Purpose, Mission and Vision Explained

By Ken Row

This is a bulldozer. Its purpose is to move dirt. It was designed to move dirt. It functions best when it is moving dirt. It doesn't spread concrete well at all.


Right now, the bulldozer's mission is to move this particular pile of dirt.


The vision is a new hotel.

Shepherd or Fisherman?

By Ken Row
Shepherds focus on the flock they have. They tend to it and oversee reproduction. Any increase comes from the members of the flock.

Fishermen focus on the catch they do not yet have. They vary their bait, fishing spots, and methods according to the type of fish they seek to catch. Any increase comes from the haul.

In the Old Testament, God focused on shepherding. Ps 23:1 sums it up: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

In the New Testament, Christ mixed it up.

He said he was sent for the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt 10:26, Matt 15:24), but he told Peter he'd make him a "fisher of men". He demonstrated knowledge of shepherding through the parable of the one lost sheep and the allegories like being the one door to the sheepfold and being the Great Shepherd whose sheep know his voice (John 10). But He also demonstrated fishing expertise through the two different times he helped Peter and company bring in super-huge hauls of fish.

Many churches today are strictly shepherding churches. Most growth comes either through members having kids who grow up to become members or through livestock trading (aka Church-hopping).

Some churches seem to be strictly fishing churches, gearing everything towards the seekers.

I wonder which busines Christ prefers us to be in -- shepherding, fishing, or both?

Comparing Purpose to Actions

By Ken Row
When I pastored, my church's purpose statement was "Reaching, Teaching, and Keeping People for the Kingdom of God."

Some of my mentors recommended keeping the purpose before the people, so I kept it as my lead powerpoint slide every worship service and mentioned it from time to time during preaching.

One thing I never did, though, was do a year-end evaluation of the church's actions against its purpose statement.

I never asked the question, if someone were to analyze the church finances and calendar, what would they deduce the church's purpose to be?

Looking back, I think they might have deduced the church mainly existed to worship together, listen to sermons, pray for each other, and occasionally have a pitch-in dinner.

With the new year approaching, it'd be a good time to take a hard look at your church's purpose statement.

Using my own purpose statement...

What do we need to do in 2009 to reach more people?
Are there different people we could target?
Are there new methods to implement?

What do we need to do to teach more people?
What should we change to keep from simply re-teaching the already-taught?
Can we do more on hands-on, experiential teaching and less lecture-driven, head-knowledge teaching?

Who do we need to do to keep more people?
Why do so many teens leave the church at adulthood?
Why do our young preachers head off to other denomination's schools?

Changing My Perspective

By Gabriel Espinoza
Reference: Prov 23:7a; Mt 12:36

The domino affect: our thoughts affect our words. Our words will affect our faith. Our faith will affect our actions. Our actions will affect our destiny. But it all starts with a simple thought!

#1 Our thoughts affect our lives.
We are what we think! Therefore, we greatly need to change our mindset to reflect the mind of Christ. Paul declares that we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), but he also says that we need to renew our minds (thoughts) to always align them according to God and be transformed (Rom. 12:2).

Can you imagine what God thinks? It’s more than what we can imagine! But we can have those thoughts in us, because we have the mind of Christ.

#2 From our thoughts, we speak.
Jesus says, “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart” (Matt 15:18). What we speak reflects our inner thoughts. The Spirit produces renewal in our words when our thoughts are being changed. Our thoughts change by the confrontation of His Word in us. We ask the sinner to change (repent), but have we changed? Have we aligned ourselves according to God’s thoughts? Why, then, have we stagnated and deviated from the purposes of God in us, in our ministries? Are we stuck or are we moving forward?

#3 Our words affect our faith.
When conquering the Promised Land, ten of the spies felt the land was a great land to live in, but didn’t have the courage to fight the giants. Their words of discouragement affected the people of God. The spirit of fear and unbelief was operating in their words.

Every day is a moment of opportunity to conquer our promise land and impact the lives of many! If our words affect the way we believe, what words are we speaking? Our own words or God's promises?

#4 Our faith affects our actions, and our actions our destiny.
As in the story of the Promised Land, God had taken the action to give them that land. It was a done deal. This land is a symbol of God’s plans and desires for us in the present. The way to this land is not easy though. There is a battle to fight and challenges to confront. The enemy will try to sow thoughts of fear and put up many obstacles, so we can then speak the words “this can’t be done”. Then our actions reflect our words, and finally, our destiny is altered from what God intended us to become.

Can you see what God sees? Imagine what He imagines? The Spirit wants to sow His dreams in us, so that our thoughts, faith, actions and destiny will be affected according to Him who called us. Does God see you staying where you are right now, or is He saying “there’s more!”?

Where does a great ministry start? In your thoughts!

Living A Passionate Life

A passionate life is more than a philosophy—more than a pie-in-the-sky wish for happiness painted in the imagination. It is not a problem-free, fairy tale existence, and it does not promise wealth or fame.

Rather, it is a lifestyle chosen deliberately, designed purposefully, and lived responsibly. It is raising the bar on what you intend to accomplish. It is moving through each storm of life without hesitation and arriving in the sunshine wiser and stronger. It is continuously learning, loving, and growing.

A passionate life is a fulfilling life. It allows you to say, "This is important. It is what God has given me to bring to the world, and I'm going to give it everything I've got!"

A passionate life means taking full responsibility for your choices, actions, and experiences. It means moving forward from this day without self-imposed limitations, complaints or regrets.

Living a passionate life is living an enthusiastic life. Combine action and passion, and you will get enthusiasm. It is easy to share enthusiasm because enthusiasm is contagious.

Share your enthusiasm for life with someone today—a friend, co-worker, family member, or someone you've never met before. A passionate life is an inspiring gift that can brighten the world for many generations.

© Copyright 2006 by Steve Brunkhorst.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

From Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration
http://www.AchieveEzine.com

Somethin's Cookin' in the Cave, part 4

By Charles Scott
In order to handle your cave, relationships must be connected – the study of Scripture is a study of relationships. It is not good for man to be alone. God and humans walked together in the cool of the day. You will come to a part of your Bible that features a bunch of genealogies – they are in the Bible to show you there is power in divine connections. The Word of God says that Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes. She laid Him in a feeding trough – that was where the animals ate, where the cows slobbered, where the donkeys spit out seeds, where the livestock came for dinner – but before she put Him there, she wrapped Him. She covered Him.

You must have people in your life who will cover you. You see, there are elements that contaminate, penetrate and destroy. The world is a place where the elements are animalistic and they are trying to prevent your destiny from being birthed. Mary knew her Son's destiny – He would save His people from their sins – she knew there was animal stuff that could hurt Him, hold Him, and hinder Him, and so she covered Him so He could grow into His destiny. She was so consumed with Him fulfilling His destiny that she covered Him. We too must protect our destiny. We must protect the future.

Remember that when God is with you, nothing can touch you! When God is with you, you will survive. You will have some tough times, but you will survive. You will be put in rough places, but you will survive. The world was against me, but He rocked me in the cradle of His arms – I will survive. There were times when I thought I would lose my mind, but He held me in the shelter of His everlasting grace – I will survive. There were times when my heart was broken, but He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." We will survive.

Somethin's Cookin' in the Cave, part 3

By Charles Scott
In order to handle your cave, you must be thankful you have somewhere to be. We are sensual beings living in a natural world, moved and motivated by feelings. Most of us are motivated by feelings more than facts. How many times do you hear, "Let me tell you how I feel"? "I FEEL" has become the anthem of society. The emphasis on feeling makes the issue bigger than it really is. Feelings magnify the minute into the enormous. Feelings will blind you to blessings. HEAR THIS: You can know something but not feel it.

Mary laid her Son in a manger because there was no room for Him anywhere else. There was no place for Him – He was rejected; he was a Man of sorrows, but there is no record of complaints, no record of grumbling, and no record of fussing! Someone is dreaming about being where you are while you complain about it because it is a cave – at least you have some place! Mary went to the inn because it had what she thought she needed. It had all the accommodations, all the linens, and all the right conditions to birth a baby. She was rejected – but know that rejection cannot stop your destiny! Your purpose is not controlled by circumstances and situations.

Somethin's Cookin' in the Cave, part 2

By Charles Scott
In order to handle your cave, you must know that the cave is where you get your start – God did great things in caves. David gathered a mighty army in a cave. Obadiah hid prophets in a cave. Elijah heard the still, small voice of God in a cave. Lazarus was laid to rest for four days in a cave before being raised from the dead by the Resurrection and the Life. It is important for you to grasp this point: "Where you are only counts if that is where you intend to end up!"

If where I am is final, then that place has full power over my life – it has power over my emotions, my thinking and my destiny. But when I recognize this is only a beginning – a starting place, a birthing room – then I know that when I am in the cave it only has power if I intend to stay. But if I intend to keep going, then where I am is only for a season. May I submit to you that when Jesus started, He was in a cave, but when the wise men found Him, He was in a house? He ended up somewhere bigger and better than where He started. If you can manage the cave, then you can move to something bigger and better!

Watch the storyline: Jesus starts in a cave; they find Him in a house. He prays in the desert; He heals in the synagogue. He is baptized in the river; He preaches on the mountaintop. He walks on the water; He casts out demons in the graveyard. He prays in the Garden; He is crucified on the cross. He is laid in the tomb, but He ascends to the throne of God!

Stephen looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of the Father – if you can handle the cave, then God will take you to the throne! But if you can't handle where God calls you to begin, then you won't be able to handle the next season either. Hear this: handle what God gives you until He moves you!

Where you start does not have to be an indication or an indictment of where you will end up! Some of us have a testimony – through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! When you know that the cave is not where you are headed, things will always look up! As a matter of fact, where you start hints at where you can go. If you start on the bottom, then there is only one direction to go – up!

Hear this: sometimes you will get into what you don't expect. Mary expected a room at the inn; she got a cave. Joseph too expected a bed; he got a cave. There will be times when you have to go through something you don't choose. You don't pick the cave – you don't go online to Expedia and choose to vacation at the cave. In a cave you can't see well; in a cave it is wet, cold and damp; in a cave you have limited vision, but allow me to say this: "If Jesus could handle the cave, then He can handle your condition."

Somethin's Cookin' in the Cave

By Charles Scott
One of the ignominies of history involves the improper pictures that have been given to us surrounding the birth of Jesus. We have church play concepts of Jesus being born in a barn, and our concept of a barn comes from "Hee Haw" or "Green Acres." Jesus was not born in a stable or a barn; the fact is, Jesus was born in a cave. The Bible Exposition Commentary says that most scholars believe Jesus was born in a cave where animals were kept, and not in a wooden shed as depicted in modern manger scenes.

We see these pictures of Jesus with permed, Paul Mitchell-treated hair, but those are improper pictures – we need to see the right picture. When Jesus was born He was hidden. He was born in a cave, this dichotomy of Deity, God and human in a body of bone and tissue wrapped in flesh. He was born to a middle-class family. His step-father was a carpenter, yet He could not be born in the hotel because there was no room for Him. He is the King of kings, yet there was no room – He is the Alpha and the Omega, yet there was no room – He is the Resurrection and the Life, yet there was no room – there has never been another like Him, yet there was no room. He is majestic, royal, divine, holy, perfect and transcendent, yet there was no room. His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Creator and Prince of Peace, yet there was no room. He is immortal, invincible, incredible, indescribable and irresistible, yet there was no room for Him at the inn.

Jesus is the regal Royalty of eternity, yet He could not be birthed in a palace; He had to be born in a cave. Why birth such dignity in obscurity? Why does God want us to pause and look in this cave? When I look in this cave I see Jesus in a way that I can relate to – I can relate to being in a cave. I can relate to there being no room for me. I can relate to the obscurity, the darkness, the shadows and the anonymity. When I look in the cave, I see why God would put the Light of the world in a cave. God would put the Bread of Life in a feeding trough. I look in the cave and see God in a position everyone can relate to, in a place everyone can understand. We talk often of the Christ of the Cross, but he did not being on the cross; He was birthed in a cave.

Tomorrow, I will post the first of three things you should know about your own cave.

Three Essential Elements to Bearing Fruit

By Charles Scott

Time
Everything in the Kingdom of God is based on process. God allows a process to take place in order to bear fruit. It takes time for a seed to die, a plant to grow, the root system become strong, the vine become nourished and the fruit to mature. We must be committed to the process if we will be fruitful.

Discipline
Growing fruit requires discipline. The farmer who ignores his field will grow weeds! The Christian life demands discipline. We are Christ’s disciples, and disciples live a disciplined life. We can preach vision, mission and inspiration but discipline makes it happen!

Order
The modern church has lost a sense of protocol and order. A house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25). Order protects from division. Order is essential for fruitfulness. The fruit does not come before the seed. Harvest does not precede planting. If we (PCG) are going to be fruitful, we must follow the order of God.

What is Bearing Fruit in our Pentecostal Churches?

By Charles Scott
I have just returned from a meeting with Pentecostal/Charismatic leaders this past week. One of the key focal areas of discussion in this meeting centered on the question, “What is bearing fruit in our Pentecostal churches?”

As most of you know, my position has been and is that this is one of the most vital leadership questions. Jesus said in John 15:2, “Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off takes away) and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.” (Amplified Bible)

The question of what is bearing fruit weighs heavy on my spirit.

Do the meetings that we have on a regular basis bear fruit?

Do our pastors and church leaders share a deep level of commitment to bearing fruit?

How do we measure fruitfulness?

Blockheads and Parsons

By Daniel Davis
The following is an excerpt from John Wesley’s Address to the Clergy. In this address, he posits several things necessary of a minister and with razor sharp wit and insight confronts several issues of his regarding the ministry.

One of the problems faced in Wesley’s day was the concept that if the son of a family could not cut it at a variety of other occupations, he could always do well enough to be a clergy. Here is part of his response to that idea.

It is easy to perceive, I do not speak this for their sake; (for they are incorrigible;) but for the sake of parents, that they may open their eyes and see, a blockhead can never ‘do well enough for a Parson.’ He may do well enough for a tradesman; so well as to gain fifty or an hundred thousand pounds. He may do well enough for a soldier; nay, (if you pay well for it,) for a very well-dressed and well-mounted officer. He may do well enough for a sailor, and may shine on the quarter-deck of a man-of-war. He may do so well, in the capacity of a lawyer or a physician, as to ride in his gilt chariot. But O! Think not of his being a Minister, unless you would bring a blot upon your family, a scandal upon our Church, and a reproach on the gospel, which he may murder, but cannot teach.

Though we may read his words with a chuckle, he does touch on a vital issue: what is necessary to be a spiritual leader? Of course, we would say that God calls and chooses, not we ourselves. Wesley would agree. Yet we must ask, could not aptitude itself be an indicator of the presence or absence of God’s calling? If so, what aptitudes are necessary? How do we discern them? How does our ideal compare with our practice?

At what point do we say, “do well enough” doesn’t do?

Will We be Pentecostal Tomorrow?

I have taken a strong position that we (PCG) must be a Pentecostal church. By this I simply mean that we are a Holy Spirit empowered, a Holy Spirit led, and a Holy Spirit filled organization. We exercise the gifts of the Spirit (we are not a cessation church.) We manifest the fruit of the Spirit (we live in righteousness). We allow for true Divine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. We see holistic Spiritual living – we see Holy Spirit empowered leaders – we see Holy Spirit miracles. We believe the evidence of the Baptism is speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.

My concerns begin with, “How do we define “Holy Spirit/Ghost empowered living?” And, “How deeply if any, are we divided over spiritual issues?” Are we (PCG) seeing the next generation experiencing true fullness of the Holy Spirit? I am deeply troubled over our youth having a real deep encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Some of my questions are:

1. What is producing fruit and what is not producing fruit?


2. What trends/fads are affecting the next generation as they relate to the Holy Spirit?


3. How do we engage in the process for the next generation to experience the Holy Spirit? (I agree Jesus first - I know salvation is the main thing - but on this topic how?)


4. If we were at our best what would we be doing now?


5. How do we lead the next generation to embrace Holy Spirit empowered living for maximum evangelistic harvest?

Thanks for responding. I look forward to hearing from each of you.

C Scott

Seven Things Leaders Must Have to Be Effective

By Pastor Eddie Jones

#1 - We Have Got To Be Willing To Serve - John 13:1-5
There are times when we are called out of our comfort zone – and our gift zone – to serve people in a way we’ve never served them before.

80% of your time is used to serve God with passion in your talent & gifting.
20% of your time is used to serve to fulfill your role and advance the ministry of your church.

If anything is “beneath” us, then we truly are not beneath Christ!

#2 - We Must Be Willing To Love - John 13:34-35
Christians fight too much – period!

Jesus said that the world will know we are His by the love we have for one another.

When someone doesn’t believe the particular brand of theology we embrace, we need to love them anyway. I am begging God to raise up a generation of leaders who do not feel that everyone needs to be the same... and who are secure enough to learn from people who do not believe exactly like them.

We must be willing to love people regardless of social or economic class without regard to race or reputation.

#3 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Trust - John 14:1
We live in a world that is completely out of control, and because of that, we often make the mistake of thinking that God has lost control.

But reality is this (if you are in ministry) - God wants your church to grow more than you want it to! God wants your life to be abundant way more than you do.

One of the mistakes we make is that we think if we don’t get it done, then it can’t be done. The fact is that without trusting God to do the impossible, our efforts mean absolutely nothing. There needs to come a point where we desperately trust Him, even though we may not be able to see Him!

The world needs way less of me and WAY more of Him! (John 3:30)

#4 - We’ve Got To Dream Big - John 14:12
However, I believe what Jesus said here is true... and one of the things I always want to be accused of is dreaming big.

How about you? For some reason the children of the King are the smallest dreamers on the planet. In church we have let Vegas and Hollywood outdo us–UNACCEPTABLE!

Personally, I’ve seen way too many people live for lesser dreams when God has an Ephesians 3:20 life that is merely a prayer away!

I believe that the church ought to be the most creative and innovative place on the planet.

#5 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Stay Connected - John 14:15, John 14:21
Jesus said if we love Him that we will obey Him... but the only way to do this is by staying connected with Him on a consistent basis.

I believe that Satan doesn’t necessarily want to make us sin - he just wants to get us so busy that we don’t have time to consistently connect with Christ.

John 15:5 gives us a good demonstration of the power that we need to stay connected.

The enemy can make us so busy that we don’t necessarily sin - we just don’t have the time to live our lives in complete obedience!

#6 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Play Hurt - John 15:18
Life hurts. Pastors and leaders often carry wounds with them. Don’t give up!

Jesus went to a cross... and took a beating before He went. The least we can do is endure receiving a little criticism and being kicked out of the social club at work.

Leaders, if you are leading, then you will be condemned and criticized. Move on, play hurt, and talk to God a lot about it. David, a man after God’s own heart, did it in Psalm.

#7 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Be Spirit-Led - John 16:12-14
One of the most awesome privileges of following Christ is having Jesus with me every single day through the presence of His Holy Spirit.

I am NEVER alone, and I do not have to figure life out all by myself.

As leaders we must take some time to pray, and then LISTEN. I believe that God is ALWAYS speaking, but many times we aren’t listening, and so we miss Him at times.

What's the Big Deal about Christmas?

By Charles Scott
The wise sage and noted philosopher Charlie Brown once stated to his faithful sidekick Linus, "I just don't get it. I don't feel any Christmas spirit. What's the big deal about Christmas?"

Christmas is about walking in a winter wonderland, searching for that perfect family Christmas tree, and when that tree is found, spending quality family time together bringing the tree home. Then the family trims the tree and spends those cherished moments putting up lights and decorations for Christmas. It about those special moments of Christmas; those moments that are spent sacrificing personal time, laboring for the sake of the season, risking life and limb so the family can enjoy the festive celebrations of Christmas.

Yes, these are the moments that bring special cheer to every soul at this time of the year. At these times our only thought is on the joy and peace our hard work and effort will bring to others. What's it all about? It's about the special cheer we can spread to everyone during the Christmas holidays. And no matter the effort required, we will work as hard as we must to kindle the Christmas spirit and go to whatever length required just to brighten someone else's Christmas and make their holiday even better.

Christmas is about merry days and beautiful nights. And even if we lose that Christmas spirit once in a while, we plug back in to the hope, peace and love that make Christmas that happy time of the year. For Christmas is a happy time, a time around the table with loved ones, enjoying a festive meal with those we love so dear. Anything else would be a blue, blue, blue Christmas.

Unfortunately, some do have a blue Christmas. Their bells don't jingle, their one horse has no sleigh and their chestnuts won't roast. Have you ever had to deal with the 12 Blues of Christmas? You know what I mean:

One the 12th day of Christmas my blue Christmas gave to me:
12 days of bowl games
11 bad movies
10 strings of lights
9 broken bulbs
8 in-laws visiting
7 kids a screaming
6 broken toys
5 credit cards overdrawn…
4 trips for batteries
3 days in the mall
2 kids out of school and
An empty bottle of Tylenol

What is Christmas all about? It's about an angel's song, a barnyard birth, Christ's arrival and demon's demise. It's about glad tidings to all men, Herod's fear and Immanuel – God with us. It's about joy to the world, kindness to one another and love lifting all. It's about a manger crib, a night's celebration, an omnipotent moment, peace on earth, quickening spirits, reverent occasions and shepherds' bowing. It's about the tabernacle of God on earth, salvation, victory over death, worship in the Spirit, and the excellence of God, Yahweh, Zion's eternal King.

I know what Christmas is about: Christmas is about Jesus. He was born in a cave so He could die on a cross so I could wear a crown. Christmas is about angels singing, wise men bringing, heralds ringing and shepherds clinging. It's about Heaven's conception, earth's reception, the devil's deception, God's reflection and man's perception.

On that first Christmas night, Mary's heart sang with gladness. She had everything a young lady could desire – a loving, devoted husband, a healthy baby boy and a God that favored and blessed her. She only vaguely understood that she was the mother of the King of kings. She lived and held within her the greatest secret of history: God's Son was birthed from her womb. Joseph must have felt that he had failed her in this hour: he could not locate a room for her to give birth to her baby; he hadn't even found a midwife. Mary probably smiled at him as she laid Jesus in the feeding trough of the stable and said, "It must be God's will for His Son to be born in a place like this." It was God's will for His Son to be born in a place like that, because every sacrifice was birthed in a barn, and Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, so we could see Him eye to eye.