Tuesday, October 16, 2012
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Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Six Ways Churches Reverse A Decline - ChristianPost.com
Christian Post Article
(Content Edited for This Post)
The following is a great source of information and insight to be applied to churches of any size or history. - Freddie Steel
Six Ways Churches Reverse a Decline
Thu, Sep. 27, 2012 Posted: 08:52 AM EDT
I have had the wonderful opportunity to research
churches across America, as well as to have literally hundreds of
conversations with church leaders in a variety of settings. What I have
learned is that many churches are plateaued or declined. Many leaders
are frustrated and seeking God's solution to the situation. And a number
of churches exhibit common patterns when they break out of their
numerical slump. Allow me to share six of the more common ways I have
seen churches reverse a decline.
1. They Enter a Time of Corporate Prayer and Fasting.
Sometimes the period is a short duration, such as 24 hours. But in that time, many members of the body agree to pray and fast to seek God's face for His will for His church. In some churches the number of members who participate is relatively small compared to the whole membership. In other situations, a large number may participate. In each case, those who do pray and fast understand that only God can ultimately give the increase to a congregation.
2. They Start New Groups.
Churches that start new small groups, new Sunday school classes, new home groups, new discipleship groups, and a plethora of other possible groups often experience turnaround growth. More often than not, the approach to starting these groups is more strategic than haphazard, and more intentional than incidental.
3. They Start New Worship Services.
These worship services may be on Sunday morning, but they could be on other days and times as well. They could be new campuses or new venues. Like those that start new groups, many of the breakout churches strategically and intentionally make the starting of new worship services a vital part of the present and future of the congregation.
4. They Emphasize the Power of Inviting.
The pastor emphasizes it from the pulpit. Printed and web information constantly reminds members to invite others. The leadership of the church seeks to make the act of inviting others part of the DNA of the congregation.
5. They Emphasize the Importance of Groups Growing.
Not only do breakout churches place a high priority of creating new groups, they often emphasize the importance of the groups themselves growing. Leaders attempt to instill a Great Commission mindset not only for the church as a whole, but also for each group individually.
6. They Truly Serve the Community.
Many churches break their cycles of decline or plateau by providing means for members to serve the community. This service is far more than inviting persons to come to the church facilities. It involves such activities as painting public school classrooms, resourcing indigent school children, providing free refreshments at community events, and being a force for mobilization to meet needs expressed by community leaders.
These six breakout suggestions are not some quick-fix formula to reverse decline. Inherent in each of them are changes in mindsets and attitudes. Some churches have succeeded by implementing only one of them. Others have successfully done all of them and even more.
Indeed you can help both the readers and me by sharing other breakout approaches your church has used. Your response may very well make the difference in the life of a church and thus the lives of many people.
1. They Enter a Time of Corporate Prayer and Fasting.
Sometimes the period is a short duration, such as 24 hours. But in that time, many members of the body agree to pray and fast to seek God's face for His will for His church. In some churches the number of members who participate is relatively small compared to the whole membership. In other situations, a large number may participate. In each case, those who do pray and fast understand that only God can ultimately give the increase to a congregation.
2. They Start New Groups.
Churches that start new small groups, new Sunday school classes, new home groups, new discipleship groups, and a plethora of other possible groups often experience turnaround growth. More often than not, the approach to starting these groups is more strategic than haphazard, and more intentional than incidental.
3. They Start New Worship Services.
These worship services may be on Sunday morning, but they could be on other days and times as well. They could be new campuses or new venues. Like those that start new groups, many of the breakout churches strategically and intentionally make the starting of new worship services a vital part of the present and future of the congregation.
4. They Emphasize the Power of Inviting.
The pastor emphasizes it from the pulpit. Printed and web information constantly reminds members to invite others. The leadership of the church seeks to make the act of inviting others part of the DNA of the congregation.
5. They Emphasize the Importance of Groups Growing.
Not only do breakout churches place a high priority of creating new groups, they often emphasize the importance of the groups themselves growing. Leaders attempt to instill a Great Commission mindset not only for the church as a whole, but also for each group individually.
6. They Truly Serve the Community.
Many churches break their cycles of decline or plateau by providing means for members to serve the community. This service is far more than inviting persons to come to the church facilities. It involves such activities as painting public school classrooms, resourcing indigent school children, providing free refreshments at community events, and being a force for mobilization to meet needs expressed by community leaders.
These six breakout suggestions are not some quick-fix formula to reverse decline. Inherent in each of them are changes in mindsets and attitudes. Some churches have succeeded by implementing only one of them. Others have successfully done all of them and even more.
Indeed you can help both the readers and me by sharing other breakout approaches your church has used. Your response may very well make the difference in the life of a church and thus the lives of many people.
Thom S. Rainer
Copyright © Christianpost.com. All rights reserved.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Finds Room on Dem Platform
Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Finds Room on Dem Platform
This is a very insightful, enlightening article based on solid facts and accurate history records.
This is a very insightful, enlightening article based on solid facts and accurate history records.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
REACHING FOR THE SUMMIT
REACHING FOR THE SUMMIT
I look to the summit of
ministry Everest and recognize familiar faces, my heroes, the previous
generations, who paved a way and a path I have yet to climb.
It will be easier for me
because they went ahead. They are in no wise insignificant or of less
importance to us because they came before and represent the previous moves of
God, leadership roles and positions. Actually,
they inspire awe because their mettle is something seldom seen nowadays.
I look back down the slope
from about mid-way, and there's a generation or two coming after me. I look at
them with the same depth of affection that I do with the generations that came
before me – it’s a sacred brotherhood, fraternity. I am hoping to offer some help, impart inspiration,
maybe some strength from my personal struggles unique to this elevation that I
have experienced along the way.
I hope they don't try to
rush past me. This culture's trends, fads and crush of life screams out for
instant everything. There are real
dangers on these slopes, some they have not stumbled upon as of yet. There are traps and pitfalls along the
way. They cropped up around this
elevation and I can see more ahead from this vantage point – pitfalls, traps
that they can’t see from where they are!
Lord, help them! They just can't afford to rush it or be
impatient. I'm fearful that if they do, and if they are even able to reach the
summit, their time there will be jeopardized because we are conditioned for
each new landing along the way and, for that, there is no shortcut or
substitute.
Young Ministers, let's
link hands with these older, wiser heroes and clasp hands together with a grip
of honor, respect, trust, vulnerability and unity. Let’s create a life-giving environment in the
rigors of these hostile elements of ministry mountains, Everest. We’re reaching!
Bishop Freddie Steel – 04-26-12 © All Rights Reserved
Giving Up?! Good!
Ready to give up? Good!
Those who have been to
this place and are still around to talk about it know the value and benefit
that this terrible / great place brings to our life and ministry.
As I listened to Dr.
Raymond Culpepper’s powerful message presented at the General Assembly this
week, I was particularly moved and touched as Dr. Culpepper paused near the end
to give a timely, prophetic word to those who felt like giving up. It stirred great memories in me of a time
when I felt the same.
You could call it the
‘end of self.’ If that is one means of
learning to deny one’s self, then one can rejoice because it is the
uncontrolled or ill-controlled self that grieves the Holy Spirit and stifles
life and our ministry.
Associated with reaching
this point and place in life or ministry are the wounds and disappointments
that not only knocks the wind out of your sails but goes much deeper to bring
real pain and hurt that makes life hard and successful ministry and leadership
even harder.
If there is anything that
makes this place even harder, it is in being convinced that you have done
something wrong to wind up here and that God is against you. I believe that it is the highly principled
men and women of God who go to this depth of regret or despair because they
will not shrink or diminish the importance of the role they feel they played in
coming here, to this open grave, this open-ended hell and self-torture.
If someone is not highly
principled and governed by this degree of self-management and accountability,
one can more easily (I imagine) work through these upsets, setbacks and tests
of life and ministry and just shove the mental and emotional alarms, threats
and attacks under the carpet and move on to the next assignment.
To understand how God works
and to minimalize the grief these certain seasons bring, one must understand
the operations of the Kingdom of God by referencing the course of life of seed.
I have a belief and a
conviction that every Promise of God, every calling, every gift, talent, grace
or ability will have a season of death in order to enable it to be resurrected
and sustained by the miraculous Power of God rather than by human
efficiency. Let me explain.
Scripture (John 12:24)
says that ‘unless the grain of wheat (seed) falls into the ground and dies, it
abides alone and remains as only one.
But, if it dies (just like Christ, Himself, the Seed of God), it is
resurrected and sustained with God’s Power and His abilities.
I
assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the
earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by
itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich
harvest. (John 12:24)
Additionally, it is,
ultimately, a testing and a trying of one’s faith, as Abraham’s faith was
tested and tried. One will find
himself/herself wrestling with the quandary as to whether or not they really
did hear from God or not. The enemy will
frequently use the line, ‘has God really said?’
You will find yourself
questioning your move or action or step of faith, made only after you were
absolutely certain that it was, indeed, God Who promoted you and sent you.
Just as Christ, when He
was in the grave and it appeared the Promise would not be kept and just like
Lazarus who died and it appeared that Christ had missed the opportunity to heal
him, this hopeless impasse is where you are on the very verge of stepping into
the absolute miraculous provision of God – sustained and resourced by the
supernatural ability of Father God.
Giving up? Go ahead and enter into the rest of God,
ceasing from the mental, emotional and spiritual struggling. If you don’t, you will try to make it in your
own strength and abilities. It is not
time to give up on your ministry, it is time to give up the struggling and
enter into the Promises of God which will produce the results that each and
every Promise holds.
Bishop Freddie Steel - 04-28-12 © All Rights Reserved
Monday, July 23, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
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Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
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Friday, June 15, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
EU to Limit ATM Withdrawals
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Saturday, June 9, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
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Saturday, June 2, 2012
Euro Break-Up Possible
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Friday, June 1, 2012
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Americans Distrusting Banks
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Russian Strike Possible
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End of World?!
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Friday, April 20, 2012
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Iran’s Planned Àttack
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High Pollen!
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Mysterious Booms
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Coup Report
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Prayer and Relief Much Needed!
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Monday, March 19, 2012
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Monday, March 12, 2012
Sermons from my 11th Great Grandfather, Rev. Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York.
Check out "The sermons of Edwin Sandys ..." at http://books.google.com/books/about/The_sermons_of_Edwin_Sandys.html?id=eDhsO5OKTGYC
Monday, March 5, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Leaders are Discovered in the Kitchen
LEADERS ARE DISCOVERED IN THE KITCHEN
What Makes
a Dream Team and a Team a Dream
Bishop
Freddie Steel
02-22-12
THE LAW OF THE LID
Best-selling
author, Rev., Dr. John Maxwell, reveals something in one of his many writings
something called ‘The Law of the Lid.’
The ‘Law of the Lid’ means that you, as a principal leader, or your
organization will go no higher nor move further than the level and degree of
proficiency, ability and excellence of those surrounding you or are operating
in pivotal leadership roles. People in
those vicarious positions will either hold you and an organization back or will
be the fuel and energy to propel you and your organization further.
I
vividly remember one of my first jobs and a lesson learnt about 37 years ago.
You
may remember Burger Queen. If I'm not
mistaken, it merged with or became Burger King some time in the late 70's. I was so proud to have an 'official'
job. I had mowed lawns in our
neighborhood and tried selling newspapers (I think it was called 'Grit') but
THIS was a REAL J-O-B!
I
was very impressed with my two youthful managers. They were energetic, take-charge and focused
young men that helped create their atmosphere - the work environment. During the training days I remember having
finished my hand at either flipping burgers or something like that and, having
completed that task, I stood, waiting for my next assignment. I was waiting for the next 'tell me what to
do' assignment. I call this a
‘hand-holding mentality.
Hand-holding
is when a worker or someone identified as a leader will only function through
the ‘hand-holding’ relationship with their superior without ever being willing
to take on the personal responsibility or personal initiative. Workers are rarely self-starters whereby
leaders by virtue of their placement must be self-starters, people of personal
initiative and owners of responsibility whether it is their own, others or
their organization.
Workers
are as important as leaders. However, if
I had to choose between workers and leaders, I would rather have five
exceptional leaders rather than one hundred workers. If an organization has five exceptional
leaders they will help find, train and raise up workers whereby one hundred
workers, unless trained and equipped, will never multiply their lot but stay at
a state of maintenance.
Now,
back to my Burger Queen story: Picture
this.
The
food-preparation area is buzzing, everyone busy at it, a lot going on. There I stand, waiting for orders. My manager walks over to me with a cleaning
rag in his hand and said, in essence, from now on he never wanted to see or my
hands idle. He said that he always
wanted to see me doing something - find something to do. That would include wiping down counter tops,
taking out the trash, sweeping or mopping the floor, re-stocking the
preparation table - just don't stand waiting to be told what to do next. Now, don't laugh, but THAT incident changed
and fashioned my life, forever!
Honestly!
KINGDOM CONDUCT IN THE KITCHEN
I
remember listening to one of Pastor Bill Hybels's teaching tapes (Willow Creek
Community Church - one of largest in America) describing his process for
identifying new leaders. Each year he
hosts a retreat with his current leaders and those who have been working with
these leaders in their perspective departments.
After
mealtime, Pastor Hybels will make his way over to the sink and begin to wash
dishes. The person who comes to his side
and offers to dry the dishes while he washes them is essentially hired or at
least identified as a leader on his/her way 'up' (though my view of leadership
is servant-ship and has nothing to do with upper eschelons of a
structure). He will scan the room and
look for signs of initiative, self-starters.
When he observes someone digging around looking for the trash bags so
he/she can empty the trash, on their own, without being asked or instructed,
shows up on his radar.
PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION WITH
KINGDOM CONVICTIONS
I
think back of another story, this one was also a teaching tape I listened to
years ago. A long-term and very
successful pastor hired his grandson to join the pastoral staff. The grandson was thrilled to have completed
his training and was anxious to serve alongside his revered grandfather - his
hero.
The
grandson shows up early on Monday morning looking like a million dollars: Nice suit, shoes shined, desk version of his
leather Franklin Planner in hand. He
meets his grandfather in his office and granddad welcomes him and is obviously
excited to begin this new pastoral journey with his grandson.
The
first thing the pastor instructs his grandson to do is to take off the
suit. Granddad informs him that the
gymnasium is in a mess and needs a thorough cleaning in a terrible way. That's not exactly what he signed up for but
the new junior pastor obliges and gets to work on the gym. Not what he had in mind for his first day in
the pastoral ministry, but he did it with a right heart and spirit.
Day
two rolls around and it's pretty much a repeat.
Looking good, meets his granddad/pastor in the office and, once again,
the master pastor instructs his grandson to take off the suit and informs him
that the restrooms in the Christian education wing of the campus was in dire
need of a thorough cleaning. This time,
the grandson just had to speak up and express his confusion explaining to his
granddad that this was not what he had invested all of his time and energy into
pursuing but that it was in order to help pastor and minister to God's people
and serve and support his grandfather's senior pastor's role. Now comes the lesson.
The
wise granddad began to tell his grandson that what he was having him to do was
ministry because what he was doing will affect people and the church in a
positive way and that when you are a leader, you own every detail, personally,
whether it is the empty toilet paper holder in the restroom or snow on the
church sidewalks, everything matters and everything must matter to leaders
because ownership breeds excellence, accountability and stability.
As
it turned out, these menial assignments didn't last just two days but for more
than a year. The wise senior
pastor/granddad wanted to teach his grandson/associate pastor the lesson that
not only is leadership a matter of ownership but leadership is also about being
content with whatever assignment God has given you even if appears to be
humble, irrational, nonsensical or beneath him.
Granddad informed him that when he determined that his grandson had
grown a right heart and a right attitude of gratitude to simply be able to
serve, serve anyone, anywhere without striving to maintain an image or
position, then he would be released to take on more advanced roles and
responsibilities.
Here's
the last illustration and then I will lay out some principles concerning
leadership.
FORTUNE 500 STRATEGIES LEARNED FROM
THE BIBLE
I
read just recently that not long after mega-church pastor Dr. Charles Stanley
went to First Baptist Church of Atlanta someone gave him a copy of the book
'Think and Grow Rich.' Now, hold on just
a minute because it is not what it seems.
Dr. Stanley equates the growth of First Baptist with having read this
book, a book that he says he reads again each and every year.
In
this book, there are guidelines and principles of success that the business and
professional world recognizes, values and enlists with great and fabulous
results. They are never satisfied with
status quo and never, ever blame someone else for the dissatisfaction they hold
for their current plight. They take
ownership of how is should be and what it should be.
When
I was still a single evangelist I started reading Donald Trumps books, as well
as others that are motivational such as Zig Ziggler, Brian Tracy, Os Hllman, Og
Mandino, Dale Carnegie and most anything from Nightingale Conant
Publishers. Reading these books,
especially Donald Trumps, revealed to me that they were utilizing Biblical
principles such as the laws of sowing and reaping and utilizing nothing but
faith-filled declarations and these were working for them even though they were
not Christians. They never permitted
themselves to have any excuse where their future was concerned.
I
simply reasoned it out and said that if these extremely successful people could
be such because they were utilizing Biblical principles and spiritual laws
whether they knew they were or not then I, too, would identify these principles
and engage them without exception.
What
was amazing and what I discovered in Donald Trump's books was that he never
acknowledged a 'no' or an 'it won't work' situation. These phrases meant nothing to him. And, what's more, the books would reveal the
rewards he earned by refusing tolerate excuses from himself or anyone else or
laying blame somewhere else. He took
ownership, personally, of the current condition or circumstances and lived by a
particular mindset.
SOLUTION, THEN SOLUTION, THEN
SOLUTION
Donald
Trump's mindset was or is 'solution driven.'
It kind of works like this.
Whenever
or wherever I find a problem, I own the problem and, will therefore, enact an
immediate solution. Whether it is a
stamped, stack of mail waiting to be mailed by someone, a light bulb burned
out, a torn piece of carpet, a wet vanity in the bathroom, I am the solution
for details, great or small, owned by me or not, I will add to my organization
by bringing solutions to whatever need I discover, whenever or wherever I
discover them.
Second, Mr. Trump said that all of us are paid for one
thing and one thing only: the size of
problems he/she solves. The value of any
leader is determined by the number of problems that never show up on their
manager’s radar.
Third, that means that problems should only be handled
one time and one time only. There should
be no such thing as a lingering, open-ended, left-till-later problem. Whenever a problem is met, it belongs to the
conscientious leader who discovered it.
I
was in a fast-food restaurant the other day and saw a poster inviting the
customer to inquire about their company’s fund-raising program. The restaurant was not busy at all at the
time that I asked the young lady waiting on me to tell me about it. She had no idea as to what I was talking
about and referred it to the shift manager.
The manager politely informed me that she had no idea either and that I
could consult the manager when she came in the following day. Here is how a leader would handle that.
A
proper response would be the shift manager telling me that she wasn’t aware of
the program but that if I would wait a few minutes that she would be more than
happy to find what information is available.
If I were the shift manager and couldn’t find any printed materials, I
would then do something like run a quick internet query and, at least, hand the
customer a web site to refer to but I would absolutely, positively never, ever
leave that customer without a solution of some sort.
If
a leader carries anything, a leader carries a smile, a proper attitude and a
determination to be a solution-finder and help at all times. It really is the very same as employing ‘The
Golden Rule.’
I
remember one organization and occasion where I was in leadership and asked one
of the office workers for a zip code. He
informed me that he didn’t know the zip code for that particular city. Shocked at that pall reply, I asked him to get
it for me. I inquired to see if he
really wasn’t aware that zip codes were recorded in the local telephone books
and were easily found through an internet query.
A
leader is somewhat like a chess player who holds several moves forward in their
mind as they maneuver across the board a move at a time. They never see the game or the process as a
single step at a time but they look ahead to several moves or several steps
that lead to the anticipated win.
Fourth, a person who has leadership abilities will never
report a problem without an immediate, 'I-have-taken-charge' and it is
therefore resolved' response. When this
is not the case, the leader is only being a messenger delivering status reports
or updates and should then be paid for being a messenger as opposed to a
leader.
Leaders
are confident and move beyond what is comfortable or safe and assume
responsibility for the permission they have been given and act independently to
move their assignments or their organization forward.
By
the very fact that a person is a leader and functioning in that capacity, they
do not demand permission for every action nor do they use the excuse of needing
permission in order to carry our their responsibilities. A ‘safe’ leader will never take on the responsibility
of making decisions or act independently under the permission and authority
they have been granted. A safe leader
remains, essentially, a messenger who reports on the status quo and feels that
role should be recompensed at the same level as a real leader who has solved
many problems and helped move his organization forward alleviating concerns and
the weight of details for those whom they are serving.
Fifth, leaders will never report or reply with: 'I don't know how;' 'I can't find;' 'I don't
know where;' or, 'I didn't try.' Being
paid for solutions, a leader will report with a succinct description of the
problem along with the resolution already enacted.
Every
problem has a solution or solutions and will be the first order once the
problem is discovered. When a leader is
solution-focused or possibility-driven, they think creatively and abjectly for
answers and solutions. In their mind,
they are never boxed in or left without some avenue of resolve. They meditate, inquire and investigate until
potential resolutions are found.
Sixth, a leader will wears three different hats,
especially so if they are a part of an organization that is comprised of people
who are connected in both the professional and casual, familiar relationships. Leaders will have a leader hat, a friend hat
and a worker hat and they know when to wear which hat. Leaders do not prefer one hat over the other
at any particular time but is versatile in wearing each hat whenever the role
requires.
A
leader will never hold so closely to a leader hat that when the need demands
he/she would be hesitant or unwilling to lay the leader hat aside for the
worker hat. It is the concept and
understanding of servant leadership and the devotion to things greater than our
personal desires or preferences.
For
instance, when you are in an organization where you are working with friends,
you must, essentially, wear your worker/follower hat so that personal feelings
are laid aside for the good of the objectives and organization. In other words, if a leader has to speak
strictly with a fellow-worker who is also a friend, by wearing the proper hat
at the right times one is kept from undue tensions and issues that can clutter,
hinder and hamper an organizations progress.
Consequently, I remind our team on occasion that I can never be offended
because I choose to hold and value the relationship and the mutual assignment
we share above the privilege of being offended so that the work of the Lord may
prosper and move forward.
This
approach helps to keep hurt feelings and even anger out of the equation so the
work of the Kingdom continues unencumbered.
There is nothing too much more debilitating than for bad attitudes and
tensions to permeate a work environment or even a portion of a work
environment. Leaders have the ability to
set their minds and emotions above the fog of conflict and other distractions
and remain focused on the tasks at hand.
This
approach also helps leaders to be used, really used, and even used sacrificially
sometimes with a joy and a confidence that counts the costs a privilege, even
at times when the reasons for the extra demands are not clearly understood.
Seventh, leaders are magnets of enthusiasm. They see the good in the bad. They live by the paradigm that whatever they
are encountering by way of challenges, the ‘cup is half full’ as opposed to
seeing the need as being the ‘cup is half empty.’ They look for the good in everyone and in
everything. Shut doors, unexpected needs
are not stifling but are opportunities for God to manifest His generosity.
A
leader’s enthusiasm brings a calm and a stability to those all around
them. When handling criticism or
complaints, a leader listens empathetically and does not leave the discussion
until they are satisfied that they have succoured and settled the matter more
than adequately.
Leaders
never complain but they inform and they never complain downward or laterally
but they manage discord and similar sentiments with their superiors in a
strategic and proactive way. They cover
one another’s backs and make sure everyone and their team or organization is
always seen in the very best light.
Whenever a leader is disgruntled and goes public or is open about it,
that leader has ceased thinking in terms of the organization and has become
self-focused and preoccupied with their own plight as opposed to the collateral
damage their actions could bring.
Many
years ago I was in a setting where a great and real injustice toward a fellow
staff member took place. It boiled down
to the issue that the leader no longer wanted the other person on staff. From a setting where I was present, the
manager reported to his
‘board’
that the staff person had done something intolerable and painted him in a
terribly false color and light. It was
absolutely a situation of character assignation and I was sickened by it.
Although
I was sickened by it and the terrible grief it caused and the damage it did to
this staff and his family, I knew I had to guard my actions so that my disgust
and deep convictions as to how wrong a thing this was would not hurt or hinder
the organization. I quickly made up my
mind to resign and leave. However, I
also knew that even though I held the deepest of feelings and sentiments about
the occasion, no one but Mary Gaye, the manager and I would ever know it so
that there would be no collateral damage to the organization caused by my
disagreement or departure. I feared God
far too much to become an instrument of conflict that could hinder the Kingdom
of God.
Mary
Gaye and I were always careful to pain the manager in a good light and the
fellow staff member as well who was, in essence, experiencing character
assignation and slander. It always boils
down to the Lord’s Promise and message reminding us that blessed are the makers
and maintainers of peace for they shall be called the children of God.
God
is going to take you and your organization higher and further. Know those who are the closes to you if you
are a leader, manager, team leader or senior pastor. Identify those who have obvious and definite
leadership abilities even if it is determined by way of gifts profiles and
tests. Maintain a healthy, open dialog
deportment that we call HOT: Honest,
Open and Transparent. Encourage
transparency and frank honesty and reward it with goodwill.
Set
the lid and make it higher by bringing alongside you people of greater
abilities or talents and give them the license to make decisions and take
ownership in your presence or in your absence.
Then, reward them appropriately as well as verbally.
If
our organizations are going to excel, we must all have a dream team. When you do, as I do, it’s not a dream but a
thrilling reality.
Bishop
Freddie Steel – LIFE Church of Chicagoland – 6600 W. 127th Street –
Palos Heights, IL 60463 -
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tolerating the Bitter Thing Rather Than Doing The Hard Thing
Tolerating
The Bitter Thing Rather Than Doing The Hard Thing
Grasping the Power
and Potential in Praise
Bishop Freddie Steel
I am home, doing some house cleaning before Mary Gaye, my wife, gets home tonight from music and choir rehearsal - usually around 10:30.
While cleaning, I was praying for the Church Family individually and corporately. I heard the Spirit of the Lord speak to my heart that I was to stop, write this and tell you that you must be willing to do the hard thing rather than tolerating the bitter thing. Here's what that means.
You can wake up in a different world tomorrow, regardless the circumstances surrounding your plight. You can draw God, by His Spirit, into your situation and His Presence will transform and this is how.
First, ingratitude blinds ones eyes to all of the good God has sent our way and perpetuates a dissatisfaction that nothing or no one could fill and fulfill as long as gratitude is absent. I pray that our Church, LIFE Church of Chicagoland, has a 'Revival of Gratitude' that will lead to the next step that also helps to transform your day - immediately.
That Second issue is 'Praise' and that is the hard thing. As long as your mind is overworked with 'What ifs' and your mouth and lips are closed and withholding Praise that is already past due to God (even if He doesn't do one more thing
for us He is worthy of constant praise), the enemy will continue to cloak your mind, your emotions, your home, your workplace, wherever you are with a spirit of heaviness because we have left that gateway into our life unattended.
God comes in and out of every situation via Praise. Can I implore you to find a spot daily where you can get alone with God and let the High Praises of God be released along with gratitude for every good and perfect gift He has sent your
way, especially that of His Son and Salvation.
Find a good, faith-building music source such as a CD, Internet radio, etc. and use that as a catalyst to help set the atmosphere. The anointing on recordings can actually be stirred as you are listening. The messages in the music can cause you to either honor God with praise or build your faith and lift you above the shadows.
Praise Him until all of your emotions rise to the surface - usually in tears. I have 'crawled' to the quiet place with God more than once, feeling that I could not make another step and would begin this process. Usually, God will highlight one song that reaches deep into my soul and touches that pain, the hurt, the bitterness, sorrow or hopelessness and the emotions begin to rise. I have cried gutterall, bitter tears many, many times as I employ this strategy and discipline. Eventually, the bitter tears turn to relief and tears of joy begin to flow and the joy of the Lord that the enemy tried to steal begins to flow again and I feel the Strength of God flow into my heart, mind, perspective. I step back into my circumstances assured by the life-changing power and Presence of God.
Have you been tolerating the bitter things and neglecting to do that 'hard thing?' It will take a push to push through the resistance the enemy has set up against you. But, you were created to be a praiser and a worshiper. That is our occupation and preoccupation. Turn that music up and walk through your home with hands lifted declaring the Promises of God and declaring His authority and Lordship over your life, mind, emotions and circumstances.
Drive the enemy and the darkness from your surroundings! God inhabits the praises of His people! Have an eviction notice party of praise and praise until you know the breakthrough has come! Then, praise Him some more.
Wake up tomorrow and start by thanking God for that cup of coffee, for running water, for eye sight, for another day. Take EVERYthing that you have been fretting over or complaining about and make them objects of praise whether it is your job, children or your future and thank God that they are all secure by His Promises.
Tomorrow, YOU can walk into an entirely different day even if circumstances do not change by doing the hard thing and refusing to tolerate the bitter things.
All our love!
Pastors Freddie and Mary Gaye
LIFE Church of Chicagoland - 6600
W. 127th Street – Palos Heights, IL
60463 – RevFTS@USA.net - www.LifeInChicago.org
02-20-12
Thursday, February 2, 2012
I Met With Jesus A While Today . . .
Mary Gaye and I didn't head off from Church too quickly today for lunch. We lingered a good while, an hour or
hour and a half after service had ended.
We went into the Sanctuary to close up and I saw a tall, young man about 6' 4" come in the large foyer, dressed
in all black , cutoffs, black toboggan and tattoos on his face. His appearance was ominous-looking.
I ran to the back to greet him and with head bowed he said 'I need some place to stay tonight. I'm homeless.'
Usually when someone has learned to work benevolence systems, they will have a prepared a line and some
story that too often are cover ups rather than genuine needs. Sorry, that's just what has happened over the years.
Mike, that's his name, was different. No lines. No stories. Just, 'I need some place to stay tonight. I'm homeless. '
I brought him into the office, telling him we will find something for him. He wasn't talkative at all. I knew the police
would come and give him a ride to a shelter since it was so cold but didn't want to treat him that way. I found a
place for him and got it arranged.
While making the calls, I began to talk to gather a sense of Mike's plight . The last person who really seemed to
care about him had died about a year earlier - his Dad. He told me how it happened - a heart attack in front of
him. He told me that he didn't do drugs or alcohol (and I believe that) but did battle depression. I tried to tell him
that it would get better but there was simply no framework in his mind or emotions to believe.
I called Palos Police and not being sure whether they would be able to help or not, Mary Gaye and I ordered a
taxi for him from Jesse Ryan's 5-Star Taxi and paid for it. The police officer got out and instead of reacting to
his appearance, he told Mike how much he like his tattoos. I could have cried. Mike was actually being treated
with dignity since the time he stepped on our property and this outstanding Palos Police Officer did more of the
same and treated him with such dignity and concern. I was blown away and touched deeply by the officer's
humanity.
Mike came back inside to wait and I got him a seat and Mary Gaye and I listened to more of his story. Mike said
that people don't like to talk to him because of the tattoos on his face. We told him they didn't matter to us and that
we kind of liked them. Mary Gaye is a very classy Lady and I am so, so proud of the love, care, concern and
patience she showed Mike, not being taken aback by his appearance, etc., but reached out to say she really cared.
We were both moved as we heard his story. I told Him that He was important and mattered and that I would take as
much time with him to try to show him that he mattered to us and to God. I asked Him what He thought God thought
of him and he said that he didn't think God thought much of Him, someone who had not been in Church since a child.
I assured Mike that if Jesus was walking in the flesh today that He definitely wouldn't be visiting any of our Churches
but would be hanging out (according to what the Bible says) at the bar, homeless shelters and similar hangouts and
would enjoy hanging with him. He couldn't believe it. I told him that Jesus gets disgusted at our Churches haughty,
snotty self-righteousness that tried to tell people that some are better or more important than others. I told Mike that
I had preached to a house full of people earlier today but that the time I was spending with Him was equally important
to God and to me.
I gave Mike my cell number and asked him to promise to call me and give me an update. My hopes are that he will
contact me and that maybe I can love Jesus more by helping Mike. Remember, Jesus said that in as much as you
do it unto the least of these (and Mike is no wise least in my sight), you did it unto Me.
God bless the Palos Police Officer that responded and treated Mike with such dignity. As the Bible says, they
really are 'servants of God.'
Pray for Mike.
hour and a half after service had ended.
We went into the Sanctuary to close up and I saw a tall, young man about 6' 4" come in the large foyer, dressed
in all black , cutoffs, black toboggan and tattoos on his face. His appearance was ominous-looking.
I ran to the back to greet him and with head bowed he said 'I need some place to stay tonight. I'm homeless.'
Usually when someone has learned to work benevolence systems, they will have a prepared a line and some
story that too often are cover ups rather than genuine needs. Sorry, that's just what has happened over the years.
Mike, that's his name, was different. No lines. No stories. Just, 'I need some place to stay tonight. I'm homeless. '
I brought him into the office, telling him we will find something for him. He wasn't talkative at all. I knew the police
would come and give him a ride to a shelter since it was so cold but didn't want to treat him that way. I found a
place for him and got it arranged.
While making the calls, I began to talk to gather a sense of Mike's plight . The last person who really seemed to
care about him had died about a year earlier - his Dad. He told me how it happened - a heart attack in front of
him. He told me that he didn't do drugs or alcohol (and I believe that) but did battle depression. I tried to tell him
that it would get better but there was simply no framework in his mind or emotions to believe.
I called Palos Police and not being sure whether they would be able to help or not, Mary Gaye and I ordered a
taxi for him from Jesse Ryan's 5-Star Taxi and paid for it. The police officer got out and instead of reacting to
his appearance, he told Mike how much he like his tattoos. I could have cried. Mike was actually being treated
with dignity since the time he stepped on our property and this outstanding Palos Police Officer did more of the
same and treated him with such dignity and concern. I was blown away and touched deeply by the officer's
humanity.
Mike came back inside to wait and I got him a seat and Mary Gaye and I listened to more of his story. Mike said
that people don't like to talk to him because of the tattoos on his face. We told him they didn't matter to us and that
we kind of liked them. Mary Gaye is a very classy Lady and I am so, so proud of the love, care, concern and
patience she showed Mike, not being taken aback by his appearance, etc., but reached out to say she really cared.
We were both moved as we heard his story. I told Him that He was important and mattered and that I would take as
much time with him to try to show him that he mattered to us and to God. I asked Him what He thought God thought
of him and he said that he didn't think God thought much of Him, someone who had not been in Church since a child.
I assured Mike that if Jesus was walking in the flesh today that He definitely wouldn't be visiting any of our Churches
but would be hanging out (according to what the Bible says) at the bar, homeless shelters and similar hangouts and
would enjoy hanging with him. He couldn't believe it. I told him that Jesus gets disgusted at our Churches haughty,
snotty self-righteousness that tried to tell people that some are better or more important than others. I told Mike that
I had preached to a house full of people earlier today but that the time I was spending with Him was equally important
to God and to me.
I gave Mike my cell number and asked him to promise to call me and give me an update. My hopes are that he will
contact me and that maybe I can love Jesus more by helping Mike. Remember, Jesus said that in as much as you
do it unto the least of these (and Mike is no wise least in my sight), you did it unto Me.
God bless the Palos Police Officer that responded and treated Mike with such dignity. As the Bible says, they
really are 'servants of God.'
Pray for Mike.
Stay at It!
It is NOT easy. However, we really have no choice since it is a call that God assigned to us before we were born. Hopefully, this site will contain some opportunities for dialog or some inspiration to stay at it and be glad that we did.