Brisbane, Australia trip

From: Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Wow, life has been busy. Since my last Blog my wife Bonnie and I have been to Brisbane, Australia and now we are in Branson, MO! Besides all the busyness of what is happening at our beloved UAG church we have been 'hitting the road jack.' (cheese ball, I know).

Anyhow, it was my privilege to minister at the World Tongan Conference in Brisbane and I wanted to attached below a teaching I shared with the precious Tongan people back in the Island country of Tonga in 2004--hope you enjoy it!

Leadership for Change

Tonga – April 2004

Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

The theme of this conference is "Leadership for Change." That is a perfect definition of a healthy church leader—someone who welcomes change, someone who can bring about change, someone who is a change-agent, someone who is FOR change.

[Bonus; Key to healthy churches = healthy church leaders! And that is a combination that causes a church/ministry to grow!]

This is what Jesus Christ did; He brought about great change! And this is what God has called us as leaders to do—bring about change.

1. As leaders we are FOR change.
2. We are not against change. We do not resist change.
3. We recognize the power of change.
4. We understand creating change is part of our divine calling from God.
5. Healthy church leadership does not vote against change but welcomes and prays for change.
Why is 'change' such a part of a leaders calling? Because without change nothing moves forward –it only dies.

-Leaders realize that doing things the same way and expecting different results equals madness.
-We don't change things just to become healthy – when we are healthy we change things! Some people have the idea…

TS: OK, here are some lessons that will help us be the type of leaders that are FOR change and that of course will help us be healthy church leaders and that will produce healthy churches –which is the key to reaching people for Jesus! {and that is what we all want to do!}

1. Leadership FOR change is all about ATTITUDE. Phil2;5NIV
-Attitude is so very important. You are blessed if you really understand this.
-85% of what draws you to a person is their attitude.
-Yet most people are more concerned about their abilities…
-You can have great talent, but if you have a lousy attitude you won't get far in life.
-You might not have not incredible talent, but if you have a great attitude, that will make you succeed in life.

To be a healthy church leader we must realize that:
1. A good attitude in life is your choice.
a. Can't always change situations around you but you can change the way you see things.
b. Some people just have a negative attitude. They will not go far. Higher in any organization the better… In fact the higher you want to go the better of an attitude you must have!

ILLUS: Attitude change is something you control. Like American man who worked in a factory. Had the same sandwich for lunch every day. Started complaining. One of his fellow workers said, "Why don't you tell your wife to change it?" I can't. Why? Cause I always make it! J He could have changed his daily lunch but…

2. Second, you have got to realize you're a. will affect the outcome of what you do more than anything else.
3. Third, it is your attitude that helps you to get along with people. Most important lesson you will ever learn is to get along with people. Just won't go far with a negative attitude.
-Attitude is the MAJOR difference between success & failure.
+I can predict your future in 60 seconds. Not because I'm a physic, but…
^I am first to admit that attitudes don't stay perfect all the time. Got to work at it. I.e. Like the farmer who said the trouble with cows is that they don't stay milked! J
^ Dr. Martin Luther King "When you're a. slips, your view of people begins to get lower, relationships get strained and you become critical and negative." True isn't it?
-Just say, if you are going to be a healthy leader/a leader who is for change your … Attitude will make or break you.

2. Leadership FOR change is all about WORK.
John 17:4 (true Lord's prayer) "I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which You have give Me to do."
a). Do you realize God is glorified thru hard work?
b). What did God design Adam and Eve to do in the garden? "Till/work the earth." We think work only came after the Fall.
c). Healthy ministry is not about waiting around to see what is going to happen. We are called to get up, go to work, make plans, get things done.

ILLUS: Some people think life is all about breaks. Rena Day and practice.
d). Laziness and ministry do not go together.

Takes work to organize an effective meeting. Takes work to pray, to prepare a message, to grow a church, to grow a ministry. It just does not happen.

3. Leadership FOR change is all about FUN (JOY).



2 Cor. 1:24 'helpers of your Joy' 'fellow workers for your joy.'
- Can lose your joy in Xtian service. I have.
- First flower Satan cuts is joy.
a. Joy is a Xtian virtue. Gal. 5:22 If HG is moving in your life, one of evidences will be joy.
b. Joy is what keeps your salvation experience real and simple.

Isa. 12:3 'Therefore w joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.'

c. Joy is our strength. Neh. 8:10
-Not just merely an emotion. It is a force. It can do things!
-I don't know about others pastors, but where I serve I need strength.
-Lose strength and you can't fight. Illus: Knocked out a NCU

d. Rekindle your joy by responding to the Lord's presence. Facts are when we don't serve the Lord with Joy, we serve our enemies. Duet 28: 47-48

e. Joy is sometimes a sacrifice. Ps. 27:6 Therefore I will offer the sacrifice of joy (joyous shouts) in the His tabernacle.`
4. It is all about BALANCE.

Prov. 11:11 "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord."

Lev. 19:36 "You shall have just balance" Measuring tool but…

Avoid ditches. Basically two: Legalism and Liberalism.

-Huge temptation to get out of balance. We are Pentecostal but…

Illus: A car won't run very well if tires are out of balance or your front end is out of alignment. Will wear your tires out.

-This is huge – can't even walk right if you are out of balance.

-Impossible to do effective ministry if…

5. It is all about FAITHFULNESS.
Prov. 28:20 'A faithful man shall ABOUND with blessing.'
-Leadership gurus say it's all about success. Or it's all about faith. I believe the key to success and the key to faith is faithfulness.
"Who can find a faithful man' 'A faithful woman.'

CM Ward "All it takes for a miracle to happen is for you to show up.
Ps. 85:10 "Love & faithfulness meet together."
* If love will be faithful and if you will be faithful your love will grow.



6. It is all about RELATIONSHIPS.

Eccl. 4:11-12 This is what makes a great ministry, a great church.
-Follow Mt. 18 in dealing with strained relationships. Worldwide most don't

7. It is all about STEWARDSHIP.

-Only place in all of Bible where we are told to prove God is in the area of stewardship. Mal. 3:10 'prove me'
-Three things I talk about in pre-martial counseling. In-laws, communication, finances.
-I learned the most about giving in Bible School. EM Clark. Illus. Missions pledge.

8. It is all about PURITY.

First Cor. 6:18 "Flee sexual immorality, commit against own body. Means you destroy God's plan for your life.
-May struggle in many areas but…

9. It is all about the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
-Paul told Titus 1:8 that an overseer/elder/pastor/church leader must be self-controlled, holy & disciplined.
-Door way. My favorite spiritual discipline is praying in tongues. Ro. 8:26 praying according to perfect will of God.
10. It all about GRACE.
-Grace is the bottom line. Active force within giving you the power and. Phil 1:6 Bible definition of grace!
-Faith is what we do, grace is what God does.

11. It is NOT about CONFRONTATION.
-Prov. 20 verse 3, "it is to a man's honor to avoid strife."
-Listened to a tape one time and guy said this and I agree.
-Of course there are times. Apostle Peter in Gal. 2 with Paul.

12. It is not about being the Messiah.
We are to point people to the Messiah. John the Baptist anointing. God spoke to (v. 2), thru (vv. 3-4) and beyond (vv. 15-16) Luke 3

Concl: Leadership FOR change is a healthy leader. A healthy leader produces a healthy church. And a healthy church reaches people for JC and that is what we all want to do.

Application: What has God spoken to you about? In a minute we will write it down. Now we will come and pray…