LifeChange

A Leader That Prays

Some notes from my discussion this morning on prayer with some of our leaders:

What role does prayer play in your life?

 Why do we struggle having prayer be a regular part of our life?

· View prayer as passive, leaders like to act

· Too busy

· Too much noise in our life (audio, visual, relational)

· Don’t believe it works, or don’t see it as being essential

 Why must prayer be an essential part of our lives?

1) To learn God’s will/agenda: see Jesus’ example Mark 1:30-39

2) To accomplish God’s will:  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5

3) To have God active in our life: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13

4) To have access to God’s wisdom “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” - Jeremiah 33:3

5) To give your stress and worries to God “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7

 Application - A Leader That Prays

1) Do you have faith that prayer makes a difference?  If the answer is no then all the other steps below just become religions exercises.  Ask God to increase your faith and spend time in God’s word to see a God who responds to prayer.

2) How is the noise level in your life?  We often want God to speak more loudly and clearly to us.  Car radio example - God can either speak louder or we can turn down the noise in our life.  What are ways you can do this?

3) Is prayer a part of your relationships with others?  Ask, how can I pray for your right now?  And do it.  Marriage, kids, friends, co-workers… prayer can be a key element to these relationships.  Relationships based on God and prayer are much deeper.

4) Is prayer a once or twice-a-day event or is it a regular interaction with God? “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

 

Waiting

Last week was supposed to be the week we got our referral.  It didn't happen.  Actually the last three weeks were each supposed to be the week and they weren't.  Ask any family that is going through an adoption what is the hardest part of the whole process?  You may expect them to say the large amounts of money it cost, or the huge stacks of paperwork, or the uncertainty with traveling and bringing a child from another culture into your home.  However, I think most families would say the most difficult part is the waiting. 

Yesterday at church Pastor Denis Roy spoke.  Denis has become good friends of ours as he prepares to plant a church in Brownsburg called New Day Church that will start meeting on September 13th.  Denis spoke about obstacles to hearing God's voice using Habakuk and looking specifically at how Habakuk postured himself to hear God's voice in Habakuk 2:1-3.  A large portion of Denis' message was about how impatience keeps us from hearing God and how the theme of waiting on the Lord is common throughout scripture. 

My soul waits for the Lord
       more than watchmen wait for the morning,
       more than watchmen wait for the morning.  (Psalm 130:6)

but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.  (Isaiah 40:31)

Since ancient times no one has heard,
       no ear has perceived,
       no eye has seen any God besides you,
       who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.  (Isaiah 64:4)

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  (Acts 1:4)

Denis' definition of impatience was "the fear of missing out."  We can relate to that right now in our adoption.  We fear missing out on some significant event in the lives of the children we are adopting, or that they could get sick and not have us there, or something could happen with the paperwork or in the court systems if the process doesn't move along quickly.  

This was a message Courtney and I needed to hear.  God's word is clear that His timing is always perfect, He is never late or early.  We have seen God prove Himself faithful countless times in the past in our lives but we sometimes forget.  Thank you for this reminder.  We will wait on God, be it another day or another month, and know that the referral of our two children will come at the perfect time.

Fireworks - the quick thrill

I used to love fireworks.  When I was young I'd save up money (way more then my parents ever wanted me to), go to the fireworks store with my dad the week before July 4th and spend everything I had.  I remember the excitement leading up to that night, organizing and planning how I would set them off, in what order, which would be saved for the finale.  Then the night would come and everyone on our street would bring their fireworks to our circle and we'd set them off together.  There was something about playing with fire, the smell of the gunpowder, the danger, the bangs and lights in the sky that was exhilarating.  It was the one time of the year I was allowed to be a pyromaniac.

Now I don't get excited about fireworks anymore.  I still like to watch them but the investment of time and money just doesn't seem worth the few seconds of thrill that I get form them.  I guess I've come to realize that the fireworks are just brief, short and temporary.  Perhaps I've discovered larger and better things to invest my resources in.  Maybe I'm just old.  I'd like to think I've become wise and no longer live my life for the immediate reward, but have a longer term perspective.  Not sure which.

Tonight, instead of playing with fireworks I'm spending my time taking a bunch of soda and popsicles out to a local park and giving them away for free (if the weather holds out.)  Why?  To tell people that God Loves Them.  That's all.  No strings attached.  Probably no immediate rewards.  Not as fun to watch as fireworks but the long term results will be far richer.

LifeKids Summer Camp 2009 - Video & Pics

Here is a video from the camp this past week Life Church did at the Boys & Girls Club.  You can also find a bunch of pictures here.

Referral - maybe next week...

Looks like we'll be waiting until at least next week.  Just received the below email from AWAA.  I appreciate the update and the information about the extra step the Rwandan government is requiring... but wonder if our two children are the ones with unexpected medical results?!?
-----------------------

Dear Waiting Rwanda Families,

 It has been a while now since you received a phone call from us letting you know your Dossier has been approved.  As the last few weeks have gone by you’ve no doubt been very anxious for a referral phone call… and every day recently you’ve probably been wondering why this has been taking so long.  We had expected this process to be faster and we appreciate your patience as you’ve waited for your referral. 

 There have been a few reasons for this taking longer than expected, including two children’s medical tests not coming back with expected results.  Currently we’re waiting for the Ministry to review and approve the referral information that has been assembled by our staff from the orphanage & medical testing facilities.  In the past, families’ referrals have not been “cleared” by the Ministry before given as a referral.  This is a new procedure that the Ministry is implementing and along with this, often requires the orphanage staff and our staff to provide more documentation regarding the children being referred than we had in the past. 

 It’s hard for us to predict when you’ll have a referral, but it will very likely not be until next week.  At this point the delay is disappointing to our agency because we know it’s hard on you and we want your adoption to be processed in as timely a fashion as possible; we also want to assure you that at this point we don’t have reason to be concerned that the delay is an indication of a serious problem. 

 Although we don’t have more of an update for you at this time, Terra and I are both available to talk to you about this via phone or email; please just let us know.  Again, we appreciate your patience and we want to assure you that we and our staff in Rwanda are doing what we can to have your adoption processed as efficiently as possible.

Two Other Families

Over the last few months we have learned that there are two others families that are also adopting from Rwanda through AWAA and they are in the EXACT same place we are waiting on our referrals!  I'd like to introduce them to you and point you to their blogs:

Justin & Heidi Limmer - they have two children and are in the process of adopting a little boy from Rwanda.  They found out last week that their referral will be for a 10 month old boy!  http://www.limmerfamilyadventure.blogspot.com/

Ryan & Kara Higgins - they have two biological children and are in the process of adopting two children between the ages of birth and three years old (just like us!)  http://www.higginsadoption.blogspot.com/

The good news is we could be traveling with both the families above to Rwanda at the same time!  Courtney has already been in contact with Heidi and Kara via email and Facebook.  The women will soon have everything planned out! :)

Spiritual Leaders - The Leader's Vision & Character (Ch. 4 & 5)

Continuing our journey through a book called Spiritual Leadership by Henry & Richard Blackaby.  Going through it with a few guys. Previous weeks:  Week 1, Week 2.

Where does vision for our personal life and organization come from?

Some wrong places:

1) Because it’s there—if there’s a mountain to climb we should climb it

2) Duplicating success—it’s worked in the past

3) Vanity—what will bring me as the leader the most personal success or praise

4) Need—if there’s a need we should meet it

5) Available resources—if resources are available to us we should use them

6) Leader-driven—leader generated—leader’s best thinking

Proper place:

7)     God’s revelation—what has God revealed and promised about the future?  Our role is to seek the Father’s will and adjust our lives to Him.  God reveals his plans in His way, on His time schedule and to whom He wills.  The leader’s job is to communicate God’s promise to the people, not to create the vision and then strive to enlist people to buy in to it.

 Where have you received vision for your life in the past?

—————————————————————————————

 Moses—He was not naturally gifted as a leader.  However, his accomplishments as a spiritual leader came from the depth of his relationship with God.

 There is a significant difference between a personal determination to try harder and a complete abandonment of one’s self to God’s purposes.

 One of the biggest challenges young leaders face is garnering respect among their followers when they do not yet have previous successes to their credit.  … young leaders need to first have small accomplishments before moving on to bigger ones.  The first place to demonstrate small triumphs is in the leader’s self-mastery. 

 In your own life how is your spiritual walk?  Handling of finances?  Health habits?  Relationships with your family?  Attitude?  Discipline?

 Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” 

At Life Church we have been slow to hire new people.  Our desire is to raise people up from the inside, or if they come from the outside to build relationship with them first.  This avoids the 'hireling' syndrome... we want people that are passionate and excited about what God's doing at Life Church, not just people that want a job.

Adoption Update - referral getting close

It's been a very uneventful 7 weeks since we received our approval from Rwanda in early May.  At approval they told us to expect a referral in 4-6 weeks.  That time came and went with no news.  The last few weeks have been very difficult for my wife Courtney as she gets more excited every day to learn more about the children God is matching up with our family!

Today some encouraging news came through unofficial channels.  By the way of an email from a volunteer at the Home of Hope Orphanage we found out that they do have children selected for our referral but are waiting on some paperwork before passing along the information.  I guess the Sisters at the orphanage were on a two week retreat in mid-May so that was part of the delay.  Anyways we should be hearing something very soon!

I also found this video of a new playground the orphanage installed.  I don't think this is at the actual orphanage but another place they do outreach to.  A lot different then playgrounds here in the US eh?

Life Church Welcome & LifeKids Brochures

We are in the process of designing / redesigning new brochures that we give to people looking for more information about Life Church.  The first two done are a Welcome Brochure and LifeKids Brochure.  I thought I'd share them in case they could be of help to any other churches that are doing something similiar.  Click on each one below to be taken to a PDF version of it.

Adopt-a-Block June 2009

Over the last several years Life Church has been working with the LeGore Boys & Girls Club on the west side of Indianapolis.  Next week is our summer camp there which we've done each of the last three summers.  However God has put it on the heart of one of a Life Group at Life Church to expand our focus to the people in the community right around the club.  Today their group along with a few others went out to serve the neighbors, help with a variety of yard work and outside maintenance, show that someone cares and there is a God who loves them.  I had the privilege of serving along side them... I'm really proud of these men and women.  They are an example of what it means to join God in His story and the work He is doing in this community.