How do we know if the fridge light has turned off when we close the door?
It depends on your philosophy of knowledge. The rationalists would claim we could reason that the light was off by knowing certain aspects of functioning fridges that involve door switches and light circuits. Empiricists, who claim that all knowledge come though our senses, would say they don't know if the light is off since you can't percieve it when the door is closed. Going further along these lines, the empiricist philospher George Berkeley would say that the light, whether on or off, would cease to exit because to be is to be perceived. Mind you, for him, the food and beer in the fridge would cease to exist as well. So either you can know or can't know if the light is off, depending on the presuppositions you approach your fridge with.
(From "Big Questions", P.4, Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald, July 30-31 2005)
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
augustine
"The thought of you stirs him so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you." - Augustine "Confessions of a Sinner."
Thursday, July 28, 2005
cool philosophy
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates"God is dead." - Nietzsche.
"Nietzsche is dead." - God.
"I think, therefore I am." - Rene Descartes
"I am, therefore I should think." - Me
"I drink coffee, therefore I am/" - unknown
"Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered." - Aristotle
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
bravery
One dark night outside a small town in Minnesota, a fire started inside the local chemical plant, and in a blink of an eye it exploded into massive flames. The alarm went out to all the fire departments for miles around.
When the volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the chemical company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved. I will give $50,000 to the fire department that brings them out intact."
Despite the prize, the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in as the situation became desperate. As more firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer was now $100,000 to the fire department who could bring out the company's secret files. Still no takers.
From the distance, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the nearby rural township volunteer fire company composed mainly of Norwegians over the age of 65. They had fled Europe after WW II, and established their own town.
To everyone's amazement, the little run-down fire engine, operated by these old Norwegians, passed all the newer sleek engines parked outside the plant . . . . and drove straight into the middle of the inferno! Outside, the other firemen watched as the Norwegian old-timers jumped off and began to fight the fire with a performance and effort never seen before. Within a short time, the Norsemen had extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas.
The grateful chemical company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman feat he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave, though elderly, Norse firefighters. The local TV news reporters rushed in after capturing the event on film and asked, "What are you going to do with all that money?"
"Vell," said Olee Larsen, the 70-year-old fire chief, "Da furst ting vee doo is fix da brakes on dat truck!" (Mikey's Funnies)
When the volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the chemical company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved. I will give $50,000 to the fire department that brings them out intact."
Despite the prize, the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in as the situation became desperate. As more firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer was now $100,000 to the fire department who could bring out the company's secret files. Still no takers.
From the distance, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the nearby rural township volunteer fire company composed mainly of Norwegians over the age of 65. They had fled Europe after WW II, and established their own town.
To everyone's amazement, the little run-down fire engine, operated by these old Norwegians, passed all the newer sleek engines parked outside the plant . . . . and drove straight into the middle of the inferno! Outside, the other firemen watched as the Norwegian old-timers jumped off and began to fight the fire with a performance and effort never seen before. Within a short time, the Norsemen had extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas.
The grateful chemical company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman feat he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave, though elderly, Norse firefighters. The local TV news reporters rushed in after capturing the event on film and asked, "What are you going to do with all that money?"
"Vell," said Olee Larsen, the 70-year-old fire chief, "Da furst ting vee doo is fix da brakes on dat truck!" (Mikey's Funnies)
lausanne
The website of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization contains a variety of occasional papers which deal with important topics concerning missions and apologetics. The papers are available in .pdf format (so you will need Adobe reader). You'll find a listing of the papers at this site:
http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=13890
One particular paper you may enjoy is entitled "The Uniqueness of Christ in a Postmodern World and the Challenge of World Religions." As pastors deal more and more with the challenge of ministry in a pluralistic culture, this kind of resource is helpful to prepare us for effective engagement with other religions. You'll find this paper at: http://community.gospelcom.net/lcwe/assets/LOP31_IG2.pdf
(Free Adobe Acrobat reader required, available at www.adobe.com.)
Here's a brief excerpt from the section of the paper that deals with the Christian's approach to Hindus: "The most important point of entry for the Hindu to the Christian faith is, first of all, less the reflected permeation of Christian dogma, but, rather, spiritual experience. For it is the "bhakti", that is, the love of God and God's exalted nature, which, along with the way of conduct, placed even before all knowledge, according to Hindu understanding, is considered the most important way to salvation. Asceticism, meditation, and spiritual exercises play a predominant role. Hindu spiritual guidance by gurus is less interested in theological insights than it is in psychological sensitivity. Akhilananda says in his lecture on "The Hindu View of Christ": "Indians have cultivated all throughout the centuries the technique of religious exercises and have developed a comprehensive psychology of the highest order, based on all the functions of the human mind whether they are unconscious, conscious, or metaconscious". Typically, it is, in fact, in the rational and overly rationalized West today that a new longing for spiritual experience has appeared, which opens many people up for East Asian religiosity. Therefore, we must discover and develop anew from the New Testament, what it means to "Be in Christ",which plays such a central role in Paul's letters. Without a convincing profound dimension of the relationship to Christ and lived out practice of faith, Christianity will always appear to Hindus as cold, superficial, and empty. . . .
"If one looks for famous Christians who have had a very attractive and convincing influence on Hindus, one will run across the names of Sadhu Sundar Singh, the ascetic and itinerant preacher, and Charles Freer Andrews, missionary and theology professor, who made a name for himself as "Gandhi's brother" and "friend of our country", as well as the American missionary Stanley Jones. What all have in common is the distinctively consistent imitation of Christ. They were transparent "epistles of Christ" pointing to Christ and they differed in their ethical behaviour from the mere socially acceptable existence of other representatives of the West.
"A story is told of Stanley Jones (1884-1973), which underscores in an excellent way the Christological difference in the meeting between Christians and Hindus. After one of his missionary sermons in a small Indian town, a Hindu scholar come up to Stanley Jones and explained to him: "What the white missionaries can tell us is really nothing new, because we Hindus have a culture several thousand years old. Everything can be found already in our venerable Sanskrit writings. Therefore, I ask you to give me the opportunity, after your next speech, to clarify this fact to the audience." Stanley Jones agreed to the suggestion. He preached the gospel as he always did in which he presented Jesus as the crucified one to the people. The Hindu scholar was then called up to the front to present his criticism. He appeared unsure of himself and quite confused, until he finally just uttered one sentence: "We don'thave such a person!" (in Hinduism). He then walked off the stage quickly. This statement confirms the admission that, while profound human wisdom lies in the Hindu writings, this truth still cannot comprehend the unique form of an unmistakable man from Nazareth, who revealed Himself on the cross as the Saviour sent by God for all mankind."
http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=13890
One particular paper you may enjoy is entitled "The Uniqueness of Christ in a Postmodern World and the Challenge of World Religions." As pastors deal more and more with the challenge of ministry in a pluralistic culture, this kind of resource is helpful to prepare us for effective engagement with other religions. You'll find this paper at: http://community.gospelcom.net/lcwe/assets/LOP31_IG2.pdf
(Free Adobe Acrobat reader required, available at www.adobe.com.)
Here's a brief excerpt from the section of the paper that deals with the Christian's approach to Hindus: "The most important point of entry for the Hindu to the Christian faith is, first of all, less the reflected permeation of Christian dogma, but, rather, spiritual experience. For it is the "bhakti", that is, the love of God and God's exalted nature, which, along with the way of conduct, placed even before all knowledge, according to Hindu understanding, is considered the most important way to salvation. Asceticism, meditation, and spiritual exercises play a predominant role. Hindu spiritual guidance by gurus is less interested in theological insights than it is in psychological sensitivity. Akhilananda says in his lecture on "The Hindu View of Christ": "Indians have cultivated all throughout the centuries the technique of religious exercises and have developed a comprehensive psychology of the highest order, based on all the functions of the human mind whether they are unconscious, conscious, or metaconscious". Typically, it is, in fact, in the rational and overly rationalized West today that a new longing for spiritual experience has appeared, which opens many people up for East Asian religiosity. Therefore, we must discover and develop anew from the New Testament, what it means to "Be in Christ",which plays such a central role in Paul's letters. Without a convincing profound dimension of the relationship to Christ and lived out practice of faith, Christianity will always appear to Hindus as cold, superficial, and empty. . . .
"If one looks for famous Christians who have had a very attractive and convincing influence on Hindus, one will run across the names of Sadhu Sundar Singh, the ascetic and itinerant preacher, and Charles Freer Andrews, missionary and theology professor, who made a name for himself as "Gandhi's brother" and "friend of our country", as well as the American missionary Stanley Jones. What all have in common is the distinctively consistent imitation of Christ. They were transparent "epistles of Christ" pointing to Christ and they differed in their ethical behaviour from the mere socially acceptable existence of other representatives of the West.
"A story is told of Stanley Jones (1884-1973), which underscores in an excellent way the Christological difference in the meeting between Christians and Hindus. After one of his missionary sermons in a small Indian town, a Hindu scholar come up to Stanley Jones and explained to him: "What the white missionaries can tell us is really nothing new, because we Hindus have a culture several thousand years old. Everything can be found already in our venerable Sanskrit writings. Therefore, I ask you to give me the opportunity, after your next speech, to clarify this fact to the audience." Stanley Jones agreed to the suggestion. He preached the gospel as he always did in which he presented Jesus as the crucified one to the people. The Hindu scholar was then called up to the front to present his criticism. He appeared unsure of himself and quite confused, until he finally just uttered one sentence: "We don'thave such a person!" (in Hinduism). He then walked off the stage quickly. This statement confirms the admission that, while profound human wisdom lies in the Hindu writings, this truth still cannot comprehend the unique form of an unmistakable man from Nazareth, who revealed Himself on the cross as the Saviour sent by God for all mankind."
sin - consequences of
In his Turning Point Daily Devotional for June 21, 2005, David Jeremiah points out that sin always has unintended consequences. Take the Seattle man, for example, who tried to steal gasoline from a motor home. Attaching a siphoning hose to the vehicle, he started to work; but police found him shortly afterward writhing in agony in the street. Seems he had attached the hose, not to the gasoline tank, but to the motor home's sewage tank! The owner declined to press charges; he was too busy laughing. (http://www.globe-rider.com/bull1e.html accessed on February 20, 2005.)
Facing the consequences of our sins, however, is no laughing matter. Colossians 3:25 says, "He who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done" (NASV). Some people think when they confess their sins to God, He dismisses the consequences; but that's not always the case. He does forgive the guilt, and He forgives freely; but sometimes the consequences remain. When we sin, it's important to confess it and accept God's pardon. But better to avoid sin in the first place.
It's impossible to get away with sin; but it's also impossible to get away from God's love. Remain close to Him, trust His forgiveness, and keep the sewage of sin out of your soul.
Facing the consequences of our sins, however, is no laughing matter. Colossians 3:25 says, "He who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done" (NASV). Some people think when they confess their sins to God, He dismisses the consequences; but that's not always the case. He does forgive the guilt, and He forgives freely; but sometimes the consequences remain. When we sin, it's important to confess it and accept God's pardon. But better to avoid sin in the first place.
It's impossible to get away with sin; but it's also impossible to get away from God's love. Remain close to Him, trust His forgiveness, and keep the sewage of sin out of your soul.
a great life
Plan for great days -- and a great life
In his TIPS newsletter of June 26, Philip Humbert shared this: "I love the quote from Annie Dillard, 'How we live our days is how we live our lives.' If our days are stressed, chaotic, unfocused and unsatisfying, at the end of the year (and at the end of life) we tend to look back and wonder, 'What happened?' On the other hand, if we make sure each day contains some joy, some gratitude, a bit of organization and purpose, some honest work and a bit of fun, I'm convinced our lives will be the same.
I've often joked that while I may not know how to live a great life, I can (usually) create a good day, and if I just put a few thousand good days back to back, that may come close enough to a great life. So the question is not how to have a great life over 80 years, but how to have a few thousand good-enough days, back to back. Here are a few suggestions:
1. First, plan each day. After coaching hundreds of high achievers, I am convinced most of us do not put nearly enough time into deciding exactly how we want to live each day. We don't choose our priorities, affirm our values, and make hard choices about how we will -- and will not -- use our time. I use a 3x5 card to list my priorities each morning. I think it helps.
2. Second, surround yourself with great people. There's an old proverb that says, 'Show me the five people you spend the most time with, and I'll show you your future.' To some degree, of course, we are all surrounded by people we did not choose. But we also have the responsibility to choose our friends and to associate with the best, most inspiring people we can find. Choose wisely.
3. Third, write your biography in advance. We tend to live our lives in accordance with a myth or story we tell ourselves, so why not tell yourself a GREAT story? Write the 'script' for your own life, and read it often. Think about it and re-read it daily. Where are you going? What will your legacy be? Too often we get caught in the busy-ness of daily living and it pays to review and affirm your dreams every single day.
4. Fourth, read and learn from the great people in history. It may be true that 'experience is the best teacher' but I've noticed that it also charges the highest tuition. Life is short and we simply don't have time to make (and recover from) all the mistakes in life, so learn from smart people who have gone ahead and left a trail for us to follow.
Personally, this has been one of the greatest inspirations I've ever found. In the past year, I've read biographies of Lindbergh, Churchill, Amelia Earhart, Benjamin Franklin, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, to name just a few. They were all flawed and none of them are perfect models, but they were smart people who achieved quite a bit, and I can learn from them.
5. Fifth, share the dream. Tell your loved ones, your best friends and trusted associates where you're going in life so they can support you. We all need cheerleaders in life, and the people around you will usually (not always -- choose wisely!) offer help and encouragement if they know what you're trying to accomplish. FDR had his 'brain trust.' Most successful people have had a 'master-mind group.' Every sports team has cheerleaders and so should you.
In the end, we get what we think about most of the time. Over time, our lives pretty much look like our days and if you want to predict your future, look at your daily activities. If there are things you need to change, change them! If you need a coach, get one! If you need to set better boundaries, re-affirm your values or assert your priorities, do so! In life, we usually end up pretty much where we are headed. Choose wisely, and day by day, do the 'little things' that make a great life. (Copyright © 2005, all rights reserved. You may contact Philip E. Humbert at: www.philiphumbert.com or email: Coach@philiphumbert.com.)
In his TIPS newsletter of June 26, Philip Humbert shared this: "I love the quote from Annie Dillard, 'How we live our days is how we live our lives.' If our days are stressed, chaotic, unfocused and unsatisfying, at the end of the year (and at the end of life) we tend to look back and wonder, 'What happened?' On the other hand, if we make sure each day contains some joy, some gratitude, a bit of organization and purpose, some honest work and a bit of fun, I'm convinced our lives will be the same.
I've often joked that while I may not know how to live a great life, I can (usually) create a good day, and if I just put a few thousand good days back to back, that may come close enough to a great life. So the question is not how to have a great life over 80 years, but how to have a few thousand good-enough days, back to back. Here are a few suggestions:
1. First, plan each day. After coaching hundreds of high achievers, I am convinced most of us do not put nearly enough time into deciding exactly how we want to live each day. We don't choose our priorities, affirm our values, and make hard choices about how we will -- and will not -- use our time. I use a 3x5 card to list my priorities each morning. I think it helps.
2. Second, surround yourself with great people. There's an old proverb that says, 'Show me the five people you spend the most time with, and I'll show you your future.' To some degree, of course, we are all surrounded by people we did not choose. But we also have the responsibility to choose our friends and to associate with the best, most inspiring people we can find. Choose wisely.
3. Third, write your biography in advance. We tend to live our lives in accordance with a myth or story we tell ourselves, so why not tell yourself a GREAT story? Write the 'script' for your own life, and read it often. Think about it and re-read it daily. Where are you going? What will your legacy be? Too often we get caught in the busy-ness of daily living and it pays to review and affirm your dreams every single day.
4. Fourth, read and learn from the great people in history. It may be true that 'experience is the best teacher' but I've noticed that it also charges the highest tuition. Life is short and we simply don't have time to make (and recover from) all the mistakes in life, so learn from smart people who have gone ahead and left a trail for us to follow.
Personally, this has been one of the greatest inspirations I've ever found. In the past year, I've read biographies of Lindbergh, Churchill, Amelia Earhart, Benjamin Franklin, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, to name just a few. They were all flawed and none of them are perfect models, but they were smart people who achieved quite a bit, and I can learn from them.
5. Fifth, share the dream. Tell your loved ones, your best friends and trusted associates where you're going in life so they can support you. We all need cheerleaders in life, and the people around you will usually (not always -- choose wisely!) offer help and encouragement if they know what you're trying to accomplish. FDR had his 'brain trust.' Most successful people have had a 'master-mind group.' Every sports team has cheerleaders and so should you.
In the end, we get what we think about most of the time. Over time, our lives pretty much look like our days and if you want to predict your future, look at your daily activities. If there are things you need to change, change them! If you need a coach, get one! If you need to set better boundaries, re-affirm your values or assert your priorities, do so! In life, we usually end up pretty much where we are headed. Choose wisely, and day by day, do the 'little things' that make a great life. (Copyright © 2005, all rights reserved. You may contact Philip E. Humbert at: www.philiphumbert.com or email: Coach@philiphumbert.com.)
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
vision@cmp
It seems to me that many churches do vision badly primarily because they make it too complicated with too many words. What we are beginning to do here at Church in the Market Place (CMP) is to develop a simple slogan that encapsulates the heart of what we are seeking to do for God. So far it really seems to be connecting with people and I'm beginning to hear this phrase and the idea of connection throughout the congregation.
To reinforce this we have now started at series of 7 messages which give greated content and meaning to what it means to "connect @ cmp ... with God ... with Self ... with Others." So far we have looked at .connect@cmp being about ENGAGING WITH GOD. Then we looked at .connect@cmp being about EXPOSING OTHER TO JESUS. This week we will look at .connect@cmp being about ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER. The following weeks we will look at EQUIPPING, EMPOWERING, ENLARGING AND EXCELLING.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
makepovertyhistory
Every single day, 30,000 children are dying as a result of extreme poverty. This year, 2005, we do have the resources, knowledge and opportunity to end this shameful situation. Check out www.makepovertyhistory.com.au and see how you can be involved.
Monday, July 25, 2005
dominores
Last spring I met the man who led my father to the Lord. My father lost both his parents in Auschwitz, but became a believer in Jesus through the witness of Andrew Forbat, a Jewish believer from Hungary. A few years ago, when Jesus for Jesus published by father's testimony, Andrew, who has spent his life as a doctor in the United States, reconnected with us. He and his wife had retired to North Carolina, where I was speaking in March, and it was truly a joy to meet them. I learned that Andrew had come to faith through the witness of a Gentile believer who shared his faith on train commutes. His simple act of explaining the gospel to a young Jewish man in London had more of an impact that he could ever know. Andrew went on to share his faith with many. He and his wife were missionaries to India for years. And, of course, Andrew witnessed to my father, who also became active in sharing his faith wherever he lived - in the UK, Switzerland, Barbados and Africa. His sister became a very evangelistic believer, and ultimately my brother, a few cousins and I became believers in Jesus, too. Now I work as a full-time missionary to my people. I am amazed at how God has worked out - and continues working out - His plan in the lives of so many people, beginning with that one Christian who started the "domino effect" by sharing his faith with a Jewish man as they rode the train to work. Maybe as you ride the train or bus each day, you will look for others to share with, who may just end up taking the Gospel around the world with them, too. Thanks Andrew.
Jonathan Bernd of Jews for Jesus wrote this piece for the July 2005 newsletter.
Jonathan Bernd of Jews for Jesus wrote this piece for the July 2005 newsletter.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
phil 1:2a grace & peace
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:2)
In the term 'grace and peace' we have a summary of the whole message of the good news of Jesus Christ. Grace is the beginning and peace is the end.
Grace means 'undeserved favour' and refers to the idea that we enter an intimate relationship with God not because we are worthy of it, but in spite of our unworthiness. It is like the judge who after sentencing the guilty person then comes down from the bench of judgment and pulls out his checkbook and pays the fine. In this the right sentence is pronounced, but grace pays the price.
Peace is the end of faith because the result of being made right with God is that we are promised a relationship of peace with God and thus can travel through life assured that we have nothing to fear. Peace brings us joy in sorrow and an underlying sense of the supporting arms of God in the middle of strife.
Do you know Grace and Peace? Don't go further into Philippians without assuring yourself of this fact by crying out to him and asking for God's forgiveness found through the sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection of Jesus.
In the term 'grace and peace' we have a summary of the whole message of the good news of Jesus Christ. Grace is the beginning and peace is the end.
Grace means 'undeserved favour' and refers to the idea that we enter an intimate relationship with God not because we are worthy of it, but in spite of our unworthiness. It is like the judge who after sentencing the guilty person then comes down from the bench of judgment and pulls out his checkbook and pays the fine. In this the right sentence is pronounced, but grace pays the price.
Peace is the end of faith because the result of being made right with God is that we are promised a relationship of peace with God and thus can travel through life assured that we have nothing to fear. Peace brings us joy in sorrow and an underlying sense of the supporting arms of God in the middle of strife.
Do you know Grace and Peace? Don't go further into Philippians without assuring yourself of this fact by crying out to him and asking for God's forgiveness found through the sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection of Jesus.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
question 6.2
6.2 DREAM/PURPOSE: What can I do to make the most significant difference for God in my lifetime? Why am I on the earth? What is the best organisational context for my dream?
(from "Asking to Win", Bob Biehl)
(from "Asking to Win", Bob Biehl)
phil 1:1b you are a saint
"To all the saints in Christ Jesus ..." (Phil 1:1b (NIV))
If you had to define what a saint is, how would you do it? Would it be a special person, a person who had miracles ascribed to them, an especially good person, or a person to whom you pray?
In the bible the word 'saint' is used to describe people who are followers of Jesus. If you follow Jesus you are a saint.
The word translated saint means 'holy' or 'seperated from'. It means that the person who is described as a saint is a person whom God has made holy.
The point is not that you are good enough to be saint, but that God ascribes to you the characteristics of a saint, and now our task is to live according to who we are.
Imagine you are tied to another person by a giant rubber band. They are stronger and faster than you so that when they go in front of you, you fall behind and so the rubber band is stretched. What happens now? Because they are stronger than you, you are propelled toward them.
God has made us a saint, and that characteristic of our being is stronger and faster than we are, it moves ahead of our current behaviour, but it propels us forward so that over time we act more and more in accordance with who God has already made us.
If you had to define what a saint is, how would you do it? Would it be a special person, a person who had miracles ascribed to them, an especially good person, or a person to whom you pray?
In the bible the word 'saint' is used to describe people who are followers of Jesus. If you follow Jesus you are a saint.
The word translated saint means 'holy' or 'seperated from'. It means that the person who is described as a saint is a person whom God has made holy.
The point is not that you are good enough to be saint, but that God ascribes to you the characteristics of a saint, and now our task is to live according to who we are.
Imagine you are tied to another person by a giant rubber band. They are stronger and faster than you so that when they go in front of you, you fall behind and so the rubber band is stretched. What happens now? Because they are stronger than you, you are propelled toward them.
God has made us a saint, and that characteristic of our being is stronger and faster than we are, it moves ahead of our current behaviour, but it propels us forward so that over time we act more and more in accordance with who God has already made us.
praise
"Consider carefully before you say a hard word to a man, but never let a chance to say a good one go by. Praise judiciously bestowed is money invested."- George Horace Lorimer
"I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing with an exception."- Richard Steele
"I have yet to find a man, whatever his situation in life, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than he ever would do under a spirit of criticism."- Charles M. Schwab
(From "Leadership Wired, wired@injoy.com")
"I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing with an exception."- Richard Steele
"I have yet to find a man, whatever his situation in life, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than he ever would do under a spirit of criticism."- Charles M. Schwab
(From "Leadership Wired, wired@injoy.com")
Friday, July 15, 2005
phil 1:1a slaves to God
This is the first of a number of reflections on Philippians which will be spread among my other blogs.
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:1a (NIV))
The Greek word translated 'servants' can also be translatted 'slaves'. Paul recognised that he was a slave of Christ. A slave is someone who has no rights of their own, they are at the beck and call of the master. Paul argues that we are either a slave to God or a slave to the Master of this world, Satan.
Being a slave of God puts a different slant of what it means to follow Jesus. It's no longer what God can do for me, but what I can do for God that matters.
Sometimes people tell others that if they come to Christ they will be happier, their life will go better, their marriage will be fixed. Perhaps that will happen, but that is not what being a follower of Jesus is all about. Being a follower of Jesus means leaving the slaveship of the evil one who wants to destroy us, to become a slave of God who loves us.
The issue is not whether you are a slave or not, the issue is who do you want your master to be?
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:1a (NIV))
The Greek word translated 'servants' can also be translatted 'slaves'. Paul recognised that he was a slave of Christ. A slave is someone who has no rights of their own, they are at the beck and call of the master. Paul argues that we are either a slave to God or a slave to the Master of this world, Satan.
Being a slave of God puts a different slant of what it means to follow Jesus. It's no longer what God can do for me, but what I can do for God that matters.
Sometimes people tell others that if they come to Christ they will be happier, their life will go better, their marriage will be fixed. Perhaps that will happen, but that is not what being a follower of Jesus is all about. Being a follower of Jesus means leaving the slaveship of the evil one who wants to destroy us, to become a slave of God who loves us.
The issue is not whether you are a slave or not, the issue is who do you want your master to be?
question 6.1
6.1 GOD: What three changes in me would be most pleasing to God?
My Answer: (1) Overcoming my fear of what others think of me. (2) Great degree of purity in the way I think and act. (3) Spending more time engaging with my kids.
Your Answer: ...
(from "Asking to Win", Bob Biehl)
My Answer: (1) Overcoming my fear of what others think of me. (2) Great degree of purity in the way I think and act. (3) Spending more time engaging with my kids.
Your Answer: ...
(from "Asking to Win", Bob Biehl)
legacy
Is what I do today important? Well think about this. What I do today is what I am likely to do tomorrow. What I do today and tomorrow is the habit of my life. What is the habit of my life eventually becomes my legacy!
When I exercise daily, I become a healthy person. When I learn daily, I become a wise person. When I save daily, I become a financially secure person. When I honor God daily, I become a Godly person.
Consider today one new behaviour you can do on a daily basis. Keep a record of how often you do it for the next 30 days. This will become a new habit which will eventually become part of your legacy.
Note: Don't keep a record of how much you did, just that you did it. For example if your new habit is to read the bible, then as long as you open the bible and read at least one verse then give yourself a tick for the day. Some days you might just read one verse, some days much more, but you will have established a new habit that will change your life.
When I exercise daily, I become a healthy person. When I learn daily, I become a wise person. When I save daily, I become a financially secure person. When I honor God daily, I become a Godly person.
Consider today one new behaviour you can do on a daily basis. Keep a record of how often you do it for the next 30 days. This will become a new habit which will eventually become part of your legacy.
Note: Don't keep a record of how much you did, just that you did it. For example if your new habit is to read the bible, then as long as you open the bible and read at least one verse then give yourself a tick for the day. Some days you might just read one verse, some days much more, but you will have established a new habit that will change your life.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
review tool for your relationship with your master
This is not intended to produce a sense of guilt, frustration, or legalism. You are loved unconditionally by God, and saved by grace. This is intended only as a tool to aid you in reflection to strengthen your most important relationship.
Rate yourself on each question on a scale from 1-7. 1= weak7= strong
_____ I base my security and significance in Christ Jesus.
_____ I often hear the 'voice' of God giving me clear answers and direction.
_____ There is no un-confessed sin in my life.
_____ I do not struggle with pride or control issues.
_____ I invest daily time in intercessory prayer and prayer concerning my personal spiritual life.
_____ I invest daily time in the study of scripture for personal growth.
_____ There is no unresolved conflict with a brother or sister in Christ, so far as forgiveness on my part is concerned.
_____ I do not struggle with materialism, but have found the joy of contentment.
_____ My thought life is pure and under God's control.
_____ I have a sense of inner peace and presence of God's spirit.
_____ Both personal and corporate worship are alive in my life, and I experience a sense of renewal and refreshing as I praise God.
_____ I regularly practice the 'deeper' disciplines such as fasting, meditation, and solitude.
After thought and prayer through the twelve items listed in the 'You and Your Master' Personal Reflection, select up to three priorities you believe God would lead you to strengthen. Write a few sentences to get you started.
Priority #1 __________________________________________________________
Action Plan:
Priority #2 __________________________________________________________
Action Plan:
Priority #3 __________________________________________________________
Action Plan:
From Coaching newsletter received from www.INJOY.com. Based on Your Relationship Report Card by Keith Drury who can be found at www.drurywriting.com/keith/
Rate yourself on each question on a scale from 1-7. 1= weak7= strong
_____ I base my security and significance in Christ Jesus.
_____ I often hear the 'voice' of God giving me clear answers and direction.
_____ There is no un-confessed sin in my life.
_____ I do not struggle with pride or control issues.
_____ I invest daily time in intercessory prayer and prayer concerning my personal spiritual life.
_____ I invest daily time in the study of scripture for personal growth.
_____ There is no unresolved conflict with a brother or sister in Christ, so far as forgiveness on my part is concerned.
_____ I do not struggle with materialism, but have found the joy of contentment.
_____ My thought life is pure and under God's control.
_____ I have a sense of inner peace and presence of God's spirit.
_____ Both personal and corporate worship are alive in my life, and I experience a sense of renewal and refreshing as I praise God.
_____ I regularly practice the 'deeper' disciplines such as fasting, meditation, and solitude.
After thought and prayer through the twelve items listed in the 'You and Your Master' Personal Reflection, select up to three priorities you believe God would lead you to strengthen. Write a few sentences to get you started.
Priority #1 __________________________________________________________
Action Plan:
Priority #2 __________________________________________________________
Action Plan:
Priority #3 __________________________________________________________
Action Plan:
From Coaching newsletter received from www.INJOY.com. Based on Your Relationship Report Card by Keith Drury who can be found at www.drurywriting.com/keith/
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
forgiveness
ILLUSTRATION: Forgiveness (from preachingnow@preaching.com)
The scene is a courtroom trial in South Africa. A frail black woman stands slowly to her feet. She is over seventy years old. Facing her from across the room are several white security police officers. One of them, Mr. van der Broek, has just been tried and found guilty in the murders of first the woman's son and then her husband. He had come to the woman's home, taken her son, shot him at point-blank and then burned the young man's body while he and his officers partied nearby.
Several years later Mr. van der Broek and his cohorts returned to take away her husband as well. For months she heard nothing of his whereabouts. Then, almost two years after her husband's disappearance, Mr. van der Broek came back to fetch her. How vividly she remembered that night. She was taken to a river bank where she was shown her husband, bound and beaten but still strong in spirit, lying on a pile of wood. The last words she heard from his lips as Mr. van der Broek and his fellow officers poured gasoline over his body and set him aflame were, "Father, forgive them. . ."
Now the woman stands in the courtroom and listens to the confessions of Mr. van der Broek. A member of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission turns to her and asks, "So what do you want? How should justice be done to this man who has so brutally destroyed your family?" "I want three things," begins the old woman calmly, but confidently. "I want first to be taken to the place where my husband's body was burned so that I can gather up the dust and give his remains a decent burial."
She pauses, then continues. "My husband and son were my only family. I want, secondly, therefore, for Mr. van der Broek to become my son. I would like for him to come twice a month to the ghetto and spend a day with me so that I can pour out on him whatever love I still have remaining in me." "And finally," she says, "I would like Mr. van der Broek to know that I offer him my forgiveness because Jesus Christ died to forgive. This was also the wish of my husband. And so, I would kindly ask someone to come to my side and lead me across the courtroom so that I can take Mr. van der Broek in my arms, embrace him and let him know that he is truly forgiven."
As the court assistants come to lead the elderly woman across the room, Mr. van der Broek faints, overwhelmed by what he has just heard. And as he struggles for consciousness, those in the courtroom, family, friends, neighbors — all victims of decades of oppression and injustice — begin to sing, softly but assuredly, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me." (Craig A. Smith, Sermon Illustrations for an Asian Audience, Manila: OMF Publishing, 2004)
The scene is a courtroom trial in South Africa. A frail black woman stands slowly to her feet. She is over seventy years old. Facing her from across the room are several white security police officers. One of them, Mr. van der Broek, has just been tried and found guilty in the murders of first the woman's son and then her husband. He had come to the woman's home, taken her son, shot him at point-blank and then burned the young man's body while he and his officers partied nearby.
Several years later Mr. van der Broek and his cohorts returned to take away her husband as well. For months she heard nothing of his whereabouts. Then, almost two years after her husband's disappearance, Mr. van der Broek came back to fetch her. How vividly she remembered that night. She was taken to a river bank where she was shown her husband, bound and beaten but still strong in spirit, lying on a pile of wood. The last words she heard from his lips as Mr. van der Broek and his fellow officers poured gasoline over his body and set him aflame were, "Father, forgive them. . ."
Now the woman stands in the courtroom and listens to the confessions of Mr. van der Broek. A member of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission turns to her and asks, "So what do you want? How should justice be done to this man who has so brutally destroyed your family?" "I want three things," begins the old woman calmly, but confidently. "I want first to be taken to the place where my husband's body was burned so that I can gather up the dust and give his remains a decent burial."
She pauses, then continues. "My husband and son were my only family. I want, secondly, therefore, for Mr. van der Broek to become my son. I would like for him to come twice a month to the ghetto and spend a day with me so that I can pour out on him whatever love I still have remaining in me." "And finally," she says, "I would like Mr. van der Broek to know that I offer him my forgiveness because Jesus Christ died to forgive. This was also the wish of my husband. And so, I would kindly ask someone to come to my side and lead me across the courtroom so that I can take Mr. van der Broek in my arms, embrace him and let him know that he is truly forgiven."
As the court assistants come to lead the elderly woman across the room, Mr. van der Broek faints, overwhelmed by what he has just heard. And as he struggles for consciousness, those in the courtroom, family, friends, neighbors — all victims of decades of oppression and injustice — begin to sing, softly but assuredly, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me." (Craig A. Smith, Sermon Illustrations for an Asian Audience, Manila: OMF Publishing, 2004)
faith on the far side
From Jeff Lucas, CWR daily, a book of devotional readings, May/June 2005.
I looked up at the preacher as he strode towards the pulpit. His hair was perfect, his immaculately tailored suit trousers boasted razorsharp creases, and his face was one massive, joyous smile. With an air of one in charge, he slapped his Bible down, and launched into his sermon with fanfare.
'Listen to me! People of faith are winners. Faith gives us the victory; it turns defeat into triumph, weakness into strength, it takes impossible situations and kisses them with possibility! The crowd warmed to him instantly. Some began voicing their approval with hearty 'Amens', clapping their hands ...
Fueled by the response, the preacher's voice stepped up an octave. 'I'm not the tail, I'm the head! I'm not a follower, I'm a leader. And I'm not under the circumstances, I'm over them!'
He was motoring now; impassioned, fiery, his voice urgent, demanding. 'Come on, who's coming with me to victory?'
Apparently most of the crowd longed to take that trip to the top. And I settled back into my seat, closed my eyes and groaned inwardly. What was the matter with me? I located the source of my struggle. This was not preaching, it was cheerleading; faith driven by snappy slogans. He made believing sound so easy. I tried to shut him out.
I'm a man of faith; I've had my share of epic answers to prayer; in fact sometimes I'm embarrassed about how many times God has done startling things for me. But I also know that faith is not just about winning; sometimes it's about hanging on when you've lost everything. I believe that Jesus is still able to heal the sick and I've stood by the hospital beds of some of the greatest people of faith and faithfulness. They believed for healing, and still succumbed - some painfully - to cancer and other evil diseases. Sometimes being a person of faith means trusting when you find yourself in a bewildering fog, when certainty has deserted you.
Daniel had to 'do' faith, not on a sun-kissed beach, but in the arid desert of exile. That's where people of faith are often found, living in faith on the far side. Whether it's Joseph in Egypt, Moses in Pharoah's court, Paul and Silas in a Roman prison, or Daniel in a pagan palace, often the greatest faith is to be found in the most desolate landscapes.
I looked up at the preacher as he strode towards the pulpit. His hair was perfect, his immaculately tailored suit trousers boasted razorsharp creases, and his face was one massive, joyous smile. With an air of one in charge, he slapped his Bible down, and launched into his sermon with fanfare.
'Listen to me! People of faith are winners. Faith gives us the victory; it turns defeat into triumph, weakness into strength, it takes impossible situations and kisses them with possibility! The crowd warmed to him instantly. Some began voicing their approval with hearty 'Amens', clapping their hands ...
Fueled by the response, the preacher's voice stepped up an octave. 'I'm not the tail, I'm the head! I'm not a follower, I'm a leader. And I'm not under the circumstances, I'm over them!'
He was motoring now; impassioned, fiery, his voice urgent, demanding. 'Come on, who's coming with me to victory?'
Apparently most of the crowd longed to take that trip to the top. And I settled back into my seat, closed my eyes and groaned inwardly. What was the matter with me? I located the source of my struggle. This was not preaching, it was cheerleading; faith driven by snappy slogans. He made believing sound so easy. I tried to shut him out.
I'm a man of faith; I've had my share of epic answers to prayer; in fact sometimes I'm embarrassed about how many times God has done startling things for me. But I also know that faith is not just about winning; sometimes it's about hanging on when you've lost everything. I believe that Jesus is still able to heal the sick and I've stood by the hospital beds of some of the greatest people of faith and faithfulness. They believed for healing, and still succumbed - some painfully - to cancer and other evil diseases. Sometimes being a person of faith means trusting when you find yourself in a bewildering fog, when certainty has deserted you.
Daniel had to 'do' faith, not on a sun-kissed beach, but in the arid desert of exile. That's where people of faith are often found, living in faith on the far side. Whether it's Joseph in Egypt, Moses in Pharoah's court, Paul and Silas in a Roman prison, or Daniel in a pagan palace, often the greatest faith is to be found in the most desolate landscapes.
Monday, July 11, 2005
in my view (cmp newsletter for 17 July 2005)
IN MY VIEW by Pastor Pete
In my view one of the best uses of 90 minutes of my time is to attend a good small group. I’m personally of the view that if a person has to choose between either attending a church service or a small group that in most cases they would be best to attend the small group.
Am I saying that attending a church service is unimportant? NO! It’s just that I think attending a good small group is of immense importance.
Now what do I mean by a good small group? I think a good small group has a number of key ingredients.
(1) The group meets weekly and is between 4-15 in size.
(2) The members of the group regularly talk and pray about how to invite new people into the group.
(3) The group is prepared to start a new group when it gets too big to continue as one group.
(4) The group spends time reflecting on the teaching of the bible and how to apply it to their lives.
(5) The group spends time praying for each other.
(6) The group gives opportunity for members of the group to exercise their spiritual gifts.
(7) The group regularly spends time having fun together by doing something social.
Do you belong to a good small group? If you don’t then I encourage you to find a good small group in your local church.
In my view one of the best uses of 90 minutes of my time is to attend a good small group. I’m personally of the view that if a person has to choose between either attending a church service or a small group that in most cases they would be best to attend the small group.
Am I saying that attending a church service is unimportant? NO! It’s just that I think attending a good small group is of immense importance.
Now what do I mean by a good small group? I think a good small group has a number of key ingredients.
(1) The group meets weekly and is between 4-15 in size.
(2) The members of the group regularly talk and pray about how to invite new people into the group.
(3) The group is prepared to start a new group when it gets too big to continue as one group.
(4) The group spends time reflecting on the teaching of the bible and how to apply it to their lives.
(5) The group spends time praying for each other.
(6) The group gives opportunity for members of the group to exercise their spiritual gifts.
(7) The group regularly spends time having fun together by doing something social.
Do you belong to a good small group? If you don’t then I encourage you to find a good small group in your local church.
re-imagine
"Now we need something dramtaically different from 'getting better'-from even getting 'a whole lot better'-at what we did for a couple of hundred years. Now we need to train ourselves to plan an Entirely New Game ... a game called Re-imagine, in which the rules that define 'better' no longer apply." (Re-Imagine! P.25, Tom Peters)
I agree, we have to get away from incremental improvements to whole new paradigms of seeing and thinking and most importantly doing.
Who said we have to do things the way we always have! Why can't we do things so radically different that people will shake in their boots and wave their fists in fear of the unknown journey ahead.
This is as true for the way we do business as it is for the way we express our faith communally.
Every once in a while I do this exercise. I imagine if I were starting with nothing, and then think about what I would do if there are no rules.
Why not re-imagine today and make tommorrow a different world to live in.
I agree, we have to get away from incremental improvements to whole new paradigms of seeing and thinking and most importantly doing.
Who said we have to do things the way we always have! Why can't we do things so radically different that people will shake in their boots and wave their fists in fear of the unknown journey ahead.
This is as true for the way we do business as it is for the way we express our faith communally.
Every once in a while I do this exercise. I imagine if I were starting with nothing, and then think about what I would do if there are no rules.
Why not re-imagine today and make tommorrow a different world to live in.
Friday, July 08, 2005
a controversial view
I watched the horror of the work of terrorists in London and there is no doubt that evil is on obvious display in our world. But as I sit down to 'be still and know God' I am moved to contemplate the deaths of so many others.
We are horrified, and rightly so, about the innocent destruction of at least 37 innocents in London, but what about the innocents that will die in other ways this day?
How many civilians will die from 'collateral damage' in Iraq today? (And I'm a person who supported the call to go to war.)
How many innocent children will die today from poverty and easily curable diseases?
And here is my controversial point, how many innocent unborn children will be killed at the hands of surgeons at the bequest of their mothers today?
Here in Australia about 300 unborn babies will be killed today. 300 today, 300 tomorrow, 300 the next day, about 100,000 this year alone.
But praise be to God this is not the end of the story.
In the story of grace which we find in the stories of Jesus we discover this amazing truth. There is forgiveness available for the terrorist. (Simon the Zealot became a disciple and he was a terrorist of his day.) There is forgiveness for thieves, and adulterers and there is forgiveness for those who have taken the lives of innocent children. NOONE is too far from the forgiveness of God!
The amazing and controversial message of the good news story of Jesus is that there is forgiveness available to any person who will turn to Jesus, confess their sin, and bow their lives to Jesus by acknowledging that Jesus died for their personal sin and now wants to reign in their lives.
One of my favorite sayings is this, "For the Christian there is nothing we can do to make him love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make him love us less."
If you want to know more about this amazing forgiveness then cry out to God today and don't hesitate to contact me to talk more.
We are horrified, and rightly so, about the innocent destruction of at least 37 innocents in London, but what about the innocents that will die in other ways this day?
How many civilians will die from 'collateral damage' in Iraq today? (And I'm a person who supported the call to go to war.)
How many innocent children will die today from poverty and easily curable diseases?
And here is my controversial point, how many innocent unborn children will be killed at the hands of surgeons at the bequest of their mothers today?
Here in Australia about 300 unborn babies will be killed today. 300 today, 300 tomorrow, 300 the next day, about 100,000 this year alone.
But praise be to God this is not the end of the story.
In the story of grace which we find in the stories of Jesus we discover this amazing truth. There is forgiveness available for the terrorist. (Simon the Zealot became a disciple and he was a terrorist of his day.) There is forgiveness for thieves, and adulterers and there is forgiveness for those who have taken the lives of innocent children. NOONE is too far from the forgiveness of God!
The amazing and controversial message of the good news story of Jesus is that there is forgiveness available to any person who will turn to Jesus, confess their sin, and bow their lives to Jesus by acknowledging that Jesus died for their personal sin and now wants to reign in their lives.
One of my favorite sayings is this, "For the Christian there is nothing we can do to make him love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make him love us less."
If you want to know more about this amazing forgiveness then cry out to God today and don't hesitate to contact me to talk more.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
the butterfly
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So to help the butterfly he took a pair of sissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand and be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact the butterfly spent the rest of it's life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
It was never able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it could be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through life without any abstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
PRAYER
I asked for strength ... and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom ... and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity ... and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage ... and God gave me danger to overcome.
I asked for love ... and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favours ... and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ... I received everything I needed!
It was never able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it could be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through life without any abstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
PRAYER
I asked for strength ... and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom ... and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity ... and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage ... and God gave me danger to overcome.
I asked for love ... and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favours ... and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ... I received everything I needed!
Monday, July 04, 2005
self image
From ... IMAGE ALIGNMENT by Dr. John C. Maxwell
When I was fairly young, I was a pretty decent communicator. The upside to that was that I received some great opportunities to speak. The downside, however, was that I was often in over my head at these events.
For example, when I was 33, I was asked to speak at a youth conference at a state university campus. A few aspects of this engagement made me very nervous. For one thing, there would be 14,000 kids in the audience. For another, I had never spoken in such a big arena. And to make matters even worse, I was following a speaker who was much better and much more experienced than I was.
I well remember how I felt when I was preparing to go out on stage. The lights were bright and I couldn't see the audience. I knew there were 14,000 people out there, but all I saw was a big black hole. As someone who communicates best when I'm eye to eye with people, this made me very uncomfortable. I felt completely inadequate.
Not surprisingly, I bombed. It truly was one of those speeches that only my mother could have applauded.
Looking back, it's easy to see how my self-image—how I viewed myself—had a direct bearing upon my effectiveness—or lack thereof—that day. After that experience, I began to understand that leaders must believe in themselves before they can ever hope to believe in their people. I also realized that, as a leader, if I've not bought in to myself, no one else is going to buy in to me either.
Each one of us has an internal mirror that reflects how we see ourselves. And what we see in this mirror determines how we act as leaders. In other words, our self-image determines our behavior. That's why it's impossible for a person with a poor self image to produce consistently on a high level. It simply can't happen, because we cannot conduct our daily affairs in a way that contradicts how we see ourselves. On the other hand, when a leader believes he can do a good job and views himself as successful, his actions will show it.
Have you ever gone to a funhouse at a carnival and looked in one of those distorted mirrors? From one angle, you look as skinny as a rail; from another, you look bigger than an elephant. That's not how you really are, of course, but because the mirror is distorted, your image also is distorted.
Sadly, many leaders don't have an accurate picture of themselves because their internal mirrors are distorted. Because they're unable to see themselves as they really are, they're forever trying to find the right image to present to others. Some project an image that is bigger than they really are; others project an image that is smaller than they really are. Either way, the result is internal confusion.
A key to effectiveness—in life and as a leader—is to project a true image of who you are. The only problem is that we all carry with us four images of ourselves that can cause us to act differently with different people. These four images are:
1. The image that others have of us. This is how the people around us—the ones who observe us at our best and our worst—see us.
2. The image that we project to others. This is how we want others to view us.
3. The image we have of ourselves. This is how we actually view ourselves. Many times, this image does not match what we project to others.
4. Our true self. This includes our character and gifts; it represents who we were created to be.
When these four images don't match, we know it. This awareness might be subconscious, but it's there nonetheless. And it weighs us down.
The solution lies in making sure that these four images are as closely aligned as possible. You see, we can be emotionally healthy only when the image that other people have of us, the image that we project to others, the image that we have of ourselves and our true selves all match. The more distortion there is—among any or all of these images—the less healthy our self-image is, and the less effective our leadership will be.
Marcus Aurelius said, "I often marvel how it is that, though each man loves himself beyond all else, he should yet value his own opinion of himself less than that of others." As I learned so many years ago, when it comes to leadership, the first person you must believe in is yourself. The mirror reminds me that I must read myself well before I can ever attempt to read others.
When I was fairly young, I was a pretty decent communicator. The upside to that was that I received some great opportunities to speak. The downside, however, was that I was often in over my head at these events.
For example, when I was 33, I was asked to speak at a youth conference at a state university campus. A few aspects of this engagement made me very nervous. For one thing, there would be 14,000 kids in the audience. For another, I had never spoken in such a big arena. And to make matters even worse, I was following a speaker who was much better and much more experienced than I was.
I well remember how I felt when I was preparing to go out on stage. The lights were bright and I couldn't see the audience. I knew there were 14,000 people out there, but all I saw was a big black hole. As someone who communicates best when I'm eye to eye with people, this made me very uncomfortable. I felt completely inadequate.
Not surprisingly, I bombed. It truly was one of those speeches that only my mother could have applauded.
Looking back, it's easy to see how my self-image—how I viewed myself—had a direct bearing upon my effectiveness—or lack thereof—that day. After that experience, I began to understand that leaders must believe in themselves before they can ever hope to believe in their people. I also realized that, as a leader, if I've not bought in to myself, no one else is going to buy in to me either.
Each one of us has an internal mirror that reflects how we see ourselves. And what we see in this mirror determines how we act as leaders. In other words, our self-image determines our behavior. That's why it's impossible for a person with a poor self image to produce consistently on a high level. It simply can't happen, because we cannot conduct our daily affairs in a way that contradicts how we see ourselves. On the other hand, when a leader believes he can do a good job and views himself as successful, his actions will show it.
Have you ever gone to a funhouse at a carnival and looked in one of those distorted mirrors? From one angle, you look as skinny as a rail; from another, you look bigger than an elephant. That's not how you really are, of course, but because the mirror is distorted, your image also is distorted.
Sadly, many leaders don't have an accurate picture of themselves because their internal mirrors are distorted. Because they're unable to see themselves as they really are, they're forever trying to find the right image to present to others. Some project an image that is bigger than they really are; others project an image that is smaller than they really are. Either way, the result is internal confusion.
A key to effectiveness—in life and as a leader—is to project a true image of who you are. The only problem is that we all carry with us four images of ourselves that can cause us to act differently with different people. These four images are:
1. The image that others have of us. This is how the people around us—the ones who observe us at our best and our worst—see us.
2. The image that we project to others. This is how we want others to view us.
3. The image we have of ourselves. This is how we actually view ourselves. Many times, this image does not match what we project to others.
4. Our true self. This includes our character and gifts; it represents who we were created to be.
When these four images don't match, we know it. This awareness might be subconscious, but it's there nonetheless. And it weighs us down.
The solution lies in making sure that these four images are as closely aligned as possible. You see, we can be emotionally healthy only when the image that other people have of us, the image that we project to others, the image that we have of ourselves and our true selves all match. The more distortion there is—among any or all of these images—the less healthy our self-image is, and the less effective our leadership will be.
Marcus Aurelius said, "I often marvel how it is that, though each man loves himself beyond all else, he should yet value his own opinion of himself less than that of others." As I learned so many years ago, when it comes to leadership, the first person you must believe in is yourself. The mirror reminds me that I must read myself well before I can ever attempt to read others.
Friday, July 01, 2005
one thing
I've been thinking about this question. "If I could only do ONE thing what would it be?"
My answer is: "To multiply small groups primarily by conversion!"
That's my hearts passion. What is yours?
My answer is: "To multiply small groups primarily by conversion!"
That's my hearts passion. What is yours?
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