stephen wayne hammond

Growth?

How many ways can you grow?

As I continue to serve and lead our community (Mosaic) I find myself asking some questions about our immediate future:

-how can we have more influence over our city?

-how can we honor the Creator in more ways?

-how can we create environments where others trust us with their resources (finances, time, talents, etc..)

-how can we help others move through difficult areas of their character development?

-how can we hear His voice more clearly?

If you are starting a new church, leading an organization or simply helping others find hope, you will need to have a good way to measure success.  But old school measurements of success may not work in the 'new world.'

So, what are your thoughts?  What encouragement can you give me as I help lead our people?  And what are needing help with in the area 'growth?'

2008- a look back

As we get ready to tackle the new year that is called 2009, I wanted to step back into time and remember some great things that happened for me and my family in 2008.

• January our family met some new friends that would change how we view suffering, friendship and hope.  Although our lives aren't connected physically any longer we are eternally grateful for the journey with them through the year.
• In February Lanette and I celebrated 10 years of marriage!  Our church was very cool and took up some funds to help us get to Cancun (a dream of ours since we were married). We love one another and look forward to the next 10 years. 
• Mosaic continued to grow up in some really cool ways.  We lost a few close friends during the year but God provided our church with the greatest 'increase' we had seen in our 3 short years. Our attendance in small groups doubled and our Gathering attendance hit an all time high.  Add to that the fact that we commissioned another elder, drilled 3 wells in El Salvador, committed to partnering with an orphanage in Mexico, came alongside the Arlington Life Shelter to help take practical steps to eliminate homelessness in Arlington and gave away a bunch of our money to help the needs of the poor and it was by far our greatest year ever as a community. 
• We had our first emergency room visit when our dog bit our youngest son Bryson and it required 14 stitches to repair him.  Needless to say we lost a dog as well.  We still miss Cali but it was the best for us.  And Bryson now has a 'war scar' to go along with his warrior's heart and spirit.
• I got to go to El Salvador to help dig a well with a team from Mosaic.  Very cool.  
• I coached Harrison in 2 seasons of baseball.  He's a little stud.  Made the All-Star team (again) and represented Arlington in a local tournament.  I love hanging with that dude! Despite him being a great athlete, he is an even better leader to his peers.  (Plus he loves to swing business deals in the Butler cafe during lunch by selling items he gets at Target to his friends for an upcharge of 50%.  Hope he is tithing!)
• Madison continues to bless us with her ability to create.  She is the artistic one.  She dances and colors in ways that amaze us.  
• Bryson is the athlete.  The tough kid.  Nothing fazes him.  Just yesterday he came bragging that he is going to have to get fillings.  "Bring it on" is his attitude.  
• Square One, our church planting arm, had it's ups and downs.  We lost some major donor support (so if you want to fund new church starts let's talk) but our planters are doing a heck of job changing cities.  It's fun to coach these guys to great things in the future. 
• I am learning how to lead better.  Starting with learning how to say "No, I can't do that" to "You are wrong and here is why."  I need to learn more about humility and grace no doubt, but for the most part if you are in my life I hope to continue to be a better leader for you in the future. 
• Holidays are always great.  This year we were blessed in so many ways.  We finally paid off ALL our debt!  We were able to lease a new vehicle for myself.  We grabbed another large dog (welcome our golden retriever, Lady, to the world) for the kids.  Upgraded our home computer (Lanette got a Mac desktop for Christmas) and to top it off found a brand spankin' new Wii on our doorstep on Christmas Eve. Someone from Mosaic (we think) dropped it off as a blessing for all our family does for others.  WOW!   

That's a snapshot of our year.  God was good through it all.  We are a blessed family, doing everything we can to be a blessing to others.  

The best is yet to come! 

Saying Hard Things

Leading others requires that you grow up as a leader to be able to earn the right to say the hard things to the people you are serving/leading.

Today was no exception.  Talking about hard issues like sexual purity, financial responsibility, following through on commitments and pursuing Godliness above anything else is difficult at times. You always are wandering "I hope they don't leave us because of what I am saying" but to not say the hard things continues to allow people to be duped by themselves or the Enemy.  Your silence as a leader to another friends sin is in some ways acknowledging that their sinfulness is appropriate in the Kingdom of God.

Leaders must speak up and out.

If you are a church planter, ministry leader or a developer of future leaders (in business, schools, churches, etc..) you must be the type of leader who will speak the truth with love, grace and gentleness. But speak the truth!

I am convinced that if Mosaic of Arlington, Square One and future endeavors that we are a part of are going to change the world then we must become voices of hope that say things people don't necessarily won't to hear, but need to, so that they can become the people they want to be.

Pray that we can become those type of leaders with those type of voices.

Go Ahead...Wreck Your Life

As I approach 40 (many months from now) I am coming to realize that here are 3 things that will derail you and I from fulfilling God's best for our lives-

Pride

(Sexuality falls under this one for me)

Money

Legalism

This Sunday at Mosaic we will be discussing the Money issue.  Probably nothing has a great daily influence on your character than how you view, handle and give away money.  It's a tough topic for me to speak on but I am growing up. :-)  

I hope that this Sunday will be a time of both encouragement and challenge as together we remember that you can't take it with you, but you can sure send it on ahead of you.  

Join us this Sunday at 10am at CATS to learn more about what the world would look like if "Everyone Gave" as we conclude our EVERYONE series.  (Start reading the scriptures in Ephesians as we jump into our "Verve" series starting next Sunday) 

Bring me an Ox

Changing lives is tough stuff isn't it?

Solomon wrote about this in Proverbs 14:4 when he pens "Where there are no oxen, the manager is clean, but abundant crops come from the strength of the ox."

Get the picture?  If you don't want a manager full of crap then don't bother having an ox.  Of course, then you wouldn't ever get the results that oxen could bring your farm now would you?

In dealing with people I have found this verse to be true so many times.  The things that usually bring about the most 'crops' for the Kingdom of God will usually have us dealing with the most 'mess.'  There is nothing clean about helping people become all that God intends for them to be.

But if you are going to be an effective leader for the future you must not only deal with the ox, you must desire them.  

What tough times are you going through now that you could easily let go of and make your life so much simpler?  Who are you investing in right now that is stressing you more than you think you can handle? 

These people and these moments will eventually bring about an abundance of hope if you don't give up. 

Jesus said something similar when he claimed he didn't come for the healthy but for the sick.  If he wanted to he could have quoted Solomon and said "I have come for the Ox.  Bring them to me for I know the power the ox has to make a difference in the world."

What about you?  Who are you here for?  Do they know that?

Choosing the messy over the clean,

Stephen

Welcoming a new member to the Mosaic Family

Beginning this month I have decided to start using the English Standard Version as our primary Bible in our main Sunday Gatherings at Mosaic Arlington.

From the beginning of church we have used the New Living Translation and it continues to be a great resource for us.  Yet over the past 18 months or so I have grown to appreciate the ESV as a tool that will help us uncover more of the richness of the scriptures.

It's hard in a short blog post to explain why we have made this move but a great leader has some great reasons for their church shifting to this version that you can read here.

For those of you who have grown to love the NLT like I have don't get rid of it.  It's a trustworthy resource that will continue to help shape your journey with Christ for decades to come.  For others of you who have asked about a more 'literal word for word' translation your wish has now been granted.  

But let's not fool ourselves.  No matter what version of the Bible we choose to use as a church, if we don't do what the scriptures ask of us it really won't matter will it?  So if you are a KJV guy, awesome!  If you will die with your NIV, good for you.  If you are like me and are excited about the ESV, great!  But however we read the scriptures let's remember to 'be a doer of the word and not merely a hearer only.'

Prayer Works

I want to thank all the people who have graciously stepped up recently to begin to pray for others around us in the Mosaic community.

I am a life that has recently been changed because of your prayers.  

Just this past week I have watched the following prayers be answered in ways that bring life, hope and healing to my life and some of people very close to me:

*seeing God deliver one of my closest friends from making the worst mistake of his life

*watching in amazement how God has provided for the biggest financial concern of my short life

*sitting in a room with a friend as we dream about the future, forgetting the past to commit to press on for the prize that Jesus is calling us to as together we help lead Mosaic.  

*laughing at a softball game that we lost (this is a huge answer to prayer as I am a Type A competitive personality)

*learning to appreciate the beauty of my wife (in every area of her life)

*stopping and listening to my children as I demonstrate how important they are to me

*saying the hard things to friends with much love, grace and respect

All of these things, and probably many others, have been happened because I know people are praying for me.  They pray that I might know Christ in a more intense way.  They pray that I might lead with all the grace and strength that God wants to give me.  They pray for wisdom, humility and strength to be a great husband, father and leader.  They pray.  And I get the benefits.

Prayer works.  Begin praying today, not just for yourself but for another who is in need of your thoughts and devotion.  Then begin to watch how prayer not only changes them and their situation, but how it begins to change you!

(If you are in the Arlington area please join us at CATS on Sunday at 10am as I will be sharing a message focusing on the in's and out's of prayer called "Everyone Prayed")

Time Alone with Christ

As a leader it's imperative I get time alone with Christ so that I can be refreshed, encouraged and ready to hear His voice to direct my life, family and ministry into the future.

Often I find myself too tired, busy or worried to make some time to get up early and pursue Him (I encourage people to get time alone with God in the early mornings b/c the house is usually quiet plus this time allows you to be focused to live a full day for Christ and others). Sometimes I miss time with God altogether, while other days I will be up earlier than I thought in anticipation for what will be an exciting time alone with my Creator.

As you and I journey together in seeking God let me encourage you to come to your time alone with a few ideas in mind:

Make it Personal- don't try to get your messages done in this time, seek wisdom for another or even try to catch a vision for the future of your 'thing' but instead get with God to deal with you.

*Make it Simple- all you really need for some great times alone with God are: 1) Scriptures you can easily understand, 2) Notebook/Journal and Pen to document what He is speaking to you and 3) Maybe an iPod to listen to some tunes to prepare your heart, mind and soul to be together with Him (although some would substitute the music for an early morning run or walk in the park, or something similar)

*Make it Holy- simply meaning use this time to allow God's Spirit to show you the areas in your life that are not pleasing to Him and then take the appropriate actions of repentance.

*Make it Memorable- don't be afraid to keep a journal close so that you can write down what God is speaking to you (if you are like me you will forget most of the things you don't document)

*Make it Missional- whatever God gives you in your times alone with Him needs to be implemented not only for your life but for the lives of others around you meaning that God wants to help and change your life so that in turn you can go help and change others.

*Make it Consistent- try to meet with God regularly (same time each day and same place) as to build a 'stabilizing meeting' into your life and schedule (next time you are really stressing you will actually find yourself saying "I can't wait until I get some time alone with God tomorrow at _____")

These are just simple suggestions that I need to be reminded of regularly to keep a consistent journey with God fresh and exciting. Hopefully it will help you as well.

Let me know of other ways you find it helpful to connect with Christ alone that make you the human God dreams about!

Leaders Strengths Test

My friend, Eric Bryant (Navigator for Mosaic LA), tuned me into this test from Ken Blanchard (One Minute Manager guru) that helped me realize a few strengths in leadership I had, as well as some things I need to work on to become a better leader.

If you are running a business or are involved in leading a community of faith I would encourage you to set aside 30 minutes to take the test and learn more about how you can continue to evolve into the leader God dreams you would become.

You can take the test for free (through end of August) here.

Patience

Waiting.

No one really likes to wait. We want to get things done. Now. That's what makes this country great, right? Who needs an oven when you have a microwave? And who needs a microwave when you have McDonald's (or any of the other 100 plus fast food franchises out there)?

But waiting is good. Learning how to be patient is a lost art. Understanding that sometimes my timetable isn't the best one for me (even though I swear I know myself better than anyone else, which is wrong by the way) is a hard lesson. I hate learning those lessons.

God reminds us that in the midst of the struggle, the pain, the suffering and the waiting, we can find strength and courage (Psalms 27).

How much strength do you need to make it through this next stage of life? How much courage will it take for you to take the next steps of living the life you dream of? Are you willing to wait on God until He provides both the strength and the courage?