Encouragement Gives Energy!

I am a Miami Heat fan - I believe they are the next Chicago Bulls.  They have the make up of greatness, of synergy and unity of purpose.  They have amazing talent and experience on their team; but what makes them great is their discipline and sacrifice to give up personal attention so that they can be successful as a team.

How do they keep everyone working, sacrificing and playing their roles on the team? How do they perservere through the losses, the disagreements, or when the strategy is not always working?

The key: Encouragement.  Encouragement brings energy.

Lebron and D. Wade are the clear leaders of the team.  For sure, they are the leaders because of their basketball skills.  But, they are seen as leaders because they lead the team with encouragement.  They are the two greatest motivators for everyone else.  They support one another.  They are sensitive to each player’s personality - they are watching for when a player is doubting himself - they are quick to push someone when they are only giving 75%.

What a great reminder for us when we are working with people.  By the way, we should treat the people around us like a team! Your team!  Bring people in with you to collectively serve together to accomplish a common mission.  

Give Encouragement

The 3 most critical times to encourage your team:

1. Just before an event or task that is big or difficult to do

Most of us do not have the initiative to step out and launch.  We need that motivational speech to move us to start - to act.

Your team needs to hear:

"You can do it”

“The time is now”

“I will help you"

2. At the halfway point of a project

We get overwhelmed and nervous that what we are trying to accomplish may not work.  Your team needs your vote of confidence that they are doing the right thing, that they have what it takes to accomplish the task.  

Your team needs to hear:

“I believe in you”

"stay strong”

“Don’t give up"

3. Just after that event or task

After an event, people are exhausted, and they are wondering if their work was worth it.  They are also wondering if those around them thought it was successful - (we need the approval of others.) They need celebration and acknowledgement.

Your team needs to hear:

“I’m so proud of you”

“You did it! you made it”

“It was worth it!”

Don’t underestimate the power of your encouragement at the right times.  If you want your team to win the game, start by encouraging them!

 

God’s Not Dead Movie

I am SO GLAD this movie has come out the SAME TIME that the Russel Crowe movie, Noah premieres in theaters.  I’ve read that the director of the Noah movie, Darren Aronofsky is an atheist.  I’ve also read that “God” is never mentioned in the movie.  This is typical Hollywood agenda to twist and edit the Holy Bible to deceive people.

The movie, God’s Not Dead, conversely is about a young student who finds himself in a class where the professor denies the existence of God, and consequently, asks the class to deny God.  When the student does not comply, the professor argues with him in the class, and puts the burden of proof on this lone student.  The student is forced to defend the God of the Holy Bible, and builds a case using real evidence.

I’ve heard some followers of Jesus say “I respect other people’s views”- they are trying to be kind to those they are debating – they want to appear reasonable to people who have differing views.

I disagree with that notion. 

I do not respect other people’s views when it comes to what the Holy Bible says.

I do respect people who disagree with me, most certainly.

I do respect people’s right to disagree with me.

But I do not respect other views contrary to the Word of God (the Bible), because I think they are ridiculous.

When I see creation – the earth, the sky, the stars, humanity –

I see the design of God. 

Psalm 8:3-4 (New King James Version)

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him,
 And the son of man that You visit him?

Scientists have determined that our precious planet earth is placed in a particular orbit around the sun at the exact distance needed to sustain life.  It rotates slightly off axis in an elliptical pattern, which affects our changing seasons.  The moon rotates around the earth, which affects the changing tides in the oceans.

Consider our atmosphere and the concept of gravity:  It holds our earth and all that is created together.  On a micro level, it works somewhat like an atom.  Electrons rotate around the nucleus holding the atom together.  The Bible teaches that it is God who holds all things together:

Colossians 1:17 (New Living Translation)

He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.

These are but two of many examples that we see in our world that point to the existence of an “Intelligent Design”.  In my opinion, it is illogical and even ridiculous to try to explain creation in any other way. 

More specifically, I believe that this “Intelligent Design” comes from none other than what the Holy Bible teaches.  It is the God of the Bible – the One true, living God.

The Bible has been proven over and over as a true and trustworthy book.  It has stood the test of time, even after being scrutinized.

God has not hidden His nature or His intention from us, His creation.  He has willingly revealed Himself to us.

Colossians 1:15 (New King James Version)

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

Romans 1:20 (New International Version)

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

This story in the movie, God’s Not Dead is inspiring.  Seeing a young student have the courageous and the audacity to stand up to a professor who discounts our God of the Bible is awesome!

I am raising my two children to have that same passion for God, to know His Holy Word, and to speak up for what is true!

Con-fron-ta-tion.......Run away!!

Con-fron-ta-tion
noun
1. a hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between two opposing parties.

Confrontation.  yuck! what a bad word :) confrontation is awful, and is to be avoided at all costs! right?

Wrong! (I’m confronting you on this subject right now!) :)

I have learned to embrace conflict and not run from it.  The only mature way to deal with conflict is with that word: confrontation.  I have seen how when I handle conflict with confidence, clarity of purpose, and pure motive, it leads to resolution.  

See my chart below on what I believe is a healthy view of Confrontation:

Notice that all of the components in this model are positive and yet truthful.  It is based around key words like:

truth

understanding

clarity

mission

Now, look at my chart below on what happens too often in teams, families, and in relationships:

Notice some key words:

barriers

scared

wait

paralyze

pressure

aggravate

disfunction

fall out

I challenge you to embrace confrontation - it is a healthy part of building great relationships.  For a team, it is vital to reaching a level of effectiveness.  Great teams build trust, work hard and play hard together, and communicate openly and honestly.  When there is confrontation, the leader sets the tone for the conversation and reminds the team of the mission.

When preparing to confront, here are some tips to prepare:

1. Pray about it first before confronting, asking for God’s help.  Ask God to first prepare your heart.  Then, pray for the person or team that you need to confront
2. Clarify what the issue is.  What is truly important vs. what are just feelings or preference.  What is the ONE THING you want to relay?
3. Get specific.  Have examples ready.  It’s only fair to discuss an issue if you have prepared with facts to back it up.
4. Listen and be receptive.  Stephen Covey says “seek to understand first before trying to be understood.” This displays patience, maturity and genuine care for the other person.
5. Bring solutions.  Be a part of fixing the issue, not just bringing problems to the table.
6. Offer to help.  Commit to personally contributing.  Voice your loyalty and declare your commitment to the mission.  Communicate that you value the person and that you believe in them.  

So, buck up! Get courageous and confront!  :)

Chutes and Ladders

January 1st, and .... the Pilot family has proudly taken down the Christmas Decorations! 

Don't get me wrong - we LOVE Christmas and all of the decorations.  But we love getting everything put away and having the house straightened up.  It gives us a sense of starting the new year fresh and ready.

My wife and I have an agreement - a clear wall of separation on who does what at "teardown." She does the inside, I do the outside.  (although I end up helping with some of the heavy stuff on the inside. :)

So, it's my job to get the extension ladder and take down the Christmas lights.  Also, I put all of the packed up decorations back in the attic in the garage.  

My only problem is: I tend to be scared of heights.  I hate the feeling of being at the top of the ladder, because I never feel like I have a solid footing.  The ladder could slip! It's really hard climbing up and down from the roof, because there is nothing really to hold on to - those roof tiles are loose!

So, I break our rule and yell for Kellie to come hold the ladder while I reach to the top lights.  It gives me a sense of security knowing that she is holding the ladder and watching me.  

This made me think how thankful I am that I have Jesus Christ "holding the ladder" for me in my life journey.  He has always been there to make me feel secure:

Isaiah 33:6 NIV

He will be the sure foundation for your times,

    a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;

    the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

As I was at the top of that wobbly ladder, the thought crossed my mind:

How do people go through the tough times in life without Jesus as their foundation? How do people take a step into uncharted territories without the assurance that Jesus is with them?

Jesus shared a story to His followers about people who have the foundation of God and those that do not:

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus knows that you are not strong enough go through life on your own.  You are not wise enough to know how to handle the storms of life with you being in charge.  Jesus wants to lead you and help you.  It’s in the tough times that He will show You His strength.  It’s in the lonely times that He will show You that He will never leave You.  It’s when you have failed that He will show His lovingkindness. 

Don’t resist the leadership of Jesus Christ in your life.  Declare Him Your Lord and Saviour and let Him hold you secure through this year.  When you do, you can face the challenges and uncertainty with great confidence – Jesus is holding the ladder.

Unveiling

I am studying the book of Revelation from the Bible.  It is a dynamic, action-filled book! It is known for it's prophecy of the end times.  The title, "Revelation" means "unveiling".  In this great book, we begin to see God's plan unfold for mankind.  We see epic battles and we witness the majestic reign of God as the Victor over satan forever.

However, the main theme of Revelation is not prophecy - it is about the "unveiling" of Jesus Christ.  In fact, the entire Bible points to the promise of Jesus - the Messiah, the Christ (meaning Anointed One.) He is the Lamb of God, the Word become flesh, the Image of the Invisible God.  In Revelation, we see Jesus as the Reigning King.  He is the Great I AM - the One Who Was, Who Is, and Who Is to come.  The end of times points to Jesus as God.  

If you have never read the book of Revelation, you will be surprised to find that it begins with Jesus speaking to His church.  

Before the "unveiling" story is told, Jesus has important messages for seven churches.  The fact that these messages come first in the book suggests priority of order.  The fact that Jesus, Himself gives the messages to the writer shouts an emphatic intensity.

In Revelation, chapter 3, Jesus addresses the Church of Laodicea:

These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked-I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent.

Jesus is "frustrated" with His church because they are lukewarm.  He explains that it is "because they were wealthy and have need of nothing."  Sometimes, having everything perfect and tidy in our lives causes problems for us spiritually.  God wants to provide for us.  He wants to prove Himself and will answer our prayers in the way we would hope.  However, if we base our spiritual thermometer on whether or not God has answered every prayer the way we think He should, then we miss the bigger picture.  

Most of the time,

it is when we find ourselves in need that we seek God the most.

  

God knows that only He can fill our longing …  with Himself.  That may be why He doesn't always give us what we THINK we need.  He gives us what we TRULY need - more of Him.  God is MORE THAN ENOUGH! 

I am learning that my greatest need is not my concern for today (money, security, etc.).  My greatest need is Jesus - more of Jesus, less of me.  More of His character, less of my will.  More surrender and abandonment of the things of the world, more embracing my Savior and the riches of His love.  

As I journey through this life, I want to learn how to let go of the things I think I need, so I can more fully embrace the power, the glory and the revelation of who Jesus truly IS!