BA - Fort Wayne Bible College
MAR - Trinity Evangelical Divinity
D.Min - Grace Theological Seminary
Birkman Certified Coach
John Maxwell Certified Team Member
Myers/Briggs Certified
FIRO-B Certified
TKI Certified
25 Years Executive Coaching
“Michael Jordan embraced his failures. In fact, in one of his favorite ads for Nikem he says,”I’ve missed more than nine thousand shots. I’ve lost more than three-hundred games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the fame-winning shot and missed.’ You can be sure that each time, he went back and practiced the shot a hundred times” (Dweck).
Here is that Nike AD……
Again, a fixed mindset belongs to the person who sees failure and proof positive they are “no-good.” The growth mindset sees failure as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to become a better person. Embrace your missed shots and GROW!
Teddy Roosevelt stated, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
Feeling a little stress and/or overwhelmed? Let’s get some perspective!
Let’s assume that you are able to rocket yourself into outer-space – somewhere around the moon. You turn and look back at earth, that amazing blue ball. Do you see yourself on that blue ball? Can you find your BIG-BIG-BIG problem yet?
Now let’s turn toward the sun and imagine we could throw the earth into the sun – go ahead and throw it, watch it disappear. How many earths would it take to fill the sun? 1.3 million earths – WOWzers! That BIG-DEAL-OF-A-PROBLEM, have you located it yet from this perspective?
Now imagine the sun, scaled, as a grain of sand in a space that is 40x the wideth of earth. That would be the perspective of our sun in comparison to the Milky-Way. Now how big was that Big-Deal-of-a-problem?
Now if the Milky-Way is represented by the head of a pin and you held that pin up to the sky, you would realize that our Milky-Way is only one among the thousands of galaxies in outer space. Has your head exploded yet? Where did you say that problem is located?
Do not misunderstand my thought. I am not making light of problems and issues that we all face in life. However, the creator God that made all of the heavens is a God that I am confident can solve all of my pitiful problems! Go ahead and ask him – He is capable! In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1:1
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
Let’s take an inventory[1] of reality 7 weeks into the Covid shut down…..
Empty Churches
Church stages are serving as production studios
How do we count online attendance – 10 second visit or 30-minute visit?
National data shows that financial support for churches is all over the map
How do we re-start our life, job, church, city?
Post economic slump which impacts discretionary money for faith-initiatives is a rising concern
A growing conviction that we are experiencing something that is far greater than could have been imagined 7 weeks ago
This information is part of a growing body of research that is being collected in real from pastors and churches in America, Canada, and the UK. I feel there are some salient points to summarize the current reality. First of all, we need to embrace the fact we have lost our leverage points of typical church planning. We are using technology to reproduce a semblance of church as it has been known. Do not misunderstand my thoughts, Churches are doing an amazing job against all odds. Yet, deep inside all of us there are more questions than we currently have answers. We will be discussing this for months to come.
In my spirit being I am hearing the Lord calling us as Pastors/Teachers/Faith Leaders to a place of Spiritual authority. This is a place that you cannot plan for as normal. Consider Moses being called up to the mountain to step into a cloud – Exodus 19. Notice the trajectory of these words about a nation in transition from slavery to the promised land……
Vv.1-6 – God speaks
Vv. 7-8 Moses reports and the people respond
Vv.9-10 God calls Moses into the cloud on the mountaintop
Vv.11-15 Consecration of the Priests and people
Vv.16-25 Moses goes up, Moses comes down to get Aaron, Both go up, God speaks, Moses comes down to speak to the people
Isn’t it ironic that God asks Moses to step into a cloud in order to see more clearly and for God to transfer his power upon him? Israel was a nation in transition. This nation needed more than just words. They needed a power encounter with the living God. The second insight that I am hearing in my spirit being is an awakening – a move away from consumer faith based upon perceived wants toward actual life and eternal needs. Your voice will sound very different when speaking the truth claims of scripture when you emerge from the cloud.
There is always a RENEWAL that can occur from personal crisis. This is a season to drop the façade and step into the cloud so that God can speak and impress new marching orders upon our hearts and mouths. Personal renewal precedes corporate change.
Step into the cloud of obscurity to see the brightness of Christ post-covid.
[1] Cary Nieuwhof & David Kinnamon Podcast, Churchpulseweekly.org – ACCESSED 5 May, 2020.
If your actions inspire people to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are a transformational leader.
I believe in training in leadership. I have vested my 40+ years on Faith-based work of which 34 years investing in others to become leaders. However, so that we do not miss the elephant in the room, let’s understand there is a huge difference between trained leaders and transformational leaders.
I have provided a chart for comparison between being a trained leader versus a transformational leader.
There are 5 actions that are common in all transformational leaders – Do these!
Possess A Clear Picture of What Transformational Leaders Do – Transformational Leaders….
See things others do not see
Say things others do not say
Believe things others do not believe
Feel things others do not feel
Do things others do not do
Peter Marshall stated once that a different world cannot be built by indifferent people.
Focus on Your Own Transformation Before Leading Others To It – As leaders you and I have to be changed to bring change. We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are. The first person that must be changed in the transformational process is YOU! Take Positive Action Based on your Internal Change – Everything in life is UPHILL – all of the way. Transformation requires and uphill walk. Everyday. All the way. Most people would rather Talk – Think – Plan – Survey – Study – Rest. Gandhi stated once that an ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. Courage is required to leave the familiar to set off on a better way!
Create An Environment That Promotes Positive Change – Jim Collins stated that leaders who are passionate about transformation are the only leaders who can bring transformation. These leaders spread their “Value-Based” teachings knowing they will make a huge difference in people’s lives. Consider the following….
ATTITUDE – Colors everything in your life
COMMITMENT – Separates doers from dreamers
COMPETENCE – Shortest path to credibility
FORGIVENESS – Live with a light heart
INTEGRITY – Leads to a life of wholeness
PERSONAL GROWTH – People who keep learning always will have a future
RELATIONSHIPS – the quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life
Commit To Making A Difference With Others In Your Community – Transformation always follows the same pattern;
TOP-DOWN – Leadership influence filters down, not up
SMALL TO BIG – Mass movements begin with a few people
INSIDE OUT – Inner values determine outward behavior
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.comMusic: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!
Organizations as Living Organisms Systems and Fluidity in Motion
Perhaps your life work has been in the context of an organization. This org has charts, systems, protocols, hierarchical structures that must be followed, and where systems trump personnel. The very nature and reason for existence in an organization is that someone first “organized” it. Since that is true, changes within the org must be approved before adaptation, because someone organized it and organization is after all the objective.
Perhaps your life work has been in a different “org” called organism. Organisms constantly change. In biological organisms we see cell development that replaces other cells. There is an inherent adaptation to environment for survivals sake while remaining true to the original DNA that gives it the right to be called an organism. For example, there are numerous strains of the flu virus, adaptations within vegetation and various other illustrations, Uber, and Netflix.
If you engage with a culture and you are part of an organism, you’ll do better in understanding the cultural system that it lives in. This truth points out the tension between maintaining systems and procedures versus adaption and reinvention to meet new environmental shifts. In other words, the org chart is insufficient within organizations in shifting environments. Change becomes extremely slow to the point of missing opportunities. On the other hand, as you engage culture as an organism the ability to rapidly change can be quite fast and nimble. The tension in this circumstance is that change can be too fast, and it becomes novel to change versus meaningful change to meet a rapidly changing environment.
It is apparent that an organism is more resilient than organizations. However, there remains a question of the guiding NorthStar. Surely organizational structures and the novelty of rapidly changing as organisms is not the end purpose of life is it? Keep in mind that culture is the driving force. All historical crisis, including our current crisis forces a reset in re-evaluate our impact on culture versus our systems. So, what is the NorthStar? John’s Gospel 1:1 gives us our beginning; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The trajectory of this verse is a “was, is, and will be” that is embedded within the language of the writer. From this verse, you expand the “mega-narrative” of the Bible to see the adaptive nature of an eternal message being applied to a changing culture. In a nutshell that is our NORTHSTAR! The 2020 Pandemic is our opportunity for serious reflection not upon our systems (Important? YES), not upon our ability to pivot to digital technology (Important? YES), but rather the true impact of our NorthStar is the eternal impact upon our communities. The “was, is, and will be” trajectory of God’s Word drives systems and adaptability. SO, which org are you?
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
It might seem to speed up or slow down, but the energy of time and the outside world conspire to keep things moving from yesterday to tomorrow. Given that nothing is ever going to be the same, and that backwards isn’t an option, our only choice is forward.
Covid-19 did not just show up and declare itself to be the worst experience ever. We have seen this sort of crisis and many more are recorded in history. Ironically there is one piece of wisdom that is true in every crisis that has ever occurred. I know, you are probably thinking at this point that I am suffering from isolation syndrome. This is a claim that I do not make lightly yet I make it confidently. What is that piece of wisdom? MOVE FORWARD!
In fact, let’s go all the way back in time to Moses, Israel, and the Red Sea crossing. That story is located in Exodus chapter 14. God had made a way for Israel to escape Egyptian slavery. Pharaoh had a change of heart he pursued Israel with hundreds of soldiers and over 600+ chariots he set out to correct what now was a perceived error in letting Israel go.
Consider Israel’s dilemma now. They were released from the strong hand of Pharaoh by the mightier hand of God, they moved forward out of Egypt on that basis. Now they hear the noise of chariots and see the rising dust cloud of Pharaoh’s soldiers in pursuit. Israel’s observation followed by speech often sounds like us in 2020. What is this that is happening? Are we all going to die? Who is allowing this to happen? Will we ever be able to get “back to normal”? Israel desired to be free from slavery, yet when faced with an uncertain future their default position was to revert back to the way things were – Slavery! They blamed shifted their dilemma on to Moses – “Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone so that we could serve the Egyptians?” (Exodus 14:12).
Consider Moses the Leader of Israel and his humanity showing through. He attempts to do what any minister would do in the face of an emanant threat; “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord…..” However, it would appear that Moses and God had a conversation before crossing the Red Sea. In Exodus 14:15; “The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward….” The translation indicates a conversation that is not recorded in scripture. All we see is the outcome of God stating two things, (1) Tell the people to go forward and (2) Moses lift up your staff and stretch your hand over the sea……” You really must hit pause at this moment in the narrative. The plan is to go forward? YES! Mountains on either side, Pharaoh coming behind, there was nowhere to go accept forward! HOW? Raise your staff Moses and stretch your hand over the sea.
Insights On Moving Forward
There is a conspiracy of circumstances coupled with the motion of time to keep us from resting on yesterday
Forward is our only direction for Christlikeness
Do not become paralyzed by an uncertain future
Leadership in the face of an uncertain future requires obedience to unconventional actions steps that God communicates
Miracles happen when we trust and obey
Crisis blows up the box we have been attempting to get out of – Forward with Christ is our only hope
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit – Isaiah 11:1.
This passage of scripture is loaded with incredible meaning. Consider three (3) words of motion in this passage.[1]
STUMP (ge’za) – this term represents life after a glorious state – a stump is an image of a tree that once existed in this location.
SHOOT (ho’ter) – The picture is one of emergence, coming forth. There are 2 occurrences of this term in the Old Testament; Isaiah 11:1, Proverbs 14:3
BRANCH (net’ser) – This is a picture of that which is bright and green indicating something beyond emergence to that of flourishing. There are 4 occurrences in the Old Testament.
We cannot overlook the force of translation, “…will come forth…” From Isaiah the author of these words is speaking “post exilic”. He sees after the fact. Pause and let this sink in for just a moment. Isaiah’s audience is Judah. He speaks as a revivalist warning Judah to repent or become like Israel to the north that was being led into captivity. In essence Isaiah went to the mountain top to look beyond their location and frame of mind, came back to report that God’s people will be cut down to a stump. However, I have good news to bring, A shoot will emerge, and a branch will flourish from what seemed to be dead and lifeless. Isaiah was not just writing about a future restoration of Israel. He was writing from a Messianic Prophetic view. Captivity was bad and it changed everything they were familiar with. Yet, something greater was yet to come.
Covid-19 has changed our perspectives on life and our future. We did not see this coming, but it came forcefully and suddenly. As an aged minister I see OPPORTUNITY for a greater advancement of the gospel today than I have seen in a very long time. It seems there is a lot of discussion on getting back to normal or preparing for a new normal. I do not desire either one. Pre-Covid, in religious communities we spoke of “getting out of the box.” The box no longer exists! If the “new normal” post-Covid is simply the old normal 2.0, I am not interested! Isaiah was not preparing the people for post-captivity nationalism. He was preparing them for an entirely new nation – a Christ-Follower nation! The stump was what previously existed. The shoot was the emergence of a new way. The branch was not just a new way, but a way that would flourish.
Oh, before I go, Jesus the Nazarene, He was the shoot and branch of Isaiah’s prophesy. Nazareth means “shoot springing forth.” Shootsville![2]
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
We are 6+ weeks into Covid – it is time for some perspective on life
In his book, This Book Will Make You Dangerous, author Tripp Lanier stated; “A while back, astronomers found a tiny section of the night sky that appeared to be empty. And ‘tiny’ means the size of the head of a pin if you held it out at arm’s length. If you were to hold that tiny pinhead up to the sky, then that little, tiny portion of the sky appeared completely void of celestial light. So, they focused the Hubble Telescope up there, and let it absorb light for ten days.And in that tiny, tiny dark part of the night sky, which looked completely empty, they ended up discovering 3,000 galaxies.”
Just let that sink into your spirit being for just a minute. After you have taken time to let that sink in, let me give you some words from a different author that makes Lanier’s words and discovery seem smaller yet. Listen to his words; In the beginningGod createdthe heavensand the earth.2 Now the earth was formlessand empty,darkness was over the surface of the deep,and the Spirit of Godwas hoveringover the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.Genesis 1:1-5 NIV.
I need to pause and fill my coffee cup for the 3rd cup of the morning! WOW’zers! In what appears to be a pin-head size of darkness we discover 3,000 galaxies. Then we read the Bible to learn that GOD created that little discovery by man. Talk about perspective?
When you go to the local Barista the next time and they did not get your coffee fixed the way you like it, or the grocery bagger smashed your loaf of bread, or someone cut you off in traffic just remember, you are not that big of a deal! Perspective clarifies the important so we can discard the urgent! Live life FULLY and COMPLETELY from the perspective of the author of all things.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
“Many growth-minded people didn’t even plan to go to the top. They got there as a result of doing what they love. It’s ironic: The top is where fixed-minded people hunger to be, but it’s where many growth-minded people arrive as a by-product of their enthusiasm for what they do” (Dweck).
We all desire to be people that have a capacity to get things done. However, the real question that looms over this idea is; “Do you LOVE what you are doing?” There are innumerable illustrations of successful people that absolutely loved what they were doing. It appears the happiest people are the ones who absolutely love what they are doing.
If you are occupying space and simply drawing a paycheck, perhaps it is time for spiritual retreat. A time to get alone for serious reflective and critical thinking about the current trajectory of your life. Assuming all things remain the same, where will your current trajectory – the activities of your life take you in 5 years? 10 years? Can you articulate an answer?
Here’s to loving life, work and embracing opportunities as you allow the results to become the by-product of your passionate dedication.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
We tell people who are going through hard times “hang in there,” or “keep your chin up.” To persevere means to “persist in something,” in spite of persecution, opposition, or discouragement.[1]
There is a unique verb in the New Testament that is a low frequency word – prosketereo. The meaning of this word is to devote by means of perseverance. It is used eight (8) times. Here are the references[2] …..
Acts 1:4 – All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers…..
Acts 2:42 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers….
Acts 2:46 – And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts….
Acts 6:4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and ministry of the word.
Acts 8:13 – Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and miracles performed, he was amazed.
Romans 12:12 – Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer….
Romans 13:6 – For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God attending to this very thing….
Colossians 4:2 – Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving…
It is interesting to me that five (5) of the eight (8) references are directly connected to prayer. I invite you today to join me in three postures of prayer as we face yet another Covid-19 day.
RAISED HANDS – Give Praise
Arms stretched forward with palms turned up – RECEIVE allow your blessing to flow through your fingers to bless others
Arms stretched out to your side with palms turned up – SURRENDER – Here am I – send me!
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
[2] These scripture references are from the ESV Translation according to Logos Bible Software as used in a word study mode.
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
