This week we have been in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, visiting our original FRC campus there and packing up two series' worth of materials (pull-up banners, bulletin shells, promotional cards, and small group materials) to bring back to Lima.
Malls and shopping plazas are ghost towns these days in South Florida. Even the two Wal-Marts that we visited were empty, and Wal-Mart is supposed to be one of the two businesses that normally benefits during recessionary times (the other one is McDonald's, in case you're interested). But nobody was buying anything. Instead, we saw a lot of people simply freaking out over this worldwide financial crisis, and telling us how the crisis was going to cripple/ruin/destroy their life/family/savings/investments/retirement/future.
But then the Eagles came to the rescue!
On Monday night we saw the Eagles, the legendary country/rock band, live in concert in Fort Lauderdale. The arena was sold out, some 20,000 strong. Apparently there's no recession for Eagles fans! As Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit rocked the night away, one of the biggest roars of approval they received from the mainly-baby-boomer crowd was when Frey launched into their classic '70s hit, "Take It Easy."
I can't say for sure that the Eagles meant "Take It Easy" to be played in churches on Sunday mornings, but there is a message in the song that we should grasp as a lot of people around us - no matter where you are ministering in this world - are freaking out and melting under the pressure of this current economic storm.
Take it easy.
Jesus said the same thing, in so many words, in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Jesus' yoke is easy. We must take it easy. Even in the midst of this current financial storm all around the world.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Hot Tip
Over the course of the past year, something strange has been happening in several restaurants in Lima, Peru. It's not that the service is slow or that the food is bad; instead, what has been happening is that when we pay the bill and go to leave a tip, the waiters now are asking that we leave the tip in cash, instead of on the credit card.
It seems that when the tip is left on the credit card, in many restaurants in Lima, the management keeps the whole tip instead of giving it to the wait staff!
I've always considered myself a very generous tipper, and in the past I've considered it strange when I've paid a restaurant tab by credit card, and left a big tip as a part of it, yet the waiter never looked very happy or grateful about it. Now I know the reason for the glumness.
This Lima tipping controversy leads me to consider how this might also affect ministries around the world. Are you doing something that you think is a great thing, but that really doesn't reach the people that you're thinking that it's going to reach? If I leave a tip in a Lima restaurant, but it never reaches the pocket of the hard-working waiter who deserves it, then what good does it serve? Similarly, are you involved in church or ministry projects that you think are doing well, or that you think are serving a good purpose, when in fact they are not? Is someone or something intercepting your good efforts? Do you even know about it?
It's always a good idea to measure ministry effectiveness, using whatever yardstick you deem appropriate, and also to ask a lot of questions and to give a lot of oversight, in order to ascertain that your worthwhile projects and missions indeed are having the positive effect that you hope them to have.
Learn the lesson of the tip-that-wasn't-a-tip: make sure your good acts, good works, goodwill, and good heart are reaching those that you intend them all to reach!
It seems that when the tip is left on the credit card, in many restaurants in Lima, the management keeps the whole tip instead of giving it to the wait staff!
I've always considered myself a very generous tipper, and in the past I've considered it strange when I've paid a restaurant tab by credit card, and left a big tip as a part of it, yet the waiter never looked very happy or grateful about it. Now I know the reason for the glumness.
This Lima tipping controversy leads me to consider how this might also affect ministries around the world. Are you doing something that you think is a great thing, but that really doesn't reach the people that you're thinking that it's going to reach? If I leave a tip in a Lima restaurant, but it never reaches the pocket of the hard-working waiter who deserves it, then what good does it serve? Similarly, are you involved in church or ministry projects that you think are doing well, or that you think are serving a good purpose, when in fact they are not? Is someone or something intercepting your good efforts? Do you even know about it?
It's always a good idea to measure ministry effectiveness, using whatever yardstick you deem appropriate, and also to ask a lot of questions and to give a lot of oversight, in order to ascertain that your worthwhile projects and missions indeed are having the positive effect that you hope them to have.
Learn the lesson of the tip-that-wasn't-a-tip: make sure your good acts, good works, goodwill, and good heart are reaching those that you intend them all to reach!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Big Ol Jet Airliner
My wife, Dorcas, and I are flying up to Florida on Sunday night, with the express purpose of picking up and bringing back pull-up banners, bulletin shells, promotional cards, welcome signs, and small groups books and materials for our church in Lima, Peru. Why are we flying roundtrip to Florida to do this? Because flying up and back is cheaper than sending it by FedEx!
Yes, believe it or not, it's true. It will cost less to fly two of us roundtrip from Lima-Miami-Lima than to ship all of the materials we need by FedEx, or by any other overnight service such as DHL or UPS.
The overnight services tend to work well for national deliveries, but not so well internationally. First off, it costs thousands of dollars to ship all of the banners, bulletin shells, etc., to us by an overnight service. Then, all of the materials always are delayed in transit in Peru Customs at the Lima International Airport. Our materials can sit in Peru Customs at the airport for up to a week, at times, as they decide whether or not to charge us a tax, and how much. An "overnight" delivery sometimes will not reach our door in Lima until 7-10 days after it has departed from Florida!
So, between costs and delays, it makes much more financial sense for us to fly up to Florida, say hello to our friends at FRC in Cooper City, and then fly back down with everything that we need for our Lima campus. You wouldn't think that it would make sense that way, but it does!
This is something you should check on for your international ministry. If your parent church or ministry is based in a country which is different from the country where you actually have your own church or ministry, then it may make more financial sense for you to flight back and forth, courier style, to collect items and materials that you need, instead of having it all shipped by one of the overnight services. This seems to make even more sense these days, with the international financial crisis and a drop in the number of people flying, and the resulting drop in airfare costs. You should check it out: you may be able to save yourself and your church or ministry many thousands of dollars!
Yes, believe it or not, it's true. It will cost less to fly two of us roundtrip from Lima-Miami-Lima than to ship all of the materials we need by FedEx, or by any other overnight service such as DHL or UPS.
The overnight services tend to work well for national deliveries, but not so well internationally. First off, it costs thousands of dollars to ship all of the banners, bulletin shells, etc., to us by an overnight service. Then, all of the materials always are delayed in transit in Peru Customs at the Lima International Airport. Our materials can sit in Peru Customs at the airport for up to a week, at times, as they decide whether or not to charge us a tax, and how much. An "overnight" delivery sometimes will not reach our door in Lima until 7-10 days after it has departed from Florida!
So, between costs and delays, it makes much more financial sense for us to fly up to Florida, say hello to our friends at FRC in Cooper City, and then fly back down with everything that we need for our Lima campus. You wouldn't think that it would make sense that way, but it does!
This is something you should check on for your international ministry. If your parent church or ministry is based in a country which is different from the country where you actually have your own church or ministry, then it may make more financial sense for you to flight back and forth, courier style, to collect items and materials that you need, instead of having it all shipped by one of the overnight services. This seems to make even more sense these days, with the international financial crisis and a drop in the number of people flying, and the resulting drop in airfare costs. You should check it out: you may be able to save yourself and your church or ministry many thousands of dollars!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Greatness & Crises
Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo recently said on FoxNews, "To be great, you have to deal with crisis."
What a simple and yet profound quote.
If the new President of the United States, Barack Obama, is going to be great, as many hope, he will have to deal with - and successfully overcome - crisis. In fact, he will have to successfully overcome several crises. He is facing a financial crisis, a banking crisis, a credit crisis, a national debt crisis, a stock market crisis, an auto manufacturing crisis, an environmental crisis, a terrorism crisis, and a Middle East crisis. If Barack Obama is going to go down in the US history books as a great president, then he will have to face down - and smack down - several of these crises that face him. It was the same for US Presidents Abraham Lincoln, with the Civil War, and Franklin Roosevelt, with the Great Depression and World War II. Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt both dealt with enormous crises in their respective administrations, and as a result they are among the most admired presidents in US history.
What crises are you facing in your international ministry? Are the crises you face spiritual, or emotional, or psychological, or ministerial, or doctrinal, or financial, or legal, or governmental, or denominational ... or all of the above? What plans have you made to deal with them? How can you and your ministry achieve greatness by overcoming your crises?
What a simple and yet profound quote.
If the new President of the United States, Barack Obama, is going to be great, as many hope, he will have to deal with - and successfully overcome - crisis. In fact, he will have to successfully overcome several crises. He is facing a financial crisis, a banking crisis, a credit crisis, a national debt crisis, a stock market crisis, an auto manufacturing crisis, an environmental crisis, a terrorism crisis, and a Middle East crisis. If Barack Obama is going to go down in the US history books as a great president, then he will have to face down - and smack down - several of these crises that face him. It was the same for US Presidents Abraham Lincoln, with the Civil War, and Franklin Roosevelt, with the Great Depression and World War II. Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt both dealt with enormous crises in their respective administrations, and as a result they are among the most admired presidents in US history.
What crises are you facing in your international ministry? Are the crises you face spiritual, or emotional, or psychological, or ministerial, or doctrinal, or financial, or legal, or governmental, or denominational ... or all of the above? What plans have you made to deal with them? How can you and your ministry achieve greatness by overcoming your crises?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Change & Hope
Romans 13:1 (NIV) - "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
Barack Obama is the new President of the United States of America. His first day as president is not even over, and he's already up to his eyeballs in messy situations and problems, among them the international financial crisis and the ever-looming threat of terrorism.
Please pray for President Obama, whether or not you voted for him or support his policies. He's going to need it.
Two of President Obama's main themes during his campaign, as well as during his inaugural speech this afternoon, were change and hope. And so today I want to ask you these two questions:
1. What do you need to change in your spiritual life and in your ministry in order to grow closer to God, grow more Christ-like, and bear much more fruit?
2. What hope has waned in your spiritual life and in your ministry, and how can you bolster your faith in order to re-kindle this hope?
Whether you agree with President Obama or not, these two issues are vital ones to address, be it in presidential politics or in international ministry.
Barack Obama is the new President of the United States of America. His first day as president is not even over, and he's already up to his eyeballs in messy situations and problems, among them the international financial crisis and the ever-looming threat of terrorism.
Please pray for President Obama, whether or not you voted for him or support his policies. He's going to need it.
Two of President Obama's main themes during his campaign, as well as during his inaugural speech this afternoon, were change and hope. And so today I want to ask you these two questions:
1. What do you need to change in your spiritual life and in your ministry in order to grow closer to God, grow more Christ-like, and bear much more fruit?
2. What hope has waned in your spiritual life and in your ministry, and how can you bolster your faith in order to re-kindle this hope?
Whether you agree with President Obama or not, these two issues are vital ones to address, be it in presidential politics or in international ministry.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Holiday Road
Today is Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the USA. It is a federal holiday, as the entire nation commemorates and celebrates the life of the late Baptist pastor and civil rights leader. The MLK holiday has taken on an extra-special significance this year, as it is being celebrated just one day prior to the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States.
The MLK holiday also means a 3-day or 4-day weekend for most Americans, depending on whether they're also taking Inauguration Day off, too, as many are doing this year because of the historic occasion. As a result, though, many churches probably had lighter-than-usual attendance on Sunday in the USA, as many folks were probably away for the long weekend. Let's face it: that's the way it is with long weekends, no matter where you are doing church or ministry in the world.
Here in Peru, though, we face a double whammy of sorts when it comes to long weekends, as we have to deal with both Peruvian holidays as well as American holidays. Why in the world should we care about USA holidays when we are here in Peru? Because many of our members at FRC-Lima work for the US Embassy, and several others work for USA-based multinational corporations, and the US Embassy and many of the USA-based multinats observe both Peruvian and American holidays. That means twice as many days off for their workers, which is obviously a great thing for them. But it also means twice as many Sundays at FRC-Lima when people may be escaping us to worship God at the beach or in the mountains or in the countryside.
That's just the way it is for us here in Lima. It's just something that we have to deal with. It may or may not be the same wherever in the world that you are doing ministry, but it would be wise for you to invest in a local calendar, and familiarize yourself with the local holidays, wherever you are doing ministry in the world, and you should also check to see if it's common for embassies or multinats or expats in your corner of the world to celebrate their own local holidays as well, just to make sure that you don't schedule a major event or outreach on a day or weekend when everyone is going to be out of town. A quick look at the local calendar, or a quick look at an embassy or multinat website, or even a quick question to your church members or ministry associates, may save you a whole lot of scheduling headaches down the line.
The MLK holiday also means a 3-day or 4-day weekend for most Americans, depending on whether they're also taking Inauguration Day off, too, as many are doing this year because of the historic occasion. As a result, though, many churches probably had lighter-than-usual attendance on Sunday in the USA, as many folks were probably away for the long weekend. Let's face it: that's the way it is with long weekends, no matter where you are doing church or ministry in the world.
Here in Peru, though, we face a double whammy of sorts when it comes to long weekends, as we have to deal with both Peruvian holidays as well as American holidays. Why in the world should we care about USA holidays when we are here in Peru? Because many of our members at FRC-Lima work for the US Embassy, and several others work for USA-based multinational corporations, and the US Embassy and many of the USA-based multinats observe both Peruvian and American holidays. That means twice as many days off for their workers, which is obviously a great thing for them. But it also means twice as many Sundays at FRC-Lima when people may be escaping us to worship God at the beach or in the mountains or in the countryside.
That's just the way it is for us here in Lima. It's just something that we have to deal with. It may or may not be the same wherever in the world that you are doing ministry, but it would be wise for you to invest in a local calendar, and familiarize yourself with the local holidays, wherever you are doing ministry in the world, and you should also check to see if it's common for embassies or multinats or expats in your corner of the world to celebrate their own local holidays as well, just to make sure that you don't schedule a major event or outreach on a day or weekend when everyone is going to be out of town. A quick look at the local calendar, or a quick look at an embassy or multinat website, or even a quick question to your church members or ministry associates, may save you a whole lot of scheduling headaches down the line.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Registration Check
On Wednesday night I was named to the board of directors of a large association of Americans and Canadians who live in Peru. A big and unpleasant surprise that the expat association recently uncovered was that their prior lawyer never properly registered them as a non-profit organization with the government of Peru. For more than five years the association was not legally registered, even though they thought they were for the entire time. It was only when they switched lawyers that they noticed the omission.
The association now has to register all over again, and of course they also now have to pay a lot of fees to the government, as well as to the new lawyers, in order to clean up this mess.
The lesson is a sobering one, but also a timely and important one. Make sure to check the national laws, including tax laws and laws governing non-profits and churches and ministerial and social work, in whatever country you are doing international ministry, to make sure - 100% sure - that you are properly on the books and registered with every appropriate governmental agency in your country of ministry. Here in Peru, for instance, our church must be registered as a non-profit organization with the government. This means we pay no taxes to the government of Peru, and it also permits us to receive imports for the church (instruments, equipment, books, DVDs, banners, bulletin shells, promotional materials, etc.) with greater ease, although we still tussle frequently with Peru Customs, but that's a blog post for another day.
Make sure you and your ministry are properly registered - in all appropriate governmental agencies - wherever you are doing ministry. The expat association learned the lesson the hard way. Do your best not to repeat it.
The association now has to register all over again, and of course they also now have to pay a lot of fees to the government, as well as to the new lawyers, in order to clean up this mess.
The lesson is a sobering one, but also a timely and important one. Make sure to check the national laws, including tax laws and laws governing non-profits and churches and ministerial and social work, in whatever country you are doing international ministry, to make sure - 100% sure - that you are properly on the books and registered with every appropriate governmental agency in your country of ministry. Here in Peru, for instance, our church must be registered as a non-profit organization with the government. This means we pay no taxes to the government of Peru, and it also permits us to receive imports for the church (instruments, equipment, books, DVDs, banners, bulletin shells, promotional materials, etc.) with greater ease, although we still tussle frequently with Peru Customs, but that's a blog post for another day.
Make sure you and your ministry are properly registered - in all appropriate governmental agencies - wherever you are doing ministry. The expat association learned the lesson the hard way. Do your best not to repeat it.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Advertunity
At our FRC staff meeting this morning (we participate from Peru via Skype), one of our pastors coined a new word: Advertunity.
What is Advertunity?
Adversity + Opportunity = Advertunity.
What adversity is staring you smack in the face right now in your international ministry, ready to take a chunk out of your hide? How can you turn said adversity into an opportunity?
Too often we see only the negative side of adversity, and too often we fail to see how God may be using what we see only as adversity as a positive opportunity for us and our ministries.
Let today be the day that you turn your adversity into an opportunity. Ask God to show you how to do it, and He will.
Let today be the day that you embrace Advertunity in your life and ministry!
What is Advertunity?
Adversity + Opportunity = Advertunity.
What adversity is staring you smack in the face right now in your international ministry, ready to take a chunk out of your hide? How can you turn said adversity into an opportunity?
Too often we see only the negative side of adversity, and too often we fail to see how God may be using what we see only as adversity as a positive opportunity for us and our ministries.
Let today be the day that you turn your adversity into an opportunity. Ask God to show you how to do it, and He will.
Let today be the day that you embrace Advertunity in your life and ministry!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Standing Outside The Fire
"We call them cool/
Those hearts that have no scars to show/
The ones that never do let go/
And risk the tables being turned/
We call them fools/
Who have to dance within the flame/
Who chance the sorrow and the shame/
That always comes with getting burned/
But you got to be tough/
When consumed by desire/
'Cause it's not enough/
Just to stand outside the fire/
Standing outside the fire/
Standing outside the fire/
Life is not tried, it is merely survived/
If you're standing outside the fire."
Garth Brooks is probably my favorite country singer, and it's because of songs like "Standing Outside The Fire." The lyrics and message are outstanding.
Where are you standing today?
International ministry is tough and trying and not for the faint of heart. God is not looking for wimps or cowards in international ministry. Your faith will be stretched, perhaps to its limit, and you'll be flung far outside your comfort zone. Just like the apostle Paul was.
You may be singed and you may get burned. You may have to patch wounds, and you may have to grow a lot of scar tissue.
But that's where the glory is.
You may not be singing "Standing Outside The Fire" next Sunday at church, but you should take its message to heart, and apply it to your ministry. Be willing to get scarred. Be willing to face the heat. Be willing to get burned. Be willing to take a risk. Be willing to fall short and try again. And again. Persevere. Don't quit. Don't give up!
Hebrews 12:29 (NIV) - "Our God is a consuming fire."
Be more than just a survivor. Your life and your international ministry are not tried, they are merely survived, if you're standing outside the fire. Be willing to get inside the fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did, and God was with them in the fiery furnace, and God saved them, and God blessed them. He will do the same for you. Be willing to get inside the fire, in whatever way that it is burning in your life, and then watch what God does for you and your ministry.
Those hearts that have no scars to show/
The ones that never do let go/
And risk the tables being turned/
We call them fools/
Who have to dance within the flame/
Who chance the sorrow and the shame/
That always comes with getting burned/
But you got to be tough/
When consumed by desire/
'Cause it's not enough/
Just to stand outside the fire/
Standing outside the fire/
Standing outside the fire/
Life is not tried, it is merely survived/
If you're standing outside the fire."
Garth Brooks is probably my favorite country singer, and it's because of songs like "Standing Outside The Fire." The lyrics and message are outstanding.
Where are you standing today?
International ministry is tough and trying and not for the faint of heart. God is not looking for wimps or cowards in international ministry. Your faith will be stretched, perhaps to its limit, and you'll be flung far outside your comfort zone. Just like the apostle Paul was.
You may be singed and you may get burned. You may have to patch wounds, and you may have to grow a lot of scar tissue.
But that's where the glory is.
You may not be singing "Standing Outside The Fire" next Sunday at church, but you should take its message to heart, and apply it to your ministry. Be willing to get scarred. Be willing to face the heat. Be willing to get burned. Be willing to take a risk. Be willing to fall short and try again. And again. Persevere. Don't quit. Don't give up!
Hebrews 12:29 (NIV) - "Our God is a consuming fire."
Be more than just a survivor. Your life and your international ministry are not tried, they are merely survived, if you're standing outside the fire. Be willing to get inside the fire. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did, and God was with them in the fiery furnace, and God saved them, and God blessed them. He will do the same for you. Be willing to get inside the fire, in whatever way that it is burning in your life, and then watch what God does for you and your ministry.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Obedience
Genesis 6:22 (NIV) - "Noah did everything just as God commanded him."
Genesis 12:4 (NIV) - "So Abram left, as the Lord had told him ...."
Exodus 4:20 (NIV) - "So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt."
Jonah 3:3 (NIV) - "Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh."
Luke 22:42 (NIV) - "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Acts 5:29 (NIV) - "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!'"
Obedience is the key.
You may be at a point in your life and ministry where you are ready to throw in the towel. You may be drowning in stress, tension, frustration, and setbacks. You may be ready to hand off your responsibilities to someone else.
But is that what God wants from you?
God gave enormous, and seemingly overwhelming, challenges to Noah, Abram, Moses, Jonah, Jesus, and Peter and the other apostles. Noah, Abram, Jesus, and Peter and the other apostles showed immediate obedience. Moses and Jonah, each in their own way, didn't step up to the plate right away, with varying consequences, but in the end they both were obedient. In every case, obedience made the difference. In every case, obedience saved lives, blessed nations, brought freedom, brought salvation, and furthered God's work throughout the world.
It's the same for you and your ministry. You may be tired and ready to pack it in. But God still wants you to be obedient to Him. If He called you to be wherever you are, then He wants you to stay there, through thick and thin. Obedience to God is easy when things are going well. Obedience to God is hard when they are not.
Stay obedient. Stay in God's will. Persevere wherever you are. Don't throw in the towel! God isn't finished with you yet.
Genesis 12:4 (NIV) - "So Abram left, as the Lord had told him ...."
Exodus 4:20 (NIV) - "So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt."
Jonah 3:3 (NIV) - "Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh."
Luke 22:42 (NIV) - "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Acts 5:29 (NIV) - "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!'"
Obedience is the key.
You may be at a point in your life and ministry where you are ready to throw in the towel. You may be drowning in stress, tension, frustration, and setbacks. You may be ready to hand off your responsibilities to someone else.
But is that what God wants from you?
God gave enormous, and seemingly overwhelming, challenges to Noah, Abram, Moses, Jonah, Jesus, and Peter and the other apostles. Noah, Abram, Jesus, and Peter and the other apostles showed immediate obedience. Moses and Jonah, each in their own way, didn't step up to the plate right away, with varying consequences, but in the end they both were obedient. In every case, obedience made the difference. In every case, obedience saved lives, blessed nations, brought freedom, brought salvation, and furthered God's work throughout the world.
It's the same for you and your ministry. You may be tired and ready to pack it in. But God still wants you to be obedient to Him. If He called you to be wherever you are, then He wants you to stay there, through thick and thin. Obedience to God is easy when things are going well. Obedience to God is hard when they are not.
Stay obedient. Stay in God's will. Persevere wherever you are. Don't throw in the towel! God isn't finished with you yet.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wrong Predictions
In 1876, Western Union officials prepared an internal memo about the likelihood of success of Alexander Graham Bell's new invention, the telephone.
"This telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication," read the memo.
In 1899, Charles Duell, the Commissioner of the United States Patent Office, said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented."
In 1927, Harry Warner, of Warner Bros. movie studio fame, first heard about the idea of having actors speak in films.
"Who wants to hear actors talk?" he grumbled.
In 1962, Decca Records listened to a demo from a new band. The Decca Records suits didn't like the band, and decided not to sign them to a contract.
"We don't like their sound," read a Decca Records evaluation of the band, "and guitar music is on the way out."
The band was the Beatles.
In 1977, Ken Olson, the president of Digital Equipment Corp., said, "There's no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Are you getting the picture here?
Has someone criticized you and your ministry? Has someone predicted nothing but gloom and doom and failure for you and your ministry? Prove 'em wrong! History is littered with the worthless words of critics who made negative comments or predictions, normally based on jealousy, envy, fear, or ignorance, and who were dead wrong.
Prove your critics wrong. The Beatles and many others did, and so can you!
"This telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication," read the memo.
In 1899, Charles Duell, the Commissioner of the United States Patent Office, said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented."
In 1927, Harry Warner, of Warner Bros. movie studio fame, first heard about the idea of having actors speak in films.
"Who wants to hear actors talk?" he grumbled.
In 1962, Decca Records listened to a demo from a new band. The Decca Records suits didn't like the band, and decided not to sign them to a contract.
"We don't like their sound," read a Decca Records evaluation of the band, "and guitar music is on the way out."
The band was the Beatles.
In 1977, Ken Olson, the president of Digital Equipment Corp., said, "There's no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Are you getting the picture here?
Has someone criticized you and your ministry? Has someone predicted nothing but gloom and doom and failure for you and your ministry? Prove 'em wrong! History is littered with the worthless words of critics who made negative comments or predictions, normally based on jealousy, envy, fear, or ignorance, and who were dead wrong.
Prove your critics wrong. The Beatles and many others did, and so can you!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Great One
If you're a hockey fan, then you know all about Wayne Gretzky. He was The Great Gretzky. He was The Great One. Gretzky led the Edmonton Oilers to a host of Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s, and he is considered one of the greatest - if not The Greatest - superstar in the history of the National Hockey League.
The Great Gretzky once said in the 1980s, "100% of the shots that I don't take, don't go in the net."
What a great quote! What a great philosophy! Nothing is accomplished in life unless you are willing to take a shot at it, whether we're talking about the NHL or international ministry. Wayne Gretzky's great quote is right along the same lines as yesterday's quote from Walt Disney, when Disney said, "Courage is the main quality of leadership. Usually it implies some risk."
What are some shots that you need to take in 2009 in order to grow your ministry? Are you afraid to take those shots? Fire the puck at the net! Take Wayne Gretzky's advice: You must shoot before you can score, be it in the NHL or in international ministry!
The Great Gretzky once said in the 1980s, "100% of the shots that I don't take, don't go in the net."
What a great quote! What a great philosophy! Nothing is accomplished in life unless you are willing to take a shot at it, whether we're talking about the NHL or international ministry. Wayne Gretzky's great quote is right along the same lines as yesterday's quote from Walt Disney, when Disney said, "Courage is the main quality of leadership. Usually it implies some risk."
What are some shots that you need to take in 2009 in order to grow your ministry? Are you afraid to take those shots? Fire the puck at the net! Take Wayne Gretzky's advice: You must shoot before you can score, be it in the NHL or in international ministry!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Courage & Leadership & Risk
Walt Disney said, "Courage is the main quality of leadership. Usually it implies some risk."
Doing anything successfully in life involves risk. And the bigger the risk, the bigger the possible payoff. This goes for international ministry, too. The bigger the risk you are willing to take, and the further out on the limb that you are willing to go - this may pay off in huge dividends for you and your ministry. It could cause you to bear quantities of spiritual fruit that you never even dreamed would be possible!
What do you need to do today to become more courageous in the leadership of your international ministry? What risk do you need to take to lead and impact and bear much more fruit at a much higher level?
Doing anything successfully in life involves risk. And the bigger the risk, the bigger the possible payoff. This goes for international ministry, too. The bigger the risk you are willing to take, and the further out on the limb that you are willing to go - this may pay off in huge dividends for you and your ministry. It could cause you to bear quantities of spiritual fruit that you never even dreamed would be possible!
What do you need to do today to become more courageous in the leadership of your international ministry? What risk do you need to take to lead and impact and bear much more fruit at a much higher level?
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Turnstile Effect
We had a great day on Sunday at FRC-Lima. Both services (English and Spanish) were packed. This came as a very pleasant surprise to me, since it's the holiday season and the summer season here in Peru, and there was a great expectation among many people that a lot of folks would be praising God at the beach on Sunday.
I have learned many things in international ministry, and one of the things that I've learned is that I simply cannot ever accurately predict crowd size at FRC-Lima on any given Sunday. There are Sundays when I think there could be a huge crowd, and it's much lower than expected. There are other Sundays - like yesterday - when I think that it could be a much lower number because of the beckoning beaches - and it's jammed in the cinema. Shows how much I know.
However, I do think that there is a transience that is inherent to international ministry, and particularly in international churches. About 50% of our crowd at FRC-Lima consists of expats and foreigners who mainly are here in Lima as embassy workers, multinational workers, or missionaries; however, with the occasional beach bum, surfer, globetrotter, or nomad thrown in for good measure.
As a result of this, we are frequently welcoming newcomers to FRC-Lima (we had 23 first-timers on Sunday), but we also are frequently saying good-bye to folks, as embassy workers are transferred to another post, or the contracts of multinational workers expire, or missionaries move on to another harvest field. There is clearly more transience in an international church, such as FRC-Lima, than at a standard church plant anywhere in, for instance, the USA. I call this the Turnstile Effect.
This Turnstile Effect is something that you're going to have to get used to if you want to thrive in international ministry. People will always be coming and going. At times it will be frustrating. There'll be times when you are grooming someone for leadership in your church or ministry, and all of a sudden they're packing their bags for another place. It happens. It will continue to happen.
But the turnstile moves in both directions. As you lament when good folks are leaving, also remember that God will replace them with others. He won't leave you hanging. When you anticipate the Turnstile Effect, and when you understand how it might affect you and your international church or ministry, then it actually may cause you to raise up more leaders, and that's a good thing.
I have learned many things in international ministry, and one of the things that I've learned is that I simply cannot ever accurately predict crowd size at FRC-Lima on any given Sunday. There are Sundays when I think there could be a huge crowd, and it's much lower than expected. There are other Sundays - like yesterday - when I think that it could be a much lower number because of the beckoning beaches - and it's jammed in the cinema. Shows how much I know.
However, I do think that there is a transience that is inherent to international ministry, and particularly in international churches. About 50% of our crowd at FRC-Lima consists of expats and foreigners who mainly are here in Lima as embassy workers, multinational workers, or missionaries; however, with the occasional beach bum, surfer, globetrotter, or nomad thrown in for good measure.
As a result of this, we are frequently welcoming newcomers to FRC-Lima (we had 23 first-timers on Sunday), but we also are frequently saying good-bye to folks, as embassy workers are transferred to another post, or the contracts of multinational workers expire, or missionaries move on to another harvest field. There is clearly more transience in an international church, such as FRC-Lima, than at a standard church plant anywhere in, for instance, the USA. I call this the Turnstile Effect.
This Turnstile Effect is something that you're going to have to get used to if you want to thrive in international ministry. People will always be coming and going. At times it will be frustrating. There'll be times when you are grooming someone for leadership in your church or ministry, and all of a sudden they're packing their bags for another place. It happens. It will continue to happen.
But the turnstile moves in both directions. As you lament when good folks are leaving, also remember that God will replace them with others. He won't leave you hanging. When you anticipate the Turnstile Effect, and when you understand how it might affect you and your international church or ministry, then it actually may cause you to raise up more leaders, and that's a good thing.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Burned In Effigy!
One of the most unique and colorful New Year's traditions in Peru is to create effigies and then burn them at midnight on New Year's Eve.
The effigies are meant to symbolize people who have created bad memories or who have had a bad influence on you in the year that is ending, and so the burning of the effigies at midnight is supposed to end the bad memories or influences, so that they don't continue into the new year. The most common effigies burned in Peru on New Year's Eve are leading politicians, celebrities, bosses, and unpleasant relatives or in-laws.
The effigies are really no more than dummies made out of old clothing or rags, and usually stuffed with newspaper, kind of like the ones you'd make at Halloween. In some districts in Lima, literally every street is alive with fire at midnight on New Year's Eve, as the effigies burn for blocks and blocks, as far as the eyes can see.
This Peruvian New Year's Eve tradition certainly has secular roots, but we also can apply it to ministry. What are the bad memories or bad influences that hurt your international ministry in the year that just ended? Is it really going to help you in the new year to keep thinking or focusing on them? Probably not. Burn those bad memories and influences in effigy! Rid your mind of them, and focus instead on the good plans that God has for you in the new year.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
The effigies are meant to symbolize people who have created bad memories or who have had a bad influence on you in the year that is ending, and so the burning of the effigies at midnight is supposed to end the bad memories or influences, so that they don't continue into the new year. The most common effigies burned in Peru on New Year's Eve are leading politicians, celebrities, bosses, and unpleasant relatives or in-laws.
The effigies are really no more than dummies made out of old clothing or rags, and usually stuffed with newspaper, kind of like the ones you'd make at Halloween. In some districts in Lima, literally every street is alive with fire at midnight on New Year's Eve, as the effigies burn for blocks and blocks, as far as the eyes can see.
This Peruvian New Year's Eve tradition certainly has secular roots, but we also can apply it to ministry. What are the bad memories or bad influences that hurt your international ministry in the year that just ended? Is it really going to help you in the new year to keep thinking or focusing on them? Probably not. Burn those bad memories and influences in effigy! Rid your mind of them, and focus instead on the good plans that God has for you in the new year.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
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