Thursday, July 12, 2007
Kingdom Builder or Castle Builder
I'm involved in a project that is bringing together some pastors from all over the world. We are learning from one another and trying to partner to see this world transformed. The group is small by design and to be involved it has little to do with your vision but your fruit. I had the opportunity to visit with both Ralph Neighbour, Jr. and Ralph Neighbour, Sr. today. I've known Jr. since I met him almost 20 years ago in the LA area. He's always reminded me of Martin Luther for some reason. Sr., I met years ago and went to one of his cell church conferences. He had a significant impact on how I would develop in my views of ministry and the world. I was sharing with them some of the things that we're doing globally and some dreams as well as some of the partnerships. Sr. called me up and gave me some profound advice. "All of the kind of men you want to work with will be inovators. But I've discovered there are two kinds of men. One is a castle builder and the other is a kingdom builder. A castle builder has his own agenda to build his castle. He wants notoriety and recognition. A kingdom builder wants God's kingdom established. Be discerning of castle builders!"
How do you look in a man's heart and know what is there? Texans are a lot like Asians. We smile and nod our heads, are warm, start in politeness, but want to get to know someone before going deep. In working globally, and in the US, one of the lessons I had to learn was that just because someone smiled at you didn't mean they liked you or shared your values. How do you distinguish the two? Can you distinguish the two? At first, everyone and everything looks as it should. Time and conflict expose it for what it is. That's easy and obvious. My question is, how do you see it before you go deep with someone so it doesn't sidetrack what God's call is. Maybe you can't avoid it. Paul dealt with it, Peter did--everyone does. Maybe the point is, don't freak out when it happens--it's just part of the deck of cards.
Recently, I've been recieving a lot of "unsolicited prophecy" and I feel it has been from God. Some of it has been more "here is the direction" and others have been "watch out." In my study on prophecy, God speaks through someone else to challenge you. It comes at the right time, from the right person, for a speciic situation. I think this word from Sr. was "prophetic" and sadly reflective of the "pathetic" condition of leadership today.
Another reality is this--any kingdom builder can become a castle builder without constant tilling of the soil of their heart. I can, you can--anyone. The weeds of pride, self-centeredness, arrogance grow in all our hearts and without pulling those weeds and somtimes even getting others to help us pull those weeds we can become overgrown into arrogance. God deliver me from that. God, give me discernment - when the grass is cut low, and its very green, it's hard to see the weeds in the grass, only when the grass begins to grow does it become clear and by that time, they can take over a good yard!
How do you look in a man's heart and know what is there? Texans are a lot like Asians. We smile and nod our heads, are warm, start in politeness, but want to get to know someone before going deep. In working globally, and in the US, one of the lessons I had to learn was that just because someone smiled at you didn't mean they liked you or shared your values. How do you distinguish the two? Can you distinguish the two? At first, everyone and everything looks as it should. Time and conflict expose it for what it is. That's easy and obvious. My question is, how do you see it before you go deep with someone so it doesn't sidetrack what God's call is. Maybe you can't avoid it. Paul dealt with it, Peter did--everyone does. Maybe the point is, don't freak out when it happens--it's just part of the deck of cards.
Recently, I've been recieving a lot of "unsolicited prophecy" and I feel it has been from God. Some of it has been more "here is the direction" and others have been "watch out." In my study on prophecy, God speaks through someone else to challenge you. It comes at the right time, from the right person, for a speciic situation. I think this word from Sr. was "prophetic" and sadly reflective of the "pathetic" condition of leadership today.
Another reality is this--any kingdom builder can become a castle builder without constant tilling of the soil of their heart. I can, you can--anyone. The weeds of pride, self-centeredness, arrogance grow in all our hearts and without pulling those weeds and somtimes even getting others to help us pull those weeds we can become overgrown into arrogance. God deliver me from that. God, give me discernment - when the grass is cut low, and its very green, it's hard to see the weeds in the grass, only when the grass begins to grow does it become clear and by that time, they can take over a good yard!
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