Playing to my strengths

Tomorrow we go away as a staff team. In recent weeks I’ve asked everyone to do the Clifton Strengthfinders test, most of them have come back from it saying it’s ‘scarily accurate.’ Here’s mine – I took the test a few years ago but I don’t think it changes that much so I haven’t redone it. If you know me, does this sound like me? Have you done the test – or do you prefer others? I’ve done DISC and Myers-Briggs. I certainly don’t agree with the last sentence of the first one. Anyway, I have to be going… Activator People who are especially talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient. Maximizer People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb. Adaptability People who are especially talented in the Adaptability theme prefer to “go with the flow.” They tend to be “now” people who take things as they […]

KP Yohannan at Ivy Manchester

1 John 2:6… He who says he abides in him out also to walk as he walked Anyone who says he’s a Christian should live as Christ lived So How do we do that practically How did Jesus walk his life on earth? Jn 4 – Samaritan Woman The disciples saw something very strange Jesus is talking to a woman Culturally wrong! It was a special assignment for him to go there for one woman. They are confused He says ‘I’m already full.’ He says ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me’ I ate God’s will. The Lord says ‘lift up your eyes – look away from your little world of yours – and see.’ This one woman’s destiny change and the promise of it filled up his heart. Do you let your heart be broken by the lostness of people? 35 million of them in one weekend go into the dirty waters of the Ganges to have their sins cleansed. They perish without having chance to come to know the gospel. We blame the […]

What New People Visiting Your Church Need This Sunday

I got a nice hand written (remember that?) letter from Richard Reisling today thanking me for putting his great stuff on my blog based on my thoughts about the notes I took from his visit. Well it’s my pleasure – and I’m not done yet! Here goes… What new people need: I NEED DIRECTION. They need someone to have thought about where they go, explain what’s happening with their kids etc. I was walking through Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport recently and thought, ‘None of this just happened!’ It took SOMEBODY to think how all these people with all these needs, routes, cases, schedules… get around the place. We’re talking about things like signs here. (I just made up a Christian joke about not having signs that make people wonder, but you have to be a charismatic to get that one). TREAT ME AS NORMAL. Like when someone comes to your house. You know how to be hospitable already. Remove the following phrase, ‘Are you new?’ There’s no way to say it without offending someone. Ask instead, ‘How long have you […]