EMBRACE YOUR INNER CRITIQUE AFTER YOU’VE CREATED DRAFT ONE
Part of becoming a great steward who releases great art that makes a big impact is knowing the difference between critique and criticism, embracing critique for the sake of improvement. Improvement is for the sake of serving others even better.
Read MoreYour peace level is directly connected to your need for control.
I remember telling someone that in an apt about 5 years ago. Of course, because I’m a pastor, I worked it into a sermon a few months later.
Don’t worry. Two words that roll off the tongue easily, but for most of us can be quite a challenge. The last couple of days, this idea of controlling other people or sensing a need to control has come up in a few conversations in my pastoral counseling and ministry. People who feel frustrated or angry or even overlooked and ignored.
You can’t control other people and nor should you try.
There are many ways to create culture and even measure it. Here are a few…
The Heroes We Celebrate
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Read MoreAdam wasn't alive until God's breath entered him. To this day, we identify if someone is alive by whether they still have breath in their lungs. In a poetic way, God defines His Spirit using the same root word for breath. He even declares that when we invite Him…
Read MoreThe parable of the talents has always meant something to me. I can recall all the way back to my teen years and reading that passage in Luke 19 and being arrested by the concept. Jesus is the Master (some translations use the word “King”) He entrusts these people with different levels of gifts/talents. He comes back expecting a return on His investment. He’s so thrilled to see those who took risks, worked hard, and gained for Him a multiplied return on His initial investment. He’s so frustrated with the one who did nothing. Furthermore, He’s sad that the “wicked steward” accuses Him of theft, immorality, and harsh character.
I wonder how many Christians have misunderstood the Master, King Jesus. I wonder how many believers have yes, accepted Jesus as the only Son of God who took their place on the cross, yet somehow, deep down, they still see God as cruel, harsh, dogmatic… unkind even. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Read MoreCulture is created in many ways. Here are the top ways I believe culture is created and what I’ve learned in leading Rock of Grace Family Ministries as well as being CEO of Kings Home Properties when it comes to creating the right culture where the RIGHT THINGS GROW.
Read MoreChurch Leaders, when your team approaches you with an idea, do you listen and listen closely?When your staff asks to meet with you, are you available? Sadly, I’ve heard a reoccurring frustration among young leaders and it’s this …
Read MoreWhen the inspiration hits, it’s fun. Exciting. We’re ecstatic about what we imagine will be! But what happens 4 weeks in, 2 months in? We get tired. We get distracted or discouraged. Someone says something kinda negative about what we’re building. Suddenly, we set our work of art on the shelf…
Read MoreI love to read! If you had asked me at 10 years old, “Jordan, do you enjoy reading?” WHAT!?!? “Absolutely not!” I would’ve said! “Just give me a basketball!” But when I went through Seminary, I developed a love for reading. I really enjoy theology, philosophy, behavioral science, self-help, and business books. But there are 5 that I feel are indispensable! Every Pastor Should Read These Five Books! I’ll list them and briefly explain why.
Read MoreWhat is missing in today’s American church?
We’ve got the good music. We’ve got the comfortable chairs. We’ve got the programs, the lighting, the teachings even! We even have good coffee now! But what is missing? Not what, but who?
The Holy Spirit fire that was present in the Israelites wilderness journey is what inspired them and fueled them to keep going. Today, we have the beautiful buildings (tabernacle and its furnishings) We have the ministry teams and systems and curriculum. (priestly ordinances and sacraments) We have the awesome worship music (Levites were dedicated to incredible musicianship) Yet, we find one thing above the tabernacle. One curious, notable, obvious thing… the fire. The pillar of fire and cloud by day was unable to be ignored. It roared with holy thunder and separated God’s people from every other people. It demanded a respect for holiness - something we could use in today’s church culture! It spoke of God’s desire to be near, present, available.
Read MoreI recall once striking up a conversation in a coffee shop with a young black man who was convinced he was fighting oppression and a culture that was dead-set against him. In that worldview, that is what he experienced. I very kindly implored him to create his own future with the Lord in prayer and through hard work, and ignore what “culture” or “family” was putting on him. I almost begged him…
Read MoreWhen we set out to do something for the Lord, it can seem daunting, especially when the people around us “know better” and yet have chosen to normalize compromise. When I think of the Minor Prophets podcast or Remnant Radio podcast and what they’ve been able to accomplish in the last few years and in particular, the last few days, I’m shocked and in the best way. They lovingly, with sound doctrine, sounded the alarm on yet another abuse in a Christian church that was swept under the rug. They aren’t posting for clickbait or fame; you can tell that they simply want the Body of Christ to be healthy. They did such a great job that the leader they called out, repented today, and even…
Read MoreI read once that a senior leader’s first job is to address the problems - to acknowledge them. Most people are afraid to “say the quiet part out loud.” Leaders, however, are not rude, but are willing to acknowledge the problems that need addressed…
Read MoreAre you hearing God speak to you about what He wants to do in you? Understand this... Satan is happy with you playing it safe and taking it easy. As long as you aren't moving forward to take that risk and do what God is asking you to do, Satan is content. But what if you did take that leap of faith? Start that business, open your home for a small group, start writing that book…
Read MoreWe are called to work with God to bring about beauty in this world. Sometimes that’s through praying for someone who is sick. Sometimes it’s building something beautiful people can enjoy. Sometimes it’s writing a song. Sometimes it’s sending a text to encourage someone. Sometimes it’s just welcoming someone at our church. We are called to bear the image of Jesus and the Holy Spirit makes that possible!…
Read MorePaul, in a way, tells us that the Holy Spirit of God will do things on the inside of you that signals to you that you are indeed a child of God. We know you’re a child of God if by faith you believe in Jesus, God’s Son as the one who came from Heaven to die in your place, pay the penalty for your sins and the sins of the world, and rise to new life, promising us new life. That belief and acceptance of who Jesus is and His claims makes you a child of God. In that moment of belief, you are born-again and become adopted into the family of God. This is the greatest miracle for anyone to experience! This adoption …
Read MoreChristmas is about remembering not just how Jesus came but why Jesus came. Jesus humbled Himself “not considering Himself equal with God” but humbled Himself to be born a baby. He …
Read MoreIf you don’t define jobs and job expectations, inspire and equip people to do those jobs, and consistently celebrate their efforts and performance, you will never move from addition to multiplication.
Fifteen years later, when I felt God telling us to multiply churches, the same principles held true. We had to start defining what each role did, inspire new leaders to take on those roles through mentoring and even online training. This …
Read MoreWhen CEO of BP took the podium after their largest oil spill, he wasn’t ready for the storm that was soon to follow. He said …”
Read MoreSelah, Elli, Eva, and Eden, my four little girls could hardly contain their excitement! I
had taken a wooden microphone box and placed all kinds of treasures in it! Chocolate. Suckers.
Stickers. It was filled with treasures! I had taken a compass and drawn a course on a map that led
through the woods behind our house, over the creek and straight to a buried treasure.
When I told them about this buried treasure and handed them the map along with the
compass, they lit up in anticipation! “Where is it?…”
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