leadership

NEHEMIAH – GOD’S CALL TO BUILD THE WALL (8)

(October 29, 2022) Hope Flinchbaugh, reflecting on Nehemiah’s commission from God, shares challenges in respect of ‘A Leader’s Response to Opposition’ (Part 2).

Like all leaders, Nehemiah faced opposition – but he did not cower!

As he and his friends (men and women) are making mortar, finding usable stones, they were reproached by their enemies, non-Jewish local governors…

Nehemiah 2:19 tells us of their challenge –
‘But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Gesham the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”

Verse 20 tells of Nehemiah’s bold response –
‘So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”’

Expect opposition
When you begin to build where no one’s built before or you rebuild what was torn down by an enemy, you can expect some opposition. Somebody somewhere is going to say to your face or behind your back, ‘I am very displeased that you have come here to seek the welfare of these people.’

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LEVELLING MOUNTAINS – NOT BY MIGHT, NOT BY POWER BUT BY MY SPIRIT! (Part 1)

(August 28, 2022) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, shares encouragement…

Facing mountains in these dark times?

I’ve been reflecting on a character in the Bible who faced a big mountain and discovered God had gone before him in an amazing way. His name was Zerubbabel – not the easiest name to say, nor would it be likely that you would give your new born child that name.

Most Christians know little about this man, but I find him to be inspirational and also encouraging as we cope with the ‘highs and lows’ in living in these days.

Contemporary scene
We are living in disturbing times. In my lifetime I have never known such worldwide hostility, political instability, social confusion and moral corruption. And according to medical researchers the global rates of anxiety and depression are soaring. News articles and television reports can often be quite troubling as they confront us with a stream of disturbing incidents.

Of course ours is not the only generation that has been confronted by tragedy and emotional stress. Historical records reveal many periods when war, oppression and disease have had a crushing effect on people.

God does not provide a protective wall around His people to prevent their experiencing the pain and struggles of life, but His presence in our lives gives us hope.

In the Bible, living in hope doesn’t mean that we whistle in the dark to keep our spirits up. No, biblical hope means looking to the future with assurance because we know that, regardless of conditions and circumstances, when it seems that everything is spiralling out of control, God has never lost His control! Jeremiah succinctly declared, ‘Our hope is in you’(Jeremiah 14:22).

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THE MAKING OF A MISSIONARY CHURCH

George Forbes 2010(March 6, 2017) Missionary statesman George Forbes shares from experience on a successful mission’s strategy…

Missionary churches do not just happen!

They are born of a vision, founded by a pastor who has heard from God and grow to become a missionary church over a good period of time. They do not simply or suddenly appear. They are the outcome of multiple factors in the plan and purposes of God for the extension of his kingdom. (more…)

THEBUZZ

GLEANINGS (October 13, 2106):

  • PENNSYLVANIA – The cross… dangerous to so many
  • MORDIALLOC, Victoria – More Trinity Products
  • UGANDA – Holocaust miracle
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PENNSYLVANIA
Is the cross dangerous?

HopeAuthor Hope Flinchbaugh asks a challenging question…

Well… is the cross of Christ dangerous?

Vladimir Lenin thought so
In November 1917, when he seized power in Russia, Lenin’s soldiers climbed steeples and pinnacles of churches and tore down the cross and replaced it with the red star of the new soviet state. Clergy were denounced as enemies of Russia and summarily executed. (more…)

LEADERSHIP GLEANINGS

KEY: Leadership isn’t about causing people to feel comfortable, it’s about taking them into their God-designed destiny.
FEATURES:
• Tim Jack’s God’s Field Needing Wise Leaders
• Dr Murray Capill’s Winsome Preaching
• Dr Ed Delph’s Four Strategic Questions That Leaders Need to Answer…Now!
• Dick Hardy’s Does Your Church Board Follow the 18 Rules of Engagement?
• Brian Nixon’s Mind Matters: Atheism and Agnosticism
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LEADERSHIP

INFLUENCE – THE PRIORITY OF TOUCHING OTHERS
Wayne Swift


Wayne Swift challenges:

In his book, Drucker and Me, Bob Buford writes about the relationship and influence Australian born ‘father of modern management’ Peter Drucker had on his life, business and ministry.

As Peter Drucker was nearing death, his wife Doris’ simple words -‘This time he’s not coming back’ – carried with them the enormousness of the person who was about to be lost to all. (more…)

LEADERSHIP

RECOVERY FOR CHURCH LEADERS
Dick Hardy

Dick Hardy, pastoral leadership consultant, writes:
One of the major personal issues for leaders and people in churches is that of pornography. Many church leaders have fallen as a result of pornography addictive behaviour. These same leaders feel isolated and privately cry out for help. (more…)

LEADERSHIP

Dick Hardy

 

TEN THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN INTERVIEWING A POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE

Dick Hardy, Pastoral Leadership Consultant emails:

Have you ever said to yourself after you hire someone, ‘Wow! I should have asked that question. How did I miss that one?’

Let me give you a few thoughts to ponder when interviewing a potential staff member. This should not be construed as an exhaustive list but should give you food for thought as you go below the waterline in learning all you can about people who desire to serve under your leadership. (Be sure to check with your legal counsel before digging on some of these subjects).

Interviewing
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LEADERSHIP

DEALING WITH CRITICS WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS

Dick HardyDick Hardy, Pastoral Leadership Consultant emails:

We’re getting so many positive reviews about the free video series we put out last week, I thought I’d give them all to you on one page (with no opt-in required).

You get all four leadership barriers and solutions videos here: http://www.thehardygroup.org

In these videos, we shared about the seven primary barriers we’ve identified that can hinder a leader’s effectiveness: (more…)

LEADERSHIP

INTENTIONAL DISTRACTION-FREE ENVIRONMENT SERVICES
Karen Hewitt

 

Karen Hewitt writes…
We have all heard it said that our message never changes but the way we deliver it should because our society changes.

For our churches to reach a world of lost people we must be intentional about how we run our services. So often we hear something and think ‘I should examine that’ and never do. This is a friendly reminder. (more…)