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What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve

Outtakes from Church Life Cohorts

Just came back from CLR cohorts in Ft. Lauderdale. It was such an enriching time as usual. Best of all, it was the first time for a while that Larry and I have been able to really connect. I mean, we work together every day at the church and we spend time together but lately it hasn't been as quality as usual...for some reason. It's been this way about a month. I think we've just been under an attack of sorts. Not fighting...just...a little emotional disconnect and also a lot of pressure with the kids. But these past two days turned all that right side up just where we need to be. I love it when we are functioning like this. We really needed these two days.

Then, today Pastor Max taught in the morning and Dr. Lee this afternoon. A few days ago, Doc felt in his spirit that Max needed to teach this morning. They never communicated about the topic, he left it up to Max. As much as we love Doc, the Lord had something different in store today with Max and it was so on with where everybody was. So Holy Spirit orchestrated. Just thought I would share a few of Max's insights... of my 13 pages of notes, here are some favorites...

Adversity has the ability to bring out the best in leaders – prosperity tranquilizes us.
Remember – GOD LOVES THIS CHURCH MORE THAN WE DO. GOD LOVES THIS COMMUNITY MORE THAN WE DO. GOD LOVES US MORE THAN WE LOVE OURSELVES. GOD IS ALWAYS MOTIVATED BY LOVE. 

Yes, the battle is the Lord’s but the Word also says we are workers together with God. He used Moses with a rod in his hand, David with a sling in his hand, the disciples to take the multiplied loaves and fishes. He always uses people.FAITH WITHOUT A FIGHT IS DEAD.

Soil must rest sometimes so the next crop will be more bountiful. There are times when of all of a sudden everything slows down. Sometimes God intentionally slows things down.Psalm 23 – "He maketh me lie down..." 

If you are working your behind off trying to keep a program alive in your church, it probably was born in the flesh. If there is no fruit from it, you are keeping it alive on life support. Sometimes God resurrects it later. Make the decision to eliminate things that are non-producing. 

When you are part of a denomination sometimes you are under a lot of pressure to have certain programs. It's better to have the denomination mad at you than God. 

And my favorite piece of advice for the day...

New converts are a great distraction. Keep praying the new believers in...it’s easier to deal with any negative factors in the church because you can always redirect people's attention to the souls being saved.

Comments

Anonymous said…
wow I LOVED some of those notes!
Faith without a fight is dead...LOVE IT!

And the word about adversity and prosperity is so on point.

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