My wife, Dorcas, and her mother, Miriam, recently attended a wedding in Chimbote, Peru, a port city which is about a 6-hour bus ride north of Lima.
Dorcas and Miriam left and returned safely, thankfully, although after they returned the Peru TV news was filled with stories of armed robberies of the buses that travel between Lima and Chimbote and back. Packs of armed robbers, sometimes as many as 15 strong, shoot out the bus tires and then rob everyone on board.
In order to thwart this crime, Peruvian bus companies have banded together, and now have all their buses travel together from Lima to Chimbote and back in a convoy, one bus after another.
The philosophy of the bus companies is that there is strength in numbers, and that it is far more difficult to attack a convoy of buses than it is to attack a solitary bus.
It's the same way in church and ministry, no matter where you are located in this big world. Many times, for reasons normally related to independence or self-sufficiency or lack of trust or fear of delegation, we try to go at church or ministry by ourselves, in a solitary fashion, and usually with bad results.
God has placed the people around you for a purpose. Work together with them and see how much more you - all of you - can accomplish together, as opposed to just one person trying to do it all.
God made you for community, and He made your community so that together it can accomplish enormous things for His kingdom.
Don't do life, church, or ministry by yourself.
Build a team.
Build a community.
Get a great big convoy going.
See how much more you will accomplish together.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Bishop
Last night in Lima we were privileged to be part of a small gathering of local pastors who met with Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, a wonderful, God-blessed church located in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
At the meeting, Pastor Cymbala presented a DVD called "The Miracle of Hope." It is the story of a trip by Pastor Cymbala and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
The DVD features interviews with several prisoners, including those on death row, who have come to know Christ while in prison. One of the prisoners featured in the DVD was nicknamed The Bishop. He was imprisoned for 52 years - 52 years! - before being released in 2007 when he was more than 70 years old. The Bishop had spent practically his entire life in prison before being released into the custody of Pastor Cymbala and the Brooklyn Tabernacle church, where he now attends and serves.
The Bishop's incredible story reminded me that we must never give up on any person. The Bishop was imprisoned for 52 years, but God never forgot about him, and God never gave up on him, when he was serving all those long years in Angola. It's a little bit like the story of Moses, who killed an Egyptian, fled the scene of the crime, and hid out and tended sheep for his father-in-law for 40 years before God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land.
Never give up on anyone that you are doing church, ministry, or life with, no matter how recalcitrant he or she may be. He or she may wind up being like The Bishop, finding God and serving Him while in prison, and then continuing to serve Him after being set free. Or he or she may be like Moses. You never know. But don't give up on those persons like The Bishop in your life. God hasn't. Neither should you.
At the meeting, Pastor Cymbala presented a DVD called "The Miracle of Hope." It is the story of a trip by Pastor Cymbala and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
The DVD features interviews with several prisoners, including those on death row, who have come to know Christ while in prison. One of the prisoners featured in the DVD was nicknamed The Bishop. He was imprisoned for 52 years - 52 years! - before being released in 2007 when he was more than 70 years old. The Bishop had spent practically his entire life in prison before being released into the custody of Pastor Cymbala and the Brooklyn Tabernacle church, where he now attends and serves.
The Bishop's incredible story reminded me that we must never give up on any person. The Bishop was imprisoned for 52 years, but God never forgot about him, and God never gave up on him, when he was serving all those long years in Angola. It's a little bit like the story of Moses, who killed an Egyptian, fled the scene of the crime, and hid out and tended sheep for his father-in-law for 40 years before God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land.
Never give up on anyone that you are doing church, ministry, or life with, no matter how recalcitrant he or she may be. He or she may wind up being like The Bishop, finding God and serving Him while in prison, and then continuing to serve Him after being set free. Or he or she may be like Moses. You never know. But don't give up on those persons like The Bishop in your life. God hasn't. Neither should you.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
7 Deadly Sins & 7 Modern Sins
Last night I was invited to the opening of a new photography exhibition here in Lima which focuses on the 7 Deadly Sins & 7 Modern Sins. The photographer attends our church.
Most people are familiar with the 7 Deadly Sins, but just in case you need a refresher course, they are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath (anger), envy, and pride.
The photographer's 7 Modern Sins include genetic modification (cloning), experimentation on human beings (modern science), environmental contamination (oil), social injustice (modern war), generational poverty (discrimination), financial ambition (within the church), and drug consumption (including designer drugs).
It is a fascinating list.
We do battle with every single one of the 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Modern Sins every day, at least here in Peru. I believe that it is probably the same for the rest of you, no matter where in the world that you are doing church or ministry.
What are you doing in your church or ministry - or what more can you do - to combat each of the 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Modern Sins?
Most people are familiar with the 7 Deadly Sins, but just in case you need a refresher course, they are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath (anger), envy, and pride.
The photographer's 7 Modern Sins include genetic modification (cloning), experimentation on human beings (modern science), environmental contamination (oil), social injustice (modern war), generational poverty (discrimination), financial ambition (within the church), and drug consumption (including designer drugs).
It is a fascinating list.
We do battle with every single one of the 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Modern Sins every day, at least here in Peru. I believe that it is probably the same for the rest of you, no matter where in the world that you are doing church or ministry.
What are you doing in your church or ministry - or what more can you do - to combat each of the 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Modern Sins?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Rocky Balboa
When Sylvester Stallone was born, a doctor's forceps severed a nerve and caused paralysis in parts of his face. This caused him to slur his speech later on.
When Stallone was first starting out as an actor in New York, he was rejected by talent agents more than 1,500 times.
When Stallone was first starting out as an actor in New York, he was so poor that he couldn't even afford to heat his apartment in the wintertime. He also had to sell his wife's jewelry, and even his dog, in order to even come close to making ends meet.
In 1975, Stallone watched a little-known fighter named Chuck Wepner go 15 rounds with world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Stallone was inspired by Wepner's tenacity, and in a mere 3 days Stallone wrote a screenplay that was partially inspired by Wepner's incredible showing against Ali.
That screenplay was called "Rocky."
Stallone showed his "Rocky" screenplay to numerous agents and movie studios, but it was continually rejected. Finally, two Hollywood producers showed interest in the script, and offered Stallone a lot of money for the rights to it, but only on the condition that another actor, and not Stallone, play the lead character in the movie, Rocky Balboa.
Stallone refused. Despite his poverty, he had a vision that he would play the lead role in the movie. Finally, the two producers agreed to let Stallone play the lead role. They gave him less money for the script, but agreed to let him share in the profits of the movie.
At the 1977 Academy Awards, "Rocky" won 3 Oscars, including Best Picture, and it launched Sylvester Stallone's career as a Hollywood superstar.
Right before the Academy Awards began in 1977, Stallone went back and read every single rejection letter he had ever received.
He also bought back the dog that he had to sell when he was a starving actor. That dog's name was "Butkus", and he, too, was featured in the "Rocky" movies.
Sylvester Stallone once said, "I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and tell me to get going, rather than to retreat."
1,500 talent agent rejections. Physical challenges. Too poor to even heat his apartment during the cold New York winters. Forced to sell his wife's jewelry and his dog.
But what a story of perseverance. Sylvester Stallone is a living example of the words we find in James 1:3-4, when we are encouraged to persevere in the midst of trials and tests.
What trials and tests are you facing today in your church or ministry? Are you ready to give up? Are you ready to throw in the towel? Take Sylvester Stallone's story to heart. Go back and watch the original "Rocky" movie. Persevere.
It'll all be worth it in the end.
When Stallone was first starting out as an actor in New York, he was rejected by talent agents more than 1,500 times.
When Stallone was first starting out as an actor in New York, he was so poor that he couldn't even afford to heat his apartment in the wintertime. He also had to sell his wife's jewelry, and even his dog, in order to even come close to making ends meet.
In 1975, Stallone watched a little-known fighter named Chuck Wepner go 15 rounds with world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Stallone was inspired by Wepner's tenacity, and in a mere 3 days Stallone wrote a screenplay that was partially inspired by Wepner's incredible showing against Ali.
That screenplay was called "Rocky."
Stallone showed his "Rocky" screenplay to numerous agents and movie studios, but it was continually rejected. Finally, two Hollywood producers showed interest in the script, and offered Stallone a lot of money for the rights to it, but only on the condition that another actor, and not Stallone, play the lead character in the movie, Rocky Balboa.
Stallone refused. Despite his poverty, he had a vision that he would play the lead role in the movie. Finally, the two producers agreed to let Stallone play the lead role. They gave him less money for the script, but agreed to let him share in the profits of the movie.
At the 1977 Academy Awards, "Rocky" won 3 Oscars, including Best Picture, and it launched Sylvester Stallone's career as a Hollywood superstar.
Right before the Academy Awards began in 1977, Stallone went back and read every single rejection letter he had ever received.
He also bought back the dog that he had to sell when he was a starving actor. That dog's name was "Butkus", and he, too, was featured in the "Rocky" movies.
Sylvester Stallone once said, "I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and tell me to get going, rather than to retreat."
1,500 talent agent rejections. Physical challenges. Too poor to even heat his apartment during the cold New York winters. Forced to sell his wife's jewelry and his dog.
But what a story of perseverance. Sylvester Stallone is a living example of the words we find in James 1:3-4, when we are encouraged to persevere in the midst of trials and tests.
What trials and tests are you facing today in your church or ministry? Are you ready to give up? Are you ready to throw in the towel? Take Sylvester Stallone's story to heart. Go back and watch the original "Rocky" movie. Persevere.
It'll all be worth it in the end.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Labor
Today is Labor Day in the USA. It is a federal holiday which honors the nation's workers.
It is Labor Day in the USA ... but nobody labors.
Laboring in church or in ministry can be taxing, tiring, tense, pressure-packed, unappreciated, and stressful. At times you might think that nobody is noticing your efforts, or that nobody cares.
On this Labor Day, remember the words of Paul to the church at Corinth that we find in 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV), "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Even if you think it is.
Even if others tell you that it is.
It isn't.
It's not in vain.
These are Paul's divinely-inspired words for the church at Corinth.
And for you, too.
Hold on to them firmly when you are tempted to think otherwise, and continue on in your worthy, life-changing labor. It's not in vain.
It is Labor Day in the USA ... but nobody labors.
Laboring in church or in ministry can be taxing, tiring, tense, pressure-packed, unappreciated, and stressful. At times you might think that nobody is noticing your efforts, or that nobody cares.
On this Labor Day, remember the words of Paul to the church at Corinth that we find in 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV), "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Even if you think it is.
Even if others tell you that it is.
It isn't.
It's not in vain.
These are Paul's divinely-inspired words for the church at Corinth.
And for you, too.
Hold on to them firmly when you are tempted to think otherwise, and continue on in your worthy, life-changing labor. It's not in vain.
Friday, September 4, 2009
School Of Hard Knocks
Today I want to share one more part of Michael Franzese's book, "I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse: Insider Business Tips From A Former Mob Boss."
In his chapter about how to learn from your failures, Franzese writes, "It's not how many times a person fails that necessarily matters. It's not called the School of Hard Knocks for nothing - it's all about what you learn. It's what a person learns from failure and how he reacts to it that leads to either ultimate success or ultimate failure. What information can you take away that will benefit you the next time around? What can you learn so you will never repeat the same mistake twice? How will you allow it to affect you internally so you don't give up, but keep on moving forward?"
Franzese lists four benefits of failure: 1) Failing can show you defects in your plan; 2) Failing can reveal defects in the execution or timing of a plan; 3) Failing can identify weaknesses in a team that need to be addressed; 4) Failing can highlight otherwise undetected variables at play.
Franzese concludes, "I got a good education from the many times I failed, and I'm relatively certain I'm not done yet - failing or learning. Once you assess the situation, you can remedy the gaps in your plan and your execution and improve your performance for the next time out."
How does Franzese's advice affect you? It's time to take a cold, hard look at your church or ministry. Have there been failures in your church or ministry, and perhaps on multiple occasions? What lessons can you take away that will help you out the next time around? Have you understood and learned those lessons well? Have you been able to spot defects in your plan or execution or timing? Do you need to make changes or transitions in your team? Are there any other variables that you need to address or confront?
The more transparent you are in answering these questions, the more likely you will learn from your mistakes, and the more likely you will become a successful church or ministry "failure" very soon.
In his chapter about how to learn from your failures, Franzese writes, "It's not how many times a person fails that necessarily matters. It's not called the School of Hard Knocks for nothing - it's all about what you learn. It's what a person learns from failure and how he reacts to it that leads to either ultimate success or ultimate failure. What information can you take away that will benefit you the next time around? What can you learn so you will never repeat the same mistake twice? How will you allow it to affect you internally so you don't give up, but keep on moving forward?"
Franzese lists four benefits of failure: 1) Failing can show you defects in your plan; 2) Failing can reveal defects in the execution or timing of a plan; 3) Failing can identify weaknesses in a team that need to be addressed; 4) Failing can highlight otherwise undetected variables at play.
Franzese concludes, "I got a good education from the many times I failed, and I'm relatively certain I'm not done yet - failing or learning. Once you assess the situation, you can remedy the gaps in your plan and your execution and improve your performance for the next time out."
How does Franzese's advice affect you? It's time to take a cold, hard look at your church or ministry. Have there been failures in your church or ministry, and perhaps on multiple occasions? What lessons can you take away that will help you out the next time around? Have you understood and learned those lessons well? Have you been able to spot defects in your plan or execution or timing? Do you need to make changes or transitions in your team? Are there any other variables that you need to address or confront?
The more transparent you are in answering these questions, the more likely you will learn from your mistakes, and the more likely you will become a successful church or ministry "failure" very soon.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Failure
In Michael Franzese's great book, "I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse: Insider Business Tips From A Former Mob Boss", he discusses how you can learn from your failures.
Franzese writes, "Ray Kroc failed in real estate before creating McDonald's. Henry Ford's first two automobile businesses failed. R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught a buzz. Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka sold only 100 units of an automatic rice cooker that ended up burning the rice; later, they built a cheap tape recorder for Japanese schools, which laid the groundwork for the Sony Corporation. Bill Hewlett and David Packard's early failed products included a lettuce-picking machine and an electric weight-loss apparatus. Walt Disney of all people was fired by the editor of a newspaper because he had 'no good ideas.'"
Franzese concludes, "The list of successful business 'failures' is a long one. But that's not the point. Here's what is: The one sure characteristic all of these folks had in common was their willingness to pick themselves off the floor, dust themselves off, and try again. And sometimes again and again and again."
Are you on the floor today? Have you failed at some ministry endeavor or project, perhaps again and again and again? Then you're in good company. You stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ray Kroc, Henry Ford, R. H. Macy, Akio Morita, Masaru Ibuka, Bill Hewlett, David Packard, and Walt Disney. That's a group that anyone would love to join.
Pick yourself off the floor, dust yourself off, and try again. And again and again and again, if necessary. Get back in the game. Don't slink off to the sidelines. Someday soon you will be a very successful "failure" in your church or ministry.
Franzese writes, "Ray Kroc failed in real estate before creating McDonald's. Henry Ford's first two automobile businesses failed. R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught a buzz. Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka sold only 100 units of an automatic rice cooker that ended up burning the rice; later, they built a cheap tape recorder for Japanese schools, which laid the groundwork for the Sony Corporation. Bill Hewlett and David Packard's early failed products included a lettuce-picking machine and an electric weight-loss apparatus. Walt Disney of all people was fired by the editor of a newspaper because he had 'no good ideas.'"
Franzese concludes, "The list of successful business 'failures' is a long one. But that's not the point. Here's what is: The one sure characteristic all of these folks had in common was their willingness to pick themselves off the floor, dust themselves off, and try again. And sometimes again and again and again."
Are you on the floor today? Have you failed at some ministry endeavor or project, perhaps again and again and again? Then you're in good company. You stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ray Kroc, Henry Ford, R. H. Macy, Akio Morita, Masaru Ibuka, Bill Hewlett, David Packard, and Walt Disney. That's a group that anyone would love to join.
Pick yourself off the floor, dust yourself off, and try again. And again and again and again, if necessary. Get back in the game. Don't slink off to the sidelines. Someday soon you will be a very successful "failure" in your church or ministry.
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