Courage to Lead On All Levels

I just read a Forbes article entitled, "Where Are Our Leaders? Blaming and Dividing" describing the leadership crisis our nation is suffering. The author proclaims,"Leadership is easy when times are good. But times are not good today and they may get worse." 

A leader always asks this question, "If EVERYONE does what I do, what would the world look like?" Take a minute to think about this question. If everyone stole stuff from work, what would the company look like? If everyone picked stuff up around the house like I do, what would the house look like? If everyone obeyed the traffic laws like I do, what would the streets be like? If everyone was always 15 minutes late, what would happen?

Gideon is a great inspiration for the courage to stand up and lead on all levels. In his day the children of Israel were terrorized by the Midianites because they had turned from the Lord. Just as their crops were ready to harvest, the enemy would swoop in and burn them. Just as their cows were fat, they would steal them! Does this seem familiar in your life? Just as you are on the verge of harvest...the enemy seems to steal it! Don't give up! 

LEADING was the last thing on Gideon's mind. He was much more concerned with SURVIVING! But, the Lord had a greater plan for him by calling him to LEAD on these levels...

1. Courage to LEAD yourself. (Judges 6:10-15)

• Out of hiding.
• Out of dysfunction. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress. (vs. 11)
• Dysfunction: a behavioral pattern that undermines the stability of the original purpose or function. 
• If Gideon had continued to do this, his children would think it was normal to thresh wheat in a winepress! This is where our society is today. Kids think it's normal for dads to live, and for parents to divorce. Dysfunction can become the norm, but just because everyone thinks that 2 + 2 = 5, does not mean that it is the truth!



Listen to Pastor Duane's message on "Leading On All Levels" 

• Out of weakness. (vs. 15) Gideon gives all the excuses to disqualify himself from leadership, but God calls him because he would be a testimony to His strength. The problem in Gideon's mind was not if God was able, but if God was able through him! 

2. Courage to LEAD at home. (Judges 6:25-32) 

• Gideon had to remove the idols from his father's house and replace them with righteousness.

3. Courage to LEAD a few others who have courage. (Judges 7:1-8) 

Courage to CHOSE & REFUSE

I flipped through television channels on our satellite guide the other day amazed at all the choices transmitting through space into our TV. All these choices, and I have the power to chose what plays on the screen. Sadly, many of us lose the courage to chose what voices we answer to and which ones we refuse.

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is our freedom to CHOSE. We decide. Even if someone else makes us conform to certain rules -- no one can chose our heart's interior attitude but us. Like the little boy who proudly stated, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing on the inside!"

The life of Moses teaches us the importance of choosing and refusing. Here's the three things we talked about last Sunday at The Bridge...

1. The Courage to Chose the CALL and Refuse the CROWD

Listen to Courageous Living pt. 3 

Yesterday, I had random people in the audience start calling my cell to interrupt me speaking. Every time it rang -- I had to chose, "Do I answer it? Or, do I refuse it?" We need God to give us the courage to answer HIS CALL, and REFUSE the crowd's!

Hebrews 11:24 "By faith Moses...refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." 


Moses faced the burning bush (Exodus 3) and had to make an important choice...Do I answer THE CALL or do I remain complacent. Matthew 22:14 says, "For many are called, but few are chosen." We need the courage refuse the crowd and CHOSE TO BE CHOSEN.

God's divine invitation is sent to us all, but must chose to accept it.

Revelation 3:20  "Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." If you read the verses, before this you find the church at Laodicea did not have the courage to CHOSE and REFUSE the right things and became lukewarm.

2. The Courage to Chose Correction and Refuse Condemnation 

It takes courage to be corrected! No one enjoys it. It's not fun, but it's necessary to improve.

Correction: adjustments made to increase accuracy and proficiency.
Anyone that plays a sport knows that small adjustments can make a big difference!

We know that God corrects those He loves (Rev. 3:19).  In Numbers 20: 8-12 we see how God had to correct Moses for his disobedience in striking the rock instead of speaking to it. The interesting thing to me is in verse 10 where Moses asks the people, "must WE (meaning he and Aaron) bring water from his rock?" What did he mean WE? How many miracles had he seen GOD perform and now it's come down to he and Aaron to do it? The Lord corrects him and says...

"Because you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I will give them." Numbers 20: 12 NIV

God had to correct Moses as a model for the people. If God can't correct us, how can he correct those we influence...our children...our employees?

The beautiful thing to me is how God wants us to humbly receive correction but not CONDEMNATION! Condemnation is the feeling of hopeless penalty and judgement, like we are sentenced or doomed to be unloved and without God. Even though Moses would not enter the promise land himself, God took him for a redemptive walk up the mountain and showed him the land, assuring him that his children would inherit it!

Romans 8: 1 "There is therefore no no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."

3. The Courage to be Thankful and not Cynical

What is cynicism? It's a bitter or sneering distrustfulness of anything that looks good. One person said a cynic is the person that sees flowers and looks for the funeral! 


We read Moses' song of thankfulness in Exodus 15 after crossing over the Red Sea. The people are dancing, praising and thanking God for delivering them from all their enemies...until 3 DAYS LATER...and they have no water! Suddenly their thanksgiving turns to cynicism.

In verse 22-27 we see how the people finally came to water, but when they drank they discovered it was BITTER! Here, Moses could have joined the people in their whining and CYNICAL complaining, but instead he "cried out to God" (vs. 25) and showed him a piece of wood to place in the water and it turned it SWEET. The wood is a redemptive foreshadow of the cross! The only way we can remain thankful and inoculated to cynicism is to apply the cross to all our bitter waters! 


May your Thanksgiving holiday abound with thanksgiving and refusing cynicism from any disappoints from this year. Through the power of the cross, we will overcome! 

Courageous Living - part 1

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.  ~Ambrose Redmoon


Many times I have heard Joyce Meyer say, "Just do it afraid." If we are waiting for the feeling of fear to disappear before we obey, we never will!  Pastor Duane read many documented phobias that paralyze people with fear such as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, the fear of long words, or anarachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. While we know phobias are real and serious--just watch Hoarders on A & E and you quickly realize how fear can define and immobilize your life! But, the majority of us might not struggle with a phobia per se, but FEAR threatens with a different voice. It finds many persuasive agreements to talk us out of our promise...

One that says... "You'll never live up." "What will people think of you?" "If I love, I'll just get hurt." "How will I make ends meet?" "What if I try and fail?" 

Disappointments try to rob us of our DIVINE APPOINTMENTS! Just as God told Joshua after a surprise defeat in Joshua 7:13, "Get up, sanctify yourselves for TOMORROW..." There will be a TOMORROW if you will rise up in courage and not quit! 

Listen to Pastor Duane's encouraging message that will help you find the COURAGE to walk in faith, hope and love!  

Courageous Living pt.1 www.findthebridge.com

The Valley of Stalemate

We were so blessed with a wonderful message by Pastor Jack Groblewski last Sunday at The Bridge entitled, "The Valley of Stalemate." Pastor Jack had a great take on the classic story of David and Goliath and the call to face our giants with courage. 

Pastor Jack Groblewski speaking - www.findthebridge.com 

Just in case you were wondering...
Stalemate: a position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made; deadlock
In the game of Chess a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the KING!

Have you ever felt you’ve come to a stalemate in life? Or in an area of your life? It's time for the KING to move and take down the giant to see progress!  Read Duet. 20:4. 

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”  - CS Lewis 

This month we are starting a new series called COURAGEOUS LIVING. If you haven't seen the movie, Courageous, see it this weekend! http://www.courageousthemovie.com/videos

Bridges 2012 - This Week!

Join us this week for the annual BTS Bridges Leaders Conference -- Nov. 3-4! We are so excited about all our friends traveling from around the world including, Bishop Tony Miller, Stuart Bell and Jack Groblewski. I can't wait for The Bridge to hear our friend and amazing speaker--Jeff Lucas.

Jeff Lucas www.jefflucas.org (Don't miss Jeff Thursday & Friday!)
Duane and I had the honor of meeting Jeff when we lived in Lincoln, England. He is a very busy and sought after speaker, but we were amazed at how he took the time to get to know us. Jeff is the real deal and what you see is what you get. He'll have you laughing so hard you're about to pee your pants and crying the next. When we moved to England I was in a great need for a change of pace. I was drowning under the stress of trying to figure out the demands of being a minister's wife, raising three kids while my husband was traveling full time, and managing a full time job. I felt like I was on the brink of burn out with everyone's opinions of what I should "live up" to be and God sent Jeff's book, Lucas on Life, like a special delivery to my heart. (My favorite chapter is Surviving Cynicism.) I cried through most of the pages, as God peeled religious expectations and burdens off my heart and energized me with a fresh revelation of GRACE. Here's some quotes from this book to encourage you and don't miss him this week!

"Perhaps it's as well to know that God is not waiting for me to be complete before loving me. He considers me his workmanship: scaffolding, broken tiles, wonky bricks and all." - "Under Construction" pg. 43

Register Today & Don't Miss Out! 

"We rightly fear cynicism: the cancer that so readily strikes the hopeful. The cynical heart is freezer-cold, unable to be warmed by the God who really does come and work among people. Cynicism takes the tenderhearted worshipper and turns him into an arms-folded spectator, a scowling analyst with a stopwatch and clipboard under his arm, and a bless-me-if-you-dare expression on his face...There is only one cure for cynicism-we must repent of it. It is unbelief by another name." "Surviving Cynicism" pg. 57

"But isn't the gospel call far more than 'four spiritual laws'? Isn't it a warm invitation to a life-long friendship with Jesus, a Companion and Leader for the here and now? How did we reduce a banquet invitation to being a summons to a courtroom, a legal deal struck with a judge, rather than a homecoming to a Dad who always has the barbecue waiting?" "Angry From Chichester" pg. 82

Join us this week...Nov. 3 & 4 at the BTS Bridges Conference.
For more information click the DEEPER logo.

Knee Jerk Reactions

I'm sure you've seen or had the doctor check your reflexes and hit you in the knee to see how you'd respond. This practice birthed the phrase we use today of a "knee jerk" reaction or response. The Farlex dictionary defines this as...

" immediate unthinking emotional reaction produced by an event or statement to which the reacting person is highly sensitive..." These "knee jerk" reactions cause us to be a real JERK to others! This parallels the wisdom from Proverbs 12:18...

Proverbs 12:18 Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(NRS) 


Today I faced a challenging situation, and I heard the Lord say to my heart, "Don't have a knee jerk reaction." I knew what He meant. Don't respond from my IMMEDIATE emotion, but seek God for the truth. Many times there's more mess to clean up from HOW we react to a situation than the situation itself. If we restrain our first impulse, and pray--His peace will come and instruct us how to wisely walk out His will for the circumstance. We can start to see how He works all things for good if we aren't too occupied with expressing the bad! 


I'm praying today to have the mind of Christ when the enemy hits us "below the belt." May we respond with God's answer and not our first RASH emotional eruption. Let our words sow seeds of healing, not the turmoil of a rash and fleeting emotion. There will be much less carnage to remove if we will. 

Beyond Feast to Famine Living

MONEY! Yes, experts say money arguments are a leading cause of divorce in our nation. The economy and America's financial well-being is a determining factor for many in choosing who will lead our nation. As they say, "Money makes the world go round," but does it make it go in the right direction?

Do we worship money by giving
it power only God should have
in our lives? 

This Sunday Pastor Duane preached about wisdom from Proverbs concerning money. I (Kris) have to admit money issues have been a source of many disagreements in our marriage. (I'm sure you are so surprised right now!) It seems in most partnerships there is the SAVER and the SPENDER. (Are you guessing who is which one?) I do consider myself to have a shopping gift that is not always understood and appreciated by my husband. (Smiling) Duane mentioned how we have a "Spending Plan" instead of a "Budget" because the later word makes me break out in hives! But, yes I have come around to see the wisdom of staying in agreement and unity in our spending, giving and saving, because God commands a blessing on UNITY.

When you have a SPENDER mentality (or consumer mentality) the thought is--it's in my hand--let's have a party! Carpe diem--let's have a feast and some fun!  Then the next morning you awaken to overdue bills and famine spreads across your bank account! But, of course the SAVER can be out of balance too--hoarding out of fear for the future instead of sowing. Early in our marriage, we began living on the "envelope system" where we put cash in envelopes for upcoming bills and for fun stuff (that was my favorite one--although, I do like having electricity too). There is a wonderful online program, called MVELOPES, that makes the envelope system relevant for our technology age. We use it for our "spending plan" and highly recommend it!

God has WISDOM to keep us in balance and help us properly steward what He's given us.

Proverbs 3: 9 Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. 10 Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. 

I believe as we seek God and honor His word--we will see those BARNS BURSTING to bless this city and the nations!

To hear this week's message, Sink or Swim pt. 4, go to www.findthebridge.com. 

From Duane's notes...

Let's look at 5 areas we can gain wisdom in our finances, primarily from Proverbs:

1. How we SEE money.

• As A Tool - to be used for God's Kingdom purposes. It is not something to be grasped at or longed for, but simply received and used for good.That's why He speaks about so much about GREED. (1:19, 28:25, 15:27, 23:6-8) 
• Money is not evil - the love of money is evil. Money is an inanimate object, it takes on the character of the person using it. (1 Tim. 6:10) 
• Money is one of the BIGGEST competitors for our hearts. (Matthew 6:24) 

2. How we SECURE money. 

• Honestly not dishonestly. (21:6, 11:1) 
• Faithfully not looking for a quick fix. (13:11, 28:20)

3. How we SPEND money. 

• Paying our bills (3:27, 3:28) 
• Not wanting what we don't have or can't pay for. (27:20, 21:25-26, Ecc. 1:8) 
• Not borrowing what we can't pay back. (Proverbs 22:7, 37:21)

4. How we SAVE money.

• Proverbs 6: 6-7 

5. How we SOW money.

• General generosity (11:24-25)
• Poor (14:21b, 28:27, 22:9, 9:17) 
• Tithing (3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-11) 

Welcome Home

Many of you know that one of our Bridge families has been in the process of adopting a daughter from the Ukraine. The process began in March and today--October 20, 2011--they returned to begin their life as a family. Lisa left at the end of August and traveled to the Ukraine to finish the adoption process. Two months and many adventures later, she returned home today as the mother of a new daughter!

As pastors we are blessed to make many hospital visits to hold newborn babies and witness the miracle of a newly formed family. Today we had the privilege of celebrating a new family, but instead of gathering at the hospital--we gathered at the airport. Instead of holding a newborn, we saw a newly adopted teenager run to hug her father. To say it was a moving experience is definitely an understatement! Jon jumped over the divider wall and ran to embrace his daughter. I couldn't help but think about how our heavenly father overcomes every wall to reach us.

He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. Ephesians 2:14 (New Living) 

Congratulations Hendrickson family & welcome home!

Are your words sinking your life?

This month we are studying the book of Proverbs. God's wisdom helps us swim and overcome in life, instead of sinking in our present circumstance! 


Proverbs 18: 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.


Pastor Duane shared six different types of words Proverbs teaches us.  Take a little inventory of your words this week. How would you measure up in these categories? 
1. Careless

There is LIFE or DEATH in our mouth!

Proverbs--15:28, 13:3, 29:20 
2. Critical 
Proverbs--11:12, 19:13, 25:24, Also look at Numbers 12:1-2 for an example of critical speech

"A critical tongue magnifies, exalts & exploits the bad or weak, and ignores or refuses to see the good."

3. Cancerous

Cancerous: any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively

Note: Many times proverbs calls these words PERVERSE (this is FROWARD in the KJ) words. (It means crooked, turned away from or rejecting what is right, good and proper; wicked or corrupt.) 

TYPES:

a) Lying - Proverbs 25:28, 26:18-19, 12:22, 6:16-19, 19:5, 10:18 

b) Flattering - Proverbs 26:23&28, 29:5, 28:23, 6:23-24, 7:21 (What's the difference in flattery and exhortation? The motive! Flattery is manipulative and self-serving; exhortation is to build up and serve another. 

c) Gossip - Proverbs 16:27-28, 17:9, 1:9, 26:20-22, 18:8, 20:19 

How do we STOP gossip from spreading like wild fire? 

TEST: Would I say this if the person were here? 

·       Matthew 18: 15 --- GO to that person and work it out. 

"Gossip is the Devil's radio." - George Harrison 

4. Controlled
Proverbs--10:19, 21:23, 25:28, 17:27-28; Read James 3 about controlling the tongue 
5. Constructive
Proverbs--14:1, 11:11, 10:11,20-21, 25:11, Hebrews 11:3
God framed the world with HIS words...He calls us to do the same! 
6. Curing 
Proverbs--15:4, 12:18, 16:24, 12:25, 10:11, 15:1, 27:9 
Our words can bring HEALING! 


Listen to Sink or Swim - pt. 3

What's your VISION for 2011?

"The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but no vision." Helen Keller

VISION: act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be (dictionary.com) God's dream over your life to accomplish your divine mission. (Kris)

As we rang in the New Year, my daughter turned her video camera to a seven-year-old guest and said, "What do you want in 2011?" The little girl shrugged and shook her head no, then with a sudden inspiration shouted, "A puppy!" I took my turn next and started declaring what I am believing for this year, "I see a new church building for The Bridge!" The question starting turning in me and I began asking people what they "saw" for the coming year. Sadly, most of us resort to living our lives by whatever circumstances manifest in front of us, instead of living by FAITH--God's unseen possibilities before us.

The Hebrew word for vision, CHAZOWN, teaches us that true vision is divine communication and revelation from God through prophetic insight. It's God's dream for your life! As Proverbs 29:18 reveals, "Without vision, the people perish..." As The Message version says,

"If people can't SEE what God is doing they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed." (Prov. 29:18, MSG)

Many times the disappointments of the past blind us from the possibilities of today. I am inspired by the story of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. He called out for mercy as Jesus passed by him, and Jesus responded by saying, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Without VISION for a better future, Bartimaeus would not have known how to answer!) He answered, "I want to SEE!" Jesus told him his faith had healed him and then Bartimaeus' vision became a reality--he could SEE! With his new "insight" how did Bartimaeus respond? He followed Jesus.

There are some important principles in this story for our sight recovery.

1.) First, there most be a cry for new sight. Every season of our lives requires new insight and revelation. Bartimaeus cried out for mercy as the Rabbi, Jesus, passed by. We must position ourselves in His presence and take the time to ask for His vision, not rely on our own "great ideas?"

"We are limited not by our abilities, but by our vision." (unknown)

2) It takes faith to step out and SEE into the unseen, before we see in the natural. If we can't see it, be can't BE it!

"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." - Jonathan Swift

3) After Bartimaeus could see, he took action! He followed Jesus. It's not enough to have a dream or vision, but God will give us an action plan to take steps towards seeing our vision fulfilled. There's a deeper call in our relationship with God beyond just "seeing" to "being"--and becoming a disciple as we follow his steps.

"Vision without Action is a dream. Action without Vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference." - Joel Barker

What do you SEE for 2011?
What is God calling you to FLEE? (Put an end to and walk away from)
What is He calling you to AGREE and DECREE? (God has a word to put in your heart to speak out this year!)
What is He calling you to LEAD? (As we follow Him, we are called to lead others into God's purpose and vision for their lives too. As we receive vision and hope, we encourage others out of their blinding hurt and doubt too.)

This is our prayer: Ephesians 1:17-18--God open the EYES OF OUR HEART!

As we enter a month of prayer and fasting, let's believe God for fresh VISION!

Don't miss The Bridge, Sunday 9th as Pastor Duane shares the vision for 2011.