I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8

Guide me with your eye today Father. Let me see Your face, let me hear Your voice, let me feel the touch of Your hand, the warmth of Your anointing and the presence and power of Your Spirit.

Let my mind be made new, my tongue an instrument of peace and life, my hands your hands. Let my actions be as You instruct. Let my heart know Your joy, that is unspeakable and full of glory.

When others see, hear or just be with me, may they know they have just encountered the Kingdom of the Living God!

In other words…May I be just like Jesus today. Amen…

"He MAKES me lie down…." Ps 23

I really felt the Lord speaking to me, "Artie you better lie down or you gonna fall down, you choose." Well, I stayed home that day, cleared my calendar and I rested.

I have so many friends that seem to strive on being "busy and over scheduled." They love being in demand and running full blast. I know, because I was one of them! But no more.

If we don’t take time to "Lie down" and allow God to lead us to the "stil waters" then our souls cannot be "refreshed." We wont sit quietly in the presence of our enemies and enjoy a victory meal!

If you don’t lie down, you fall down! And that fall my friends is very painful at times. It’s like having the choice to dismount a bike when your’e tired, or keep peddling until you plant your face in the pavement. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like walking around with a torn up bloody face.

That’s the thing, when you don’ t lie down, and you end up falling down, many will see the fall! It not only hurts you, it hurts many of those around you.

Take out your calendar, ask God, "When do you want me to lie down?" Ask God when He wants you to rest. It’s not when you "feel" you need to rest, but when He wants you to rest. Don’t endager all that God has for your future by being a Pig-headed stubborn dufus!

Lie down…Or fall down. But one way or the other, You will go Down! Choose the former. Listen to God.

Missional- The church buzz word of the last five years.It’s what we’re supposed to be. It’s what we’re supposed to do, but understanding that, well… there seems to be some "Tension-al."

This is the way I see it. I’m a very simple guy, therefore things have  GOT TO BE simple. I never see God trying to make things hard to understand, or difficult to define. Jesus equipped a circle of "uneducated and untrained men." He didn’t do that by making their mission hard to undertand, or define!

I think we spend way to much time debating the what something means, and not measuring the outcome of what we are doing. Really…I care far less of what your definition is, or what you’re doing, the big question is…

What are you getting DONE?

1- How many people are you seeing come to know Jesus?

2- How many people are learning what it means to follow Jesus?

3- How many people are becoming LIKE Jesus, and bringing others in?

If those (3) questions are measured and are being DONE and growing. Then guess what, it doesn’t matter what others may say about how, why and where you are doing it, it only matters that you are getting it DONE!

When you give an account before the Father don’t want to hear, "Good system", "Well executed definition." What we want to hear is … "Well DONE!"

That is all…

and he came to me and asked, "Dad, what are the most important things I need to know?" I would think, "Man, this is my BOY! He has got to get this right." I would pray a minute, ask him to take out his Ipad, and then say…

1-What you’re doing is all about loving people. Forget that, and you’re doomed

2-Make your wife priority! Never let her feel she’s in the back seat behind ministry

3-Raise your kids in freedom! Don’t let your position make you feel they have to be superstars

4-Learn to hear God’s voice. Know what His whisper sounds like… There is NO other way

5-It would be better to promote someone a year late, than a day early

6-Invest in those on your team. Let them see the good, bad and ugly

7-Never get in a rut! If you change 1-Degree at a time, you will maximize effectiveness

8-Preach from the overflow of what God is telling you

9-Don’t serve bread dough on Sunday morning, serve hot bread

10-Find a group of other leaders, form relationships… They will save your life!

11-Never seek to please people. That is a merry go round that never stops

12-You serve a Supernatural God, look for His movement, if you don’t look, you wont see

13-Hear God, follow Him, and leave the results to Him. "And the Lord added."

14-Never forget to have fun! Serving God is hard, but you have to fun too!

15-Don’t ever try to be someone else. God put you there to be you…He likes you just as you are!

16-Strive to be a giver and not a taker! Always sow into others, rather than being the "Asker"

Those are some of mine, if I had more time to think, I’m sure there are other things I would tell my son!

What would you tell your son?

Because of some previous injuries, I had to give up squats as part of my workout routine… until recently. On the day I was going to add that exercise, I noticed something…

No one is standing in line to do squats!

Why? Most everyone I know hates and loathe squats. They’re hard, tiring and make you sore like a Redwood sized pimple. But… most exercise gurus agree, the single best exercise anyone can do is the squat.  So where is everybody? They’re on the other side  of the gym doing the easy more pleasurable machines.

Isn’t that just like most of us. We avoid the 1-Thing that will do us the most good, simply because it’s the most difficult. Like most others, I have had to learn to push through and get those difficult, but beneficial things DONE! Here are few tips that have helped me…

Do it

I don’t care how you are wired, I’ve never known I highly productive leader that is not geared to get the most difficult and important things done first thing. Yeah, early morning!

• Get up early! Schedule yourself to do things that are the most difficult while others are sleeping
• Early means no distractions, much higher success rate
• Early means nothing can compete with your priorities

Check it

• I know this sounds old school, but if you don’t write down what you must do, you rarely get it done
• If it’s a real priority, force yourself to do it before moving on to something else… "I think I will do some curls and come back to the squats later…NOT"
• When you can "check it" that it’s done, it will fuel you for the next one!

Schedule it

• I have my most important tasks and activities scheduled and repeated in my calendar, with reminders
• When it’s time to do, it… Stop what you’re doing and just dig in!
• Putting it on a schedule helps develop a habit of doing the important things, and not missing them..
• Don’t turn the reminders off!!! If you do, you’re giving yourself permission to stop!

Share it

• Encourage those around you and those on your team to do the same
• If you tell others that’s how you get things done, it will help you stay faithful!
• Modeling this around others will them move to a higher level in their leadership

So…What is your "Squat Thing?" What is one of the things you know is highly beneficial, but yet you struggle with getting it done?

One of the questions I get asked most by other pastors and leaders…

"How do you find such great staff?"

Most are surprised to hear the answer…"I don’ pay them." Well, that answer really needs clarification. Many of our staff came to work for free. We have developed a culture where we greatly value hearing the voice of God in the decisions we make. We don’t want to make choices based just on wisdom, but rather the heart and voice of God.

This certainly holds true when it’s time to adding someone to our team. Most of the time we pray God "Sends us" the person He wants us to have. Most of the time, the "sent one" shows up!

They generally come saying they know God has called them to be a part of our team. If the team and I concur, I ask them the BIG Question…

"If God has truly called you here, will you come and work for free?"

That’s a tough question. It causes the person to really take stock in their "calling." I really want them to be convinced this is where God wants them to be, and it’s not just a job! Most have come to work in faith! Now understand, this is not for every job and every positon, but the principle needs to be adhered to, we want people of faith on our team!

Now those that come to work for "free" will only do that for a short, some for a very short time, before we begin their salary. However, the experience weeds out those who just want to work at the big cool church, and those who genuinely have hearts of faith and love!

So…Just a thought. Next time you go to make a staff hire, ask them if they are convinced that’s their place, ask them if they would do it for free!

Better staff hires…GUARANTEED!

We all have heros. Those we would love to be like, and it’s no different for me when it comes to leaders I know. When I have the privilege of spending time with leaders that I admire, I find myself wanting to be like them.

In other words, the very qualities that I Celebrate in them, I want to Duplicate in myself. Some of the qualities that I admire most….

Humility

They remember your name, they ask about you more than they tell you about all the great things they are doing.

Transparency

They struggle too…. a lot! I don’t idolize them at all, just the opposite, the more I see them willing to share struggles the more strength I gain in dealing with my own.

 Availability

They make themselves available to you. They are willing to invest the most important think they have… Their time! They will answer you calls and emails, and meet with you if needed. They truly desire to invest in other leaders.

Integrity

They do what they say. They don’t get to busy to fulfill a promise made. This is hard, especially for someone with a demanding schedule and large responsibilities. It’s better to under promise and over deliver! I have a lot more respect for someone who tells me they can’t look at something, than just telling me to send it so they can put it in their trash pile.

Honestly…The reason these appeal to me, is because I’m struggling with them and trying to improve. When you have a short coming in your own life someone who seems to have it all together in that area really stand out.

So, I’m looking to Duplicate these qualities that I Celebrate in other leaders I know.

What quality are you working on most that you admire in another leader?  

"I’m 85 years old. I’m just as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength then was as my strength is now, whether for war or for everyday activities."

O yeah! Dude is 85 today! On his birthday he’s like I am just as strong as I was forty years ago! I can still…

• Kick Butt
• Defeat my Enemies
• Hunt and Kill my Game
• Make passionate love to my woman (Everyday activity!. Slight add-Lib)

"So now, give me this highland that the LORD promised me that day. True, the Anakim are there with large fortified cities, as you yourself heard that day. But if the LORD is with me, I should be able to remove them, exactly as the LORD promised." (Joshua 14:10-12 CEB)

Look at the context of what he is saying…

• God promised to give me the most difficult land
• Bring it on!
• It is on the "Highland" the most difficult to overcome, No problem
• That is where the Giants are! I will take them down too!
• They have fortified cities! Who cares, God said I could do it!
• Can I leave tomorrow and take the most difficult land at 85??!!

Our middle school director and her husband (both felons & married just about a month) have seen over…

20 kids come to know Jesus and be baptized in the last—3 Weeks!

The 20-somethings take on any and every project with incredible gusto and creativity. They have a passion for the Kingdom that doesn’t sleep! I can text or call one of them at anytime, and wham! "I’m on it pastor!"

We have an ex-Marine Corp "Gunny," a retired judge, an ex insurance salesman and a cruise line entertainer! Just to name a few of our Pastors backgrounds. All add such a great mix of diversity and freshness to our church and leadership that can only be contributed to the grace and power of God.

Bottom line, when you are looking to add to your staff or leadership, look and listen where God is moving. It might surprise you that the next "Apostle Paul", a murderer forgiven of much and who can love much may be in your midst!

Don’t be afraid to use the "broken & bruised" they love much and they can impact the community and Kingdom like few others.

Having someone offer to help with you with a great vision is awesome, but. Patience while leading and waiting is crucial. If you get impatient or move to quickly,  you hurt people the Kingdom and the community you are called to impact.

When God communicates a new or renewed vision to a leader, much to often they think the vision comes with a "Go Now" clause! It almost always does not! We have to allow the vision time to soak.

When you communicate vision. passion and direction to those you lead, you have to allow the Spirit time to make the vision plain. Remember, it’s God’s vision (well…it better be!) so give the Spirit ample time to water the seeds you have planted.

If you move to quickly, and begin to…

 "Command the Hand" – Telling others what to do (Hand), before they have had time to really believe (Heart), and buy in to what you have said (Head).

They may do what you ask, for a short time out of guilt, loyalty or feeling manipulated, but it won’t last! You have to communicate (Head), Vision, Passion and Direction and keep sharing it until you want to throw up from being sick talking about it so much.

Someone asked me recently, "How will I know when they have caught the vision in their hearts?" The answer, when they offer you their hand!

 "This is awesome, what can I do to help?"

When someone finally sees and catches the vision God has poured into you, and you pour it into others, they will offer their hand to help. But…If you command the hand before the vision soaks to the heart, your vision my become crippled and may even fail!

Don’t command the hand. Wait for it to be offered.