Before you begin this study read Matthew 18:21-35
Servants who have approached the master with a poor spirit, acknowledging how broken and unrighteous we are without him and mourning over the sins we have committed, will have the master bring them into his kingdom and comfort us. Only in this state can we with meekness bring our power under his control and crave the righteousness which he has promised to fill us with. What a joy for the servant who is comforted and filled, who possesses a share of the master’s present kingdom and all things on the earth becomes his.
But the question that has vexed forgiven servants for centuries is this: What do you do once you are free? What do you do with this new freedom? How do you respond to when your master has made you a co-owner in the kingdom?
Jesus not only meets us where we are… he showers us with blessings. He gives us citizenship in the kingdom and makes us rulers over the earth. How do we respond to such great mercy? Continued reading >
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
The Maxwell Leadership Bible counts the leadership style in the United States since World War II. There has been an evolution of leadership styles over the past sixty years which illustrates the change in the generations and a move to more internalized and inspired followers.
1. Military Commander. Leaders returned from the war emulating the leadership styles that won the war. They implemented a top down dictatorship style influencing from their position as a leader instead of inspiration.
2. Chief Executive Officer. CEOs lead through vision, goals and objectives passed to subordinates to follow. This is a top down leadership style which depends more on execution of a strict plan than
3. Coaches. Recently, leaders have viewed themselves as coaches of a team striving together for a win. In a sports obsessed society this works well because it focuses on the teams strengths and weaknesses forms
4. Poets. Currently more leaders are realizing the power of words and the inspirational value of empowering subordinates. A leader poet knows with a properly formed message subordinates will be empowered to creatively achieve the organizations goals. See also: Motivation 3.0
…all the people hung on [Jesus'] words (Luke 19:48 NIV
Continued reading >
Saturday, July 17th, 2010
Bible class audio for July 18, 2010:
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Bible class audio for July 25, 2010
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1. Elephant and the Rider (monkey) from the Happiness Hypothesis Jonathan Haidt (University of Virginia psychologist)
Weakness vs Strengths
Elephant (Emotions): lazy and skittish, quick payoff over long term gain (ice cream vs thin)
Rider (Rational) : think long term, think beyond the moment, to plan
Strengths vs Weaknesses
Elephant: Compassion, sympathy and loyalty, protection instinct, love
Rider: overanalyze, over-thinks, spins wheels, mechanical, no passion
When rational thinking and emotions disagree…emotions always win.
Plato: In our heads we have a rational charioteer who has to rein in an unruly horse that “barely yields to horsewhip and goad combined”
2. Understanding the blessing of Jesus
- The first four deal with our own state of being, the second how we deal with others
- They build on each other
- Are about our heart (emotions) not our head (rational)
- Don’t look for a list of commands to follow but a way of approaching God
Continued reading >
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Work continued in ernest today, I never saw one of our 76 children or adults slacking…they were all working hard for Jesus. The wood hauling crew on which most of the Merkel folks were working cleared branches and loaded wood so fast the Forest service crew working ahead of them had to work overtime to catch up. Texans can certainly work.
The wood they collect will be distributed to the Navajo most in need this winter. This act of good will builds the trust Paul needs to break barriers to spread the good news.
To better appreciate the culture we are serving everyone was given the opportunity to participate in Sweat Lodge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_lodge Sweat lodge holds important spiritual, ceremonial and purifying purposes to the Navajo. Our experience and this account in no way serves as a legitimate source for authentic sweat lodge information or the meanings and purpose behind them. I am only recounting our experience.
As we drove 20 miles out of Tuba City, 3 miles on a single lane dirt (gravel and sand) road the sun was just thinking about setting. We arrived at the sweat lodge site at an authentic hogan on a working Navajo ranch. As you will find sporadically around the Navajo nation an authentic (and well used) sweat lodge was a short walk format the back door.
Continued reading >
