Leah Rade

An Amazing Reason To Join A Serving Team!

Last Monday a regular NHC'er came by the church to share that they had made a committed decision to deal aggressively with an addiction after encountering a new member on their Sunday serving team.  While serving together for the first time last Sunday, the two NHC'ers spent the next hour or so talking in the parking lot, discovering similar backgrounds.  This serving team member served as a beacon of hope to the other NHC'er who then made a decision to attend AA.

During our conversation, the NHC'er shared their fears and after finding meeting times/venues on the website, appeared hesitant to go by themselves.  Based on what had already been shared, I encouraged the NHC'er to call the serving team member and share their decision to attend AA.  I was so touched when that serving team member offered to attend the meeting with the other NHC'er, providing the necessary support to begin healing.  So far, the NHC'er has attended an AA meeting every day since.  Join a serving team! 

Why Read The Bible?

Last night I received a crisis call from someone I have been counseling.  After determining that the person just needed to talk it out and was not in immediate danger, I asked if I could read some passages from the Bible.  I grabbed my Bible and opened it to Psalms and started reading Psalm 34 and read vs. 17:18 a couple of times - Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.
                                        ¹⁸ If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
                                       if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.

I then read Psalm 23. The person on the other end of the phone began to regain control and spoke calmly.  I prayed with the person and encouraged the person to just open the Bible and hear God speak.

First thing this morning I received a very different call from the person who excitedly wanted to share something.  The person told me that upon ending our call, let the Bible flop open.  Upon looking down, here is the passage of scripture that brought needed rest and comfort:

Psalm 130
 ^1-2 Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help!
   Listen hard! Open your ears!
      Listen to my cries for mercy.

 

^3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
      who would stand a chance?
   As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
      and that's why you're worshiped.

 

^5-6 I pray to God—my life a prayer—
      and wait for what he'll say and do.
   My life's on the line before God, my Lord,
      waiting and watching till morning,
      waiting and watching till morning.

 

^7-8 O Israel, wait and watch for God—
      with God's arrival comes love,
      with God's arrival comes generous redemption.
   No doubt about it—he'll redeem Israel,
      buy back Israel from captivity to sin.
                                    The Message Version

I can't wait to flop open my Bible tonight and hear from God!

Amazing Exercise!

I used to exercise fairly vigorously when our kids were young, but I have to admit that during the past several years, while I have walked fairly regularly, fitness has not been the priority it should be.

Four weeks ago I started mountain biking with Mike.  Mike has biked consistently for 17 years and always feels great after his rides.  The memories of how great I felt mentally after a 6-mile run spurred me on to buy my own bike and join Mike.  After four weeks I have discovered or re-discovered some amazing benefits. And, for some of you who know me well, one benefit might just surprise you.

I am known for my coffee consumption.  Typically, I have 2-3 cups before I leave the house, then brew another pot at the church during our 10am check in meeting.  Only three days into our riding and I realized that I was only drinking 1-2 cups in the morning and not making the pot at the church.  Yesterday, I only consumed one cup of coffee the entire day!  Here's the amazing part - I have not experienced any withdrawal from caffeine and my energy levels have soared!  Gotta love those endorphins!

Another natural benefit from exercise is that I can "hear" my body signals much better and only eat when I'm hungry.  And when I eat, I'm choosing much healthier choices, because I really experience much more discomfort than in the past when I make poor choices. 

The third and probably most important benefit is that I am spending an extra hour+ each day with Mike doing something healthy together.  And, while I knew he was really fit, I get to watch him in action...mmm.

There are so many reasons to get fit, beyond the obvious reasons to lose/maintain weight.  I'm hooked again and I don't plan on stopping.  I might even have to Craig's List my double-pot coffee maker.  Not! My Small Group would mutiny!

God Has Always Known You & Has Plans For You

I started reading Jeremiah this morning and want to share the first thing that struck me.

Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)

 ⁵"Before I shaped you in the womb,
   I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
   I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
   that's what I had in mind for you."

God clearly tells Jeremiah that He knew all about Jeremiah before He created him in his mother's womb.  He goes on to tell Jeremiah that before Jeremiah was born, He had plans for him.

Wow!  How does that make you feel that God knew all about you before he created you?  How do you feel when you think about God having plans for you before you were born?

Most Influential Leadership Book

A couple days ago I tweeted the question, "Other than the Bible, what book has most impacted your leadership?"  Here are a few of the answers: The Case For Christ; The Purpose Driven Life; To Kill a Mocking Bird; Coach K's Leading From The Heart.

Thoughts?  Here's the question again - Other than the Bible, what book has most impacted your leadership?  Look for an upcoming post early next week where I'll talk about the books that have most impacted my leadership and why.

Stewardship of Your Unique Design

The dictionary defines the word "steward" as: a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.  We are not owners of anything, but we are stewards of ALL of God's property, including the way He uniquely designed us to serve in ministry.  I've discovered when we operate outside of our God-given design, we become dull or useless & may even be damaging.  It's like using the end of a screwdriver to hammer a nail into a wall...way too much energy is spent and most likely the screwdriver, nail and wall might be damaged in the process.

The same is true when we try to minister with no thought to gifting or personality design.  In the long-run, we (leaders especially) are discouraged, disillusioned, and resentful.  We have to be good stewards of God's design...for ourselves and for those we lead.  You're in the danger zone when you are only vaguely aware of your God given design and potential contributions.  And, because you don't understand your unique design, you also aren't aware of your limitations.  You try to become all things to all people instead of developing necessary partnerships that let others do well in the areas in which you are weak.

Here are a few tools to help you better understand you unique design which will help maximize your potential to live and minister. Note - some of the tools have fees associated with them, but are well worth the cost. Personally, I have utilized all three tools and recommend them highly.

Spiritual Gifts Analysis - Free

Discover Your Strengths: Strengths Finder 2.0

Leading From Your Strengths Profile

Salvation Is A Fact, Not Just A Feeling

Pastor Dave's message yesterday was awesome and if you missed it, you can check it out when the message is uploaded to our website by clicking here.  Meanwhile, I have some thoughts, especially for newer believers.  It is very normal for a new believer to experience emotional elation after putting their trust in Jesus Christ.  However, it is unreasonable to expect sustained emotional elation and when this happens, which it will, doubts come into our thinking. 

Our relationship with God cannot be based on emotion, but on what He tells us through His Word, the Bible.  Remembering that you've committed yourself to the finished work of Jesus' death on the cross, gives confidence for you to continue your relationship with Him.  Philippians 1:6 tells us, He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Here are some other "facts" that can build confidence and I encourage you to look them up in an easy-to-read translation, like the NIV, then bookmark each:

Romans 8:38-39
2 Corinthians 5:21
2 Timothy 1:12
1 Peter 1:5
1 John 5:13

Independence Day Pondering

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.  ~Thomas Paine

Your Hidden Curriculum

I read an article by John Ortberg a couple of weeks ago which has really impacted my thinking.  The premise of the article is that institutions, businesses and people have a "formal curriculum" and a "hidden curriculum."

• The formal curriculum is intentional.
• The hidden curriculum is inherent.
• The formal curriculum is obvious.
• The hidden curriculum is subtle.

What you learn in the formal curriculum often evaporates after your finals. Sometimes even earlier.

What you learn in the hidden curriculum lasts a lifetime.

If there is a contradiction between what's taught by the formal curriculum and what's taught by the hidden curriculum, people always believe the hidden curriculum. Always.

The article continues in the context of church life:

We have a formal curriculum. It gets taught in classrooms and preached on weekends. It gets sung from the stage and facilitated in small groups. The formal curriculum is what gets taught when we study Romans, or learn about contemplative prayer, or take a spiritual gifts inventory.

But we have a hidden curriculum. Who gets fawned over, and who gets ignored? How do the staff and leaders get along when they're off the platform and think nobody's looking? How does a small group respond when someone shares a problem that is untidy and unresolved? Do leaders respond with panic or irritation or confidence or gentleness when a problem strikes? When there is a conflict, do people face it head on or go into avoidance mode? Does the church staff run on fear?

A couple told me recently of visiting a church in a city they'd just moved to. It was a church that prides itself on reaching unchurched people. But it was clear that the hip and the cool and the artists were prized above all there. The formal curriculum said God hangs with everybody. But the hidden curriculum said don't expect to get too close to the core if you tuck your shirt in.  John Ortberg

This really got me thinking about New Horizon Church?  I know our "formal curriculum. Do we have a hidden curriculum?  The article got me thinking about myself?  I know what I believe and I can tell people what I believe...Does my behavior mirror my "formal curriculum?  What are we really teaching?

Lot's to chew on here.  Check out the article here.

Rebelling Against My Indifference

I've been blogging and following blogs for over three years and recently have become very bored. Bored with my own blog and frankly, bored with the blogs that I read.  Hence, no recent blog posts.  Several of you have commented or sent emails asking if I'm okay or asked for reasons behind my blog abandonment. Thank you.

Your concern caused me to pause and realize my selfishness.  Several of you have helped me see that just because I'm bored or don't feel that I have anything to say, doesn't mean that some of you aren't interested.

So, I'm rebelling against my own indifference and promise to post more regularly.  Whether or not you read it, it's up to you, not me.  Thank you again for pushing me beyond myself.