tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357711362024-03-07T00:15:54.784-06:00Leading Timber RidgeAn inside look at following Jesus, starting a new church, and the craziness that is my life...Nic Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258780402493334925noreply@blogger.comBlogger632125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-45826900145052482792017-05-25T08:39:00.002-05:002017-05-25T08:39:44.738-05:0020 Lessons In 20 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5UNYwBFB4n66I8za5dHdQnYoCTBAFDwnZrYWbw3qC3cKUmUI2hcAXiyTizPbggPWL-Md4Ur4j6pYFq1hsdlWHumZ5dy1ozINlvpsm9Nwt5HNn8kK7eEOg4iOyTHNCEVx6qvc/s1600/20+Lessons+in+20+years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5UNYwBFB4n66I8za5dHdQnYoCTBAFDwnZrYWbw3qC3cKUmUI2hcAXiyTizPbggPWL-Md4Ur4j6pYFq1hsdlWHumZ5dy1ozINlvpsm9Nwt5HNn8kK7eEOg4iOyTHNCEVx6qvc/s400/20+Lessons+in+20+years.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty years ago today I started working in vocational ministry. My first ministry job was as an Assistant Youth Pastor at a church in Goldthwaite, Texas. As I've looked back over the last 20 years of my ministry career & life, here are a few lessons I've learned (in no particular order...)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20 Lessons In 20 Years</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. God has been incredibly good to me. The last 20 years of my life God has used me in ways disproportionate to my own skills & abilities and has given me opportunities beyond my wildest dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Ministry is better <b>with a best friend</b>. I did almost 10 years of ministry without Johanna by my side. It's better...and way more fun...when your best friend is your partner in ministry as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. It's all about Jesus. Ministry is good. Church is good. But <b>Jesus is better.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. There is nothing that fills my should and creates fire in my heart more than seeing people far from God find life in Jesus Christ. I'm addicted to life-change!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Don't EVER, EVER, EVER sacrifice your kids and family on the alter of ministry. The church will find another pastor. <b>My kids have one dad</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Don't do ministry alone. Bring friends along. Make life-long investments in people. I feel bad for the pastors who say "it's lonely at the top." Life's too short to live that way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Believe in people. I believe that the biggest contribution that I've made to developing leaders over the years is <b>believing deeply in people</b> & releasing them to do what God has created & gifted them to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Choose grace. If given the option, always choose grace. It sets you apart from the rest of the religious world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Have fun. Ministry can be hard. There will be difficult days. But<b> I GET TO do this</b>. So have some fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. There is no substitute for hard work. If you're in ministry, you have ZERO excuse for laziness. Dreams don't work unless you do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Say thank you. <b>You didn't get here alone</b>. Leading in ministry means there are tons of people helping you accomplish God's call on your life. Let them know you appreciate them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Get some mentors. My life has been INCREDIBLY BLESSED by some amazing mentors & spiritual fathers that have poured their lives into me. It's made me a better husband, dad & pastor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. Break down barriers to the cross. Don't put "secondary" stumbling blocks that keep people from coming to Jesus. Keep the main thing the main thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Learn to <b>hear from God</b>. Tune your ear to his voice & follow his lead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. Grind. Ministry is hard and sometimes tedious. Get up everyday and <b>GRIND</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Don't believe what they say. You are not as good as they say you are. But you're not as bad as they say you are either. Listen to Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. Being a dad has made me a better pastor & leader. There's something about being a physical father that helps you become a better spiritual father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. Love people. <b>Mess and all</b>. That's what Jesus wants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. Never put religiosity before relationship. Here's what people want to know: Can I belong before I believe? Can I come to the family before I come to the faith?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. <b>Jesus is enough</b>. </span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-74806601503788577092015-09-25T11:19:00.000-05:002015-09-25T11:19:11.751-05:00Hey Pastor: Just Try To Keep Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbotqeyZem6NGgmuVHZzz37LGdb7AWhznBGkcCCjryTugJ9xzlmcQSdIyUpKOVAK7jAgz-lHgbjNzf7eGBgz_Fu-q-LYZsvJiJzz1Te-fUfV-fnGWFGs5340rSkRr-H32D0s6H/s1600/comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbotqeyZem6NGgmuVHZzz37LGdb7AWhznBGkcCCjryTugJ9xzlmcQSdIyUpKOVAK7jAgz-lHgbjNzf7eGBgz_Fu-q-LYZsvJiJzz1Te-fUfV-fnGWFGs5340rSkRr-H32D0s6H/s320/comparison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that one of the biggest temptations for church planters and pastors is the temptation to "keep up."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can remember a Sunday a few months ago where we had 7 people commit their lives to Jesus in our Sunday worship experiences. I was ecstatic. That is, until I went home and got on Twitter. And saw a pastor of a large church post about how his church had over 100 people trust Jesus during their services that same day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And all the sudden, the 7 lives that were forever changed seemed small. All because I felt the pressure of not being able to "keep up." Seven lives forever changed by God. It's amazing. It's incredible. But that joy was diminished because of the pressure to "keep up." Because of the sin of comparison.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the truth: Comparison is a thief. It will rob us of our joy. It will rob us of our peace. It will rob us of our gratitude for what God is doing in our lives and in our churches.</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here is my challenge to you, pastor and church planter (and to myself): Let's try our best to keep up. But not with other people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't try to keep up with other people. Instead, keep in step with the Spirit of God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's Word says, "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, NIV)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">That's wisdom. That's godly advice. So let's shift our focus from comparing ourselves to others...and just try to keep up.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-6337799268127733422015-05-20T10:44:00.000-05:002015-05-20T10:44:00.678-05:00What Church Planters Can Learn From Taylor Swift<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Church Planter,</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will face opposition. The enemy will try to stop you. People are going to oppose you. Sometimes those people will even be church people, or at least religious folks. That shouldn't shock you. Because the same thing happened to church planters in the early church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go read Acts 13. Paul and Barnabas are in the midst of planting the church and they begin to face opposition. Who starts it? The religious leaders of the day. Read it for yourself:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Acts-13-50" id="en-NIV-27413" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-27413A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-27413A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Acts-13-51" id="en-NIV-27414" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">So they shook the dust off their feet<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-27414B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-27414B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> as a warning to them and went to Iconium.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-27414C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-27414C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Acts-13-52" id="en-NIV-27415" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">And the disciples<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-27415D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-27415D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. - Acts 13:50-52.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But notice how Paul and Barnabas react to the opposition the religious leaders incited against them? </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They went all Taylor Swift on the naysayers. Verse 51 says "So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them" and then they moved on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's given you a vision for your city. He's calling you to make an impact for His Kingdom in your community and beyond. He's placed in your heart big dreams of changed lives, healed homes, and better cities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't be shocked when the opposition comes. Just be prepared. Go all Taylor Swift on the naysayers. Shake it off.</span></span></div>
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Nic Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258780402493334925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-37500093148645500342015-05-15T10:30:00.000-05:002015-05-15T10:30:01.924-05:00Math In God's KingdomHere's a thought: Too many times when it comes to our lives, our callings, and our legacies, we use the wrong math.<br />
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We look at our life and see the obstacles and the realities and the road blocks and begin to think of all the different reasons why God couldn't use us and why we don't measure up to make an impact for His Kingdom.<br />
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But we're doing the math wrong.<br />
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Here's the Math of God's Kingdom:<br />
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God > My Reality<br />
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God > The Obstacles I Face<br />
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God> My Limits<br />
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God's Grace > My Past<br />
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God's Vision > My Vision<br />
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God's Plan > My Plan<br />
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So go live your life with the confidence of God's Math and make an impact for His Kingdom.Nic Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258780402493334925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-38857567025901407882015-05-13T10:02:00.001-05:002015-05-13T10:02:58.090-05:00How To Be Part Of The Solution<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear American Christian,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have strong opinions on race relations, Baltimore, Ferguson, and the like but haven't shared a meal or deep conversation with a friend of another ethnicity this week, you're part of the problem...not the solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've used social media to share with others all the reasons why another faith group is wrong and evil, but you don't actually have relationships with people from that faith group, you're part of the problem...not the solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can lament endlessly about why a Christian baker shouldn't have to bake a cake for a gay wedding, but don't have one openly gay friend, you're part of the problem...not the solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you pick your political candidate simply on his or her position on welfare reform, yet you don't give of your personal resources to care for the poor, you're part of the problem...not the solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've hopped from church to church to church, attending a new church every year because it better fits "your needs" you're part of the problem...not the solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus said this in Luke 6: <i><span class="text Luke-6-27" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25174AH" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25174AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span class="text Luke-6-28" id="en-NIV-25175" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">28 </span>bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25175AI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25175AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-29" id="en-NIV-25176" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span>If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-30" id="en-NIV-25177" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25177AJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25177AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-31" id="en-NIV-25178" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">31 </span>Do to others as you would have them do to you.</span></i></span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Luke-6-32" id="en-NIV-25179" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">32 </span>“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25179AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25179AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Even sinners love those who love them.</span> <span class="text Luke-6-33" id="en-NIV-25180" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">33 </span>And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.</span> <span class="text Luke-6-34" id="en-NIV-25181" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">34 </span>And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25181AM" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25181AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.</span> <span class="text Luke-6-35" id="en-NIV-25182" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">35 </span>But love your enemies, do good to them,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25182AN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25182AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25182AO" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25182AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of the Most High,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25182AP" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25182AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.</span> <span class="text Luke-6-36" id="en-NIV-25183" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">36 </span>Be merciful,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25183AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25183AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> just as your Father<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-25183AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25183AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> is merciful.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">What if we just started acting like Jesus and doing what He said? Let's be honest. It's hard and uncomfortable at times to be part of the solution. But Jesus calls us to it...so it's worth it.</span></span>Nic Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16258780402493334925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-63505513406723915602015-03-02T08:30:00.000-06:002015-03-02T08:30:04.102-06:00Meet The Team Monday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've started a new blog post series that runs every Monday and introduces a new team member that serves at </span><a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Timber Ridge</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in a leadership role. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Meet The Team Monday participant is Paige Johnson. Paige works as a school counselor for Dublin ISD and at Timber Ridge, she and her husband Matt serve as our Director of Student Ministries. Paige has been with us almost since the beginning and has been serving in this role at <a href="http://facebook.com/timberridgechurch">Timber Ridge</a> since August of 2013. Here's some interesting facts about Paige.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Paige is the one without the beard!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 13px;">Some form of potatoes: Mashed, baked, hash browns, french fries, etc.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Describe what you do at Timber Ridge in your own words:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Connect people with Jesus. I serve alongside my husband as the directors for Timber Ridge Students.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What do you like best about your role at Timber Ridge?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love getting to pour into the lives of the young people. We have so many great students in this area and most of them don't realize how much God can use them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's your favorite hobby?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoy watching movies with my husband, shopping, and crafting</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What songs would be included on the soundtrack of your life?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like Nobody Will by Kyle Park (1st Dance At Our Wedding)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Girl (My mom used to sing it to me.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wild Things by Andy Mineo (Because I want to live like the lyrics in the song.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom and Jerry</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tell us about when you committed your life to Jesus?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3" style="line-height: 13px;">I was really young maybe 6 or 7. My mom tells me that I have always </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 13px;">have</span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 13px;"> a strong faith in God. I was baptized at 11 with my mom. I remember thinking I wanted to live a different life than many of the people around me. </span><span class="s3" style="line-height: 13px;">I wanted God to use me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's something you learned in the past year?</b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That God is never going to leave you no matter what you go through. When you are faithful he really will give you the desires of your heart.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><b>If you could have one talent or ability that you don't possess what would it be and why?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 13px;">Definitely singing. I love to sing anyway but I am terrible at it. I always love hearing good people sing and think it would be fun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><i>You can get to know Paige better by connecting via social media by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ptolliver">clicking here.</a></i></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-37472676042547228812015-02-23T09:15:00.000-06:002015-02-23T09:15:00.717-06:00Meet The Team Monday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've started a new blog post series that runs every Monday and introduces a new team member that serves at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge</a> in a leadership role. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Meet The Team Monday participant is Sara Sanderson. Sara is a Tarleton Student and currently serves in our intern program. While she serves in various areas, her focus in on our college ministry. Sara has been on the Timber Ridge team since August of 2014. Here's a part of Sara's story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2;"><b>If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3">French fries...or ice cream...</span><span class="s3">definitely</span><span class="s3"> ice cream!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Describe what you do at Timber Ridge in your own words:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3">At Timber Ridge I am a College Ministry Intern. I get to work with awesome people on a daily basis and learn the ins and outs of how a church is run. For the college ministry side of things, I help to organize, plan and coordinate events to reach out to the students at TSU and Ranger College. I also serve on the worship team and lead a college LifeGroup.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2;"><b>What do you like best about your role at Timber Ridge?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love that I get to work with such an amazing group of people and have an opportunity to have a big reach on campus.</span><br />
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What do you do for fun?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love spending time hanging out with my friends, going to rodeos and taking pictures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2;"><b>What's something you learned in the past year?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past year I have learned the value of good friends and the importance of asking for help when you need it.</span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What has God been teaching you recently?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has been teaching me to love and look at everyone as He does. He has taught me the importance of the relationships He brings into our lives and to know that each relationship has a reason, a season and a purpose.</span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tell us about when you committed your life to Jesus?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3">I grew up going to church but did not know what it meant to have a relationship with God until my junior year in high school. My friend, now my soon-to-be sister-in-law, took me to a church that is nontraditional and opened my eyes to a whole new world of “church.” At Christ Community Church I learned what it meant to have a relationship with God and how to begin that relationship. After attending the church sporadically for a few months I accepted </span><span class="s3">Jesus</span><span class="s3"> Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was baptized last April at Timber Ridge and my life has been radically changed! God has definitely moved mountains in my life.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you were stranded on a deserted island & could only have 3 things, what 3 things would you want?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three things… Toothpaste/toothbrush (who wants nasty teeth!), iPod (I can’t go long without my music!), food (I wouldn’t last long without it!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2;"><b>If you could have one talent or ability that you don't possess what would it be and why?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would love to be able to draw. I love art and painting and all that creative stuff but I am just not the best with it.</span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nothing would make me happier than spending a day......</b></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiking with no one other than God.</span><br />
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<span class="s3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find out more about Sara & connect via social media by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sara.sanderson.716">clicking here</a>.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-65606514230166231482015-02-16T10:00:00.000-06:002015-02-16T10:00:08.628-06:00Meet The Team Monday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've started a new blog post series that runs every Monday and introduces a new team member that serves at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge</a> in a leadership role. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Meet The Team Monday participant is Tyler Gilbert. Tyler is a Senior at Tarleton State University and currently serves in our intern program, specifically with our kids and students ministries. Tyler has been serving and volunteering at <a href="http://facebook.com/timberridgechurch">Timber Ridge</a> since just a few months after the church launched in the fall of 2011. Here are some interesting facts about Tyler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one meal in Texas that would be worth fighting over… beef fajitas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite restaurant in Stephenville?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite restaurant in Stephenville would have to be Don Nico’s. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite Bible Verse?</b> My favorite bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” This verse is my favorite, because it reminds me that God always has a plan for me no matter the circumstance I am going through in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Describe what you do at Timber Ridge in your own words:</b> I am a ministry intern. That means you can find me doing all kinds of jobs. Although my area of emphasis where God has blessed me with a gift to serve is in Timber Ridge Kids. On a Sunday morning typically during the 10 o clock service you will find me in Kids Ridge, then during the 1130 service you will see me greeting and ushering. Then on a Sunday night you will find me with the youth leading a small group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's your favorite hobby?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite hobby is watching football. I love to watch any level of football and any team. I love the game and what it teaches young men about life. In case you didn’t know my favorite college football team is none other than the Oklahoma Sooners! My favorite pro team is the Dallas Cowboys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's something you learned in the past year?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something I have learned in the past year, that it is ok to fail as long as you learn from that failure and don’t let it happen again. Basically it is being teachable being able to learn from those who have been in a similar circumstance before you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What has God been teaching you recently?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to have better self control. Over the past few months, God has helped me kick some terrible habits that I have had since I was in high school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you were stranded on a deserted island & could only have 3 things, what 3 things would you want?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An airplane, fuel and a GPS system. If I have these things then I won’t be stranded anymore. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing would make me happier than spending a day...... </b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hanging out with my family. I know I am only 22, but my family has lots of lost time due to my dad’s deployments that I wish we could make up. I do not blame him however, because he joined the military to ensure his family was provided for. It was a hard time, but I think it has made my family stronger through it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Want to connect with Tyler on social media? <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tyler.a.gilbert">Click here to see his Facebook page.</a></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-8153568487673624342015-02-09T09:45:00.000-06:002015-02-09T09:45:00.042-06:00Meet The Team Monday<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm kicking off a new blog series that will introduce a new team member from <a href="http://facebook.com/timberridgechurch">Timber Ridge</a> every Monday here on the blog. This will give those who call <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge Church</a> their church home a chance to get to know the different people that serve on our staff and leadership team here at TRC. These blog posts will cover full-time staff, part-time staff and volunteer staff that serve in different aspects of our church. Check it out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first "Meet The Team Monday" participant is Jordan Speegle. Jordan & his wife Kaylen have been on our team from day one and we're blessed to have them and their 2 year old son Hudson on the Timber Ridge Team. Jordan serves as our Director of Life Groups.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If <span class="il">you</span> could only eat one thing for the rest of <span class="il">your</span> life, <span class="il">what</span> would it be </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Mexican food... I actually would</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">do</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">this willingly even with other options available </span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="il">What</span> is <span class="il">your</span> favorite movie or movie quote?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoosiers Coach Dale: "Five players on the floor, functioning as one single unit...team, team, team...no one more important than the other"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="il">What</span> is <span class="il">your</span> favorite Bible Verse? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Psalms 27:1-3</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span class="il">Describe</span> <span class="il">what</span> <span class="il">you</span> <span class="il">do</span> <span class="il">at</span> <span class="il">Timber</span> <span class="il">Ridge</span> <span class="il">in</span> <span class="il">your</span> <span class="il">own</span> <span class="il">words</span>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A TON of behind the scenes stuff, helping connect people with our LifeGroups</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="il">What</span> <span class="il">do</span> <span class="il">you</span> like best about <span class="il">your</span> role <span class="il">at</span> <span class="il">Timber</span> <span class="il">Ridge</span>?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting to be on the front lines of seeing God change lives!</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="il">What</span> songs would be included on the soundtrack of <span class="il">your</span> life?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really love old school country music... give me a little Willie, Waylon, and Merle and I'll be good.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="il">What</span>'s something <span class="il">you</span> learned <span class="il">in</span> the past year?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm a first time parent, so I feel like I learn something new everyday. It's amazing how a little person can change the way</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">you</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">look</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">things.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If <span class="il">you</span> were stranded on a deserted island & could only have 3 things, <span class="il">what</span> 3 things would <span class="il">you</span> want?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">An endless supply of Beans and Franks Southern Pecan coffee, a cup to drink it</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, and fishing pole.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing would make me happier than spending a day......</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Either fishing with my dad or </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> DKR with 100,000 burnt orange clad Longhorn fans.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">You can connect with Jordan on Facebook by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jordan.speegle">clicking here.</a></span></span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-31527693893188372562015-02-02T11:08:00.002-06:002015-02-02T11:08:45.359-06:00Leadership Lessons From The Super Bowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone in America seems to be talking about "the call." And if you watched the Super Bowl last night, you know which call I'm referring to. The Seattle Seahawks were down by 4 points and needed a touchdown to win. With one of the best and strongest running backs in the NFL, they were a virtual lock to score. They had almost a minute on the clock, one timeout, and less than a yard to the end zone. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what did they decide to do? They threw it. And unless you've been living under a rock, you know the results. The Seahawks threw an interception and the New England Patriots won Super Bowl 49.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my opinion there are two great lessons that leaders can learn from the Seahawks unfortunate fate. Here they are:</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leadership Lessons From Super Bowl 49</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#1: Play To Your Strengths.</b> The Seahawks dominate teams with power running. Marshawn Lynch's nickname is Beast Mode. With the game on the line, they chose to run a play that went away from their strengths. And it cost them. BIG TIME. Too many times leaders and organizations try to do things they're not good at. As a leader, don't try to be something your not. Play to your strengths and you'll be more successful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#2: Trust Your Team. </b>Marshawn Lynch had over 100 yards rushing in the Super Bowl. Beast Mode averaged 5 yards per carry in the postseason. He consistently carried two to three Patriot defenders for extra yardage in the game. Yet with the game on the line, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks coaching staff didn't hand him the ball. As a leader, you have to trust your team to do their jobs. Train them. Equip them. Raise them up. Then release them to make an impact for your organization. Good leaders surround themselves with others who can get the job done. And then they trust their team by giving them the opportunity to succeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always loved sports because I believe the games and the competition teach us so much about life. Sometimes the lessons are fun. Sometimes they are painful. The same is true with leadership. Good leaders learn to avoid pain and loss for the organizations they lead by playing to their strengths and by trusting in their teams.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-8510367436652664752015-01-13T15:11:00.000-06:002015-01-13T15:11:05.953-06:00The Art of The Invite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Sunday we kicked off a brand new series at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge</a> called <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/church/">chURch</a>. Basically, it's all about how the church isn't a place, but a people. It's not a cathedral, but a cause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The message on Sunday was about how we are called to live out the mission of Jesus as individuals. If we are the church, we have a mission. You can watch the video of the message by <a href="https://vimeo.com/116567647">clicking here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the things I mentioned in the sermon is that we can bless others by being a person who invites others to church, where they can experience the love & hope of Jesus. At Timber Ridge, we've tried to make that easy by providing invite cards that people can use to invite friends & neighbors to join them at church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In light of that, here are some easy ways to use an invite card & invite others to be your guest at church.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 Ways To Invite People To Church</span></u></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake some cookies for a neighbor and hand out an invite card when you deliver the baked goodies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leave a generous tip at your favorite restaurant, along with an invite card.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tape an invite card to hand warmers and drop them off to a crew that is working outdoors on a cold day in your community.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pay for the order of the person in line behind you at the drive-thru of your favorite coffee shop or fast food place and leave an invite card for them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a free garage sale and hand invite cards out to people as they "shop."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hand out bottled water to the parents at your kid's next sports game or practice and attach an invite card to each bottle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offer to mow your neighbors yard or trim there trees. When they ask you why you'd do such a thing, let them know you just want to serve them because Jesus gave us an example of serving others. And give them an invite card to join you on Sunday.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drop off a box of donuts at a local business in the morning and attach some invite cards to the box.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buy lunch for a co-worker and when you go to lunch, give them an invite card and ask them to join you on Sunday.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's be honest: It can be pretty <i>intimidating</i> to invite someone to church. But it can also be pretty <i>impacting</i>. You never know what God wants to do in the life of your friends & neighbors...and how he can use YOU to be a part of that!</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-37189187323783348372014-12-11T09:39:00.002-06:002014-12-11T10:37:26.780-06:00The Faces of My Best Gift (Part 3)<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">(This is Part 3 of a 3 Blog Series. You can read <a href="http://nicburleson.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-faces-of-my-best-gift-part-1.html">Part 1 here</a> and <a href="http://nicburleson.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-faces-of-my-best-gift-part-2.html">Part 2 here</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Each year at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration: none;">Timber Ridge Church</a>, we receive a Christmas offering called <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/mybestgift/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration: none;">My Best Gift</a>. Basically, as a church we commit to giving our very best, most extravagant, most expensive gift to Jesus and His church. That means if we buy a $100 toy for the kids, we give $101 to the Kingdom. If we spend $300 on our spouse, we give at least $301 to the Kingdom. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Our goal as a church this year is $30,000. 100% of the funds from this offering go toward church planting and global engagement. Through the My Best Gift offering, our church is able to make a significant impact for God's Kingdom in Texas and around the world. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I wanted to share with you some people who are directly impacted by our My Best Gift offering:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Meet the children of San Sa Ho. San Sa Ho is the school we have adopted in SaPa, Vietnam. Through engagement and serving in SaPa and with these children, we are sharing life-changing love with these kids. One of the projects that My Best Gift pays for is to provide gate and fence to provide protection for the school from accidents that happen along the mountainside. Proper gates & fencing allows for the children to learn and live in a safe and secure environment.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As Timber Ridgers, when we give, we are raising the standard of living for these children in a very real and practical way. And we're showing them the life-changing love that's been shown to us in the process.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #464646; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>(If you attend Timber Ridge & would like more info on My Best Gift, or would like to contribute online, you can<a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/mybestgift/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration: none;">click here.</a>)</i></b>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-49640416671166194992014-12-04T08:00:00.000-06:002014-12-04T08:00:04.068-06:00The Faces of My Best Gift (Part 2)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(This is Part 2 in a series of blogs. You can read Part 1 here.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge Church</a>, we receive a Christmas offering called <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/mybestgift/">My Best Gift</a>. Basically, as a church we commit to giving our very best, most extravagant, most expensive gift to Jesus and His church. That means if we buy a $100 toy for the kids, we give $101 to the Kingdom. If we spend $300 on our spouse, we give at least $301 to the Kingdom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our goal as a church this year is $30,000. 100% of the funds from this offering go toward church planting and global engagement. Through the My Best Gift offering, our church is able to make a significant impact for God's Kingdom in Texas and around the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to share with you some of the people who are directly impacted by our My Best Gift offering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet The Yang's. Daniel, Linda, and their boys planted a church a year ago in the downtown area of Toronto. God is using Pastor Daniel, the Yang family & Trinity Life Church to change lives throughout Toronto and to impact one of the largest, most diverse cities in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through our My Best Gift offering, Timber Ridge currently pays for the facility lease for the building that Trinity Life Church meets in each week for worship.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_C0hRJIMaF7fJ8WmKhFnzEUv-hlecKJwK6etjMEo4rXCdkzvz8D_Hdqd4muJiTvdqeejS4Je-ushmM_8EgCTAGOVq574R8MhtVDOwRRyKSOnnwvM14CNV1d2JmV6YD5Vqd6/s1600/1653987_10152810002029254_417104679855163780_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_C0hRJIMaF7fJ8WmKhFnzEUv-hlecKJwK6etjMEo4rXCdkzvz8D_Hdqd4muJiTvdqeejS4Je-ushmM_8EgCTAGOVq574R8MhtVDOwRRyKSOnnwvM14CNV1d2JmV6YD5Vqd6/s1600/1653987_10152810002029254_417104679855163780_n.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pastor Daniel & The Yang Family</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-zec6MP68OAZEJ-qdZmNTODHqxhuy-1Y5ULqw00LyaHgkjY_ftmP3pWc5YYN2cHYFAM_LgLiQG2YTr6O0u4_WrodFKUBv-Ny5O2szKtQ27sDpfs8m_7BySh7Jarl43uDeXpI/s1600/10531466_815147685186722_6595040629352542615_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-zec6MP68OAZEJ-qdZmNTODHqxhuy-1Y5ULqw00LyaHgkjY_ftmP3pWc5YYN2cHYFAM_LgLiQG2YTr6O0u4_WrodFKUBv-Ny5O2szKtQ27sDpfs8m_7BySh7Jarl43uDeXpI/s1600/10531466_815147685186722_6595040629352542615_o.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A group of adults recently baptized who's lives have </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">been changed by Jesus at Trinity Life Church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>(If you attend Timber Ridge & would like more info on My Best Gift, or would like to contribute online, you can <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/mybestgift/">click here.</a>)</i></b></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-47705825771895674972014-12-02T14:29:00.000-06:002014-12-02T14:29:34.710-06:00The Faces of My Best Gift (Part 1)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge Church</a>, we receive a Christmas offering called <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/mybestgift/">My Best Gift</a>. Basically, as a church we commit to giving our very best, most extravagant, most expensive gift to Jesus and His church. That means if we buy a $100 toy for the kids, we give $101 to the Kingdom. If we spend $300 on our spouse, we give at least $301 to the Kingdom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our goal as a church this year is $30,000. 100% of the funds from this offering go toward church planting and global engagement. Through the My Best Gift offering, our church is able to make a significant impact for God's Kingdom in Texas and around the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to share with you some of the people who are directly impacted by our My Best Gift offering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet the Koenig's. Pastor Dave, his wife Heather, and their awesome family planted NewBrook Church in Fort Worth, TX just a couple months ago. God is working in big ways through NewBrook and the ministry of this new church. Through our My Best Gift offering, we are able to provide monthly financial support to the ministry of this brand new church. When you give to My Best Gift, you are helping see lives changed at NewBrook Church and other churches like it around our state and throughout North America.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ue2s86OeWZDGmUTaPNAjwKukaORs5WgyOGy9F_957Zk3_J74HrHrefyMxAUemCiMpTWIq2ypjtzfhpA8vWclfNjQDRxXvs-Fp141X3HpoNNxPqoyyCSaiORfhaSv3IMG3Dcw/s1600/1461384_10152704573889339_8240398988626820415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ue2s86OeWZDGmUTaPNAjwKukaORs5WgyOGy9F_957Zk3_J74HrHrefyMxAUemCiMpTWIq2ypjtzfhpA8vWclfNjQDRxXvs-Fp141X3HpoNNxPqoyyCSaiORfhaSv3IMG3Dcw/s1600/1461384_10152704573889339_8240398988626820415_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pastor Dave & His Family</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5_FnQOmwYSgGT0_k2Q3Qgwtt4In4OspOOEJbNlEU6KAZcWppy03-oXGSLMraCymgJ4WO0mIaLim3T2dLncAorwyLyDDzey3TcTfqOGTP6sLxk-ZDENwJyc8ZfUvRyCmZud2l/s1600/10714208_280043245519031_4811783742919011090_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5_FnQOmwYSgGT0_k2Q3Qgwtt4In4OspOOEJbNlEU6KAZcWppy03-oXGSLMraCymgJ4WO0mIaLim3T2dLncAorwyLyDDzey3TcTfqOGTP6sLxk-ZDENwJyc8ZfUvRyCmZud2l/s1600/10714208_280043245519031_4811783742919011090_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pastor Dave baptizing Nicolas, who's live was changed by Jesus @ NewBrook Church.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(If you attend Timber Ridge & would like more info on My Best Gift, or would like to contribute online, you can <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/mybestgift/">click here</a>.)</span></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-3978406744736879492014-08-20T11:43:00.002-05:002014-08-20T11:43:17.395-05:003 Things Great Leaders Delegate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw0hoLTBcl5U3RL6wbJ7YaqodPGG_v1Iesmm3aa-X3OnxKxdfE9bP582cGw-EN3yE3UVcKiWmOHC8anNO7DtZTYIUmB2qQxtgOC-ib5OQg_XvTKKh7mzjAxUgm8ZMoGnjBb4Q/s1600/delegate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw0hoLTBcl5U3RL6wbJ7YaqodPGG_v1Iesmm3aa-X3OnxKxdfE9bP582cGw-EN3yE3UVcKiWmOHC8anNO7DtZTYIUmB2qQxtgOC-ib5OQg_XvTKKh7mzjAxUgm8ZMoGnjBb4Q/s1600/delegate.png" height="201" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Ronald Reagan once said, "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>But for many leaders, delegation is a real, actual struggle.</b> So many times, we see delegation in two lights:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> If I delegate this, people will think I am trying to get out of work or that I'm being lazy. And no one follows a lazy leader.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I can't delegate this because it's too important and someone else can't do this at the same level that I can.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">While there are times where these excuses might be valid, more times than not our lack of delegation is an issue with us as leaders, instead of the people, volunteers, or employees in our organization.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So if we're supposed to delegate, what should we as leaders be delegating.<b> </b></span><i style="line-height: 18px;"><b>MOST </b></i><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>leaders </b>delegate tasks. They simply hand of something from their over-stuffed to-do-list to someone in the organization. But <b><i>GREAT</i> leaders</b> delegate more than tasks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><u>3 Things Great Leaders Delegate</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#1: Authority. </b>Great leaders realize that you can't just delegate a to-do list. If you want to put your people in a place to succeed, you have to delegate authority as well. A task list without the authority to accomplish the mission of the organization while completing those tasks is a recipe for disaster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#2: Responsibility. </b>Great leaders also understand that you must delegate responsibility. If we delegate tasks, but anytime failure is at the doorstep, we become a "run-to-the-rescue" leader, then we're not allowing the people in our organization to really grow as leaders. We have to be willing to delegate responsibility, and place that responsibility for success and failure in the hands of those who follow us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#3: Praise. </b>Far beyond tasks, authority, and responsibility, great leaders understand that the most important thing we can delegate as leaders is praise. When delegation takes place and the outcome is a win, great leaders are sure to pass the praise down, making sure those they lead receive credit for a job well done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Pastor Andy Stanley puts it this way: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>Don’t strive to be a well-rounded leader. Instead, discover your zone and stay there. Then delegate everything else.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As leaders, we have to learn that delegation is dynamite that can explode our organizations to the next level by allowing others to take ownership. So don't just delegate "stuff"...delegate the right stuff!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-63886519541942270922014-08-13T09:52:00.000-05:002014-08-13T09:52:30.143-05:003 Simple Ministry Reminders<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij3cT_wxACI5fnF2WEVDhyb1lO8wowQIjE27uenQTMxvhn6Zk8EPvlGVSzLu3ALfllpI8ppnKPPXXK3TEm07mVHVcnHKlPH13ayiPtmE6hrKsqYFutGH6RmUD7Nlo80ls3lcn/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-13+at+9.50.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij3cT_wxACI5fnF2WEVDhyb1lO8wowQIjE27uenQTMxvhn6Zk8EPvlGVSzLu3ALfllpI8ppnKPPXXK3TEm07mVHVcnHKlPH13ayiPtmE6hrKsqYFutGH6RmUD7Nlo80ls3lcn/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-13+at+9.50.56+AM.png" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are times when ministry and leadership in the church can be incredibly difficult. And then there are times where we as leaders make it more difficult than it actually is. With that in mind, I wanted to pass along 3 simple reminders that have helped me in the past few months to simplify my ministry leadership.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Simple Ministry Reminders</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#1: Remember Your Mission.</b> As a church planter, pastor or leader in the church, our mission is what should drive everything we do. And in a culture obsessed with catchy vision statements and overloaded with the next new way to convey your mission to your team, our mission really is very simple. In Luke 19:10, Jesus lays out His mission, the reason why he came and lived among us with this statement: <i>"For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." </i>That's the simple, clarifying mission of Jesus. And if we're following Him, it ought to be our mission as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#2: Remember Your Calling.</b> Before you were ever called to a ministry, a church, or a mission, you were called to Jesus. Our primary calling is not something to do, but something to be: Children of God. One of the fastest ways to lose sight of this calling is to begin to listen to all of the criticism and complaints about your ministry/church/program/whatever. I've heard it said that listening to what others say about you is the fastest way to forget what God thinks about you. And that simply sidetracks us from the calling God's placed on our lives. Remember who you are and whose you are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#3: Remember Romans 12:15.</b> In Romans 12:15, Paul simply states: <i>"Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." </i>There are tons of helpful ministry tips, tricks, and tools of the trade available in our culture. The opportunity for growing in your skills and ability to minister to, lead, and reach people are endless in the Western church framework. But don't miss out on the basics. If you'll learn to practice Romans 12:15 with the families and people God gives you to steward, you'll make ministry investments that are life-changing and kingdom-impacting. It sounds simple, but it's incredibly powerful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As church leaders, our battle is fierce and our enemy is relentless. Let's not make it more difficult by missing the basics. <i>I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment and share your top simple ministry reminder!</i></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-54057280690309369322014-06-11T12:10:00.000-05:002014-06-11T12:16:53.753-05:003 People We Should Listen To<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6OiRZYDPfdHH5Zro-jVeWN8p-KEA_vsXfSoWUfGGiddst71k89l74MvhK73HvTUVRA5Kd4WabhxzP9tnAcsh1YXTHlI3R1vpacsPcq7hou0XsEQ7WiP8mbPmTHKKybpJJZocGg/s1600/Time+To+Listen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6OiRZYDPfdHH5Zro-jVeWN8p-KEA_vsXfSoWUfGGiddst71k89l74MvhK73HvTUVRA5Kd4WabhxzP9tnAcsh1YXTHlI3R1vpacsPcq7hou0XsEQ7WiP8mbPmTHKKybpJJZocGg/s1600/Time+To+Listen.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago I wrote a short blog titled <i>3 People You Need To Ignore</i>. If you missed it, you can <a href="http://nicburleson.blogspot.com/2014/06/3-people-you-need-to-ignore.html">click here</a> to check it out.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>But that begs the question: Who are the people we should listen to?</b></i> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jimi Hendrix once said, "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."It's important that we not only listen, but that we listen to the right voices. Here are some people who are helpful to listen to.</span><br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 People We Should Listen To</span></u></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#1: The Truth Teller.</b> We all need people in our lives who will speak difficult truth to us. One of the greatest myths of our culture is that when someone confronts us about a personal shortcoming or area that needs growth, they are overstepping their bounds. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy." Simply put: It's better to have someone in your life who cares enough to challenge and confront you when needed, rather than people who just flatter us.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#2: The Encourager.</b> Life is hard. Life is messy. And no matter how smooth our life might be, there will be some point where it seems like there is no way we can win. That's why we all need people who encourage us. Don't forget to listen to the people who will build you up.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#3: The Investor.</b> When it comes to giving unsolicited advise, it seems like we all have more than we need...or want, for that matter. But we always need to consider the source. If a person is deeply investing in my life and in who I am or what I'm trying to do, I always consider what they have to say. Why? Because they're investing in making me a better person. They have "skin in the game" so their words matter.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winston Churchill said, "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." May we all have the courage to take time to listen...and the wisdom to know which voices to listen to.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-39249782198645434422014-06-03T15:19:00.002-05:002014-06-03T15:23:11.642-05:003 People You Need To Ignore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZl8aouFwviqZPF3rN5Qi942C1abPk9GivJ2tUekiPQQBIocU1vFGdvp6-YTJJfQcMGQdfOlVjxRtmKJM8OZj-KrqH33wWJqEHK6938aOPolRVuVwa7xYxPwbBYWYRGlbR1K2uA/s1600/not-listening.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZl8aouFwviqZPF3rN5Qi942C1abPk9GivJ2tUekiPQQBIocU1vFGdvp6-YTJJfQcMGQdfOlVjxRtmKJM8OZj-KrqH33wWJqEHK6938aOPolRVuVwa7xYxPwbBYWYRGlbR1K2uA/s1600/not-listening.png" height="201" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Jobs once said, "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your inner voice." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edward Gibbon, an English historian & Parliament member from the 18th century, said "I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John, a disciple of Jesus said, "My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you." (<a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/msg/1-john/4.html">1 John 4:1</a>)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus said it this way: "Pay close attention to what you here." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+4%3A24&version=NLT">Mark 4:24</a>)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basically, they all agree on this: It matters who you listen to. The voices we listen to affect us. The people we regularly listen to shape our thoughts, opinions, attitudes, and life.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So who should we avoid? Here's a few suggestions.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>3 Voices You Need To Ignore:</u></b></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Negative Nancy. </b>Negativity breeds negativity. It spreads like wildfire. Be careful about being around people who are consistently negative. Negativity is a virus that is quickly contagious.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Constant Complainer. </b>These are the people who ALWAYS have something to complain about. You know these folks. The guy you could give $1,000,000 to and he'd complain that you gave it to him in $100 bills and not $20s. These people can quickly drain the joy, happiness, and hope out of your life.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Gossip. </b>The best definition of a gossip I've ever heard is this: <b><i>People who talk about you, without you.</i></b> Gossip always hurts people. It never leads to good. So don't be a part of it. In fact, here's a great test of whether or not you're listening to a gossip. Do the people you listen to consistently talk about others when they're not around? If they talk about them when they're not present, you can bet that they're talking about you when you're not around.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The voices we listen to help mold us into the people we become. Guard your ears...because in doing so, you are actually guarding your heart and life.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-33407765575208402242014-05-13T10:41:00.004-05:002014-05-13T10:41:53.253-05:00Confucius Was Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Uc1gKDLzmpRCBhVn5XgASw0BbeL2GdNcxPZ2XPn5kN-LGYYDmohBvH7gDZM4mAm23ya7ozsKcJYX3xl4G2r5F7PBRL41C_v6zVLLKXZYrQLpMpbbL-MajFX0vdXbv9BbPeNZ/s1600/10222012_confucius3_A_statue_of_Confucius_located_in_Hunan_China_on_the_shore_of_the_Dongting_Lake.3_t670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Uc1gKDLzmpRCBhVn5XgASw0BbeL2GdNcxPZ2XPn5kN-LGYYDmohBvH7gDZM4mAm23ya7ozsKcJYX3xl4G2r5F7PBRL41C_v6zVLLKXZYrQLpMpbbL-MajFX0vdXbv9BbPeNZ/s1600/10222012_confucius3_A_statue_of_Confucius_located_in_Hunan_China_on_the_shore_of_the_Dongting_Lake.3_t670.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've heard this quote hundreds of times in my life: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.</i> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quote is credited to the uber-wise Confucius. And while I typically don't make it a habit to blatantly disagree with people considered to be some of the smartest humans to ever live, let me just say this: <b>Confucius was wrong.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right. Confucius was wrong. Because here's the truth: If you choose a job that you love, that you're passionate about, that is your life's dream, you should work harder at that thing than anything else.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are really doing something you love, you will work your tail off because it means that what you are doing MATTERS and MEANS SOMETHING to you.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you are doing something you love, it's not just a job. It's not just a career. You're working out your dream. You're doing something your passionate about and that you know makes a difference.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So don't buy into the lie that one day you'll stumble upon some dream job that won't take any work and you'll live the rest of your days in a state of bliss.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If a dream is really a dream, it will take work. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If a dream is really a dream, it will be WORTH the work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So don't just work. And don't just dream.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Work the dream.</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-26597121295885590022014-05-07T15:27:00.001-05:002014-05-07T15:28:31.649-05:004 Things Leaders Must Be Willing To Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been thinking lately a lot about leadership. To be honest, I'm striving to grow in my own leadership, as well as work through what my leadership development of others looks like.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think leadership development is crucial in any growing, life-giving organization. As I've thought about it recently, it seems there are certain things that any given leader must be willing to do.</span><br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the 4 things:</span></u></b><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Leaders must be willing to be first in the water.</b> - I was watching Shark Week a while back and in one of the shows, a rookie crew member mistakenly left the anchor rope in the water when the motor was started. That led to the rope getting tangled in the motor in the midst of shark infested waters. There was no safe way to deal with the situation. The only solution? Dive into the water and get to work. What I noticed was in this life-or-death, crucial situation for this team, it wasn't the rookie that got thrown into the water. It was the ship's captain who jumped in. The task was crucial and deadly. So the leader went first. Leaders have to be willing to be the first in the water...especially when there are sharks!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Leaders must be willing to be misunderstood.</b> - If you lead in any way, you WILL be misunderstood. People will misunderstand your motives, your decisions, your vision, and your direction. Leading others means making hard choices, which are often misunderstood by the crowd.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Leaders must be willing to make tough decisions.</b> - Leadership requires a commitment to the good and the vision of an organization above anything else. That means, from time to time, there will be hard decisions and tough choices that must be made. A real leader is willing to DECIDE, not delegate in the toughest of situations.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Leaders must be willing to act before they are comfortable. - </b>Leadership means navigating waters that are often unexplored. Leaders often are called to act before they, or others, are comfortable in order to continue to chart a course for the vision and future of the organization.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leading is tough. It requires a certain amount of courage to lead well. But if your willing to put it all on the line for the vision and mission of your organization, leading can help you leave a legacy far beyond your life.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-3623435693619204532014-04-01T14:20:00.002-05:002014-04-01T14:20:29.464-05:0021 Day FastHey Timber Ridgers,<br />
If you missed our weekend worship experience last Sunday, we announced that, as a church, we're entering into a 21 day fast. You can check out the message from Sunday as well as the explanation of the fast by <a href="http://vimeo.com/90483365">clicking here</a>.<br />
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Basically, fasting is making a personal sacrifice in order to ask God to move in and on our behalf. We've decided that we're each choosing something to fast from in order to pray and ask God to move in three ways:<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>In Us</b> - Asking God to move in our personal lives in a new and fresh way.</li>
<li><b>In Others</b> - Asking God to use the Easter season as a tool for us to invite our friends and neighbors to Timber Ridge and for them to respond to the message of Jesus' love.</li>
<li><b>In Our Church</b> - Asking God to guide our upcoming move and to show us as individuals how we can personally be involved with investing in this new facility.</li>
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<b><i>In case you didn't know, our first Sunday in our new facility is April 13th</i></b>. That gives us a chance to "kick the tires" prior to Easter Sunday. Then, on Easter Sunday, we're committing to go all out in inviting our friends and neighbors to join us as we worship God together. We'll also be taking our first offering going toward our new facility that day.</div>
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I hope you'll join us in this fast as we ask God to move in us and through us in our community. To download the <i><b>MAKE ROOM Fasting Guide</b></i>, just click the image below. And feel free to contact me if you have any questions!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-57002153041158607562014-03-04T08:48:00.002-06:002014-03-04T08:48:45.892-06:00Timber Ridge Volunteer of the Week<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Timber Ridge V.O.W. is Sabrina Carter. If you're ever looking for Sabrina on Sunday mornings, you'll most likely find her loving on kids and teaching God's Word in creative ways to our elementary aged kids in our Timber Ridge Kids worship experience. Sabrina uses her talent and time each week to make a difference in the lives of our children and to help them know they are loved by God. We're blessed to have Neely and Sabrina and their awesome girls as a part of the Timber Ridge family. THANK YOU Sabrina for all that you do to serve at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge Church!</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pastor Nic & Sabrina Carter</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(If you're interested in volunteering at Timber Ridge, <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/next-steps/serving-at-timber-ridge/">click here</a> to get more info and sign up!)</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-79769159055538381342014-02-26T15:10:00.000-06:002014-02-26T15:10:01.442-06:00Timber Ridge V.O.W.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Volunteer of the Week at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge Church</a> is Clayton Iley. Clayton and his wife Jenny are making a huge impact at Timber Ridge. Clayton serves as a host in our worship experiences, helping people feel welcomed each week. He also serves on our Guest Services team on Sunday mornings. Thank you Clayton for all your investment and service at Timber Ridge!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clayton & Pastor Nic</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(You can make an impact by serving at Timber Ridge too! <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/next-steps/serving-at-timber-ridge/">Click here</a> for details on how to get connected on a ministry team.)</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-34296076850822550762014-02-19T17:23:00.005-06:002014-02-19T17:23:49.853-06:00Timber Ridge V.O.W.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Timber Ridge Volunteer of the Week is Leslie Killingsworth. When I think about young adults who are making a huge impact at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge</a>, Leslie is at the top of that list! Leslie serves on Sunday mornings as a leader and teacher in our Kid Ridge ministry for elementary kids. Each week you'll find her loving on kids and teaching them God's truth. She also serves during the week by hosting and leading a LifeGroup for college girls in her home. Thank you Leslie, for using your time, talent, and ability to make a difference for the Kingdom! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfi7YfDdLS7-O4z7OVWp7Jznqksx41xjLij_IFLR7gA84kTYTTooWIUs9qZDYCqY_5-cAFsq4H7Y_oHi_GpgAQMWS3DpIE5Hz8aG95fhqu3nG-gDai6QV7R6OBoY9lWR8xzuz/s1600/photo-57.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfi7YfDdLS7-O4z7OVWp7Jznqksx41xjLij_IFLR7gA84kTYTTooWIUs9qZDYCqY_5-cAFsq4H7Y_oHi_GpgAQMWS3DpIE5Hz8aG95fhqu3nG-gDai6QV7R6OBoY9lWR8xzuz/s1600/photo-57.JPG" height="320" width="291" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leslie & Pastor Jordan</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(If you're interested in making an impact by volunteering at Timber Ridge, you can get more info <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/next-steps/serving-at-timber-ridge/">here</a>.)</span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18218852732059775368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771136.post-42005259409912006502014-02-05T15:09:00.002-06:002014-02-05T15:09:45.771-06:00Timber Ridge V.O.W.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCkJvGXU20nvc3-enhHVCxGcX6XCAyXvNlyL4NH9VpuNhn4O3Tz7Efj8NffebNxbR-gfrER1I-6GzWTGRb-UFRHEUYrH0C6k7ZPd7WwEUPoKslcZik5t4YCYMDkcRhCKXPrCP/s1600/volunteer+of+the+week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCkJvGXU20nvc3-enhHVCxGcX6XCAyXvNlyL4NH9VpuNhn4O3Tz7Efj8NffebNxbR-gfrER1I-6GzWTGRb-UFRHEUYrH0C6k7ZPd7WwEUPoKslcZik5t4YCYMDkcRhCKXPrCP/s1600/volunteer+of+the+week.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's Timber Ridge Volunteer of the Week is Ashley Lindsey! Ashley has been faithfully serving on our Guest Services team for almost as long as we've been a church. Each week you can see her smiling face serving in the Cafe, serving up some great coffee and tasty donuts. Ashley and her husband Matt also serve each week by hosting and leading a LifeGroup and are fantastic leaders, who help minister to others within our church family.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks Ashley for all that you do to serve & make an impact at <a href="http://www.timberridgechurch.com/">Timber Ridge</a>! You're helping others connect with Jesus! You ROCK!</span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(If you'd like to find out more info about using your time, talent, and energy to make a difference by serving others at Timber Ridge Church, <a href="http://timberridgechurch.com/next-steps/serving-at-timber-ridge/">click here</a>.)</span></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0