Christian Hage

Strong Two: Add Value

January 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment


“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”
- Albert Einstein

The Nature of value is that it is something that can be measurable. The difficulty in being a Strong Two is that often we find ourselves trying to measure how what we do contributes the bottom line. We get caught up in what Andrew Taylor described in a keynote speech to the New Jersey Theatre Alliance conference, as the Three Biases of Measurement.

The Bias of Time
Evaluation criteria and feedback measurements can often emphasize the short-term over the glacial. A continuous decision process can bias us all toward measures that move quickly, rather than those that take generations to evolve. Consider Ralph Waldo Emerson’s belief that “The measure of a master is his success in bringing all men round to his opinion twenty years later.”

The Bias of Disconnection
As we search for the measurable outcomes of our actions, it’s too easy to assume that our separate and distinct actions had the results we see in the world. In reality, meaning and value in any experience comes from a complex web of previous experiences. Our efforts and organizations are lucky if we’re just a tiny sliver of the cause behind a meaningful moment

The Bias of Utility
Acts of measurement and evaluation continually draw us back into thinking about utility, about the concrete “usefulness” of what we provide in the world. Alexis de Tocqueville recognized this tendency in his early analysis of America centuries ago. He said, “Democratic nations….will habitually prefer the useful to the beautiful, and they will require that the beautiful should be useful.”

So what do we do about these biases, and the challenge of having to measure what cannot be measured?

1) Accept that there will always be pressure to measure by time, resource & production. We will always have to be accountable at some level to how long it takes, how much it costs and if it produces the desired result, but our value to the Vision & Our Leader is immeasurable.

2) Construct measures & evaluations that grow from the vision, purpose, and our internal compass. These measures must be established in a way that encourages our work, rather then diffuse & distract it.

3) Remember that the measurables are not the goal. The vision is the goal. It’s important to watch for the footprints of what we do, but they are only footprints. It’s easy to forget about the giant that left them there.

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Serve: Thoughts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

January 18, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Today is set apart to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we remember him and the great things he accomplished, many of us have been tweeting our favorite quotes. My friend Sue tweeted this video and it was incredibly inspiring to me.

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City Church’s Prayer Strategy for Haiti

January 17, 2010 · 1 Comment

1. Safety

Pray for the safety of all those present on the island.  Pray against diseases that would spread with breakdown of infrastructure.  Pray against further injuries from aftershocks and collapse of buildings.  Pray for the safety of aid workers moving among collapsed buildings.  Pray for the safety of those traveling to Haiti to assist.  Pray against violence and looting.

Ps 91:10-12
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

2. Comfort

Pray for the comfort of those bereaved through loss of family members or friends.  Pray for the grief-stricken who have witnessed terrible tragedy.  Pray for those traumatized whose souls are severely wounded.

2 Cor 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

3. Reuniting of families

Pray that all those still trapped would be found, liberated, and healed.  Pray that family members separated from one another might be re-united.  Pray that they would hear good news of each other’s health and safety.  Pray that communications infrastructure be restored so that families can communicate until re-united.

Mal 4:6
6 And he will gather the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers,

4. Leadership/Relief efforts

Pray that worldwide and local leadership of relief efforts be strong and swift, that God would raise up leaders at every level.  Pray for the church to rise up strong and demonstrate the true love and compassion of Jesus Christ.  Pray that generosity toward Haiti in money, goods, and services would arise all over the world.  Pray for all needed supplies to flow toward Haiti swiftly and efficiently.  Pray for transportation infrastructure to be rebuilt quickly, such as ports, airports, and roads.  Pray for all infrastructure to be rebuilt quickly, especially potable water, healthcare, and communications.

2 Sam 10:12
12 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord will do what he considers right.  (God’s Word Version)

2 Cor 8:14-15
14 Your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

5. Revival/Rebuilding

Pray that Christians would have wisdom not to speak judgment.  Pray that the witness, compassion, power, and servanthood of the Church be strong and persevering.  Pray that the hearts of the Haitians would turn to the Lord Jesus as never before.  Pray that investment would come in to rebuild Haiti into a modern, prosperous nation with a heart toward Jesus.  Pray that what the devil meant for evil, God will turn into Victory and Revival.

Ezek 36:33-36
33 ”Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. 35 And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now inhabited and fortified.’ 36 Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.

Also, the FCC Help Haiti blog is NOW LIVE. This is where we will be updating our people and community regarding all things Haiti and our efforts there with on site missionary Tony McCreary.

Giving is available as well our prayer strategy for the nation.

Now is the time for your influence to shine! Send this link out through your social media networks (facebook, twitter, etc).

In the words of Pastor Kent, “We can’t do everything, but we can ALL do SOMETHING”.

$1 feeds 4 People!!!

www.fcc4me.com/haiti

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Notes from Haiti Conference Call

January 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Earlier today I listend to a conference call with Rich Sterns from World Vision, Bill Hybels & Max Lucado about what to do in Haiti. Here are some notes:

Overview From Rich Sterns:

-This disaster is fundamentally different from any that we have seen recently like the asian tsunami & Hurricane Katrina.

  1. This is an urban disaster. It happened in a major city, with a high population density of about 3 million people. Because of the many multi-storied buildings, there is severe infrastructure damage.
  2. Access to Port-Au-Prince has extremely difficult. It is an island, the port has been destroyed and is not operational. The airport is struggling, opening & closing at different times. Most of the roads in & out are blocked.
  3. Communication with Port-Au-Prince is difficult because most of the cell phone service is down.
  4. Most notably, this is a disaster in which the responders that are on-site have been effected. The World Vision Staff, the Compassion Staff, and the United Nations have been victims.

How can we as churches respond?

According to Rich Sterns & Bill Hybels the best course of action at this time is to donate financially. It is not the time to send teams or youth ministries. The US Milatary is on site and so are other trained professionals. The time will come to send people, but at this point our best course of action is to give financially.

Bill Hybels quoted Zechariah 7:9-10 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.”

He talked about this being the time to show mercy & kindness.

Max Lucida asked for us to pray specifically for these things:

  1. That families would be reunited
  2. The God of comfort would surround the people of Haiti
  3. Relief Efforts
  4. Safety of Government & aid agencies
  5. Increased coordination
  6. Justice
  7. A New Day for Haiti

Let’s stay in prayer, and give what we can.


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Strong Two: Stay Committed

January 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment

“Never, never, you must never either of you ever remind a man at work on a political job that he may be president. It almost always kills him politically. He loses his nerve; he can’t do his work; he gives up the very traits that are making him a possibility. I, for instance, I am going to do great things here, hard things that require all the courage, ability, work that I am capable of, and I can do them if I think of them alone. But if I get to thinking of what it might lead to-…

I must be wanting to be president. Every young man does. But I won’t let myself think about it. I’ll be careful, calculating, cautious in word and act, and so – I’ll beat myself. See?” -Theodore Roosevelt , when asked by reporters if he was working toward presidency.

Theodore Roosevelt excelled at every position he ever had in politics because he knew what it was to be committed. When he was the youngest member of the New York State Assembly, he assumed that it was the last thing he would do in politics. When he was President of the New York City Police Board and then the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, he thought those would be the last things he did in politics. Then as the Governor of New York, he believed that he would be finished after that. But as we know, he became the Twenty-Sixth President of the United States. He attributed that accomplishment to the fact that at every stage, he committed to it as if it was the last thing he would ever do. He gave his life to it, and never looked at a position as a stepping stone to something else.

It seems to me that what gets “number two guys” in trouble is that after a few victories, they begin to think of what their next step could be. They think that at the next place, they can be the number one, and they start to behave in a way that sabotages that possibility. They get careful, calculating, and cautious in word and act, instead of committed.

I believe that in order to be a Strong Two, you have to commit to your position as if it is the last thing you’ll ever do in your career, your ministry, your life. And that commitment will be the thing that garners you the experience, the favor, the influence that leads to promotion.

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Strong Two: The Second Violin

December 30, 2009 · 2 Comments

“It takes more grace than pen can tell to play the second fiddle well.”

It has been said that the most difficult instrument to play in an orchestra is the second violin. The reason is that the person playing the first violin plays the melody, the tune that people know and recognize. The second violinist plays the harmony. The harmony is more difficult because the violinist must know how to harmonize the music as well as play higher notes as he moves his fingers up the throat of the fiddle.  It takes much practice to play this part well. The purpose of the second fiddle is to play a supporting role and compliment the first fiddle, thus making the first fiddle look and sound good. The audience does not realize that the second fiddler is playing his heart out in order to make the first fiddler look good; yet the second fiddler does not get any credit for what is played. Thus, this part is unglamorous.

Leonard Berstein, the famous conductor of the New York Philharmonic said, “I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.”

It’s interesting to me that it is the person in the number two seat who has the ability to create or disturb the harmony in the orchestra.

As a Strong Two, I have the power of harmony in my hands. I have found that there are four things I can do in order to keep harmony in our organization.

1) Stay Committed

2) Add Value to the Vision & the Leader

3) Anticipate the Leader’s Needs & Meet Them

4) Execute with Excellence

Over the next few posts, I am going to expand on these four things, and how I have come to value them as a Strong Two.

Second Fiddle

The hardest instrument to play
Is second fiddle, so they say
And I believe this is so
I’ve tried, but haven’t mastered it though
It takes more grace than pen can tell
To play the second fiddle well.

To softly play in harmony
While others shine in melody
At times to even pause and rest
While others give their best
It takes more grace than pen can tell
To play the second fiddle well.

While others are honored so
It seldom plays a grand solo
Yet in the background keeps its place
While others in the spotlights face
It takes more grace that pen can tell
To play the second fiddle well.

The second fiddle compliments
All the other instruments
While faithful to keep time and tone
Tis of great price and worth unknown
It takes more grace than pen can tell
To play the second fiddle well.

The master looks for those who he
Can use in his great symphony
Tis but a few can bend and blend
On whom he always can depend
It takes more grace than pen can tell
To play the second fiddle well.

Author Unknown

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The Church

December 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Today, I have been reading about the church… Here are some scriptures and thoughts I wrote down from what I read.

THE CHURCH__________________________________________

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. -Ephesians 1:22-23

THE ECCLESIA: the gathering together of the called out people.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation. God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness onto his wonderful light. -1 Peter 2:9

The Church is the gathering together of those who are “saved” and “called out,” those living in right relationship with God.  If you are a Christian (a Christ Follower) you are apart of The Church. It is impossible to take any other position.

All of you together are Christ’s Body, and each of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27

TWO PARTS TO THE CHURCH:

THE GATHERING: where we can come together to worship together, pray together, and for teaching about the Word of God, and how it applies to our daily lives.

THE COMMUNITY: a place of belonging where people get together (in homes or other places)

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
- Acts 2:42-27

The place of belonging then becomes a place where we find our significance in life by realizing that we have a vital part to play in contributing to God’s rescue plan for humanity, which is His Church.

____THE CHURCH IS GOD’S CENTRAL PLAN FOR HUMANITY___

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FML – Find My Life

November 11, 2009 · 2 Comments

FML_Rotator

This month Pastor Kent is speaking on FML – Find My Life. We have been looking at
Psalm 34:1-10. After losing his best friend, being hunted by his father-in-law and having to act crazy in front of a foreign king, David writes:

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
In the midst of uncertainty, depression, difficulty & loneliness, David decides that he will Bless the Lord at all times. At the moment when David feels like he has lost the life he once knew, he finds it again by boasting in the Lord.

This week what have you done to FML-Find My Life?

Send us a comment or Twitter with the #findmylife tag.

-Christian Hage

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