49 Leadership Lessons From Carey Nieuwhof, Jeff Henderson and Perry Noble Pastors Lunch – Orange Conference ’13

April 26, 2013 by Brian Dodd

Brian with Perry Noble and Carey Nieuwhof

There are perks to leadership and there is a price to leadership.  This afternoon I got to experience one of the perks!  In an effort to help churches succeed, The Rocket Company has dispatched me to the Orange Conference in Atlanta, Ga to gather leadership lessons and insights to pass on to you.
I  just attended a special lunch for pastors only that was highlighted by a Q & A between Carey Nieuwhof, Jeff Henderson, and Perry Noble.  In a word – UNBELIEVABLE!!!  This is one of the BEST events I have ever attended!!!
After reading these leadership quotes, please check out an amazing FREE offer from The Rocket Company on helping pastors preach better sermons which Jeff and Perry will both be a part of.  
Perry Noble

• In 2000, we were planting a church and I was broke.
• A dynamic Children’s Ministry is essential for a thriving church…We want them in environments where they can have fun and learn about Jesus on their level.
• If you’re doing church right, you offend someone every week.
• I don’t believe in fundraisers for youth and children’s group.  The pastor should be the chief fundraiser for them.  It is a sin to put them in front of Wal-Mart.  Our kids have gotten everything they have ever needed.
• Disney is spending money on them.  Hollywood is spending money on them.  But the church screams if they need $500 and then sends them to Wal-Mart.
• Staff that doesn’t have unity on the staff will never have unity in the church.  You will not have vision.  You will have division.
• Parent only care about three things when they bring their  kids to church.  Clean.  Safe.  Fun.
• I hear people say, “Fun ain’t the goal.”  Well, Heaven is going to suck for you.
• We never told our daughter never to do something because it would look bad on the church or daddy.
• I’m not obsessed with what people think because I want to be a great husband and father.
• Love always assumes the best.  I’ve got her (daughter’s) back far more than the opinion of others.
• My wife’s ministry in the church is to me.  She can do things for me no one else in the church can do for me.
• Opportunity does not equal obligation.
• Jesus did not play to the expectations of people.  He did what His Heavenly Father called Him to do.
• If you don’t control your schedule, you’re not leading yourself or your family.
• Deep in most church settings means confusing.  A non-Christian has never asked me about going deep.
• Time, not content, produces spiritual growth.
• Every spiritual growth metaphor in the Bible is agricultural, not technological.  Agriculture takes time.
• In most discipleship classes in churches, the burden is not easy and the yoke is not light.
• We’re a church where change takes place.
• The only organization that resisted change the most is the church.  It’s also important that the population in America is increasing while church attendance is decreasing.
• We’re willing to answer the questions people are asking.  Nobody coming to your church Sunday cares about Calvinism.
• Nobody wants to hear you speak for 45 minutes.
• When we meet them where they are, answer their questions, they are more open to what the Bible says.
• We’re going to go after people I have a heart for.
• Too many churches are over-programmed.
• When you have to manufacture energy for something, it’s time to kill it.
• When God’s done with you in ministry, he’ll kill you.

Jeff Henderson

• The male population serving in family ministry continues to decline.
• There are boys in our church and community who have no idea what a positive male Christian role model looks like.
• I know what my role is – senior pastor, fundraiser, hire the right people and get out of the way.
• Kids are an easier sale than the adults…Even the worst parents in the world will take their kids to church if they want to go to church.
• For the family ministry I don’t have a customer (child) in, I pay them especial attention.
• Every year I have five goals I want to accomplish in five areas of my life.
• (To have balance) You have to say, “No”.
• My most important ministry is with my family, not the church.
• Our spiritual growth strategy is for you to do what we’re doing.
• If you’re not giving financially, there is something wrong with your heart.
• I’m a starter.  That’s what I do.
• If you want to feel like a celebrity, go to NewSpring and turn on your flashers as a first-time guest.
• The sermon starts in the parking lot.
• The key to the church growing is the enthusiasm of the person in the parking lot.
• When my family ministry says we have enough men, only then will I start a men’s ministry.  I want them serving.
• Job security is tied to killing ministry.  When someone says, “Something isn’t working.  I want to kill it.”  That’s good leadership.  They are more interested in the vision than the ministry.  That’s the person I want to keep.

Carey Nieuwhof

• There is power of another voice in a child’s life.
• Family ministry is a value, not a program.
• One of the effectiveness of an Orange Church is that the senior pastor owns the vision for family ministry.
• My wife and family would do what they would normally do because their Christians, not because I’m the pastor.
• Without a filter, everything sounds compelling.

41 Leadership Quotes From Andy Stanley – Live Notes From Orange Conference ’13

April 25, 2013 0 Comments

I am so glad I work for The Rocket Company!  Our organization has a deep passion to help churches succeed.  Therefore, they have dispatched me to the Orange Conference in Atlanta, Ga to gather leadership lessons and insights to pass on to you.
In this morning’s main session, Andy Stanley destroyed many of our assumptions about how to effectively communicate to students and young people.
After reading these leadership quotes along with others from Reggie Joiner and Ken Coleman, please check out an amazing FREE offer from The Rocket Company on helping pastors preach better sermons.
Reggie Joiner

• Words matter and what you do every week matters.

Ken Coleman

• Words are strategically used in questions.
• Good questions inform.  Great questions transform.
• By the time we reach the 8^th grade, the average person is only asking 2-3 questions a day.
• Our education system is driving out curiosity.  We’re training them to answer questions.
• Great leaders are always asking questions.
• The most successful people are continually asking questions.
• We can become so obsessed with what’s next that we miss the now.  And by missing the now, we often miss what’s next.
• At some point life happens.

Andy Stanley

• We have for generations, Evangelicals perceived ourselves as being the majority.  Anytime that happens, they speak with an element of authority whether they have that authority or not.
• We’re not the majority anymore…We keep talking like we’re the majority and we look foolish.
• In the first century they knew they weren’t the majority.  They were lion food.
• Once upon a time a handful of people believe Jesus raised from the dead.  2000 years later a third of world believes that.  It’s going to be OK.
• Whenever you’re in the majority, you outreach your authority.
• Approach determines people’s response to what we have to say.
• We must adapt our approaches to connect with our target audiences.
• How do you win as many as people as possible?  I change my approach.
• My goal isn’t to be right.  My goal isn’t to make a point.  My goal is to win those under the law.
• My goal isn’t for people who agree with me to agree with me.
• I adjust my approach depending on my audience.
• There is a goal and an approach.  When you prioritize the approach over the goal, you’re out of business.
• You have inherited an approach that assumes consensus among biblical authority.
• Engaging people with the text has more to do with your approach than the scripture.
• We live in a world that does not view the scriptures and Bible the same way you do.
• Anytime you choose a passage and stay there, this is a win in a biblically illiterate culture.
• A Bible “story” is a terrible word.  It’s better than a story.  We think it actually happened.  It’s not a story.  It’s history.
• Bring your energy to the text.
• Nobody reads anything because it’s inspired.  You read things because you want to read it and discover it’s true.
• Give people permission not to believe or obey the scriptures.  I Cor 5:12-13  When you give the permission not to believe or obey, they are more likely to believe or obey.
•  When you give non-Christians an out, they begin to lean in.
• The attraction of the church is looking at all of those one-anothers one-anothering one-another.  They will want to be a part of that.
• The attraction of the early church was looking at how they love one another.
• We don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God because the Scripture is inerrant.  We believe Jesus is the Son of God because Jesus rose from the dead.
• The foundation of our faith is not the Bible.  The foundation of our faith is an event in history.
• We’ve got to teach in a way that always ties things back to Jesus.
• Our approach that we’ve used has set our children up for disaster in college.
• The foundation of your faith is historical Adam and Eve.  The foundation of your faith is that people who expected to find a body did not find a body.
• Don’t refer to the Bible as a book.  The Bible’s not a book.  It’s way better than a book.
• Cite authors, not the Bible.
• Every single you say something about the author you tie that author to history.
• We shouldn’t expect rationale people to think Jesus raised from the dead because the Bible says so.
• Don’t ever use the phrase biblical marriage again ever.  Can you even think of a good biblical marriage?  Use the term Christian marriage…Just go home for a day, you don’t even need to believe this, and submit to one another.
• I submit to Sandra out of reverence of what Jesus did for me.
• Acknowledge the odd as odd.  There are some odd things in the Bible.  Don’t be afraid of that.
• You believe the Old Testament is true because Jesus believed the Old Testament is true.
• Don’t create the impression that one must choose between faith and science.
• Science is the search for natural explanations.
• Just say, “Oh, so that’s how God did it.”
• We want people to find natural causes.  We want people to find out the reasons why things work the way they work.
• It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. – Acts 15:18 NIV

Breaking Poverty - Releasing Prosperity

Breaking Poverty - Releasing Prosperity
A Wealthy Soul - I believe we are in a season where doors of prosperity are opening for the sake of the Kingdom. Let's talk about why money flows toward some people and flees from others.
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 NASU
People who are already wealthy in soul and spirit tend to prosper financially as well. Money doesn't really make us wealthy. We can be rich before money begins to flow. A prosperous soul is the first ingredient for breaking poverty. There are a few simple principles for growing financially that must be added to a prosperous soul and spirit before finances begin to flow. Let's cover as many as we can and I'll give you some recommended reading at the end of this newsletter.
Why Wealth? - The first issue is motives. What would you buy if you had plenty of money? There are two common responses and I want to suggest that both are very wrong.
1) Most of us have a list of things we would like to purchase if we had a few more dollars. If we had the money, we would buy them.
2) Many believers would say, "I am basically content and I don't need to be wealthy - my needs are covered and I don't want to be encumbered worrying about how to make more money."
In response to #2 - 50,000 people die each and every day due to poverty related causes and you're telling me you don't need any more money? Can you see how selfish that attitude is? It's true, as long as you think only about yourself and your immediate family, you may not need more money.
In response to #1 - People who have wealth give to needs and make purchases for themselves out of their profits; they give and buy from the overflow of a full cup. The first thing they do differently with their "seed" is buy income generating assets. Poverty will give away seed or use it to buy liabilities; prosperity is a good steward of seed and they know how to multiply it. If you ask a prosperous person what they would like to do with their money, they will talk about their next investment or business expansion (income generating assets). Poverty will answer the same question by talking about the house, car, or computer they would like to purchase.
How to Give - One of the great tragedies in the church is that people are taught the way to prosperity is giving away your seed and believing God for a miracle. That works if you're a televangelist with your own TV show because everyone sends you money. People who are taught to give away their seed remain in poverty all their lives. We taught the church how to remain poor and stay out of marketplace ministry! Isn't that totally amazing? One more thing - there is no such thing as an end-time wealth transfer that will wash away all the sins of bad stewardship.
I'm not suggesting we stop giving. We can budget for both tithes/offerings and savings and investing. My real point is that good investments that multiply our seed are just as important as regular giving.
Money is spiritual - Each of us were created by God with unique gifts and talents that minister to other people. As Christians we naturally enjoy blessing other people including the nations (Gen 12:2-3). It's in our spiritual DNA. What we each need to realize is that the things we enjoy doing have value for others that can be converted to wealth and multiplied to create even more value. You were not designed to waste away in a job you don't enjoy just for the sake of a paycheck. You were designed to love working to see your heart's desire come to fruition. Work really is an expression of your ministry. That's the genius of being entrepreneurial. The process of finding your destiny and learning to convert your talents to wealth so they can be multiplied is one of the most spiritual things you can do.
"Ministry" - What you have to offer the world that will bless them so much that they will gladly pay for it in exchange for the benefit they receive "value"... and thus enable you to minister to even more people.
Money flows toward vision - Have a good answer to the question, "What would you do if you had more money." You see, money is just a tool that can be multiplied and converted to ministry. Make no mistake, it's very spiritual to know how to multiply finances. If, in your own heart, you know that you and God are on the same page with financial priorities, you will be entrepreneurial, take initiatives and prosper. If your priorities are fuzzy you will gravitate toward passivity and poverty.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:33 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13 NIV

12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Deut 28:12-13 NIV
Be a mentor - If you are prosperous, make it your goal to mentor others to go beyond your level. People are always the best investments. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. God has designed the Kingdom to bless others through you. It's important that your cup runs over; the world is waiting and so is God.
Recommended reading - My favorite books are Releasing Kings and Desire to Destiny. However, I try to read new material on marketplace ministry. Sunday Adelaja is a Pastor in Ukraine who has written an excellent book on this topic, Money Won't Make You Rich. Worth reading because it's contemporary, filled with insights, and very balanced.

We're Dancing

John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

The One Thing That Disqualifies Even Successful Leaders

By Brian Dodds

Are there times when the fact you are doing a great job does not matter?  Are there times when the performance of the team you lead has dramatically increased but yet you still lose our job?  Are there times when improved metrics matter little when evaluating your leadership?  The sobering answer is Yes.
The Oakland Raiders had one of the worst offenses in pro football when Hue Jackson became their offensive coordinator in 2010 and then its head coach one year later.  The team which ranked 31st out of 32 teams in total offense in 2009 improved to 10th in 2010 and then 9th in 2011.  Despite the team’s improved performance, Jackson was fired after just one year as head coach.  And worse yet, it appears there is little to no opportunity for a head job in the future.
So what happened?  The reason for this is something all leaders can learn from.
Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated reported of “others perceiving him as a power-hungry opportunist who’ll step on or over anyone to climb the professional ladder.”  You can read Trotter’s full article by clicking here.
Trotter goes on to add that Jackson is seen as a “me guy” rather than a “team guy”.  In other words, Jackson cares more about himself than those he is called to serve.  Nowhere was this more on display than after losing the final game of the 2011 season and missing the play-offs by one game, Jackson told the media the following about his team:
“I’m pissed at my team.  At some point in time as a group of men you go in the game and you can say whatever you want about coaches, [but] you win the game. Here’s your time. Here’s your time to make some plays. We didn’t get them stopped and we didn’t make enough plays. Yeah, I’m pissed at the team. Like I tell them I always put it on me, but I am pissed at my team because when you have those kind of opportunities you’ve got to do it, and we didn’t do it.”
Jackson is said to lack people skills.  Most consider him brash at best and a bully at worst.  Now currently the running backs for the Cincinnati Bengals, he is hoping for an opportunity at redemption.
It may be too late for Jackson but it is not too late for you.  If you are a leader who blames others, who throws his team under the bus, who constantly makes excuses and passes the buck, then stand up and be a leader.
Support your team.  Go to bat and take bullets for them.  Give credit to others and provide a platform for them to showcase their skills.  It is only then that you can earn the trust and loyalty from those you serve.
If you do this, then you may be a leader who will get to enjoy the fruit of your success and have sustained influence.
Pastors and leaders, what one thing you can learn from this post that will make you a better leader?

Seeing People With Compassion

Seeing People With Compassion by Paul Borthwick

The Gospel of Matthew records Jesus encountering a crowd and seeing them as "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). In a similar encounter, the disciples urged Jesus to send the people away (Matthew 14:15). The difference is vision. Jesus saw people through eyes of compassion, while the disciples saw them as an inconvenience. We need to change the way we view people.

My attitude toward a seat mate on an airplane—or my neighbors, my co-workers or the international fellow who serves me at the supermarket—changes when I ask God to help me see them with eyes of compassion. That man sitting next to me is an eternal soul, with an eternal destiny. God also loves the people I encounter throughout the week, but they might not know it. When I see others through the eyes of Jesus, I realize that it's my privilege to be God's 24/7 available witness.

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).

MOney Wisdom 2

Hi all,
I'm continuing the series about wisdom in finances, but first... A small group of us from our Tulsa house churches will be visiting our Arlington, Texas affiliate on Sunday November 14. If you can join us email Jason and Verna Snoddy at snoddyfam@sbcglobal.net.

To the right you'll see links to Saturday's Webinar (6 Nov) on "The Kingdom of Heaven". Part 1 is understanding Jesus as an Oriental King. This is how I walk with the Father and Lord - the perspective I have and how I approach them. It will help many pieces of your puzzle about God fall into place.

Also to the right, a new 2-cd series "What the Bible really says about divorce". Lastly, my new 4-cd series "Salvation Displayed in the Stars" also includes a 36 page study guide. It's about God's original intention when He said in Genesis 1:14 of the stars: "Let them be for signs..." They've been perverted by mythology and horoscopes and such, but this study goes back to the original star names, original pictures portrayed in the constellations, and so much more.

Bringing you up to speed
Last week I shared that while the opening of the windows of heaven in Malachi 3 for those hearers in 400BC was literal rain for their crops, for us the 'water' is a type of the flowing Holy Spirit in revelation, creativity, and wisdom sent to water our "crops" - our work, family, possessions, etc. Today I'm building on that.

The issue: I'm not getting rich on $4.25 an hour
Most pastors preach that if you give to God He will give you increase, so church members naturally look for at least some 'bump' in their finances from God when they give; something to indicate God is really fulfilling what they believe He promised to do. When that doesn't happen they wonder what they are doing wrong.

I've talked to people working hard at hourly jobs wondering why God isn't giving them the big increase. I've talked to salaried employees wondering the same thing - they give generously to their own financial hurt, yet seem to be treading water in their bank account.

Back in the late 1970's to early 1980's the fad doctrine many pastors focused on then was the 100 fold return. In the 80's there was talk of giving to the temple in order to be blessed. In the 90's giving to the apostle or pastor, sometimes so corrupted they demand the tithe to the church, but any outside income has to be tithed directly to the man of God. (Run don't walk to the nearest exit)

Today the fad is to focus on giving as it relates to Jewish feasts. But what goes around comes around, so elements of all these are still out there and pulled off the shelf by pastors from time to time to motivate parishioner's to give, and all have the common denominator of promising wealth & blessing from above.

In 1978-79 I worked at Jim Bakker's PTL Club in Charlotte, NC, and Barb and I faithfully tithed on my $150 per week paycheck (net $111.50), thinking that with every $15 check we wrote we'd get back 100 fold, or $1500, and it couldn't come fast enough. Never did though, and we wondered why.

But we repented of that foolishness when we felt grieved every time we wrote out that check, but didn't know why. One day Barb nailed it. She said that we used to give out of a heart of love, and when we got caught up in the 100 fold return teaching we left love and got into greed, giving expecting a big return right away instead of just giving out of love for God and man - and she was right. As I said, we repented, continued to give, and the Father took care of us, though not with the abundance the preacher said He would. We wondered why.

Back in 1982 I was between churches and took a job with Domino's Pizza. I was 24 years old with a family to support, and the $4.25 per hour made it tough to pay the rent. Just when we needed some cash, I'd get a chance to deliver pizzas which gave me cash and a net hourly pay of about $10. We've always been givers, and we made it through, but we never saw that super abundance our pastor kept saying we'd see. So I started digging in the Word for answers, and asking the Father to show it to me.

What your job does
If you examine the people in the Bible where their jobs are mentioned, you'll find a common fact; Their job puts a roof over their head and not much else. Perhaps I should state it another way: Their jobs alone didn't provide abundance for them. A few examples:
Luke 5:10 says Peter, James, and John were partners in the fishing business, which meant they were business owners, but they were the only 3 employees. They took care of their families, but they weren't rich.

Paul worked as a tent maker in Corinth in Acts 18:1-3 for 18 months or so, the only time he worked a regular job in over 30 years of ministry, but it was needful in Corinth at that time. He partnered with Aquila and Priscilla, but they didn't grow wealthy from it.

When we consider Matthew's job as a tax collector made him sole proprietor and lone employee, and that he could just get up and walk away, shows us he did well enough to support himself, but not above that.

Streams of income
Your job, your single paycheck, should be thought of as a single stream of water flowing towards you. In the Bible, in the examples above, no one gathers wealth by 1 income source, 1 steam flowing towards them.

But there are examples of wealth we can look at to see what God's pattern is. In the book of Job we have just such an example. According to Job 1:3, Job had many streams of income flowing towards him:

7,000 sheep. That meant wool to weave and meat to sell.
3,000 camels. Camels were the semi-trucks, lorries in the King's English, long haul vehicles of the day. That meant Job was into import/export business in long caravans across desert expanses. An average caravan was less than 50 camels, so at any given time he had 60 'trucks' on the caravan road.
500 yoke of oxen, or 1000 oxen. Plus he would have had cows and calves. A yoke of oxen was for plowing fields and grinding grain, so he was a farmer and rancher. He would have had income from milk, cheese, leather, and buying and selling cattle, etc.
500 female donkeys. These were the short haul trucks of his day - local deliveries - individual 'vehicles'.

Look at the streams of income flowing towards him: Wool, mutton, imported goods, more meat, leather, milk, cheese, grain crops, the real estate for that whole operation. Every one of these items is a separate stream flowing towards him. How many streams do you have flowing towards you? How many streams do you have where money is flowing AWAY from you? Cut the outward flow, develop the inward flow.

In chapters 29 & 31 Job talks of how he lived to give and was honest in all his dealings. This included everything from feeding & lodging strangers with his own food, to clothing the needy with his own wool. He was a generous employer and took care of orphans and widows, and God blessed him.

But Job had not 1, but many steams of income flowing towards him, and he built them up over years in concentrated effort, sowing profits back into the business and diversifying as one stream naturally flowed from the original. What I mean by that is the having a cow/calf lends itself to milk, buy a bull and you make more cows, get enough and you can sell meat and milk - one stream is a tributary from the main, and flows TOWARDS you.

For pastors to focus on giving as the end all answer to be blessed financially, is great error and has enslaved many good hearted people. Giving is a part of being financially blessed, but only part. Developing various streams of income is foundational!

Ladies too
Consider the Proverb 31 woman, mentioned in verses 10-31. She owns a weaving business and has employees, and is compared to a merchant ship, meaning she isn't making those linens and wool material for herself, but to sell.

Verse 16 says "She considers a field, and buys it, and with the fruit of her hands (her profit in other words) she plants a vineyard." So she is diversifying to gain other streams of income.

We could make comparisons from Abraham (many streams of income) to Gideon (single stream) to even Jesus, who in Luke 8:3 says many people from various backgrounds gave to support him and his disciples.

If you think your 1 paycheck will make you rich, you are mistaken, unless that income is derived from many streams flowing in. That's just chapter and verse.

Some examples in our day of those streams of income can be retirement plans, stocks and bonds, owning more than 1 business, diversifying a client base, investment in rental properties/land, and so forth.

This principle is the same for businesses. I was asked to provide guidance to a karate studio that was losing money. The owner was the daughter of one of my mom's friends in south Florida, and I could see the problem immediately. She was providing karate instruction to children under the age of 12. That was her sole source of income. She lived among a high concentration of retired people, but catered to kids.

My advice was to meet the needs of her area, and expand to include classes for teens, adults, self protection classes for women, exercise classes in her studio, partner with instructors who would bring clientele in to her shop and work a split on the fees charged, etc. She had never thought of her business as needing several streams of income flowing in.

If a business has 1 main stream, it will dry up, or at least is highly susceptible to changes in the market, just like that employee who's sole source of income is that 1 paycheck from that 1 company.

Putting it together thus far
Last week I shared what the Father taught me about the flow being revelation and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to water our 'crops' - what do you think those creative ideas are for? They are to provide us different streams of income. We have to sort out what ideas work and don't work, as the Proverbs 31 woman 'considered' the field before she invested, but if we do our homework God will bless.

The Father is rarely a get rich quick kind of Father. Rather than depending on miracles to see us through each crises, we are to be in a flow of revelation put to good use to establish different streams of income flowing our way.

Learning what is our responsibility and what is God's, among other things, is the subject for next week.

Blessings,
And once again, remember for personal email to use cwowi@aol.com
John Fenn
www.supernaturalhousechurch. org

Money Wisdon 1

Hi all,
Over the next weeks I'd like to share about what the Bible actually says about finances - and in all probability you've never seen anything like what I'm sharing in these pages.

But first - a small group of us from our Tulsa house churches will be visiting our Arlington, Texas affiliate on Sunday November 14. If you can join us email Jason and Verna Snoddy at snoddyfam@sbcglobal.net.

To the right you'll see links to next Saturday's Webinar (6 Nov) on "The Kingdom of Heaven", part 1 is understanding Jesus as an Oriental King, thus understanding what 'the gospel of the kingdom' is all about. It will explain SO much and help many pieces of your puzzle about God fall into place.

Also a new 2-cd series "What the Bible really says about divorce". There is so much junk teaching out there about divorce, and people don't even realize God Himself is divorced - this series examines why God got divorced, why He gave permission for couples to get divorced, what His intention was, and what Jesus and Paul said about it's place.

Lastly, my new 4-cd series "Salvation Displayed in the Stars" also includes a 36 page study guide. It's about God's original intention when He said in Genesis 1:14 of the stars: "Let them be for signs..." They've been perverted by mythology and horoscopes and such, but this study goes back to the original star names, original pictures portrayed in the constellations, and so much more. (Thus the 36 pg guide). I designed the guide to follow along the cd's as I teach, and also to be read independently for a personal or church Bible study. For anyone wondering about the true meaning in the stars, this is a jaw-dropping study.

Second verse, same as the first
How many times have you tuned out when offering time comes in a traditional church, and the leader says 'Turn to Malachi 3'? Me too. The company line is that if you tithe to the storehouse (traditional church) God will pour blessing out on you that you cannot contain - right? They promise your bank account will overflow, your kids will get saved, you will be healed, promoted, your business deal will go through, you'll sleep better at night, grow your hair back and even lose weight :)

Floodgates explained
Malachi 3:10 says God will "open the floodgates of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to contain."

I admit I didn't understand what the Lord was saying in this passage until 1987. That's when we moved to a farming community in Southeast Colorado to pastor a church, and local crops were watered by irrigation.

Floodgate is 'head gate' in Hebrew. When we lived in SE Colorado we rented a 14 acre farm, and the owner raised alfalfa on 10 of those acres. A canal flowing from the nearby Arkansas River was about a mile away, and from that canal ran ditches along the road side. Those ditches were called "borrow ditches", because you 'borrowed' the water for your land.

When it was time for your farm to receive water, a man from the water company opened the head gates or flood gates about 1 mile away, and water flowed to your land. The water flowed down the fields in the furrows, and whatever did not soak into the ground flowed to the back of the field and into another ditch, where it flowed to the neighbor's farm, and so on and so on until all the farms were watered.

Not room to contain
Our farm did not have room to contain the blessing that the floodgate/head gate opened for us. The water is the blessing God said He would send that would overflow - I will pour you out a blessing you won't have room to contain. I saw Malachi 3 played out in real life.

Do NOT make the mistake of thinking the blessing is "If I tithe to the storehouse I'll....see a raise at work, close that big deal, show God how seriously I need a financial breakthrough, get my car/life/child/parents fixed and or saved."

All God promises is to pour out WATER to water your crop, He never promised He would increase your crop (your job, your car, your rent, your _____ ). All He promises is to open the flood gate so the water flows.

What is the water then?
Remember everything is based on Christ living in you, and in the Old Testament it was looking forward to these days of Christ in us, so everything is geared towards having Him inside.

Think of the water God pours out. It waters a crop and then the crop grows. Your 'crop' is your bank account, your job, all you own. But what is God's water that He promises to pour out?

What really waters your job, your bank account, your life? Step back and look at it this way; What does water often stand for in scripture? Answer: The Holy Spirit

We know the whole body of Christ operates by revelation from the Father via the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 16:16-19) So the water is revelation from the Holy Spirit that waters your 'crop' - that is what the Father promises to pour out so that you won't have room to contain - revelation from God via the Spirit.

In the work place that means ideas, plans, wisdom for problem solving and finding answers. Can you count the number of times a problem presented itself, you prayed, and suddenly the solution flowed up from your spirit across your mind? That's what I'm talking about - the 'water' is that revelation from the Spirit, which 'waters' your 'crop'.

Chapter and verse please
Remember Jacob and how he peeled bark and placed the 'spotted' branches in front of the animals at the watering trough so that when they mated they'd produce spotted offspring? Know where he got the idea?

That event happened in Genesis 30: 37-43, but in 31:8-13 he says he got that idea in a dream when an angel appeared to him. That 'water', that revelation, caused him to set the branches, which by faith caused the animals to conceive spotted offspring.

Within a few calving and lambing seasons he became so wealthy from that 1 revelation Laban and his agreement to partner with him could not contain the blessing, and he returned to his family. The water was the revelation, the crop was his animals.

Joseph is another example of a man who received such revelation poured out that his life could not contain it. Genesis 41:39-41 says Pharaoh said to Joseph "Since God showed you all this, and there is none so discreet or wise, then you will be in charge of all of my house and Egypt..." The water was the revelation from the interpretation of the dreams, the crop was 7 years of overflowing harvest that fed a nation in famine.

The Proverbs 31 woman, who I'll share more about next week, is seen in verses 10-31, and it says she owns a weaving business. She has employees, she works hard and the demand is so great they have to work into the night to keep up with demand. But then it says "She considers a field...." (v16)

That 'considers a field' is the process of revelation going on in her mind and spirit. That verse goes on to say of the field...'and buys it, and plants a vineyard'. So she has taken the profits of her weaving company, seeks wisdom and revelation about what to do with it, and settles on venturing into the winery business. The water was the 'considers a field', the crop was the new business (and the grace over her existing business).

When Solomon was made king he wanted the nation to receiving God's blessing, so in I Kings 3:2-6 when the Lord appeared to him, he asked for and received wisdom. That's the 'water' that allowed him to prosper, to make right decisions like the famous 'who's baby is it' incident, to the extent he made "...silver as common as stones in the path..." (II Chron 9:27) The water was wisdom in all areas, the crop was a prosperous nation in all areas.

New Testament please
When you realize the water of Malachi 3 represents the revelation of the Holy Spirit being poured out on us, and that in turn waters our 'crops', our jobs, then you'll recognize Jesus operating in this.

Examples include when He told Peter, James and John to cast the nets in deep water in Luke 5: 4-6 and they caught so many fish the boats were overloaded to the point of sinking - they didn't have room to contain them. That wisdom, that revelation, was so overflowing it caused the 'crop' of fish to overflow.

The same of water into wine in John 2, the multitudes fed by a boy's lunch multiplied in John 6, and so on.

We know Jesus was a huge giver, for in John 13:29 when Judas, the treasurer for the group, left at what must have been about 9pm, they all assumed he was leaving to give money to the poor. How many times has someone left you unexpectedly at 9pm and you naturally assumed they were going out to give money to the poor? Exactly. That's how big a giver Jesus was.

In the early church this same 'water', that revelation and wisdom from above, led many in Jerusalem to sell excess lands or properties and give the proceeds, and it was so much they could not contain it - all the needs of all the believers in the city were met and more kept being added! (Acts 4:34-35) The 'water' was the wisdom on what to do with their assets, the 'crop' was all the needs met in the body of Christ in the city.

While God relates to us on the basis of the blood of Jesus, and revelation flows from that, there is a whole other realm of revelation and grace in the lives of those who live to give. The Luke 6:38 statement by Jesus of givers, that it will be given back to givers full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, is merely a re-statement of Malachi 3's overflowing blessing that comes to givers.

Often there is so much revelation it all cannot be acted upon as it would overwhelm us. These things have to be thought through, sorted as to what would work and what would not - run through processes to the point that 'water' can grow a crop, thus blessing the lives of ourselves and others.

Many have gotten an idea, rushed to grow it without doing their homework, thinking just because God gave the idea it will sell - wrong. He gives the 'water', but we have to follow through with diligence.

Joseph did it. He strategically placed storage bins for the overflow and all that entailed . Jacob did it by organizing his animals. The Proverbs 31 woman did it. Jesus operated in it. The church in Acts 2-6 operated in it. Are you a giver? Do you have revelation pouring in your spirit and mind to the point you can't contain all the ideas? Is He pouring that blessing out to the degree you can't contain it sometimes? Then you are just starting to operate in true New Testament giving and receiving as taught in the Word.

I have so many business ideas, inventions, real estate ideas, and have had over the years I could be very rich, but I'm like an OT Levite unable to do that because I'm called in full time ministry. But that doesn't stop 'water' flowing to me - I have more revelation than I can handle.

I'm sure that you too have all sorts of ideas and inventions and wisdom for areas you aren't called to, and some you may be called to. Having revelation isn't a sign you are to do something with it, it's just that our ever creative Father and Lord are so full of life and light, that in every situation that light reveals new things that can be done, new inventions, new ideas...wow, can you imagine how creative the ages to come will be?

BUT...when I start to get low, I pray Paul's prayer of Ephesians 1:17-19, and Colossians 1:9 - fill me with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, let the eyes of my understanding be opened, let me be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding - and I make sure I continue to live a life of giving, for once started on this path, one feeds the other in a never ending flow of revelation and then provision and more revelation...


Blessings, (remember to email me at cwowi@aol.com for personal email)
John Fenn
www.supernaturalhousechurch. org

Run With Your Vision

Run With Your Vision by John Belt
Run With Your Vision and Invest Yourself in Eternal Treasures

Our lives are filled with opportunities every day to sow into eternal reward. All of us want to enter into that day with joy to hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" When we get to Heaven we want to see the eternal treasures that we have been storing up. We don't want to see our heavenly vault empty.

The Spirit Inspires

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The law kills but the Spirit gives life or inspires us. Many people try to accomplish God's desires through keeping the law, creating new laws or just trying to keep a list of "to dos" to please God. This never works. Others are so afraid of missing God that they never do anything at all. Their perception of God is that He will punish them if they miss it on anything. Most people in "church circles" have heard it said, "Brother, you better make sure that is God before you do anything. You don't want to do anything in your flesh."

Maybe you just had an inspired idea or finally got motivated to do something in the Kingdom and then someone decides to give you their most holy opinion. Instead of being blessed by what God is showing you to do there is an attempt to shut it down.

Our Perception of God

Matthew 25:24-26 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours." But his lord answered and said to him, "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed."

Our perception of God will make us or break us. If we don't see God for who He really is then everything that we do or don't do in life will be the result of our view of Him. One view that religion can hold of God is that He is a "hard man." If we believe that God is "hard" on us and others, we will be the same. This view of God brings an expectation of "punishment" if we miss it with God. This is what has happened with many Christians. Because of this, they end up doing nothing at all; they become lazy, self-consumed and cannot see any bigger than themselves. They cannot take on a "Kingdom Mindset" because they are so worried they will blow it, miss it and God will punish them for it. Notice that "the Lord of this servant," who is a picture of God, did not excuse his fear but called him a "wicked and lazy servant." Fear produces laziness because it just makes you want to hide away somewhere. God is good.

Don't Bury What God Has Given You

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

God has given all of us "talents," whether they be spiritual, natural or all of the above. God has given us the gift of life. Don't waste it! Don't bury it. Seek the Lord. Get a vision from God and step out to do something with it. Don't be like the wicked and lazy servant who can't see beyond himself – and how God is going to punish him for missing it. We must get a vision for things that are bigger than ourselves and require God to accomplish them. If you can do it yourself you don't need the Lord to help. We want Him involved. That is why we should always dream big beyond our natural abilities.

Sow to the Spirit

There are no limitations to us in God's Kingdom. He has put an unlimited potential within us by His Spirit. Don't think about what you can't do. Think about what you can do through Christ. Every day there are multiplied opportunities to "sow to the Spirit." In your actions, your words, your creativity, your worship, your meditation, your prayers, your decrees, your communion, you can sow to the Spirit and experience a place in God of absolutely no limitations. They key is in continually sowing to the Spirit and reaping the life of the Spirit.

Get your vision and run!

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries

Breaking Poverty - Releasing Prosperity

Breaking Poverty - Releasing Prosperity
A Wealthy Soul - I believe we are in a season where doors of prosperity are opening for the sake of the Kingdom. Let's talk about why money flows toward some people and flees from others.
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 NASU
People who are already wealthy in soul and spirit tend to prosper financially as well. Money doesn't really make us wealthy. We can be rich before money begins to flow. A prosperous soul is the first ingredient for breaking poverty. There are a few simple principles for growing financially that must be added to a prosperous soul and spirit before finances begin to flow. Let's cover as many as we can and I'll give you some recommended reading at the end of this newsletter.
Why Wealth? - The first issue is motives. What would you buy if you had plenty of money? There are two common responses and I want to suggest that both are very wrong.
1) Most of us have a list of things we would like to purchase if we had a few more dollars. If we had the money, we would buy them.
2) Many believers would say, "I am basically content and I don't need to be wealthy - my needs are covered and I don't want to be encumbered worrying about how to make more money."
In response to #2 - 50,000 people die each and every day due to poverty related causes and you're telling me you don't need any more money? Can you see how selfish that attitude is? It's true, as long as you think only about yourself and your immediate family, you may not need more money.
In response to #1 - People who have wealth give to needs and make purchases for themselves out of their profits; they give and buy from the overflow of a full cup. The first thing they do differently with their "seed" is buy income generating assets. Poverty will give away seed or use it to buy liabilities; prosperity is a good steward of seed and they know how to multiply it. If you ask a prosperous person what they would like to do with their money, they will talk about their next investment or business expansion (income generating assets). Poverty will answer the same question by talking about the house, car, or computer they would like to purchase.
How to Give - One of the great tragedies in the church is that people are taught the way to prosperity is giving away your seed and believing God for a miracle. That works if you're a televangelist with your own TV show because everyone sends you money. People who are taught to give away their seed remain in poverty all their lives. We taught the church how to remain poor and stay out of marketplace ministry! Isn't that totally amazing? One more thing - there is no such thing as an end-time wealth transfer that will wash away all the sins of bad stewardship.
I'm not suggesting we stop giving. We can budget for both tithes/offerings and savings and investing. My real point is that good investments that multiply our seed are just as important as regular giving.
Money is spiritual - Each of us were created by God with unique gifts and talents that minister to other people. As Christians we naturally enjoy blessing other people including the nations (Gen 12:2-3). It's in our spiritual DNA. What we each need to realize is that the things we enjoy doing have value for others that can be converted to wealth and multiplied to create even more value. You were not designed to waste away in a job you don't enjoy just for the sake of a paycheck. You were designed to love working to see your heart's desire come to fruition. Work really is an expression of your ministry. That's the genius of being entrepreneurial. The process of finding your destiny and learning to convert your talents to wealth so they can be multiplied is one of the most spiritual things you can do.
"Ministry" - What you have to offer the world that will bless them so much that they will gladly pay for it in exchange for the benefit they receive "value"... and thus enable you to minister to even more people.
Money flows toward vision - Have a good answer to the question, "What would you do if you had more money." You see, money is just a tool that can be multiplied and converted to ministry. Make no mistake, it's very spiritual to know how to multiply finances. If, in your own heart, you know that you and God are on the same page with financial priorities, you will be entrepreneurial, take initiatives and prosper. If your priorities are fuzzy you will gravitate toward passivity and poverty.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:33 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13 NIV

12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Deut 28:12-13 NIV
Be a mentor - If you are prosperous, make it your goal to mentor others to go beyond your level. People are always the best investments. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. God has designed the Kingdom to bless others through you. It's important that your cup runs over; the world is waiting and so is God.
Recommended reading - My favorite books are Releasing Kings and Desire to Destiny. However, I try to read new material on marketplace ministry. Sunday Adelaja is a Pastor in Ukraine who has written an excellent book on this topic, Money Won't Make You Rich. Worth reading because it's contemporary, filled with insights, and very balanced.

We're Dancing

John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

God Can Qualify The Disqualified

God Can Qualify The Disqualified

By Joseph Prince www.josephprince.org


who [the Lord] redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Psalm 103:4
Four women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. (Matthew 1:1–16) Interestingly, they are not Sarah, Rebekah, Leah or Rachel, wives of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Instead, they are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, women who had morally questionable backgrounds.

Tamar resorted to deception and prostitution to produce children through her father-in-law. Yet, it was from her line, the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah came. (Genesis 38) Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute in Jericho, who became a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Joshua 2:1–21) She also became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth. (Ruth 4:13)

Ruth was morally upright. But as a Moabitess, she was a Gentile and therefore considered unclean. Yet, she became the grandmother of David (Ruth 4:13–17), whom the Jews regard as their greatest king. Bathsheba committed adultery with David. (2 Samuel 11:4) Later, she gave birth to King Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24), from whose royal line Jesus descended.

So what is God saying to us here?

He is saying that He is greater than our sins — where sin abounds, His grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) His grace is greater than our sins, so that even when the world disqualifies us, He can qualify us to receive His blessings!

God is also saying that He is a God of many chances. These women’s stories show us that even when our troubles are of our own making, they are neither final nor fatal. When we turn to Him, He will turn our situations around until we see His glory upon us!

Finally, God is saying that He is a God of supernatural positioning. Even when all our earthly connections are gone, the moment we turn to Him, He will find ways to turn our captivity into blessings.

My friend, don’t look at your natural circumstances and be discouraged. Trust the One “who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies”. Trust Him who qualifies the disqualified!

Coaching - From God

Coaching - From God
Experiencing God - Christianity is both Spirit and Truth. We learn with our minds biblical truth, but we experience God with our hearts. For example, when we first saved, most of us felt God's forgiveness as a weight being lifting of our shoulders. When we first encountered the presence of the Holy Spirit we felt a stirring in our hearts. We don't subscribe to experience only. However, a Biblical foundation in sound doctrine actually helps us experience God. A balanced spiritual life is both understanding and relational encounters with an interactive and relational God.
They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32 NIV

Heart's Desire - One of the key thrusts of our marketplace message is moving from servant to friend.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:14-17 NIV
The servant mentality can be a brother to poverty. A servants' goal is obedience and they are apt to feel guilty if financial blessing comes their way. They would certainly never feel good about pursuing financial gain. Servants are predisposed to avoid their heart's desire in favor of sacrificing themselves for what they believe is the will of God
"Friends," on the other hand, regard themselves as God's friends. They talk to God about their heart's desires on a regular basis. In fact, they find the will of God within the desires of their heart and they find the desires of their heart within the will of God. The essential difference between friends and servants is one of motivation. Servants are waiting for God to move; Friends are asking and doing and moving.
The experience - Experiencing the revelation and the power of answered prayer is another one of the landmark experiences for friends; a way of life for Kings. The Kingdom is built as friends on the same page with God ask for their heart's desires. Listen to the the way Jesus put it.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 NIV

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7-8 NIV

I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24 NIV
Coaching - There are a couple of levels of having this experience. One is devotionally - just having the prayerful conversation with God where you explore your heart's desires. The second level is with another person (coaching). It's one thing to understand what God asked Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." It's another level of experience to hear those words from another brother or sister who is coaching you toward your heart's desires.
Many of us have never had another person encourage us through the process of pursuing our heart's desires. It's a pretty amazing feeling! In fact, it feels like God - another one of those God experiences.
Your assignment - Connect with God on the level of your heart's desire and have the conversation with Him in prayer. Move this same experience into the level of coaching and find someone who can specifically encourage you and help you connect with your destiny in God. Graduate from Pew to Purpose! - even if it costs you some money to hire a coach. After your direction has good definition and you're walking in it, then find a mentor who is already successful in the same field who can help you go to the next level. Your coach may be able to help you find a mentor.
Tara - There are lots of good examples of Christian coaches. I want to give you one great example I interviewed (and befriended) so you'll know what they look like. Tara Travis (based in Jacksonville, FL) is currently working with about 400 clients and has a specific burden for releasing Kings via other women. At the age of 29 Tara is wise beyond her years and represents the next generation in this move. She is one of those free spirits that is on fire for God and has a lot of fun releasing Kings. Women are particularly being called out by the Holy Spirit to pursue their hearts and it's often women coaches who are setting them free. Tara has tapped into that dynamic in a major way.
You can check out her Facebook page for free webinar events and you can also simply pick up the phone and call her. We call that initiative; something Kings are good at.

We're Dancing

John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

Modern Day Daniel

Modern Day Daniel

By Kent Humphreys www.fcci.org


Daniel is my favorite Bible character. He was taken from his home country at about 14 years of age and went on to be one of the most influential leaders in Babylon over the next seventy years. A few weeks ago in Hong Kong I was able to spend time with a modern day Daniel who does business in the countries of Central Asia. Daniel’s father was a pastor in India back in the 1960’s, and before Daniel was born his father believed that Daniel would be a pastor in Russia. During his teenage years Daniel struggled in his faith and wandered away from his Christian heritage. About the age of 18 years he returned to walking with God. Then Daniel began to learn the Russian language in the university. But, as he got ready to graduate from college, the chaos occurred and the walls of the Soviet Union came down. In 1993 Daniel showed up in Central Asia and went to work for a large software firm as a marketing agent. He had no business training but adapted well and made many friends. For the next two or three years Daniel worked very hard and traveled twenty five days a month throughout the region of Central Asia.
Daniel was promoted three times because of his marketing and sales success. Finally in 1996, he was offered a move to Africa to head up a new office in Uganda. Daniel turned down the great financial offer because he felt called to Central Asia. For a year he worked for a financial services firm and tried to help a local church make up a fake platform for business. He spent a year on a church staff thinking that it was how he was going to serve God. Some ladies in his church began to pray and had a vision that Daniel would go into business and bring wealth to the nations. A pastor from Singapore met Daniel and told Daniel that God had called him to be a minister to the marketplace. Daniel had saved $60,000 from his earnings and started a trading business. His firm packaged and branded tea from India and grew a very successful business in just a few years. But, in 1999 the currency was devalued 50% and his savings were gone. While his inventory was devalued, he still owed his vendors over $500,000 and did not want to go bankrupt and hurt his trusted vendors. So, just as he got married, he was suddenly in deep debt for the next two years. His office was robbed, his key employee stole from him, and the KGB raided his facility. He could not even work for four months. Finally, the church in Singapore called him to come to Singapore. On a Sunday in Singapore, 12,000 members of the church gathered to lay hands on Daniel and pray for his business back in central Asia.
In 2000, Daniel started a new business in the Oil and Gas industry. He met with a firm in London and began to try to sell the 100,000 items in their CD catalog. For days Daniel called on perspective clients back in Central Asia. Finally, one night at 7:30pm he met a guy on the street who suggested that he visit an office in a basement of a certain office building. There Daniel met the key executive of a firm which would spend $4 billion on an oil and gas project over the next few years. After he saw Daniel’s CD, he asked Daniel if he really knew anything about all of these products. Daniel sadly admitted his ignorance. The man promised Daniel that if he would be a faithful supplier, that the executive would send key suppliers to Daniel to sell through Daniel as a distributor to his firm. He gave Daniel an initial order for $2,000. He had a huge project and needed distributors that he could trust. For some reason he felt Daniel could be one of those faithful distributors. This late night divine appointment changed the future of Daniel’s life and business.
Daniel’s business started with that small order and began to grow. It has doubled most years over this decade. Daniel’s oil and gas product distribution firm now has offices in fourteen nations across Central Asia employing 400 employees. In a Muslim nation where Christians are often discriminated against, Daniel has such an important business in the community and such a good reputation for service and integrity, that they can not make threats to him. He is respected by the top governmental and business leaders. Daniel’s business has started two schools and two children’s homes. By the way, the key executive that befriended Daniel back in 2000 had a heart attack a couple of years ago. Through the episode Daniel was able to lead his friend to Christ.
Daniel was named the “business person of the year” in 2006 for Kazakhstan and in 2007 began pasturing a church part time. He spends one day a week in the church besides Sunday and the rest of the time in the business. Understand that these nations are among the most unreached for Christ. Less than one percent of the population is considered evangelical. Daniel is an example of God’s grace. His story is how one man with the anointing of God on his life, the prayers of a supporting church, the provision of Divine appointments, combined with the hard work and courage to overcome continual difficulties works together to bring glory to Jesus Christ in the midst of atheistic nations. In some of the most “closed countries” to the Gospel in the world, Daniel regularly meets and does business with government and business leaders in the oil industry. He is a modern day Daniel in the secular nations of Central Asia. Check out Daniel’s company Gateway Ventures at www.gvcal.com. Daniel is a business leader doing Business as Mission for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith and Managing Risk

Faith and Managing Risk
A friend sent me an email this week asking the following three questions. Since they were insightful, I'm sharing our exchange. At the heart of these questions is a balance of taking steps of faith while using Godly wisdom to manage risk. Kings learn to do both.
1.  Does God bring business opportunities which seem beyond one's reach?
Don’t assume every "opportunity" is from God. Lots of opportunities will present themselves. We consider all of them using wisdom to make the best choices.
2.  How do you evaluate to determine whether the opportunity is a divine cause?
They can all be divine – it’s your job to pick the ones the represent the best opportunity for profit, ministry, etc.
3.  Of every business opportunity that comes our way, how shall I decide which is really viable; which needs to be tackled if one has the resources?
Assess the risks. The biggest mistake people make is choosing opportunities or investments based on their potential to succeed. Some opportunities succeed while others fail - hearing from God doesn't keep you immune from problems and failures. Wisdom is choosing opportunities that won’t hurt you if they fail; or at least having a strategy in place to "resurrect" from a failure. Christians are prone to assuming that God gave the opportunity and therefore nothing will go wrong. That theology sets us up for failures.
Expectations - Most of life's wounds have roots in sincere expectations about the future that were dashed on the rocks in a storm. We've all been there. Kings must have the ability to land on their feet when things go totally wrong. First let's examine the concept of "knowing the future."
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.     Matt 7:25 NIV
As Christians we are prone to think that God has the future under control and everything is all mapped out. Knowing His will is like knowing the future and we build a set of expectations around our beliefs about what the future holds - minus the storms. The premise is that God knows the future and, if we're in tune with Him, understand the Bible, and have prophetic insight, we can know the future too. Armed with that premise we launch investments, businesses and churches with a great deal of confidence that we are safely within the will of God and nothing can go wrong.... then something goes wrong!
The only flaw in our thought process (above) is that it hasn't always worked in the past and most of us carry some level of fear that something could go wrong (like it did before "most of the time!"). So we add one thing to our little theological recipe for life. We try to prevent the pain of failure by avoiding "or ignoring" the risk of loss. We falsely label reckless plunges as "faith." Instead of taking steps to manage risk to minimize losses, we forge ahead holding God responsible for the best. So, we are generally confident in God's goodness and believe things will go right. However, having felt the personal pain of expectations unfulfilled, we are specifically inclined to fear new endeavors that represent risk. We deal with our fear of risk by pretending it's not there! We think proceeding in the face of risk is faith. It's really a form of self-sabotage. Strangely, this dynamic starts to sound like unbelief. The things we fear most start to happen to us.
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.         Job 3:25 NIV
Where is the risk highest? It can be when Christians do business together that real risk is most often neglected under the guise of "faith." Our spirit-led promptings are usually legitimate. Guidance is general in nature because God expects us to be stewards of our assets, cash flow, and initiative. It's our job to think through the details and make wise decisions that account for the risks.... "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" is Jesus advice for marketplace ministry!
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  Matt 10:16  KJV
What Does Work? - Having a sound, Bible-based concept of God makes risk a lot simpler. God does have a plan for the future. Jesus is coming back, Heaven is real... so is Hell for that matter. Mankind will face judgment and rewards in the end. That being said, God doesn't micromanage the details of our future. In fact, he grieves with us when things go wrong. He is not an impersonal "force." Our God is dynamic, alive, and personal; He communicates, rejoices, gets angry, adjusts His course, and even changes His mind. Servants are a little more comfortable with a less personal God that doesn't show emotion or change. Friends like the interaction. We all go through a maturing process from servants that just obey, to friends that interact with God and ask for their heart's desire in fellowship with the Father (Jn 15:15). We grow in our awareness of how personal God really is. He has invited us to help plan our own future... "reason together."
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.  Isa 1:18 NIV
Although we have a destiny, our future is not completely scripted by God. We have many choices and many relational encounters with God as we face everything life brings us. Understanding the true nature of God and life brings us to this point: We are firm in our resolve and ultimate direction but we leave expectations and plans flexible regarding exactly how we'll arrive at our destination (or destiny). There is plenty of room for prayer!
Risk is Real, Accidents happen - The flaw in the thinking of many Christians is that God will protect us from risk. We take leaps of faith into the unknown and pray that nothing will go wrong. Then, when something goes south we are stuck; either blaming God or ourselves for the failure (both are bad choices). The Bible is full of stories of God's miraculous intervention. He still does miracles all the time. However, managing your risk by expecting God to provide a miracle every time a storm comes is wrong practically and theologically.
Another flawed theology is believing God sovereignly controls everything and that there are no accidents. If something Goes wrong we falsely conclude it's either God's providence for our good or his judgment on us for sin. Here's the middle of the road; God can control anything he wants to regarding the future (miracles). However, He is committed to working with kings and He leaves most of the future open for us to manage. Accidents can and do happen all the time. They don't imply God's will or judgment. They often point to our lack of foresight to manage risk.
Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! Luke 13:4-5 NIV
What if we stopped pretending there is no risk? What if we admit the future is partly open and it's our job to work with God to shape it according to His purposes? What if our family and business plans accounted for all the things that could go wrong (instead of keeping all those fears hidden in a closet)?
Before you face your next "storm," realize that you are a King working with the King of Kings. You not only share the setbacks, you chat about the options to resurrect the situation so that God is glorified and the Kingdom is built. Faith has vision and risk; wisdom adds the ability to anticipate what could go wrong and plan for it, or better yet, avoid it. If we hit a home run, God is glorified and the Kingdom is built. If we encounter problems, we implement a strategy to solve them (avoid or manage the risk) so the Kingdom is still built. Whether it's the easy way or the hard way we are still walking with Jesus (the rock) and we'll still arrive at the same destiny if we stick with it. Pretty cool isn't it?
Here's reality - We Kings live in real-world warfare but we operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual attack is magnified because of the warfare, but our fruitfulness and opportunities are magnified even more because of His power that works so mightily in us.
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us  Eph 3:20 NASB
To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.  Col 1:29  NIV
Strong Backbones, Flexible Expectations - Right now we see Kings experiencing the highs and lows. Some are in storms or under attack while, on other fronts, there are great victories. We (and God) don't control where the enemy may strike or what decisions those around us will make. Stuff happens... things change! Our resolve is like steel but our plans and expectations are very flexible. We anticipate risk and we're not taken by surprise of something goes wrong. The reason God calls us overcomers is because there are plenty of things to overcome.
FYI: I learned (and am learning) how to manage risk day trading. That world is 5 -10 decisions a day that require a quick decision based on an evaluation of the risk of a loss. The same decision logic applies to the rest of our lives too. Special thanks to some generous mentors; Greg Dalessandri and Dan and Nathan Gaub. I also want to recommend Who is God by Harold Eberle. We summarized this book in Releasing Kings, Chapter 7. Also, Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas helped me understand how our inner healing issues can bias business decisions (most spiritual secular book I've ever read).
 
We're Dancing
 
John and Sue     www.Releasing-kings.com
 
PS: I want to recommend some follow-up reading.
Who is God by Harold Eberle provides the best explanation of a more relational view of God. It's must reading that connects our perception of God with everyday life.
Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace takes that foundation into marketplace ministry and the entrepreneurial nature of Kings. Fruit in the marketplace naturally springs out of sound doctrine.
Desire to Destiny - Takes the foundation and marketplace ministry and puts them in the context of seven practical keys or stages of growth you can apply in your own life.
You're invited into the vision to release Kings; communicate the message, make the money, and do the mission.
1.The Message - Our first goal is to get the Releasing Kings message into the hands of the messengers that will carry it... do it, preach it, teach it, example it.
2.The Money - The second goal is to help Kings break out of poverty by networking them with practical opportunities to prosper. We want to introduce them to the right people, the right opportunity, and the right financial approach.
3.The Mission - Network Kings with opportunities to mix business and missions. Accomplish the great commission through the marketplace and occupy the Seven mountains of: business, media, arts & entertainment, education and government in addition to the church.
____________________________________________________________________
You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace or Desire to Destiny at
1-800-308-5837 (or)
www.releasing-kings.com
 

The Hazardous Christian

The Hazardous Christian

By James Ryle www.truthworks.org


"Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 15:26).

Marketers have called it the World’s Most Successful Ad. It was posted in The London Times in 1905 -- “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages. Bitter cold. Long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in event of success.” Signed E. Shackleton. He was looking for a crew to help him discover the South Pole.

The next morning, over five thousand men were waiting outside the Time’s office ready to go. Something in the ad touched something deep inside each man.

But there is an even more successful ad posted in the Acts of the Apostles, and over the centuries millions have responded to its higher call in an even deeper way.

Paul and Silas were commended as men who hazarded their lives. Contrary to what one may initially think, this does not mean to be reckless or irresponsible. The Greek word means “to give over to another.” In other words, they were men who had handed their lives over to Jesus Christ, so as to bring great honor to His name. And while the underlying thought might seem to be one of self-abandonment, the truth of the matter is that this is the ultimate act of personal responsibility.

Paul said, “My friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” (Rom.12:1, Good News Bible).

The Amplified Bible says it is the "reasonable, rational, and intelligent" thing to do.

You and I were put on this earth to make Jesus famous. It is reasonable, rational, and intelligent for us to use our gifts and abilities to honor Him. But that’s not going to happen if we hold on to our own reputations as something to be cherished and mollycoddled, as they said in the old days. We must hazard our lives.

There is something deep inside every person that is stirred by the daring challenge to live a life of greatness for something other than oneself. Still, not all choose to do so; not every one hands their lives over.

Some settle for the pampered, risk-free environment of a lifeless faith and live out their days making no difference at all. But not you; surely not you. Start now and from this day onward, hazard your life for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Worship - The Door of Kings

Worship - The Door of Kings
(Meeting David and Rita)
Worship - In 1975 a guy named David Kitely came to our church and taught us how to sing over chord progressions and released the congregation and the musicians into a free flowing, extemporaneous worship that revolutionized the services. Prior to that praise felt like pumping water up hill. After learning how to flow, the praise easily moved into worship that felt like a personal communion with Jesus. We soared like eagles, released prophetical songs and instrumentals. I was particularly fond of great brothers and sisters that worshiped through their clarinet, violin, or trumpet. Between the worship, the prophetic songs, and the instruments, the church went to a whole new level in terms of experiencing the presence of God. Something happened in the spirit that caused our hearts to be released with joy into the presence of God. It was liberating, exciting, emotional, and holy at the same time.
Note: It's worth pointing out that our 1975 revelation of how to worship was so amazing that we developed a theology to go with it. We thought the presence of God was so real and powerful that the whole community would eventually be drawn into it. We actually did grow the church... however, instead of releasing Kings, we gave them seat assignments in the only mountain we could see at the time - the local church. Of course it eventually blew up and we all wondered why something so wonderful could end so awkwardly... probably God?
Releasing Kings - Worship is a natural ingredient in our discipleship process where we learn to release our hearts into a new freedom with Jesus. The Holy Spirit woos us week after week until we surrender to the thrill of soaring like eagles in worship; lost in the wonder of his majesty and no longer concerned with what others may think. It's an hour a week of learning to hear the voice of the Father and catching a ride on the wind of the Holy Spirit. There are times so rich that everyone present can prophesy because everyone can hear what God is saying so clearly.
Experiencing your release as a king is another expression of that kind of worship. It feel like a jailbreak from an obedient servant to a friend that walks in the desires of his or her own heart with a clear knowledge of what the Father is doing. It's a step into personal freedom that causes us to soar and reminds us so much of worship. And, it leads right into the presence and favor of God. We used to labor and pump and strive; and now something has changed and our "yoke" feels easy and our "burden" feels light. Networks come together, doors open, finances flow, and the creativity feels like an adventure.
Connecting the dots - God connected something for me. When we do conferences on Releasing Kings there is an amazing impact in people as they begin to awaken dreams and touch the desires of their heart that God planted in them. It's one part inner healing mixed with one part joyful jailbreak with a pinch of adventure thrown in for excitement. Worship is a natural bridge God builds into our hearts to release us as Kings in the Kingdom. We don't normally connect starting a business with worship... unless it's your business and it makes your heart sing and you realize it really is worship! Learning to set your heart free is a key ingredient to inherit Jesus' promise of abundant life (Jn 10:10). Worship is a great training ground for your heart.
Finding your calling in the marketplace will cause your spirit to leap. Or, reversing the sequence, when we learn to set our hearts free we will find our calling in the marketplace.
I met David and Rita Baroni last week (read their interview on the link). It was one of those connections that feels like you've found a long, lost friend. They have spent their lives in music and worship, and they carry that same ability to transform congregational worship and musicians, to set people free to soar in worship; released in the presence of God. Many worship services consist of songs with little participation from the congregation. David's music and his knowledge of free-form worship and the prophetic create a special place for people to "enter in" and release their hearts. You can hear some of their music on You Tube and learn more on the interview page. I'm committed to having a future conference with them to implement this dynamic... releasing hearts in worship and in the marketplace. David and Rita carry an anointing to do that. They are carrying on what King David started; a path to life filled with abundance, joy and pleasure.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Ps 16:11 NASU
Finding our role in the marketplace to minister is a song that is playing in our hearts. I think it's dance music! There is a new sound in the camp that is causing a generation to arise.

We're Dancing

John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

PS: I want to recommend some follow-up reading.
Who is God by Harold Eberle provides the best explanation of a more relational view of God. It's must reading that connects our perception of God with everyday life.
Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace takes that foundation into marketplace ministry and the entrepreneurial nature of Kings. Fruit in the marketplace naturally springs out of sound doctrine.
Desire to Destiny - Takes the foundation and marketplace ministry and puts them in the context of seven practical keys or stages of growth you can apply in your own life.
You're invited into the vision to release Kings; communicate the message, make the money, and do the mission.
1. The Message - Our first goal is to get the Releasing Kings message into the hands of the messengers that will carry it... do it, preach it, teach it, example it.
2. The Money - The second goal is to help Kings break out of poverty by networking them with practical opportunities to prosper. We want to introduce them to the right people, the right opportunity, and the right financial approach.
3. The Mission - Network Kings with opportunities to mix business and missions. Accomplish the great commission through the marketplace and occupy the Seven mountains of: business, media, arts & entertainment, education and government in addition to the church.