K. E. Y. S.

The word KEYS is a common word that we use everyday.  KEYS give us access to many possibilities.  Our keys give us the ability to unlock unlimited potential.

However, the reality is that many of us to do not use KEYS to unlock those possibilities. We allow ourselves to trapped in the little things and do not seek to go after those KEYS that will liberate. In school, we have been told that "Knowledge is the KEY", with this I agree and take it further in that, The Key is Knowledge because:

Getting or Seeking
Knowledge is
Equipping
Yourself for 
Success

This is simply how we can unlock success..... Only with getting K.E.Y.S.

The national average is really low in The Bahamas and I dare say that many globally are facing the same problems of a people who are not as thirsty for knowledge.  We got to read and not just watch TV or movies all the time.  I can quote dozens of studies that show the effects of regular reading.  Nevertheless, it is safe to say that "Readers are Leaders". 

My challenge for all of us is to really continue to seek/get knowledge through reading; for getting Knowledge is Equipping Yourself for Success.

Long time

Wow! I cant believe its been this long since a post.  This will be changed.

1st Drive Conference Video Collage

So Drive Conference was a BLAST!  Some of the footage that I am putting together.  

Shout out to my team at The Harvest. 

Drive Conference

So I am getting to check out Drive Conference in Alpharetta, Georgia.  This is my first time at this conference.  I have one word: Amazing.

There are over 200 countries represented at this conference eg. France, Canada, Nigeria etc. I am totally blown away by the creativity and content that is being presented at this conference.  It is not just a place to learn how to do church but it goes even deeper into the why of things.  I am thinking that the challenge is the need for us to really examine and evaluate what we do when we do church.  I could go on and on about the singing, the welcome of the staff and overall feel of the conference. However,  I am really love the content.

North Point Community Church has created a model/template of doing church that works from them.  This template has created such a buzz that literally thousands have converged on their main campus to hear more.  NPCC's dynamic pastor, Andy Stanley is a generational preacher (or communicator as he calls himself)  who has not been locked into the heritage from which he came. This is great because he has been found away to change the method without seeking to compromise the message.

I am really happy to be here with the team from Bahamas Harvest.  I would recommend anyone to check out the Drive conference. www.driveconference.com or on twitter @driveconference 

Back for another year

Sooooo its the last month in the Year....Whooo!  This is really exciting for so many reasons.  Seems that at this time people usually get nicer.  That is really weird that we have to wait til this time to be nice to others.  However, on the converse I am not complaining.  As the old adage goes better late than never.

Well I had promised that I would have been more proactive on my blog this year that I have kept up since around 2007.  What is shocking to me is that I have not updated this thing since September.  I think it was a matter of not having the time though.  So much has been happening.  

Nevertheless,  I am here and going to have some fun with this blog and just put some things out there. 

I am just so humble that I have an opportunity to be apart of this world by God's grace.  

Hey if you are reading this, Shout out to you.  You are awesome.  Whatever you wanted to accomplish this year just get started with it.  You will not regret it.

WANTED: Servant Leaders!

The church wants Servant Leaders.  As the emphasis was put on the title I think the body of Christ is screaming at the top of her lungs looking and seeking persons who would seek leader with the attitude of a servant.  These are people who will seek to develop a Christ-like model of leadership in the local body.

So then to help the situation, let me answer the question, who is a servant leader? and how does become one?

Who is a servant leader?

A servant leader is called to exemplify Christ to the body of Christ and a dying world.  The example of Christ is one of sacrificial and unconditional love thus by its nature being self-less.  This is counter cultural in many respects.  The reason being is that the culture says, Me first!  Therefore, it is unheard of to seek to put others first.  This does not come easily for the mere fact of our own proclivity to think of ourselves first.  However,  there is a process that we can follow to change ourselves.  Its all in the how.

How to become servant leader?

1. Develop the Proper Attitude

Let this mind be in you,  which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)  Our attitude must reflect Christ's attitude when he served us lowly humans though He was God incarnate.

2.  Humble yourself

God doesn't give us humility, rather situations (and yes some people) in life that can develop humility and character in us.  We have to choose to be humble

3. Identify with humankind

Seek to be understanding and compassionate.  Identifying with the weakness, sufferings and needs of those we serve makes one more relatable.  Jesus identified with us by living as a human. 

4. Be Obedient

We are not our bosses but we are under the authority of God.  

5. Die to sin and self

We must die to these daily our own selfish desires. 

6. Serve in love

This is central to the heart of servant leadership.  What really helps is that God truely loves us and expects us to love His people or those that we serve.

Modified an excerpt from the Biblical Management Principles by Harvestime International Institute

The "love" Chapter in 1Corinthians teaches us a lot about loving as a Servant leader.  So since being a Servant Leader equates to having love, here is the modified version:

1 Corinthians 13

King James Version (KJV)

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Servant Leadership, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Servant Leadership, I am nothing.

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Servant Leadership, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴  Servant Leadership suffereth long, and is kind; Servant Leadership envieth not; Servant Leadership vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸  Servant Leadership never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

¹³ And now abideth faith, hope, Servant Leadership, these three; but the greatest of these is Servant Leadership.

What type of Christian are you?

So this week Team Impact (@impact180) is going to be at Bahamas Harvest Church (@BahamasHarvest) for what is turning out to be an annual period.  These guys have a real heart for missions and evangelism.  Its like they live to see life-change. You can check out their website to get some more information:   http://www.team-impact.com

Well today their leader Pastor Shonn Keels (@teamimpactshonn) preached a great message on Evangelism.  I thought I would mention a great point and embellish it a lil bit.

He spoke about a policeman who was a Christian and was living out his faith as a policeman.  When you talk about a policeman lets think training. In the training a cop is trained to be very critical.  As they approach an scene their first instinct is to assess the situation.  If it is an accident they have to judge the situation and also establish who is in the wrong and cast blame.  The policeman in the story did the same in his christian walk,  he would cast blame on others and sure to let them know when they were wrong.  Isnt this like some of us.  We love to cast blame and point out the wrong of other people.  We are trying to be Policemen Christians.

Pastor Shonn didnt mention this though (I dont think?) but I think there are Passerby Christians as well.  These are the Christians who see a disaster happening but resolve to do nothing about it.  They are more comfortable to pass-by and keep things to themselves rather than get involved to restore anyone in the accidents that happen in life. 

However,  in the same scenario of the accident.  The policeman would be there but then usually the paramedic would show up.  The paramedics doesn't care who is at fault in the accident.  There only concern is to bring healing and restoration.  Their ministry is to be compassionate.  They are there to show how much they care.  They want to work to help the persons in the accident to be restored to where they need to be.

I am would say that we are called to be Paramedic Christians.  Jesus reminds us that the well/health don't need a doctor but it is the sick, that is why he came, for the sick.  We are called to minister to everyone rather than casting blame just like Jesus did.  I am hoping that many more of us would seek to be Paramedic Christians and help to win this generation.

Thanks for reading.  Follow me on twitter @bjornjb.