Leadership | Tommy Haines

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One decision makes a difference

July 5, 2011 in Featured, Leadership, Teaching with 0 Comments

I wonder how many of us are missing out on winning in life because of one decision? Wow, one time when God speaks and you say no could be the difference between winning or loosing. Everyday we get the chance to say YES or NO to what God wants. YES or NO to winning. It is your decision.

The Israelites had a big faith decision to make and they said NO. When it came to the promise land, 10 out of the 12 guys that went into spy out the land got scared and said NO. We can’t win. The enemy is too great. That one vote, that one decision cost these Israelites 40 years of their life. Then there was Moses, who made one bad decision in anger He choose to hit the rock for water instead of speaking to the rock like God said. That one decision cost Moses big time; it cost him a trip to the promise land.

Everyday decisions make huge impact in life. You have to decide to walk in faith instead of feelings. Faith unlocks winning in your life.

Now, Moses learned from his mistake. Look at what he said to Israel as he is about to die and pass leadership over to Joshua.

Deuteronomy 30, verse 19. This is Moses speaking for God. God says, 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! 20 Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life…”

In other words, God wants you to win, but you have to choose. God wants to bless your life, but you have to choose. God wants to move you from the land of loosing into the land of winning, but you have to choose. Say Yes to God today. Say Yes to winning.

Making your dream work

March 9, 2011 in Featured, Leadership with 2 Comments

Everyone that has a dream knows, it takes a lot of work to make it happen. Here is an article I found insightful on working with people to accomplish the dream God has given you. Good principles when you are tackling change on the road to your dream. Let me know what you think.

5 Things to Remember About Winning People Over
by Kem Meyer

The toughest thing about fresh insight, new strategies and a personal passion to see it through is waiting for others to catch the wave! Am I right!? Here are five things to help you stay the course as you try to champion a dream, win people over and lead change of any kind.

It’s a trip, not a destination. (Play on words intentional.)
If we’re focused on the outcome, we’ll constantly feel the frustration instead of the win. But, if we focus on the people over the project (or the process over the event) relationships will gradually strengthen and each little step will feel like a win on the way to our ultimate goal. Remember, it’s less about technique than it is attitude.
It’s not “all or nothing.”
We can’t change everyone and everything at once. There’s going to be several steps forward and a couple steps back along the way. Don’t let that discourage you if it’s more of an exception rather than a rule. It’s like a golf game. You’re going to have some good holes and some bad ones. When you have a bad hole, move on to the next one. It’s not game over.
Focus on a few rather than many.
Rarely, if ever, is a one-size-fits-all roll-out effective. We are going to have to spend more time with some leaders over others. And, what works to get buy-in from one person won’t work with the next. It takes time to navigate through the personalities to discover what motivates and builds trust for each person. Invest in constant and ongoing conversations with your boss all along the way. Not to get things done, but to keep processing the wins, the struggles and the cost of standing still. And, then pick one or two leaders to invest in to build trust and create some key, visible wins. It will attract others to the cause and you’ll gradually gain momentum and speed.
It takes time.
God isn’t just using this change to help improve others, he’s using others to help change us. Whatever time you think it’s going to take to roll something out, multiply that by at least 3. It’s not linear but multi- dimensional. There is more at play than we can see. With faith, persistence and a commitment to self-awareness the stars will start to come into alignment down the road. It took me about 3 years to start to see a tipping point for some initiatives I’ve led in the past–not 3 months.
You’re never done.
While you will build more advocates in your camp along the way, it will never be 100% consensus. You will need to keep refining your vision casting, coaching and redirecting skills. There will always be new team members or difficult personalities unwilling or unable to change. What you can look forward to, though is the hard part being 20% of your job instead of 80%.

Kem is the Communications Director at Granger Community Church. Kem leads worskshops, speaks at conferences and blogs about finding ways to remove the barriers that keep people from connecting with Christ. Kem is also the author “Less Clutter. Less Noise.”

9 Things for You

March 2, 2011 in Featured, Leadership with 0 Comments

Today I am sharing with you the main points from one of my favorite leadership books. You really should go and buy this book, it is awesome. Enjoy…

9 THINGS A LEADER MUST DO
by Dr. Henry Cloud

Excavate Your Soul – “Leaders explore their deep hearts and invest in their inner desires and drives.”
Yank the Diseased Tooth – “Leaders do not allow negative things to take up space in their lives.”
Play the Whole Movie – “Leaders evaluate their decisions in the present based on how they will affect the future.”
Put Superman out of a Job - “Leader continually ask themselves, “What can I do to make this situation better?”
Embrace Your Inner Insect - “Leaders achieve big goals by taking small steps over time.”
Earn a Black Belt in Hate - “Leaders develop the ability to hate the right things well.”
Forget about Playing Fair – “Leaders give back better than they are given.”
Quit Self-Exaggerating – “Leaders do not strive to be or to appear more than they really are.”
Ignore the Popularity Polls – “Leaders do not make decisions based on the fear of other people’s reactions.”

Each of these principles are life-changing. Have a good time reading the full version.

Washer Wisdom

February 16, 2011 in Featured, Leadership with 0 Comments

Over the last couple of months, we have had a lot of issues with our washer. I will spare you of the details, except to say this, yesterday was the day we got a brand new one from the box. I had to drive an hour and half to pick it up, but it is well worth it! I finally got it hone, un-boxed it and began to set it up. I have set up many washers in my life since I used to be a washer and dryer delivery boy when I was in college. No big deal, Right? Maybe or maybe not, it depended on me.

Yesterday I did one thing many people would have skipped, believe it or not, especially with all my washer experience, I choose to read the instruction manual when I set up this washer. This made all the difference. This new washer needed me to remove certain packing bolts, make sure the right hoses were used because of pressure regulations, and even check the level of the machine a certain way. Not only that, I was to run a cycle through without clothes for the first test. I learned all of this by READING the instruction manual.

Here is the wisdom, “what you READ changes your life outcomes.” Most people who had set up a washer many times would have skipped the instructions. It would have been a big mistake for me. This reminded me about what reading does for me as a person and a leader.

1. Reading helps me grow. My imagination grows, my intelligence grows, my spirit grows, and my process of thinking grows. When I read as opposed to watching TV, I actually have to be involved. I can veg-out while watching something, but when I ready I think and therefor I grow as a person.

2. Reading helps me learn. Yes we get a lot of stuff via TV, but when I actually sit down with a book and read, I tend to process the information differently and I challenge my thinking. Again when I watch or hear, I move quickly through the information and really do not think as much. As I read I think, therefor I learn. (An aside, parents who read to their children at least 20 minutes a day help their kids grow smarter, quicker, and do better in school. Just something to think about.)

3. Reading deepens me spiritually. When I read it causes me to think emotionally, mentally, intellectually, but also spiritually. How is my relationship with God and others improving and growing? How am I growing as a complete person? What area of my life needs work? This is why I always recommend the Bible as a part of your daily reading. It is your instruction manual to life. You need to read it to understand you.

4. Reading helps me to relate. The more variety of topics I read, the more people I can relate to. I like to read many different types of book. I read leadership, business, spiritual, and even a few fiction books. Reading books help you to read people.

So you want something to change in your life, go READ. What you READ changes your life outcomes! Our washer is running great!

Satan’s Schemes

July 30, 2008 in Leadership, Ministry, Teaching with 0 Comments

Sunday I spoke about being broken by God. During the writing of the message and also during the delivery of the message I could sense the Holy Spirit really speaking to me and through me. So afterwards I was doing some thinking especially about How God will allow Satan to take from you yet not touch you. (Read Job 1 if you do not know what I am talking about)

Anyways, as I thought on the way God allows Satan to work I ran across an interesting read by Beth Moore. She asks the question: “How do wholehearted and sincere servants of Christ become vulnerable to demonic seduction?” She says, “None of us is sinless, but sin is not where the enemy most often gets his foothold among the godly. Rather, where Christian victims are concerned, the enemy more often latches on to personal weaknesses.” I love that, “Christian victims.” Constantly I try to warn fellow believers, “Our battle is not against flesh and blood… (Eph. 6:12)” Satan wants to steal from you and destroy you, he wants to make you into a victim.

Then Beth goes on to list four specific weaknesses that regularly open believers up to demonic seduction. Here they are:

1. Ignorance

Beth says “what we do not know can hurt us!” So many believers are really ignorant to the schemes of Satan in their life. The go day by day blaming or looking at others, yet never really seeing their real enemy. Satan loves this, he is an excellent fisherman. He knows how to lay great lures right in front of well meaning followers who are ignorant of the truth.

2. Spiritual passion that exceeds biblical knowledge

Beth says “This one area of ignorance drains our spiritual strength faster than any other.” Most believers spend more time in their personal passions than they do the word of God. They are passionate about what they want and how they think things should be in their life, yet spend very little time searching God’s word. Jesus said it best, “The truth will set you free.” Beth says “Without His truth in our heads and hearts, we are lame ducks awaiting the inevitable.”

3. A lack of discernment

Beth says “knowing the difference between what is and is not of God is critical to living in victory. If, after all, we cannot discern the Devil’s lies from God’s promises, we have little hope of tuning Satan out or tuning the Lord in.” Discernment comes from an intimate walk with God.

4. A lack of self-discernment

This is the ability to be honest with yourself. Where are you sinning intentionally and where are you sinning by error? Beth says “Anytime we are loaded down with sins, whether intentional or not, we are game for seduction. We are vastly helped when we recognize, acknowledge, and ask forgiveness for our errors, both the intentional and the unplanned.

If you are a follower of Jesus, Satan wants to “steal, kill, and destroy.” Where have you seen him destroy a part of your life?

Praying to make a difference…

June 15, 2008 in Convictions, Leadership, Ministry with 0 Comments

Britain’s William Wilberforce, at the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries, prayed to make a difference in the lives of slaves and slave owners. His prayer was simple, “May God enable me to have a single eye and simple heart, desiring to please God and to do good to my fellow creatures.” Yet the ability to see slavery outlawed within British Parliament and among England’s financial power brokers would carry with it great sacrifice and personal discomfort.

Nevertheless, for twenty long years William Wilberforce continued to pray and work to stop slavery. William displayed great courage as he worked within parliament and eventually a vote was made that abolished slavery. His work and this vote served as a model for the movement that was to take place in the United States during the nineteenth century. Even though it took an American Civil War, eventually slavery in America was abolished.

As I read about William Wilberforce, it made me wonder; “how many times have I stopped praying and working because the journey to make a difference was long and hard?”

What are you praying about that will make a difference for the Kingdom?

Principles by Og Mandino

May 6, 2008 in Leadership with 0 Comments

“Never feel shame for trying and failing, for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.”

“Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough.”

“Today, I begin a new life.”

“Good habits are the key to all success.”

1 – I will form good habits and become their slave.

2 – I will greet this day with love in my heart.

3 – I will persist until I succeed.

4 – I am nature’s greatest miracle.

5 – I will live this day as if it is my last.

6 – Today, I will master of my emotions.

7 – I will laugh at this world.

8 – I will multiply my values a hundred.

9 – I will act now.

10 – I will pray for guidance.

I know I am a Hypocrite

April 21, 2008 in Leadership, Ministry, Teaching with 0 Comments

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT PASTOR.

“I have this thing called sin, which is like a disease – or at least it gives me a lot of dis-ease – woven into the fabric of my being. I didn’t ask for it; I don’t want it. More often than not, the sin manifests itself in the form of self-destructive behavior. So if I look a little inconsistent on the outside, you can only imagine what’s going on inside!” -Margaret Feinberg, author and speaker

“People who most need the church are sitting outside, waiting to feel worthy enough to come.” -Leroy Barber, president, Mission Year

“Hypocrites, then, are mask-wearers. They appear to be one thing, but it’s all a front – behind the mask they are someone else…The only way to regain our footing is to remind ourselves – and others- that an authentic Christian is simply someone who has made the decision to believe in Jesus as his forgiver and then attempt to follow him as his leader. But nowhere in this series of events is perfection or sinlessness. Rather, there is simply the intentional effort and sincere desire to recognize God as, well, God.” - Jim White, author

“Pastors are by far the most hypocritical. It is because we are called to teach a truth that we cannot sustain on a day to day basis. The truth must continue and as a pastor we must continue to wear the weight of our personal imperfection. Yet this is good. As a matter of fact we should celebrate our imperfection because it leads us to see the beauty of Christ.

Romans 9:21 “I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I know I am a hypocrite. For this I am grateful because it causes me to lean stronger into Christ and gives me a greater love for those who are outside of Christ. It is time for the pastor and the church to stop trying to display perfection and start displaying our desperate need for Christ. Even as I write these words, I do not know if it is possible in an image driven culture to be real and honest. This is the battle, for with transparency this is always a cost.” - Tommy, hypocritical pastor

Things I have learned while planting Real Church – part 3

April 12, 2008 in Leadership, Ministry, Teaching with 0 Comments

11. Enjoy the progress. So often in this church plant I have not enjoyed the place that God has us. I want more to happen in a quicker time frame. Yet slowly, especially since having Elli, I am learning to enjoy the progress whatever it is. As I watch Elli grow I have realized often times healthy growth is slow and then goes in spurts. Our church for the first two years was almost all college age. The last two it has progressed into young married with kids. I feel like we planted two churches. The changes have been tough, but good. As I enjoy them I tend to see God’s goodness.

12. Hire slow, fire fast. I stole this from my friend Herbert Cooper, but boy is it true. I have kept some people too long which caused hurt to our church and me. Other times I have hired to fast to see a short return and only get burned. I still do not have this hiring thing down, but I am learning. Church planting is not for the weak or for those that just want to draw a paycheck. You have to find people that really want to start a church and they want to follow you. If they just want a church job and they do not like you, they will be short lived. No lead pastor is perfect, find people who understand that and love you anyway.

13. Use teams for direction, yet make the final call. Some of our most creative and best decisions have come because we developed a team to investigate, brainstorm, strategize, and give advice. Yet at the end of the day, the teams that work best have looked at me and said, “Pastor, God has placed you here, do you think this is His will?” It is a hard question, but a great question. Hard, because you have to make the call, great because once you have the facts, it should be your call. At the end of the day, as a church planter you have more risk involved than anyone. Others can opt out whenever, you can’t. Often times even though we are incorporated, it feels like my name is on everything, guaranteeing everything. Good or bad, I want to be involved in major decisions and I want the power to say NO if I feel like it will hurt the church or my family in the long haul.

14. Manage the money. I believe the most common reason church plants fail is because they do not know how to manage the money. Most pastors are afraid of getting involved and then usually give the authority to someone that doesn’t have a clue. Eternity and following Christ is way more important than the US dollar. Yet without the dollar your church will not go far. Get smart people to count and secure the money. Get someone that can not only budget but help forecast where you will be in the future. Get an outside audit done, so that everything is legit. And finally, save. Have at least a couple of months of expenses in the bank. This will allow you to make faith decisions and adjust for what God is leading you to do.

15. Stay close to God. Because there is so much to do in a church start up, it is easy to let time with God go. When this happens, you will mess up. Your time with God is crucial to your health, your direction, and ultimately your survival. As you stay close, God gives you discernment and wisdom as a leader. Time and time again I have been protected because as I was praying, as I was seeking, God spoke to me about something or someone. Satan will do everything he can to steal, kill and destroy you, yet as you stay close to God you will make it. You will overcome. The church is not yours, it is God’s. You need Him to show you how to go, not just a good business plan.

Ignition – A College service we used to do.

Volunteers transforming Fun Skate into Real Church.

This is what Starting Churches is all about.

Things I have learned while planting Real Church – part 2

April 10, 2008 in Leadership, Ministry with 0 Comments

6. You will hurt. The hardest thing in church planting is the realization that those who start with you may not stay with you. I remember the first couple who came and said they were leaving. It crushed Julie and me. They were involved real early in the game and helped us tremendously. Yet they left! When people leave they tell you all kinds of crazy things; they blame you, they lie to you, or sometimes they just bail. No matter how they go, if you love people it will hurt. Unless they are some kind of crazy that needs to go.

7. You will face betrayal. If Jesus faced it from his inner circle, so will you. Some of the toughest things to work through have been when people have told me one thing to my face and then spoke differently about me behind my back. It is hard when people speak ill of you or say negative things or do you wrong, but remember Jesus said it would happen, so when it does, focus on him and move on. At least you are not being killed.

8. You will be judged. I have learned, as a pastor, people will judge you on all kinds of things; how you dress, the way you talk, the people you hang with, your sermons, your leadership, your kids, whether or not you talk to them, and many more things. Do not worry, their judgment is nothing compared to God. When you die, they will not be there taking your place before Christ. Honor God, Keep him first and realize being judged is part of the deal.

9. You will need an outsider. No matter who you are as a pastor, you need someone you can be transparent with. Being able to talk through the issues, the pressure, the lack of funds, the hurts, the down days, and the sin you deal with is vital. I have had the joy of walking with another church plant pastor for the last few years. We started our churches about the same time and together we have been able to encourage one another and have a safe place to pour out our guts. Along with this guy, I have other pastors that I meet with and we shoot it straight. I think having an outsider helps you not take it out on the insiders. Those inside your family, inside your staff, and inside your church!

10. You will need a church journal. Yes I said a church journal. I keep a church journal separate from my personal journal where I write down the victories I see God do inside our church. I write down when God provides, when God says no, when God surprises me, and when God breaks through a tough place. This journal is a source of encouragement when you lack faith for something in the future. Often times I will pull it out and remember just how great God has been. I will remember how God provided each step along the way. By remember the good; it strengthens my faith for the future.