10.12.08

PUZZLED: New Series at Central

Posted in God, Small Group Ministry, Suffering, christianity, church, community, leadership, life, pastors, religion, small groups tagged , , , , , , , at 5:01 am by centralcouples

Ever feel puzzled by life-like things just don’t line up?  Do you struggle with tough questions of faith?  Questions like:  “If God is so good, why is there so much suffering?”  or “How can a loving God send people to hell?”  This week Jud is kicking off a new series entitled “PUZZLED?” which will explore those challenging questions of faith.  Check it out at one of Central’s campuses.  For more information go to www.CentralChristian.com.  Don’t forget, you can also join us at the on-line campus.  Just click on this link www.centralonlinecampus.com . 

Many times, we feel that we have to know all of the answers, but I have to confess most of the time…I do not know what God is doing or why God has chosen to allow something to happen.  As a pastor, are there things that have PUZZLED you about God? 

10.08.08

“FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE” SMALL GROUPS

Posted in Curriculum, Marriage, Small Group Ministry, christianity, church, community, leadership, life, pastors, religion, small groups tagged , , , , , , , , , at 4:39 pm by centralcouples

“Inside burning buildings, Captain Caleb Holt lives by the firefighter’s adage:  Never leave your partner.

Yet at home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, his wife Catherine always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter . . . just like her father.  Now, after seven years of marriage, she wonders when she stopped being “good enough.”  Countless arguments and anger have them wanting to move on to something with more sparks. 

As they prepare for divorce, Caleb’s father challenges him to commit to a 40-day experiment:  “The Love Dare.”  Wondering if it’s even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, for his father’s sake more than for his marriage.

Surprised by what he discovers about the meaning of love, Caleb realizes that his wife and marriage are worth fighting for.  His job is to rescue others.  Now Captain Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever . . . rescuing his wife’s heart.”

I wanted to see how many of you have seen the movie and what love to know your thoughts and also see if anyone is doing the 40 Day Experiment Small Group Study.  Share your thoughts and ideas!

09.16.08

Leader Man vrs. Servant Leader

Posted in christianity, church, community, leadership, life, pastors, religion, small groups tagged , , , , at 5:05 pm by centralcouples

I came across this blog the other day from a fellow leader and he had some huge thoughts about the difference between “Leader Man” and “Servant Leader.”  It could challenge the way that you lead today!  After you read it, please let me know your thoughts.

You can find the original Blog Spot here: http://branthansen.typepad.com/

Leader Man verses Servant Leader:

LeaderMan: Wants a platform on which to say something

Servant Leader: Has something to say

———–

LeaderMan: You almost feel you know his family, because he’s your Leader

Servant Leader: You allow him to influence you, because you know his family

———–

LeaderMan: Wants you to know he’s a Leader

Servant Leader: You’re not sure he knows he’s a leader

———–

LeaderMan: Loves the idea of the Gospel, and the idea of The Church

Servant Leader: Loves God and the actual individual people God brings across his path

———–

LeaderMan: A great speaker, but self-described as, “Not really a people person.”

Servant Leader: Makes himself a people person

———–

LeaderMan: Helps you find where God is leading you in his organization

Servant Leader: Helps you find where God is leading you

———–

LeaderMan: Gets together with you to talk about his vision

Servant Leader: Just gets together with you

———–

LeaderMan: Resents “sheep stealing”

Servant Leader: Doesn’t get the “stealing” part, since he doesn’t own anyone to begin with

———–

LeaderMan: Wants the right people on the bus

Servant Leader: Wants to find the right bus for you, and sit next to you on it

———–

LeaderMan: Shows you a flow chart

Servant Leader: Shows you his whole heart

———–

LeaderMan: A visionary who knows what the future looks like

Servant Leader: Knows what your kitchen looks like

———–

LeaderMan: If it’s worth doing, it worth doing with excellence

Servant Leader: Not exactly sure how to even calculate “worth doing”

———–

LeaderMan: Talks about confronting one another in love

Servant Leader: Actually confronts you in love

———–

LeaderMan: Impressed by success and successful people

Servant Leader: Impressed by faithfulness

———–

LeaderMan: Invests time in you, if you are “key people”

Servant Leader: Wastes time with you

———–

LeaderMan: Reveals sins of his past

Servant Leader: Reveals sins of his present

———-

LeaderMan: Gives you things to do

Servant Leader: Gives you freedom

———–

LeaderMan: Leads because of official position

Servant Leader: Leads in spite of position

———–

LeaderMan: Deep down, threatened by other Leaders

Servant Leader: Has nothing to lose

09.08.08

Don’t Do It ALONE!

Posted in christianity, church, community, leadership, life, pastors, religion, small groups tagged , , , , , , , at 8:21 pm by centralcouples

Don't do it ALONE!
 During our summer break, Hollye snapped this picture of our two children walking “hand in hand”.  I have to say it is probably one of my favorite pictures.  It reminded me that we are created for each other.  I try to encourage our kids that God has given them to each other to do life together.  As I put this into a Leadership perspective, I am reminded that Leadership is not to be done ALONE!  So many leaders think that they can do it alone and they really (without knowing it) set themselves up for failure or burnout!  Isn’t it amazing that we are always encouraging our Small Group Leaders to share the leadership load but often times we ignore our own advice.  Here are some ideas that can help protect you from burnout or failure and can enhance the joys of shared leadership:

1)  Identify an apprentice.  Find someone in your area of influence where you can pour your life and leadership skills into their life.  This person can be someone who is not a current staff member but someone who might be experiencing God’s call into ministry.  Can you name the person that you are investing your life? 

2)  Recruit a volunteer intern.  This is a person who loves to communicate.  They can help write the weekly emails, call those that are seeking a new Small Group, send out reminders to your leaders, or just help you make sure everyone is in the communication loop.

3)  Have a volunteer Event coordinator.  The details of planning an event can become extremely time consuming.  Do you have someone at your church that has the gift of planning events?  Look for someone who has creativity, administration skills, great eye for current trends, and someone who is available.  This person could help you with hours of details and organization.   

4)  Enlist a prayer partner.  Do you have someone who prays for you and your leadership on a daily basis?  Many times we forget that we are in a spiritual battlefield.  Make sure you have someone in your life who you know prays for you and your family.  Have someone that you know cares for you and wants to see you be successful as a person.  If you do not have someone you regularly call and share your life with, I encourage you to enlist that person today!

5)  You come up with one!  Think outside of the box.  Allow people to help and to feel involved and needed.  Many times people become disconnected from their Small Group Pastors because they do not have a sense of ownership.  They sense that they are not important or valued.  God has surrounded us with individuals that can help a leader and actually help the person grow in their relationship with God and with you! 

What are some ways that you are allowing people to share the leadership and allowing you to do the leadership journey with others?