Plannng and it's importance

Pray, Plan and Prioritize...then delegate.

But don't get hung up on planning...the LORD can intervene at any moment and you can change direction! Keep your ears open!

"You already know the ultimate destination of your journey: your entrance into heaven. So keep your focus on the path just before you, leaving outcomes up to Me" Nov 19th Devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

A few notes on "Planning" from the book of Proverbs:

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Proverbs 21:5

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1

We have to remember that these are observations...reality, not promises from the Bible. Our actions have consequences.


So, be sure to pray before making plans...and continue to pray!
______
My TWEETS _________________________________


Finished a good book recently: WHO  by Geoff Smart and Randy Street.

"The most important decisions that business people make are not what decisions but who decisions." -Jim Collins, Author of Good To Great.

That also goes for non profit organizations!
 Good book: Good to Great in the Social Sector. by Jim Collins

WHO
WHAT
HOW

It's relatively easy to figure out What to do and also How to do something.

Maybe a more important decision is WHY we do what we do.
What are our motives? Have we sought the LORD on what we plan to do?

Then the rest becomes easy.

A good book for figuring that out is " Start With Why by Simon Sinek.

If you don't know WHY, You can't know HOW.

"All great leaders have clarity of WHY; an undying belief in a purpose or cause bigger than themselves. It's not Bill Gates's passion for computers that inspires us, it's his undying optimism that even the most complicated problems can be solved. He believes we can find ways to remove obstacles to ensure that everyone can live and worked to their greatest potential. It is his optimism to which we are drawn." P. 134

“If the leader of the organization can’t clearly articulate WHY the organization exists in terms beyond its products or services, then how does he expect the employees to know WHY to come to work?”
― Simon Sinek, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action

Let me know your thoughts!
Have a great day!

Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?

My latest blog post

System for making Decisions: : Corona Virus

Whatever your most pressing decision is: Here is a good system for evaluating risk!

 Best/Worst Analysis  

B/WA Formula

 Notes taken from the book by Ben Carson,

 TAKE THE RISK: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk.

I would summarize one of the most important insights I took from the book as “How to make decisions without leaving God out of the equation!

Risk Analysis Process

You can print this and use as a template for decision making.

Questions to ask when making a decision:

What is the best thing that can happen if I do this?

What is the worst thing that can happen if I do this?

What is the best thing that can happen if I don’t do it?

What is the worst thing that can happen if I don’t do it?

________________________________

The rest of this post are My comments on his 4 questions.

Ask these questions in light of the following:

Outcomes may change over time because of changing conditions!

Who?

What?

Where?

When?

How?

Why?

Answering these familiar queries in the context of the four basic Best/Worst Analysis questions will sharpen the focus and refine the accuracy of any risk analysis process

WHERE

Where are you going? (Your goals)

Where are you now? (Your skills, your abilities, your thinking, and your attitudes)

Where will you start? (Your preparation)

WHEN

Often the timing of a Best/Worst Analysis affects our conclusion.

Always do a B/WA again whenever you think something has changed significantly: a year later, at a different point in life, or maybe after pondering some of these who, what, when,  how, and why considerations. Times change. So do circumstances. Sometimes those changes will affect your Best/Worst Analysis, modifying your thinking-maybe even reversing your decision.

HOW

You don’t have to address who, what, where, when, how, and why in any particular order.  They may need to be viewed simultaneously because they sometimes complement each other or need to be combined.

Sometimes answering one of the (how or?) conclusions may change your risk-analysis equation entirely.

WHY

It is impossible to do an effective B/WA without considering why. You need to examine, and often re examine, your reasoning in light of your motives, which involve your personal values.  Your values must be weighed carefully against you’re analyses and conclusions. 

Some Truths About RISK

1.                  Everything is Risky

2.                  The more we know, the more we worry.

3.                  A Lot of Risks Aren’t Worth the Worry.

4.                  We Can’t Eliminate All Risk

5.                  Minimizing Risk Is Often the Best We Can Do.

6.                  Each of Us Has to Decide What the Acceptable Risks Are

7.                  Not All Risks Are Bad

8.                  We Are All Going to Die of Something Eventually

 

Risk Number One-Thinking in New Ways

Risk Number Two-Weighing the Alternatives

Risk Number Three-Making Your Own Decision

Even when the Best/Worse Analysis doesn’t result in a particularly positive outcome, you are unlikely to have a worse outcome because you did the analysis, and what a B/WA does guarantee is that you consider the various possibilities in a reasonable, logical manner before making any uncertain or risky decision. That has to improve the odds that you come up with a happy solution-or at least with a reasonable and defensible course of action that will minimize the risk of regrets.

Need to weigh risks in light of my beliefs and my values. My obligations to others should be greater than any obligations to myself.

Since I believe God’s guidance and provision has brought me to this point, I should ask Him to open the doors He wants me to walk through and to give me wisdom in how to proceed.

Importance of using my talents and not allow minor interferences to derail my mission if life.

Creativity requires risk, so does exploration and innovation. Anyone who thinks outside the box is taking a risk.

In doing this risk analysis, one needs to consider the implications of any decision, not just for one’s self but for other people. How will my decision impact others?

Taking Us Out of the Middle

Once we manage to remove our egos from the equation, many of the most commonplace and unsettling personal risks we face in life become a lot less personal and no longer seem to be much of a risk after all.  That discovery frees us up to better concentrate on dealing with the real risks presented by truly important issues.

A few added thoughts: "Destiny is not a mystery. For better or worse, your destiny is the result of your daily decisions and defining decisions."  Mark Batterson. The Circle Maker.

"Along with daily decisions, there are defining decisions. We only make a few defining decisions in life, and then we spend the rest of our lives managing them." Mark Batterson. The Circle Maker. 

Something to pray about!

My Tweets for the day 

 

Important decision to make! 

Sunday afternoon. What's next?

Maybe if we are believers...and attended church this weekend...we may be contemplating the message we  heard. How important is that to us? 

Any connection to the other 6 days of our week?  

Soon it will be Monday morning...and some of us are off to work or are we?

Someone once said that if we are doing what we are passionate about...it's not work!

Sunday and Monday...any connection?

Our work: How important is it to us?


Who are we really working for?

Are we worshiping our work and working at our worship? 

Are we finding joy and peace in our everyday work?

Is this talk about finding peace confusing? 

How to find peace with God!

10 Steps to Finding a Position of Your Dreams...Using Linkedin as a Tool!

 Over the course of time...past 20 plus years...working with people looking for a job...meeting with individuals as a group and also one on one, I have proposed the following process in some way, shape or form:

This is WHAT I would do IF I were looking for a job.

I never got a job with a resume. 

AND your probably wondering if anyone got a job following my advice.
Don't really know...My good friend Wayne said once. "You can teach a person what to do but you can't make them DO what is in their best interest to do". That's a paraphrase of his comment after my voicing disappointment that with all the help & advice I have given many people especially about updating their Linkedin profile few people follow through.  

You don't get a job because of your Linkedin Profile. It's just a tool to connect with the right people who can help you.  AND to see who the people are that are doing the job you might love to do...but only better!

So, here are  my 10 steps to Finding a Job You Can Love!

1. Identify your passion. What are you interested in...What makes you get up in the morning?

2. What company or  non profit would you ideally love to work with...NOT for. 
There IS a difference.

3.  Explore their website. What is their mission  and vision?

4. Connect with people working for that organization. It's really not hard to do.

5.  Take your new "connections" out for coffee...Again not hard to do. Use your creativity.

6.  What are the challenges that organization is facing...short term and long term.

7.  After taking the Strengthfinders. 2.0 Assessement...you now know or have a clue to your "Strenghts' and HOW to use them!  So you are now going to use your "Strengths"to solve their most pressing challenge!

8  Remember, You are unique! There is no one else like you.

9. Forget about  the "job description" IF you are pursuing a job with an opening... It's just a clue to their perceived needs! 
Positions that are advertised are probably already taken. Why compete...It's a losing game. 
So don't spend alot of time with that goal of submitting applications to job openings. You can do that, but...  

10. So you are now going to use your "Strengths"to solve their most pressing challenge! AND
You are going to create your own "position". 

On your journey...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

 On our journey with Jesus! "The trail is long, and we won't arrive at our destination in this life. Still, we're on the journey with Jesus for the greatest thrill of our lives." Zig Ziglar

Remember, You Are Special and Unique!

Why I Get Up in the Morning

 To continue in my relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ, so that  I can:

1.     Be close to Him

2.     Worship Him

3.     Be a fragrant offering to Him

4.     To be a reflection of God into the world

5.     Be Holy as He is holy

6.     Show His love to the world…my family and neighbors

7.     Be an encouragement to people who He brings in my path

8.      

Pastor Matts sermon on August 25^th 2019  Prayer as Soul Shaping

     Prayer As -Soul Shaping With God.

Praying regularly for others

My limitations do NOT limit what God can do in prayer!

Colossians 1:9 

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^[

Praying for knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding…

Praying to Live Worthy of the Lord

Colossians 1:10-14

 ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1                 Bear fruit of the Spirit

2                 Knowledge of God

3                 Patience

4                 Joy and gratitude

Bottom Line:

Living it out…not just knowledge or words, but Blooming Where I am planted …now.

A few of my favorite worship songs!

   "In the great orchestra we call life...it's always good to have a song in our heart." Max Lucado

First heard this song in the early 70's.

One of the questions in our Faithwalkers Saturday morning Men's Bible Group:

1. The Spirit-filled believer sings and makes music to the Lord in their heart.  Are you a singing Christian?  Do you have a song in your heart?

Yes, and I am posting just a few of my favorites... Not in any order of preference.
More later.

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20

We are one in the spirit...

This song was sort of an anthem among the Jesus People in the '60s and '70s

First heard this song in the early 70's, See prior post

 

The heartbeat of our mission...is still the same!

 

 

 

. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My top 10 worship songs at this time...I guess I went past the 10...always subject to change.

Leave a comment...with a favorite worship song!

Finding peace with God 

In the great orchestra we call life...

"There are things only  you can do,
          and you are alive to do them.

In the great Orchestra we call life,
          you have an instrument and a song,

and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely."

Max Lucado: Quote is from his book, The Applause Of Heaven.

Play on

"For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10 NIV

PLAY ON!

My latest TWEETS

Planning and it's importance

Pray, Plan and Prioritize...then delegate.

But don't get hung up on planning...the LORD can intervene at any moment and you can change direction! Keep your ears open!


"You already know the ultimate destination of your journey: your entrance into heaven. So keep your focus on the path just before you, leaving outcomes up to Me" Nov 19th Devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

As Oswald Chambers states : "The circumstances of a man's life are ordained by God. In the life of a saint there is no chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose through the intercession of the Spirit in you." 


Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?The circumstances of a man's life are ordained bly God. In the life of a saint there is no chance

A few notes on "Planning" from the book of Proverbs:

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9



"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Proverbs 21:5

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1

We have to remember that these are observations...reality, not promises from the Bible. Our actions have consequences.


So, be sure to pray before making plans...and continue to pray!



Let me know your thoughts!
Have a great day!

Leaving a Legacy

Interested in making a difference or change in the lives of people in your city...Milwaukee...or any city or town in the country?

 

 

What is Neighborhood Transformation?

Neighborhood Transformation is a strategy that helps churches minister in a wholistic manner to people in urban poor neighborhoods. It empowers people to take responsibility for their own lives. It helps neighbors to help their neighbors and moves them from welfare and relief to empowerment. It focuses on assets found in the neighborhood, which fosters local ownership instead of being based on problems that they expect outsiders to fix for them. 

  

But another option is to start right now...right where you are...and you don't have to wait for your church to get on board...you can start alone and or with a friend!

 

You may already be heavily involved in your own ministry and may not be able to take on a new ministry...but remember that Neighborhood Transformation is a template of hundreds of elements that a person does dependent on what they are already doing in a neighborhood.

 

 Check out the links below to see what small elements you can add to your current ministry...and then see how combining God's word and His example of showing love to all people...and then helping them engage in this ministry can lead to the extension of God's Kingdom!  Talk about multiplication!

 

Search the list below and pick out your top 3 most fun activities you and another person can do together!  

 

100 Ways you can start to use to get to know your neighbors!

 

And if you would like to get to know alot of new neighbors...here is another fun easy activity you and a friend or partner can do!

 

9 Easy Questions you can ask your neighbor to start the process! 

 

Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation helps people in the neighborhood transform their lives and communities from the inside out, resulting in:

• People knowing, loving, caring and serving their neighbors
• People taking responsibility and working to change their reality
• A reduction in disease, crime, drug abuse, and alcohol addiction
• People knowing Christ with healthy, growing churches
• Improved employment and living conditions    
• Hope, health, and enthusiasm toward neighborhood life 
•  

 Isn't this exciting!

 

Let's begin the journey!

  

It all starts with developing relationships!

 

Short blog about how you can get started!

 

Neighborhood Transformation-Milwaukee

 

  First Neighborhood Transformation Event was in Milwaukee in 2011 

 

 

Programs for poverty alleviation are good...but "without heart change, money, healthcare, housing, and education do not meet our world's deepest needs." "Apart from Christ, we might simply introduce the problems of prosperity while we solve the problems of poverty. -  Peter Greer

 

 "The church should be the most creative entity in the world."

 

  By "Church" I mean the people of God, not the physical building or institution.

 

  You as an individual can use your creativity to bring glory and honor to the   LORD! 

  What a journey!

Follow me on TWITTER 

Spiritual Gifts:Tests and Assessments: How important are they?

At our local Saturday morning "Men's Group", we had a short teaching on Ephesians 4:1-16, and "spiritual gifts"

Our small table Discussion Questions:

 
1. How should we live in the light of our Calling?
2. What spiritual gift do you have to build up the church?
3. Why is unity Important?

 

It was interesting listening to answers to Question #2 that it was apparent that there were different "gifts" that men had that were not among the common "gifts" listed in various scripture passages. Some were "Strengths" that could be common to all people...believers and non believers. 

 

We use our "Strengths" every day!  In our families, careers, jobs, business's.

Strengthsfinder.2.0 Assessment gives one a good 16 page pdf printout showing how you can use and develope  your strengths and use them every day!

One of my prior posts explains this more fully.

 

 

Also that none of the men at my table had ever taken a "Spiritual Gift Assessment" and that there was such an "Assessment"

 

  

I had taken several such assessments years ago...and was asked to bring some resources next week. 

 

 

After doing alittle research...I decided to make this blog post with some resources.

 

 

Be wary of tests and assessments: Best to be wary of Spiritual Gift Tests & Assessments

 

 Different "Assessments" and "Tests" have different "gifts".

 

 

Alot has to do with our understanding of scripture and the denomination we come from. 

 

A good list and definition of "Spiritual Gifts"

 

A fairly good Assessment 

  

Why is this all important?

 ⁷ The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  1st Peter 4:7-11

 

 You might also check out these verses in various Biblical translations~

 

 

Check out 1st. Corinthians 12.

 

Going from ME to WE.

 

One body.  So whatever our "gifts" are...we are part of the body. Each  part of the body is important and needed. So we should be in a local body of Christ, where we are encouraged to serve...whatever our gifts and strengths are.

Bottom line: We are given "gifts" to serve.

Any "Assessment" one takes, requires a fairly good amount of time...but it is worth it!  Helps us find our place in ministry. 

 

The difference between natural talents or strengths and Spiritual Gifts

Hope this is of help. 

Blessings

Richard