One Life

And so it’s 2012! What awaits us in the year ahead I wonder?

For me personally 2011 seemed like quite a fight. I didn’t see it coming, and I didn’t do so well on some days, but it feels like God has led me every step of the way, and now I’m standing on the other side. So what do I see? (I hear you ask!)

2012 is a year to Receive Power (sounds like a good name for a conference!). God is going to break out afresh and demonstrate his power in and through hungry people, people who know that there is more, and are willing to press in for it. Stories of revival are dim and distant in the UK, almost out of living memory, and God wants to change that this year. The church has grown tired of the word ‘revival’ because it hasn’t been seen for so long. But that’s exactly the environment to which it has been birthed again and again, and usually it’s the young people who usher it in. The year ahead will see young people catalysed in the things of revival, reminded that there is more and that we can’t settle for what we see today. Tomorrow is brighter, and we’ll see solid evidence of that in 2012, leading into much greater things in the next few years.

I truly believe there is a fresh wind blowing. A corner has been turned. Those who are ready to follow, wherever He calls, will become significant shapers in the UK over the next five years. It’s like God is ready to place His favour on people, and will establish His ways in and through them. It won’t all be easy, but it will be absolutely incredible to watch!

I pray that you will know His presence this year, and that you will be fully prepared to ‘Receive Power’ from God. He is willing, able and ready to pour it out. Are you ready to Receive?

I have heard it said, “70% of leadership is self leadership” which from one respect can look like a self-centered and selfish view of leadership, but I have found this principal to be continuingly more and more true in my leading of others. 

I have been ineffective at leading in the past, when 1) What I am saying/doing is not from God. 2) My Life hasn’t backed up what I am saying.

When people see God at work in you, they want to be led by you, and so they should be! As it is God is God, and He is Amazing! When leading as soon as I have tried to fall back onto my own strength (which is most of the time) the things I do seem to have less of an impact. In the same way I hope some of this blog has something of God in it, but most of it is probably my worthless babel.

The authority of what you say comes from what you do. If you do not do the things you say or do not do them consistently, people are not going to respect your leadership or take what you say seriously

So I have seen leading myself as trying to become evermore led by the ultimate, supreme and mighty leader of the universe Jesus and striving to live with more integrity. (All pretty obvious so far, but true!)

Some of the things I try: making sure I am actually reading my bible and praying (having a set routine helps me do this) instead of just intending to makes a big difference to how close I feel to God. Spending time “studying” (learning more about God) there is great teaching available online and endless books.  Living rightly and trying to break old patterns can be really difficult but vital if we want to be more in step with God.  Asking God to change my heart and having someone to be accountable to, I have found greatly helpful in this.  And having someone older and wiser to talk with is fun and really helpful.

These are just some of the things I have found useful, but it doesn’t mean you have to have it all sorted, or be anywhere near sorted, but if us as leaders try to make sure we are leading ourselves towards God I believe it makes us better at leading others in the same way.

So I would argue taking lots of time to invest in yourself as a human being as a leader is not selfish. 70% seems a large amount but I think the more time I have spent leading myself, the more space I have allowed for God to work in my life and my leadership.

(If you want to read more on self-leadership, Bill Hybels is a master http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2001/le-2001-003-13.86.html?start=1) 

Reading about Jesus in the Bible always leaves me wanting to grow closer to God and to truly know Him more. As I learn to understand more of scripture I have become increasingly aware of how radical Jesus’ words and actions were to the culture of that time and place. In our society and culture that still struggles with many of the issues Jesus specifically taught into (money and power, to name but two), I wonder, if we are any wiser in knowing how to live out Jesus’ words than the disciples who’s ears and hearts were first touched by those culture-shaking ideas. 

Take the “loving your enemies” idea. Really, I mean what does it look like to love your enemies? Do I have to love someone who has intentionally hurt me? Do I really have to do good to them? Bless them? Pray for them?

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:27-28

Look around the world and there’s not a lot of “loving your enemy” going on. In fact, I would suggest we need only look at our own lives for a short time before we may find areas where, if we are really honest, this command has not taken root.

Jesus’ words challenge our human instincts, they point to what was to come and what was to be revealed through Jesus - that God loved us even when we were His enemies. They reveal a God so in love with us that while we were still sinners He gave up His life for us. And now he calls us to do the same. To love those who don’t deserve it, to bless those who speak badly of us, and to pray for those who have hurt us. Jesus said it and He did it.

People who live like this in our culture and society are at risk of being laughed at and mocked – it happened to Jesus too. But living out Jesus’ commands, brings a revelation of Him to those in our spheres of life, many of whom do not know Him. I am always challenged when faced with tough choices and situations as to whether people will see me respond, or whether they will see Jesus [in me] respond. What is sown when I respond of myself, is weak and quickly fades away, yet what is sown when I allow Jesus to respond through me is eternal and brings light into the darkness that surrounds.

As you love, you lead people into the light of Christ’s love.

I like that: as you love, you lead.

I’ve just got back from spending just over 2 months in Cape Town, South Africa. What a beautiful country and what wonderful people! I loved it!

Whilst I was there I was really blessed to be able to go to a ceremony in which one of the young people I know, Simon, was graduating from secondary school - out in SA it’s a big deal, a special moment.

So, I was there as Simon was sat up on stage with the rest of his year group. All sorts of prizes were given and speeches made. Then came the moment where each student would sign their name in the school’s record book. As they were called forward one by one, 2 girls from among them stood at the microphone and read the names of the student and then told us all what their nickname was or a phrase that would define what they would be remembered for.

As the names and phrases were read out, some were funny, others were very clever - some if i’m honest i didn’t understand at all! And then the moment came for my friend Simon to come and sign his name in the book - what would they remember him for I wondered? Then they announced it:

“Jesus loves you”

A big cheer went up from the stage. My friend Simon would be remembered for a phrase he lived and breathed in that school: Jesus loves you. He was beaming. I was loving it!

I wonder in you school, college, university, workplace, home, town, city, what message will you be remembered for living and breathing? What message defines the way you live?

I know one thing - we need young leaders in the UK ready to carry that message with everything they are. Our nation needs to hear it now more than ever. Jesus loves you.

Since Onelife momentously achieved official Charitable status (praise the Lord!) earlier this summer there has been a plethora of exciting and innovative fundraising opportunities made available, such as text donations! Whilst working to equip and connect young people to change UK society through their Godly leadership; Onelife runs almost entirely on giving. Consequently, as Onelife continues to invest in the young leaders of tomorrow new avenues of fundraising are being explored. After all, the farmer with no seeds cannot sew.

One such avenue (that we would like to take you down) is Just Giving. Just Giving is the world leader in online fundraising providing a secure and easy to use way for charities to raise money for good causes. In total over £700 Million has been donated through Just Giving and Onelife has raised over £2,000 in this summer alone! You can see Onelife’s profile here and browse the pages of the indiviual fundraisers here. This September, a local Youth pastor, Ellie Freeman, raised almost £500 in just 20 days! You can set up your own fundraising page, personalising it with your story and pictures and even a fundraising target. Then people can just visit your page and donate directly to Onelife. One great feature of Just Giving is that they claim gift aid automatically to maximize the amount charities can raise.

Texting is quickly becoming a speedy and constant pastime for young people. Now you can even donate to Onelife via text. This year’s Onelife Learning Communities (OLC’s) are currently recruiting and will be launching soon. You could help put a young person through this course by texting OLCS £(insert figure) to 70070. The text is free and Onelife gets all of the money (plus gift aid). The OLC’s are a fundamental tool for Onelife to realise it’s vision. They only cost £130 for young people to go, but cost approximately £500 per person for Onelife to run. This year-long course could be a life changing experience for young people to be shaped by God and realise their God-given potential. If you want to find out more about them click here and if you want to help make them happen by giving… well, after reading this, you should know how!