The Eyes of Gratitude

God give me your eyes.
I want to see beauty.
That I might acknowledge blessing.
Yet I really want to see you.
In the middle of everything.
Even of pain. Struggle. Spiritual winter.
Your eyes see the lonely in the middle of busy.
Your eyes see hope knee deep in despair.
Your eyes see the whole person when others just see the broken.
I want eyes that capture the full future of a current foe that I might fully free a future friend.
Give me eyes to see my fear so I might step out in faith.
Give me your eyes, God.
I know you're great.
I believe you're good.
You're strong.
You're loving.
I see it.
Thanks.

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Dumping Junk and Living Spiritually

Satan’s and God’s designs in your life are not the same. Satan designs to destroy your love for Christ. God designs to deepen your love for Christ. Some people see the "things of this world" (money, possessions, careers, homes, etc) as the enemy.  They are not the enemy.  They are inanimate objects.  The are neutral by nature. Having a nice home or a decent IRA or a good job does not mean you are not walking in step with the spirit.  You haven't let the world win if you have some (or all) of those things.  The "world" wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ. It is meant to help you say and feel, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” And to know that therefore, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 3:8; 1:21)


Note: This thought is actually adapted from an article Dr. John Piper wrote a while back, "Don't Waste Your Cancer"

The Delicacy of Delegation

Historically with regards to my leadership, I've found the task of delegating to be more art than science.  I've struggled with knowing when to delegate, how to delegate and to whom to delegate.  Recently, I ran across this simple little quiz that I found very valuable concerning the topic of delegation. Hopefully, you will too.


QUIZ: Are you delegating enough or effectively?

Answer these simple questions to see where you stand. 

	1. Do you work extended hours trying to catch up?	Yes	No
	2. When you delegate an activity, do you merely say "Do it?"	Yes	No
	3. Do you take work home evenings and weekends?	Yes	No
	4. Do you postpone long-range projects?	Yes	No
	5. Do you lack confidence in your subordinates' abilities?	Yes	No
	6. Is the work on your staff below your expectations?	Yes	No
	7. Does your staff have low morale?	Yes	No
	8. Are all decisions deferred to you from your staff?	Yes	No
	9. Has your staff stopped presenting their ideas to you?	Yes	No
	10. Do operations slow down when you're away?	Yes	No

If you answer yes to more than five of the questions, you're not delegating enough! 


“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.” -Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004) U.S. president


For more on delegation, read this.

Don't You Dare Laugh At This Guy's $50,000 iPod

Check out this article and then read on.


This is not going where you think it is...


This is a warning not against materialism or a jab at a boxer's stewardship.  It is a confession of my punch drunk thinking.


This article made me think of one thing: "Man, I wish he would've given that money to Bara!"


That is lame.


Yes, would $50k totally bless Bara Church big time right about now? Of course. But I believe that God desires to provide for us through people that know Kim and I and believe in us and Bara's vision.  How much more biblical is it for people to give to the vision/need of the local church/church planter...being compelled only by the Holy Spirit as opposed to the church planter "wishing" for a boxer he's never met to send in a fat check?


God is using the Bara body to be His hands and feet in big, bold and beautiful ways.  He knows our needs and he will provide at the exact time we need it.


I know it!


But if he wants to use you to help...praise God!  In fact, here is a link for you to do just that.


And if you don't click that link above and give to Bara, I'm going to tell Floyd you think his iPod is girly, his hat is dumb, and Floyd is a stupid name!


Kidding!

Pastors Aren't Superheroes

I know this article (below) was totally in jest but it got me to thinking about how western Christianity has pushed some pastors into a spotlight that was never meant to shine on them but rather on the one that sent them!


It reminds me of the scene in John 6:15 where the crowd wants to "force" Jesus to be king. Jesus doesn't let them. How he handles the situation is telling.  He withdraws away from the crowds and gets alone and presses into his Father's presence.  


Whenever we feel ourselves being pushed onto a throne that is not ours to occupy, we must go bow before the true King and come back to the people even more passionate about boasting of His kingdom and more mindful that it never has been about building our kingdom!  


This week I worked a horrible suicide in my town and ministered to a crushed and confused family late into the night. Yesterday the fire chief praised and thanked me for my efforts.  My reply was, "it's what we do."


I'm not the king of the kingdom.
I'm not the head of the church.
And I'm definitely not a superhero.


#325. The superhero guide to famous pastors. � Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff

All Things To All Men or Just One Thing To All Men?

When Paul said he would literally change his approach attitude, and aim for the single, never changing purpose of saving just one person, he was on to something!

Unfortunately, some of our churches are stuck in a time warp, unwilling to change a thing! No wonder we don't see people changing either!

The church could take a lesson from business because apparently, business has taken a lesson from the Bible!

Seth's Blog: The art of seduction: "http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b31569e2013480860882970c"

There are no magic words that open every heart. We must prayerfully, carefully, and strategically try to reach people individually!

And if we do that, we will be doing it biblically!

Unlock Your Inner Edison

The past few days, God has really been stirring my spirit to wade back out into the waters of innovation and creativity. Lately I've found the dry land of status quo quite disturbing at best and down right depressing at worst.

Obviously, God is the greatest source of inspiration when it comes to creating. That being said, Edison isn't a bad model when it comes to intentionally innovating either.

Check out this article on America's Greatest Inventor

Blogging Innovation � Unlock Your Inner Edison

Facebook's Future and My Leadership

I just read a good article about Facebook's future here.

This quote caught my eye and made me asks some questions regarding my own leadership:

"But as with all visionaries, there is always the danger that in his attempt to lead his flock to the land of milk and honey, there will come a moment where he steps too far ahead, and the flock abandons the frontier for the pasture, leaving him alone and howling in the wilderness."

I pray for the wisdom to know when leave the pasture for the frontier and when to stay put for a bit. I pray that I would also love God more than I love the approval of the flock (crowd), love myself, or love the comfort of the pasture.

Because sometimes you have to go to the wilderness all alone to find out what is next for your people.

It just might be great news!

Leaders and a God-Listening Heart

I read this verse last week and I cannot get it off my heart:

"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"

It is from 1 Kings 3:9 (The Message)

I want it bad.

Help Haiti Right Now!

Dear Friends,

I’m sending this mass plea out to my entire network of friends and family.

I have an amazing opportunity for you to help Haiti right now!

Brad Gautney called me late last night (said the Holy Spirit put me on his heart) and began to share with me the amazing and atrocious accounts from his last 2 weeks in Haiti. I could talk about Brad for days as he truly is one of the most Christ-like men I’ve ever known. More information about Brad can be found at the end of this email. Check Bara’s website for a video of Brad in Haiti the day after the quake that should be posted the next few days.

So Brad is telling me these stories and I ask him what he needs and he says, “A way to get more supplies from the US into Haiti.” The Spirit immediately brings my good friend David Tatum to my heart. David is a former AA pilot and runs a ministry called Freedom Flight. David had been trying to offer his plane and services for over a week and had a lot of leads but the red tape with some bigger organizations was slowing the process down. Check out his site now! As with Brad, I could go on and on about David and his love for our great King too! I’m texting David while on the phone with Brad and within minutes, Brad and David are on the phone with each other and a trip for this Friday is planned.

Brad has the medical supply reinforcements needed to enable his team of doctors and missionaries to treat the masses. Brad told me that they are giving away over 7,000lbs of food and medicine daily! But those supplies are stuck here in the states. David has the plane and the heart to sacrifice. What we need is money!

We need $6,000 - $10,000 for fuel and we need it in the next 24-48 hrs!

Any amount will help. Seriously, if you have $5.00 to give, send it. We’ve got to get these supplies to Brad and his team in Haiti ASAP!

Here how to give in order of preference:

1. Mail a check today to:

Freedom Flight, Inc

401 N. Carroll Ave #197

Southlake, TX 76092

2. Use PayPal and give right now by clicking here. Send money to "David@freedomflightusa.com" We do lose money (3%) this way.

3. Contact David and set up a wire or bank transfer for today or tomorrow by clicking here.

Whatever way you choose, please take a minute to contact David and tell him that you are going to (or just did) give and tell him how much so he will know where he stands with the fuel expenses.

If you want to support Brad in addition to this effort, please shoot me an email and I’ll put you in touch.

Thank you so much for considering this opportunity to help immediately with medical and humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

You are so loved…so love.

Joel

Brad Gautney is currently living in the United States with his amazing wife Monica, and his daughters Hope and Emma, and son Kado James. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where he specialized in International Health. He now works as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Haiti and East Africa implementing new health programs to reach those most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Brad and Monica Gautney spent four years living and working in Haiti where they oversaw a school, nutrition program, and initiated several community development projects including a community health clinic. He continues to oversee the MannaHaiti program through MGM, making frequent visits to Haiti. Brad also serves on the MGM board as a Director. He can be reached at bgautney@mannaglobalministries. Manna Global Ministries.