Focus
There's an old saying that says, "you can't be two places at once". Another thought like that is, "you can't get to a destination if you are looking in two directions". Focus is a hard thing to maintain, especially in a shaking world. I was taking a tennis lesson years ago from a Pro and after we hit a few balls, he called me to the net and said, "you aren't watching the ball". I said, "certainly I am watching the ball because I am hitting it back to you". He reminded me that there are different levels of focus. One level is seeing the ball but there is deeper level of focus where you see only a part of the ball. In baseball, an average high school hitter sees the ball coming to the plate and sees the stadium as the backdrop. A college player sees the ball as a back drop and sees the stitches spinning as the ball approaches. The great Ted Williams is said to have had the ability to see writing on the ball rushing toward him. As I learned to focus on the tennis ball at a deeper level, I found that my shots became more powerful , more crisp and were more difficult to return by my opponent. As leaders we can't have a casual approach to the Christian life and to leadership in particular. We must get clear as to what we are called to be and what it is that we want to accomplish. What are we wanting to produce in those we are leading. As we see it more clearly and with greater intensity, we will find that our work is much more powerful and our fruit will increase. The question is asked of a leader in Scripture, "how long halt ye between two opinions"? Another case was Moses at the Red Sea. There is a time to hesitate in order to be sure. There are also times when hesitating will cause failure. Let me encourage you to hear this word today. If you are struggling with indecision, get before the Lord in prayer. Hear what it is that he is saying to you. Then, when you hear it, focus on that direction. Don't let anything or anyone cause you to waver from what "He said". Remember, Jesus set his face to Jerusalem and would not be distracted from his focus on his mission.

Stranded in Denver!

I just finished 10 days of wonderful ministry in South Dakota. I flew out this morning with great excitement about getting home! I flew out of Rapid City this morning with snow and ice on the ground but without incident. I arrived in Denver and all was good only to find out that my flight delay problems were not in Denver as one might expect, but in Atlanta! As of now I am schedule to get home in 2 days!!!! I guess there are worse places to be stranded but when you want to get home, nowhere is a good place to be stranded.



South Dakota Ministry

I ministered at Dove Christian Center in Rapid City last Sunday twice. Pastor Gary Johnson is the founder/pastor there. It was a great day with the Lord touching lives and encouraging all of us. Monday I met with the Pastor and Elders of Dove Christian Center for about 4 hours. I give oversight to Dove and have been going there for over 20 years now. I flew out early the next morning for my 2 day trip to San Diego to see Tiffany. (See Tiffany Joiner Updates) I flew back from San Diego on Thursday changing planes in Denver. This is the 4th time I have been in the Denver airport on this trip! When I took off from Denver it was 65 degrees and sunny. An hour later we landed in Rapid City in 12 degrees and it was snowing. We left Friday morning for the Mighty Men's Advance in the Black Hills. When we drove through town the temp was "ZERO"! The Advance was a gathering of Professional Rodeo Cowboys from Texas to Colorado and other men from the here in the West. Timothy Stuen is an ex-bull rider turned preacher. He leads this event each year. The weather didn't stop this group. There were outside games of all kinds in the snow and ice with temps hoovering around 10-12. The meetings were powerful and filled with the enthusiam you might expect from men who practice a profession that only gives them 8 seconds to perform.(Bull Riding). It was fast paced, action packed and anointed by the Holy Spirit. The spiritual momentum grew with each service with men being saved, delivered and filled with the Holy Spirit. It was a powerful time. I enjoyed preaching to such a wild bunch!



It is obvious as I travel that there is a new generation being raised up that is hungry for God and zealous to serve the Lord with all their hearts. The other exciting part of all this is that there is a connection taking place between the young and the old. That is my burden of this hour. I want to see a smooth transfer of the baton from the older to the younger without a disconnect of the older. I see it happening in many places as spiritual fathers and sons are seeing great fruit.

Longing For Home In Denver!
LAJ

Transferred Guilt


"I know you wouldn't want your wife to know about...". Those were the words I heard over the phone many, many years ago as a voice from my past was trying to manipulate my future. Thank God I was able to say, "come on over and we will discuss it with her!" The attack ended. Guilt is a very powerful tool of manipulation. The goal of manipulation is to move you away from God's plan toward some lesser purpose and finally cause you to be immobilzed completely. Of course, my attack was from a real situation from my past. Bringing our sins to Jesus and doing our part to be reconciled to those whom we may have hurt releases us from guilt and shame. There are other kinds of manipulation from guilt that are not as obvious but just as limiting. People who don't know how to handle their own guilt or who are unwilling to assume responsibility for their own mistakes will try to transfer that guilt to others. I call this transferred guilt. Children seem to come into the world knowing how to do this. It is easy for Christians to receive this transferred guilt believing that is what they are supposed to do as Christians from a desire to be nice or sweet. If Christ has set us free from sin and the effects of sin, then it is an affront to the work of Jesus to allow ourselves to come under the power of guilt in any form. The Lord has designed us to live, work and minister in an atmosphere of freedom. Jesus said in Luke 4 that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him to proclaim Liberty to the captives. That liberty was purchases with his own blood so that you and I might live and minister in the perfect liberty of Christ. The world is waiting for us to live and minister out of that freedom and release that freedom to others.

Today

Nothing can sabbatoge today more than regrets from the past and fears regarding the future. To make matters worse, our concerns aren't without cause. We have made mistakes in the past and life patterns suggest that our future may be affected once again. One of the primary lessons of Jesus was to exhort us to live in today. Most leaders understand God's forgiveness. The problem lies in forgiving themselves and releasing the past. The problem of moving on into today with clarity is usually one of a lack of forgiving ourselves or the perceived guilt from others. It is impossible to walk in the success that God intends with these anchors to our past. I saw one Bible School graduate poison his future because he couldn't seem to get beyond his failures as a Christian. It's one thing to get beyond sins of youth, but more difficult to release our sins as a follower of Christ. The wonderful thing about redemption is that the Blood of Jesus is just as powerful forgiving our future as much as our past.

While in Dubai for a month, Teresa and I seemed to experience a new level of "living in today". Circumstances were out of our control. We were helpless in our own efforts to change anything. Our only peace was found in learning the secret of Jesus in living in today. You may be trapped in the swamp of yesterday or immobilized by the "what ifs" of tomorrow. Let them go! It not only is all you can do, it is what you should and must do! A refusal to not trust the Blood of Jesus is an affront to God and a sick kind of pride that says, "the Blood of Jesus forgives all sins but mine". Go ahead and jump into the flowing fountain of the Blood of Jesus with abandon. It is in that abandon that you will find courage and strength to not only face the future, but be the leader the Lord intends you to be.


Mat 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow...

Serve No Wine Before Its Time!

A number of years ago there was an ad for a wine company that said something like, "we will serve no wine before it's time". They were saying that they would allow the wine to age to it's best potential before offering it to the public. Maybe those of us who are preacher/teachers should take note of this. When we get a new revelation there is tremendous pressure to "preach it" at our next opportunity. The best sermons come from our own life experience. Think of a preacher speaking and how it affects you if he says, "so and so says" versus, "I have experienced". It has a totally different impact. People love personal stories. We need to learn to be better story tellers. To do so requires a willingness to be transparent and a willingness to be the object of our jokes, often times. The result will be a richer connection with your audience.



Now, the waiting part. Just as wine matures with age, so do life lessons and sermons. You can have a true revelation from heaven. It may have come while showering or it may have come from the depths of a traumatic experience. Regardless, it will sweeten with age. In truth, it may never have been intended for public consumption. It may be just between you and the Lord. But if it is for sharing, put it aside in a "sermon garden" and let it grow. Let the warm sun of time shine upon it and the rain of meditation water it. Let the process of your own healing and maturity feed it. Examine it from different facets and it will become richer and richer with time. When it is delivered, the impact will be multiplied many times over by allowing it to age in the cellar of your heart. If you do it right, Jesus will be seen in the forefront and you will be in the shadows.

Honor The Past, Pursue The Fututre

In 1993 I found myself facing a different challenge after almost 20 years of ministry, mostly church planting. The Lord had led me to return to my home town and become pastor of my home church. I had never pastored a church I didn't start. I would be taking the helm of a church that was 85 years old! I was used to being the pioneer, recruiting the young zealots and leading the charge to "take this city for God"! Now I would be working with a group of people who had no youth group, no children's ministry and mostly older people. I believe the call to go there was because the Lord needed some "foundational work" done there in an effort to revive the weakening congregation.



I had some understanding of moving to a city, not knowing anyone, or very few, and casting a vision for birthing something new. I had never spoken against another church, but there was the unspoken implication that if the other churches were doing the job, we wouldn't need to plant a new church. Now I would be the old, "other church"! I didn't know what to do. I was out of my comfort zone. I have met Pastors who have said to me, "it would scare me to death to move to a new place and start a new church". I thought, "it would scare me to death to take a church with all it's weaknesses and negative traditions and try to do something new with that"! However, I was now the pastor of a church that had been considered by some, a dying chruch. There had to be change! There had to be a new direction that would seem attrative enough to young people who had the energy to come help us in this resurrection. (I had always said that I like church planting over taking over an existing church because I felt it easier to birth something new, than to raise the dead.)

Herein lies the tension, while I was having to seek to reach a new generation, I still had to be the pastor of an older generation who had been faithful for years and who had paid a great price to give us our launch pad.

As I sought the Lord, I heard very clearly, "Honor the past, pursue the future"! That was it! While I had a burden and vision for the future and a new generation, I had to honor those upon whose shoulders we would stand to build the future. Here is a warning for all new generation, movers and shakers. Be very, very careful how you handle your spiritual fathers and those who have paved the way for you. It would be very easy to believe that because God has given you a vision that you are free from honoring the past. Not true! God is a generational God. One of Absalom's mistakes was his despising his Father and feeling justified in bypassing him to build his own kingdom. It cost him his life.



I am not saying that we should be shackled to the past or in bondage to men. I am saying that we need to be careful in honoring our past and seeking to remain connected when possible in order to have an exponential increase of Kingdom influence.

San Diego Bound!

A number of people have said that they would like to contribute to Tiffany's rehab costs. I deeply appreciate the generosity of everyone during this time of challenge for the Joiner family. Your love and support has been very humbling and encouraging for us. In an effort to operate with integrity and accountability we will not be setting up accounts here in Valdosta at either New Covenant Church of Valdosta or Christian Alliance of Ministries. I want the fund and administration of the fund to be separated from my family and me. New Covenant Church of Tifton has graciously agreed to receive and administrate these funds. All money that is given will be spent on this rehab process and any that is left will be given to a benevolence fund. Because this money will be directed to the needs of an individual, unfortunately, you cannot receive tax credit for your donation. Please send your donation to:

New Covenant Church
2167 Whiddon Mill Rd
Tifton, GA 31793

Payable to: New Covenant Church
For: Project Walk

Thank you again for your love, prayers and support during this time.

Blessings!
L.A. Joiner

Tiffany Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for Tiffany until full restoration is complete. As of today the plan is for Tiffany to fly from Dubai to Atlanta later in the next week. Teresa will meet her in Atlanta and the two will fly to San Diego. She has been accepted at Project Walk in Carlsbad, California. You can check it out at: http://www.projectwalk.org/
Project walk is a pretty hard core program that requires all participants to sign an application saying "they believe they will walk"! That is what Tiffany is looking for. Her international insurance is refusing to pay for the rehab because it is in the U. S. A number of people have said that they wanted to contribute to these costs. I am now working on setting up an account through which donors may give toward Tiffany's rehab costs. I will give you more on that later this week but I wanted to let you know the progress to this point. Thank you again for your love, concern and prayers.

Blessings!
LAJ

The God Of Convenience

Nothing that God ever asks of us involving serving others is ever convenient. It is in the sacrifice of serving that the glory and presence of Jesus is revealed. I think that is part of what Mother Teresa learned in her sacrificed life. It is an easy thing to say, "if you need me, please call." The call will not come. The service will not be performed and no glory will be revealed. As leaders we are called first and foremost to serve others. We can plant churches, build buildings, develop ministry teams, make disciples, even give our money and never break the seal on the bottle of that very expensive ointment called service. It only comes as an inconvenient sacrifice. Many of the miracles of Jesus came when He did not have time to be bothered or when He was on a journey to help someone else. Let us be careful not to miss the God opportunity on the way to a good opportunity. If you planned it and had time to delegate it, it is probably not the service that will release the fragrance of a miracle.

Going back to the Blog!
Tiffany is doing well and still in search of the right rehab center. Therefore, after this update, I will return to my normal blog of assisting leaders in the Church.

Update:
Tiffany is making remarkable changes on her own in Dubai without a formal rehab program as of yet. It is shocking just how difficult it is to get the kind of help you need when these crises occur. I never imagined the pressure and stress of trying to get help for a loved one. I'm beginning to see what so many have been screaming about for so many years, "adequate health care for all". In this country, if you have the cash, you can get the care". If you don't, you are literally on your own. Also, if you are destitute you can get help. However, the middle class often suffer until they spend all they have and then care is provided. I know, I sound like an ad for socialized medicine. I'm not for that but what we have isn't working very well either. Enough politics!

Tiffany is hoping to come to America soon but we are hearing that most programs have up to a one year waiting list! We aren't discouraged (today), and we are moving forward with our efforts to get her in the right place, at the right time, with the right therapists! I would appreciate your continued prayers toward this goal.

My next blog will be back to our Vision with updates from time to time on Tiffany.

Blessings!
LAJ

Tiffany Update
Teresa and I are back in the U.S. We came back Thursday, arriving home from our drive from Atlanta Thursday night. We got up Friday morning, washed clothes and drove to Miami! Yep, that's right! Jet lag, what jet lag!!! Yeah, I'm feeling it, but compared to seeing Lucia for a little late Christmas, it's worth it! We are in Miami as we speak enjoying 80 degree weather and perfect skies.

Tiffany is in Dubai being assited by friends until we can get a handle on her rehab. We were shocked on Thursday to learn that her international insurance company "changed their minds" on the amount they would pay on her rehab. Actually, they just stopped paying. We are grateful for their paying for the surgery and a month in the hospital but now we have the challenge of finding funding and the right rehab for long term therapy. We are looking at a lot of options. Please join us in prayer for wisdom in all this that we will make the right decisions for her best treatment that will determine her future quality of life.

Tiffany is a tough cookie! She is already getting in and out of her wheel chair on her own, meeting her own personal needs, and even pulling up from her wheel chair into her Jeep! No, she's not driving but she's determined to walk again and live a normal life. She's not interested in learning how to live in a wheel chair, she tells everyone. Her active life as a personal trainer, yoga instructor, rock climber and all out sportsman, is definitely working on her behalf. She is doing great in that respect. I asked her one day how she was fighting off depression and she said, "I'll find myself in depression for about 30 minutes and I think, that's 30 minutes off my rehab, so I get out of it quickly"!

Again, thank you for your love, concern and prayers. Hopefully, she will be back here in the States soon for treatment or possibly in another country. I'll let you know. Just stay tuned! Your love for us has been almost overwhelming!

Blessings!
L.A.

Joiner Family Update - Good News!

We have Tiffany at her home!

After almost 4 weeks in the hospital, she's finally home and very happy about it. As a matter of fact, Tiff and I are on her balcony sipping coffee and looking over the Arabian Gulf. It was quite delicate getting the wheel chair over the 8 inch ledge but we did it. It wasn't as tricky as getting her up the 2 flights of stairs to her apartment! She made it up the first flight bumping along on her butt! (Her choice.). Then Teresa and I picked her up by the legs and under arms and carried her on up! We made it! This part of the world, with all it's modern buildings, is not handicap friendly in the least. Hopefully, we will hear today where she is going for rehab. She has told us that she wants us to take our previously scheduled flight home Friday. I think that living on her own for the last number of years makes her want her parents to visit, but not live with her! The therapists that I have talked with confirm that some very independent patients do better in long term rehab without family present. Well, that's certainly Tiff! Even as I am writing this, she sits in her wheel chair shaving her legs with a pan of water with legs on the banister. She picked each leg up and placed them there alone! (She still has little control from the knees down.) She has a strong group of friends surrounding her here who assure me they will take care of her and put her on the plane for rehab. That means we will be home this weekend.
We plan to come in quietly, wash clothes for a day and go to Miami to have Christmas with our little granddaughter Lucia, her Mom Tarah and Dad Scott! We missed her first Christmas, so now we will have it! We will leave there and head toward the CFN meetings at San Destin. I will preach for Jack Hollis on the way on Sunday, Jan. 17. That will be my launch back into public ministry and I will resume my schedule from that point.
Contingent upon where Tiffany goes for rehab and how long she is there, we may make a trip to see her in a couple of months.
I am deeply humbled and grateful for all the love, concern, gifts and prayers of faith extended to our family during this journey to date. It is my prayer that I may be a better servant to the Lord and others because of this experience. May the Lord bless you greatly for your rich generosity and your true Christian love.

Many Blessings!
L. A.

Tiff Update
Thank you to all who are continuing to pray. Nothing really new to report. We are still in the hospital in Dubai. Teresa and I cleaned the apartment and the Jeep for her to come home today but a minor infection has apparently postponed that. She had to buy a wheel chair yesterday and that wasn't too exciting. However, for the present it is a necessary purchase. She's an amazing little lady! She now throws herself in her chair and doing most things for herself. I'm really proud of her tenacity. She is also pressing the Doctors and insurance company to get her into a rehab facility that doesn't focus on learning to live in a wheel chair. She wants to go to a place that specializes in getting athletes back in the game!

I'm learning a lot in all this. (More about that in future blogs.) This Friday Teresa and I will have "lived in Dubai" for a month. Some may wonder if we are afraid here. Actually, I feel safer here than in many American cities. The Islamic laws that govern Dubai sets an atmosphere that make "most" experiences pleasant ones. Today we ran to the Mall of the Emirates, that's the one with the ski slopes you may have heard about. We had to pick up some shoes for Tiff and some items at Carrefore, Dubai's version of Wal-Mart. As we were having lunch in the food court I noticed a sign that said, "please dress respectfully by covering your shoulders and knees". Obviously, this was directed at ladies! It seems that religious laws regarding dress are always directed at women and miss the men, just like the U.S.! Don't worry, there are a lot of Westerners who can't read and they make it look more like the USA.

I'll close for now. Please keep praying for infections to be gone, the right rehab center and the right timing on her departure from the UAE.

Blessings!
L. A.

Quick Update Today
Tiffany is making progress although she is still in the Dubai hospital awaiting transfer to long term therapy. The Holidays have put everything on hold. She has worked diligently several hours each day with the tremendous help of her friend Alvaro Garcia from Spain. Today we even slipped in to the therapy room which they forgot to lock on the Holy Day. We did about a 1 1/2 hour routine on different weight bearing machines targeting her legs. The legs are still pretty non-functional from the knees down but she is working them hard and you can see her getting stronger each workout. I have great confidence that once she gets to a rehab facility the work here will go a long way toward full recovery. Please keep praying for the right facility and that it will be soon. There is a limit to the amount the insurance will pay so we are trying to get her into a center with the "most bang for our buck". It seems that Europe might be the best at this point. We haven't given up on Shepherds in Atlanta but that would require a scholarship. The financial crisis that is affecting the world has limited their income and consequently, the amount of scholarships awarded. I know the Lord has prepared just the right place with just the right trainers to work with her.

Thanks for continuing to stand with us.

Blessings!
L. A., Teresa and Tiffany in Dubai, UAE

Tiffany Update: Happy New Year 2009
Well, we have now been living in Dubai for 2 1/2 weeks. I drive Tiffany's Jeep Wrangler all over the United Arab Emirates. Yesterday we took a day off and drove Shane, our son who ends his Christmas visit today, to Hatta and over the border to Oman. Living and driving here is quite the learning experience. I don't believe there could be a more diverse city in the world than Dubai. It has grown from just over 50,000 in 1969 to over a million now. Even cab drivers say that from day to day it is difficult to keep up with it. The more you travel here, the more you see the tremendous development. I've learned to just get in the "rush" and go for it. Otherwise, you will get run over. The worst thing you can do here in traffic is stop. You just keep moving and you will be o.k.
We still don't know how much longer we will be here. Tiffany's company, Depa International, is doing a great job but the insurance company, which specializes in international businesses, is a letter of the law kind of company. They have a clause that no treatment will take place in the U.S. but Tiff's boss, a lawyer named Robert St. Jacques, is working to get the company to see that the U.S. might be as reasonable as treatment center as say, Switzerland. That means that as of this writing, we are still waiting and Tiff is still in the hospital. She is doing about an hour of therapy each day. She can pull herself up on a tall walker and transfer herself into her wheelchair. At therapy she works out with weights on her upper body, she pulls herself up a big ladder and stretches herself out. While hanging, she can move her legs from side to side by lifting from her hips. She has movement in her hips down to her knees. Some good news is that there is slightly more tingling in her lower legs, feet and some toes. It is very encouraging. Our hope and faith is directed toward her regaining use of her legs so that she will be able to walk , and hopefully, without crutches. That's the goal!

A matter of prayer for now is that the business side of things is moving very slowly. Much of that is caused by the Holidays. Executives in Europe are not in the office and they are the ones who make the decisions. We are expecting to hear any day now the word to get her to a rehab hospital. It could be Europe or the U.S. That's our situation. We are getting up every morning and spending the day at the hospital until bed time, helping her and waiting to hear. We are not spending the night with her as we were the first week or so. The frustration is that it is important that she get into rehab soon. Until that happens, physical progress is very limited. Teresa and I are fine but pretty exhausted in body and mind. We do feel your prayers, concern and love. The Body of Christ and our connection is a reality. Thank you for all you are doing. God is faithful!

Love and Blessings!
L. A. and Teresa

Tiffany Joiner Update
I hadn't intended to use my blog as an update for Tiffany but some have suggested that it might be a good avenue for keeping up with her progress.

As I said in my last blog, Tiffany suffered a severe spinal cord injury on December 11. She fell about 25 feet from her balcony to the concrete below. It appears she was adjusting some hanging lanters on her balcony while standing on a table which flipped. That's all assumption as she remembers nothing of that night. When she landed she also received a serious concussion. While she is battling the spinal injury, it is amazing that there are no organs damaged or more serious head trauma.
It appears she will be here at the International Modern Hospital in Dubai just a few more days. Then she will go to a long term rehabilitation center. The problem is that her health insurance here will not pay for treatment in the United States. We are now trying to find out where they will pay and what that treatment would be like. Tiffany is a very independent person and has made it clear that once we get her established in a treatment center she wants us to leave, so she can be alone to work on learning to walk again. That is difficult for parents but we will abide by her wishes.
Here are some things for which you can join us in prayer: 1. her physical healing. She is paralyzed from the knees down. There has been improvement from the hips to the knees but very little change from the knees down to her feet. 2. The right rehab center with the right staff to work with her. 3. Favor with the insurance company to cover the complete rehab process. 4. Favor with her work. They have been outstanding so far.
These are our present needs. More will be revealed in the next few days. I deeply appreciate all of you who have helped us in so many ways. Family is a wonderful thing.

Blessings!
L. A. and Teresa Joiner

Tiffany Joiner Update
I will use this week to inform everyone about my daughter Tiffany, her accident and her progress after one week.
Tiffany fell from a second story balcony where she lives in Dubai, UAE. She fell about 25 feet. She has suffered a serious spinal injury and has undergone surgery here. They placed screws and plates in her spine. She is presently paralyzed from the knees down. Today was her first time sitting up after the installation of a back brace. It was wonderful seeing her sit up and the joy on her face. They are predicting the rehab will take months and possibly 3 months before she can walk with crutches. The rehab is not covered by insurance in the USA so we are waiting to see where that might be. The Doctor tells me she will be here in this hospital 2 more weeks. We have many questions but are having to take it a day at a time. We have been covered in prayer by many of you and others around the world. We can sense those prayers.

Tiffany is a trooper and working hard. She is surrounded by many friends here from around the world as 80 per cent of those living in Dubai are from many other nations.
I have learned from watching their service to us. We, as Christians often say, if you need anything call me. These guys see a need and just meet it without asking. What a joy. More later. I am attempting to do this on a foreign keyboard so it is very challenging. Love and Blessings, L.A. Joiner

The Things We Have Learned
Since this blog is about equipping leaders to lead, and since much of what I do is involved in the building and the development of the Church, I will spend the next few blogs discussing things I/we have learned about the building of the church.

By way of introduction, it is important to understand that the church is in a process of "building". Jesus said, "I will build my church..." The Apostle Paul speaks of the church and says in Eph. 2:11 "in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." It is clear that Jesus didn't create the church, in the sense of the church being a finished product after Pentecost. That was only the beginning or the birth of the church. We are called to labor with the Lord to continue to see the church develop according to His plan. Herein is a very delicate area of discussion. We are not called to build "our" church, but His. This sounds simple but how we perceive the ownership of the church will determine how we build. If we are building for ourselves or motivated by leaving our own stamp on it with, "the glory going to God", the we will build something very different from the triumphant church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the things I will be sharing, "The Things We Have Learned", come out of that endeavor to build on earth what we seen and heard from Him.

• We have learned a new paradigm. There has been a lot said these last few years about new paradigms. A "paradigm" is defined as , "an example servings as a model; pattern." When we began 3 decades ago, the Lord made it clear that what we were to assist Him in building was a new pattern. For us that meant we would end an old paradigm of "just having church", and enter the pattern of seeking to be the church. That is not a cliche', but a functional statement. For me it was revolutionary. It meant and end to a "one man show". It meant that John Wesley's cry that, "I set myself on fire and the people come watch me burn was an outdated and dare I say, unscriptural. The new cry must be, "I labor to see the people, the congregation catch on fire so the world can see them burn in the workplace." This would be the beginning of helping the church member enter into realm ministry to God and man. It was in fact, the priesthood of the believer. My Pastor, Ken Sumrall, said many years ago that it seemed to him that about every 50 years the Lord would have to take a group of people back to the "store fronts" in order to break his church back out of religion and into usefulness. (Paraphrased) We must always be open to new models on earth while keeping an eye on the model in heaven. However, God's ultimate plan or model never changes.
• We have learned the necessity of the centrality of the Scriptures. We must keep the Scripture as our guide and allow it to be the primary plumb line. A plumb line is used in building to set the walls, but it is also used later to see if the building has moved from it's original foundation. There are times when the plumb line will require walls to be torn down in order to get them back "in plumb". The more the reason to seek to make sure that we build according to the Biblical pattern to begin with. Many churches are captured and paralyzed by methods and traditions that are far removed from the Bible.
• We have learned the necessity of the Spirit Filled Life. We must build with the words of the Prophet Zechariah ringing in our ears, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." One of the primary reasons that the Lord calls for a new paradigm is because religion leaves God's pattern of the building taking place in the power of the Holy Spirit and turns to the intellectual and organizational powers of man. This cannot be stressed enough and especially to a younger generation who may have never experienced a true season of renewal. In that season the Holy Spirit is the voice of the builder and all who build are determined to hear from Him before any action is taken. I was told as a young "builder" by a seasoned church pioneer, "I have plans in my files that I was taught of how to build a church and Jesus is only a small part of the process". That means that it is possible to build something that looks like the church but in reality is only a powerless man made imitation.

Let us seek His face in order to see His plan before we begin any building in the name of the Lord and let us continue to examine that which we are building to make sure we haven't left His plan and purpose.

Environmentally Unconscious



My son Shane and I spent a wonderful afternoon over the Thanksgiving holidays exploring a primitive area around the Withlacoochee River near our house. I visit the area often and usually see anything from foxes to wild turkeys roaming about. As we walked the river bank near some small rapids, we were enjoying identifying fresh tracks of deer, raccoon and some we didn't recognize. It was like going back in time and I wondered what it must have been like for the first Europeans when they walked these same forests for the first time. Of course, Native Americans had lived here many, many years before the white man ever set foot here. The name Withlacoochee is best translated from the Indian name to "little big water". It was a perfect time except for one thing, man had left his mark. Abandoned materials littered this almost pristine landscape. All along the river and into the adjoining woods we saw fish bait containers, broken fishing poles, and yes, old tires! It all took me back to a different time when I was first aware that this was a crime against nature and in a way against God. The year was 1971 and I had just been discharged from the U. S. Navy. Teresa and I had lived in San Diego, California for about 3 years. While there, we had traveled the West Coast and was so impressed by the state of the outdoors. The rivers were pure, the mountains and the forests looked as if you were the first ones to visit them. As you hike trails in the West, you hear everywhere, "pack it out". It means that whatever you take in, you take (pack) it out. I liked it!

In 1971 we moved from California back to the Southeast. One day I drove my new (old) pickup down to the Satilla River for some exploring. I was stunned! Everywhere I went I saw trash and garbage! Old refrigerators, tires, stoves, all left as a decaying gift to what had been the unspoiled beauty of God's creation. What a crime!

Certainly things have improved in the last 30 years but my visit this past weekend proved that our progress hasn't been enough. I heard about a neighboring county that is following many other counties in closing their trash and garbage drop off sites to the public. I fear we are headed in reverse to a time of trucks dumping garbage and worn out appliances along our rivers, streams and roadways. (I can show you such a place even today!) Protecting our environment must become more important to all of us. We must speak out and yes we must do it in the Church as well. As Christians we have been silent too long. It is as if we felt that Jesus was coming soon and "it doesn't really matter about the earth anyway." There seems to be this unspoken attitude that "it will last as long as it is needed and then Jesus will fix it". Let me suggest that, as the Psalmist wrote, "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." The inescapable message here is that we do have a responsibility to be good stewards over this beautiful place we call home.

Life Lessons I Have Learned From Golf

(Recently, I was asked to speak after a golf tournament. These are my points. I thought I would share them with you.)

I. Focus. Keep your head down and your eyes on the ball, has been over used but it still is one of the most important points in golf. In life it speaks to me of “Focus”. It is important that we first, “ keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”.(Heb. 12:2) It also speaks to me about focus on our life goals themselves. You hit where you aim!

II. Satisfied . In golf, you should never get satisfied. Most golfers get to a place of comfort in their game and quit improving. In our walk with the Lord we must never think, “this is good enough”. Phil 3:14 “ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Be willing to pay the price for improvement.

III. Tentative. I was leaving the golf course one day after a rather bad round and heard another gentleman say, “I was too tentative today”. I knew exactly what he meant because that described my round as well. Tentative means, “hesitant, cautious, uncertain, timid”. In your daily life, you must learn to live by faith and be the opposite of “uncertain, hesitant and timid” . Josh. 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (2 Tim. 1:7)

IV. Avoidance. We must face the reality of our condition in order to move to the next level. I have never seen a golfer who wouldn’t turn away from bad shots. We hate to see them. In our Christian walk the same is true. We don’t want to see or admit our weaknesses. Facing our weaknesses is critical to improving.

V. Practice. Most golfers hate to practice. They just want to play! It is a known fact that “practice makes perfect.” The same is true in our faith. In golf we practice in order to work into our game a better swing that will keep us from making costly mistakes while under pressure. It has to become second nature to us. Almost all golfers get into a difficult situation and revert back to old bad habits. The same in true in our daily life. Heb. 5:14 “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, [that is], those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

VI. Coaching. I was beating away on the driving range and an old man from a bench said, “can I ask you a question”? I said, “sure”. He asked, “how do professional football and baseball players learn to play their sport. I thought and said, “coaches”. He said, “exactly”, and that’s the only way you learn to play golf too!” The same is true in our faith. That’s what discipleship is all about. We need a more mature believer to give instruction and oversight and help us mature in Christ. A novice golfer (or Christian) may teach us bad habits that may remain for life.

VII. Commitment. Once you check the wind, choose the right club and get over the ball, you must be “committed to the shot”! You can’t swing in a half-hearted, questioning way. You must see the ball going where you want it to go. The same is true in your Christian walk. We must remain committed to our faith every day for the rest of our lives.

The Kingdom View

One of the most difficult things about the Christian walk is our mindset. While the "new birth" reality occurs instantaneously the moment we receive Christ, we are going to heaven, yet, the mental understanding of that reality is a life long pursuit. We all know that our salvation has nothing to do with our "feeling saved". Thank God! While this is truth, we can't settle in that place of immature thinking and the acceptance of mediocrity. We must always be pushing ourselves to let our minds embrace what God says about us.

The Apostle Paul seems to lace his grace filled writings with the most troubling comments. Several come to mind; the fact that he says in one place "I have learned to be content". On another he says, while rebuking the church at Corinth, "you are acting like mere men". Mere men...aren't we mere men? Obviously not. Once we receive Jesus into our lives and we begin this cohabitation with the Holy Spirit, we are different than natural men. Our tastes and appetites change and yes, our thinking changes. That is what the "renewing of the mind is all about.

When we think of these kinds of things our self-centered motivations immediately make it very personal and we think about personal gain. We think, "that should make my life better or easier". In reality a renewed mind and a daily awareness in this area causes us to think with a Kingdom of God mindset. If a person or a church for that matter, are operating from a Kingdom mindset it will be reflected in the their goals and the church's vision. A church with a renewed mind, one that is not dictated by the tastes and demands of the world, will have in it's forefront worship, righteousness, world missions, evangelism, discipleship, the priesthood of the believer and a caring for the less fortunate. It will be consumed by a desire to do the will of God more than building what it believes is a good thing or maybe a drawing card.

Mere Men...let's give it some thought!

The individual journey

For about a year now, I can't get this "every man has a journey" thought off my mind. I see it everywhere. The more I meditate on it, the bigger it gets. It really brings into play, the sovereignty of God. The fact that God has a plan for each of us on this planet is mind boggling! If that is true, and I believe it is with all my heart, that means I need to be careful just how much I get involved in other's lives.

When I first became a Pastor in my mid 20's, I felt this need to have all the answers for everyone who came to see me. Then there came the revelation and liberation that I did not have to have all the answers for everyone. Truth be told, I knew all along I didn't have all the answers, but the people seemed to think I should so I acted like I did! That's a great pressure. Then came the realization that not only did I not have the answers but I could get in the way of people and their walk with the Lord if I became too involved in their special journey. It has been said that "necessity is the father of invention". I think that all too often we as counselors, pastors, parents and friends get so involved in trying to "help", that we get in God's way and stop the normal process of "necessity". Thus, there is no invention. In spiritual matters we would say that the end result of such spiritual meddling stops revelation or worse hinders growth. There is a place for just groping in what appears to be darkness until you break into the sunshine of a new level of maturity. Like the little chick working to break from the shell of the egg, it is the strenuous effort that not only brings release but the effort itself is a preparation for the next level of living.

We need to step back from the problems of others and pray. Just because I can stop another person's pressure, does that mean that I am supposed to? Yes, we are called to help those around us. However, like the little chick, too much help at the wrong time could kill or dwarf the life that will result from the struggle. Let others have their own journey. Trust the Lord to bring them along in His way and in His time. Be ready to assist them as the Lord leads but let it be out of the true leading of the Lord and not mere human emotion or worse, a desire to control.

Flexibility

The definition of being flexible is "being bent without breaking". I workout pretty regularly but I have always hated stretching exercises. I don't know why, I just hate it! However, the older I get the more important I see it is to stretch. It is important to remain flexible because your body is getting less and less pliable. As you get older you also find that to be true in other areas of life. You don't like to be stretched as much as you used to. You don't like to try new things or hear new ideas as much as you used to. You don't enjoy being around people who are different. That's called getting old! That is why it is so important to work at remaining flexible and open to being stretched by new ideas and new methods.

It is amazing, but younger people can be just as inflexible. They are afraid that if they "bend too much, they will break". Young Christians, regardless of age, for example, are often unable to flex in their thinking in spiritual matters. They aren't sure where the lines of flexibility end and the "breaking" begins. Obviously, it is better not to bend than to break. However, growing in the Lord in a healthy way will bring us to a place of greater flexibility without breaking. We come to a place in our growth in the Lord where we can fellowship with, love and value other Christians who don't believe what we believe about baptism, who don't believe the way we do about church government or possibly even what day we should celebrate the sabbath. We can honor them and fellowship with them without fear that somehow this will weaken our faith.

In essence we are talking about growing beyond being the"weaker brother", as Paul calls it in 1 Corinthians 8. Certainly, we all must go through that period in our development where we cannot bend for fear of breaking. However, there is a place of development where we truly experience a fuller experience of our freedom in Christ. We can love more!

I am not talking about compromising our conscience. I am not talking about violating the Scripture. I am saying that maturity brings flexibility without compromise. The Pharisees were totally rigid in their spiritual vision and their blindness cost them the Messiah. I wonder where you and I might be too rigid at this very moment.

People: A commodity or a sacred trust?


Sitting at lunch a young pastor who was just starting out asked, "how do I keep from seeing people as a problem and maintaining the perspective that I truly want to help them?" I gulped on my iced tea! After 34 years of dealing with people, counseling hundreds and probably thousands, I knew this was a bigger question than he could ever imagine at this juncture of his ministry. It is a problem of maintaining a positive attitude for ministry in the midst of dealing with negative and often hostile circumstances and people, day after day and year after year. The answer has all to do with our goals and desires. If we see ministry as our own family business through which we can obtain worldly goods and put a christian name on it, then we will become most miserable. We will come to despise those who are spiritually in need and resent having to interrupt our lives to minister to them. In essence we will become present day Pharisees. That was the condition of the ministry when Jesus made his pastoral entrance. Spiritual leaders were more concerned with their own needs than the needs of others. Jesus speaks to this condition in Matthew 10:39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." If a man is looking for his life or his needs to be met in the ministry, he will never find life. If, however, he can learn the lesson of Jesus and lose his life for the sake of Jesus, he finds life in that kind of service. This is the only true way to ensure longevity in ministry. It is in losing that we win. It is only in this "ministry unto Jesus" that we can see needy people as the sheep of the Great Shepherd. If we have a business mindset, the people become a commodity. If we have a Kingdom mindset, they are the children of God and our service to them becomes a life giving sacred trust.

Kingdom Stuff

Part III

Generational Leadership Transition

"The nature of the animal"

Generational transition will occur with or without us. The question is: will I be an active participant in the process. I'm finding that the emerging leaders desire the input and loving direction of the older leadership. That is why I firmly believe that this generation can do what no generation before us has done, make a Kingdom transfer with assets and not deficits. We can pass on a healthy ministry or organization and not one that has hemorrhaged for years trying to maintain. I am certain that is as much a part of our life's call as the call itself. While we can't guarantee what the next generation will do with what we pass on, that is still our responsibility.

In the last blog I mentioned that if a leader will look around he will probably see emerging leaders. Obviously, that will only apply in a healthy situation. In a healthy situation, leaders produce leaders. Let's assume that is the case. From that standpoint, it is the older leader's responsibility to prepare and point the emerging leadership in the right direction while operating in a slow release of responsibility.

If that is not done, the emerging potential leaders will not see any hope of a future under the direction of the older leader, and the seamless transition will not happen. Prov. 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life". If there is no sign of a true opportunity for ministry transfer to the emerging leader, that lack of hope will "make the heart sick". However, if the older leader will get a plan in place for training, oversight, slow release and final release, it will be "a tree of life". This tree of life will not only be for the emerging leader but for the church or organization as well.

I just did that of which I speak. As the announcement was made that I would be stepping aside, not out, as the senior leader, I could see a new life of excitement and enthusiasm in our congregation. While they have honored me for my role, they are looking to the future with great hope. Of course, I have spent years choosing the right leaders, training them, pointing them and now coaching them. Now my role has changed. I am not the "Father" of the work, now I am the "Grandfather". Had I not made the transition, the "heartsick" option would come into play. That downward spiral looks something like this: the organization begins to lose speed and direction. Members of the group feel the deterioration but loyalty makes them put it out of their minds. In time, emerging leaders may "feel led" to go elsewhere and usually that means starting a new work. The emerging followers will follow the emerging leader. The old guard will point the finger and say, "rebels and traitors". There is some truth in this accusation but there is more truth that the older, non-flexible leadership having been at the root of the problem. The new group is now left to grope around in inexperience without adequate resources. The older group is now motivated, not by Kingdom advancement but by hurts, loyalty and a "faithfulness to the end" mindset.

As I end I must say that I know that my making the transition at my age (60 at my next birthday)is apparently early and was precipitated by moving to an overseer capacity, still the point must be made. Transition must occur by plan of action if we care about posterity. Hopefully, my making the transition earlier gives me a perspective that the potential fears of my later years may not have afforded.

"Kingdom Stuff"

Part II

Generational Leadership Transition

This week I will deal with that challenging and hot topic of bringing the next generation into our sphere in order to have a seamless transition of ministry. The truth be told, very few have ever done it "seamlessly". There are so many fears involved on both sides that obstacles are at every turn. Let's bite off a little today and we will do so each week for the next couple of weeks.

"Passing the Baton"

Gold medals have been lost, not because teams didn't have the fastest runners, but because the baton was passed unsuccessfully. Historically, churches and ministries have made the same mistake. The generation with the baton is doing a great job. For years they are faithful and producing good fruit. Now things are changing. We see them moving from a creative, aggressive visionary mode to more of a maintaining mode. We all know that a maintaining mode is a dying mode but yet when it happens to you, you may not see it.

If that older generation could only look around them in an objective way, they would probably see those serving in the wings that are capable of taking mission to the next generation. This is such a critical point! Those in power have two options: either keep the power or "empower" those in the wings. Of course we don't have time to cover all the details of "how do you know they are the ones" in this blog, but basically we need to know that it will happen to all of us. Yes, you 20 somethings that are standing in the wings and chomping at the bit, it will happen to you and very quickly too! That is why everyone should make this a part of our training and planning. Absolutely every leader above 50 should be working on a transition plan. That doesn't mean quitting, it means moving to a different mode.

I haven't seen a generation in my lifetime pass the baton without dropping it. In truth, most never pass it. They die and let the chips fall where they may. The next generation gropes around in sunshine and shadows making the same mistakes and learning the same lessons through the school of hard knocks. Much could have been avoided and more progress made if only the baton was passed successfully.

Here's the really hard part: in a relay race the one running passes the baton to the next runner and the first runner stops running. In the generational transfer, the older runner doesn't stop, he passes the baton and allows (empowers) the younger runner to run faster than he and yet there remains this heart connection of continuing to pass on the wisdom of the past to the zeal of the future. It takes supernatural humility to do either. The older will see the new runner taking his race to a new level. He will see him do it with a new style that the older runner never saw and hopefully, at a new record. The younger runner must make the decision to look back to the old for wisdom and direction that only experience can bring. He must seek it out!

Join me in being a new generation who is committed to passing the baton correctly! However, you won't without a plan!

"Kingdom Stuff"

In the last blog I told you about my transition of stepping down from being a pastor to giving myself full time to overseeing churches, ministries and ministers. For the next few blogs I will be sharing some things that speak to that group of leaders. However, hopefully, it will be of interest to all who have a Kingdom mindset.

Part I

Lawsuits in the church

Lawsuits in the church, really? Oh, yeah! It happens, and all too often at that. As leaders, what do we do when two members of a church or the Christian community at large come to an impasse over some issue at hand? First, as always we must lead not out of our heads or even from our hearts but by the Scripture. I Corinthians 6:1 tells us, "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" Leaders do need to get involved in the issues of division and especially in a local church or organization. It is like a cancer that will spread if not dealt with quickly. However, it is important that we understand the parameters of our involvement. When we are dealing with personal divisive issues between two individuals or groups in the church we are working within the bounds of love, grace, forgiveness and reconciliation. People involved must be committed to these principles or our "grace efforts" won't work. I believe that, as elders or leaders, after prayer, you should offer what you believe to be the will of the Lord. If you sense that among those involved in the division, there is not a willingness to accept your decision and you see them moving toward legal action, you should move away from the process. It is clear to me that our actions in the church only work within the sphere of Biblical principles. It is a matter of "grace vs.. law". If the people involved move toward "law", you need to withdraw. You have done your part by offering what you believe to be the will of the Lord in line with reconciliation. From the moment that the affected, or I may say "infected" parties reject your counsel and move toward a legal settlement, you should be free to step back, love both parties but not be involved in giving advice as they seek a legal settlement. They have made a decision to move from grace to law. Now they are under a different set of parameters, that of the "world's system". From that point on Christian leaders are taken out of the process because all we have to offer is the Biblical order of things. That means no counsel, no going to court and certainly not siding with either party. As elders and leaders, you must maintain a Biblical posture and not take sides.

In our next few Kingdom Stuff blogs, we will address Generational Leadership Transition.

Technical Difficulties!

Not quite sure how it happened but the blog about Generational Leadership Transition was scheduled to be posted on Oct. 6 but it posted today and out of order at that!!!! SURPRISE!

Anyway, Monday you will receive part one to this new series just for you called, "Kingdom Stuff"! Monday's blog will be on the topic: " Lawsuits in the Church".

Things we have learned.





I just stepped down as Senior Pastor of New Covenant Church of Valdosta, Georgia. I moved there in 1980 with my wife and three small children to pioneer a new work in a funeral home. The Lord has blessed us in such powerful ways that it would be impossible to scratch the surface of all He has done. However, in my last message in that leadership role I shared some thoughts on "things I have learned". I thought I would share those points from 28 years of a church family daily walking it out.








Last Message as Senior Pastor of NCC

“The Things We Have Learned”(excerpts)

I. We have learned: A new paradigm - There has been a lot said these last few years about new paradigms. A “paradigm” is defined as, “an example serving as a model; pattern.” We experienced the Lord molding us into a new paradigm, a new model over 28 years ago. Our new paradigm would primarily be one of ending the concept of simply “having church” and seeking to begin to “be the church”. We wanted “practical Christianity”. If it didn’t “work” in a practical way, it wasn’t any good.
We have always sought to be courageous in embracing new ideas. We want to be “innovators and not imitators”. We have always disliked and sought to avoid “fads”.



II. We have learned the necessity of The Centrality of the Scripture - The Lord led us to make sure we held the Scripture high as our guide and as our plumb line. Experience is a wonderful part of our walk with the Lord, but the Bible must be our final authority.



III. We have leaned the necessity of the Spirit Filled Life – From day one our cry has been the words of the Prophet Zechariah when he said, “'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.



IV. We have learned that the ministry of Jesus in one of a “hospital to the hurting”. - We have sought to heal men and women one at a time, lead them to a place of wholeness to the point where they could become a part of the hospital healing team to help and heal others.
People are precious to Jesus and they must be precious to us. People must never be a commodity to help arrogant, self serving men fulfill their ministry vision.



V. We have learned to Embrace Diversity. - God sends special gifts to us with which we assist him in building His Church. All kinds of people and all kinds of talents. The challenge comes in walking out community with diversity in practical ways. The key is flexibility!



VI. We have learned to keep the wineskin flexible. – The wineskin is structure. It speaks of government and methodology. Government has always been very important to NCC, yet, we have always sought to hear fresh words from the Lord and have been willing to change or even admit mistakes and start over in areas when needed.



VI. We have learned to move slowly and especially in recognizing new leadership.
We have learned to try to raise up slowly members of our own family that have paid the price to go through our own “feeder system”. Then, we train and practice “slow release”. Our slower pace has proven to be frustrating for some but for the church as a whole, it has been a very healthy thing.



VII. We have learned the principle of Body Life and Ministry
Real relationship formation among our people is critical. Nowhere is that seen and practiced more fully than in our Home Churches(small groups). This is where people can be trained, ministered to and healed, and all within the atmosphere of family.



VIII. We have learned the importance of Body Ownership - People must feel it’s their church, their ministry. We have tried to make this happen by the “decentralization of the home office”. We have operated as “traffic directors” seeking to turn ministry back to our people rather than having people send the ministry to the church office. Ex. “The Priesthood of the Believer”.



IX. We have learned the concept of the Open Church with loving government. - All families need fathers. Our government seeks to give loving, fatherly oversight. Our leadership wants you to be able to live and minister in an atmosphere of freedom and liberty but still operating within the safety of oversight.



X. We have learned the healthy aspect of “Staying Clear” – Nothing will rob you of present day joy and sabotage your future more than a lack of forgiveness. We seek to practice forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.



XI. We have learned to be liberal givers.

Storms And Sanity

I was watching a special on the vulnerability of Miami to hurricanes. It unnerved me a bit as I just helped my daughter, son in law and granddaughter get settled there. On this special a "young" man was interviewed who said, "I don't even have insurance on my house". Excuse me, but my thought was, "what an idiot"! Why, because I have seen the devastation of a hurricane. Once this young man sees the effects of a category 4 or, God forbid, 5, he will take a totally different perspective. The storm will bring him to sanity. I live 100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and 100 miles from the Atlantic. I live in a rural area surrounded by a forest and on the edge of a beautiful little lake. I had thought of getting a generator before but then I thought, "why should I spend the money, I'm too far away from the ocean to affect me". Then, 2005 came. I had back to back storms that took out 3 or 4 giant oak trees in my yard that barely missed my house. I was without power for 4 days in one storm and 2 days in another. In the country, when you are without power, you are without everything. No lights, no water and no flushing! I bought a generator. The storm brought me to sanity. I was willing to pay the price.



My son Shane sent me an article by a business leader entitled, "Does integrity pay"? The question that business leaders were debating was brought on by the bottom line. In truth, the storm of our current financial woes have brought them to a place of sanity in saying that yes, integrity does pay. Please understand that when men are swimming in money and prosperity is easy to get, these kinds of questions are rare in the business world. In those times the prevailing thought is that "the end justifies the means". Whatever it takes! No so today. Business leaders, politicians and even clergymen are asking tough questions like, "what does it take to keep us from failing"? Are there certain fundamental principles that we have compromised, like prosperity, that has led to our present situation?



These are good times. These times of stormy and uncertain futures make us all stop and take inventory and hopefully regain our sanity.

It's not about me...REALLY?
I was born as the first child in my family. I was the first grandchild on one side and the first male grandchild on the other side. That's a formula for being very self centered! Oh, believe me, I was disciplined. I was paddled at school and "whipped" at home. Yet, I had already realized that I was "special". No beating could stop the flow of thoughts that said, "you can send roadblocks, but you can't stop me because I have a destiny. I'm not like the rest of you. I dared not say what I was thinking deep within my heart because it seemed so prideful. However, in the deepest recesses of my meditation, I knew I was better than most! It was fed along the way. Grandmother Joiner was my greatest fan. I could do no wrong. I remember Mrs. Minchew in elementary school telling a crowd in my presence while she was directing a play, "give L. A. the part, he'll do anything"! Man, healing, affirmation and personal ignition at the same time.
Now, I know what you are thinking, that's what everyone needs. Everyone needs to have that kind of confidence and self esteem. It sounds good, but while it does reflect qualities of potential leadership, it also speaks of raw material that must be broken and reshaped if God can every truly use it for His purposes. You see that is the kind of thinking that caused men like King Saul to bypass the instructions of the Lord because he was sure that he not only had a better idea, but once God saw how good his plan was, the Lord would surely reward him for his initiative. You see, within that thinking is the powerful deception that it really is about me. It's not!
When Moses died and God was about to take Israel into the promised land through the leadership of Joshua, the Lord required a new circumcision for a new generation. It was a season of "firsts". No more manna, a new method of following God, a new leadership team, a new test of fatih and a new generation. Joshua was a new leader but he had witnessed the old and he had risen from the ashes of the old to be the new leader for a new day. He must be pretty special. Then reality came. Right at that moment a figure appears from nowhere that wasn't a part of the familiar mix. Joshua speaks to the man and says, ""Are You for us or for our adversaries?" Listen carefully to the heart of this message. Joshua only saw two possibilities. He saw that the entire world circled around "us and and our adversaries". It's all about me, my plans and the obstacles to those plans. I'm working for God and I will not be stopped. I will build this church, this ministry, this business and when I'm finished, I will give God all the Glory! What rubbish! What self centeredness! What blindness! The answer came back fast and clear, "NO"! He wasn't about either "you or them". ""No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"
Maybe today you find yourself worn out from the battle. Maybe you are even blinded by the bitterness toward all the opposition. Maybe there is even a hint of anger toward God for not helping you more in your endeavor. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to see clearly that it's not about you nor them. Really, it's not about you! It's about Him and His Kingdom. Why don't we pause now, fall on our faces and worship? Then and only then are we able to ask with hearing ears, "what does my Lord say to His servant"?

Judgment
Those of you who know me have probably heard me speak on my favorite topic, "Cooperative Diversity". The older I get, the more I love diversity, or at least I think I do. In my last blog I told you about traveling across America by car, a 6,000 mile adventure into experiencing diversity at it's zenith. On this journey we were able to stay in various communities experiencing the joy of getting to know and yet not being known. I don't mean this in a disparaging way but it was like a traveling experience to the zoo. At every stop whether in a restaurant, a hotel lobby, a white water rafting ride or on top of a mountain, there it was, DIVERSITY!!! It is such a strange thing, this diversity. Of course, diversity is only diversity to me. To the diverse I'm considering, it is their normal. To them, I'm the diverse. That is where the pain comes in. Which of us is the weaker? It reminds me of when my Dad would take me to the zoo. He would laugh and say, "today we are going to visit your cousins". Then he would take me, always, to the monkey cages. We loved to watch the monkeys. I can remember in one of my contemplative moments I thought, "who's in the zoo and who's watching whom?"(Actually, I thought, "who's watching who".)
Diversity by it's very nature speaks only of difference but says nothing about judgment. It is my own feeling of rightness that starts the wheels turning toward making a judgment. Yet, we have all been guilty of judging based on the display of mere diversity. Webster defines "to judge" as to consider a case and pass sentence. Jesus said that Father God was so against this kind of judgment that our judging would set into motion a reversal of the judgment process so that we would receive back upon our lives judgment in the same measure that we sent it out. I'm working hard on removing judgment from my daily life. It requires great love to do this. Only the love of God that was first given freely to us can lead us out of the darkness of the prideful actions of judging others. In truth, our judgment could be right as we take stock of another's diversity. It could also be as wrong as the Pharisee's view of Jesus in his own diversity.

America!


I just returned from driving 6,000 miles and crossing 15 States through America. Teresa and I left June 22 on a marathon driving adventure. We traveled from our home through Birmingham to Memphis and on to Hot Springs, Ark. From there we traveled I-70 through Kansas and the great plains to the majestic Rockies of Colorado. From Colorado we made our way to San Diego, Ca. (via Moab, Ut., a must see) where we spent our first 3 years of married life. We went there to celebrate 40 years of an ever deepening relationship! (Truth be told, over a month in a car together will either make it or break it! We survived!!!) From San Diego it was on to Redondo Beach (Los Angeles) to spend some time with my daugther, Tarah, son in law, Scott and yes, little Lucia!!! What a joy! Good news, they are moving from LA to Miami in about a month. Our prayers are answered to get them a days drive from us. After our visit we traveled home on I-40, making a stop at the National Memorial in Oklahoma City. As I wandered the grounds of the location of that horrible event, I was struck with emotion. I was moved by the response of America at the news of the bombing and the outpouring of love sent to that city. It's always unbelievable how such a crisis brings everyone together and the shared experience somehow lifts us out of our own little self-centered world and into a greater shared sphere. One of the search and rescue teams at the scene in 1995 painted on a wall of the wreckage these simple words that remain there:





"Team 5


4-19-95


We search for the truth


We seek justice


The Courts require it


The Victims cry for it


and God demands it!"





After having traveled America "from sea to shining sea" and driving through the "fields of amber waves of grain", it was so obvious to me that God has certainly, with all our struggles, "crowned us with brotherhood". I don't know of another country where life is so precious and where when crisis strikes, strangers become brothers.





Let me end today with the first words of America the Beautiful:





"Oh beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,


For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain.


America! America!God shed His grace on thee,


And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea."

Maintaining Joy In Ministry
One of the reasons I didn't want to be a preacher was that I didn't see many happy ones! I know that's an exaggeration but at that time, that's what I felt. After a few years in full time ministry, I began to understand that there is a challenge to maintaining joy in the midst of ministry. People who have never served in full time service ministry to people don't have any idea what happens when you serve in ministry 24/7, 365 days a year. Then, I read the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote, "rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice"! The real earth shaker here is that he wrote it while he was in prison!

Nehemiah writes "the joy of the Lord is your strength". If that is true, a person without joy is a person without power. Let me share 10 things that have helped me get back on the horse after being thrown off!

1. Understand that joy comes from the Lord and our finding pleasure in Him.

2. Joy is found in doing God's will. Knowing you are serving in the will of God makes all situations bearable, and in time enjoyable.

3. Joy follows "bringing the Kingdom". Rom. 14:17; Acts 8:1-8

4. Focus on Kingdom Fruit, not only outward results. - Acts 15:3

5. Don't take it personally! - Acts 13: 50-52

6. Selflessness promotes joy - Acts 20:24

7. Seek to be a contagious joy extender! - 2 Cor. 7:13

8. Remain focused on the Kingdom destination - Heb. 12:2

9. Stay filled with the Holy Spirit - Gal. 5:22

10. Don't complain! - David said in Psalm 77:3, "I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed".

Life At It's Best!

Just in case you were wondering what I am really doing on my Sabbatical, here's a clue!

"nuff said"!!!!

Blessings!
L. A.





PS- This is Lucia Terese at 5 months.

Sabbatical
As you read this today, I am on Sabbatical! What is the world is a sabbatical? Webster defines it as, "any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc." I am taking 6 weeks during the slower pace of summer to try to do just this. Actually, I took my first sabbatical 6 1/2 years ago for 4 weeks. At that time I was having some serious health issues that needed to be addressed. I had just been told that I needed coronary bypass surgery. I took that time to fast, pray, eat healthier and exercise. It was an amazing time. As I was taking some radical health steps, I saw change in about 3 weeks. After about 21 days my blood pressure and blood sugar dropped into the normal range from pretty high and unhealthy levels. What did it? Of course God! However, I would not be honest if I simply left it at that. God worked with my efforts of obedience.

I think one of the most important things that happened at that time was getting my stress levels down to a normal place. This might not apply to some of you but as a type "A"(+) personallity, my stress levels will rise, rise, and rise some more until it gets out of control. Pace seems to be something I find very difficult to do. I will get to the point that even when I could rest because I have an afternoon open, I can't relax. That a sure sign something is wrong and left unchecked will result in serious emotional or physical sickness and usually both. The older I get the more I see that I have been paying the price through the year but thought I was getting away with it.

Let me encourage you to reevaluate your life and lifestyle. Men especially are bad about this. Men get their fulfillment from working and being the answer for everyone else. It's a killer and out of control, it's deadly. I'm taking 6 weeks after 34 years of full time ministry. You may not be able to do that. There are things you can do. Learn to pace your life. Pull in the reins on your life and live within a discipline more structured lifestyle. Set schedules and live within those schedules. It's not wrong to require that others fit into your schedule. You will both be better for it. Take time for you. If you take some time to do what you like to do(other than work), it will release you to be better at serving others. Get plenty of rest. Rest is as important as diet. Both are critical to longevity. The big thing is to recognize the problem and make it a priority!

Leadership Presence
I heard a father say something once that impacted me as a leader. He was talking about his rather strong-willed sons. He said, "I'm not called to be their friend, I'm called to be their Father". I know, I know, that sounds so negative. We want to be their friend too, right? I think it is possible to be a friend but not at the expense of being what they really need, and that is a leader.

Leadership has been called a "lonely place". It is a lonely place because to be a leader requires one to step out of the shadows of the crowd. It makes us a target and the object of other's frustration many times. However, leaders have to understand that while they may want to be "one of the boys", it may not be possible. This is a part of the price of leadership! I believe we need to count the cost before we accept the call to lead but once we have made the choice of obedience, lead we must.

I am not promoting the "old school" philosophy that you cannot be friends with those you lead. I believe you can. You won't have to draw a line of separation to maintain your authority. I can't imagine Jesus doing that. However, his having to take stands, correcting and assigning responsibility, drew the line for Him. Don't be afraid to lead. Don't cower back from correcting, assigning roles/jobs to others, training leaders, and yes loving as a leader. It is this kind of leadership that establishes the parameters for those you lead. It creates an atmosphere of safety and peace. A poor leader or a weak leader is so consummed with self love and wanting to be liked that he just can't bring himself to a place of true leadership. If you are called to lead, go ahead and step out in faith and assume the role for which the Lord is waiting to anoint and empower. This kind of leadership requires the best from those you lead. It lets them know when they are to be on the job, when they are to leave and what they should be doing while there. Of course, the best way to set the pattern is to live it yourself so all can see.

Your primary goal in leadership is not to build this fun place where everyone likes you. Your primary goal is to be a caring leader who is committed to being your best and causing those you lead to rise to becoming their best!

Saving Private Ryan



I just finished watching "Saving Private Ryan" again for the "umteenth" time. My wife was out of town so I watched it alone. She was never really very fond of it. Yes, I think I cried more than ever while watching the now old man fall at the grave of the Captain who died saving the Private. Sixty years earlier, while watching this Captain die on the field of battle, Ryan had to endure hearing the last words of the dying officer say, "earn this". Today, few know the real cost of freedom or the blood that was shed securing it. It's a difficult thing to have to endure listening to someone, without a clue, speaking against the process of democracy. It's a delicate thing this democracy and not without it's problems. Yet, generation after generation, we have those arise who are the cynics of that day. Cynics are "fault finders". They don't have answers nor the courage to pay a price for change but they continue to spew forth the cheap words of protest. There are times when it would appear that each generation is going the way of the cynic. However, by the grace of God, when each generation faces it's hour of crisis and is confronted by it's own challenge of tyranny, the heros arise. From the cities to the farmlands they begin to march toward their own potential demise for the sake of the common good. Again and again they make decisions that often go against reason in order to seek to ensure that the next generation has the right to protest or to serve based upon their own internal motivation.






We have the same problem in the church world. So many see only the problems of the church and yes here too, we have those with all the answers but no stomach to work for the cure. Will we continue to see those arise, generation after generation who will hear the Call and sacrifice for the Mission? I know we will. I choose to believe that and not hear the cynics. When all is said and done and the voices of the nay sayers are silenced, I only want to know that my Lord will say to me, "well done thou good and faithful servant".