Category Archives: Leadership

Business Cards

I’m convinced God uses our KIDS to speak to us.   On Wednesday evenings I get to take the kids home after church activities.  We always have to go through my office, just to make sure it is locked up.

It’s a treat for the kids. (I still haven’t figured out why)  This past week, Kalei grabbed on of my business cards out of the holder that sits on top of my desk – and handed it to me and said, “Does this change lives for God?”

I didn’t understand what she said at first… and I don’t know if she knew what she said… but she said it again.

“Does this change lives for God?”

My simple response was, “I sure hope so baby!”  

That is what our business cards should represent – a life and a church that changes lives for God.   Who knows, I might even put that on my next business card!

Cornerstone Church… “Changes lives for God!”

 - Go make a difference for Christ today!


Life is like Solitaire!

How many times did you win?

Not every game can be won!

What was your highest score? (Are we so focused on the win you miss the score?)

Just because you can play a card doesn’t mean it will help you.

You can play 1 card or 3 card.

          The easier way does not guarantee a win.

          The easier way – does not mean it’s the better way.

It is easy to miss a detail that can cost you a win!

Attack the Piles!  The Big Piles are some times hard to play, but attack the “hard stuff” in life.  Don’t run from it.

One card can make a difference! It can unlock the whole game for you!

Sometimes you have to make a tough choice. (do I pull from the stack or do I pull from the deck!)

There is no KEY or secret formula to a win!

I’d love to hear your lessons!


Wrong Question

Reading Joshua 5, as they are ready to march on Jericho, the scripture describes that Joshua encounters a man with a sword in his hand.

Joshua asks, are you on our side or theirs. The New American Standard just says the man answered, “NO!”  Not neither, not let me think about it, he just says, NO!

Sometimes we ask the wrong questions.  The issue isn’t, God are you on my side?   It should be God can I be on your side? 

Technically the man (or angel) was saying, God is not on your side, but you can be on the Lord’s side – if you obey!

 Who’s side are you on?

Have a great week with Jesus!


One Great Week!

I had a moment today that is somewhat laughable.   Some of you are going to think I’m a terrible person – others may join in and laugh with me.

I was working on my day off!  I know, BAD BRENT!  But we are working to get things ready for an AMAZING EASTER SUNDAY!  While I’m going 100 miles an hour – I had not ONE, but TWO sales people… “WANT TO TALK WITH THE PASTOR.”

Usually, sales people would call or e-mail and make an appointment, but these guys just dropped in!  And they caught me working my tail off!

The first one, I gave him 3 minutes.  When he said, “network level marketing,” I know my eyes glazed over.  In 30 more seconds I was shaking his hand and showing him the door.

The second one was a little more humorous.   I had Joe Shepard on the scaffolding, waiting for me.  Ryan Ramey, looking for something for me.  I quickly ran out to my office – and on the way back into the big building I saw a gentlemen. 

“You looking for someone?”  I asked.

“I’d like to speak with the pastor. Is he here?” He said.

I said, “He is, but he is really busy right now. You might call his office and make an appointment.”

Then I just walked on in the building, shaking my head of course.  I don’t think I lied to the guy – I just didn’t have time on my day off to hear another “Network Level Marketing” presentation!

I know that Glazed over look well… It seems when I invite my friends, neighbors, and people I meet to church – they kind of give me the same look.  But this is ONE week – people may be more sensitive to an invitation.

I hope you will BEGIN RIGHT NOW praying for the right person to invite to church.  Pray for the right moment to invite them.  And Pray God will move upon their heart to go with you!

I think EASTER would be so much better if someone you invited GOT SAVED!!!!

It’s going to be a GREAT Week!


The Big Three

This past week I was watching a follow-up story on Ted Haggard, the former pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Co.  It is such a tough story and my heart breaks for Ted, his family and the members of that church.  I know this happened years ago, but a man gifted by God, fell into the trap of sin.

 David made the same mistake.  Coming to a place where he was totally consumed with lust.

 I have heard it said the three areas Satan wants to attack pastors and church leaders are power, money and sex.   When you think about great leaders in the church, and the sins that tripped them up, it usually goes back to those big three.

 That is why in Deuteronomy 17:16 & 17 – God is giving instructions for when Israel is led by a man. 

 16 The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself, and he must never send his people to Egypt to buy horses there, for the LORD has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ 17 The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will lead him away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate vast amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.

 Don’t acquire a lot of horses.  Don’t acquire a lot of wives and don’t accumulate vast amounts of gold.

 Horses in those days signified a strong army or POWER. A lot of wives, would only belong to a man who was consumed with the lure of lust.   Vast gold and silver – is the same trap as money.

 In Deuteronomy, nearly 400 years, God gave a warning that David should have listened to.   Leaders today would do well to avoid the pitfalls of Power, Money and Sex.

 Take a second to pray for your spiritual leaders, that they would have the strength to fulfill the vision God has called them to and not fall prey to the traps of the enemy!


Spiritual Gifts pt. 5

Today – we will post the questions about the Teacher.  (Sorry for the delay in getting the last 2 gifts up – we’ve been on Spring Break Vacation!!)

The same as the other gifts, on each question rate yourself 0-5.  Zero being – that is “NOT” me. Five being – Yep, that describes me to a “T.”

1 – You love to learn  (You feel an internal pull to read bible. You also have notebooks of sermons you have never preached.)

2 – You have a systematic approach to how you study and present material.  (You read the Bible with a plan.)

3 – You have a high level of self discipline, endurance and consistency.

4 – Credentials and education are very important to you.

5 – You are more interested in content that people.  (You are happy to lock up in your study all day.)

6 – Accuracy is very important to you.  (A verse out of context will make you mad)

7- Fact only please!  (You don’t want opinions or feelings!)

8 – You can take a hard idea that is difficult to understand and simplify it so others can learn.

9 – You spot details and facts others miss. (can look at a spread sheet and find a 32 cent mistake)

10 – You love to see other people learn. (You love to watch people “GET IT”)

Thanks for all the feed back on the Spiritual Gifts.  I hope this helps you to discover who God has created you to be.  A couple of good resources I recommened to help you learn more – Craig Groeschel’s book  Chawzon It is a great book that has some good resources connected to it about having a “vision for your life.”

Have a great week with Jesus.   I’ll see you after Spring Break!


Pastor

Here are the questions for the spiritual gift of a pastor.  Rate on a scale of 0 – 5.   Zero being “not at all”   Five being – “that’s me!)

1 You need deep friendships with mutual loyalty and commitment. (Relationships are DEEPER than they are wide.)

2 You value high participation in a project.  (It isn’t about the project, but the relationships.)

3 You are more concerned with internal hurt than physical distress or needs.  (More concerned about the internal hurts and wounds)

4 You attract hurting people (Rescuers)

5 You are a very thoughtful person

6 You enjoy serving and being behind the scenes.  (don’t want the mic. Don’t want to be out front.)

7 You postpone conflict – OR NOT AT ALL – unless it will “fix it”

8 You can share in other’s emotions! (You truly celebrate with them and cry when they cry)

9 You rely on emotion to make decisions.

10 You worry about wandering / uncared for believers.

Have a great week – we’ll finish these tests later this week!


Gifts pt 3 (Evangelist)

Here are the qestions for the spiritual gift/office of Evangelist.  On a scale of Zero to FIVE rate each question.  0 – that is not me.  5 – yep, thats me alright!

1 – You set goals and strive to accomplish them.

 2 – You can easily adapt your communication style to connect with different people.  (doesn’t matter age, background, socioeconomic status.)

 3 – You intentionally have relationships with lost people and are comfortable with them. (its not awkward for them or you)

 4 – You always look to turn conversations to spiritual things.

 5 – You worry about lost people. (it is a consuming passion if someone is not saved)

 6 – When it comes to the bible and Christianity, you only focus on Salvation. (there are other topics in the bible, but Salvation is all that matters)

 7 – You experience True Joy when someone gets saved.

 8 – You place a great deal of importance on “Repentance.”

 9 – When presenting a topic (salvation) you press for a decision.  (Good sales people, know how to close the sale.)

 10  You have led multiple people to Christ.  (It never dawned on you)

Have a great day with Jesus!


Gifts pt. 2

Today we are going to take on the Prophet gift – based on Ephesians 4:11.   Score yourself on a scale from 0 – 5.  Zero meaning this DOES NOT describe you.  Five, meaning this is a very accurate description of you.  By the end of the week – we’ll have a good idea of your spiritual wiring!

To hear the sermon that accompanies this test you can listen here… Eph. Week 6.

Q1 – You feel a desire that you must be heard!   Your ideas, opinions and thoughts must be heard!  (Especially when it comes to right and wrong.)

 Q2 – Very strict standards and personal morals.

 Q3 – You see everything as Black and white. ( Typically can’t see the other side of the story.) 

Q4 – uniquely gifted to spot hypocrisy in others.   (They dislike Hidden Agendas)

 Q5 -  Usually pretty open in expressing their own faults and accepting  consequences of those actions. (Because of the way they are so FRANK – they go through a lot of personal brokenness. )

 Q6 –  You do very well with HONEST PEOPLE.

 Q7 – You see cultural trends, teachings, events and problems in the culture that  lack morality and cause destruction. 

Q8 – You have few or NO close friends.  (No one is good enough)

 Q9 – if you very Loyal and committed without reservation.

 Q10 – Operate in Boldness.  ( They are not afraid to proclaim the truth.)

Total up your score – we’ll talk more tomorrow!


Spiritual Gifts part 1

The past two weeks at Cornerstone we have been talking about Spiritual Gifts found in Ephesians 4.  We took the time to walk through 10 statements or questions about each gift. This week – I’m going to take a day to talk about each gift.

 Today we’ll start with the apostle.  These are the questions – and score yourself 0-5.  Zero being, that never describes you and five means that is a GREAT description of you.

 Today we’ll do the Apostle. (Here are the 10 Statements)

 Q1 You have a desire to do exciting new things for the kingdom of God. (You love being creative with doing NEW things.   “Because that’s the way we have always done it” – drives you insane!)

 Q2 – you have a NETWORKING capability to connect with people and resources to get things done. (You know everyone’s face, but not their name.)

 Q3 – You connect well with other cultures and ethnic groups.   (People from other cultures don’t bother you.  You feel more at home in other nations.)

Q4 – You are willing to make personal and physical sacrifices to start new works. (You will pay a high price to make sure the work gets started.)

 Q5 – You can adapt well to surroundings and you actually ENJOY change.

 Q6 – You are a multi-tasker. (You are able to launch and oversee multiple programs and ministries.)

 Q7 – You have a burden and worry about the people who have never heard  the name of Jesus – in remote places of the world.

 Q8 – You don’t run from confrontation.  (You are not afraid to confront tough issues.)

Q9 – You have the ability to work well with people and train people  to do what you do.  ( You are good at replacing yourself)

 Q10 – You work well with teams.  Especially in a leadership capacity.  (You are good at motivating teams to the mission!)

 There are just a few of the “Challenges” Apostles deal with.

  1. They become frustrated with organizations and structure, because they move too slow.  They want to just “GET THINGS DONE.”
  2. They get frustrated with the other gifts for NOT going and doing enough.
  3. They will go without affirmation or permission from leadership!
  4. You typically can’t find them in the Church – they are on the mission field doing what God called and created them to do!

 Take the test – keep your score and at the end of the week, we’ll compare!

Have a great day with Jesus !


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