21st Century Leaders DNA

Gas prices this summer have hit over $4 per gallon, and it seems that everyone is appalled and talking about it. But it is interesting that we pay more for bottled water than that. Dasani bottled water from Coke costs at least $1 for 16 ounces. That would be $8 per gallon—for water! Wow! Our thinking sometimes gets skewed, doesn’t it?

It doesn’t just happen with our money, but it also happens with how we spend our time too. The most valuable thing that we have as people is time, yet many times as a leader we run out of it.

I have a card on my desk with a list of questions that Bill Easum says that we should ask about our leadership.

Who will I mentor today?

Instead of what am I going to do today?

Who will I discover?

Instead of what is my job?

How many others can I equip?

Instead of how much I can do?

Who can I equip to go and disciple others?

Instead of who can I disciple today?

The most important question of our time is

What is it about my relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing ?

Missing You

Can you believe it? We were unable to have “church” at Newpointe yesterday because the storms knocked out our electric. I always look forward to being able to see, talk, celebrate, and worship together with the family of NewPointe. I don’t know people I would rather be with.

It is my prayer though that it didn’t stop you from having church. It is great to know that God is able to be worshiped, celebrated, and loved any where and at any time. So I trust that you will find a few moments to celebrate, worship, rest and connect to God
.
Next Sunday we are starting a new series called ‘Untypical“. You don’t want to miss it .

PS. Remember this Wednesday is First Wednesday.

Just a minute

Earlier this year, there was a major uproar in the Christian community about Willowcreek Community Church admitting that they had gotten it all wrong-- that they had repented of leading other leaders and churches down the wrong path.

Those who have disagreed with Willow philosophy and emphasis on reaching the lost jumped on this with glee, sighting that they knew it was wrong all along and it wasn’t biblical.

Well -- corrections and further information is now coming forth. A friend of mine was sharing with me this thought. It is amazing, sometimes that we who are called to be people of truth find it so easy believe, agree with and pass on the salacious information.

Here is Tony Morgan’s blog if you are more interested in knowing the full story.

http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/06/26/leadership-journal-editor-responds-to-willows-video/

No Island

My life influences people . Guess what ? So does yours.

Sunday, I shared about leveraging our influence—the influence that God has given NewPointe--influences and resources, not to make us comfortable but to position us to make a difference in our world. One of the things that I said was I would rather fail at attempting to fulfill what God is calling us to than to succeed in the eyes of men and fail in God’s eyes. I mentioned that I am even willing to be misunderstood.

A young man came up after the service and said, “Dwight, I want to share something with you. Your obedience affects my obedience, so please always be obedient to God even if it means being misunderstood.”

I want to challenge you today to remember that your obedience affects other people’s obedience. It gives people the courage to do the right thing, when they see others obeying God. You are either influencing people towards Christ or away from Christ.

PS. Every action and every word either causes you to gain influence with others or lose it.

Highlights of some R & R

This past week, our family was able to go on an impromptu vacation. Prior to this, we were unable to make plans for vacation because of my Mom’s condition. We wanted to spend time with her before she went to heaven, and we wanted to be supportive of Dad. At Mom’s calling hours, Patty was talking to her sisters who had already made plans to vacation at Nags Head, NC. They invited us to come along, assuring us that there was plenty of room. I was able to clear my calendar, and we took off. We hadn’t been there for 7 years, and it was a great time.

Here are some highlights.

The first night, we went to Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet for all-you-can-eat crab legs.'



Here was my first plate of legs. I won’t tell you how many I had, but I will confess that they lost money on me.



We were about two small blocks away from the beach.



Our beach house had a Jacuzzi on one of the top floor deck, and we were able to enjoy it each night.



We were able to go sightseeing, visiting the area fishing boats as well as some of the light houses.



It was a great time for resting, relaxing and a time of refreshment.

No U Haul

We are in the process of sorting through the possessions that my Mom left when she went home to be with Jesus on May 29th . By the way, just in case you are wondering how much she left ? She left it all.

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out it " 1 Timothy 6:7

It is not how many possessions we leave behind that signifies a great life, but how many we gave away while we were alive. I don't believe you get much credit for what you leave behind, unless it is a legacy of character, generosity, and a love for God and people. Mom sure did that.

My two sisters yesterday went through my Mom's closet . Brenda wrote this about Mom. I thought you might enjoy it.

The story the closet tells

My mother went to heaven on May 29th. Like all of us, she went without a suitcase or even a purse, so all of her earthly possessions were left here. It was her great desire for all of her clothes to be put to good use as soon as possible, so Dad asked my sister and I to come down yesterday and sort her things. Funny the story a simple closet can tell.

This is what her closet told me yesterday.

Take care of what you have. It's a gift from God, and careful use will help you represent God and yourself well.

Be thrifty. You can look good and be appropriate without big brand names, and sometimes God will surprise you with a designer find at a thrift store. :-)

Clean it and fix it before you put it away. You can be ready at a moment's notice if you take care of things as they come up.

Enough is enough. You can only wear one outfit and one pair of shoes at a time. Reason and stewardship says there's a place to stop--I don't need it just because I can afford it.

Simple memories are precious. Mother chose the dress she wore to my brother J's and sister-in-law Cathy's wedding almost 20 years ago for the "going-away" outfit she was buried in. The dresses she wore to the other 3 family weddings were treasures draped in plastic. HER wedding dress was not there. After 50 years, she had gotten rid of the simple white suit she wore, but her sentimental heart still had it's treasures. In a little box were 6 decorated buttons with this note, "The buttons from my wedding dress."

Thinking ahead saves time. She had written little notes to herself and attached them to some of the clothes, saying, "Can wear this with the green slacks and scarf."

One job is left from the closet, and that's going through several small boxes on a bottom shelf. Just by a quick count, I saw one box had more than 20 prayer journals Mom had filled with her own careful handwriting. Just about then, it seemed to me the closet started singing. It sounded like this:

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone, and our children sift through all we've left behind, May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover, become the light that leads them to the road we each must find! Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful! May the fire of our devotion light their way! May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey! Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful! (steve green)

To read brenda's blog www.brendayoung.com/

Gone Fishing

Last week while we were vacationing at Nags Head
the whole family went down to the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on Hatteras Island. It is a place where people pay $1,600-$1,800 per day to go deep sea fishing which basically comes out to be around $300 a person.

They supply everything you need--boat, poles, bait, information, coaching, etc.--promising an unforgettable experience. They do everything possible to make sure you become a fisherman. But it does have a price.

We went down late in the day to see the big catches of fish unloaded on the dock. It was interesting to see
people’s reaction when they brought their boats in.
Some were quiet, others smiling, beaming with pride.
The difference was whether or not they caught anything worth showing.
There are usually large crowds of people who gather to watch the boats come in and show their catch. I thought to myself the words of Jesus to a group of men a few thousand years ago.

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men. ( But it does have a price ) There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women.’ They pulled their boats
up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.”

Here are some questions:

How good of a “fisher of men and women” are you?

Does “fishing” for souls even interest you? If not, read Luke 16:16-31.

Are you catching anything?

If not, should you try a new approach?

“He who wins souls is wise “ Proverbs 11:30

Celtic Pride Is Back

Celtic Pride Is Back: Anything Is Possible

The Boston Celtics closed out the NBA season with a world championship. It was their first in 21 year . They literally gave the LA Lakers a good old fashion spanking. Kevin Garnett, a player acquired in a trade before the season started, yelled at the end of the game, “All things are possible”. To fully understand what he was saying you have to know the background.

The Celtics finished last in the NBA last year with the worst record. Danny Ainge, the GM pulled off a couple of block buster trades in the off season, bringing all stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett who would team up with all star Paul Pierce. The question everybody was asking on sports radio and even in the NBA circles was, “Could three high power all stars who have egos, get on the same page, share the ball, adjust to different roles and gel together to become a team?”

Well, we know the answer now. They ended up with the best record in all of the NBA and crowned the season with a championship. They all wanted to win so badly that they accepted their roles and responsibilities in order to fulfill a common goal--to be a world champion. They did the things they were asked to do, even when it was something they had not previously done.

Garnett was interviewed right after the game and was asked how it felt to be a world champion. He said, “Anything is possible.“ He repeated the phrase again and again .

KG, you are right. Anything is possible, when no one cares who gets the credit.

Hey, church, let’s take a lesson from the Boston Celtics.

The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Genesis 11:6

Wrong ? Part 2

“He chose from them twelve.” Luke 6:13

Robert Coleman in his book Master Plan of Evangelism shared this perspective.

This was Jesus’ strategy. Jesus enlisted people who would share about his life and carry on his work after he left. Jesus intended these men to have unique privileges and responsibilities in the kingdom work.

This doesn’t mean Jesus excluded everyone else. He had the 70 as well as the 120 and even the masses. Jesus did not neglect the masses, even those who were more interested in his miracles (attractional ministry) . He continued to preach to the masses that followed his miracle working ministry. Jesus had such an attractional ministry that they wanted to make him king (John 6:15). The gospel clearly records that Jesus did not lack a popular following.

So I take from all of that that Jesus was both attractional and missional.

Could it be that those who can not draw a large crowd naturally support missional--could there be some jealously?(Nah , that wouldn’t be possible, would it?)

Could it be that those who are drawing large crowds are not emotionally healthy enough and secure in Christ to really let people into their life, so they would rather lead from a distance? (Nah, that wouldn’t be possible, would it?)

We argue about whether or not we are a missional church or an attractional church. The bottom line is, are lives being changed? Maybe it’s best summed up in this little writing from an unknown author:

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation, and I could indeed have changed the world.

Is that really what we are about? Changing the world?

Paul said, “ I not only shared the gospel with you , but my very own life.”

The Right Question : Who are your 12 ?

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” Acts 17:6

Wrong ? Part 1

I am always up for a good debate. I truly believe that iron sharpens iron. I believe that the best ideas come through strong and intense conversations. Yet I am sometimes puzzled at how much of the time it is really approached that way. I sometimes sense that it may be more about, “I am taking this position to promote my book, self etc….”

I read an article about Ed Stetzer and Geoff Surratt. They were going at each other over this very popular topic (could it be a fad?)-- missional model vs. attractional model . They are not the only ones talking about this. There are now dozens of books written on this.

If I am not mistaken, Jesus did both. He always had a large crowd but realized that it wasn’t the crowd who was going to change the world. That is why he chose to pour himself into a few men, mainly the 12 disciples. He had a huge challenge just keeping them on task.

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith (church) by itself, if it is not accompanied by action (life change), is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

To me James could be saying, “What good is it if I say, ‘I have a missional church which is more biblical than your attractional church’ if really when you peel it all back, there is little if any life change?” It doesn’t matter does it? I believe the objective is to bring about life change.

Here would be my challenge. Most “preachers” don’t have a hard time speaking hard truth from a pulpit. Maybe it is because there is a huge space between us and the people. But I have found very few pastors who really look people in the eye in a spirit of love and challenge them to live a surrendered, crucified life, by saying, “Follow me as I follow Christ”. Could it be that we are not emotionally healthy enough to deal with the tension and challenges of leading out of our relationships?

I believe Jesus did it this way. So, if you say you are a missional or attractional church, I could really care less, but I do have a challenge for all of us who say that we deeply care about the church and its health. Name for me right now 12 people who you are consistently pouring your life into on a regular basis, sharing with them what Christ is doing in your own life. If you can’t, it really doesn’t matter, does it?

Let me close with this. Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 'An enemy did this,' he replied. The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into.’" Matthew 13: 24-30

There will always be weeds with the wheat. I am sure that all of us will be surprised at what we thought were weeds and wheat.

Next Best Thing

Yesterday, I was unable to be at one of my favorite places, NewPointe Community Church, so I did the next best thing-- I watched it online. It was great. I was very proud to be a part of a group of believers who are determined to reach their world for Christ by all means, including providing ways to watch the services for all who can’t be on campus. My brother-in-law who was watching with me was taken aback by all he saw and heard. He couldn’t believe it. Technology is an incredible tool that we need to leverage to its full extent. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.” We are doing that in many ways. One is through this avenue of technology. Last week we had people all around the world listening to our services here at Newpointe--Japan just to mention one country.

Got a friend who you have been trying to get to NewPointe but have been unsuccessful? Turn them on to our online services. Let them know that they can listen in their own privacy. When they do, tell them it is even better in person.

Happy Father's Day

What I’ve Learned From My Dad

My father was not a perfect man, yet when I talk about him many people might just think that. Here are a couple of reasons why. My dad, by his example, taught me many lessons in life that enable me to deal with situations in godly ways. I am very grateful and appreciative of the things Dad showed me day in and day out. Here are some of the things he taught me by words and actions.

Dad taught me to never be afraid to admit when you are wrong. We all are wrong at different times. Even if you are wrong only 10% of the time, you are wrong 100% of that 10%.

He also taught me to ask for forgiveness and extend it. Life is too short to hold on to bitterness It will end up destroying you. Also, you will be in need of forgiveness some time too.

My dad taught me the importance of nurturing my relationship with God. I would wake up in the morning and find my dad reading his Bible and praying. This was a constant discipline in his life. To this day, he will ask me from time to time if I am reading the Bible and praying. He will say that it is the key to everything else. He also taught me the importance of putting God first in all of your decisions. He taught me the importance of honoring God with tithes and offerings. My father would get paid on Monday morning, and he would take the tithes and offering and put it in a cottage cheese cup that was located in the right cupboard, then give it in the offering at church the next Sunday.

He taught me how to treat women. I have two sisters and, of course, my mom. He never belittled them, never gave the impression that they were anything less than valuable, cherished persons. He would continually do acts of kindness that would make life easier for them and make them feel special. My father and mother would have celebrated 58 years on June 10^th.

He taught me how to work. My father, when he was in graduate school and was looking for work to support his family, went to a construction site and told the foreman that he would work for a day free of charge, and at the end of the day if the foreman felt that my dad couldn’t help him, he didn’t have to pay him anything. Well, guess what? At the end of the day, my father had a job and was able to support his family.

I could go on, but let me give you just one more.

In recent days, he’s teaching me how to handle the death of someone you love deeply. I have watched my father in these past few weeks and have seen how he has relied heavily on his relationship with God. I have called him in the morning and asked him what he was doing. He said, “I am encouraging myself in the Lord.” He was reading the Bible as well as articles on heaven. He has told me that though he misses Mom and grieves her loss, he refuses to look inward. He says, “That would lead me down a path I don’t want to go.”

Fathers are so important. I believe with all of my heart the first impression that we get of God is through our own earthly father. I know there are no perfect fathers here on earth, but our actions do speak louder than words. So the question is, “What am I teaching my kids? About God? About work? About relationships? Remember, more is caught than taught .

Happy Fathers Day! Be sure to let your father know that you are thankful for him and love him, even though he doesn’t always get it right.

Triple Crown -- Not

Big Brown was a huge favorite to win the Triple Crown Saturday . It was suppose to be a sure thing, and every one was filled with great expectation.

The Triple Crown is the biggest award in horse racing, and it hasn’t been won for over 30 years. I guess we will have to wait at least one more.

The last baseball Triple Crown winner was Carl Yastrzemski over 40 years ago in 1967 while playing for the Boston Red Sox.

The only basketball player to average a triple double for an entire season was Oscar Robertson who did it in 1961-62. Now if a player does it just for one game, he makes the headlines in newspapers and Sport Center.

The Christian has a triple crown. Did you know that ? Every Christian is to pursue three vital relationships. The first and foremost is Intimacy with God. This includes Bible reading and study, along with prayer, tithing, and all of the spiritual disciplines. But it is even more than that. It is a true sense of awe and brokenness before God, which leads to humility and vulnerability.

The second is relationships with fellow believers in Christ. We would call it "Involvement in Community ". This is where you do life together. You share struggles, questions, joys, etc… You are not only transparent with one another, but you become vulnerable, which leads to giving permission to others to hold you accountable for specific things you know God is calling you to do.

The third is "Influence the World". Building relationships with those who have yet to come to know Christ. This is one that is usually discounted because of a misunderstanding of scripture where it tells us to not be "of the world". But Scripture says that we are to be salt and light. We live this out in two ways. First by being intentional in building relationships with unbelievers, not just for the sake of leading them to Christ, but to be blessings to them. Secondly, we are called to serve strategically through the local church in helping to serve the world.

Let me ask you a question? Do you know any triple crown Christians? Or are they as rare as they are in horsing racing, baseball and basketball .

One last question: Are you a triple crown Christian?

Highlights of a Celebrated Life

Highlights of a Celebrated Life

We celebrated my Mom’s 84 years of life this past Monday. It was a beautiful funeral service. I want to share with you some things that people learned about my Mom.

My sister Brenda gave the eulogy. Here are a few highlights:

My sister wrote my mom’s obituary a few months ago when we knew that cancer was probably going to eventually take Mom’s life. Brenda asked Mom if she would like to read it. My mom smiled and said, “Yes – if you wouldn’t mind. I would like to know what these 84 years have added up to in your eyes.” After my Mom read it, she said, “Thank you. I hope and pray that Jesus sees me as you do.” Then Mom said, “Honey, when you talk about me, be sure you remember to brag on Jesus. Anything good about me is because of Him.”

Mom and Dad had a daily appointment at 8:00 in the morning when they met together with Jesus, to read the Bible, read a few encouraging words from a book or The Daily Bread, and sing hymns of praise.

Brenda shared about one day when she was alone with Mom for several hours. Brenda told Mom how great she had been and how she was going to miss her. Brenda said Mom replied with a smile as she gazed into the future without fear, ‘It’s going to be wonderful there. I want to say I’ll miss you, too – but I probably won’t. It is going to be wonderful and it will go by so fast for me until you are there. It’s gonna go faster for you than you think too. It just flies, honey.”

My father’s prayer moments before the funeral directors took her body away: “Father, my sweetheart is leaving our home for the last time. As she does, I want to thank you for the beautiful home she prepared for us. Over the years we have lived in many places, and she didn’t always have the best to work with, but in every place it was her priority to beautifully prepare a home for me and the children. I thank you so much for what she did and how she prepared this beautiful place for me. It gives me great comfort to know that she has left THIS home for a beautiful home You especially prepared for her. Thank you so much. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

One last one… My sister told of the time when she and my Mom watched a Louie Gigilo video. My mom heard Louie make a statement and she immediately told my sister to “write that down!” Here it is: “Worship is the option we choose when we want God to invade our circumstances. No matter how dark the trial, how difficult the situation, there are no circumstances in life that can rob us of the opportunity to worship the God of all creation and Christ who gave himself for us.” That is the way to live.

My sister closed with one last reminder that Mom wanted everyone to know-- that what you saw in her is available to you too through Jesus. My mom was known to sing this song as she did her work, hanging laundry on the clothes line. Brenda sang

The chimes of time ring out the news,
Another day is through.
Someone slipped and fell.
Was that someone you?

You may have longed for added strength,
Your courage to renew.
Do not be disheartened,
For I have news for you.

It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.

There is no night for in His light
You never walk alone.
Always feel at home,
Wherever you may go.

There is no power can conquer you
While God is on your side.
Take Him at His promise,
Don't run away and hide.

It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.

Number 19

Last week, my favorite person in the world and I went out for dinner. Just in case you don’t know who that is, that would be my wife Patty. She is my best friend, lover, partner, wife, mother of our children, co-worker in the faith. I also have said two things about our relationship. I married “up”, and Patty is the best thing that has happened to me other than knowing Jesus Christ. We’ve been married 19 years as of June 3^rd.

June is the month for weddings. There are lots of people getting married and going to weddings.

First, if you are getting married this summer. Make sure that you put the energy and effort into your marriage that you are putting into your wedding. Your wedding will last a few hours, a marriage a life time. Also, make sure you are willing to pay the price for having a healthy marriage as you were to have a beautiful wedding.

Second, let me encourage you if you are single to not let this make you anxious. Who you marry will affect EVERYTHING in your life. Your spouse will influence everything that touches your life. Remember, if you are single it is because you have chosen to be. Any one at any time can get married, but I would rather be wishing that I was married than wishing I was single again.

Third, for those of you who are already married and will be attending weddings, I think it would be a great opportunity for you to renew your vows to your spouse. Too many times we forget what we PROMISED! Are you a person of integrity? That would be one who keeps their promises no matter how much it costs.

The traditional wedding vows:

Will you have ____________to be your wedded spouse, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, comfort, honor and keep him/her in sickness and in health; forsaking all others, keep yourself only for him/her, so long as you both shall live?

I take you to be my wedded spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness, and in health, to love and to cherish ‘til death do us part. Thereto I pledge you my faith.

Proud & Thankful

Today was my Mom’s funeral. It was a good day. We were able to celebrate her life in a God honoring way. One of the reasons why it was so great is because of the family at NewPointe.

I want to personally thank all of the people who helped make this a day that honored my mother and hopefully pleased God. There were so many who set up chairs and tables, cooked and served food, cleaned and picked up, ushered and parked cars, operated cameras, ran sound and video, etc.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I am very proud of your serving hearts and grateful for your kindnesses.