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Category Archives: Leadership

The 3 Worst Evangelists I’ve Ever Met


There are a lot of different ways to share the gospel. Every believer who shares his or her faith each has their different style. Most of us have a different style depending on who we are talking to or the specific situation we find ourself in. I share the gospel differently in a one on one conversation than I do when I am preaching from a pulpit. You would likely share differently with someone you know personally than you  would with a stranger. Differences in sharing the gospel are valid and should be celebrated. There are many great ways to share the gospel but there are also some poor ways. Here are a few that I have seen.

The “Hope Nazi’

Most of my readers have watched Seinfeld (I won’t tell) at least once. One of the colorful characters in the show was a man known as the Soup Nazi. When ordering soup from his restaurant, Jerry and the gang had to be very particular in how they walked, talked and paid for their lunch. If they made one mistake the soup was jerked from their hand and with a menacing growl the Soup Nazi would  spout “No soup for you!”.

Some believers have become Hope Nazi’s. When dealing with an unbelieving world these believers focus on the negative and lack grace.

“Oh, you are gay, a democrat, have had an abortion, wear stripes with plaid…? You are going to hell! No hope for you!”

I think the people I have met that are jerking hope from the reach of the fallen world would do well to remember that you get more flies with honey.

I absolutely believe that sin must be confronted and that stripes and plaid are not equally yoked, but rather than focusing on hell lets offer them what Jesus offered them… hope!

I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t want a better life. Jesus offers a life more abundant and full than we can ever imagine (John 10:10). That is what we should lead with.

People are already inclined to think negatively about themselves. Most are trying to fill a void in their life with something… anything that will bring them even temporary happiness. Show them the Hope and the Joy they have been searching for. Show them Jesus!

Mr. & Mrs. Guilttrip (and their cousins the Boycotts) 

You know the type. These are the people  who think they are making a positive impact on a lost world by chewing out the sales clerk who says “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas”.  Or they have attack ads posted on the bumper of their SUV.

The GuiIttrip’s probably couldn’t tell you what they were for, but they can tell you in an 1000 words in the “Readers Voice” section of the newspaper what they are against.

Who would want a God that causes his people to act in such a way?

Lil’ Miss “Guess what… I’m Better Than You” 

Lil’ Miss is self righteous. She has her life together. She makes wise decisions. She home schools her kids. Lil’ Miss won’t even admit that her bodily functions have an oder to them! She does everything right! She is like Jesus Jr, and guess what… your not!

This is probably where most of us battle with ourselves.  Sometimes when we have been Christ followers for a while we forget what we were like prior to His grace flooding our lives.

Let’s all take a step back and remember.

Have you ran into any of these people lately? Is one of them looking back at you in the mirror each morning? Did I miss one that you would like to mention? Share in the comment section!

 

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RISK

Over the past few months I have been thinking a lot about what it is that God is asking of me. I am coming to believe that God wants more for and from me than I could ever imagine for myself. Check out the following excerpt from my message to the church this Sunday.

“If you are afraid that God may call you to do something bigger than yourself, then you should be very afraid. So many of us don’t step into anything that we can’t control. I am so guilty of this.  I want to be at the controls in every aspect of my life. The result is that we never see anything happen that is extraordinary. God’s plan is to take us to deep waters. His plan is to get us in over our head.

 What is it that God is asking of you that makes your stomach tie up in knots?  You might say, “Dusty I can’t do that. I can’t  go there!”  That’s the point. If we could do it on our own, what would be the need for God.

God wants us to trust him to do these big things in life not only so we build a reliance on Him,not only so that big things are accomplished, but so that He will receive all the glory because we could have never done it on our own and therefore can claim none of the glory for it.

Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul, we know their names NOT because they were called of God to do the extraordinary. We know them because they RESPONDED to the call to do the extraordinary. They risked it all.”

When I wrote that passage, It was meant to inspire the graduates from our ministry on Senior Recognition Sunday, but God is using those words to stir something in me also. I’ll try to document as much as I can of what He shows me going forward.

For more on this read Derwin Gray’s blog on the same subject. http://www.derwinlgray.com/2012/05/risk.html

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 (MSG)

 
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Posted by on May 24, 2012 in Leadership, Youth Ministry

 

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The Price of Leadership: Loneliness

One of the most common complaints among leaders is the feeling of loneliness. As pastoral leaders we are not exempt from this feeling either. Sometimes our loneliness is a result of poor choices or assumptions we have made as a leader. Other times, we can be exactly where we need to be, standing in the center of God’s will and realize that we are alone.

Top 5 cures for leadership-loneliness via leadershipfreak.wordpress.com (parenthetical statements are mine)

  1. Be who you are – take time to reflect. Faking drains you. (We are more Clark Kent than Superman and most everyone already knows that. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. People avoid “phonies”.)
  2. Listen to dissent and examine your passions early in the process. (Don’t win the battle and lose the war. If God has put you a position of leadership, it is as a shepherd who cares for the sheep, not as dictator. Lead passionately but listen intently. If you do, even those who disagree with you will yield to your leadership.)
  3. Build a support network. (Find people outside of your direct leadership that can be your encouragers. This could be accountability partners, mentors, other leaders etc. Also don’t neglect the built-in support system of your family. God has called and placed you there FIRST.)
  4. Create a culture of ownership. (Hold things loosely. The easiest way to alienate others and find yourself all by yourself is to have a selfish mentality.All of the decisions don’t need to be made by you. God has called you to lead as a steward of His church. Make sure that everyone feels as though they are co-owners in the Kingdom of God.)
  5. Engage others in the process. (No one is creative in a vacuum. We all need input from others. Be sure to take advantage of the talent and gifting of those around you.)

If we put these things to work in our lives, there will still be times when we feel lonely and disconnected. However, we wont feel that way nearly as often, because we have intentionally gathered others by our leadership rather than scattering them.

 

Did Anyone Hear That?

-Dusty-

 
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Posted by on May 3, 2012 in Leadership

 

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