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Showing posts from 2018

Leader Lifter Episode 9: Don't Lead Alone

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In this episode of the Leader Lifter we discuss the importance of not leading alone.

WHAT IF?

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One of my favorite comics to read as a kid was a series called WHAT IF?. Every month they would present a famous comic story... but ask the question "What if?" and change an important part of it in order to see how the story would turn out completely different - for good or for bad. What if Wolverine never joined the X-Men? What if Spider-man never became a crime fighter? What if the Hulk kept Bruce Banner's intelligence? I loved this stuff! Each month I read these comics over and over again, examining the endless possibilities on how the stories I loved could be different with just a small change, a twist of fate or a different choice. To this day I'm still a big fan of WHAT IF? stories. But not in comic books. Each of us right now is living our story. We each deal with challenges. We each experience joys and heart ache. We each have responsibilities that can seem overwhelming at times. But WHAT IF? What if a small change were to come into your life... how

Leader Lifter Episode 8: The No Complaining Rule

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In this episode of the Leader Lifter we discuss how we can deal with discouragement in leadership without giving in to complaining. You can find Larry Osborne's book Lead Like a Shepherd here:https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-Shepherd-Secret-Leading/dp/071809641X Questions for Discussion How have you been discouraged in your area of leadership in the past? Have you ever complained about it? Privately or publicly? What areas would it be helpful for you to implement a No Complaining Rule?

How Do You Neighbour?

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Are you looking forward to the summer? I know I am! I love summer. I'm not normally a big outdoors kind of guy, but there's just something so great about sitting outside in my yard, enjoying a BBQ with family and friends. I've come to notice something interesting those in that enjoyment... all winter I'm hiding away in my home... and then come summer I'm hiding away in my back yard. This week I started reading a book on vegetable gardening. Surprisingly this book taught me something very important that ties into our new sermon series, How to Neighbour. The book actually suggests to move our vegetable gardens from our backyards to the front. The reason: to get back into our communities and talk to our neighbours. I just loved that simple idea. Instead of hiding in my backyard all summer, I'm not praying that God would give me opportunities to meet and connect more with my neighbourhood. And he has already started answering those prayers as I've

What a Difference 25 Years Makes...

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Have you ever stopped to think just how much the world has changed in the last 25 years? I was recently reflecting on just this very thing… I was remembering “the olden days” of when I had internet service hooked up into my first apartment. As a computer geek I was over the moon with the idea that I was going to connect to the internet super highway from my little single room apartment. Most people still really didn’t have any clue what the internet was. I was going to be able to access unlimited data at SUPER SPEED… I could finally download an entire song in just over an hour! I could download transcripts from experts and leaders from around the world. A 30 page document would take about 10-15 minutes to have it on my screen. Today, that’s almost laughable! Now, just 25 years later, we live in a time when the entire world is available to us at the touch of screen that we keep in our back pocket. Now, I have access to literally every single song ever composed… and it takes millis

Leader Lifter Episode 7: Purpose

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In this episode of the Leader Lifter we explore the topic of Purpose Statements... not just for our organizations, but for our lives. For some great books on learning about purpose check out: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren Waking the Dead by John Eldridge

Leader Lifter Episode 6: Criticism part 2

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In this episode of the Leader Lifter podcast we continue the conversation on how we respond to criticism. Nothing will reveal our character faster than how we deal with criticism. Click the post title or READ MORE to watch the video. Would love to hear how you handle criticism as a leader in the comments below.

Leader Lifter Episode 5: Criticism part 1

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Nothing will reveal our character more than how we deal and respond to criticism. In part one of this two part topic we ask ourselves 2 questions to improve as leaders in how we handle criticism. Two questions to ask ourselves: Do I have a healthy/biblical understanding of correction? What is the criticism about? How do you handle criticism? I'd love to hear how you deal with it where you lead.

Leader Lifter Episode 4: Generosity

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We continue to discuss how our character is important in our leadership. In this episode we look at Generosity. Simply click the Title or the Read More link to watch the video. Resources mentioned in the Podcast: - The Renegade Pastor by Nelson Searcy - Rick Warren's talk at the Resurgence 2013 conference This wasn't directly mentioned in the Podcast, but here is a great link with information about tithing from Dave Ramsey.

My Prayer for 2018

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I implemented something pretty simple into my life way back in 2005. I began that year to write out a short, one or two sentence prayer, that I would make the central focus of my prayer time that year.  I don't remember where I learned the idea... my guess is it was from the men's Bible study put out by Man in the Mirror since I has heavily influenced by them back in those days... regardless of where I learned it, this practice has been a huge blessing in my life, my family and in my work in the church. Some years I've very spiritual about it and spend days, even weeks, praying to God asking him to give me the prayer I should pray. After all, wouldn't it be so much better to be regularly praying God's will? Of course! Other years, I just simply picked something that I wanted more of. Some years I've seen instant changes around me through these prayers... and other times, it was only when someone pointed it out to me that I became aware of any change. For 2

Leader Lifter Episode 3: Integrity

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In this episode of the Leader Lifter we continue the conversation on how character impacts our leadership. We talk about the importance of integrity. Simply click the Title or the Read More link to watch the video. An amazing book on the topic of Integrity is Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality by Dr. Henry Cloud.

Episode 2: Humilty

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In this second episode of The Leader Lifter we look at different parts of our character that can impact our leadership. This episode starts with the topic of humility. Simply click the title above to watch the video. Here is the link to the book Humilitas by John Dickson .

Leader Lifter Episode 1: Values

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Here is the first episode of the Leader Lifter recorded back in October, 2017. Simply click the Title above to play the video. In this Episode I talk about the value of Values. Whether they are  your organization's values or your own personal values, they will impact how you lead others.

It's Alive! Alive!

After nearly a year of being dormant, I'm resurrecting my blog :) I've greatly enjoyed blogging over the years. It's been a great exercise for me to grow and develop as a leader. It's also been an amazing tool to look back over the past and see all the great things that have gone on in my ministry and life. The first way that I'm going to be using this blog is to host the new Video and Audio Podcast that I'm working on called The Leader Lifter. I've been incredibly blessed to be able to learn from so many great people. My desire is to be a pastor and leader who passes that along to equip others in their ministry and leadership. The podcast will focus on different aspects of leadership that I'm learning and developing in my own life. Secondly, I'll be using the blog more regularly to write. Writing is not my strong point. I know I need to improve in this area so this will be a public way for me to improve in this by blogging about spiritual grow