“What People Want,” is a book by Terry Bacon, revealing results from a survey of 500 employees on what workers want.
Honesty: 90% of respondents indicated they want honesty and integrity from their boss.
Fairness: They want their management to be fair and hold everyone accountable.
Trust: They want to trust and be trusted by their boss.
Dependability: They want to be able to count on their boss.
Collaboration: 77% want to be part of the managers team.
What don’t they want?
Friendship: Only 3% want their boss to be a friend.
Conversation: Only 14% want an interesting conversation with their boss.
I like how Jesus summarized it. Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated.
Monday, January 31, 2011
How Ministry Professionals Should Live
One of the (few) advantages of hours on an airplane is the opportunity to slowly read God’s Word.
On my return from Quito last week, I relished some quantity and quality time in 2 Corinthians 5 and 6. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to his ministry leaders in Corinth. So his instructions to his team are very applicable to those of us in ministry today.
Previously, Paul was describing to his colleagues the miracle of the new heavenly bodies we will receive when we leave these temporal bodies. Our aim is to please Him whether here in this body or away from this body. But then he states in 2 Corinthians 5:11: “It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others.” Let me ask you: ‘Why do we do what we do?’ Are we so busy doing our work, we forget why we do it? It is because of the awesome fact of eternity that we work hard to share the Good News.
So what is the power and impetus to our work? Statement 14 gives the answer: “Whatever we do is because Christ controls us.” Any motivation, any power, any wisdom, any success comes from a life under the control (Lordship) of Jesus Christ.
God has brought us back to himself through what Christ has done. We were once enemies of God. Now we are friends of God. We are now reconciled with God. And He has now given to us the task of reconciling others to God. (v 18)
We are Christ’s ambassadors. Ambassadors work in a foreign country to win friends for the home country. God is using us to win friends for our eternal home country.
So how shall we now live? Read on. 2 Corinthians 6:3 ff
1. Live in a way so that no one will be hindered from finding God (6:3)
2. Live so no one will find fault with our ministry. (6:3)
3. Patiently endure troubles and hardships (6:4)
4. Prove our purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincere love, power of the Holy Spirit (6:6)
5. Powerfully preach the truth with God’s power working in us.
I’m so honored to be an ambassador for Christ. I’m so thrilled to urge my friends to be reconciled with God. I’m so humbled to seek to live and work in such a way that friends won’t be hindered from finding Christ. And I’m so ready to with God’s power share the truth of God to a needy world.
On my return from Quito last week, I relished some quantity and quality time in 2 Corinthians 5 and 6. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to his ministry leaders in Corinth. So his instructions to his team are very applicable to those of us in ministry today.
Previously, Paul was describing to his colleagues the miracle of the new heavenly bodies we will receive when we leave these temporal bodies. Our aim is to please Him whether here in this body or away from this body. But then he states in 2 Corinthians 5:11: “It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others.” Let me ask you: ‘Why do we do what we do?’ Are we so busy doing our work, we forget why we do it? It is because of the awesome fact of eternity that we work hard to share the Good News.
So what is the power and impetus to our work? Statement 14 gives the answer: “Whatever we do is because Christ controls us.” Any motivation, any power, any wisdom, any success comes from a life under the control (Lordship) of Jesus Christ.
God has brought us back to himself through what Christ has done. We were once enemies of God. Now we are friends of God. We are now reconciled with God. And He has now given to us the task of reconciling others to God. (v 18)
We are Christ’s ambassadors. Ambassadors work in a foreign country to win friends for the home country. God is using us to win friends for our eternal home country.
So how shall we now live? Read on. 2 Corinthians 6:3 ff
1. Live in a way so that no one will be hindered from finding God (6:3)
2. Live so no one will find fault with our ministry. (6:3)
3. Patiently endure troubles and hardships (6:4)
4. Prove our purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincere love, power of the Holy Spirit (6:6)
5. Powerfully preach the truth with God’s power working in us.
I’m so honored to be an ambassador for Christ. I’m so thrilled to urge my friends to be reconciled with God. I’m so humbled to seek to live and work in such a way that friends won’t be hindered from finding Christ. And I’m so ready to with God’s power share the truth of God to a needy world.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tucson Commentary
The tragic shootings in Tucson have reminded us once again that we live in a sinful world…and that evil men…even one evil man, can cause untold tragedy and heartache for families, friends and the family of humankind worldwide.
The Psalmist asked God why evil men seem to triumph. I ask too: Why can one evil person wipe out so many beautiful and effective lives?
My partial answer is from Psalm 11: The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
His word assures us that in the world we will have trials. But He also promised that ultimately evil will not prevail but righteousness and justice will triumph. Wrongs will be made right. God will wipe away all tears from our eyes in His eternal kingdom.
Meanwhile, how do we live in this evil and violent world?
Psalm 37 says Fret not because of evil doers.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
We cannot live in fear.
God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
Lord, we pray for the families and friends of those killed or injured by this evil and violent act.
We pray that evil and violence in our country will cease and that goodness and righteousness would prevail
And would you allow us as Christ-followers to be instruments of peace and reconciliation on our world.
The Psalmist asked God why evil men seem to triumph. I ask too: Why can one evil person wipe out so many beautiful and effective lives?
My partial answer is from Psalm 11: The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
His word assures us that in the world we will have trials. But He also promised that ultimately evil will not prevail but righteousness and justice will triumph. Wrongs will be made right. God will wipe away all tears from our eyes in His eternal kingdom.
Meanwhile, how do we live in this evil and violent world?
Psalm 37 says Fret not because of evil doers.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
We cannot live in fear.
God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
Lord, we pray for the families and friends of those killed or injured by this evil and violent act.
We pray that evil and violence in our country will cease and that goodness and righteousness would prevail
And would you allow us as Christ-followers to be instruments of peace and reconciliation on our world.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Haiti-One Year Later
Haiti-One year later
1 year ago, I was having dinner in Colorado Springs with Charles Morris of Haven Today. On the way home, I got a call that a massive earthquake had hit Haiti.
Later that night, Sheila Leech, our VP for Global Healthcare, called and said we need to send a medical team to Haiti to be the hands of Jesus for all the hurting people.
I said: "Let's do it!"
12 hours later, Charles and I were in the studio challenging Haven Today listeners to give generously to the relief work in Haiti.
3 days later, our team of doctors, surgeons, nurses and community development were in the Haiti Baptist Hospital in Port Au Prince tending to the massive physical and medical needs of the people injured or maimed by the quake. Working alongside the team from Samaritan's Purse, lives were being saved by the medical professionals, and souls were being saved by the work of counselors from Billy Graham Association.
During the past year, 8 teams have gone in to follow up with medical care, community development, clean water. We've also helped the radio stations in Haiti with diesel fuel for generators, new broadcast equipment, remote broadcast gear, and personnel. Another work team went in to rebuild damaged churches, hospitals and homes.
Most recently, two teams went back to save literally thousands of lives infected by the terrible cholera plague. And a team of business professionals recently visited to look for ways to create micro-enterprise opportunities to get believers on their feet financially.
These are ways for our team to be the "voice and hands of Jesus" to the people of Haiti. And Haiti has been changed by the disaster. Many have come to know Jesus as Savior. Many have flocked to the church to find hope, help and fellowship.
What a privilege to serve God and humankind in this way and reflect the love of Christ to a hopeless and desperate world.
1 year ago, I was having dinner in Colorado Springs with Charles Morris of Haven Today. On the way home, I got a call that a massive earthquake had hit Haiti.
Later that night, Sheila Leech, our VP for Global Healthcare, called and said we need to send a medical team to Haiti to be the hands of Jesus for all the hurting people.
I said: "Let's do it!"
12 hours later, Charles and I were in the studio challenging Haven Today listeners to give generously to the relief work in Haiti.
3 days later, our team of doctors, surgeons, nurses and community development were in the Haiti Baptist Hospital in Port Au Prince tending to the massive physical and medical needs of the people injured or maimed by the quake. Working alongside the team from Samaritan's Purse, lives were being saved by the medical professionals, and souls were being saved by the work of counselors from Billy Graham Association.
During the past year, 8 teams have gone in to follow up with medical care, community development, clean water. We've also helped the radio stations in Haiti with diesel fuel for generators, new broadcast equipment, remote broadcast gear, and personnel. Another work team went in to rebuild damaged churches, hospitals and homes.
Most recently, two teams went back to save literally thousands of lives infected by the terrible cholera plague. And a team of business professionals recently visited to look for ways to create micro-enterprise opportunities to get believers on their feet financially.
These are ways for our team to be the "voice and hands of Jesus" to the people of Haiti. And Haiti has been changed by the disaster. Many have come to know Jesus as Savior. Many have flocked to the church to find hope, help and fellowship.
What a privilege to serve God and humankind in this way and reflect the love of Christ to a hopeless and desperate world.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Ministry Leaders
Ministry is...
Giving when you feel like keeping,
Praying for others when you need to be prayed for,
Living truth before people even when you can’t see results,
Hurting with other people even when your own hurt can’t be spoken,
Keeping your word even when it is not convenient.
Being faithful when your flesh wants to run away.
Leadership is not easy. Leading a ministry is not easy, it`s a calling.
Here’s what Paul the Apostle said:
Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves: “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did. God wants the combination of His steady constant calling and warm personal counsel in Christ to come to characterize us.” (The Message)
Giving when you feel like keeping,
Praying for others when you need to be prayed for,
Living truth before people even when you can’t see results,
Hurting with other people even when your own hurt can’t be spoken,
Keeping your word even when it is not convenient.
Being faithful when your flesh wants to run away.
Leadership is not easy. Leading a ministry is not easy, it`s a calling.
Here’s what Paul the Apostle said:
Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves: “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did. God wants the combination of His steady constant calling and warm personal counsel in Christ to come to characterize us.” (The Message)
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