Sharpened Iron

Never Assume Anything

2010-01-11T20:23:00.000-06:00

A story is told of a young soldier's unfortunate experience where he learned a valuable lesson about assumptions.

A young enlisted Marine was leaving the base headquarters' office at 15:45 when he found the Colonel-in-charge standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Listen," said the Colonel, "this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary is not here. Can you make this thing work?"

"Certainly," said the young Marine. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

"Excellent, excellent!" said the Colonel as his paper disappeared inside the machine, "I just need one copy."

Lesson to be learned here: Never, ever assume that your leader knows what he's doing.

Unfortunately, that is true in the civilian world. It is true in the business world. And it is true in the church world. Don't assume your pastor automatically knows what to do in every situation. He gave you a brain and you are a leader as well. Exercise your brain, arms, hands and feet and help out. Don't stand by and assume that he knows what he is doing.

Photo licensed under the following terms: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sometimes your ministry is to go and get the pizza

2009-09-28T17:58:00.001-05:00

Sometimes ministry isn't what we think it is. And sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

I heard a great message the other morning from a great pastor. He isn't the pastor of my home church. But he once was. It was all about the phrase, "Don't Go to Church. Be the Church."

We were exhorted to be Jesus Christ's feet and hands extended to a lost and hurting world. We were told that everyone is needed. Everyone is wanted. Everyone has abilities that God wants us to use for His glory. We were told that everyone has value.

Then I remembered something that happened many years ago. I remember showing up one evening after work to work with the pastor and one of his biggest helpers at the church. We were going to begin work on refurbishing the nursery. It was a small but growing church. (There is always something to be done in a growing church.) The pastor gave me the job of removing the baseboard trim so that we could put a new floor down and repaint the room. I had no tools, so I walked over to the toolbox in the corner. I grabbed the largest hammer that I could find. It turned out to be a framing hammer.

Well, I took that hammer and began wailing away on the baseboard trim. I managed to bust up about 6 or 8 feet of trim before the pastor came over and grabbed my arm in mid swing. He asked me what I was doing. I said that I was removing the trim. He said, "You know, we had hoped to re-use that trim after we paint it." -- Oooops.

I was willing. But I really wasn't equipped for the job.

It was at that point that experienced a feeling that I did not have the skills and abilities that God could use in His Kingdom. You see, I really have no real skills when it comes to carpentry or building skills. And that was what was needed at the moment. I was given a new assignment by the pastor that evening. One that didn't involve the destruction of the materials that we would need later in the project.

I was told to go and drive over to the local pizza joint and get some pizza for the three of us that were working. I suggested that we just call the pizza place and have it delivered. I could then get back to the work of "removing" the baseboard trim. The pastor said, that what I really needed to do was to go and get the pizza. I knew that it would take 45 minutes to an hour to go and get the pizza. How demoralizing.

Did I mention that the pastor was my brother?

Fast forward to this recent service that I attended. We were told this that we all had skills and talents that God can use. Rewind to that night so many years ago. Instead of working on the project, I was sent to go fetch the pizza.

Why can't I be the one to work with the tools and "build" the Kingdom like my brother and Gary?

Then I heard the unmistakable voice of God. "You don't choose the job. You just answer the call." I wanted to be a builder. Because I thought that was the right call. But God's call is a personal call. I am called to obedience just like you are. But the form that obedience takes is often times different for me than you.

And it dawned on me. Sometimes you are called to go get the pizza.

So I echo the words of the pastor that I heard recently. Don't let your own self-doubts or feelings that you don't have the right skills for the Kingdom. Just answer the call.

Oh, and did I mention, the pastor that spoke that morning was that same brother?

Photos used under the following license agreement: http://www.sxc.hu/help/7_2

Climbing the Ladder

2009-05-30T13:18:00.006-05:00

There is nothing worse than reaching the top of the ladder and discovering you are on the wrong wall!

Every time I try to climb a ladder of my own making, I discover that I am on the wrong wall. You and I are bombarded day in and day out with messages that tell us to try and climb the ladder of success. And that message is not just a secular message. It is also a message that seductively calls out to those of us who are involved in ministry.

Climb!

Reach for the top!

Just make sure you are on the right ladder and the right wall. Otherwise, all you will do is block your own view or another persons view of Jesus Christ, the one we are reaching for in the first place.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Change Begins with Me

2009-01-26T17:55:00.005-06:00

Change. It is everywhere around us.

Our former pastor and his wife used to sing a song every once in a while back when we lived in the Washington, DC area. That song was “Change My Heart O God” and it was written by Eddie Espinosa. Here are some of the lyrics in case you don't know this praise chorus.

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

That song did not mean as much to me back then as it does today. Today, my life is all about change. There are changes at work. There are changes at church. There are changes at home. Change is everywhere.

Benjamin Franklin said, “There is nothing certain in this world but death and taxes.” And I would add one more thing to that list; Change!

But let me split a few hairs with the beloved Benjamin Franklin. I would suggest that external change is in fact inevitable. While internal change is not inevitable. So, while the world around me is rapidly changing, it is up to me do determine if I will accept those changes or reject them.

We recently elected a president in the United States who ran on a platform of “Hope and Change”. Not all change is good. Not all change is bad. But this much I know. God wants to deal with changes in me at a heart level. While I may want to make cosmetic changes on the outside. God wants to change me from the inside.

So, those lyrics that Pastor John and Amy used to sing are ringing in my ears today. And I say with them, “Change my heart, oh God.” Then and only then will I be able to be effective in ministry and demonstrate life-altering change the way that Jesus Christ intended.

What about you? Are there any big changes going on in your life? Are there big changes going on in your heart?

"Communication is a wonderful thing"

2009-01-15T07:00:00.003-06:00

My wife tells me that all the time. She tells our kids that all the time. And they are all grown up! But she keeps telling me that, so I must still need to learn it!

She reminds me that communication is a two-way street. Many times I forget that.

That little reminder is especially true in a church situation when it is about to embark on a major ministry or make a change to an existing ministry. As leaders, it is our responsibility to clearly and effectively communicate not only what we are doing, but also why we are doing it.

Although there may be plenty of printed materials, posters and other collateral material regarding the big change, that alone may not be clear and compelling communication as to “Why?” you are making this change or embarking on this journey. As a Mass Communications major in college, one of the things stressed to us was the importance of the feedback loop in any communication process.

So how do you have clear and effective communication that includes feedback? Well, you have to plan feedback into the process.

This is “Transilient Communication”. Transilient communication occurs when ideas, thoughts, feelings, learnings, knowledge, insights, and wisdom that might otherwise have remained dormant are allowed to emerge in an evocative but safe way. Transilient communication obliterates the barriers and puts everyone in touch with what is going on. And it connects them with others because they trust one another to hear what they say and listen to their heart. Imagine people deeply connecting with each other in this way.

This whole new level of communicating is a place where active listening to each other, (including those outside the tight circle of folks who are involved in planning the change) reflecting on our experiences, and synthesizing new insights from each others experiences are commonplace. And that brings about a fuller understanding of whether or not the intended message is being received by the target audience in the way that you intended it when you first planned the message.

But transilient communication takes courage. It takes time. It takes trust. It takes someone who is listening for the feedback.

Hey! Does anyone out there hear me???

Is it time for a change?

2009-01-08T08:00:00.008-06:00

That is one of the questions that face ministry leaders all of the time. Perhaps things are not progressing the way that you want them to. Or, perhaps your area of ministry is not as effective as you feel God would have it be. So, what do you do?

One of the things that will come to your mind will be the idea of trying something new or integrate something that the big Baptist down the street is doing. But is that the right thing to do? Well, only God knows for sure. And He will reveal it to you as you earnestly seek His face.

But here is the point that I would have you consider. Is change the right idea? Or is it better to evaluate and analyze what you are currently doing and seek to improve on the way that you are doing that ministry. Or, more succinctly put, is it a problem of design or a problem of execution?

Consider taking a prayerful and analytical view of your ministry before scrapping it in favor of something new and drastically different.

Check back here in the coming days for some more thoughts and ideas on this topic.

How to Build a Great Team

2009-01-01T18:30:00.003-06:00

The pastor who assembles a great leadership team around him shows confidence and enables the whole organization to be all that God has called them to be.

Here are a few ideas that you may want to consider:

Select Quality Members -- If you can choose your leadership team, do so wisely and with much prayerful consideration. If your local church or denominational polity requires a nomination and election process, then put a tremendous effort and prayerful consideration around who you select to be the nominating committee.
Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities -- Being a leader means more than just sitting down once a month and listening to reports. It means being actively engaged in the life of the church for the 30 or 31 days between each monthly meeting.
Mentor Your Team -- Continue to build and mentor your team throughout the year. Spend quality time each and every board meeting on leadership development.
Build Esprit De Corps -- Make being a member of the team a worthwhile, caring and nurturing experience. Consider establish Prayer Partners among your board and encourage them to meet together outside of the regular meeting schedule.

There are many other things to consider when looking toward your new church year. These are just a few quick items to consider.

You don't get what you EXpect . . .

2008-11-01T15:40:00.004-05:00

. . . you get what you INspect.

I used that phrase recently in a conversation. I was asked, "What does that mean?"

It means that you often don't get what you expect out of life or out of any given situation. Rather, you get out of life what you keep your eye on and what you inspect using whatever tools or analytical means you have at your disposal.

However we, in church leadership roles, don't inspect or analyze our methods very often. And we don't often evaluate our progress, successes or failures. But many churches today are taking a closer look at their ministries and leadership to see if there are things that they can do to inspect them and learn from that experience.

What about you and your church? When was the last time you sat down and analyzed or evaluated a particular ministry. Perhaps it is time to do that. Pray and ask God to lead you in conducting a review or inspection of yourself or a key ministry that you are involved in.

You don't have to listen if you don't want to

2008-03-03T17:52:00.005-06:00

The following quote from Annie Dillard's book, Teaching a Stone to Talk, struck a chord within me this week. She says,

Experience has taught the [human] race that if knowledge of God is the end, then these habits of life are not the means but the condition in which the means operates. You do not have to do these things; not at all. God does not, I regret to report, give a hoot. You do not have to do these things -- unless you want to know God. They work on you, not on Him.

You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. But the stars neither require nor demand it.

Alas, that is how we view leadership training and development sometimes. Or any other process or program that sounds too business-like. We view it as a series of habits or do-s and don't-s. We think of it in terms of the things we do, or at least should do, that will make us great or visionary leaders.

I blogged about this topic on my personal blog and here are some thoughts that relate to our personal relationship with God

We think God wants us to go to church. -- God wants us to be in His presence.

We think God wants us to sing hymns vs. contemporary music. -- God wants us to worship Him.

We think God wants us to do good works. -- God want us to love one another as Christ loved us.

We think God wants us to give 10% of everything we earn. -- God wants us to give it all to Him and allow Him to use it to build His Kingdom.

We think Gods wants us to DO a bunch of stuff. -- God wants us to know Him intimately. And that may mean sitting in the dark sometimes.

So, what is the application to church leadership and development? Well, here are my thoughts and observations.

We want to be the pastor that God calls us to be. -- God wants us to be willing to learn and grow and try something new.

We want to be the board member or elder that God calls us to be. -- God wants us to learn to follow before we lead.

We want to do big things for God. -- God wants us to be willing to walk through the doors that He opens for us.

We want to have a vision for the lost and dying in the world. -- God wants us to notice the runny-nosed kids that need someone to sit in Children's Church and help the fidgety to not be so fidgety.

And like the topics relating to our own personal relationship and Holiness that I posted about, we don't have to do any of these things at all if we don't want to. Your denominational police are not going to kick your door down and demand that you sharpen your skills and God-given talents. But if you want move beyond where you are now and you are tired of doing the same thing over and over again, then maybe it is time to seek some help from others in ministry who can walk side by side with you and encourage and coach you along the way.

Pastor, does that make sense to you? Board member, does that make sense to you?

If so, then we have good news for you. We can help you implement the vision that God has given you and bring honor and glory to God through the process.

Check back here in the coming days as we post some thoughts and ideas on identifying leadership skills and characteristics and then developing them in yourselves and your leadership team.

Keep up the good work.

Where there is no vision, the people perish

2008-02-12T13:08:00.001-06:00

Where there is a vision but no plan to make it a reality, the people will be frustrated! I am sorry for the flip-side paraphrase of Proverbs 29:18 but I am trying to make a point here.

Such is the situation many churches find themselves in today. Many pastors and church lay leaders have a definite vision for what God is calling them to be and where He is calling them to go. But there is a lack of definitive movement in the direction that the vision is focusing on. Perhaps a better understanding of what that verse is really saying will help us put into better context regarding church growth and development.

The “vision” mentioned in Proverbs 29:18 was not what we think of today. It was not some ethereal mystical experience. It was not a forward thinking and motivational experience. Instead, the vision mentioned in this passage is all about teaching and instruction. In the days of the prophets, God spoke to His people through the visions of the prophets. Those visions were immediately communicated to the people and used for educational and instructional purposes. In other words, the receipt of the vision from God was not separate from the communication and instruction of what that all meant to the people. The instruction of the vision was equal in significance to receipt of the vision.

Here may be the point where the church of today needs some help. The church leadership needs to hone their skills in communicating the vision, providing instruction on what the vision is, and providing the tactical guidance or tangible demonstration of the vision.

What about your leadership skills?

Are your leadership skills what they need to be to take the vision that God has given you and translate it into specific ministry activities?

The Greatest Need of the Evangelical Holiness Church

2008-02-09T16:56:00.003-06:00

ISI Consultants are primarily engaged to assist local churches in leadership development, strategic planning, tactical planning, and other similar issues related to church growth and development. But, as I sat at lunch today with my father-in-law, we had an interesting conversation around the topic of the top three needs for the evangelical holiness church today.

There are many needs that come to mind. And ISI Consultants deal with many practical needs of local churches, pastors and lay leaders. But what are the deeper needs that exist?

I think the first need of the church is to recapture the ferver and fire that the presence of the Holy Spirit brings. I wrote about this on my personal blog back in May of last year. I would invite you to check out my thoughts on the need for the presence, power and purity of the Holy Spirit that were on my heart at that time.

But what does that mean to us as church leaders? How do we "translate" what we have experienced into something that is desirable by those who are new Christians or new to our church? Is it best translated in a classroom setting? How about a small group or cell group? Is it best translated from the pulpit? How do we share what has happened in our own lives in such a way that it spreads like fire?

What are your thoughts on this issue? Please reply or comment and create a dialog. We are in this together. Let's work together to see the Holy Spirit alive and active in our midst.

How Proverbs 27:17 Came Alive to Me

2007-07-20T18:51:00.000-05:00

Where it came from

This passage really came alive to me when my best friend David Woods jotted it down on one of the pages of my old Franklin Planner. I guess the Lord revealed that passage to Dave in some of his own personal devotions. It was a very hectic time in our lives as we both poured our lives and energy into a struggling church. It was a day when we were working on a major demographic project for the church and I was feeling less than energized by all the long hours that we were putting in. Dave quoted that passage to me and talked to me about how that kind of relationship would absolutely transform a man's life. It was an awesome piece of Scripture. And we committed on the spot to be that kind of friend to each other.

How it still impacts me today

In reality, ISI-Consultants.com and the ideas behind Iron-Sharpens-Iron.org began at the kitchen table of David and Karen Woods back in 1995. It had its genesis in a plan to bring some much needed structure to their local church. Dave and Kevin were both members of their church board in a suburb of Washington, DC and were looking to revitalize the church and it's leadership by transformational change. It was the kind of change that takes you from a group of folks who listen to reports and approve an annual budget into thought leaders and ministry champions.

That kind of change brings a certain feeling of isolation and loneliness. I will tell you very plainly that I might not have made it through those days without the friendship and encouragement of my friend, David. And it is that kind of encouragement that is still needed today. This is especially true in the day in which we live today. Church leadership and ministry has challenges that must be met by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. And it is my goal to provide a place for gaining encouragement and developing friendships that will sharpen you in many of the same ways that I have experienced over the years.

David Woods was a God-given gift to me and my family. He has sharpened my mind and honed my heart. I am a better christian, a better husband, a better father and a better leader because of Dave Woods.

How it can impact you

My prayer is that I have had some measure of impact on Dave's life as well.

My prayer is also that you will find this to be a place of encouragement. And that it will attract others who are looking to be encouraged as well as be an encourager.

Kevin Bowser
Partner, ISI Consultants

Companion Blog to Iron-Sharpens-Iron.org and ISI Consultants

2007-06-07T19:55:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the companion blog to the "Iron-Sharpens-Iron.org" web site and "ISI Consultants". Check us out over at http://iron-sharpens-iron.org/ and http://isi-consultants.com/ and see what resources are available to encourage you and help you to build your local church for the Kingdom of God.