Perry Noble on his blog (www.perrynoble.com) has an interesting entry for leaders.I share it here.
Four Ways To Deal With A Critic July 15, 2009
Before I share the four ways let me be VERY clear on who a critic is…
A critic is NOT someone who approaches you and has a sincere love for you and a genuine concern for the ministry. These people should always be listened to and appreciated.
A critic is NOT someone who has a question about something and is merely seeking information and/or clarification for the purpose of fully understanding and embracing the vision of the ministry.
A critic is NOT someone who comes to you one on one with a spirit of humility and grace.
A critic is…
■Someone who does not know you but feels the need to judge everything you say and do…they will criticize where you eat, the clothes you wear, the number of times you fart and anything else they can think of.
■Someone who asks questions…but doesn’t actually want to know the answer…but rather are merely seeking information for the purpose of division.
■Someone who is always pointing out what others are doing wrong…but never acknowledges their own shortcomings. (Jesus said it will not go well for these people…Matthew 7:1-2)
Remember…insanity is actually thinking you can explain yourself to those who don’t know you and don’t like you! So…saying that, here are four ways you can deal with a critic…
#1 – Ignore Them
#2 – Ignore Them
#3 – Ignore Them
#4 – Ignore Them
I once heard a pastor say, “We spend way too much time wrestling with church people and not with God!” DANG!
There are some battles that you are NEVER going to win…and to fight with a person who wants to do nothing but accuse you is fruitless! (Just a thought here – the name “satan” means accuser. Now…if someone is obsessed with the “wrongs” that you are doing and always feel the need to throw those wrongs in your face…would that make them more like Jesus or more like satan? Hmmmm)
I learned this lesson a long time ago…I don’t visit their websites (very few people actually do), I don’t respond to them on twitter and I don’t read their anonymous letters…Craig Groeschel once said that the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me is to obsess with what others think about me.
NOW…there are instances where Jesus dealt with these people…but it was never an explanation but rather a barrage of questions and/or a VERY sharp rebuke (Matthew 23) This type of response should always be prayed through and thought out! There will be times that these steps need to be considered, discussed and acted upon…
BUT…99% of the time…just repeat steps 1-4! :-)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
More than Disobedience
Many of us will come to a place in our life and we recognize that we have made an idol out of this drug, alcohol, relationship, technology and we vow to change. We recognize our disobedience and make a promise never to do it again. We say we will never fall victim to that idol again. We will try harder next time. We will focus more intently. We will change. Mark Twain said about resolutions: “Now is the time to make your annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” The point is no matter how many promises we make for another chance, another opportunitiy, another time we still fail. As long as we think disobedience is the issue we will continue to be careless with our lives. Disobedience is the symptom to a bigger problem. It is impossible to change our ways without an inner change. Idolatry is a heart issue. The heart is the seat of idolatry. That was Israel’s problem. It wasn’t the disobedience that God was upset about. It was the idolatry. Idolatry leads to disobedience. Idolatry is a lack of trust in God. We turn to these other things or people to satisfy us when only God can satisfy. When we allow our heart to cling to something or someone other than God than we say to God you are not what I need. We were made for God so when we rely on something or someone else for ultimate security it is sin.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I Believe
What does it mean to say, “I believe?” It is one thing to say I believe that John Smoltz is a great pitcher. I am making a statement that has no relevance on how I live my life – unless I am a fanatical fan! There is another, deeper level at which one may say, “I believe in . . .” At this level, belief is closer to trust. When my son jumps off a ledge into my arms, he is saying that he is willing to jump because he “believes in” me as his father.
All of us live by a creed of some sort. At some level we all move beyond believing that something is true to believing in something or someone. Developing a creed is an important aspect of life. Life for many people is a daily grind of endless monotony. We earn for a sense of purpose. We want to know that our struggles have reason. As a result we can view life as a journey for something to believe in. We are looking for a creed. Henry David Thoreau once suggested that the difference among us may well be that we march to a different set of drums. Thoreau was saying that at the center of every life, there is a rhythm that determines its pace. Change the rhythm and the pace will change. The result is that if you can establish what a person believes you can foresee that person’s behavior.
When I say the word, “God,” what comes to mind? The answer to that question could possibly reveal more about whom you are and how you act than you really know. A. W. Tozer says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Most Americans believe in God, even if we cannot agree on what kind of God we believe in. Scripture reveals that God has created us and that He cares for us. We are told that God rules over our body, mind, and soul. As our Creator God is the one who provides the food and shelter. As our heavenly Father we can trust that he will keep us from evil and provide abundantly for all the needs of our lives. If we truly held to this belief about God how would our lives be different? Would we trust him more and complain less? Would we stop trying to play God and let God be God in our life? Would we be quicker to forgive and slower to get angry? Would we risk more because we know we are secure in His love? Would we pray more and pout less? Would we enjoy what we already have, knowing that if we truly needed something else, our Father in heaven would give it to us.
We live by what we believe ourselves to be. Each person needs to make a decision. A huge crowd was watching the famous tightrope walker, Blondin, cross Niagara Falls one day in 1860. He crossed it numerous times – a 1,000-foot trip 160 feet above the raging waters. He not only walked across it; he pushed a wheelbarrow across it. One little boy just stared in amazement. So after completing a crossing the fellow looked at the little boy and said, “Do you believe I could take a person across in the wheelbarrow without falling?” “Yes, sir. I really do.” The fellow says, “Well, then, get in, son.”
All of us live by a creed of some sort. At some level we all move beyond believing that something is true to believing in something or someone. Developing a creed is an important aspect of life. Life for many people is a daily grind of endless monotony. We earn for a sense of purpose. We want to know that our struggles have reason. As a result we can view life as a journey for something to believe in. We are looking for a creed. Henry David Thoreau once suggested that the difference among us may well be that we march to a different set of drums. Thoreau was saying that at the center of every life, there is a rhythm that determines its pace. Change the rhythm and the pace will change. The result is that if you can establish what a person believes you can foresee that person’s behavior.
When I say the word, “God,” what comes to mind? The answer to that question could possibly reveal more about whom you are and how you act than you really know. A. W. Tozer says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Most Americans believe in God, even if we cannot agree on what kind of God we believe in. Scripture reveals that God has created us and that He cares for us. We are told that God rules over our body, mind, and soul. As our Creator God is the one who provides the food and shelter. As our heavenly Father we can trust that he will keep us from evil and provide abundantly for all the needs of our lives. If we truly held to this belief about God how would our lives be different? Would we trust him more and complain less? Would we stop trying to play God and let God be God in our life? Would we be quicker to forgive and slower to get angry? Would we risk more because we know we are secure in His love? Would we pray more and pout less? Would we enjoy what we already have, knowing that if we truly needed something else, our Father in heaven would give it to us.
We live by what we believe ourselves to be. Each person needs to make a decision. A huge crowd was watching the famous tightrope walker, Blondin, cross Niagara Falls one day in 1860. He crossed it numerous times – a 1,000-foot trip 160 feet above the raging waters. He not only walked across it; he pushed a wheelbarrow across it. One little boy just stared in amazement. So after completing a crossing the fellow looked at the little boy and said, “Do you believe I could take a person across in the wheelbarrow without falling?” “Yes, sir. I really do.” The fellow says, “Well, then, get in, son.”
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
That's Not Fair
I grew up with two younger brothers. We were always getting into things that we shouldn’t. If one of us did something wrong, we all took the wrap for it. My mom would say, “Boys, get in here.” She would proceed to line us up and we would all get a couple lashes to the bottom. If we would questions her as to why she whipped us all for the mess up of one, she would say, “Because I’m sure you need it so I ‘m just going to get it out of the way.” She was probably right. It seemed that even though I or one of my brothers did not commit the crime we usually had a hand in encouraging, enticing, or persuading the other one to do the dirty deed. Regardless, one of us would always say when we were about to get whipped, “That’s not fair.”
Amos is the earliest of Israel’s prophets from whom we have a book of writings. The name Amos means “burden bearer,” and it fits, for Amos carries the burden of being the bearer of bad news. Nobody likes to hear about evil and injustice, especially when times are good. For the people of God during the time of Amos, life was good. He comes on the scene during one of the most prosperous periods of Jewish history. Israel is free of enemies; the economy is sound; society is stable. But Amos can’t help but see that within this outward peace there is a rottenness that is creeping into society. He sees cheating in business, the court system is corrupt, the poor are neglected, and religion has grown shallow and meaningless. The people have become self-indulgent and selfish.
Tormented by this, Amos, a farmer in overalls, cries out. Through the prophet Amos, God is saying that if we neglect the issues of justice and righteousness then even our best worship and gifts are unacceptable to Him. For Amos, God is a God that deals with justice. God is angered when those in power take advantage of those who do not have power. God despises the abuse of power because those in authority have been given responsibility of making sure that justice is done. God does not accept our sacrifices if the hands that give those sacrifices are stained with the blood of others. We cannot work for justice and live in injustice.
There is this great moment in the life of Mother Teresa when a wealthy woman from the United States find Mother Teresa, whips out her checkbook, and says, “I want to write you a check to support your work.” Mother Teresa looks up, shakes her head and says “No money.” “What?” “No Money. “You don’t want to take my money?” I have a lot of money, this money can help you.” “No money.” “No money! Well, then what can I do?” Mother Teresa smiled, took her by the hand, and said, “Come and see.” She led this woman deep into the heart of Calcutta, until she finally came upon a small, grimy child. Mother Teresa said, “Take care of her.” And so the woman took a cloth, and bathed the little girl, took a spoon and fed her. And she reported later that her life was changed. Mother Teresa once said, “You don’t have to go to Calcutta to share in my work. Calcutta is wherever you are. Where you are, there are people who hurt, who need love.” Come and see. Touch someone. Love them.
Amos is the earliest of Israel’s prophets from whom we have a book of writings. The name Amos means “burden bearer,” and it fits, for Amos carries the burden of being the bearer of bad news. Nobody likes to hear about evil and injustice, especially when times are good. For the people of God during the time of Amos, life was good. He comes on the scene during one of the most prosperous periods of Jewish history. Israel is free of enemies; the economy is sound; society is stable. But Amos can’t help but see that within this outward peace there is a rottenness that is creeping into society. He sees cheating in business, the court system is corrupt, the poor are neglected, and religion has grown shallow and meaningless. The people have become self-indulgent and selfish.
Tormented by this, Amos, a farmer in overalls, cries out. Through the prophet Amos, God is saying that if we neglect the issues of justice and righteousness then even our best worship and gifts are unacceptable to Him. For Amos, God is a God that deals with justice. God is angered when those in power take advantage of those who do not have power. God despises the abuse of power because those in authority have been given responsibility of making sure that justice is done. God does not accept our sacrifices if the hands that give those sacrifices are stained with the blood of others. We cannot work for justice and live in injustice.
There is this great moment in the life of Mother Teresa when a wealthy woman from the United States find Mother Teresa, whips out her checkbook, and says, “I want to write you a check to support your work.” Mother Teresa looks up, shakes her head and says “No money.” “What?” “No Money. “You don’t want to take my money?” I have a lot of money, this money can help you.” “No money.” “No money! Well, then what can I do?” Mother Teresa smiled, took her by the hand, and said, “Come and see.” She led this woman deep into the heart of Calcutta, until she finally came upon a small, grimy child. Mother Teresa said, “Take care of her.” And so the woman took a cloth, and bathed the little girl, took a spoon and fed her. And she reported later that her life was changed. Mother Teresa once said, “You don’t have to go to Calcutta to share in my work. Calcutta is wherever you are. Where you are, there are people who hurt, who need love.” Come and see. Touch someone. Love them.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Resolutions
This time of year many people will lay out a new set of resolutions, covenants, and goals. We use the new year as an opportunity for a new beginning. We look back over the past year and tell ourselves we will not make those same mistakes again. We commit to quit smoking, exercise more, or to stay more focused. We promise to love more and hate less. Mark Twain said about resolutions: “Now is the time to make your annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”.” The point is no matter how many promises we make for another chance, another opportunity, another time we still fail. As long as we think disobedience is the issue we will continue to be careless with our lives. Disobedience is the symptom to a bigger problem.
Many of us will come to a place in our life and we recognize that we have made an idol out of this drug, alcohol, relationship, technology and we vow to change. We recognize our disobedience and make a promise never to do it again. We say we will never fall victim to that idol again. We will try harder next time. We will focus more intently. We will change.
Disobedience is the symptom to a bigger problem. It is impossible to change our ways without an inner change. Idolatry is a heart issue. The heart is the seat of idolatry. That was Israel’s problem. It was’t the disobedience that God was upset about. It was the idolatry. Idolatry leads to disobedience. Idolatry is a lack of trust in God. We turn to these other things or people to satisfy us when only God can satisfy. When we allow our heart to cling to something or someone other than God than we say to God you are not what I need. We were made for God so when we rely on something or someone else for ultimate security it is sin.
We can try to change our behavior but we cannot change our heart. Only God can give us a new heart. If idolatry is our problem and it is a problem for everybody, God has to intervene. The Israelites tried hard to change their behavior and then they would fall back into sin. God sent the Israelites a prophet who promised: “I will give them a new heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11: 19). We need a heart transplant and that is what God has come to give us in Jesus Christ.
Many of us will come to a place in our life and we recognize that we have made an idol out of this drug, alcohol, relationship, technology and we vow to change. We recognize our disobedience and make a promise never to do it again. We say we will never fall victim to that idol again. We will try harder next time. We will focus more intently. We will change.
Disobedience is the symptom to a bigger problem. It is impossible to change our ways without an inner change. Idolatry is a heart issue. The heart is the seat of idolatry. That was Israel’s problem. It was’t the disobedience that God was upset about. It was the idolatry. Idolatry leads to disobedience. Idolatry is a lack of trust in God. We turn to these other things or people to satisfy us when only God can satisfy. When we allow our heart to cling to something or someone other than God than we say to God you are not what I need. We were made for God so when we rely on something or someone else for ultimate security it is sin.
We can try to change our behavior but we cannot change our heart. Only God can give us a new heart. If idolatry is our problem and it is a problem for everybody, God has to intervene. The Israelites tried hard to change their behavior and then they would fall back into sin. God sent the Israelites a prophet who promised: “I will give them a new heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11: 19). We need a heart transplant and that is what God has come to give us in Jesus Christ.
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