Where Have We Been?

May 16, 2013 in Preparing for Worship, Worship with 0 Comments

“And when the priests came out of the Holy Place…”bigstock-holy-presence-12656525

There is a lot packed into those few words for worship leaders. implications, results and challenges.

Those words come from the book of 1 Kings chapter 8, where the nation of Israel was preparing to have its first worship service in the new temple. The priests were getting everything in order, but before they led the people in worship they went into the presence of the Lord. That would have been into the inner sanctuary, the Holy Place.

The words that follow in scripture are:
“…a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”

The implication: the priests, before leading others, took time before worship to prepare…their hearts…spending time in in God’s presence.

The result: God’s presence was so strong, so heavy, that the ministers could not stand.

The challenge: Have I spent enough time in God’s presence to recognize His presence? to worship? to lead others?

The formula of putting a service together is something that can become routine: if we do this or add this to the service we could get this reaction. But Continue Reading…

Thankful for a Godly Mother

May 10, 2013 in Family with 0 Comments

At the end of this week we get to celebrate mothers…Sunday is Mother’s Day. As I think back across my life I am bigstock-Spring-flowers-in-vases-isolat-16555646overcome with thanksgiving knowing that I was raised by a Godly mother.

I remember
* hearing my mom praying in her bedroom
* supporting my dad in his full-time ministry position
* always opening her home to people who needed a place of comfort
* showing unconditional love to me and my sister
* standing firm on her convictions
* setting boundaries for us her children, communicating expectations
* finding the place in her home that she does her quiet time
* seeing my mom worship and showing us how to be involved in worship

These days I smile Continue Reading…

Getting the Right People Around the Table

May 7, 2013 in Communication, Leadership with 0 Comments

Get the Right People Around the Table is the title of a short chapter in Bill Hybels’ book, Leadership Axioms.Businessmen around table searching for solution

I have had relatively the same job description for the last 31 years but there is so much more to any job than what is listed in that brief document. With each year, and often each week, I have been faced with tasks, challenges or opportunities that did not fit in the job description yet were ‘mission critical’ for the organization I work for.

For me success has Continue Reading…

Getting the Right Person to Volunteer.

May 2, 2013 in Leadership with 0 Comments

Bigstock Volunteer message and red penc 27133619

Jim Collins says: get the right people on the bus and those people in the right seats on the bus.  That is imperative in business but what about in the volunteer ministry positions in a church.  

It is even more important.
There always seems to be a place where people are needed in the church organization. There always seems to be some minister or ministry leader placing an advertisement for a person to fill a ‘hole.’ Too many times that becomes exactly what happens. We fill the ‘hole’ but with the person who cares about the organization and not necessarily with the person who is passionate about the specific ministry, has the skill to carry out the ministry or even feels called to help. Often they just don’t know how to say ‘no.’
The wrong reasons people say yes: Continue Reading…

Giving Permission to be Honest

April 24, 2013 in Leadership, Spiritual Journey with 0 Comments

Do you have someone in your life who you give permission to be honest with you?

Permission to speak

God gives us great examples and resources for being a leader in His Word. One of the greatest examples of a leader is King David. God must have wanted us to learn much from David as there is a good portion of the Old Testament dedicated to his life.
There are many things we can learn from David about organization, rallying our team, how to seek forgiveness, compassion for family and close colleagues. And recently reading through the events of David’s life I learned the importance of something else: ‘always have someone who you allow to speak honestly with you, to you and about you.’ Continue Reading…
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