The Cost of Change

I WAS READING earlier this week about a congregation that desperately needed a new church building but were afraid to embark on a building program. That is, until a bit of wood fell from the ceiling, striking the pastor on the head. He immediately called a meeting at which they resolved ...


1. We will build a new church


2. We will build a new church on the same site as the old one


3. We will use the materials of the old church to build the new one


4. We will worship in the old church until the new church is built


Some people are open to change so long as it doesn't inconvenience them!



(Source: John Maxwell's Developing the Leader Within You)

Rising Property

ONE OF MY favorite writers, Theodore Dalrymple, on the corrosive effects of rising house prices ...

"This “richer” represents a curious kind of wealth. I must live somewhere, after all, and everywhere else has appreciated in value, too. I don’t live any better in my house than I did before simply because it is worth three times what I paid for it. Its increase in value is thus of no use to me, unless I want to sell it to live in a less valuable house and invest the difference. An increase in the value of one’s house is therefore a bit like fool’s gold.

"Asset inflation—ultimately, the debasement of the currency—as the principal source of wealth corrodes the character of people. It not only undermines the traditional bourgeois virtues but makes them ridiculous and even reverses them. Prudence becomes imprudence, thrift becomes improvidence, sobriety becomes mean-spiritedness, modesty becomes lack of ambition, self-control becomes betrayal of the inner self, patience becomes lack of foresight, steadiness becomes inflexibility: all that was wisdom becomes foolishness. And circumstances force almost everyone to join in the dance."

Read more here

Churchill On Opportunity ...

"To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour."

An Obvious Surprise

ONE OF THE things that shocks me is how often people are shocked. Take a recent item from our local newspaper for instance ...

The story told how a community radio station had just retrenched its two breakfast announcers, replacing them with volunteers.

I was particularly intrigued by the response of the men retrenched.

"I was in shock," said one. "It's disappointing, very disappointing."

I wondered how they could have been in shock. Afterall, it was a community station and you don't have to work in radio to know things are tight for the commercial stations at present, let alone community ones.

Moreover, the general manager had been retrenched several months earlier, leaving the breakfast announcers as the only paid staff amongst a host of volunteers.

Did it never occur to the gentlemen that, with the general manager already gone, with advertising revenue down and with no other staff to cut, they were likely to lose their jobs too unless things improved swiftly?

Apparently not.

This is not unusal. One regularly reads of people, in similar circumstances, expressing complete surprise and even shock when they lose their jobs.

Had they been looking at the bigger picture, rather than simply assuming that their own lot in life was completely isolated from what was going on in the rest of the company, they would not have been surprised, let alone shocked. Infact, there's a high possibility they might have been prepared rather than perplexed.

It's a good reminder to pop your head up from time to time and consider what's happening around about you.

No man is an island, but many a man is shocked to learn it.

At Goodlife COC

I SPOKE THIS weekend at Good Life COC in NSW along with Aaron Jayne from the Dream Center in LA.

Dave Connett took on leadship of the Newcastle church 12 months ago and is doing a great job positioning it for the future. It was a privilege to play a small role in helping that transition.

A real highlight was meeting Aaron who is a wonderful guy and incredibly inspirational. Chatting to him about what God is doing at the Dream Center and watching videos of their services was an exercise in expanding one's mind.

I think that's a real key in leadership and life generally, being exposed to people who open your mind to possibilities not yet conceived.

Aaron was telling me about Coffey (featured below) who gave his life to Christ at the Dream Center. I'm posting this clip of his verion of Rihanna's song Umberalla - partly cause I think it's very cool and partly so that our worship team can view it and do it one Sunday soon. I like it a lot.

Leading Change

I LIKE THIS thought on change from a Middle-Eastern mystic:

"I was a revolutionary when I was young and all my prayer to God was: 'Lord, give me the energy to change the world.'

As I approached middle age and realised that my life was half gone without my changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to: 'Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come into contact with me, just my family and friends and I shall be satisfied.'

Now that I am an old man and my days are numbered, I have begun to se how foolish I have been. My one prayer now is: 'Lord, give me the grace to change myself.'

If I had prayed for this right from the start, I would not have wasted my life!"

On Change ...

I SPOKE THURSDAY to our Calvary Leadership College students about leading through change.

I neglected to use this thought: "The future always arrives a little earlier than you are willing to give up the past"

The Discomfort of Leadership

ONE OF THE MAIN reasons leadership is uncommon is because leadership is hard. One of the main reasons leadership is hard is because leaders must be willing to make hard calls.

I like this, from Seth Godin's book, Tribe. It's a reminder to not shy away from making the tough decisions. Afterall, that's why you're the leader instead of others.

"Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.

"The scarcity makes leadership valuable. If everyone could do it, they would, and it wouldn’t be worth much.

"It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers. It’s uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail. It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo. It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle.

"When you identify the discomfort, you’ve found the place where a leader is needed. If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader."

Visions and Budgets and Retreats

I AM TAKING our key staff away on a planning retreat next week so that we can begin to formulate our plans for 2010.

Planning retreats are, to me, one of the most exciting times in the year. It's a week where we get away specifically to think outside the box and imagine new ways of doing the mission.

One of our staff asked me today if they should bring proposed budgets to the retreat. My answer was a definite no.

Vision must always come before budget and never the other way around. If we all arrive at the retreat with our budgets, the talk will quickly turn to money and the conversation will shrink from what we could do to what we can do to what we can afford to do to what we can get away with.

The purpose of our retreat is to dream, inspire one another with possibilities and to see clearly a higher road ahead.

When we return from the retreat, then we'll sit down in another forum and ask not what can we afford but rather how can we afford.

Vision and budgets ... both are important. But the vision must direct the budget, never the other way around.

AFL Tipping Results

THIS WEEKEND marked the end of the regular AFL season and the conclusion to our footy tipping competition. Congratulations to Mike King who led almost all season and finished a staggering 9 points clear of his nearest rival. In footy tipping, that's an absolute smashing!

Top 10 was as follows:

1 Mike King from Calvary
2. Natalie Philips from Kings (Natalie was last year's winner)
3. Kay Heyboer from Borneo
4. Artie Shepherd from Kings
5. Jeremy Greening from Cooroy
6. Kylie Ogg from Calvary
7. Craig Hannay from Calvary
8. Dave Stay from Brisbane
9. Lucas Connell from Calvary
10. Sam Bell from Kings

Special mentions to Sheena who finished 20th - not such a bad effort considering she was tipping from Canada and Alan Hood in 21st trying to follow results from New Zealand. Adele proved to be far better at caring for our children than tipping football results. She had the distincition of coming home in last place.

For all those readers who can't understand the attraction of AFL football ... check out this grab from one of the weekend's games

AFL: My view on the Contenders

AT THE risk of further embarrassing myself after a shocking performance in the footy tipping ... here's my thoughts on the AFL finalists ...

SAINTS: Favorites. Usually a team that wins 20 of 22 regular season games goes on to win the Premiership

CATS: Haven't been able to get their best team on the park for a good couple of months now. A huge threat but looking beatable for the first time in a couple of years.

BULLDOGS: The win against Collingwood was huge. They can win the Grand Final. A real shot

PIES: A genuine threat though the loss to the Dogs and the poor form of Cloke is cause for concern. Will lose the first final against the Saints and will then meet Adelaide in the next final. Tough road for them to make the Grand Final let alone win it. Don't think they can go all the way.

CROWS: They were the last team to win the comp from fifth and are good enough to do it again. They were awesome against Carlton. No team would want to play them.

BRISBANE: Good side but probably missing Black and Bradshaw for the final against Carlton. Will give a good effort but probably only good enough to win one finals game.

CARLTON: The loss to Adelaide will have shaken their confidence big time. They were smashed. On a positive note, they have beaten Brisbane twice this year and so will go the Gabba with some cause for confidence. Might beat Brisbane but that will be their only joy in September.

ESSENDON: Fortunate to be in the 8 and likely to be cannon fodder at AAIMI stadium against the red-hot crows.

Joke of the Week

An engineer, a physicist, a mathematician, and a mystic were asked to name the greatest invention of all times.

The engineer chose fire, which gave humanity power over matter.

The physicist chose the wheel, which gave humanity the power over space.

The mathematician chose the alphabet, which gave humanity power over symbols.

The mystic chose the thermos bottle.

"Why a thermos bottle?" the others asked.

"Because the thermos keeps hot liquids hot in winter and cold liquids cold in summer."

"Yes -- so what?"

"Think about it." said the mystic reverently. That little bottle -- how does it know?"

Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth ...

I GET INSPIRED BY STORIES like this one from Mark Batterson on the "above-and-beyond" mentality of staff he encountered at America's Disneyland ...

"I forgot my camera cord so I couldn't charge it. First, the Disney concierge called their photo shop and it cost $53 versus $5 on Amazon.com.

"She said, 'That's too much money. Let me send our runner to Walmart to get a cord for you.'

I was shocked. I said, 'You do that?'

She said, 'Yup.'

Well, they couldn't find the cord at Walmart so they credited our account $25.
Are you kidding? I'm the one who forgot it! Yet they went halvsies with us! But it doesn't end there. Long story short, their manager had the same cord I had so I borrowed it three times to charge my camera. Unbelievable! Now that's hospitality from the top down.

The story made me wonder if people ever go away from our church with anecdotes like that? I hope so. I'm going to share this story at our next team meeting. The church should have a on hospitality, not Dinsey!

It also made me realise afresh that slogans ("Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth") are nothing if the people involved in the organisation don't make them come alive. Coming up with a catchy feel-good slogan is one thing; building a culture where everyone involved puts flesh and blood on that slogan is quite another!

Leadership 101 ... Smile and Count to 10

THIS RATHER unflattering video has been screened around the world and I'm sure Hillary Clinton rues the moment she forgot one of the great leadership lessons you're taught as a child ... count to 10!

Leaders are regularly asked silly questions and the temptation to lose one's cool or to belittle the questioner can be overwhelming. But the result never looks good for the leader.

Next time Hillary is asked what her husband thinks, she will no doubt smile and count to 10 before delivering a much wiser response.

So there it is. Leadership 101 from America's Secretary of State ... smile and count to 10. Life tends to go far better!

A Grand Vision Is Wonderful ... If You Can Explain It

JOHN HEWSON should have been the one to implement a GST in Australia ... but he couldn't explain it. And so a winning idea made a loser of its proponent. (Hewson lost the Liberal leadership to John Howard who went on to become Prime Minister and implement the GST.

It's one thing to have a grand vision, but if you can't explain it ... you're sunk.

Sport, a Metaphor for Much of Life

MOST SPORT involves 30 people who desperately need a rest being watched by 50,000 people who desperately need to exercise.

Changed Lives Change Lives

THE MOST POWERFUL sermon preached is not the one given by an orator on a stage but rather the one lived out by a person whose life has been transformed.

Amid all the great things that happened in church yesterday (and there were a lot of great things) my favorite was the "God's Good" video.

Each Sunday night we have a three minute video which features a person sharing how their life has changed since coming to Christ at Calvary in the past 12 months.

There is nothing like hearing first hand how a person's life has been impacted by the gospel.

You can argue with theory but it's hard to argue with a person who can point to the life they used to live and then show how it has changed since they said yes to Jesus.

I never tire of hearing how people's lives have been transformed. God really is good!

So Cool

SURELY THIS can't be real .... but it's pretty cool anyway

From Today's Townsville Bulletin Newspaper

"Huge demand forces church to double services"

A TOWNSVILLE church is bucking an Australia-wide trend and has been forced to double the number of Sunday morning services to cope with demand.

Calvary Christian Church in Mount Louisa, has been packed to the rafters, averaging 700 people at its Sunday morning services and 500 at its evening service.

The most recent National Church Life Survey, of more than 7000 Australian churches across all denominations, showed the average congregation size is between 60 and 70 people.

Calvary church Pastor James Macpherson said this weekend coming would be the second Sunday they had expanded the number of services to cater to a steadily growing crowd.

‘‘We have reached 80 per cent capacity at our 9am morning service so we are making room and creating options for people,’’ he said. ‘‘We have added another morning service, so we now
have one at 8.30am and one at 10.30am, to ensure there is enough parking and enough seats for everyone who comes.

‘We are getting 700 in the morning and 500 at night and then we are getting 300 on Friday night at the youth meetings. That is 1500 or more people in church each weekend.’’

Pastor Macpherson said tough economic times were a factor in why people sought direction but he said they also looked for a church which was relevant to them.

‘‘The average age of our congregation is 35, but we also have people in their 80s and 90s and teenagers who come without their parents,’’ he said.

‘‘By and large, right through North Queensland, the Australian Christian Churches movement is doing very well.’’

Pastor Macpherson said he believed while the messages taught in church never changed, the delivery method must change for a new generation.
— EMMA CHADWICK

On Compromise ...

Compromise ... when two men agree together to do something they both believe to be wrong.

Berteau the Story Teller

SAMANTHA AND I had a great day in Wellington today as John Cameron's Arise Conference kicked off.

Glen Berteau from Calvary Temple Worship Centre in the US was phenomenal tonight with a stack of people making decisions including some of the key players from Wellington's Rugby Union team.

Glen shared his testimony tonight which was both powerful and hilariously funny.

I love listening to people who have so crafted a story that it becomes a work of art. Glen tells his story perfectly. The wording and phrasology is precise, the pauses for effect are in exactly the right places ... it was masterful. A textbook lesson in the fact that it's not only what you say but the way that you say it that matters.

The other great part of the night was catching up with so many friends over here whose churches I have ministered in over the past four or five years. There are so many great guys in NZ pastoring incredible churches. It really is a great time to be building a church in the land of the Long White Cloud!

Having said that, I'm looking forward to getting home to enjoy some more of our Townsville Winter. Clear skies, beautiful sunshine, 25 degrees .... you can't beat that!

Finishing Up In A World of Drop Outs

I SPOKE TO OUR Cavary Leadership College interns earlier this year about the difference between dropping out and finishing up.

It’s a powerful lesson that I think can make a big difference to a person’s life. There will be times in our lives when we need to change direction – whether it’s in our employment, the team we volunteer on or the church we attend.

In my experience, most people prefer to drop out rather than finish up. And that’s sad because there’s a huge difference between the two.

1. Dropping out is irresponsible whilst finishing up is responsible

The person who drops out doesn’t notify their boss or their pastor or their team leader that they are leaving. They simply disappear and leave everyone else to work out that they are no longer around.

It’s irresponsible since people were relying on them or at the very least, expecting them to be around. The person who finishes up takes responsibility by giving notice through the right channels. They don’t leave their team or their church or their employer in the lurch.

2. Dropping out shows dishonor whilst finishing up shows honor The person who just disappears without personally talking to their oversight shows a distinct lack of honor.

For whatever reason, they don’t consider their employer or team leader worthy of a conversation. I suspect it’s not an intentional slight but rather fear of the reaction they might get. But regardless of how one feels their oversight will receive the news … it shows honor to speak directly to them.

3. Dropping out displays cowardice whilst finishing up displays courage

I hate confrontation and so I understand why people leave a church or a role without telling people. It takes courage to go to people who may be put out or disappointed by your decision to leave … that’s why it’s important.

4. Dropping out prioritizes convenience whilst finishing up prioritizes conviction

The person who simply drops out does so because it’s easier than going through official channels.

But I admire the person who finishes up because, even if I disagree with their decision, at least they have shown they genuinely believe in what they are doing by having the courage to risk possible disagreement.

5. Dropping out shows a carelessness with relationships whilst finishing up shows a commitment to relationships

We’ve all encountered people who have dropped off the radar and then felt awkward when bumped into in the street or at a function.

Relationships are the key to life and should always be protected. Don’t burn your bridges by dropping out.

6. Dropping out diminished a person’s character whilst finishing up builds a person’s character

As we’ve noted, the person who drops out chooses convenience over conviction, dishonor over honor and damaged relationships over healthy ones. Such a decision can only detract from a person’s character. But the courage to finish up well, whilst often hard or intimidating to do, helps to build one’s character.

7. Dropping out creates a reputation and so does finishing up!

I remember a guy who decided he didn’t want to be under my leadership any longer and so came and told me that he’d be finishing up. I must admit, it hurt.

Around the same time, another good friend just gradually started to disappear from the scene until I eventually “got the message”.

To be honest, the first guy hurt me because he told me to my face the reasons he was finishing up. But I give him credit for being straight up. At least I knew where I stood and was able to make arrangements for his departure. To this day I regard him as responsible and a straight shooter. I would vouch for him.

The other guy didn’t hurt me because he never spoke to me about leaving. He just sort of slowly slid away. And I must confess he now has a reputation, with me at least, for being irresponsible.

Seasons come to an end for all of us in different areas. But the way that we exit a season says more about us than perhaps all that we did during that season. (It will certainly be remembered more as it’s the last impression that is often the lasting impression)

From time to time there is a need to finish up. But there is never any excuse to drop out.

Why The Grass Appears Greener On the Other Side

WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY where people really do believe that the grass is always greener on the other side.

People ride a never-ending carousel of marriages, jobs, churches, colleges and cities in the search for that elusive patch of perfect green.

And so the world is filled with people who regularly salivate but are never satisfied. People greedy but rarely grateful; people who know all about consumerism but nothing of contentment.

Maybe the grass is greener on the other side.

But before you swap to the other side … have you ever asked yourself why?

1. The Grass Is Greener On the Other Side Because Things Look Better from a Distance

The grass is greener on the other side because you can’t see it as clearly as your own grass, where the imperfections are very apparent.

Most people, places and circumstances look good from a distance but the closer you get the more blemishes you see. The grass is only greener because you’re not close enough to see it as it really is.

2. The Grass Is Greener On the Other Side Because We View Life Selectively

The grass is always greener on the other side because we tend to look at the exception rather than the rule.

It’s true that you can probably find people or places better than where you currently are … but it’s also true that you can probably find a great deal more that are worse!

3. The Grass Is Greener On the Other Side Because We’ve Been Conditioned to Think That Way

The grass is often greener on the other side because that’s the way advertisers have programmed us to think. We are the most advertised-to generation in history. And the sole objective of advertisers is to make a man think he has longed all his life for something he’s never even heard of.

Advertisers have created a climate of perpetual disillusionment. Six months after they convince you to part with a thousand dollars for the latest mobile phone, they want to sell you the upgraded model.

When you’re programmed in a society that is constantly looking to upgrade, it’s understandable that some people think that way not only about their phone, but their church, their job and even their marriage; just as if you have a rut in your path, all the rainwater will run into that rut and if you wear blue spectacles then everything will appear blue.

4. The Grass Is Greener On the Other Side Because It’s Not Real Grass

Much of what some many people most desire, turns out to be a mirage.The burger never arrives in your hand the way it was pictured on the menu and the model’s photographs have all been airbrushed. The grass isn’t greener because you’re not looking at grass … you’re looking at artificial turf!

Many people leave the reality of where they are for a lie they have been sold … only to realize too late.

5. The Grass Is Greener On the Other Side Because You're Not There

Have you ever considered the grass may be greener on the other side because you’re not on the other side?

A man says: “She’s so much nicer than my wife.” And she probably is … but that’s because being married to him 20 years has made his wife into a grouch. The other man's wife is nicer precisely because she’s the other man's wife!

I’ve heard young people whine about how much nicer someone else’s parents are. But one wonders if those parents would be so sane had they been parenting Master Trouble and Miss Tantrum for the past 15 years.

The key factor in the current state of your turf is you. The grass may well be greener over there … but that’s because you’re over here!

Most of us don’t want to consider that though. We’d rather fantasize about changing location than confront the truth about ourselves.

6. The Grass Is Greener On the Other Side Because On the Other Side, They Made Poo Their Friend

You will most often find that where the grass grows greenest, fertilizer has been liberally applied.

Perhaps their grass is greener because they dug in when unpleasantness was being dumped everywhere. Your patch, on the other hand, is not so green because every time the proverbial hits the fan … you run rather than dig in.

Flourishing people are usually people who have stayed the journey and turned their frailties and failures into fertilizer.

Maybe you don't need to move from where you are. Maybe you just need a bit more ... well, you know!

Assisted Suicide and Slippery Slopes

NANCY GIBBS asks, in Time Magazine, how long it will be before the right to die becomes a duty to die.

It's worth a read.

Marriage Is Terrible. We Demand The Right To It!

MELBOURNE'S AGE newspaper reported, like many other media outlets, the rallies staged around the country at the weekend in support of gay marriage.

One of the speakers at the Melbourne rally was Alison Thorne who told the assembled crowd "that marriage was an oppressive institution designed to condemn women to lives of slavery, but same-sex couples should nevertheless be equally entitled to it. She then led the crowd in a chant: 'Kevin Rudd, ALP, we demand equality.'"

Talk about competing agendas!

Marriage is terrible. We demand the right to it!

Emerging Leaders Last Week

I DIDN'T GET a chance to blog last week as I spent almost the entire time out of internet range!

Steve Kennedy and myself were inland of Innisfail in North Queensland running a camp for 30 of the top emerging leaders from churches in the region.

It was such an inspiring and invigorating week. The 30 emerging leaders, all aged between 18 and 27, were so passionate about serving God and seeing our region won for Christ. It was energising just to be around them.

The Young Guns camp was part of a strategy that God gave Queensland pastors to help ensure a steady stream of new generation leaders in our movement. The idea has since gone around the country and is also run overseas in places like New Zealand.

The Australian Christian Churches have an abundance of talented and committed young people in our ranks. But it's not by accident. We have, for years, been intentionally encouraging and nurturing young leaders. It's one of our great strengths.

Calvary in the News

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW with the Townsville Bulletin newspaper first thing in the morning. They want to know what kind of a church puts on more services rather than less.

We commenced multiple services today and a journalist from the Bulletin rang to say it was a great story.

Apparently the average size of a church in Australia is 70 and the media find it fascinating that a church is expanding rather than contracting.

All three services yesterday - 8.30am, 10.30am and 6pm - were packed. We had lots of university students at church for the first time and a good number of people make commitments to the Lord. It was a fantastic day.

The Bulletin plan on printing the story sometime during the week. I'll try to post a link.

Grace and the Church

A CHURCH that ministers grace is one that affords people the opportunity to change ... from the inside out.

Helping People Make Church Home

I HAVE FOUND THAT people leaving churches usually give one of three reasons for their departure.

1. "I don't like it here"

Most people who visit our church love it. But some don't. And of those who don't, it's almost always a style thing that they have not liked.

For instance, some people want to sing hymns penned a hundred years ago rather than contemporary worship. Other people want a formal liturgy rather than the modern style of communication we employ and so on.

To change one's style in order to placate people is dangerous since you can quickly become someone or something that you are not. If it's true that you are most effective when you are being most authentic, then unfortunately you have to accept that some people will not stay at your church and there is nothing you can do to change that.

Rather than change our style to accomodate different people's preferences, we gladly recommend other churches in town where the style would better suit people's particular tastes.

2. "I don't belong here"

This is an issue of relationship and an area we are continually working hard on. People have a great need to belong and the church should meet this need better than any other organisation in the community.

I have found that people ultimately don't stay in our church because they love my preaching or enjoy the worship (though I'm sure that's part of it). Ultimately people stay in a church because they have forged meaningful relationships.

It takes time to build connections but they must be built. If people have failed to develop some key relationships within a few months they start to feel that, though they love the style, they just don't belong.

3. "I'm not needed here"

This is an issue of ministry. People need to make a contribution as well as to have community. This is why we make a point of helping people build relationships AND find a role.

Some months ago I told our worship pastor to double the size of our choir for no other reason than to give more people opportunity to be involved. People need to feel needed and so we must create opportunities for that need to be met.

Style is something that, by and large, people with either love or dislike. But connection and contribution are things that leaders must facilitate in order to help people make a church their home.

Relaxing In Port Douglas

SAMANTHA and I are currently relaxing in Port Douglas with good friends Andy and Janine Kubala.

We return home on Saturday for a weekend with Wayne Alcorn ministering at Calvary.

By the way, if you're looking for a great holiday spot, the Sea Temple at Port Douglas is fantastic and the beach here is glorious. Port Douglas reminds me a lot of Noosa but not quite as busy or pretentious ... and warmer.

On Seeing and Saying

"IF PEOPLE like what they see, they'll listen to what you say."

It's true whether you're trying to teach your children or to reach your neighbour for Christ. Before trying to work out what I should say I should first ask myself what those I want to share with are seeing.

On Travel Days

TODAY IS SPENT almost entirely in airports and on aircraft - three flights to get from Townsville to the NSW Riverina where I am speaking to leaders at Kings for Pastor Aaron Jackson.

I enjoy flying since it provides uninterupted think time. Thinking is so important and yet so easily neglected.

As the year races past, one can go for months reacting, responding and redoubling efforts but not actually thinking!

I never find a day of travel wasted. Quite the contrary - it's a welcome chance to assess where things are at and to project forward.

The Power of Vision

(This is the body of my message to our staff on Vision ... the introduction was posted earlier this week)

Text: John 9

1. Vision Protects You From the Petty

At any given point in this chapter it would have been easy for the blind man to have become offended and to miss his miracle.

The disciples discuss the man's condition as if he is not there. Jesus, without warning, rubs mud into the man's eyes and then has the hide to tell him "go wash your face".

In every family, workplace or church there will be opportunities to take offence. Certainly the blind man had every reason to become annoyed and to leave. But he didn't. Because he sensed that something great would happen in the presence of Jesus, the blind man was prepared to overlook the petty offences that came his way. He overlooked hurt and offence because he had his eye on vision.

If we can keep our eyes on the vision God has given us, the small things that irritate and annoy can be easily overlooked. The moment you take your eyes off vision, the small petty irritants become obstacles to a miracle.

2. Vision Produces Perseverance in the Face of Problems

Jesus tells the blind man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Notice that he is instructed not to simply find a tap nor to ask a passerby for a wet wipe. He must struggle and stumble his way in the dark to a specific place.

I imagine it would have been humiliating, uncomfortable and difficult. I imagine the man would have been sorely tempted to take a short cut or to find an easier, more convenient place to wash. But he persisted. As he fixed his mind's eye on the promised outcome, perseverance was produced.

3. Vision Changes Your Appearance

When the blind man received his sight, people weren't sure it was him. After all, he had gone from stumbling in the dark to walking with confidence; he had gone from sitting in the same place to having a clear sense of direction and purpose; he had been transformed from sad and hopeless to optimistic and full of life.

Vision will cause you to appear different - more purposeful, more confident, more sure-footed. A person with vision is an attractive person; so too the church.

4. Vision Arouses the Interest of Others

The blind man in our story went from a nobody begging to scraps to the talk of the town. I pray our church will always be a talking point because we are always doing something!

Make sure you always have something to talk about. When people ask what you are up to, never be stuck for an answer. People who are full of vision are interesting people and they arouse the attention of those around them.

I love Oscar Wilde's statement: "The only thing worse than people talking about you is people not talking about you."

Let's not be a church using gimmacks to become known. Let's be a church so full of vision that we attract people's attention. Let's definitely not be so devoid of vision that neither we nor our community have anything at all to say about us.

5. Vision Comes With Obedience to Jesus

Vision came when the blind man simply obeyed the command of Jesus. This is key.

Many people want to have a preacher pray for them so that they can receive a vision for their life. But vision doesn't come passively. Vision comes by doing; usually by doing someone else's vision.

Ecclesiastes 9v10 tell us "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might".

I love that word "whatever". Just do whatever. Whatever it is you're asked to do. Whatever opportunity you find presented. Determine to do "whatever" well and soon you'll be asked to do what you love.

Most of the people employed on our team began by doing "whatever" well. And whatever opened doors to what they love.

6. Vision Upsets the Status Quo in Your Life

You'd have thought the man's vision would have filled everyone with excitement. But the Pharisees were incensed.

The man's vision upset their day of rest. Vision will do that. Vision will upset your schedule, your routine, your priorities, your lifestyle and your finances.

When vision comes, everything else must adapt. Otherwise vision becomes nothing more than wishful thinking.

I have found that vision simply means WORK. If it is a vision from God, then everything else must be rearranged in order to bring it to pass. Life will never, can never be the same again.

7. Vision Replaces Confusion with Certainty

The Pharisees were divided as to the nature of Christ. Confusion reigned. But there was no confusion for the man who had received his sight. He knew that he knew what he knew.

Proverbs 29v18 assures us that were there is no vision, people dwell aimlessly. Without a vision you are unsure of what to say 'yes' to and what to decline. But when vision comes you have a plumb line by which you can measure every other opportunity.

We only become uncertain when we take our eyes off the vision God has given us. The double minded man, James said, is unstabe in all his ways.

8. Vision's End Is To Worship Jesus

The man receives his sight and is rewarded by seeing the Messiah. Every noble vision begins with Jesus and finds its ultimate completion in Jesus.

Let us never forget that every great vision upon which we embark is ultimately for the glory of God.

One of the things I love about our friends at Hillsong is their humility. They are just so down to earth and easy going. I think it is because they have determined that the end of all their great projects is not themselves but Jesus.

Whether it's a special event, a new building or a great project ... let us never forget that the ultimate end of every vision is that Jesus is glorified and that His name is exalted. I believe such an attitude will ensure we remain tender hearted people and will ause God's blessing to be remain upon us.

Inspiring the Enemy

THE DEATH OF any Australian solider is terrible and the reality of it has been far more pronounced since moving to Townsville where thousands of young soliders are based. (We have a a number of young guys from our church currently serving overseas)

With that in mind I was amazed at comments by the American Defence Secretary Robert Gates in this morning's Sydney Morning Herald. Let me give you just two of his statements ...

"After the Iraq experience, nobody is prepared to have a long slog where it is not apparent we are making headway."

"The troops are tired, the American people are pretty tired."

One can only assume that Gates is certain Islamic militants don't read the SMH. Because if they did, surely comments such as these create more danger for our troops than they are already in.

Any Taliban fighter who happened to have the SMH delivered to his cave this morning would be encouraging his comrades that they have only to fight another 12 months and the allies will, in all likelihood, withdraw with their tail between their legs.

Can you imagine Winston Churchill telling the papers: "After the WW1 experience, we shall fight them on the beaches, provided it's not too hard a slog; we shall fight them on the landing grounds, provided we make headway cause we're all just so damned tired ..."

Vision Leaks

HERE'S THE INTRODUCTION to a leadership teaching I gave in our staff meeting yesterday ...

As staff we are constantly receiving instructions. Infact, you've been receiving instructions for six months this year - "do this, go there, get it done". After a while, about this time of year infact - when the mornings are cold and the initial enthusiasm with which we began 2009 has long since waned - those instructions can start to grate.

As leaders, we are constantly giving instructions to those on our teams. And it's about this time of year that people who began serving on teams with great fevour now start to react with great frustration.

Mark this well ... instruction without inspiration breeds irritation.

You must continually inspire those you seek to instruct. When people are inspired, they'll follow any instruction. Even a bad one. But where people are uninspired, they will buck at even the most sensible request.

As a leader your chief task is to be inspired and full of vision. If you are inspired, you will be inspiring and people will count it a joy to heed your instructions.

Bill Hybles once said of vision ... "it leaks".

Don't get upset with people on your teams if, about this time of year, they seem less responsive. They haven't suddenly "developed an attitude". They have simply leaked. They have leaked vision.

The vision of excellence that inspired her to get out of bed early every Sunday morning to help set up the auditorium has leaked. The vision of an altar call that begins in the carpark which inspired him to spend half his Sunday morning directing traffic has leaked. The vision of kids coming to Christ which inspired them to miss the service to serve other people's children has leaked.

The answer to their irritation which has since caused your frustration is not a guilt trip cleverly disguised as a 5-week series on "commitment". They don't need you to talk to them about faithfulnes. They need you to talk to them about what you see and about what could be. They need you to help them see what they saw when inspiration struck.

Paul told his team in Galatia: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season WE SHALL REAP if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Paul, sensing his team's irritation (let us not grow weary) turned to inspiration (we shall reap) before issuing instruction (therefore let us do good)

When people on your team are weary of following your instructions, it is because inspiration has leaked. And so at this time of year it is essential that every person on our team refocuses his or her own vision and that of the teams they lead.

In tomorrow's post I'll explain why ...

On Vision

I SPOKE TO our staff today about the necessity of maintaning strong vision as we begin the second half of the year. I'll post the message here for you to read tomorrow.

I had planned, but forgot, to use this great quote from champion Ice Hokey player Wayne Gretzky.

Asked why he was such a great hockey player, he replied: "It's because I don't skate to where the puck is, I skate to where the puck is going to be."

Schemes, Scams and Sense

I RECOMMEND last night's Four Corners report into the fifty billion dollar scam run by Wall Street identity Bernie Madoff.

Madoff convinced people to invest in his share trading company which promised above market returns. Somehow Madoff always brought shares when they were at their lowest and sold when they were at their peak.

The trouble was that Madoff never brought or sold any shares. He was running a classic Ponzi scheme - taking new investors' money and using it to pay existing investors their promised returns, all the while schiponing off some for himself.

The first lesson from the Madoff affair is that if something looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

It's amazing how many people are looking for short cuts in life. But there are no get rich quick schemes or shortcuts.

Proverbs 21v5 counsels: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty."

In other words, there is no short circuiting hard work and careful planning.

Many of the people who invested with Madoff told Four Corners that his scheme "seemd too good to be true". That, in itself, should have alerted them to danger. If something seems to good to be true - that is, you are promised the opportunity to streak ahead without having to plan, to work or to be diligent - then it almost certainly is not true.

The second observation about the Madoff scheme, as presented on Four Corners last night, was that when people want to get something for nothing, they regularly end up getting nothing for something.

There are no short cuts in life, nor are there any free lunches. Paul had to tell the early church that if they didn't work, they didn't eat ... and in 2000 years, human nature has not changed. People still want to consume without having to ever put anything in.

Certainly Madoff's victims invested with him, but part of Madoff's attraction was that he promised people could withdraw their money from his company at any time. No investment company offering anywhere near the size returns Madoff promised allowed investors to access their funds at a moment's notice.

Madoff's clients felt like they were getting something for nothing. For almost no risk, they were getting huge returns. Instead, they were getting nothing for something. There were no share trades despite the fact people invested tens of billions of dollars. There was only a Ponzi scheme which, like all Ponzi schemes, must eventually collapse on itself.

A final, and heartening, observation from the Four Corners expose was that honest people rarely get cheated.

The documentary makers interviewed a few people who chose not to invest with Madoff. These people baulked at investing because they could not reconcile in their own minds how Madoff could possibly be making the sorts of returns he was promising.

When they asked for explanations they found they were ignored or given the run-around. And so, they told Four Corners, they were unwilling to invest their money in something that felt unseemly.

None of them had any evidence that wrong was being done. Infact, none of them had much more than a gut feeling. But each of them were wary of becoming caught up in something that wasn't right. If it seemed like it wasn't right, they avoided it. And consequently, they kept their savings whilst people all around them fell victim.

We are constantly offered a myriad of opportunities. Not all are genuine. The lessons of Madoff's scheme are universal and stand the person who observes them in good stead to avoid disaster.