• Our hope-filled future is bound up in sharing the story of Jesus, in discipling others, in bringing those disciples together into communities of believers, and in developing and releasing those believers to create other communities... till Jesus the King comes again!

Call it for what it is

Posted on May 22, 2015 by wtdavid

If we found ourselves dealing with a conflict between several disciples that we were working with, we would quickly move to get those disciples into the same room so that they could listen to one another.  We would not tolerate them ‘talking behind one another’s back’.  We would not let them walk away from each other without having addressed the issue that was creating the conflict between them.

In the book, Crucial Conversations, the authors provide numerous helpful guidelines to creating a context of trust and shared pool of knowledge for people to be able to share what may be burdening their hearts and causing relational conflict.gossip_1900288b

I sometimes observe another strategy, used by us workers, when the conflict involves us.  Another worker creates relational tension, which I perceive as a conflict, and then I choose to share my disappointment or frustration with a different worker, rather than the person concerned.  It always sounds innocent because ‘I’m looking for someone to help me process’ or because ‘I don’t feel like that person hears me’. 

It may also sound spiritual, but we need from time to time to call it for what it is: gossip.  Gossip is when “a person who has privileged information about people and proceeds to reveal that information to those who have no business knowing it.”  It is actually a form of self-justification as we seek to make another appear to be at fault by sharing their ‘faults’ with others.

Paul describes the damages that can be caused by this strategy: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”  (Galatians 5:14-15)

The way to address this wrong strategy is twofold.  First, drive deep into our hearts the truth that grace creates or brings forth effort.  The more we appropriate the love and acceptance we have in Jesus, the more willing we will be to go to the person with whom we are in conflict.  Second, take a neutral person with you for such a conversation.  Such a person can help you ‘hear’ the other person well and can serve to remind you of the Gospel at each moment in the conversation.

Filed under: Communication, Community, Gospel, Listening | 5 Comments »

“He’ll change us completely”

Posted on April 13, 2015 by wtdavid

A fellow World Team worker sent me the following link to an article about community which I found very challenging and with questions for further reflection: https://newwaymin.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/hell-change-us-completely/

Take the time to read this article.

 

 

Filed under: Community, Honesty | Leave a comment »

What’s the next step in personal health?

Posted on March 9, 2015 by wtdavid

In last week’s post, I wrote: “One critical area of personal health is growth in emotional intelligence.  In other words, growth in understanding how others ‘receive’ us.  As our attitude should reflect our love and devotion to Jesus, we often miss the mark and do not even realize that our comments can appear cutting or hurtful to others.  The outside-in input of others in a community in which we are engaged can greatly help us to recognize blind spots and learn to grow in demonstrating love to others.”Next Steps Old Wooden Sign

How do I get that outside-in input?  You ask for it.  You ask God for the courage to ask others around you and then you approach others to ask the following questions:

  • Is there anything I do that irritates you?
  • Is there anything you wish I did differently?
  • Is there anything you would like to say to me but have been afraid to?

There are plenty of other questions you might ask, but these might serve as a way to get you started.  As people provide you with feedback, you will begin to see common threads which should help you identify areas for growth in your emotional intelligence.

This is not about a self-improvement plan where you try harder to please others.  This is a growth process where the Spirit makes us aware of our ‘hurtful ways’ (Psalm 139) and drives us back to the Gospel to find the wisdom and strength to respond to others in a more Christ-like manner.

Filed under: Community, Emotional intelligence, Personal health | 2 Comments »

Why personal health is important

Posted on March 5, 2015 by wtdavid

In talking about the inner life, Jesus said: “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”  (Mark 7:15)  His words created quite a stir among the religious leaders of the day (see Matthew 15) who based holiness on outward conformity to a set of sacrificial and ceremonial laws. personal health

If I were to try and put this in our language today, I would say that God yearns for each of us to have strong personal health or a deep inner life.  A deep inner life is the driver behind right and fruitful ministry activity.

Time, energy and effort must be given to cultivate our inner life.  It’s not something that happens by osmosis.  It’s not something that happens on our own.

Cultivating our personal health certainly includes meditation on the Word of God and honest dialogue with the Father.  However, the deepening of our own inner life also comes through our engagement and interaction with a community of believers.  In this context, we work out the truth of the Scriptural principles that “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

One critical area of personal health is growth in emotional intelligence.  In other words, growth in understanding how others ‘receive’ us.  As our attitude should reflect our love and devotion to Jesus, we often miss the mark and do not even realize that our comments can appear cutting or hurtful to others.  The outside-in input of others in a community in which we are engaged can greatly help us to recognize blind spots and learn to grow in demonstrating love to others.

Personal health is certainly ‘personal’ when we talk about one’s individual inner life.  However, one’s personal health depends in so many ways on the work of the Spirit and the input of others around us.

Filed under: Community, Emotional intelligence, Personal health | 6 Comments »

Assess one another

Posted on February 13, 2015 by wtdavid

When we start talking about metrics or providing indicators that allow us to assess God given progress towards a vision or goal, many of us immediately assume some hidden motive behind the request.  For example, we might think:

  • Our work is going to be judged on insufficient criteria (just numerical indicators);
  • Our leaders are looking for a way to justify closing down our ministry; or
  • We as an agency are being overly influenced by business tactics

 

assessment-center1Rather than taking the perspective that others will be ‘judging us’, perhaps we could look at indicators as a healthy way to ‘assess one another’ and ‘help one another’; to work together as a global community to fulfill our purpose and vision in greater ways.

Indicators (quantity and quality) might show that there has been limited fruit in a particular ministry over the past few years.  A healthy assessment would engage dialogue over a number of questions.  The answers to those questions might reveal a limited prayer network for the ministry and a significant lack of people resources.

Do we fold the ministry?  No. We as a global community bring the resources that are lacking to this ministry, or we network the existing team to needed resources.  Any assessment reveals how a ministry is doing and what we might learn from them or how we might come alongside them with help.

Filed under: Assessment, Community, Resources | 4 Comments »

Mutually supporting and openness … again

Posted on January 30, 2015 by wtdavid

Ginny shared these thoughts after reading my last post.  They are part of a devotional she recently shared with a small group.

“Proverbs 12:25 speaks to us of one of the ways of encouraging others.

One way to encourage, build-up, or stimulate one another is through the written word.  A letter or email sent with the right words at the right time can be greatly used in the life of someone else. We can also encourage by actions, by what we do.  As we walk in close relationship with the Lord, He then can enable us to be an encouragement one to another.

Recently I received a note from a friend who shared with me lessons of encouragement learned from a goose!  Geese as you know fly in a “V” geese in formationformation. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range then if each bird flew on its own.   This is quite similar to being part of a team, sharing a common direction to get where they are going.  The journey is quicker and easier if they are traveling on the trust of one another and lift each other up along the way. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go through it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the power of the flock. As a team member, we need to work together and share information and encouragement with those who are headed in the same way that we are going.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed.  Words of support and encouragement help energize those on the front line helping them to keep pace in spite of the day-to-day pressures and fatigue.  It is important that our honking be encouraging.

Finally when a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out, two geese fall out of the formation and follow the injured one down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is able to fly again.  Then they launch out with another formation to catch up with their group.  When one of us is down, it’s up to the others to stand by us in our time of trouble. We need to stand by each other and be that source of encouragement.”

Filed under: Community, Encouragement | 2 Comments »

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