Leadership

Here is a good excerpt taken from a colleague's blog:

Tasking focuses on WHAT. Coaching focuses on WHY. A good coach always explains the "why" behind the "what." If a person is only in tune with the "what", they will never catch the vision and purpose behind it and therefore will not be able to fully reproduce themselves and the type of culture that we value.

• Tasking focuses on a job well done. Coaching focuses on WHY it was done well. A coach explains WHY the job was done well. The impact of being specific in your praise towards someone else increases the impact more than we can imagine.
• Tasking sees people as a tool to get a job done. Coaching sees every opportunity as a chance to better others and to build relationships. The relational aspect is huge! Because........people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
• Tasking focuses on HOW the job was done wrong. Coaching always corrects by going back to the vision/mission.
• If we can help people identify for themselves where they went wrong or dropped the ball by bringing them back to the vision/purpose of the environment, the response will almost always be more positive. This can be accomplished by asking two simple questions: "Did we hit the target?" and "Why or why not?"

In these days where I am consumed with leadership, thank you Chris for some timely wisdom!

Against the Wind?

You remember the Seger song "Against the Wind." If you're reading this, chances are you do. Do you ever feel like that? Sometimes I wonder why it feels like living a faithful Christian life is like running against the wind. I know I feel that way as a pastor. There are so many agendas and so many issues. The church needs so much leadership and so much direction. People have physical needs, emotional needs, and spiritual needs to be met. And sometimes it seems that at every turn, there is a battle. A difference in opinion or a difference in approach. A difference in theology or a difference style. And at those times I am tempted to sing "against the wind."

But NO! We don't run against the wind. In Christ, we have been set free. In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is often compared to the wind. So we run WITH the wind. And yes, we run in victory.

So what do we run against? Because the "against" part is undeniable! I believe we are running against Satan. And here is a Spiritual fact that may fly in the face of conventional wisdom: the harder and faster you run with the Wind (Holy Spirit), the more resistance you will face from Satan.

So, I will count it joy. Because I must be doing something right...otherwise, I wouldn't be feeling so much "resistance"...

The decaffeinated me - Day 2

Well, I'm still alive! More than that, I'm alive in Christ. Why is it that we are so hesitant to be obedient when in obedience is true joy. Didn't Jesus say something like that? Lemme see, check out John 15:10-11 where Jesus says: "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Thank you Lord for the chance to be obedient in something small (or "tall", in Starbucks-speak). Help me now to be obedient in the big things (or "venti")!

OK, I gotta give this up...

...caffeine, that is. I got hooked on Starbucks. Great coffee, but man does it wire me. I am naturally a little wired anyhow (one of God's jokes!), but with those beans surging through my blood, look out. God told me loudly and clearly yesterday: STOP IT!

We at Cornerstone are in the middle of trying to place Jesus at the center of our very lives. We want Him to be the center of our salvation, our faith, our hope, our joy, our church. As I plod through our daily devotions over these past weeks, I am being convicted about letting the big and the little things be in the center instead of Jesus. I don't need caffeine to wake up to, I need Him.

So, I quit (again!) Please pray for me. You may also want to stay away from me for a few days! But I am clinging to the promise of God in Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." The pain of no coffee might make me cry a little over the next few days, but ah the joy!

Which is more stressful....

....excellence (and subsequent "success"), or mediocrity? I enjoyed lunch with a good friend and trusted mentor today. It was a last minute "hey, can we meet somewhere and do lunch" kinda thing. I'm glad it worked out. One of the neatest things that came out of the lunch was the common feeling that excellence, and its natural product "success", brings with it greater stress than does mediocrity. Strange, isn't it? I mean you would think that when you strive for excellence and things are going well, you could sit back and relax a little. It seems as though at those times that one should be able to breath easier and rest in the moment of prosperity (in the purest sense of the word.) But NO! It seems that these times are those of greatest stress, pressure, and the feeling of a need to "succeed" or "perform" in even greater ways.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

Jesus, take my burden, and give me yours. Then help me to carry it...

Why don't pastors of "real" churches write books?

I think I'm going to write a book. I am tired of reading pastoral leadership books written by pastors who have churches with an average attendance of 60 million. Yes, I know the argument can be made that they know it all, and that is how they average 60 million people a weekend. But it never seems like they live in the real world. Maybe I'm naive, or jealous, or stupid, or worse yet, all of the above. But it MUST be easier to have all the right answers when you have 83 secretaries on staff. It MUST be simpler to find the right kind of leadership when you have a budget equal to that of Canada. It MUST be easier to produce a multi-media message extravaganza when you have producers from all of the major television networks worshiping with you. Am I the only honest one out there? Am I the only one to lament? Am I the only one who wants to read a book by a guy in a church of 150 who has real problems and who is honestly seeking to work through them? Am I the only one looking for real, practical answers to real, practical questions like WE face?

Church as a Team - Part II

So this book is great, right? Chapter 3 talks about how we are all just full-time ministers in disguise. You are a full-time minister disguised as a (insert your claim-to-fame here). Why? Well, who best to reach salespeople for Christ than salespeople? Who better to reach construction workers for Christ than construction workers? Who better to reach lawyers for Christ than fellow lawyers? Who better to reach stay-at-home moms and dads for Christ than stay-at-home moms and dads?

So if we are to reach our world for Jesus, it takes us all. The author (Wayne Cordeiro) maintains, and I agree, that pastors don't ofter reach many people for Christ. And, that isn't our calling. Our calling is to lead a congregation of full-time ministers-in-disguise to reach people for Christ!

Have we lost sight of that? Are we really doing church as a team, or are we paying the pastor to do it for us?

Doing Church as a Team

I am just starting to read that book, and I've got Barna's "The Power of Team Leadership" on the "right after I finish reading this one" list. What is a team? What makes a team truly a team? What are the differences between teams and committees and task forces? How does one choose effective team leadership? I'm open to dialogue on this...any takers?

Now that'll preach!

Acts 17:24-28
24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.'" (NIV)

What are you doing today to "live and move and have your being" in Jesus Christ? Prayer? Are you in the Word? Are you worshiping Him in your daily activities? Are you involved in a group of fellow Christians who help you and keep you on the straight and narrow?

I love you....th!!!

Last night I began our first home group meeting with the 10th-12th grade youth from Cornerstone. We met at my home for a Bible study based on the series I'm preaching entitled called "Jesus, Be the Center". I am once again blown away by the maturity, the honesty, the love of life, and the desire to love and serve God of our youth. They don't read this blog...unless I txt it to them! But if you're reading it, thank Jesus today with me. Thank Him for our youth...for their inspiration and their witness. Might we truly realize His words when He said "unless you humble yourselves and become like little children, you shall never enter the Kingdom of heaven..."

Come to Jesus..

A great song by Chris Rice with these lyrics:

Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die,
O raise your head for love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus and live.

Now your burden’s lifted, and carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain
So sing to Jesus, sing to Jesus, sing to Jesus and live.

Like a newborn baby, don’t be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk, sometimes we fall
So fall on Jesus, fall on Jesus, fall on Jesus and live.

Sometimes the way is lonely, and steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then cry to Jesus, cry to Jesus, cry to Jesus and live.

Oh and when the love spills over, and music fills the night
And when you can’t contain your joy inside
Then dance for Jesus, dance for Jesus, dance for Jesus and live.

And with your final heartbeat, kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace and laugh on Glory’s side
And fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus and live.

Fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus and live!

This is to be sung in our worship service this morning as a part of our message kick-off: Jesus, Be the Center. The song will preach...is He the center of your everything?

I'm going up to the mountain to pray...

OK, maybe not literally. But today is another day that I have set aside for prayer and vision. I am getting out of the office and heading to one our beautiful local parks to spend some time with the Lord. I need to hear Him and to walk with Him for a while. Sometimes I get so busy in the urgent stuff that I don't make time for the really important stuff. Cornerstone is a church with a developing vision. We are getting a handle on exactly where God is calling us and how we're supposed to get there. If that is to happen, then I must make sure it is a priority in my leadership. My rules are: no palm pilot (too distracting!) - no cell phone - just a legal pad, a pen, and a Bible. As I sense and hear the Lord speaking, I simply enter into written conversation. Thank you Lord for a beautiful day...for a beautiful creation...and for being One who seeks to speak and to be heard.

Who's the greatest?

Cornerstone's devotions today are taken from Matthew 18:1-5 which you can read HERE. Jesus is faced with a problem typical even today: Who is the greatest? There seems to be an obsession with that in our culture. Who's the greatest football team? (Steelers, of course!) Who is the greatest singer on American Idol? It shouldn't surprise us that this can spill into the life of the church...who's the greatest? Jesus gives an interesting, and challenging, answer. The greatest is the most humble. It is a strange paradox, and yet one which speaks the heart of God. He goes on to challenge us about being hospitable to the "least" of those around us. The disciples were obviously struggling to become great by hanging out with the greatest. But Jesus turns the concept on its head by simply stating that one becomes great by hanging around with the least.

Lord, thanks for challenging me. May I be great in your Kingdom today only by your grace. May I be great by spending my energies and time with the least, the last, and the lost. Forgive my snobbishness, my pride, and my judgmental heart. Free me up and pull me down to greater humility...

Happy Labor-less Day!

How was your Labor Day? What did you do? I had a very relaxing and very fun holiday weekend. Here are the highlights:

• I played through my entire bluegrass repetoire on guitar...
• I played several games of Scrabble with Carla...
• Yesterday, I lifted at the gym, went for a 5 mile hike with Carla and Shadrach, went for a 6 mile bike ride, and a two mile run...
• I went to my favorite music store in the free world: Acoustic Music Works...
• I cooked on the grill several times...
• I just relaxed and had fun!

And now, it is good to be back to start a new week!

Block PARTAY!!!

You may know that Cornerstone is a church, not a building. We are the people of God seeking to build the Kingdom in Cranberry Twp. This Sunday, I'll be preaching as a part of our worship service about hospitality. We are called to be "hospitable" to people. The root word of hospitality is hospital, so I'm making the case that we're to be people who are allowing the lost and hurting of our area to receive healing. And our chief of staff at Cornerstone Hospital is Dr. Jesus! But sometimes, the hurting won't or can't come to the hospital. That's why we really need to be an ambulance...a MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit - which is apparently ambulance speak for ambulance!). We need to bring the "doctor" to the people if the people won't come to the "doctor."

So tomorrow, Cornerstone is hosting a block party. We don't have a real church building. We just lease some warehouse flex space and have lots of other people in our complex who are doing the same. For lunch tomorrow, we're throwing a block party for our neighbors. We're gonna cook dogs and burgers on the grill, and just have a good time hanging with our business neighbors.

I'm proud of Cornerstone, 'cause that's hospitality. And it is MICU... Pray that one of our neighbors who may be hurting might find some healing in our hospitality tomorrow.

I NEED your feedback!!!

OK. Yesterday, I preached from Psalm 42:1-5. If you weren't present with us, you can listen from here: Cornerstone's Website. If you were here, you know that I was preaching about how thirsty we are for Living Water. We are thirsty because we're tired of the "lion" chasing after us. And we need to drink "from the well that never shall run dry."

But after worship yesterday, many of you asked "how do we "drink" on the days when we're not in worship?" Good question. I'm prepared to give the answer in a number of ways, but I need your input.

I was going to preach from 1 Peter 4:9 this week and talk about the need to be hospitable to our community...a people that cares enough to lead people to healing through a relationship with Jesus. But now I'm wondering if I should preach a follow up message to "I'm Thirsty". I'm wondering if I should preach a message on "Drinking Daily". Whaddya think? LET ME KNOW!!! HELP!!!

The last fling of summer

Carla and I will be leaving Friday morning for a two day fling before she starts school. We are going to a water park on Friday and the Cleveland Zoo on Saturday. We'll return Saturday night, and I can't wait to preach on Sunday. I'm preaching from Psalm 42:1-5, and my message is entitled "I'm Thirsty". Here's a sneak preview: The deer is panting because he is tired of being chased by his enemy, the lion. He stops to drink, and is satisfied. I am "thirsty" because I'm being chased by my own "lions". I want to drink from the Living Water, and be satisfied... If you're a cornerstoner, I'll see you Sunday!!!

Jesus, be the center...

I'm preparing for a five week message series this Fall entitled Jesus, Be the Center. I am excited to preach it, maybe because it is what I need to hear most right now. This has been the craziest summer of my pastoral career, sans doute. My struggle is to keep Him at the center. The busyness of the church, the politics, the sickness and brokeness, the many voices calling from every direction...all because I'm called. But I'm called by Jesus...first, and foremost. How do I hear His voice first, loudest, and last? How do I keep Him at the center?

Lord, hear my call for peace. Let me take your burden upon me. Let me be humbled for you. Let the callouses of my life be scraped away, that I might be ever sensitive to your leading...your calling...your presence...

Interviews!

You can be praying for us as we hold our "second interviews" with two promising candidates for our Family Ministries Coordinator. We interview a woman for the position tonight, and a man tomorrow night. We have received about 60 applicants for the position and are feeling very confident that God is leading this process well. This is a big step, and we want to make sure that we're taking the right direction. Your prayers are appreciated!

Also, here is a picture of our nearly completed, expanded worship center. We still have additional chairs to be delivered (which will allow seating for 300) and the rear light fixtures to be installed. (Sorry it so dark)

Why can't we all just get along?

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing,even life forevermore."

That's what God said to us through David in Psalm 133. What unites us? Jesus. We can't all get along unless we all turn ourselves over to Jesus....until we have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism..." (Ephesians 4:5)

Sorry world...there is no peace without the Prince of Peace...

Hola!

Tonight, Cornerstone embarks on our very first Vacation Bible School. We are doing Group's Fiesta, and I can't wait! We have over 30 volunteers helping this week...is that amazing, or what? I had a Bible study and pizza party with our youth volunteers last evening to help them to get in the groove for the week. Sandy, our director, has done an absolutely amazing job of getting this together.

Here are some more pix: Our hallway:



The side of the worship center (and notice the carpet layer tools on the floor. They will finish the carpet at about 2:00 and VBS starts at 6:30!!!!)



Here is the front of the worship center: We'll have just enough time to set up the chairs, get the PowerPoint working, and Ole!

Coming down to the wire!!!

Here are the Saturday morning photos...we are cutting this one close! We're having a big "let's put our worship center back together so we can worship the Lord in relative order" party tonight at 7:00. Anyone wanna help?

Here is looking from the worship platform toward the new back wall and sound booth:



Here is looking the opposite way:



Here is looking down the new hallway (worship center on left and restrooms on right) with the existing hallway at the end:



Here is a look at the men's room...obviously not in use for tomorrow! Luckily, we have others!!!

I did it!!!!

Yes...I ran 3.4 miles yesterday, which is about 5 1/2K. That is the first time I've ever actually run 5K at the same time and I lived to tell about it! Now all I have to do is pick a new date for my first race and set my eyes on the prize. What a blast...to accomplish something that you put your mind to. Kinda reminds me of:

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Filled with the Spirit

I spent some time with my good friend Harvey last night. He is my bluegrass jammin' partner. For hours we sat and played, laughed, and shared life. We sang and picked...singing the kind of music we both love: BLUEGRASS! I came home from his place last night just absolutely refreshed. And I know why:

Harvey was on fire last night. Not just his pickin', although that is amazing. He was on fire with the Holy Spirit. He (the Holy Spirit) is just the presence of God that lives in the life of the believer and allows us to act like Him! And when He is present in someone's life, you just know it. You can feel it. And His presence is contagious!

It also convicted me: Brett, are you filled with the Holy Spirit? If not, why not? Are you spending enough time with Jesus that He really rubs off on you? Sadly, the answer is NO. So Lord, today, help me to hang out with you. Help me to feel the warmth of your fire burning within me, and help me to share that fire with those around. Thank you for bluegrass, thank you for friends, and thank you for your Holy Spirit!!!!

Cornerstone Construction

Wow...it is really coming together. I'm going to attempt to upload some pictures here:

Looking from the existing platform back toward the new section:



On the left, you can see where the new hallway is:



Looking from the new section toward the old:



Down the new hallway: (bathrooms on left, worship center on right, phase II opening at the end)

Mirror, mirror on the wall....

Today was a mirror day. It seems everywhere I looked, there was a mirror involved. I started my day off as usual at the gym. Mirrors everywhere. My friend Chris and I travelled to Crafton for our accountability group meeting today and almost got sideswiped by someone playing with their mirror. The guy in the car in front of me on the way to the ministry center this evening looked in the mirror and ran his fingers through his awesome hair at least fifty gillion times. Shadrach, our pooch, was lying on the floor looking at himself in the mirror of our curio cabinet today. Half the woman I pass along the road seem to be fixing their makeup in their car mirrors. Mirrors everywhere....

Which gets me to thinking about the metaphor for my life. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that we, the believers, are the light of the world. He went on to say that we're to let our lights shine as we do righteous things and allow the Father in heaven to receive the glory. Which really kinda means that we're not the light, just the mirrors. Our lives are meant to reflect Jesus to a lost and hurting world.

I have had a very hard week. I am tired, and weary. I think I need to go clean my mirror...

Music to calm a weary soul!

Can I tell you how much I love music? Thanks, because I really do. I believe music is a gift from God that is meant to connect our heart to His. Here are some current favorites:

1. My bluegrass gospel sessions...you know, just me and my amazing Collings D1A guitar playing and singing bluegrass music that glorifies the Lord!
2. Third Day - what a cool group...
3. Chris Rice: Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) - I cry everytime I hear and sing this song...
4. Dave DeMarco - He is a local (New Brighton) guy who writes and leads some amazing praise music...actually saw him live leading worship at Orchard Hill Church a few weeks ago...
5. Anything our Cornerstone praise band leads...what a blast and what great friends to share music and our love for the Lord with!

Running, and discipline (like getting smacked), and stuff

Well, if you're gonna make sense of this post, you better start by reading THIS. I just got back from running. Yes, it is 86 degrees out there and killer humidity. Why, you ask, am I running? Why, I ask, am I running? Especially on a day like today when I feel like I've never run before in my life. (Which isn't actually too far from the truth!)

Well, I'm running to train for my very first 5K race which I'm running with some friends from Cornerstone next weekend. It is amazing how at 41 years old, one (namely I) can still succumb to peer pressure! At any rate, today wasn't the best run. I felt like I was carrying around a heavy weight (other than the natural one I have amassed around my waist). This fact, accompanied by my thoughts around our small group Bible study lesson in Philippians 3, sent me to Hebrews 12. "Let's throw off all the hindrances and run with perseverance." Sounds like a plan. (Note that I am talking now of "running" in the figurative sense) But it isn't always that easy. What about the days when you aren't sure what the hindrances are? What about the days when you try to throw them off when all they while they appear to be attached with Gorilla Glue (the preceding was in no way an endorsement or criticism of Gorilla Glue, just an attempt to continue my trend of using lots of parenthetical statements in this blog).

That is when it feels like you're being disciplined. I don't mean in the sense that you're sticking to your plan. I mean in the sense that you're getting smacked. (Remind me to tell you of the paint stirring stick my mom kept on top of the fridge...)

But if you read on in Hebrews 12, you'll see that discipline isn't such a bad thing. The Lord kinda says He uses it on us to make us better because He loves us. (Can you imagine God saying "Now son, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you...?)

So on those days when it feels like you're "running" uphill...when you've got weight that you can't seem to shed...take heart. Jesus is running the race with you. He may be helping you to run, or He may be adding some weight to make you stronger. The cool part is that He is there...

Remember Bonnie Tyler?

Me neither! But I did look up on internet that classic 1978 forgettable hit "It's a heartache." She sang it, or at least was the person who was using her voice over music in the background to share those lyrics. Our Cornerstone devotions for today are taken from 2 Peter 3. Verse 9 goes like this: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Can I paraphrase? God is heartbroken at every lost soul. He says He wants everyone to come to repentance. Notice, that isn't just coming to Him, but coming to Him in repentance. That means being sorry for whatever sin you wrestle with, and then giving it to Him to rescue you from.

So, why is it that God is heartbroken over you? And what will you do about it?

Train Wreck!

OK, it wasn't actually a train wreck, it was more like a car wreck.

OK, it wasn't actually a car wreck, it was more like a fender-bender.

OK, it wasn't actually a fender bender, but I did hit another vehicle yesterday with my van. The evidence is clearly on the front bumper. It was that crazy Cranberry rush-hour traffic and someone ran a red-light and pulled right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, locked up all fours, and skidded to a near stop just in time for my bumper to smash into his tire. What happened next was amazing. He acted as if he never saw me, and just kept on driving. He got in his lane and headed on his merry way, and I got in my lane and headed on my merry way. It was as if he didn't even notice.

Now you're asking, why is he telling me this? Well, it actually dovetails with a conversation I had with someone this morning who was telling me of an experience on vacation in South Carolina where they met some people who actually worship the church in Florida where the former pastor of Cornerstone now serves. They met on the beach and struck up conversation over, of all things, a silly T-shirt.

That got me to thinking...how many opportunities does God put in our path that we just miss because we are going OUR way? How many times does He run right into the side of the vehicle of our life, only to have us respond in complete and utter apathy?

Lord, forgive me. When you need to get my attention today, please let me pull out in front of you. Jesus, thanks for being willing to wear my "tire marks" on your "bumper."