February 17th, 2010
Tired but Energized
There’s nothing I love more than teaching God’s truth to His Church. The past few weeks I have been privileged to share principles for leading change without compromise to leaders from around the world!
- The first group – international leaders who were collectively responsible for influencing tens of millions of people. In one day, I shared with them for ten hours.
- The second group – Rick Warren/Saddleback’s Radicalis Conference – pastors and leaders from the U.S. and around the world over three days for a total of nine hours.
And, all of this was in addition to my “day job,” which included teaching at our four weekend services and all of the leadership responsibilities associated with my position.
To be honest, it was tiring… physically. After adding these events to my schedule and pouring out these principles with passion for so long to so many, I was physically spent, burnt around the edges. And yes, it takes some time to recover, which is what I’m in the process of doing right now.
However, in addition to being physically tired, it may surprise you to know that it also energized me beyond belief. Why? Well, here a couple of reasons…
- I can’t talk about the church without getting energized. After all, it’s the hope of the world when it’s working right, and I’m called of God to care deeply about and invest my life and leadership in making sure that it is. I honestly love the church, more today than ever.
- I have found that God energizes us when we’re doing what He called and gifted us to do as we depend on His power to do it. It seems to me that those who burnout are either: not doing what God has called and gifted them to do or not depending on His power to do what they’re doing. Either one of these failures will ultimately kick our butts. Of course, the good news is that our failures aren’t final. All we have to do is open our lives back up to Jesus and His will for our lives. (See Revelation 3:20)
- What REALLY energized me though, were the leaders I was privileged to be equipping. Think about it. The first group sat for ten hours in one day. The second group sat in my sessions for nine hours over three afternoons; this was added to the 15 hours of morning sessions they experienced over the course of the same three days. And yet, each group remained passionately engaged throughout. Why? Because they love the church and want desperately to be used of God to make sure it’s working right.
This is inspiring. Though most of us perpetually complain about how the news media only focuses on bad news, the reality is that we tend to do the same thing. We all hear and, if we’re honest, talk a lot about all the bad news associated with the present state of leadership in the church. And, while it’s true that there’s some bad news, there is also a ton of good news.
The leaders that I spent all these hours with are part of the good news. They are humble enough to admit that they need help in becoming the leaders that the church needs and then seek that help. And, they are passionate enough to invest themselves tirelessly in pursuing the growth they need. For them, becoming the leaders the church needs is more important than the ideal circumstances that most people seek. They’re willing to do whatever it takes.
As for me, I have high hopes for the church… not just because I really do take Jesus at His Word in Matthew 16:18, but also because of my exposure to these God called and committed leaders. I want to encourage you to pray for the church around the world and for those God has called to lead. I also want to encourage you to commit yourself to the church as well.
Thoughts?
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bob burnside
Pastor, It really is amazing to be a part of our church.The impact you make on so many is inspiring, -despite the probable impact you made at Saddleback, -NorthRidge is a leader in turning out leaders.I have met and have been influenced by so many in our church it’s kinda difficult to calculate where this personal journey for His Kingdom started.I just want to say without God using you this leadership machine ” you ” would not be possible… ps. don’t quit your “day job”.
Robin Leong
My husband, Wagner, and I are deeply encouraged along with you as we watch God build His Church. We’ve been attending NorthRidge weekly for about 1 1/2 years, and have really sensed more and more a moving of His Spirit to reach out to the world around us in a culturally relevant way WITHOUT compromising the truth of His eternal, living word. We are so excited with you to see how the Lord used you in such a powerful way to reach so many in the last few weeks. Please know that we will be praying for those requests you listed–and for you, “bedraggled “and tired though you may be–that you may mount up with wings like eagles!
–Robin (and Wag) Leong
Annette Avery
Brad, you are encouraging, inspirational and most importantly an example to God’s people and NRC. After working my two jobs last week which consisted of a 7 day work week. The most rewarding of my physical and emotional exhaustion was serving at the local soup kitchen on Sunday evening for dinner. Not to draw attention to my actions but to say when God places us to serve and make a difference, WOW it can be pretty dynamic. Nothing more powerful then his faith! Let’s help to move mountains one pebble at a time!!!
cherilans
Brad, it’s not often we get to peek behind the scenes at your busy life as Senior Pastor at NorthRidge Church. Thanks for sharing your latest experiences. I know it’s part of being “called”, being a pastor (or it should be) and you exemplify it at every talk you give, but to read in print that “There’s nothing I love more than teaching God’s Truth to His Church”, made me praise God again for your presence in our lives and our Church. How blessed are we who attend to hear you passionately speak His Truth! I know how those other groups must have felt and been inspired at those conferences when you “were willing to do whatever it took”, despite physical fatigue, to motivate, engage and equip them in their church leadership. You do the same for us at EVERY service – you encourage us to be part of the good news in this world, to be humble enough to admit our sins, to seek His help, to be passionate about the Lord in our lives, and to continue to grow in the life He meant and wants us to have. Yes, I agree – you HAVE been raising leaders in your flock who are/will be fulfilling the Great Commission. You HAVE energized us and others to be engaged in the Church. As you said, in return, by witnessing this in others, you have energized yourself again to continue your calling by God “to care deeply about and invest your life and leadership in making sure” that the Church is “working right”. Also, despite your physical fatigue, I think God has spiritually recharged you and blessed you (as He will us) by allowing you to see how much your life and gifts are being used by Him because you “depend on His power to do it”. Heartfelt thanks for showing us how committment to the Lord and His Church is the only way to live while we’re on this Earth. That’s sure a “ton of good news” to me!
Enjoy your R&R! I pray your physical energy will return quickly and those “burnt edges” will heal. I look forward to your continued teaching of His Truth our Church, NorthRidge. God Bless You Always!!!
Jason Horn
Brad, during the past year I have become transformed from someone that had really, let me rephrase that, REALLY, fallen away from the church, to the point that I was no longer a believer. Then I went to Northridge for the “You Asked for It” series. Now, I had been to Northridge in the past for the “Glory of Christmas”, and my wife had bugged me for years about getting back into church. She grew up there, I did not. I come from a background where my mother was Catholic, and my father was Lutheran. Neither of them practiced. I chose to begin attending church on my own because there was a bus that would come to our neighborhood every Sunday when I was a kid. That bus would take us to our local Baptist church. I decided then and there, without my parents, that I needed to start attending church. I was in second grade. Each Sunday, I would wake up and get ready on my own. Church was a great experience for me that I didn’t want to miss, and in this little Baptist church is where I was saved for the first time. Now, I continued to go on my own up until 5th grade when my family moved. Now there wasn’t a bus to take me to church, and my parents weren’t willing. Then I became a teenager. Now as a teen, I had no interest in church. I wanted to hang with friends, and as I got older, party. Yes, PAARTAY, I did. My share, and enough to make up for anyone else that didn’t PAARTAY. By the time I was 20, I no longer believed in God, and continued to feel this way until I began to attend Northridge last year. I began attending mostly to appease my wife. She had been on me for 10 years about needing to get “back” into the church. I have to be honest, for the first few weeks I was just “there”, hoping to score some brownie points with the wife, but then I started to listen. I began to hear the word of God in a way that hadn’t been presented to me before. I actually found myself WANTING to attend, and even attended when my wife didn’t feel like going. I have now even purchased a bible, and when I don’t have it, I have an app. on my Blackberry for reading it. (Sorry, I won’t ever join the Apple cult:)) I really can’t explain what happened, and I am nowhere near the model of a christian that I want to be, but I have a will to try. I even volunteered for 10 of the 12 programs for the “Glory of Christmas” this year in guest services. I am no longer the person that I was, and I am not the person that I am trying to be. In fact, I may never get there, but Northridge Church, your teachings, and the community there have inspired me. I hope to continue on my path because of it. Keep up the great work, and remember that you have changed my life for the better.
Gail Meyer
Pastor Brad, Your blog brought to mind the chapter we’re studying this week from Max Lucado’ s book, Traveling Light. The chapter is; I Will Give You Rest, – the burden of weariness. We’re reminded that God made a huge deal of the Commandment to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy and to take time to rest. He knows our bodies and minds need restoration. We will find peace and renewed strength when we take that time away from our work to be with Him. I’ve often wondered when the incredibly busy staff and pastors at Northridge find the time to do just that. I know that the joy of the Lord is your source of energy and strength. You are such a wonderful leader and speaker! I’m so glad to hear you’re taking the time to rest and be renewed in His glory.
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