Drew Boswell

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Designing A Good Plan: Elements to Consider

apollo 11When the scientists designed the original Apollo series spacecraft command modules there were several things they needed to keep in mind. They as president Kennedy said,

“. . . we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun. . .”[1]

To start something new feels like an expedition to the moon. The leader launches an idea that has to be designed and carefully thought through. If something is overlooked then the air can get sucked out of the space module (or the next staff meeting). The deadliest of ideas are those that have never been attempted.

The original thought (use caution; very dangerous)

So borrowing from the command module of Apollo spacecraft, here are some items to keep in mind as you engage in the treacherous endeavor of trying something new. Your plan (or command module) should include the following:

  1. Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 9.06.56 AMMission Trajectory. 

To know where you are going. The early spacecraft used the trajectory of the spacecraft and the gravitational force of a celestial body to “slingshot” the command module back toward earth. If you know where you are going, you can show others on a map, and you can attempt to anticipate upcoming situations. You need to be able to clearly show others the entire mission and important mileposts along the way. Break you plan down into stages and steps.

   2. Thrusters 

Thrusters allow you to make midcourse corrections. As long as you have enough “gas in the tank” you can make gradual adjustments as you move forward. Too big of adjustments cause you to burn fuel too quickly and you are dead in the water, heading off into the disaster of open space. Slow gradual adjustments are always best.

How much gas you have in the tank depends directly upon how much the people trust you. If you have the people’s trust then you have more ability to make more radical adjustments to the status quo. The situation may also be mission critical where you say, “Houston we have a problem” and you have to make quick and radical adjustments to save the spacecraft.

  1. 20110623gemini_diagramAn Escape Hatch.

This is the ability to bail if the plan fails. Larry Osborne said, “Never make a change when you can conduct an experiment.”[2] and “Whenever possible, describe any change or new initiative you propose using the language of experimentation. In other words, never make a change when you can conduct an experiment or a trial run.”

If you have no way of escaping the spacecraft then it will be your last mission. Build this into the plan from the first sketch. This does not make you cowardly; it does however give you the ability to try again another day with another mission.

  1. A Booster Rocket.

This is the initial push to get the spacecraft into orbit at the beginning of the mission. If you look at the proportion of the entire mission spacecraft the booster rocket takes up most of the design. Often times the leader will think that the good idea, in and of itself, will be enough to launch the mission.

There has to be a build up and launch of the new plan in order for it to have the inertia to complete the entire trajectory of the mission. A strong push is necessary to get the spacecraft off the ground and into orbit.

  1. Apollo_LJ_II_flight_profileA Parachute.

Similar to thrusters, the parachute allows one to control the speed of the spacecraft. If the spacecraft moves too quickly it will comet into the earth. Plans need to have an appropriate and controllable speed. Moving too fast or too slow is harmful to the mission.

  1. apollo-capsuleA Window.

The original idea is groundbreaking and you are reaching new heights – why not take some pictures, stare out at the stars, and enjoy the ride. If you get too focused on the instrumentation and gauges you will miss the magic of the view and the wonder of the moment. Document the journey so others can follow you and not have to repeat the same mistakes.

Windows also allow you to see where you are going and how the mission is proceeding. There should be a built in means of evaluation as you are moving forward.

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[1] http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm

[2] Larry Osborne. Innovation’s Dirty Little Secret (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan, 2013) 35.

President Kennedy and Space: Don’t Forget Your Job

On September 12th, 1962 president John F. Kennedy gave a speech at Rice University in Houston Texas.[1]

In this speech he discusses the “space race “ and the role that the Unites States will play. His goal was to have men in space in that decade, and on July 20th 1969 Apollo II landed on the moon. He discusses what must be overcome,

“But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun–almost as hot as it is here today–and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out–then we must be bold.”

s69-39961In this speech president Kennedy says, “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

He is right in saying that noble and good goals “serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills,” because people want to be apart of something that is greater and bigger than themselves. Honorable leaders who understand this, seek to win the hearts of the people so that they can lead them to accomplish something of noble significance.

Often times we forget what our role as leader should be. There are many things that we do that are apart of maintaining and organizing the day-to-day and week-to-week tasks of living and being apart of something. But this is not our main purpose. Managers manage, leaders push forward. Leaders must constantly point toward the sea, the mountain, outer space, and beyond and say, “let’s go.”

We do this because it’s our job. Society and people as a whole tend to prefer the status quo. Forward movement is hard, tedious, and often times expensive.

Most Americans in the 60s understood that the space race was about controlling outer space and protection from nuclear rockets. If the Soviet Union could put Spudnik (October 4, 1957) into space they could also put other things into orbit as well. But Kennedy doesn’t mention the enemy, the threat, or express fear. He doesn’t use fear tactics to accomplish his goal. Instead, he chooses to challenge. He inspires the talented to do the impossible. Kennedy sites the benefits of the science of space and how it will eventually help all of America. He references the accumulated history of the world and tells how America will lead the way in preventing mistakes of the past (wars over land, etc.). He uses an analogy of a time line to show how knowledge is moving forward at a very rapid rate. All of these things point to hope, benefits, and a brighter future. He doesn’t want his county to get left behind.

As a leader we don’t want our organizations to get left behind. Instead we want to lead the way in whatever industry we find ourselves. Often times the vision of what needs to be accomplished is clear, but the boldness to do it is not present. There are also the problems that are encountered once the mission is active that crush the leader to just quit and scrap the whole project. The mountain is just too high, the sea too vast, the task too tough.

But you are the leader. It’s your job to keep pushing forward. Notice how everyone behind Kennedy in the video is wiping sweat from their face. He even stops at one point and says, “I’m the one who is doing all the work, so we just want you to stay cool for a minute. [laughter]” He is talking about the United States leading the way in the space race (and nuclear race as well), and even then there are subtle suggestions for him to hurry up and finish the speech. When you lead there will be subtle and not-so-subtle pushes to just quit, give up, and stop pushing against the mold.

At the end of the day, the United States won the space race and put a man on the moon (first), and we have reaped a harvest of technological advancements from the newly developed science. [2]  Kennedy led the country to do what was said to be impossible. Remember your job as leader is not just to point to the mountain, but to lead them up the mountain.

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[1] Click here to read the speech on its’ entirety.

[2] Click here to read about scientific advancements directly related to NASA and their developments.

Have You Lost Your Edge? 2 Kings 6:1-7

axheadThere once was a young man who wanted to be hired by a lumber company, and so he went to the foreman and asked for a job. The foreman asked, “young man, do you have your own axe?” the young man said, “yes” – then the foreman said, “this is Bill, if you can keep up with him, then you can have a job.” The young man looked Bill over, he saw that he was obviously an old man and the boy thought, “no problem – I know I can cut down twice as many trees as this old man!”

So the two men started cutting down trees. The old man would cut a tree and then the young man would cut a tree. About every few trees, the young man would notice that Bill would sit down and stop cutting. At those times the young man would swing even harder – “now is my chance to get another tree down.”

Hour after hour went by, and at the end of the day, the foreman went back and counted the trees. Bill had twice as many trees as the young man. “What, how?” said the young man, “I worked twice as hard, I never rested, I just kept cutting, and kept cutting.” And at this point, Bill said, “May I see your axe, and he held it next to his axe – son,” Bill said, “you didn’t stop to sharpen your axe. Boy, you can swing away, but it will take you forever to cut down a tree with this dull thing.”

Prayer, Bible Study, and the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives keeps our spiritual life sharp, but we have to stop the work of ministry and service to him; we have to stop taking the kids from this to that; we have to stop being busy, and sit back (preferably every day) and sharpen the axe. If we don’t we end up working very hard, but getting no where. It is so easy to work, work, and swing away, thinking that we are getting ahead, only to realize that we are getting further and further behind. Let’s look at the importance of being sharpened by the Spirit, and strengthened by His Word.

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The school of the prophets had grown to the point that they needed to provide new facilities.  As they are in the process of cutting down trees to build their new home, one of the prophets loses his axe head in the Jordan River. He becomes distraught because the axe head was borrowed.  He cries out to Elisha and the great prophet performs a miracle and the axe head floats to the surface and the man puts out his hand and picks it up.

The man who lost the axe head, is engaged in a great work.  He is busy!  Yet, if there is a flaw in his activity, it is found in this: he was working, but he was not watching!  As a consequence, he lost the axe head and was unable to continue his work. He had lost the cutting edge.

How Do We Get Our Cutting Edge Back?

“1 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.” And he said, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh, my lord,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!” 6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.”

3281521861_209db31fed_oIf we think of the axe head representing the power to get the job done then no man can chop down tress by flailing at them with an axe handle.  It takes the sharp, biting power of the axe head to eat through the wood and fell the tree.

In the church we need to realize that without our cutting edge, that is the power of the Holy Spirit, we will never be able to serve the Lord properly, nor will we be able to make a dent in this world for the gospel.  We need God and His power to get the job done for His glory.

Many times there are people who are so good at what we do that they can operate in the power of the flesh and no one notices the absence of God.  However, while we may be able to operate our churches, our programs and our lives apart from the power of God, we will never make inroads into the world apart from the power of God.  We will never be able to serve the Lord in an effective manner until we perform that service in His power alone.

Care That You Have Lost Your Edge (v. 5)

As soon as this man feels the axe head fly off, he cries out in despair.  He knows that he cannot continue what he is doing until he recovers the axe head. The first step in recovering the power of the Spirit is coming to the place where we know we do not have it.  I am convinced that many people walk through this life thinking they are filled with the Spirit, when they have lost His power and do not even know it.  They are trying to live for God and to do His work in power of the flesh and do not even realize that He is nowhere around.

This condition of many modern churches, and modern church people, rivals that of ancient Laodicea, Revelation 3:15-20 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Do we care enough to search our hearts, our lives and the life of our church and discover whether or not what we are doing is of man or of the Spirit?  Are we concerned about the presence and power of God being in the midst of His church? We are always congratulating ourselves on the fact that Matthew 3:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” The Spirit of the Lord is in us.  When we show up at church, He shows up at church!  I am not talking about His mere presence.  I am talking about His manifest presence.  Where God not only shows up, but when He also displays His mighty hand! Do we care?

Confess That You Have Lost Your Edge (v. 5)

When this man realized the axe head was gone, he immediately told Elisha what had happened.  He confessed the fact that he had lost the cutting edge.  By admitting that the axe head was gone, he was also admitting to the fact that it had become loose and he had not bothered to tighten it.

After we discover that we are lacking something, we must come to the place where we can admit that lack to the Lord and to one another.  This is a very hard thing, for us to do is to admit that we have allowed this happen in our lives.

We want everyone to think that we are spiritual giants; we need nothing; and that we are in control.  Where are the honest hearts that will cry out and say, “I just don’t have the fire I used to have!  I am not as close to the Lord as I used to be!  I need the power of God operating through me to get the job done!”

What we need are honest hearts that will tell the truth about our condition.  We just need to come clean and tell the Lord the truth about where we are!  He already knows, but He wants us to know as well. Before we will ever recover the cutting edge as individuals and as a church, we must first come to the place where we can honestly admit that we can’t do it, but God can!  We must find that place of total and absolute dependence upon God and His power!  When we do, we will see souls saved.  We will see the manifest power of God in our services.  We will experience His power in our midst!

Comprehend That You Have Lost Your Edge (v. 5)

One of the reasons this man is so upset is because the axe head didn’t even belong to him.  He had borrowed it from someone in order to be able to help build the building.  Now, losing an axe head may not seem that big of a deal to you and me. We can drive to Lowe’s and buy them by the gross if we wish.  However, in that day tools and other things made of iron were very scarce and in short supply.  This is illustrated by a story from 1 Samuel 13:22 “So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.”

Plus the fact that it was a borrowed tool would require this man to replace the axe head, which he obviously could not do since he had to borrow it in the first place.  The fact that a person would lend this man a tool of such value was a sign that the owner of the axe head trusted the young prophet.  He did not want to violate that trust!

When we are working for the Lord, as we should, we are operating with borrowed power.  The power to serve the Lord does not come from within our own human nature, but it comes from the Lord above, Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Therefore, we need to be especially careful with the power entrusted to us.  May we never take it for granted.  May we never come to the place where we act as though nothing can take our power away.  God help us to never violate His trust!  Just as surely as the Lord gives His power, He can retract it again.

If we are going to serve the Lord and see eternal results from our service, we must accept the fact that we are unable to do the work within ourselves.  We need power from above.  We need borrowed power.  Yet, let us also understand that the same God Who so freely saves the sinner, will also freely give His power to those who seek it and are qualified to receive it.

 Getting Your Edge Back Involves Going Back (v. 6)

As soon as Elisha heard about the problem, he called the prophet back to the place where the axe head was lost.  Before it could be recovered, they had to go to the place where it had been lost. Before we can recover the power of God in our lives and in our church, we must return to that place where we lost the power.  That is, we must uncover the reason why the power has been forfeited.  Is it because of some sin that has been committed?  Is it because our priorities have become misplaced?  Is it because we are guilty of trusting the arm of the flesh instead of the power of the Spirit?  Where did we lose the power?

If we were honest, we could all pinpoint areas of our lives that stand between us and our having the glorious power of God on our lives.  What we need to do is to backtrack and discover where we wandered off course.  We need to go back to that point and make a course correction.

Getting Your Edge Back Involves Confrontation (v. 6)      

Elisha’s response to the situation is to cut down a tree and cast it into the river.  When he does, the axe head floats to the surface.  A miracle occurs when human means are abandoned and divine help is sought.

When we come to the place where we acknowledge the loss of the cutting edge, there is only one way to get it back.  There must be a confrontation with the divine!  First, there must be a tree involved.  The tree I am referring to is the cross of Jesus.  When we get serious about dealing with our sins and shortcomings, the Lord will respond with forgiveness and restoration, 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Then, there must be a total abandonment of all human effort.  Trusting a stick to make and axe head float sounds crazy, but it worked!  For us to stop trying to do the work of the Lord, to just step back, place it all in His hands and trust Him completely is difficult.  However, it is the only solution.

Friends, one of the primary steps in recovering the cutting edge of power in the church is a return to God’s altar.  When the church deals with her sins, and the way between us and the Lord is cleared of all obstructions, we can count on the return of His power and glory in the house of God.

Getting Back Our Edge Involves Commitment (v. 7)

The last thing this young man did was to reach down and take the axe head in his hand.  He committed to receiving by faith that which the Lord had done.  This may be the end of the story as far as the biblical record is concerned, but we can be sure of what happened next.  This young man firmly reattached the axe head to the handle and went back to work chopping down trees.  He had recovered the cutting edge and was able to do what needed to be done.

God has power available for those who will reach out and take it by faith.  When we come to the place where we are tired of the same old same old and are willing to handle our loss of the cutting edge in God’s manner, He will give us back the power to do His work His way.  However, it is not for the faint-hearted!  It is for the faith-hearted, alone.

Where is the cutting edge in your life? For most of us, it is at the bottom of the river, totally beyond our reach and beyond our ability to recover.  Can we get it back?  Yes!  If we will take the steps we have been given in Scripture.  Are you willing?

Playboy is so Passé; Keeping Your Path Pure in a World of Lies

playboy-kE7F--621x414@LiveMintLast week Playboy magazine announced that it would no longer publish nude pictures of its’ models. Video killed the radio star, and the internet killed the “angel in the centerfold.” With an internet browser search one could pull up literally millions of pornographic websites, with thousands being added daily. The magazine that led the way into this industry has now been surpassed by a deluge of images and video. Scott Flanders, Playboy’s chief executive said, “You’re now one click away from every sex act imaginable for free. And so it’s just passé at this juncture.”[1]

That which was “groundbreaking” is now old fashioned. In by-gone days pornography was limited to seedy book/video stores that required parking one’s car and entering an establishment. Now, porn is just a click away of a phone, tablet, or computer. No accountability, easy access, and complete anonymity. The access is getting faster, more precise, and with better wifi strength.

As a Christian father who is trying to rear faithful Christian children, that which was difficult in a previous generation, has now become extremely difficult. The “rebranding” of Playboy is a marker that, in order for them to continue to be viable in the porn industry, they have to either take the industry further (add even more content, or more profound evil) or change to set itself apart from the industry (an inventing of a new type of evil). They are working hard to see what kind of new evil they can create (which really isn’t new) and to see how they can get it into people’s hands.

But sin and sin taken to its’ extreme is nothing new. Even with all that we see with Planned Parenthood and videos of their depravity[2] – it is nothing compared to parents (God’s own people) throwing their children into a fire to a false god as an act of worship.[3] Sin and its’ continuing morphing and reshaping is always the same. It may change in form and how it operates, but at the root level it looks the same.

Every generation has to figure out how to navigate the evils of its’ day and to face the future with faith. In every generation there are those that rail against the evil of it’s day, and has a belief that it is growing worse. But the Bible has stood the test of time and as God’s Word tells us how to navigate these treacherous waters.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

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In the following passage from Psalm 119:9-16 we see that there are three components to consider when desiring to walk before the Lord in holiness.

Psalm 119:9-16

I.  To Treasure God’s Word

9     How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10  With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

 How a person keeps his way pure deals directly with the Word of God. It’s power and influence overcomes anything the world and its’ manifestations of generations has to offer. Now matter what orientation or design, and as new it may seem to us, God’s Word is sufficient to give you what you need to maintain purity before the Lord. The outward obedience before the Lord begins with an inward love and seeking after the Lord.[4] The Scriptures sanctifies the believer and enables him to resist the temptations of the world.

“sanctification” is a translation of the Greek word hagiasmos, meaning “holiness” or “a separation.” In the past, God granted us justification, a once-for-all, positional holiness in Christ. Now, God guides us to maturity, a practical, progressive holiness. In the future, God will give us glorification, a permanent, ultimate holiness. These three phases of sanctification separate the believer from the penalty of sin (justification), the power of sin (maturity), and the presence of sin (glorification).[5]

God’s Word is seen as a treasure that is sought after, guarded, and buried in the heart so that the person may not sin against God. When we begin to see God’s Word as being precious, it enables to see the world around us clearer and how the lies of this world are false. If we are to help the next generation, the best thing we can do it is point them to the priceless treasure of God’s Word.

II. To Understand God’s Word

12  Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.

Having established that the young man in order to keep his way pure must treasure the Word of God, he must now properly understand it. God must reveal its’ meaning to the heart of the reader. Again what begins as a treasure of the heart now overflows out of the mouth. What God changes on the inside becomes manifest on the outside.

A false sanctification begins on the outside, but does not touch the heart. This is religion rooted in external behavior and legalism. God teaches the heart that loves Him through His Word, and this overflows into action.

kid_reading_bibleIII. To Keep Your Focus on God’s Word

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Once again the Word of God is seen as a treasure and once found there is delight. But not just in found riches, it is all riches combined. To meditate is not the eastern philosophy of emptying the mind. Instead, the biblical definition of meditation is to fill the mind with God’s Word. The word meditate carries the idea of a cow chewing cud, chew, chew, swallow, and then chew again.

If we see it as having great value, and we fix our mind on it, and meditate on it, it then sanctifies us and it becomes apart of who we are – it changes us (and our outward behavior.) If you have wandered from God’s Word His grace will allow you to start again, refocus on His Word and watch how he changes your heart (once again).

So no matter how crude and vulgar the world may seem around us, we must keep our focus on the Word of God and allow it to guide our steps. Our steps are guarded because the Word of God is apart of who we are. Parents do not fear; just keep focusing your children on the Word of God. Teach them to love it, treasure it, and fear the God who wrote its’ words.

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[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/business/media/nudes-are-old-news-at-playboy.html?_r=0

[2] http://thefederalist.com/2015/09/29/a-quick-and-easy-guide-to-the-planned-parenthood-videos/

[3] 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2-6.

[4] Holman Old Testament Commentary, Psalms 76-150, Max Anders Ed. (Nashville, Tennessee; Holman, 2006) 242.

[5] http://www.gotquestions.org/sanctification.html

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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