Connections Ministry

Chazown [khaw-ZONE]- Part 1- continued

2010-10-12T08:00:00.004-04:00

Seeing Clear to the End- Why You Need a New Kind of Vision

We left off discussing how so many of us just wander through our lives without a true purpose and how, even if we do have a purpose in mind for ourselves, it is so easy to get caught up in life and all its distractions. However, the Bible tells us:

Where there is no vision, the people perish. –Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no CHAZOWN, the people perish.

Cha-ZOWN means dream, revelation, vision.

Having a vision is an essential part of reaching our God potential. And God will reveal that vision to us in His timing. But, we need to be open, ready and seeking it.

One Lone Chazown

Just think about it. “Imagine one man with one dream.” Groeschel exemplifies Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now, he had a vision, a purpose…but not just for himself. His dream significantly changed the lives of ALL Americans and many in the world. Moreover, most of those changes occurred after he died. “What if YOUR life continued to change the world even after you died?” The Apostle Paul, of course, is another great example of someone reaching his God Potential.

“Imagine one disciple. Imagine you.

What is your purpose on this earth?

What had God designed you uniquely to do?

When you get a vision for what God has in mind for your life, things change. A lot.”

Groeschel notes Four Gifts with which we will be blessed once we begin to receive our vision.

Focus- The vision God gives you will focus you. You will know clearly what you are here to do. Thus, you will be able to better discern what you are not to do. There are a million good opportunities. “But good opportunities should not distract from the better and the great.”
Endurance- “In this world you will have trouble.” –John 16:33. Knowing God’s vision for you does not exempt you from tough time and struggle. In fact, in some ways- it invites more. But, the grace that comes with vision will give you the strength and courage to persevere and continue toward the goal.
Peace- When you know who you are and what your purpose is, you are content. You have peace. As noted, you will still have to overcome obstacles. However, you know that you are working hard to overcome those challenges for a reason…for the reason.
Passion- “You show me a person who has no motivation in life, and I‘ll show you a person who has no vision. Every single time.” If you could care less about art, you will see a Van Gogh and think it’s just a painting. If art or art history is your vision, you will see an expression achieved with a certain kind if paint, using and mixing specific colors, employing a certain texture, created in a certain time period, telling a story worth even more than a thousand words. You can and likely want to talk about it for as long as someone will listen. You are passionate about it. It seeps out of you. We all see the same world- but through the our own unique lens, which is formed by our experiences, our beliefs, our interests, our vision and purpose.

“Trust me- His vision for your life is bigger and better than you’ve had the courage to even hope for. Your God is that good. That strong. And He loves you that much.”

“Disturb Us, Lord…”

Who knows what God has for us?! What we could do…What we could be. God knows. And He wants us to know too- so we can glorify Him with the AMAZING things we would do in Him name. But, how do we get there? How do we get from here to there?

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord.” –Sir Francis Drake

“Are you willing to let God disturb you with dreams so big that you don’t know how they’ll be accomplished?”

You’re The Author-

What would your final chapter be? Someone is going to write it…why not you? You are the only one who can write it the way YOU want it to be.

HOMEWORK:

Plan You Epitaph: Write your final chapter the way you want it to be.

When you are lying in your death bed, how will you want to be able to finish the following statements?

The thing that was most important to me was…
People say I stood for…
I made a difference in my world by…
God was glorified because I…
People knew I loved them because…
The reason I expect God to say, "well done” is…

For additional resources- www.chazown.com

Reference:

Groeschel, Craig. Chazown. Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs, CO. 2006, 2010.

His Grace Is Sufficient

2010-10-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Most of us are not proud of our weaknesses. In fact, we often try to hide them from others.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

Who wants to admit falling short in one area or another? It is strength and accomplishment that’s rewarded…not weakness and failure.

"Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:10

The point here is not to celebrate our weaknesses, nor is it an excuse not to try to improve and grow and reach our God potential. BUT, as we are growing from triumph to triumph, from glory to glory, from mature to more mature, we should be content in our weakness and free to acknowledge them. For it is through them, through our weaknesses, through doing and accomplishing things that our broken selves never could that HIS strength becomes evident and that HE is glorified.

-In Him

Mature Like a Child

2010-10-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. -Titus 1:15

Do you ever wonder why some things, certain Biblical things, seem so clear to some and so completely ridiculous to others? Of course, on some level, this is a function of when, where and how the Holy Spirit wants to reveal His truths to us. But, maybe we are not yet ready for certain revelations because our hearts are not pure...because our hearts are not humble enough and open enough and sensitive enough to discern the whisper of the Holy Spirit.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 18:1-4

The more grown up and spiritually mature we want to be, the more child-like our hearts need to grow. It is that purity which will keep us tuned into the Truth.

-In Him

Chazown- Seeing Clear to the End- Why You Need a New Kind of Vision

2010-10-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Chazown [khaw-ZONE]- Part 1

Seeing Clear to the End- Why You Need a New Kind of Vision

“Imagine yourself there, [about to die], lying in bed and reflecting:

- What did my life add up to?

- Did I really matter?

- What did I live for?

- Who will remember me?

- What will they say about me when I am gone?

- Why was it important that I existed?”

As you think about these questions, how do you feel about the answers? Are you happy with them? Satisfied? Or are there/will there be many regrets?

“The decisions you are making today are actually making the bed you will lie in while you wait to die.”

Groeschel talks about how so many people just wander through life, going with the flow, going through the motions, just existing. He modified a phrase from Andy Stanley:

“Everyone ends up somewhere. But few people end up somewhere on purpose.”

But, God is on purpose:

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” -Isaiah 46:10

Groeschel notes that we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

You created my innermost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

“He invites us to seek Him in order to learn what His perfect plan is for our lives. Then, with that plan in mind, we can reach His and our greatest dreams. Anything less is a mistake, a lie, a rip-off.”

While this seems great, it is certainly easier said than done. Life happens. We would probably ALL choose to live our God’s will for us… but so often we get swept up by life, and school and bills and tuition and student loans and marriage and babies and car repairs and family problems and struggles at work and… the next thing you know, you are lying in your death bed wondering what happened to your life. We realize that there are so many things that we could have or should have… We realize that we did not have our fingers on the pulse of the vision God had for our lives. We realize we did not reach our God potential.

Where there is no vision, the people perish. –Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no CHAZOWN, the people perish.

Cha-ZOWN means dream, revelation, vision.

Reference:

Groeschel, Craig. Chazown. Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs, CO. 2006, 2010.

Let Your ‘Yes’ Be Yes

2010-10-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Matthew 5:33-37

How many pinky promises have you made? How often do you have to stress and underscore or swear that you will do something…to your kids, spouse, friends, loved ones? For how many of us is our ‘yes’ really yes and ‘no’ really no?

Jesus calls us to walk in this integrity…so much easier said than done. How easy is it to have something, anything, come up? Or, you’re late. Or, you just don’t feel like doing whatever you said you would…

We put ourselves in situations in which we sacrifice our integrity and peoples’ trust in us. [If we repeatedly don’t do what we say we will do, people will not trust that we will.] That situation creates conflict with what God wants us to be, which separates us for Him.

Let us search ourselves and know ourselves. Think TWICE-or even three times BEFORE making a commitment in the first place. For example, if you know you are exhausted at the end of a workday, still having to do homework and dinner, then seriously consider readily committing to weeknight activities. But, once you have said your ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ really try to stick to it. Of course, there is always room for thoughtful reconsideration and changing your mind. But, these should be exception, not the rule.

Is your ‘yes’ a yes, no or a maybe?...

-In Him

Integrity

2010-09-30T08:00:00.001-04:00

Integrity [noun]

Strong's Complete New Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Pub, 1996, #8537, 8538 -

From Hebrew: tom/tummah- completeness, prosperity (usually moral); innocence, perfection, simplicity, uprightness

www.dictionary.com

adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preservethe integrity of the empire.

One who walk in integrity will be safe,

but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.

Proverbs 28:18

-In Him

Chazown

2010-09-28T08:58:00.003-04:00

Our next book journey will be with author Craig Groeschel. We will walk through his Chazown. [pronounced khaw-ZONE]

Before we go any further, let’s talk about this Hebrew word, Chazown. The ch is not like in English [does not make the sound as in chalk]. The correct sound is make with a hacking-like sound in the back of the throat [like you are hawking and about to spit]….Cha-ZOWN.

Cha-ZOWN means dream, revelation, vision.

In the book, Groeschel uses a spiral symbol for Cha-ZOWN ... “It stands for the energy, focus and creativity that are released when you pursue your personal vision.”

Can you guess what this book is about?...

Reference: Groeschel, Craig. Chazown. Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs, CO. 2006, 2010.

A Quote From John C. Maxwell

2010-09-21T15:18:00.000-04:00

Learn to say 'no' to the good so you can say 'yes' to the best.

-John C. Maxwell

Lowly At Heart

2010-09-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;

for I am gentle and humble at heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

It seems that it should be easy to be gentle and kind…

But it can be so hard

Of course, it is easy when things are our way- when we are feeling good, when everyone is doing what we want and saying what we want to hear and living in a way acceptable to us.

But what happens when we do not agree?

What happens when we are annoyed, angry, frustrated?

What happens when we are being criticized or corrected?

Are we still sweet and gentle and kind and lowly?

Or, do we deviate from that path, making excuses for ourselves?

The only way to tell the truth is to speak with kindness.

Only the words of a loving man can be heard.

~ Henry David Thoreau

In HIM

Judging Others

2010-09-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

For with the judgment you make, you will be judged,

and the measure you give will be the measure you get.- Matthew 7:-2

How often do we focus on others' shortcomings more than our own? How easy is it to disguise our judgment in a holy robe of 'standing up for Christ' or 'speaking the truth' or 'showing tough love to someone?'

True. There are times when the Holy Spirit will nudge us to do that. But- more often than not- we should focus more on the log in our own eye before trying to point out or get out the speck in someone else's.

Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye,

but do not notice the log in your own eye?

Or, how can you say to your neighbor,

‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,

and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

Matthew 7:3-5

Jesus tells us to remove the log in our eye- and THEN we can see clearly to deal with the speck in another's.

But do we ever get all the logs from our eyes?
And, if we do- there will certainly be specks left;
the specks are never completely gone…
At least one speck will ALWAYS be there.

“Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

…When they heard it, they went away one by one…

John 8:7,9

In HIM.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - Conclusion

2010-09-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership [John Maxwell] - Conclusion

Maxwell reminds us that, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” He notes that anything we do in life [most things, surely] involve other people. When ‘other people’ are involved, leadership is necessary in order to take the group, the plan, the vision where it needs to go.

Remember:

· Personnel determine the potential of the organization.

· Relationships determine the morale of the organization.

· Structure determines the size of the organization.

· Vision determines the direction of the organization.

· Leadership determines the success of the organization.

We should take time to know and understand the Laws, apply them to ourselves with honest and regular reflection and evaluation, and teach and share them with others.

The 21 Laws:

1	The Law of the Lid:	Leadership Ability Determines a Person's Level of Effectiveness.
2	The Law of Influence:	The True Measure of Leadership is Influence- Nothing More, Nothing Less
3	The Law Process:	Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day
4	The Law Navigation:	Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course.
5	The Law Addition:	Leaders Add Value By Serving Others
6	The Law Solid Ground:	Trust Is The Foundation Of Leadership
7	The Law Respect:	People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger Than Themselves
8	The Law Intuition:	Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias
9	The Law Magnetism:	Who You Are Is Who You Attract
10	The Law Connection:	Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand.
11	The Law of The Inner Circle:	A Leader’s Potential Is Determined By Those Closest To Him
12	The Law of Empowerment:	Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others
13	The Law of The Picture:	People Do What People See
14	The Law of The Buy In:	People Buy Into The Leader, Then The Vision
15	The Law of Victory:	Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win
16	The Law of The Big Mo:	Momentum Is a Leader’s Best Friend
17	The Law of Priorities:	Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment
18	The Law of Sacrifice:	A Leader Must Give Up To Go Up
19	The Law of Timing:	When To Lead Is As Important As What To Do And Where To Go
20	The Law of Explosive Growth:	To Add Growth, Lead Followers; To Multiply, Add Leader
21	The Law of Legacy:	A Leader’s Lasting Value Is Measured By Succession

Happy Leading!!!

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

The WILD Week 1 Teaching Re-Cap

2010-09-14T07:10:00.002-04:00

Wild 1 - Recap from Flamingo Road Church on Vimeo.

Here is a brief, 8 minute summary of Pastor Troy's Week 1 teaching in the WILD series. This link has also been added to the Wild (Week 1) resource materials in iMAX. Leaders should consider showing this recap at the beginning of their Wild group before engaging in the discussion questions. For leaders wishing to download this video, you may do so by CLICKING HERE.

Martin Luther on True Love

2010-09-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

True love is not influenced by the closeness of the friend, by the advantage of his favors, or by the standing of his connections; nor is it influenced by the perverseness of an enemy. It abhors evil, and censures it or flees from it, whether in father or mother, brother or sister, or in any other.

…Real, true love … cleaves to the good, even though found in the worst enemy, and though directly opposing love's desire. Love is no respecter of persons. It is not intimidated by the possible danger its expression might incur. (ibid.)

Martin Luther - ("Second Sunday after Epiphany" from Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. IV [Grand Rapids, MI:BakerBooks, 2007] p. 36). http://www.christian-history.org/love-quotes.html

-In Him

Our Confidence

2010-09-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

…“I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5-6

Pastor Lili so sincerely reminded us this past weekend of God’s love for and faithfulness to us described in Deuteronomy 31:6. We see here in Hebrews that same steadfast dedication God has for His children.

Our God!

All powerful, all knowing;

Creator of everything created,

Maker of everything made,

Director of everything directed

Ruler of the world

Ruler of the universe

Ruler of everything that exists…

THAT GOD is Our God

THAT GOD is our Helper

What can anyone do to us??!!

As we often sing at Flamingo…

“And if our God is for us - Then who can ever stop us?

And if our God is with us - Then what can stand against?…”

…nothing!

-In Him

The Law of Legacy

2010-09-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #21 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Legacy: A Leader’s Lasting Value Is Measured By Succession

Maxwell asks, “What do you want people to say at your funeral?” You can wander through life and let things just happen. Then, they will say whatever they will, based on that. Or, YOU can write that sentence. He notes Clare Booth Luce’s “life sentence,” which is a statement that summarizes your goal and purpose in life. What is yours?

Developing Your Leadership Legacy

Know the legacy you want to leave.

“Most people just accept their lives- they don’t lead them.” Be proactive about how you live.

Live the legacy you want to leave.

“To have credibility as a leader, you must live what you say you believe.”

Choose who will carry your legacy.

“Legacy lives on in people, not things...Too often leaders put their energy into organizations, buildings, systems and other lifeless objesct. But only people live on after we are gone.”

Natural progression to how leaders develop in this area:

· Achievement comes when they do big things by themselves.

· Success comes when they empower followers to do big things for them.

· Significance comes when they develop leaders to do great things with them.

· Legacy comes when they put leaders in position to do great things without them.

Make sure you pass the baton.

“We have made at least a start in discovering the meaning in human life when we plant shade trees under which we know full well we will never sit.” –Elton Trueblood

Applying the Law of Legacy to Your Life

1. What do you want your legacy to be? Depending on where you are in your leadership process, you may or may not know the answer. If you do not know yet, start thinking about it. Consider why you lead. “The idea of legacy is closely related to a person’s sense of purpose in life.” Why are you here? What are your skills? What unique opportunities and experiences do you bring? How can you impact others? Assessing this is not a quick process.

2. Considering the ideas you came up with above, what must change in your life, how you live it, how you conduct yourself to achieve that legacy? Write those changes out? [They may include behavioral changes, character development, education, working methods, relationship building, etc.] Only by changing the way you live will you be able to leave the legacy you want to leave.

3. In whom will you invest to carry out your legacy? Ideally, pick people with greater potential than your own whop will be able to stand on your shoulders and do more than you did. Start investing in them today.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 21- The Law of Legacy. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Are You Salty?

2010-09-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?

It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure piles; they throw it away.

Let anyone with ears to hear listen!

Luke 14:34-35

Do you ever feel like you are not salty? Like your spiritual life and your walk with Christ is bland? After all, most others don’t want to eat bland food. So, how can we be living out and fulfilling our Great Commission if we have no Jesus flavor?

Many times, Christians will mistakenly believe that they are not salty- and thus would be ineffective in doing God’s work in others’ lives and telling them about Jesus. BUT- that is BACKWARD thinking. Actually- doing God’s work in others’ lives and telling them about Jesus is just what will make you salty…and the more we pour Jesus into others the more flavorful we become.

If you are holding back from telling that co-worker or family member or friend or spouse or child or person you have just met about Jesus because you think you are too bland…DO IT…for this will make you salty.

-In Him

How Are We Doing?

2010-09-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angles without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured.

Hebrews 13:1-3

How well are we loving the unlovable? Even tax collectors will love their spouse and children and friends and relatives. But how well are we Christians loving one another as Jesus loved us? Jesus tells us that it is by LOVE, by how we treat others, that others will know we are His. How are we doing with it?

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,

and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you,

for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Luke 14:13-14

Are we helping the poor?

Are we feeding the hungry?

Are we caring for the orphans?

Are we visiting the sick?

Are we submitting to each other?

Are we praying for one another?

Are we taking time to listen to each other, encourage each other and correct each other?

Are we gossiping about each other?

Are we jealous and covetous of one another?

Are we cheating and taking advantage of one another?

How are we doing?

-In Him

The Law of Explosive Growth

2010-08-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #20 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Explosive Growth: To Add Growth, Lead Followers; To Multiply, Add Leaders

Leaders’ Math- “Becoming a leader who develops leaders requires an entirely different focus and attitude from simply attracting and leading followers. It takes a different mindset.” Maxwell talks about a tension a leader can feel between him/herself and followers- derived from the difference between where the followers are and where they should be [something the leader sees before everyone else]. He notes that the way to relieve the tension is to acknowledge the Law of Explosive Growth:

If you develop yourself, you à personal success
If you develop your team, your organization à growth
If you develop leaders, your organization à explosive growth

A Different Focus- Maxwell lists some differences between leaders who attract followers and those who develop leaders

Leaders who attract Followers… Need to be needed
Leaders who develop Leaders… Want to be succeeded

Although having followers can make you feel needed and important, this is a shallow reason to lead, and is based on insecurity. Leading for the sake of the followers and for what you can leave behind as your legacy, what good leaders do, stems from a position of confidence and strength.

Leaders who attract Followers… Develop the bottom 20%
Leaders who develop Leaders… Develop the top 20%

The weaker people are usually those asking for the most help. If you ‘need to be needed,’ then you sill spend your time addressing those issues of the bottom 20%. If you seek out the top 20%, on the other hand, and pour into them, they will be able to handle the rest, and then some.

Leaders who attract Followers… Focus on weaknesses
Leaders who develop Leaders… Focus on strengths

If you are spending you time dealing with the bottom 20%, you are usually dealing with their weaknesses [since they require tour time and attention to help them do their job. If you are developing the top 20%- you are able to focus on and develop strengths.

Leaders who attract Followers… Treat everyone the same
Leaders who develop Leaders… Treat individuals differently

“Leaders who develop leaders give rewards, resources and responsibility based on results. The greater the impact of the leaders, the more opportunities they receive.” It is not so much about everyone getting equal opportunities.”

Leaders who attract Followers… Spend time with others
Leaders who develop Leaders… Invest time in others

True- this takes more time and energy in many ways, but it pays huge dividends.

Leaders who attract Followers… Grow by addition
Leaders who develop Leaders… Grow by multiplication

See picture

The Challenge Of Leading Leaders

Leaders are hard to find- “most people are followers; some are producers; few are leaders…leaders are like eagles, they don’t flock.”
Leaders are hard to gather- Leaders want to find their own way…make their own rules. If you want to gather leaders, you have to provide an environment for them to be able to thrive.
Leaders are hard to keep- It is even harder to keep them than it is to find and gather them. “The only way to keep leaders is to become a better leader yourself,” so that you can keep adding value to them.

“Leadership development compounds. The more you invest in people and the longer you do it, the greater the growth and the higher the return.”

Applying the Law of Explosive Growth to Your Life

1. Identify your current stage of leadership development

Stage 1- Developing yourself
Stage 2- Developing your team
Stage 3- Developing leaders

To help you decide- note specific actions you have taken for each step. If you are not developing leaders, why not? What steps can you take to start?

2. What are you doing to find and gather leaders? What places do you go, events you attend, networks you access to accomplish this? How do you then follow through to the next step of realizing this?

3. What are you doing to gather and hold leaders? In other words, what are you doing to become a better leader yourself? How are you adding value to and helping to grow them?

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 20- The Law of Explosive Growth. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

The Living Word

2010-08-27T21:03:00.001-04:00

I am now making my words in your mouth a fire and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them. -Jeremiah 5:14

How powerful is the Word. It is alive and it speaks to us. It convicts us and loves us. It corrects us and encourages. What an amazing thing that God has given us this blueprint. But not just a bunch of words on paper, limited to one place, one time, one people. This is Him, on our shoulder, in our mind…carried to our heart by the Holy Spirit. We have a way!

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides the soul from the spirit, joints from the marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. -Hebrews 4:12

You Are A Leader If-

2010-08-26T13:43:00.002-04:00

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

John Quincy Adams

2010-08-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Law #19 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Timing: When To Lead Is As Important As What To Do And Where To Go

Maxwell notes that, “Timing is Everything… When to lead is as important as where to go.”

Every time a leader makes a move, there are really only 4 outcomes:

1. The wrong action at the wrong time à DISASTER.

2. The right action at the wrong time à RESISTANCE. “If a leader repeatedly shows poor judgment, even in the little things, people start to think that having him as the leader is the real mistake.” Good leadership timing requires:

Understanding- Do you have a firm grasp on the situation?
Maturity- Are your motives right?
Confidence- Do you believe in what you are doing?
Decisiveness- Can you initiate action with confidence and win people’s trust?
Experience- Have you drawn upon wisdom from others to inform your strategy?
Intuition- Have you taken into account intangibles such as momentum and morale?
Preparation- Have you done everything you must to set up your team for success?

3. The wrong action at the right time à MISTAKE. People who are natural entrepreneurial usually have a good sense of timing. However, they must also know which is the best move to make is at that time.

4. The right action at the right time à SUCCESS. “When the right leader and the right timing come together, incredible things happen.”

“When the stakes are high, the consequences of the Law of Timing are dramatic and immediate…Reading a situation and knowing what to do are not enough to make you succeed in leadership…you must pay attention to timing.”

Applying the Law of Timing to Your Life

1. Does timing play an important role in your strategy as a leader? Review the major actions you have initiated in the recent past and assess how much attention you have given to timing.

2. Spend time analyzing recent failed initiatives for your team/organization to determine if they were secondary to wrong action or wrong timing. To guide you, answer the following questions:

What was the goal of the initiative?
Who was responsible for leading it?
What factors were considered during planning?
Whose experience did the strategy draw upon?
What was the condition or temperature of the organization at time of launch?
What were the market conditions?
What “leverage” was available and being used?
What factors were working against it?
Might the initiative have been more successful if launched earlier or later?
Why did the initiative ultimately fail?

3. As you consider future plans, consider the list of factors to prepare for the timing [#2 in above section].

“Only the right action at the right time will bring success to your team.”

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 19- The Law of Timing. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Flamingo Needs Your Pet Photos!

2010-08-23T23:06:00.002-04:00

They say that pets often resemble their owners. Do you have a cat, bird, or dog? Pastor Troy's new teaching series, "The Wild", will be launching on September 11th and 12th. We are collecting photos of pets and their owners. These photos will be shown before and after our church service on the large screens at all our campuses. We want to get as many photos from our leaders as possible. Accentuate the similarities of you and your pet! Funny pet photo? Send those too. Please email your photos as soon as possible to Photos@flamingoroad.org. Your photos may be used as part of this new teaching series or in a promo video. Invite your Connect Group members to email their photos as well, but we must send these quickly. Thanks for your help! Can't wait to see your photos!

As You Go To The Place Of Prayer

2010-08-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Acts 16 describes the account of Paul and Silas being publically flogged and arrested and thrown into prison. As Pastor Troy pointed out last week, the first verse telling the story notes what they were doing when they met their misfortune…

“One day, as we were going to the place of prayer…”

Acts 16:16

And this is usually the rule…not the exception.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy

John 10:10

Whenever we are moving toward God, Satan wants to trip us up. He knows that Jesus gives us abundant life [John 10:10]. Thus, anytime we even take a baby-step in Jesus’ direction, Satan will somehow try to publically flog and jail us. Attacks will come. We need to be prepared…with the armor of God [Ephesians 6:11].

So, as you go to the place of prayer, as you go anywhere,

put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness,

the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:13-17

-In Him

If…Then…

2010-08-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:9b-11 [emphasis added]

Do you remember learning about “if…then…” statements in school? It is a statement of condition and consequence. The ‘then’ will happen- but only after the ‘if’ is done.

When Jesus commands that we “love one another as I have loved you” [John 15:12], what does that mean? He paid the ultimate price for us. He gave up Himself…for us. HE loved us by putting us before Himself. In turn, we should love others in that way…putting others before ourselves.

IF it is God that we want…THEN we will obey His commandments. [John 14:15]

IF we keep His commandments… THEN we will abide in His love. [John 15:10]

IF we are abiding in His love… THEN we are loving others as He loved us. [John 15:12]

IF we are loving in that way… THEN we shall be like a watered garden. [Isaiah 58:6-12]

-In Him

The Law of Sacrifice

2010-08-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #18 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Sacrifice: A Leader Must Give Up To Go Up

Maxwell notes that, while every person may have a different ‘why’ which motivates him/her to step forward and lead others, one thing every leader will have to do is make sacrifices. He notes a common misconception that people ‘at the top’ just get to enjoy all the power and perks that come with the position, but they don’t consider what those people had to give up to get there…and what they continually give up to stay there.

“If you desire to become the best leader you can be, then you need to be willing to make sacrifices in order to lead well.”

Some things to know about the Law of Sacrifice

1. There is no success without sacrifice. “Every person who has achieved anything in life has made sacrifices to do so…regardless of profession.” Ralph Waldo Emerson: “For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for everything you gain, you lose something.” This includes sacrificing many good things.

2. Leaders are often asked to give up more than others. Leaders must be willing to put others ahead of themselves and give up more than the people they lead. - [see picture above, from Maxwell, p 233]

3. You must keep giving up to stay up. Leaders face a problem whenever they think that they have ‘arrived’ and earned the right to stop sacrificing. It is an ongoing process and sacrifice needs to be continual. If a leader gets complacent and no longer wants to sacrifice, S/he will likely not continue to grow.

4. The higher the level of leadership, the greater the sacrifice. Maxwell gives the analogy of an auction. In the beginning, when the price is lower, everyone is bidding. As the price goes up, fewer and fewer people continue to bid. Ultimately, only 1 person is willing to sacrifice the most [in this case, money] for the item. As leaders, the higher we want to go, the more it will cost us.

Applying the Law of Sacrifice to Your Life

1. Give some thought to whether you are willing to sacrifice for the sake of those you lead and for the sake of your mission. Create 2 lists- one with those things you would be willing to give up and the other with those things you are not. Be sure to note where health, marriage, children, friends, finances, etc fit in.

2. Sacrifice usually involves giving up something of value that you do have for something [potentially] more valuable that you don’t have. What do you have to offer? And what is that more valuable thing you want to sacrifice for?

3. Maxwell describes ‘destination disease’ as a dangerous mind set leaders can have that will set them up for ultimate plateaus, set backs and possible failure. It is the idea that you can just sacrifice for a season and then ‘arrive,’ thinking no further sacrifice is necessary to ‘stay at the top.’ Consider areas where you may be in danger of having ‘destination disease.’ Write them down and create a statement of ongoing growth that you can use to motivate you when you find yourself in that situation. [For example, if you think you no longer need to learn after college, create a statement like, “I will make it my practice to learn and grow in one significant area every year.”

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 18- The Law of Sacrifice. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

They That Wait On The Lord

2010-08-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength

They shall mount up with wings like eagles

They shall run and not be weary

They shall walk and never faint.

Isaiah 40:31

How amazing is the eagle!

So royal, above the fray.

Sitting up higher than most, as it spots its prey.

Then, seemingly effortless, it parts its wings up to 7 feet and glides-

smoothly and as light as a feather, it decorates the sky

Its strength and resolve command our admiration.

As its long lifespan represents renewal and longevity, it commands our appreciation.

This is what we become when we wait on Him who renews us.

We glide and we soar.

We are strong and focused.

We have endurance and we persevere.

We are redeemed!

-In Him

The Bread of Adversity

2010-08-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,

yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.

And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left,

your ears shall heat a word behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

– Isaiah 30:20-21

Perhaps, the guidance that we so long for from God comes when we can see and know Him more. Perhaps, it is eating the bread of adversity and drinking the water of affliction that helps us to know Him more. Perhaps we really do need to count it all joy when we face trials, as the Book of James tells us in chapter 1. Trials test our faith, which produces endurance. Through that process, we know our Teacher’s face more and more. The more we know Him, the better we can discern the Holy Spirit- which tells us ‘this is or isn’t the way….go right now…go left.’

Hallelujah!

-In Him

The Law Of Priorities

2010-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #17 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Priorities: Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment

Maxwell discusses here that good leaders need to prioritize on an ongoing basis…always. It is easy to be ‘doing something’…to be ‘busy.’ But, “busyness does not equal productivity.” Thus, it is key for a leader to have priorities so that s/he can decide on the necessary things to do. Prioritizing also forces you to think ahead- always considering what is next- which helps to continue moving toward the vision. Lastly, prioritizing causes us to sometimes do things that are uncomfortable. If something is truly a priority, we will even sometimes do what we don’t want or like to do in order to satisfy it.

“Leaders can’s afford to just think inside the box. Sometimes they need to reinvent the box- or blow it up.” “The leader defines the reality” [Max Dupree]. Maxwell notes that he takes 2 weeks each year to reflect and reevaluate his priorities and goals. He notes if you focus on those things that fall in the top 20% in terms of importance, you will have an 80% return on your effort. [eg if you have 10 people under you, you should devote 80% of your time to the top 2.]

The Three Rs

Maxwell uses these as guidelines to evaluate priorities.

1. What is required? This answers the question- ‘What must I do that nobody can or should do for me?’ “If I’m doing something that’s not necessary, I should eliminate it. If I am doing something that’s necessary but not required of me personally, I need to delegate it.”

2. What gives the greatest return? People are most productive and satisfied when they function within their areas of “natural gifting and strength”. “Leaders should get out of their comfort zone, but stay in their strength zone.” Maxwell uses the following benchmark- if what he is doing can be done 85% as well by someone else, he delegates it [which sometimes requires training someone else]. “Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should di it.”

3. What brings the greatest reward? What gives you the most personal satisfaction? “Life is too short not to do some things you love.” That does not mean that you won’t ever do things you don’t love. But, “passion provides the fuel in a person’s life to keep him going.”

The best leaders seem to be able to get the Law of Priorities to work for them by satisfying multiple priorities with each activity. This actually enables them to increase their focus while reducing their number of actions.”

Applying the Law of Priorities to Your Life

1. You need to get out of your comfort zone if you want to live and work according to your priorities. Can you identify anything in your life that is just ‘not working’? It will require a major change in how you have been doing things. Describe how it is not working and why it is not working. Try to think “outside the box” or “make your own box” to figure out how to solve the problem in a way that is aligned with your priorities. If your life is not aligned with your priorities- you will always have conflict.

2. If you have not done so, write out the answers to the three ‘R’ questions [include family and other priorities- not just career].

a. What is required of me?

b. What gives the greatest return?

c. What brings the greatest reward?

Next, make a list of those things you are doing in your life that don’t ‘solidly’ fit into one of the 3 R’s. You need to delegate or eliminate these things.

3. As the leader of your team, you need to take responsibility for prioritizing and thinking ahead in the area you are directing. Carve out regular, specific time to review priorities on an ongoing basis. It is not enough for you, the leader, to be successful. You have to help your team be successful.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 17- The Law of Priorities. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Forming the Right Team

2010-08-05T22:01:00.003-04:00

Here lies a man who knew how to enlist the service of better men than himself. [Andrew Carnegie’s Tombstone]

Part of effective leadership is placing the right people around us, particularly those who are strong where we are weak.

-In Him

The Law Of The Big Mo

2010-08-03T16:09:00.001-04:00

Law #16 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of The Big Mo: Momentum Is a Leader’s Best Friend

Maxwell explains with this law that, although a leader may have all the right people, passion and tools in place to realize a vision, unless there is actual movement forward in a real way toward that goal, he/she is ‘dead in the water’ as a leader.

“If you can’t get things going, you will not succeed.”

Truths About Momentum

“Why is momentum a leader’s best friend? Many times momentum is the only thing that makes the difference between losing and winning. When you have no momentum, even the simplest tasks seem impossible. Small problems look like insurmountable obstacles. Morale becomes low. ” It is just so hard to get going- like sitting on a swing, completely still- and trying to get started. “On the other hand, when you have momentum on your side, the future looks bright, obstacles appear small, and troubles seem inconsequential.” How easy is it to keep swinging once you are already going nice and high?

1. Momentum is the great exaggerator. When a team is on a roll, everything seems to work out. Every goal seems to be met. Every problem seems easily solved. Conversely, when a team is in a slump, with no momentum, nothing seems to work out. Every obstacle seems huge and difficult to overcome.

2. Momentum makes leaders look better than they are. When leaders have momentum on their side, they seem like geniuses. People are more willing to overlook mistakes and weaknesses. Young leaders often don’t get the credit they deserve…they do not yet have momentum…so, they don’t seem as capable.

3. Momentum helps followers perform better than they are. With strong leadership and momentum, team members will be motivated and inspired to perform at higher levels.

4. Momentum is easier to steer than to start. It is much easier to keep swinging high than it is to start swinging from a still position.

5. Momentum is the most powerful change agent. “Momentum puts victory within reach.” With proper momentum, any kind of change is possible. “People like to get on a winning band wagon.”

6. Momentum is the leader’s responsibility. Creating momentum requires vision, as well as the ability to assemble the right team and motivate others. The leader creates momentum; followers catch it.

7. Momentum begins inside the leader. “You cannot kindle a fire in any other heart until it is burning within your own.” –Eleanor Doan

“Leaders always find a way to make things happen.”

Applying the Law of The Big Mo to Your Life

1. Momemtum begins with the leader. Have you taken responsibility for the momentum in the area of which you are in charge? You must model the attitude and work ethic you would like to see in others.

2. Motivation is key in developing momentum. First, you need to remove any de-motivating factors. Can you identify any environmental/interpersonal issues that may be putting a damper on passion and motivation? Think about how to eliminate or change those into something nurturing.

3. Celebrating accomplishment is also necessary to build momentum. Make it a regular practice to acknowledge and celebrate accomplishments made by your team.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 16- The Law of The Big Mo. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Leadership

2010-07-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Leadership is an invisible strand as mysterious as it is powerful. It pulls and it bonds. It is a catalyst that creates unity out of disorder. Yet, it defies definition. No combination of talents can guarantee it. No process of training can create it where the spark does not exist. The qualities of leadership are universal. They are found in the poor and the rich, the humble and the proud, the common man, and the brilliant thinker; they are qualities that suggest paradox rather than pattern. But wherever they are found, leadership makes things happen. The most precious and intangible quality of leadership is trust: the confidence that the one who leads will act in the best interest of those who follow, the assurance that he will serve the group without sacrificing the rights of the individual. Leadership’s imperative is a ‘sense of rightness,’ knowing when to advance and when to pause, when to criticize and when to praise, how to encourage others to excel. From the leader’s reserves of energy and optimism, his followers draw strength. In his determination and self-confidence, they find inspiration. In the highest sense, leadership is integrity. This command by conscience asserts itself more by commitment and example than by directive. Integrity recognizes external obligation, but it heeds the quiet voice within, rather than the clamor without. - Anonymous

A Godly Leader

2010-07-29T22:30:00.000-04:00

A Godly leader ... finds strength by realizing his weakness
finds authority by being under authority
finds direction by laying down his plans
finds vision by seeing the needs of others
finds credibility by being an example
finds loyalty by expressing compassion
finds honor by being faithful
finds greatness by being a servant
[Roy Lessin]

The Law of Victory

2010-07-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #15 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Victory: Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win

With this law, Maxwell highlights the necessity of the single-minded determination a leader must have to achieve his/her goals and to lead the team to victory. He points out that, despite many differences in leader personalities and leadership styles and organizational goals, the one characteristic of victorious leaders is their unwillingness to accept defeat. They push and work to achieve the objective- because there is no ‘Plan B’.

“When the pressure is on, great leaders are at their best. Whatever is inside them comes to the surface.”

In their view:

Leadership is responsible
Losing is unacceptable
Passion is unquenchable
Creativity is essential
Quitting is unthinkable
Commitment is unquestionable
Victory is inevitable

Three Components of Victory

1. Unity of Vision. Teams succeed only when the team members have a common goal. A team cannot win a championship if the players have different agendas.

2. Diversity of Skills. You can’t have a successful hockey team made up of only goalies…or a successful non-profit with just fund-raisers. You need diversity of skills. Many leaders have a blind spot to this and think that if everyone on the team could just ‘be like him/her,’ then the team will be successful. Recognize how each person contributes with his/her unique skills and show appreciation for him/her. The newer you are to leadership and the stronger your natural leadership skills, the more likely you are to overlook the importance of others on the team---which is a big mistake.

3. A leader dedicated to victory and raising players to their potential. “You’ve got to have great athletes to win, I don’t care who the coach is. You can’t win without good athletes, but you can lose with them. This is where coaching makes the difference.” -Lou Holtz.

You may need to buy time for people to buy in. Do that by focusing on them…adding value to them. This will build your credibility.

Applying the Law of The Buy In to Your Life

1. Take responsibility for the success of the team. Your commitment, passion and dedication must be higher than everyone else’s and unquestioned. Do you currently demonstrate that type of commitment? If not, then examine yourself. If you cannot convince yourself to bring that level of commitment- then of the following is probably true: [a] you are pursuing the wrong vision; [b] you are in the wrong organization; [c] you are not the right leader for the job. – You will have to adjust accordingly.

2. If you are dedicated to leading the team to victory- you must have the right people on the team. Think about the skills necessary to achieve the goals. Write them down. Then, compare those skills to those of your team members. If there is a discrepancy, then you either need to train your team or get new people with the necessary skills.

3. In order to achieve your goals- you must have unity of vision. Do an informal survey to find out what is important to your team members; what do they want to achieve personally and professionally. Ask them to describe the purpose and mission of the team/organization. If there is not a universal understanding of the vision, you need to work on communicating the common goals clearly. Also, work with each team member to show how his/her personal goals can align with the overall team vision.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 15- The Law of Victory. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

More Grace- His Grace is Sufficient...

2010-07-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

"Soar back through all your own experiences. Think of how the Lord has led you in the wilderness and has fed and clothed you every day. How God has borne with your ill manners, and put up with all your murmurings and all your longings after the 'sensual pleasures of Egypt!' Think of how the Lord's grace has been sufficient for you in all your troubles." - Charles H. Spurgeon

Leadership

2010-07-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated.
Fred Price

This August will be Hot, Hot Hot!

2010-07-20T22:27:00.009-04:00

Connect Hot Items from FRC on Vimeo.

This August will be Hot, Hot, Hot with 3 BIG events planned for our Connection Team!

Be sure to put these dates on your calendar!

August 5-6: Leadership Summit at Flamingo Cooper City

August 13: iBar-B-Que at Flamingo Cooper City Campus Courtyard for all Connectors, Connect Group Leaders, and Champions. Great eats and important information that will impact Connections this fall!

August 28 iLEAD Explosion. Awesome leadership training as you continue your leadership growth in the Connection Ministry

Grace

2010-07-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Such as do not grow in grace, decay in grace. There is no standing at a stay in religion, either we go forward or backward; if faith does not grow, unbelief will; if heavenly mindedness doth not grow, covetousness will. A man that doth not increase his stock diminisheth it; if you do not improve your stock of grace, your stock will decay. The angels on Jacob's ladder were either ascending or descending; if you do not ascend in religion, you descend. –Thomas Watson

[21 Laws of Leadership continues next week]

-In Him

Influence

2010-07-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

There have been meetings of only a moment which have left impressions for life ...for eternity. No one can understand that mysterious thing we call ‘influence’ ...yet everyone of us continually exerts influence, either to heal, to bless, to leave marks of beauty; or to wound, to hurt, to poison, to stain other lives. [J.B. Miller]

2010-07-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

- Isaiah - Chapter 30:

¹⁸ Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

19 Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. ²⁰Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. ²¹And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ ²²Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, ‘Away with you!

Despite having to struggle at times- and despite having to learn hard lessons- God will be there for us. He will show us the way we should go. His glory will shine amidst our darkness- which will, in turn, lighten our hearts and our lives. This should make us more faithful- and more trusting...preparing us for the next trila we will face....ever growing closer to Him.

-In Him

The Law Of The Buy In

2010-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #14 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of The Buy In: People Buy Into The Leader, Then The Vision

“The leaders find the dream and then the vision. The people find the leader and then the dream.”

Maxwell points out that many leaders who approach realizing their vision “have it all backward.” We think that if we have a ‘good cause,’ people will automatically buy in and follow. But he notes that this is not how it works…that people do not follow worthy causes- they follow worthy leaders who can promote a cause they can believe in.

You Are The Message: “Every message that people receive is filtered through the messenger.” It is about credibility. If you think the messenger is credible, you will think the message has value.

LEADER	+	VISION	=	RESULT
Don’t Buy In		Don’t Buy In		Get Another Leader
Don’t Buy In		Buy In		Get Another Leader
Buy In		Don’t Buy In		Get Another Vision
Buy In		Buy In		Get Behind The Leader

1. When followers don’t like the leader or the vision, they look for another leader. Maxwell notes that the only time people will follow a leader they don’t like with a vision they don’t believe in is when the leader has some kind of leverage. This could be anything from something extreme, like physical violence, to merely being able to withhold a paycheck…or be the only potential source of a paycheck.

2. When followers don’t like the leader but they do like the vision, they look for another leader. Maxwell gives an example of why pro-sports team coaches are so often replaced. The vision is most always common- win. But players don’t always buy into the leader. So, does the CEO get rid of all the players-or just get a new leader?

3. When followers like the leader but not the vision, they change the vision. In this case. Sometimes the followers work to convince the leader to change the vision…or they may abandon their point of view and adopt the leader’s…or they may reach a compromise. But, they rarely flat out reject the leader.

4. When followers like the leader and the vision, they get behind both. Having a great vision is not enough. As a leader- you must get the team to buy into you…so they will follow and heal realize the goals. This is the price you have to pay.

You may need to buy time for people to buy in. Do that by focusing on them…adding value to them. This will build your credibility.

Applying the Law of The Buy In to Your Life

1. Why do you lead? What is your vision for your leadership and organization? What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish? Write your thoughts in a vision statement. Is this vision worthy of your time and energy? Are you willing to sacrifice for it? If not, then rethink what you are doing and why.

2. What is the level of buy in for the people you lead? List the members or key members of your team. Rate each person’s buy-in [their willingness to follow you – even despite tough times] on a scale from 1-10. If your people do not buy into you, they will not help you realize your vision [even if they love it]. They will find a new leader to lead them.

3. Consider ways you can earn credibility with others. For example- by:

a. Developing a good relationship

b. Being honest, authentic and developing trust

c. Holding yourself to high standards and setting a good example

d. Giving them tools to do their job better

e. Helping them achieve their personal goals

f. Developing them as leaders.

Develop a strategy with each person. If you make your goal to add value to each of them, your credibility will rise rapidly.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 14- The Law of The Buy In. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Boasting That Delights The Lord

2010-07-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

What is it that we should be proud of? Being wealthy is fine enough, fun, opens many doors, may represent your hard work and diligence…but it that what gets you into heaven? Being wise is even better…worth far more than material wealth. Wisdom may help you sin less, but will it forgive and wash away the sins you do commit? What is it that ultimately delights God? Our love of, dependence on, and seeking of HIM. Everything else will follow.

Which Path to Take

2010-07-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

The plans of the mind belong to mortals. But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:1-3

How many times do we plan something in our lives- something as simple as what activity we will do on a given day, to something major like a job or career choice…and it turns out totally differently than we thought?

We have so many of our own thoughts and plans. And we should. God gives us dreams and desires, goals and passions. But, we must remember to always have His will as a sounding board. It certainly is not always easy to discern His will…in fact, it is usually quite difficult initially. That is where seeking Him is key. He WILL give us what we need. And He knows infinitely better than we what is best for us.

Plan on! But - Seek Him. Commit to Him. He will make the path clear.

As it has been said, “He might not show up early, but He will be on time.”

In Him

The Law of The Picture: People Do What People See

2010-07-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #13 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of The Picture: People Do What People See

This law addresses the idea that ‘you need to practice what you preach.’ You can teach and talk all day long, but you need right actions along with that to provide a model for your followers that they can respect and emulate. When leaders show the way with the right actions, their followers copy them and succeed.”

Making The Picture Come Alive

“Great leaders always seem to embody two seemingly disparate qualities. They are both highly visionary and highly practical.”

Mission provides purpose- answering the question, Why?

Vision provides a picture- answering the question, What?

Strategy provides a plan- answering the question How?

This does not mean that leaders have all the answers. Uncertainty is certain. It is a necessary component of change…which is a necessary component of progress and growth. It is actually during times of uncertainly that leadership is most important. And how you model dealing with times of uncertainty will significantly impact your team.

Modeling Insights for Leaders:

1. Followers are always watching what you do. “Followers may doubt what their leaders say, but they usually believe what they do. And they imitate it.

2. It’s easier to teach what’s right than to do what’s right. “It is a challenge to raise your living to the level of your teaching.” But, “nothing is more convincing than people who give good advice and set a good example.”

3. We should work on changing ourselves before trying to improve others. In order to be a credible leader, you do need to practice what you preach. Your standards of excellence need to be highest for yourself. “As a leader, the first person I need to lead is me.”

4. The most valuable gift a leader can give is being a good example. Following are results from a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for a finance company. American workers were asked to select the one trait most important for a person to lead them…

RANK	CHARACTERISTIC	PERCENTAGE
1	Leading by example	26%
2	Strong ethics/morals	19%
3	Knowledge of the business	17%
4	Fairness	14%
5	Overall intelligence/competence	13%
6	Recognition of employees	10%

Applying the Law of The Picture to Your Life

1. The primary example you set for your followers will be in the area of character. This is the area you need to address first before trying to change others. Give yourself a character audit. Make a list of your core values [eg integrity, honesty, hard work, etc]. Next, notes any incident in the past month when you have acted inconsistently with respect to those values. Don’t dismiss anything. No excuses. Work on changing your actions and attitude in these areas.

2. Ask a trusted colleague to watch you for at least 2 weeks and compare what you teach to how you act. Have him/her record the inconsistencies and review them with you at the end of the time you determine. You can ask for clarification, but do not defend yourself. Plan to change either your actions or the philosophy you are teaching- so that they are consistent.

3. What are 3-5 things you wish your current people did better than they do now? List them, and then grade your performance in each. If your numbers are low, then you need to working on improving those qualities/actions in yourself. If your numbers are high, you need to make your example more visible to the team.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 13- The Law of The Picture. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Work For It

2010-07-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
by the vineyard of a stupid person;
and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want, like an armed warrior.
Proverb 24:30-34

God can give us our dreams- and then some
But not without work on our part
We must seek God, that our dreams are of Him- and then go after them.

Imagination + Inspiration + Perspiration = Realization
[Pastor Buddy Cremeans]

-In Him

More Than We Could Ever Imagine

2010-07-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Pastor Troy gave a sermon relatively recently talking about making progress in our lives. If we are not moving forward, we are declining. And, if we are at a plateau- we are just ‘pre-decline.’ Just this past weekend, Pastor Buddy Cremeans, Northway Church- NY, took this a step further with the notion that our imaginations are one of our greatest gifts from God. He challenged us to dream big and set goals for ourselves.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Just consider this verse. God can accomplish far more than we could EVER IMAGINE. That is awesome. How much can you imagine? How big can you dream? Wherever your mind can go in fantasy- God can take your reality even further… And all through His power within US!

“If your not an agent of change, your ate best a steward of something which is going to erode, and why would you want a job if all you’re going to do is perpetuate what previously existed?” -Stephen Friedman

-In Him

The Law of Empowerment

2010-06-29T09:13:00.004-04:00

Law #12 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of Empowerment: Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others
“If leaders want to be successful, they have to be willing to empower others.” Maxwell notes that, in order to effectively lead others, we have to help them reach their potential. This relates to the Law of Addition and adding value. However, a leader has to be secure in order to accomplish this, since empowering others includes giving them some power.

Barriers to Empowerment
“Only empowered people can reach their potential. When a leader can’t or won’t empower others, he creates barriers within the organization that followers cannot overcome. If the barriers remain long enough, then the people give up and stop trying, or they go to another organization where they can realize their potential.”

Why leaders fail to empower others:
1. Desire for Job Security?: “The #1 enemy of empowerment is the fear of losing what we have.” There is a paradox to the Law of Empowerment- “The only way to make yourself indispensable is to make yourself dispensable.”
2. Resistance to Change: As we get older, we tend to resist change. But, “change is the price of progress.” We have to train ourselves to embrace and desire change.
3. Lack of Self-Worth: Self conscious people are usually so focused on themselves that they do not make good leaders. They cannot give power to others because they do feel like they have any themselves.

The Power of Empowerment
• The main ingredient is belief in others. If you believe in others, they will believe in themselves.
• Encouragement from someone you respect is quite empowering. It makes you feel appreciated and validates you, which adds to your self worth. In turn, you regard the person who encouraged you even more.
• “Empowerment is powerful- not only for the person being developed but also for the mentor. Enlarging others makes you larger.”

Applying the Law of Empowerment to Your Life
1. Do you believe in yourself? How do you characterize yourself regarding self worth? Are you confident? Do you have value and feel that you generally have positive things to offer? If you do not, or rate lowly in this area, you will have a hard time with the Law of Empowerment. You need to take steps to add value to yourself and/or explore why you are lacking self worth.
2. Do you believe in others? Make a list of the people in your team [or those closest to you]. Rate each on a scale of 1-10 based on potential [not current ability]. If the ratings are low, you likely have problems believing in others and seeing their potential. Start thinking about each person and his/her positive attributes. What are their greatest strengths and how could those attributes be leveraged to accomplish goals.
3. If your natural inclination is to build and then hold onto power, you will need to transition to become an empowering leader. Start with choosing your best people and set them up for success. Provide training and resources and help them set and accomplish goals. If they fail, help them keep trying until they succeed.

Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 12- The Law of Empowerment. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

The Word Is Alive

2010-06-25T21:42:00.002-04:00

Hebrews Chapter 4:
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

It is truly amazing that we have a Word, a tool, a guide, written more than generations and generations ago- that pertains to us today. A Word that corrected someone 3000 years ago, corrects us today. A Word that encourgaed someone 2000 years ago, encourages us today. A Word that describes a Love that sacrificed His own life for a sinner back then, tells us that that same Love is for us too!

Who else?...What else has this?! This rod and staff which comforts us? This assurance?

Thank You, Lord, for giving us You in this living and active way. Please use this Word, this part of You, to help us to know You! - Amen

In Him.

We Need To Own It

2010-06-24T20:44:00.000-04:00

Openness by the leader paves the way for ownership by the people. Without ownership, changes will be short term. Changing people’s habits and ways of thinking is like writing instructions in the snow during a snowstorm. Every twenty minutes the instructions must be rewritten, unless ownership is given along with instructions. [John Maxwell]

Who Is Our Help?

2010-06-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

I lift up my eyes to the hills- from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, not the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. -Psalm 121

Think about how unsettling and stressful it is to feel afraid….yet how comforting and peaceful it is to feel safe.

It’s like walking along a strange, dark street, all alone- and then noticing a police officer standing up ahead. You feel relieved, safer.

It’s like being at home, alone and hearing a strange noise outside- and then realizing it was a stray cat getting into your garbage can. You feel relieved, safer.

It’s like having an abnormal finding from your last doctor’s visit that requires ‘further testing’- and then finding out that it’s ‘nothing’ and everything is fine. You feel relieved, safer.

It’s like these things – but so much more.
Not only are we protected in this world – but in the next. Our souls are His and He will keep us safe forever.

It is so nice to know that we have, not just any protector, but THE protector.
The One who made the heaven and the earth.

He who keeps us will not slumber. God’s got our back!

-In Him

Is It In The Lord, Or Is It In Vain?

2010-06-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.
-Psalm 127:1-2

Our lives are so busy, so full.
But, with what?
What is it that fills our days?
Why is it that so many of us just don’t have time?
We need to take an inventory of each thing we do- is it of God, or not?

Simple…but not easy.
Unless God is driving, we are going nowhere.
Much of our stress surely comes from trying to juggle things that we are doing outside of God’s will for us…including some church and charity activities. We think that just because the activity is ‘Godly,’ then God must want us to do it….not necessarily. Of course, we need to serve. But what we do and how much of it we do…should be determined by the Holy Spirit. Imagine if we were only doing what God directed us to do. Would we seem to have a little more time? Be a little [a lot] less stressed? Be more productive? Feel more fulfilled?
Simple…but not easy.

-In Him

The Law of The Inner Circle

2010-06-15T08:52:00.003-04:00

Law #11 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law of The Inner Circle: A Leader’s Potential Is Determined By Those Closest To Him

“Nobody does anything great alone.” Leaders do have to have talent and skills. They have to perform. However, “without a good team, they often do not get the opportunity. Their potential is determined by those closest to them.” No one does everything well. Even just considering the 21 Laws in this book- no one person will master them all…which is a main reason why we need a team.

Who should be in your inner circle?
Maxwell notes that most people create inner circles of people. However, most are not strategic about it. We often surround ourselves with people like us. But, truly effective leaders will also incorporates those who are different, who complement them, who are strong where the leader is weak. This needs to be an intentional process. As you consider who should be in your inner circle, ask yourself the following questions. If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of them, then the person you are considering is an excellent candidate.
1. Do they have high influence with others?: Drawing influencers into your inner circle will make you more effective. As you influence them, they will help influence others.

2. Do they bring a complementary gift to the table?: You want members of your inner circle to possess strengths where you are weak.

3. Do they hold a strategic position?: As you influence those in strategic positions, they will directly be able to act on, implement, manage and maintain what is aligned with your vision.

4. Do they add value?: You want “lifters” and not “leaners.”

5. Do they positively impact other inner circle members?: This relates to team chemistry. If your inner circle is going to work together effectively as a team, you need to consider how they interact.

Never stop improving your inner circle.• - No leader starts out with a strong inner circle.
• Usually, upon taking on a new position, a leader has to build the inner circle- and should be intentional about it. .
• The goal is to have an inner circle of high performers who either extend your influence beyond your reach or help you grow and become a better leader.
• However, you should always be reevaluating and looking to add to your circle, as you and your organization grows.

How to increase your capacity and maximize your potential as a leader:
1. Become the best leader you can.
2. Surround yourself with the best leaders you can find.

Applying the Law of The Inner Circle to Your Life
1. Your inner circle members are those whom you seek for advice, turn to for support and rely on to help you get things done. This may be all your employees, if you lead a small staff. List their names. Next to each, write what that person contributes and/or what s/he has the potential to contribute. Identify holes or duplications. Then look for people to fill holes and ways to eliminate duplications. Be ready to challenge current members with potential to rise to your expectations.

2. Great inner circles are made intentionally and should be continually developed:
a. Spend extra time to strategically mentor and develop relationships.
b. Give extra responsibility and place higher expectations.
c. Give more credit when things go well and hold accountable when they don’t.
Make sure you are taking these steps with your inner circle members, as well as with those whom you are considering bringing in.

3. As your staff becomes larger, you will not [be able to] have all of them as part of your inner circle. You will then transition and maintain your inner circle as a ‘team within a team.’ Guidelines for this transition:
a. When your immediate staff is more than 7.
b. When you can no longer directly lead everyone.
c. In a volunteer situation- when others besides paid staff should be in the inner circle.

Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 11- The Law of The Inner Circle. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Things Into Which Angels Long to Look

2010-06-10T21:45:00.003-04:00

We have such a precious gift in the salvation given to us by our Lord. This is a gift about which the great prophets spoke of, at their own ridicule and rejection and peril. A gift that they knew would be so great, so merciful. This is a gift that even the angels wanted to know about...and it has been given to us! ...to any of us who believe Him and believe in Him. So, let's remember just how special we are to be His! We have been so blessed with the most unimaginable gift- into which the angles long to look...

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven- things into which angels long to look!
-1 Peter 1:10-12

The Law of Connection

2010-06-08T16:06:00.001-04:00

Law #10 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law Connection: Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand.

“The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader.” Maxwell notes with this law that, in order for a leader to be effective, s/he needs to connect with people. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Guidelines for Connecting:
1. Connect with yourself: You need to know and have confidence in yourself. People do not want to follow an unsure leader. Be confident and be yourself. If you do not believe in who you are and where you want to lead, work on that first [before doing anything else].
2. Communicate with openness and sincerity: People can sense insincerity.
3. Know your audience: Take time to know their names and find out about their histories. Find out about their dreams/goals. Speak to what they care about.
4. Live your message: This is most important. It builds credibility; hypocrisy weakens it.
5. Go to where they are: You need to adapt to them [not the other way around]. Try to relate to them based on their culture, education, background, etc.
6. Focus on them, not yourself: You will always connect faster when you focus on the other person, in any relationship [business or personal]. Focusing too much on him/herself is the biggest problem of inexperienced speakers and leaders.
7. Believe in them: “It’s one thing to communicate with others because you have something valuable to say, it’s another to communicate with them because they have value. People’s opinion of us has less to do with what they see in us than it does with what we can help them see in themselves.”
8. Offer direction and hope: While, people expect leaders to help them get to where they need to go, giving them hope is what gives a future.

It’s the Leader’s Job
• The effective leader will not only initiate the connection with the employee/team, s/he will also intentionally maintain it. Contrast this to the leader who feels like since it is s/he on top, others need to go to him/her.
• If you want someone on your side, don’t try to convince that person..try to connect with him/her.
• Never underestimate the power of making connections/building relationships. Since, when done sincerely, it will breed loyalty and a strong work ethic. Your vision will become their aspiration.
• “To lead yourself, use your head. To lead others, use your heart.”

Applying the Law of Connection to Your Life
1. Connecting with yourself means knowing and liking yourself. Assess this by measuring your self awareness. Answer the following questions:
a. How would I describe my personality?
b. What is my greatest character strength?
c. What is my greatest character weakness?
d. What is my single greatest asset?
e. What is my single greatest deficit?
f. How well do I relate to others (1-10)?
g. How well so I communicate with others?
h. How likable am I (1-10)?
Now, ask three people who know you well to answer them and compare. If there is a significant difference, then you have a blind spot that you need to overcome. Enlist a mentor or accountability partner to help you become more self aware, value your strengths and deal with your weaknesses.

2. Move through the crowd slowly. Before getting down to business, take a few minutes to connect relationally with your team members/employees. It does take time, but likely just a few minutes [will take more time with new people, as you get to know them]. But the payoff is huge and makes the workplace a better place.

3. Good leaders are good communicators. On a scale of 1-10, how effective a public speaker are you? If lower than an 8, you need to improve. Read books on communication and practice the skills. If you do not have opportunity at work, then volunteer.

Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 10- The Law of Conncection. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

The Living Word

2010-06-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hebrews Chapter 4:
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

This is awesome. Words that were written thousands of years ago are still pertinent today. This Word lives. It is a living, breathing, energy consuming entity that has the humbling Power to touch us in just the way we need to be touched. With this Word, we can always expect a lesson, teaching us what the Lord intends to teach us at any given moment. We should remain ever thankful and meek at the thought of this Word, a dynamic force in the life of those who fear Him.

Thank you, Lord, for loving us so much that you gave us a perpetual Word from you that we have as our standard and marker for the who, what , when, where and why of our lives.

In Him

The Law of Magnetism

2010-06-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Law #9 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law Magnetism: Who You Are Is Who You Attract

We all have some idea of the qualities we’d like to see in the people in our organization. Who we attract is not determined by what we want, but by who we are. Birds of a feather flock together.

Where do they match up?
Attracting others like you does not mean you have no differences. People are all individuals. There will always be differences. However, there are some key areas where you will notice that leaders and followers will have a lot of common ground.
1. Generation: Employees in an organization usually reflect the age/generation of the key leaders.
2. Attitude: This is one of the most contagious qualities a human possesses. Both positive and negative attitudes are contagious. Positive people usually do not want to hang out with negative people. A leader’s team usually reflects this.
3. Background: People feel most comfortable with others with a similar background, socially and in business. This can be so strong that organizations that value diversity have to fight against it and be intentional about embracing certain differences.
4. Values: Whether your values are positive and inspirational [eg John F Kennedy] or evil and oppressive [eg Adolf Hitler], you will attract others with similar values.
5. Energy: Energy level is also usually a common thread among those in an organization…which is actually good- High energy people tend to think low energy people are lazy and low energy people think high energy people are crazy.
6. Giftedness: People are attracted to others whom they value and consider to be stronger than themselves. People gifted in the same areas as you will truly value and appreciate your excellence in those area and will be attracted to you.
7. Leadership Ability: This is similar to the Law of Respect- people naturally follow leaders that are stronger than they.

Going Against the Grain
• For those saying: “I am not crazy about the people I am attracting. Am I stuck in this situation?” – The answer is no. If you are dissatisfied with the leadership ability of your team, look at your leadership ability. As you grow as a leader, you will attract/grow stronger leaders. If you are dissatisfied with the character of your team, examine your own character. Developing a stronger character for yourself will not only help your organization, attracting others with strong character, it will improve all areas of your life.
• For those saying: “I like who I am and the kind of people I attract.” – Great! Now, focus on taking your leadership and organization to the next level. Work at recruiting people different from you to supplement your weaknesses. Otherwise, key issues will go overlooked in your organization. It is possible for a leader to recruit others different from him/her, but they are not the people the leader naturally attracts. Thus, this has to be an intentional process.

Applying the Law of Magnetism to Your Life
1. Make a list of the qualities you would like in the people on your team. Next, for each characteristic, place a check mark next to it if you also possess it, or an X if you do not. If you have many X’s, there is a problem, because the people you describe are not the type who will follow you.
2. Think about why you desire these qualities. Are these qualities that you have or do not have? If there is a disparity between your image of yourself and your team, you may have a self awareness problem. Consult with a trusted friend or colleague to try to identify your blind-spots.
3. Based on who you are attracting, you may need to work on your own leadership and/or character [see above/previous section]. Find mentors who can help you. The mentor should be someone you respect, ideally in the same professional field as you and several steps ahead of you in his/her career.
4. If you are already attracting the kind of people you want, now work on diversifying and finding those different from you to complement your weaknesses. Write a list of your 5 greatest strengths and 5 greatest weaknesses. Start to build a profile of someone you would like on your team based on your weaknesses. Add to the profile the values and attitudes similar to yours, as well as someone who has good leadership potential.

Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 9- The Law of Magnetism. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Feed My Starving Children- Volunteers Needed

2010-05-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

From Mike Markcity-
Attention Connect Group Members, Champions, Leaders, and Guests. This Wednesday, June 2nd, Flamingo will once again be partnering with Feed My Starving Children to prepare and provide meals to Haiti. However, to make this event run smoothly and successfully, we need 10-12 volunteers to help set-up on Tuesday, June 1st from 7pm - 9pm. We will also need 10-12 volunteers to help tear-down after the event on Wednesday, June 2nd from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Volunteers will be working with Feed My Starving Children staff and should meet at Flamingo Road Church in front of theRUSH building.

If you can serve Flamingo and volunteer to help with either of these times, please click on the links below.

Set-up Team (Tuesday, June 1st 7pm - 9pm)
http://www.churchteams.com/Login.asp?oID=6624&sID=flamingo&limit=Y&page=MemberSelectJoin.asp?GroupID=75545&JoinGroupBypassSearchOption=specificgroup

Tear-down Team (Wednesday, June 2nd 6:30pm - 8:30pm)
http://www.churchteams.com/Login.asp?oID=6624&sID=flamingo&limit=Y&page=MemberSelectJoin.asp?GroupID=75546&JoinGroupBypassSearchOption=specificgroup

Thank you for participating in this mission outreach event.

Sponsor A Student To Grow in Christ This Summer

2010-05-29T20:24:00.002-04:00

Please note this week's connect group challenge:

When something is a priority in our lives, we invest in it. We commit to it. We devote our time, effort, energy, thoughts and money to it. Let’s challenge ourselves to invest in saving lost lambs. Take a connect group offering to go toward sponsoring a RUSH camp student. Say a quick prayer here and now and invest. Your connect group leader will offer the collection on behalf of the group- be it $5 or $5000. Something is more than nothing, and something can add up to sponsoring a student and changing his/her life for the Lord. Hallelujah!

you can download the entire study [from NING] that goes with this challenge and use as a tool in your group.

In Him

The Peace That Passes Understanding

2010-05-27T21:12:00.000-04:00

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

When we pray, or supplicate, we are humbly and earnestly petitioning to God. We are to do this for everything. With this comes reliance. As we are earnestly petitioning Him for more and more in our lives, we are increasingly relying on Him. Thus, when we make our requests known to Him in everything, we are relying on him completely. We add thanksgiving to this mix, remembering all He has done and all that He can and will do. This gives us peace. When we are completely reliant on and appreciative of God, we trust Him and that gives us the peace that passes all understanding.

Having peace does not mean that nothing bad will happen. Having this peace comes from trusting God- that He will take care of you- that you have laid all your worries at His feet and He will take control of them. Now, even when bad things happen, you can look at it with a new perspective- of calm, quiet, peace.

The Law of Intuition

2010-05-25T19:10:00.001-04:00

Law #8 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law Intuition: Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

This, Maxwell notes, is the most difficult of the laws to teach. He notes that natural leaders get it instantly, learned leaders get it eventually and non-leaders never get it. The Law of Intuition deals with more than facts…but also many intangibles [eg employee morale, organizational momentum, relational dynamics]. We all possess intuition. Everyone has some level of intuition in the area of his/her strength. This intuition can be nurtured and developed and applied in the area of leadership.

How Leaders Think
Intuition comes from the combination of natural ability [which comes in a person’s area of strength] and learned strengths.
1. Leaders are readers of their situation: Leaders can “smell” things in the organization. They can sense people’s attitudes and chemistry among teams. “Natural ability and learned skills create an informed intuition that makes leadership issues jump out at leaders.
2. Leaders are readers of trends: Followers focus on current goals/tasks; managers focus on efficiency and effectiveness; leaders take a broader view, discerning where the organization has been and where it is going.
3. Leaders are readers of their resources: They focus on mobilizing people and leveraging resources to achieve goals vs relying on their own individual efforts.
4. Leaders are readers of people: This may be the most important intuitive skill for leaders to develop, since any and everything a leader does involves other people.
5. Leaders are readers of themselves: A leader has to be sincere about self-analysis: strengths, weaknesses and mind set. Leaders can hurt their organization when they become self-centered, pessimistic or rigid because they may end up believing that they cannot or should not change.

Three Levels of Leadership
1. Those who naturally understand leadership: These people instinctively understand people and know how to move them from A to B. even as kids, these are the ones leading on the playground
2. Those who can be nurtured to understand leadership: Most people fall into this category. Those in this category usually have good people skills and are teachable. If they work to develop their leadership and intuition, they can.
3. Those who will never understand leadership: Occasionally, there are people with no leadership skills and no interest in developing them.

Applying the Law of Intuition to Your Life
1. You must be willing to trust your intuition. First, determine your strongest natural talent. Second, act on/use that talent. Pay attention to whether and when you know something is ‘right’ or when you are ‘on’. Don your instincts betray you? When? Why? Get to know your intuition ability in areas where you are strong before you develop it further in leadership.
2. Reading people is on of the most important leadership abilities. How would you rate yourself? Can you sense when others are happy, upset, confused, mad? Do you anticipate what others are thinking? You can improve in this area by reading relationship books, engaging others more in conversation and becoming a people watcher.
3. Train yourself to think in terms of mobilizing people and harnessing resources. Imagine how you can accomplish current goals and projects without doing any of the work yourself. You may want to wrist these down and keep them handy:
• Who is the best person to take this on?
• What resources do we possess that can help us?
• What will this take financially?
• How can I encourage my team to achieve success?

Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 8- The Law of Intuition. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Men's Movie Night This Wednesday at Cooper City

2010-05-24T22:15:00.004-04:00

The Band of Brothers Connect Group is hosting a free Men's Movie Night this Wednesday at Flamingo Road Church, Cooper City Campus. The Band of Brothers wanted to provide all Flamingo Men with a night out, some great fellowship, and an awesome movie. They will be providing the movie, popcorn, and soda.

When: Wednesday, May 26th
Where: Flamingo Road Church, Cooper City Campus, 12401 Stirling Rd., Room 126
Time: 7:00pm
Cost: Free

So they can provide appropriate seating and refreshments for all the men who attend, they would greatly appreciate it if men would pre-register their intended attendance by "joining" the event.

Please click the link below to join the Men's Movie Night at Cooper City group and add your information.

Join the Mens Movie Night at Cooper City group

Connect Group Leaders and Champions, please share this information with your group members. It's time for the men at Flamingo to get "fired-up"! For more information about this event, please contact Rudy Bello at rbello57@aol.com or call 954-415-8988.

Flamingo is Seeking Hosts for the Summer

2010-05-23T14:28:00.006-04:00

Do you have an extra room in your home? Can you host a Flamingo Road Church intern this summer?

We are looking for people who have an extra room in their home and could host a visiting college student who will be interning with our Worship Team at Flamingo this summer. The interns are current students at Liberty University, a Christian university in Lynchburg, Va. The student interns will be arriving in South Florida Saturday, May 29th and will returning to Liberty University on August 8th. As a host, you will be providing a room for sleeping accommodations and perhaps an occasional meal. Your host student will be eating most of his/her meals at the church and will be spending considerable time at the church in Flamingo's intern program. If you can assist us by serving as a host, please respond as soon as possible to Danny Prada at prada.danny@yahoo.com or call 954-643-3746.

Giving

2010-05-20T22:04:00.001-04:00

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.-1 Corinthians 16:2

Jesus Christ said more about money than about any other single thing because, when it comes to a man's real nature, money is of first importance. Money is an exact index to a man's true character. All through Scripture there is an intimate correlation between the development of a man's character and how he handles his money.
-Richard C. Halverson

Honoring Your Church Leaders

2010-05-20T06:55:00.003-04:00

(re-publish of the blog-post from Pastor Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv, May 19, 2010)

1 Timothy 5:17 says, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”

Remember, to dishonor is to treat as common or ordinary. To honor is to highly esteem, to build up.

I remember a time when a church asked me to consult with them. For many years, they had been in decline. I was happy to meet with their pastor and elders to hear their story.

Each time the pastor spoke, the elders talked over him and brushed off his comments as meaningless. The longer the meeting carried on, the more obvious their problem became to me.

When they asked me what I thought, I’m sure they expected me to tell them to change the style of their service or add a Saturday night service, etc.

Instead, I told them that their number one problem was that they were dishonoring their pastor. Immediately, the elders became defensive. It wasn’t until I quoted their words and demonstrated what they had done that they realized their lack of honor.

I explained that I didn’t expect God to bless their church until they trusted and believed in the one God had put there to lead them. On the spot, they sincerely repented to their pastor. Four years later, this church has almost doubled in size.

Showing honor obviously isn’t the key to growth. But a lack of honor certainly doesn’t help. As my church honors me as the God-appointed leader, I feel a deeper sense of urgency to hear from God and do what pleases Him.

The 23rd Psalm

2010-05-19T22:15:00.003-04:00

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For Thou are with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they will comfort me.
He prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
He anointeth my head with oil;
My cup runeth over.
Surely, His goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Amen

Thank You, Lord!

Character

2010-05-18T23:25:00.002-04:00

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

How hard is it to do the right thing when everything is going right?
It's like winning a trophy just for participating.
Is this what defines our character?

Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
2 Thessalonians 3:13

-In Him.

[21 Irrefutable Laws to resume next week]

Tearing Down Walls... We Need Your Help!

2010-05-17T21:18:00.002-04:00

A request from Pastor Ricky...
Team: this weekend we have is Commitment weekend and we have a huge response moment involving the bricks that we have around the stages. We need your help the next 3 nights to paint 5 thousand bricks. thats right! 5 thousand bricks. starting TONIGHT, for the next 3 nights we will need the cooperation of your teams to helps us paint bricks. we will meet on the East/Flamingo side of the building (outside on the sidewalk). I need you to invite at lease 8 people from your ministries to come out starting TONIGHT. they will receive instructions once they get there. this is a great team building opportunity for you so make sure you participate at lease one night.

EVERY night for the next 3 nights 6-10pm.

Plse email me: ricky.garcia@flamingoroad.org and let me know who you can get out there. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. thank you

ricky

Important Message from Pastor Lili - Team Meeting May 19th

2010-05-15T14:45:00.001-04:00

Connect Mtg 5/19/10 from FRC on Vimeo.

Connection Team Meeting for all CG Leaders, Champions, Connection Center Connectors, and DOM's this Wednesday, May 19th, 7:00pm in the Cooper City auditorium. This is an opportunity for our S. Florida Connection Team to get together and dream, pray, talk, and collaborate. Learn what is on the radar for our Connect Team this month, this summer and the fall! Please make plans to attend this 1 hour meeting.

A Word From the Lord

2010-05-14T19:19:00.002-04:00

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
-Matthew 11:28-30

Do Not Worry

2010-05-13T21:20:00.003-04:00

How much faith do we really have?
One of the things that most exposes our humanity is the struggle we have not to worry.
How do we truly lay our burdens on Him?
And, how do we balance honestly telling Him our heart and what we fear...with not worrying and not being afraid.
For, as much as we righteously try not to worry...how many of us do?
Some of us may worry more or less than others...
But, who do you know with the faith of even a mustard seed?

In this brokenness- He is glorified
In this weakness- it is His strength that endures.
Thank You!

Matthew Chapter 6:
25‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

-In Him

Influence

2010-05-12T21:48:00.000-04:00

2010-05-11T17:29:00.003-04:00

Celebrate Life Change from Potential Studios on Vimeo.

Texting Through Churchteams

2010-05-08T14:36:00.008-04:00

Tired of having your emails ignored ? Did you know that you can quickly and easily send a text message to every member in your group through Churchteams?

Last weekend, we had to change our meeting location 30 min prior to the meeting. The Challenge: How do we quickly notify all our members, most of whom where still in church service? The Solution: Mass text messaging through Churchteams!

To send a text message to all your members, log into Churchteams, and select your group using the Browse Connect Groups option. Scrolling to the bottom of your list of group members, you will see several hyperlinks. Select the link that says, "Text Message the Group." Simple, huh? Note: Churchteams lets you know how many members are currently registered to receive text messages. Churchteams will only send a text message if your member has included his/her mobile telephone number AND the name of his/her mobile carrier. Without both pieces of information entered, a member cannot receive texts through Churchteams. In reviewing your list of members, if you see that the member's mobile number is "bold", then that member has supplied his/her carrier information and is ready to receive text messages from Churchteams.

So, encourage your members to complete this information in their profile so they may be update with important class information via text. Congratulations. One of your leadership communication tasks has just gotten WAY easier!

A Quote For Today

2010-05-06T20:00:00.000-04:00

Talk-2-Ten

2010-05-05T19:43:00.009-04:00

This month is a-MAY-zing, and we have lots and lots going on at Flamingo in the Connection Ministry.... Chic-fil-a Leadercast, Family Dedication, Mother's Day Weekend, Viva Women, and Viva Men. Also, during our Jericho series and every weekend during the month of May, we will be have our Next Step partnership class!

At one of our last Connection Director Meetings, Barby suggested that all our Connect Group Leaders and Champions should have a "Talk-2-Ten" philosophy each weekend. Translation: As Leaders, we should make an effort to talk to 10 new people each week and at every event. What a great idea! We loved it! So, as we chase after our 50-100-150 dream and try to connect as many people as possible, let's do it! Let's challenge each other to Talk-2-Ten starting this weekend! Welcome 10 new people (people you don't know) to Flamingo. Ask them if they are in a Connect Group. Invite them to attend Viva! Talk to 10 new people and watch God move and change lives!

The Law Of Respect

2010-05-04T23:19:00.001-04:00

Law #7 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:

The Law Respect: People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger Than Themselves

This law says that people don’t follow others by accident. People tend to follow leaders stronger than themselves. When a group with various people comes together, the leaders in the group with initially go their own way. Soon, people start to change direction to follow the strongest leader, until ultimately they are all going in the same direction, following the strongest leader. The other strong leaders will either follow the strongest one, or leave and pursue their own goals.

Maxwell lists the top 6 ways that leaders gain others’ respect:

1. Natural Leadership Ability: Some people are born with more natural ability than others. But, anyone can learn and grow and become a better leader.

2. Respect For Others: “When leaders respect others, especially for those with less power than they have, they gain the respect of others. When people respect you as a person, they admire you; when they respect you as a friend, they love you; when they respect you as a leader, they follow you.”

3. Courage: “Good leaders do what’s right, even at the risk of failure, in the face of great danger and under the brunt of relentless criticism…courage gives followers hope.”

4. Success: “People are naturally drawn to success and respect accomplishments…. It’s hard to argue with a good track record.”

5. Loyalty: Maxwell talks about how loyalty is lacking today. People change jobs so often today. It seems rare for people to stick with something. “when leaders stick with the team until the job is done, remain loyal to the organization when the going gets rough, and look out for followers even when it hurts them, followers respect them and their actions.”

6. Value Added To Others: This may be the greatest source of respect –the dedication to adding value to others.

Applying the Law of Respect to Your Life

Gauge your leadership level by considering your followers’ response to the last time you asked them to make a commitment to something you were leading or to change something they were doing. How readily did they comply?
Evaluate yourself from 1 [low] to 10 [high] for each of the following leadership qualities and get your ‘leadership number.’ In one sentence for each, write a practice, habit or goal to help you improve in that area. Spend a month on each to make it part of your life:

Leadership ability[natural ability]
Respect for others
Courage
Success record
Loyalty
Value added to others

If you have the courage, ask those closest to you what they respect most about you and in which areas you need to grow. Then commit to improve based on their honest feedback.

Reference:

Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 7- The Law of Respect.. Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN; 2007

Can A Christian Be Without Prayer?

2010-04-30T21:00:00.001-04:00

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

How do we talk to God, if not through Prayer?
How does He talk to us, if not through the same?
How would we be, if not for seeds planted by Prayer?

How would we grow, if not rained on by its Power?

What would we do?
What would we be?
Where would we end up?

If the Word is our Living Water, Prayer is what has us to drink it.

-In Him

The Only Thing To Boast About

2010-04-29T20:27:00.004-04:00

Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
-Jeremiah 9:23-24

What are the things that we boast about? Our gifts? Our might? Our wealth? We tend to boast about the things God has given us, which of course, is a natural thing to do. But, are we boasting about God, Himself? All that we have is through Him. HIS is the glory and about HIM we should be boasting. Our lives, our blessings are all lights for others in the dark to see- to lead them to Him. Let us boast in Him. He delights in steadfast love, justice and righteousness.

Steadfast: firmly fixed in place; immovable
[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steadfast]

He is our true North. With eyes on Him, we will always be directed along the right path for us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
-Proverbs 3:5-6

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your love, Your mercy, Your perfect justice, Your righteousness. Help us to put You in the forefront of our everything. When we hang the light of your blessings for all to see, to draw others nearer to you, let us be sure to hang that light from the post of Your Glory. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.