet!), but the price of a reformation is the willingness to be reshaped. God wants to morph you into His origination of your life. He has created a you that is greater than what you are presently experiencing.
* What do you want me to do for you (blank check)? You must be prepared to answer that question, God is about to change your old address and when people come looking for you, they won't find you. God is about to change your location.
I want to challenge you to let a cry rise up inside of you, I refuse to stay here. There is more to life than what I'm presently experiencing. If you don't like it you can change it or leave it!
Blessings,
Craig
Friday
"Catch on Fire"
I am have been doing quite a bit searching lately, especially since I have been under the weather. I very seldom get sick but at the end of last week, something got me. As I have been forced to slow down and take retrospective of things, I have come to some conclusions and have asked some questions. Here they are.
* Is the life I am living equal to the sacrifice Jesus made for me?
* Are my dreams for my life big enough that they would require God's help?
* When was the last time I took a risk for the Kingdom?
* Am I settling for average or am I going after God's best?
* Have I allowed the water buckets of life to put out my fire?
* I want to get God's heart for souls again.
* I dream of a Church that will impact an entire city for the Glory of God!
* What would a Church look like that becomes passionate about taking their city?
* Have I become so involved in the work of God that I have lost connection with the God of the work?
* I want to get around some white hot people for God so that I can catch their fire, I'm tired of playing Church, when will we be the Church?
* What does God celebrate? Not programs, attendance record, big buildings, successful financial campaigns, politics, republican or democrats, how many books I have read. The only time we find heaven celebrating in the bible is when souls are saved! I want to learn to celebrate what God celebrates.
* Church attendance is decreasing, the population is increasing, meaning the Church must become relevant, real, radical, reaching... The only way to reverse this trend is to target the unchurched. There are more lost people on this planet than there are Christians. What if we quit focusing on transfer growth and instead focus on conversion growth?
* God light me as a flame and let me become busy reaching souls!
God challenged me this morning to rekindle the flame (2 Tim 1:6).
*How did you lose your fire?
* How do you get it back? (Go after God till He gives you a white hot vision for your life).
* Have you sold out for everything but God?
* The only person that can fan your flame is you.
* The only way to regain your heart for lost souls is to get around them.
Let's catch on fire, and watch everything in our path catch on fire!
* Is the life I am living equal to the sacrifice Jesus made for me?
* Are my dreams for my life big enough that they would require God's help?
* When was the last time I took a risk for the Kingdom?
* Am I settling for average or am I going after God's best?
* Have I allowed the water buckets of life to put out my fire?
* I want to get God's heart for souls again.
* I dream of a Church that will impact an entire city for the Glory of God!
* What would a Church look like that becomes passionate about taking their city?
* Have I become so involved in the work of God that I have lost connection with the God of the work?
* I want to get around some white hot people for God so that I can catch their fire, I'm tired of playing Church, when will we be the Church?
* What does God celebrate? Not programs, attendance record, big buildings, successful financial campaigns, politics, republican or democrats, how many books I have read. The only time we find heaven celebrating in the bible is when souls are saved! I want to learn to celebrate what God celebrates.
* Church attendance is decreasing, the population is increasing, meaning the Church must become relevant, real, radical, reaching... The only way to reverse this trend is to target the unchurched. There are more lost people on this planet than there are Christians. What if we quit focusing on transfer growth and instead focus on conversion growth?
* God light me as a flame and let me become busy reaching souls!
God challenged me this morning to rekindle the flame (2 Tim 1:6).
*How did you lose your fire?
* How do you get it back? (Go after God till He gives you a white hot vision for your life).
* Have you sold out for everything but God?
* The only person that can fan your flame is you.
* The only way to regain your heart for lost souls is to get around them.
Let's catch on fire, and watch everything in our path catch on fire!
Tuesday
Triple Threat! Yeah Baby!
In honor of my 20th posting, I decided to do a little something that will show me in RARE form... I do know how to break out and have a little fun... take a look....
Blessings!
Craig
Blessings!
Craig
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