Up until moving to North Carolina almost two years ago from Texas, I had virtually no interest or understanding about NASCAR.  While I have yet to actually go to a race (planning on going to Bristol in August :P), my learning curve has trended upward recently.

In the last two weeks, I have greatly enjoyed:

• Driving a late model stock car with 500 horsepower after “Man Church.”  (only stalled it once)
• Touring the Phoenix Racing Headquarters in Spartanburg with my Music Pastor Carl Setterlind and Steve Barkdoll.  (see pics below)  Also quickly met driver Ryan Newman.
• Having a great lunch with new church members from Rinehart Racing, headquartered here in Asheville.  Rinehart works with both NASCAR & Harley Davidson, producing performance exhaust systems. 

Like anything done at a world-class level, there is always a glossary of terms unfamiliar to the uninitiated.  For my readers’ pleasure (and to help my ignorance), below is a short glossary of NASCAR terms you might hear around the track:

• Rear Clip – the section of the race car that begins at the base of the rear windshield & extends to the rear bumper
• Superspeedway – a racetrack of one mile or more in distance
• Stickers – new tires (because they come with the manufacturer’s stickers on them)
• Pit Road – place where cars are serviced (usually along the front straightaway)
• Back marker – racer bringing up the rear
• Marbles – any loose stuff on the track from trash to tire shavings (they can make the driver lose control of his car)
• P1 – a driver who is leading the race is in P1 or Position 1

Other NASCAR Facts

• NASCAR is big! à 75 million fans in Unites States (32% of those fans are 18-34 years old)
• The first NASCAR race took place on a dirt track at the old Charlotte Speedway in 1949 in front of about 23,000 spectators
• There are 7 members in a NASCAR pit crew
• On straight-aways at 200 MPH, drivers travel 293 feet per second (almost length of football field)
• On turns, NASCAR drivers can experience 3 Gs of force against their bodies (comparable to shuttle astronauts at liftoff)
• Drivers can lose 5-10 pounds in sweat during a race
• Drivers maintain heart rate of 120-150 beats per minute for 3+ hours

Feel educated?  See you @ Bristol!!

1.  Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think about you.

2.  Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

3.  Failure is not final, but failure to change might be.

4.  If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything.  I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.

5.  Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.

6.  **Never mistake activity for achievement.

7.  Talent is God-given.  Be humble.  Fame is man-given.  Be grateful.  Conceit is self-given.  Be careful.

8.  You can’t let praise or criticism get to you.  It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.

9.  You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

10.  Be prepared and be honest.

I was looking at some shocking statistics about pastors recently that reminded me that this profession can be hazardous:

• 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
• 1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to burnout, moral failure or contention in their church.
• 80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role (50% feel so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could!)
• 80% of seminary/Bible school graduates will leave the ministry within the first five years.
• 80% of pastor’s spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
• 80% of adult children of pastors surveyed have had to seek professional help for depression.

While all professions have challenges, it is obvious that there are a number of unique stress factors inherent in the professional ministry.  The fallout when ministers flame-out is big.  What can a pastor do to give himself the best chance of ‘finishing strong?’  Here are a few:

1.  Set Some Boundaries
Because the work of the Pastor is often highly visible, clergy often feel as if their lives are under constant scrutiny and experience a loss of privacy.  Additionally, managing one’s availability often conflicts with a pastor’s desire to be accessible and help hurting people (as well as the critic who expects you to be on call 24/7).

2.  Take Care of Yourself – Spiritually AND Physically
Pastor, if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will!  People may love you and want to help, but you have to do what’s necessary.

Take care of yourself physically.  That means getting enough sleep, regular exercise, eating right and taking a day off.  Most pastors sleep about six hours per night; couldn’t run 4 miles if their lives depended on it; think potluck is a food group; and disobey the Sabbath principle of taking a day off.  Take your vacation time with your family – the church won’t fall apart without you!

Take care of your walk with Jesus!  It doesn’t take long to know there is a big difference between the work you do “for” God and the work God does “in” you.  It is paramount your walk with Jesus be vibrant and fresh.  Your sermon prep time cannot substitute for your personal time spent with Him.  The same Bible study, prayer, meditation, scripture memory that we implore our people to exercise must be true of us.  The stakes are too high. (See earlier stats.) 

Proverbs 4:23 (NASB95)
  Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

3.     Get A Trusted Comrade
70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidante or mentor.  It can be difficult to be transparent and to develop relational closeness with members of the congregation due to fears of exposure or the appearance of favoritism.  Leadership Magazine, Care Givers Forum and Focus on the Family have published a list of organizations that provide a range of support services for clergy and their families.

4.     Cultivate a Thick Skin and a Forgiving Heart
Criticism is part of any leader’s job, regardless of profession.  But for a pastor, criticism can be more of a problem.

• Because of your calling, you tend to ‘live’ ministry.  i.e. – it’s not just a job.
• Because a person’s religious upbringing (or lack of) can sometimes bring out a lot of emotion, these emotions are sometimes spilled out on you.
• Any church has its share of ‘crazies’ as well as legalists.  Crazies can scare you and legalists call any change they don’t like blasphemy (like the lady who said I was ‘desecrating the Temple’ because we started serving coffee in the foyer).

As my prayer coordinator prays for me “Have a backbone of steel and a heart like Jesus.”  Try not to take the criticism personally and definitely don’t hold onto it so long it becomes bitterness.  Learn from the criticism as needed; confront the critic as necessary (2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:10).  Remember though, God called you to lead a congregation, not just take a walk.  Anything that moves ahead faces friction.

God bless you Pastor!

Have you ever left church on Sunday and wondered to yourself, “Why is this such a hectic and unfulfilling experience?”.  I think, if we’re honest, all of us have.  One major reason being that corporate worship and discipleship is something the enemy opposes with gusto.  Another is that we often treat church attendance as a random act of tradition instead of the prioritized spiritual event that it should be.  I guess you could say I am a church veteran to some and a veritable “newbie” to others.  But I have learned from my experiences.  I would love to share my top 10 tips that might make your worship experience, and subsequently God’s reception of your worship, more joyful and stress-free.

A little planning and self-discipline can make the Lord’s day the best day of the week.  It will help you build your house on the rock and will be an anchor for your children as they grow.  Your life will be blessed and your testimony will be Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

• People were SO PUMPED UP at every service!
• It is a privilege to serve with the greatest team of volunteers ever.  Week in and week out, over a thousand volunteers make ministry happen!  Thanks for serving Jesus by serving others.
• It’s also awesome to serve with a fantastic staff who are gifted, godly, and “get the big picture!”  Way to always go the extra mile.
• It was great to see over 7,000 people attend Biltmore Easter weekend. (Yes, that is a record!)
•  Great job on inviting people!  Be sure to invite them back this Sunday too.
• Saw many people step across the line of faith and receive Christ as Savior.  That is always phenomenal!
• Absolutely loved the song “Your Great Name.”
• Very rewarding to see our VERTICAL service provide 5,000 pairs of shoes for people in Haiti.
• Every time I hear “That’s My King” by S. M. Lockridge, it pumps me up.
• So rewarding to hear the prayer and fasting testimonies of how God moved in people’s lives.
• This Sunday we continue the teaching series Irreligious…What God can do that religion can’t.  Read Luke 18:9-16 to prepare.

Biltmore, I love serving as your pastor!  We have seen God do some amazing things in our midst in recent months.  While we celebrate what God has done, there are still SO MANY MORE people in our communities who need Christ.  Let's continue to seek hard after Him because He is the “God of this city.”

As many of you know, Jack Bauer is the fictional character played by Kiefer Sutherland in the hit TV series 24.  Bauer is a key member of the fictional Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU) based in Los Angeles.  Up until a couple of months ago I had never seen the show but had obviously heard of it.  My wife and I rented season 1 (day 1) and I was hooked.  We now record the current season and are playing catch-up on previous seasons as time allows.

While drawing theological applications from a fictional television character definitely has its limits, there are some challenging applications for the follower of Christ.

      
     1.     Commit to the big picture.

Jack focuses on the big picture.  Jack’s final dialogue with Renee in season 7 offers insight into his personality.  “I see fifteen people held hostage on a bus, and everything else goes out the window.  I will do whatever it takes to save them, and I mean whatever it takes…”  Politics aside, it is obvious both in word and personal sacrifice that Jack means what he says.

Paul told the Corinthian church “…I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  I do all things for the sake of the gospel…”  (I Corinthians 9:19-23>>)  Paul laid down his preferences and privileges “so that I may win more.” (v. 19)  Bauer understood his job was to prevent major terrorist attacks on the United States.  The Apostle Paul knew his calling was to glorify God by sharing the gospel with as many people as he could.  It costs Bauer a lot to do his job.  It cost Paul much to fulfill his calling.

It grieves my heart to see how often churches/Christians get so riled up over stuff that ultimately will not matter.  The Bible teaches that two things will last forever – the Word of God and the souls of people.  If a church is preaching the Bible and is winning people to faith in Christ, that is the big picture!  Both are needed.  Paul didn't compromise either and neither do we.  A church that doesn’t preach the Word is apostate, and a church that is not reaching people for Christ is selfish and irrelevant. 

     
     2.     Take action; don’t just talk about it.

One of the most frustrating things for me about 24 is that the ‘leaders’ often are so risk-aversive that they stall out and play it so safe.  Jack, however, will often take calculated risks that usually pay off big!  Jack is a man of action; the others are often men of theory.

I am naturally a conservative person.  By nature, I proceed cautiously, analytically and deliberately.  However, if you want to advance, you have to pull the trigger at some point!  One of the main lessons of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30>>) is about taking risks.  All the characters in the parable have enormous responsibility.  The servant that got rebuked by Jesus could not bring himself to act.  He was a spectator, a bench-warmer.

When God gives you an opportunity - pray hard, listen to godly counsel, do your homework – but at some point you have to act.

     
     3.     Don’t give up!

Jack Bauer endures a lot of pain and discomfort.  He is beat up, tortured, slandered and betrayed.  Sounds a lot like what Jesus said would be part of the Christian’s life.  (2 Timothy 3:12>>; Matthew 10:25>>)

As you walk with Christ, especially as He gives you leadership responsibilities, realize some grief will come your way.  Oftentimes (not always) it is not because you did something wrong but because you are doing something right.  As my prayer coordinator here at Biltmore prays for me “…have a backbone of steel and a heart like Jesus.”

Have a great week,
Bruce

About eight years ago I was on a door-to-door soul winning team in Houston, Texas.  During the course of driving to each neighborhood we visited, I had the opportunity to learn from a godly 70 year old man who was one of our team of three.  As we talked and shared our faith with strangers, I was amazed at his vast knowledge of scripture and how he used it to edify our team and make the good news known.  He could quote entire passages of scripture and knew where so many useful verses were found.  He was truly on intimate terms with the Saviour and every word of his mouth was wise and godly.

One night I decided to ask him how he had gained to much knowledge of the word of God.  I was thinking of some great theology book or the deep writings of Bible scholars through the ages.  But, I was amazed when he told me his only tool had been his Sunday School quarterly.  He then further amazed me by stating that he had read the Bible through every year for 40 years and that for the last 5 years he had read it through twice a year.  That night marked a turning point in my spiritual progress.  I prayed with my whole heart that God would give me great love for His word and knowledge of His word too.  I ask God to produce in me a life immersed in intimacy with Himself and His word.  I asked for grace to make this my own spiritual discipline, reading the Bible through every year.

I am now in my eighth year of reading the Bible through.  A few years I have had a lot of catching up to do in the weeks after Christmas.  But, this practice has born fruit in my life and in my ministry like none other.  There is still a place in my life for periodic intensive Bible studies.  But, on a daily basis, this works for me.  It gives me a chance to receive the “whole counsel of God” .  It keeps my theology straight because it lets scripture interpret scripture as the Holy Spirit applies the word to my heart.  Here is what I do as I read:

The investment of time I spend each day is a reward in itself.  God is keeping His promise to me found in II Timothy 3: 16-17 “ All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  There are many daily reading plans out there.  I just wanted to humbly share a tool that has helped me for many years.  Perhaps God is calling you to take the read the Bible through challenge.  Or, maybe you have been doing this for decades.  Either way, There is a supernatural transformation that occurs when we read the Bible.  It transforms our minds and changes our hearts.  It lets us hear from the heart of God. Let us press on to know Him, together, in His Word.

I am going to go against the grain here and say that guilt can be a good thing…not an enjoyable thing, but an enlightening one.  The problem is that we often don’t let guilt accomplish its work.  We try to smother it, push it down – and it doesn’t work.  It’s very hard to move forward with God when you don’t deal with your past.

There are some psalms that we don’t know exactly what the background is.  But in Psalm 51>>, we know who wrote it and when he wrote it.  if you are not familiar with the story, read 2 Samuel 11>> and 2 Samuel 12>>.  The short version is David committed adultery and then murder trying to cover it up.  A year then passed as David tried to ignore his guilt.  A prophet confronts him and he repents – and we have Psalm 51>>.

The first few verses (vv. 1-4) really show the burden of an unclean conscience.  Your conscience is mentioned 30 times in the New Testament.  It is that moral alarm that tells you when you are outside of God’s boundaries.  Understand your conscience is conditioned by what you know and what you do.  David knew a lot of truth; that’s why in verse 4 he knew he had sinned against God.  But Scripture also teaches your conscience can become callous and even seared (1 Timothy 4:2>>).  That is why ignoring your conscience is dangerous.  (1 Timothy 1:19>>)

Like most things, repentance and faith are the path to a clean conscience. 

If you are a follower of Christ, then you need to take God at His word that your sins are forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7>>)

One of the first songs of the faith I heard after becoming a Christ follower went like this:

“Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. 

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.”

Before your head hits the pillow tonight, do what’s required to have the joy of a clean conscience.

Sleep well!

Every so often I get asked about the title of my Ladies Bible Study called Poiema>>.  The one inquiring usually is asking what the word means and did I make it up.  It affords me a great opportunity to share the meaning of this Greek word and, more importantly, my vision and passion for making disciples of Christ.  The key in doing so is creating a sense of spiritual destiny in their hearts.



The word Poiema is found in Ephesians 2:20:  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  In this translation the word is “workmanship”.  The real meaning is “masterpiece”.

Several things spring up in my heart when I read these words:

You may be asking, “So how can I be certain that God is achieving His greatest glory in my life and work?  What is my part and what is His part in the process?”  The recipe for spiritual growth is found in II Peter 3:18: but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...  To fulfill our destiny in Christ we need two things: knowledge and grace.  Grace is all that God is now free to accomplish in your life because of what Christ has done for you.  It is poured out on those who humble themselves.  (I Peter 5:5>>)  Knowledge is obtained through the Word, His great and precious promises.  In them is everything we need for life and godliness. (II Peter 1: 2-4>>)  The next verse in this passage contains an exhortation to “apply all diligence” to obtain this knowledge and access this grace in order to become actual partakers in the divine nature of Christ.

The great sculptor Michelangelo was asked how he was able to create his masterpiece in marble, The David.  He replied, “I just took my chisel and removed all the material that was not David.”  My friend, this is what God is doing for you.  He is chiseling away everything that is not Jesus about you until He perfects you in heaven, forever.  Submit to Him, and become a masterpiece of God.

Although not exhaustive, below are some scriptural guidelines to use next time you find yourself disagreeing with a fellow believer.

1.  Know the difference between a personal preference and a Biblical conviction.
Everybody has personal preferences about almost anything.  There is nothing wrong with that until we attempt to ‘sanctify’ it as a Biblical conviction.  A Biblical conviction is something in the Bible that is clear-cut, black and white, and within context.

But 90% of the stuff that divides Christians is not major Bible convictions but personal preferences (ex. – leadership styles, musical tastes, etc.).  A few years ago I had a deacon leave the church and when I asked why, the reason he gave was because he didn’t think it was right that some of the teenagers were wearing sandals to church.  (The fact that the man’s daughter wore sandals to church, as well as Jesus, didn’t sway his opinion.)  Needless to say, I didn't chase after him to beg him to stay.

Good Motto:                 On the majors – action

                                    On the minors – acceptance

                                    In all things – love

(Note: see Romans 14:1-12>>)


2.  Show love in the disagreement.
It is very easy to not show love and grace as you try to ‘win’ your argument.  Paul reminds us that if you have a Ph.D. in God and the Bible, be able to explain the mystery of God’s sovereignty and freewill of man, or be the most amazing communicator in the land, it will amount to zero without love.  (1 Corinthians 13:1-2>>)

More than 100 years ago, evangelist D. L. Moody wrote:

“I took up that word Love, and I do not know how many weeks I spent in studying the passages in which it occurs till at last I could not help loving people.  I had been feeding on love so long that I was anxious to do everybody good I came into contact with.  I got full of it.  It ran out of my fingers.  You take up the subject of love in the Bible!  You will get so full of it that all you have to do is open your lips and a flood of the Love of God [will flow] out.”

[as quoted in George Sweeting, Who Said That?  (Chicago: Moody, 1995), 309]


3.  Show deference to Biblical leadership.

Hebrews 13:17 says

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.  (NASB95)

Proper Biblical leadership typically has a much broader perspective than you do.  They usually have a phone book of information, versus your one page of information.  They are also responsible to a broader spectrum of people than you are.  Whether it be a Pastor, elder board, etc., - show deference to their God-ordained calling and responsibility.  I think it was the late Adrian Rogers who said, “If it’s not unbiblical, immoral, illegal, or fattening à follow your leaders.”

This past Sunday was the most rewarding and inspiring Sunday I’ve experienced in 20 years of ministry.  Sure, it had some of the usual suspects of a preacher having ‘a good day’: packed out services, great music, excellent video, decent sermon, even a good offering!   But there was something else that God used that was amazing to watch: authenticity.

 
Even as a fairly large church (5500 in attendance this past Sunday), I feel there is a relatively strong culture of authenticity at Biltmore.  But Sunday seemed to take it to a different level.  We started a theme called ‘Re-Start’>> that will talk about fresh starts in different areas of our lives, like re-start with others, marriage, etc.  Well, Sunday was Re-Start with God (Hosea 6:1-3>>).  The service was moving when a man who is in prison for a murder committed 20 years ago (he has since become a devoted follower of Christ, comes to church each Sunday with our prison ministry, and will be released soon) gave his testimony and sang the “I’m Amazed” Brooklyn Tabernacle song with the choir. 

 
But where things really blasted off was when ‘cardboard testimonies’ were used to show what God had done (or is doing) in people’s lives.  As you can see on the video>>, there was a lot of pain shared.  But God used it mightily as afterward the altar was absolutely flooded with people asking God to do the same in their lives.  It reminded me that this world is dying for believers who are authentic – who are passionate for God, but realize they don’t’ have it all together.  There is something very attractive about authenticity and something very repulsive about hypocrisy (check out Matthew 6:1-4>> and Matthew 7:1-5>> to see how Jesus feels about soul fakeness, or Matthew 23>> for a real beating!)

 
I love the prayer I read from James Mac Donald:

“I want to be real.  I don’t want to force it or fake it or fix it after the fact…I just want to be real.

“I want to operate from truth, not from pressure to please or perform for people.  I don’t want to choose from fear of what others will think of me or of my motives.  I want to choose what I know is right because it’s good and because it pleases the Lord…Help me, God.  I want to be real.

“I have the information mostly.  I know I’m supposed to read and pray, and I know about worship too.  I know I’m supposed to witness and work for the kingdom, and I know about loving others more than myself.  Oh, yeah, I know all the stuff.  I know nearly everything I’m supposed to know, and most of all, I know that knowing is not enough because it doesn’t displace the denial in my heart…Help me, God, I want to be real.

“By real, I mean ready, filled with anticipation when I arrive at Your house to worship You, heartfelt worship.  Yeah, that’s real.

“By real, I mean ready with thanks for the cascade of blessings raining down on my head in this and every moment, genuine gratitude.  Yeah, that’s real.

“By real, I mean an easy choice of obedience to silence my demanding flesh that calls me to choose what you lovingly forbid, obedient holiness.  Yeah, that’s real.

“By real, I mean ready to be generous to people in need, not hoarding or hiding or helping out of guilt.  Yeah, giving freely and continuously.  That’s real for sure…Help me, God.  I want to be real.

“My choice is to be real, to be authentic down to the core of my soul, which will change me forever.  I don’t want to pose; I don’t want to posture.  I don’t need a pat on the head or a slap on the back.  I’m not looking for applause.  I want to be real.”

Be Real today!

The most important responsibility of the Christian leader is to protect and cultivate a godly heart.  Everything in his life and ministry flows from this (Proverbs 4:23).  This becomes more and more challenging as God brings successes into your ministry.  As it has been often stated, “Many more people can handle failure than can handle success.”  My good friend, Dr. Mike Miller, Executive Publisher of NavPress, pointed out a vivid contrast between two successful leaders – Solomon and Paul.

1 King 10 is a record of the amazing success God gave Solomon.  He was both the wisest and richest guy in the world (v. 23).  People from all over were amazed and were giving glory to God (v. 9).  The dude had so much gold he made his throne, cups and plates out of pure gold!  People from all over wanted to hear him speak because of the wisdom God had put into his heart.  And obviously, as the boss, he had a lot of people working for him.  While chapter 10 is a chapter of success, chapter 11 is one of a terrible fall.  As you read 1 Kings 11:1-13, you can’t help but be shocked at what a sudden fall this was!  What irony that the writer of Proverbs 23 would end his life like this, and there is no record in scripture that Solomon ever repented.

Every well known Christian leader started somewhere in obscurity.  Somehow, when success comes, it is so easy to forget to ‘guard your heart.’  We can all talk about friends who no longer serve God for one reason or another.  The better questions to ask are: “How is my heart condition?”  “How am I doing with the Lord spiritually?”  “How do I handle accolades/success/press clippings, etc.?  Do I long for it?”

The second example is a man who kept his heart for God.  Look at 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 and notice that even though Paul had enormous success in ministry, he still was just a “messenger,” an “errand  boy” for Jesus.  There is not one of us that is any more special than the other before God.  But we find ourselves with the challenge of success in ministry.  So the question is “What does that do to you on the inside?”  Does it harden you?  Does it corrupt you?

Billy Graham is a great example to follow in guarding your heart.  “As I look back over the years…I know that my deepest feeling is one of overwhelming gratitude.  I cannot take credit for whatever God has chosen to accomplish through us and our ministry; only God deserves the glory, and we can never thank Him enough for the great things He has done.”

Guard your hearts, my friends, and lead well.

Although there are many, many leadership lessons you learn throughout your life and ministry, here are five key ones that I’ve been thinking about lately.

1.  You are not going to please everybody.

Leadership, by definition, means change.  Even if the road ahead is great progress, change produces uncertainty and a reluctance to part with the past. 

If Jesus, as the sinless Son of God, didn't please everybody (Luke 7:32-35 for example), you won’t either.  While good relational and team-building skills are essential, striving to please everybody will lead to sure disappointment. (Galatians 1:10)  A wise older pastor once said, “The qualifications of a pastor are to have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child, and the hide of a rhinoceros.”  That is true of any leader as well (especially the hide part).

2.  You must have passion about your calling.

Passion can be defined as “an intense emotion that compels action.”  The leader does not have to be a super-emotional type, but he does have to have a fervent zeal for the mission.  If not, how can he expect it from his followers?  The leader’s passion helps create focus, commitment and urgency.  John Kotter, in his book on On What Leaders Really Do, claims that infecting others with a sense of urgency is the difference between effective and ineffective leadership.  Urgency is more important than even the leader’s own work ethic.  “Sooner or later, no matter how hard they push,” writes Kotter, “if others don’t feel the same sense of urgency, the momentum…will die far short of the finish line.”  

3.  Paint the vision continually.

I think it was Andy Stanley who said, ‘Vision leaks, so cast vision often."  Sometimes leaders see the vision so clearly and live with it so often we forget not everyone is like that.  We must continually paint the big picture because it shows people why we do what we do.  It motivates.  You will be hard-pressed to over-communicate your vision.  Bill Hybels wisely said, “You can never underestimate the amount of energy and frequency you must give to visioncasting.  You can never underestimate it.”  (Proverbs 29:18)

Visioncast all the time – in large settings, smaller settings, and one-on-one with your staff and leaders.  This helps in the all-important area of "buy-in."

4.  Give credit to God and those around you.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of playing golf and having dinner with Ed Young, Pastor of Second Baptist Church of Houston (second largest church in America).  I asked him what was the most important leadership lesson he could give a young whippersnapper (at the time :)) like me.  After just a few seconds he said, “Give credit to God and those around you.”  Great wisdom!

For the Christian leader, the first part is hopefully obvious.  The quickest way to have God take His hand off your ministry is to start absorbing the credit that rightfully belongs to God. (2 Chronicles 26:15-16; 1 Corinthians 10:31)  The second part was highlighted wonderfully in Jim Collin’s book Good to Great, with what he calls “Level Five Leaders.”  Instead of being “I-Centric,” they channeled their ego needs away from themselves and into the larger goal.  When interviewed, these leaders talked about others’ contributions.  Collins reported that they would say things like, “I don’t think I can take much credit.  We were blessed with marvelous people."

5.  Stay focused on your core mission.

In C. S. Lewis’ book, The Screwtape Letters, there is correspondence between a senior devil (Screwtape) and his protégé (Wormwood).  In one letter, Screwtape instructs Wormwood in the art of gaining souls for the devil by diverting their energies in multiple directions.  One time, he tells him to entice people to exaggerate their everyday interests and worries, thus making those diverse concerns “the main thing,” and thereby preventing anything of significance from being accomplished. 

If you are a church leader, have you ever studied the growth cycles of churches?  For the overwhelming majority of churches, after a period of growth comes decline.  Have you noticed that the fastest growing churches in the 1980’s are not even on the list in the 1990’s?  The fastest growing in the 1990’s are not on most recent lists?  While there are probably multiple reasons (church structure, facilities, changing demographics, etc.), one theme would always be the fact that the focus was taken off "the main thing."

Leaders must identify the essential goal and continually move toward it.  D. L. Moody said, “Give me a man who says ‘This one thing I do,’ not ‘These fifty I dabble in.’” Although there are often times we must multitask; simplify the issue until the single objective is clear.  As someone put it, “If you choose two rabbits, both will escape.”

Lead well, my friends!  :)

It’s interesting to me that I am writing this book review on attitudes as I sit in an airplane in a weather delay.  I desperately want to get back home and am struggling to keep my attitude Christlike:)

“Lord, Change My Attitude…Before It’s Too Late” by James MacDonald is an awesome book!  I read it a couple of years ago and I recently re-read it.  MacDonald unpacks the poor attitudes the Israelites had that led God to keep them in the wilderness for 40 years.  He deals with five destructive attitudes (complaining, covetousness, criticism, doubting, rebellion), each followed by five Biblical and proper attitudes (thoughtfulness, contentment, love, faith, submission).

If you think this book sounds fluffy and light, think again!  It is very convicting and in-your-face.  It’s about your pattern of thinking – the way you look at life.  If our attitudes are poor, we relegate ourselves to living a dry, lifeless life (a wilderness experience).

Some of my favorite quotes from this book include:

• We choose our attitudes!  (If you don’t believe this, you will never change yours.)
• All the grace and strength you need to experience joy and victory is available to you, but by choosing to complain, by clinging to the idol of a perfect life…you are flushing away the grace of God.
• Thankfulness is the perfect replacement for complaining.
• Covetousness makes you feel dry and thirsty, like a desert.
• Criticism is dwelling upon the perceived faults of another with no view to their good.
• When unforgiveness is in the heart, criticism will be on the lips.
• If you don’t love the people you’re talking to…you are wasting your time. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
• Faith is not a part of the Christian life: it’s the whole thing.
• Proper authority is like an umbrella…it’s a protection.

This book is rich in both exposition and application.  I heartily recommend reading it!

(P.S. – My attitude about the weather flight delay improved writing this blog:))

A Friend of Sinners from Biltmore Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Favorite Golf Courses I’ve Played:

Favorite Restaurants in Asheville:

Favorite Books I’ve Read Recently (no particular order):

Favorite Stores:

Favorite Things I Love About Living in Asheville:

Favorite Movies:

Favorite Things in the Ministry:

“Fifty years ago, I was a first year student at Dallas Theological Seminary.  I was scared, unsure of myself, and fresh out of the Marine Corps.  I did not know much about seminary.

“I remember sitting in chapel, and a minister told me, “When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible person and crushes him.”  I am so proud of everything you are dreaming of and doing that I hope that you remember to leave room for the crushing.

“10 Things Chuck Swindoll Learned in 50ish Years of Ministry:

“2 Corinthians 4:5-7 tells us that we must be willing to leave the familiar methods without disturbing the Biblical message.  We get that backwards.  This was written in the first century, and now we are in the 21st century.  The message stays the same.  Don’t miss the message.  As you alter the methods, don’t mess with the message.

”Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.  You will defend those things that don’t need defended.

“Three Important Observations:

“Five Statements Worth Remembering During Your Next 50 Years of Leadership:

It is great to learn from a man who God has used for 50 years and who wants to bless (and not tear down) the next generation of Pastors and leaders. Lead well my friends.

• Personally being challenged preparing messages for the series ‘Ghost’ about the Holy Spirit.  I think it was Jim Cymbala who said, “My attempt at ministry will be an absolute exercise in futility if I am not expecting and experiencing divine help through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

• “I will live for God wholeheartedly by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (from my prayer journal in January ’09)

• Greatly looking forward to singing Fire Fall Down song @ VERTICAL.

• You will never improve the flesh, but only coax it in line for a day or two.

• There is not one good thing in my flesh.  The flesh attracts sin like a magnet.  See Romans 7:18.

• “I am sorry for my independence and fruitless attempt at living without dependence on the Holy Spirit.  I recommit to living in the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (from my prayer journal in February ’09)

• Galatians 5:16 – “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”  i.e. – it is IMPOSSIBLE to be walking in step with the Spirit and sin at the same time!

• Many Christians have gone to the cross for forgiveness but not Pentecost for power. 

• I’m looking forward to giving away thousands of Bill Bright’s Spirit-Filled Life booklets at this weekend’s services.

A few of the awesome statements from Forgotten God by Francis Chan:

• When was the last time I undeniably saw the Sprit at work in or around me?
• The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do.
• The Holy Spirit works to glorify Christ (John 16:14), yet so many who emphasize the Holy Spirit seem to draw attention to themselves.
• If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered?  Or would it be weak and listless?
• It is easy to use the phrase “God’s will for my life” as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience.  It’s much less demanding to think about God’s will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes.
• When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, He is doing much more than calling us to endure the daily, circumstantial troubles of life…It is a call to radical faith.
• I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn’t be doing this by my own power.  I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through.

Watch the ‘Holy Hangovers’

• 80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastor. 
• 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave ministry within the first five years.

One popular Christian speaker has asked 100,000 Christians: ‘Is there anyone present who has never been depressed?’  He has never had anyone raise their hand in the affirmative.  I recently talked about this with both our church staff as well as about 60 visiting missionaries, because ministers are particularly susceptible to the ‘holy hangover.’  The long hours, highs and lows of life, always having to be ‘on’, spiritual warfare, unexpected criticism, etc. are just a few of the reasons thousands of ministers leave the ministry every year.  (Note – if you are a Senior Pastor, you really need to read the 9/21 and 9/14 blogs by my friend Clayton King>>.

A lot of ‘super spiritual’ people say that it’s ‘carnal’ to even feel really low.  While staying there may be, being there occasionally joins the ranks of some of God’s best (Moses – Numbers 11:15; Jeremiah 20:7, 14).  One of the most instructional characters though is Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-12.  In this story you see two key things God did for Elijah that need to happen when you are down. 

1.  Get Physically Refreshed

Elijah was exhausted.  He’d been fasting, preaching, calling fire down from heaven, challenging a nation to repent and then he walked 100 miles.  The dude was wiped out!  So in verses 5-8 God gave him some food and rest.  He cooked breakfast for him and made him take a nap (my wife calls this the ‘Baptist hour’).

God made you at least dichotomous – your physical does impact your spiritual.  If you don’t get enough sleep, your diet is bad and your exercise is minimal, it will affect your spiritual.  If you are a Christian leader, this truth is for you too.  You are not superman/superwoman, and God never promised to bless your neglect!  Although there are a few lazy Christian leaders, most Christian leaders I know have a deep sense of calling and work very hard.  You have to rest!  The longest command in the Ten Commandments is the one having to do with rest.  God said take a Sabbath…to not do so is sin!  Many ministry leaders run at an unsustainable pace.  We often excuse it by saying, “The devil never takes a day off…why should I?”  The last time I checked the devil isn’t supposed to be our example.

2.  Get Spiritually Refreshed

God got Elijah alone and spoke to him (verses 9, 12).  70% of pastors said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.  This is so dangerous and can lead to being a ‘business associate’ with God rather than a disciple who is walking close with the Savior.  Without a doubt, the number one responsibility a pastor has is to cultivate a vibrant relationship with Christ.  Everything else in his ministry will flow from this.

How long has it been since “The Word of the Lord came” to you?  Not for sermons, lessons, etc., but for you?  It would be a shame if we heard from Twitter, texts, voice mails, Facebook, but didn’t’ get a word from the Lord.  Make sure you are hearing from Him about you each day.  I promise, He is talking.

Pumped About!

• Seeing over 400 children come to AWANA kickoff!  The Word + children = an awesome combination!  (It’s great having to paint additional AWANA circles!)
• Getting to personally watch some of my church members lead people to Christ at last week’s Starting Point
• Upcoming LOVE LOUD service projects around the city of Asheville
• Having HUGE amounts of first-time guests visit our worship services – many of those are hearing the Gospel for the first time
• A staff that all pull in the same direction and have each other’s back
• COLLIDE tonight in the student ministry – I love the fact that our student pastors have both a love for our students and a big burden for students not yet reached for Christ
• The lady who came up to me and said, “Thanks for not playing church and for being real.”  (She came to faith in Christ about 15 minutes later!)
• I love it when I invite people to our church and they say several of our people have also been inviting them.
• Lyrics to “Stronger” by Hillsong
• Seeing a thousand new people in our church from the same time last year
• Our beautiful Fall weather

Perplexed About

• Why one church/pastor would criticize the methods of another church/pastor (unless he has abandoned Biblical doctrine) – Lord, help me to never be that insecure about Your call on my life.
• Why we think spending money we don’t have works for a country when it doesn’t work for a family
• How come at my age I still like LeCrae songs
• Why you can get hundreds of great emails and letters about what God is doing, and fret over the few scathing ones
• Where my golf game has gone!
  
  

Say to the Lord, “Lord, show me – teach me.”  Teachability means you’re open to changing what He reveals to you.

I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan several months ago and loved it!  Well loved it might not be the correct term because it pained me in a lot of areas that needed it.  Some of my favorite quotes were:

• “I believe He (God) wants us to love others so much that we go to extremes to help them.”
• “Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly.  It is what is expected of them, what they believe ‘good Christians’ do, so they go.”
• “…you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin.”
• “Leftovers are not merely inadequate; from God’s point of view (and lest we forget, His is the only one who matters), they’re evil.  Let’s stop calling it a ‘busy schedule’ or ‘bills’ or forgetfulness.’  It’s called evil.  (see Malachi 1:8)”
• “God’s definition of what matters is pretty straightforward.  He measures our lives by how we love.”
• “It is when we stop actively loving Him that we find ourselves restless and gravitating toward other means of fulfillment.”
• “His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words cannot contain Him.  Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?”
• “Jesus’ call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing.  The thought of a person calling himself a ‘Christian’ without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.”
• “Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that really don’t matter.”
• “If a guy were dating my daughter but didn’t want to spend the gas money to come pick her up or refused to buy her dinner because it costs too much, I would question whether he were really in love with her.  In the same way, I question whether many American churchgoers are really in love with God because they are so hesitant to do anything for Him.”

I could go on for awhile.  Needless to say, I think the book is a good read!

• “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”                      
          -John Quincy Adams
• “The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests.”
           -Andrew Jackson
• “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
           -Patrick Henry

Most historians would agree that the 1960’s was a time when rapid cultural change began to occur in our country.  Some would say this was a good thing.  And while some change is always needed, I would say look at the stats now compared to the pre-1960 time → huge increase in divorce, teen suicide, crime, single parents, etc.  The more you look, the more distressed you can get.  What should a Christ-follower do?  Let me give you a couple of things:

Pastor Bruce Frank opened the House of Representatives in prayer- read it here>>

Have a great Independence Day weekend.