This is Your Captain Speaking
by Bobby Sullivan
Funny things Captains of Airlines say
- Thank you for flying Delta. We know you have a choice of many bankrupt airlines, and we are grateful you chose ours.”
- My flight from Sudbury. “Welcome to Toronto. That turned out better than I expected.”
- “Please be careful when opening the overhead bins because shift happens.”
- “Thanks for flying with us today. We hope you enjoyed giving us your business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride.”
- “We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight.”
- Thank you for flying West-Jet. This is a non-smoking fight. If we catch you smoking in the restroom during flight, we will kindly ask you to disembark the aircraft.
- “Our flight attendants will be coming down the aisle to collect any trash, along with any chocolates or jewellery. Unfortunately, they don’t accept husbands or wives.”
- “Thank you for flying with us today. And the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of US Airways.”
- “I’ve just been informed that my mother in law has just passed security and will be shortly boarding this flight using one of my crew passes. If you all sit down fast, we should be able to get out of here before she arrives.”
Experience trumps excuses. Peter has tons of experience and it is from those experiences that he gives us his wisdom.
PETER’S EXPERIENCE THAT LED HIM TO WRITE A BOOK:
- Called as a young fisherman and has a miraculous catch of fish
- His first sermon, 3000 people got saved and he had a mega church
- He was so filled with the glory that his shadow would heal people
- He walked on water
- Went up on the mount of transfiguration
- Denied Jesus 3x-Chopped off the ear of a soldier
- Acts 3, Peter healed the crippled beggar
- Resurrects Tabitha
Peter bathed himself in the word. He marinated in the glory of Jesus. He learned, He listened and demonstrated.
There is good news and good advice in the Bible. It is imperative for us to know the context in which the good news and good advice is being written from.
How have Sheryl and I chosen to lead? 1 Peter 5:2-4
2 to be compassionate shepherds who tenderly care for God’s flock and who feed them well, for you have the responsibility to guide, protect, and oversee. Consider it a joyous pleasure and not merely a religious duty. Lead from the heart under God’s leadership—not as a way to gain finances dishonestly but as a way to eagerly and cheerfully serve. 3 Don’t be controlling tyrants but lead others by your beautiful examples to the flock.
The Lord showed me a lesson in leadership this morning. I asked him to lift the Load and make it lighter.
He took me to Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
In other words, the meaning of “my yoke is easy” means, “my service or burden is easy.”
What does it mean to take Christ’s yoke upon us? (To humbly do his will and allow him to guide and direct our lives.)
Yoke-a large wooden object to keep the oxen together so they can pull a load
He said, Anything more is YOU.
We teach at Impact that Leadership is Serving. We manifest the Kingdom of God by people seeing the Kingdom, by being the Kingdom.
If I want to lead well, then I have to:
Be willing to sacrificially serve: John 10:11 “The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.” I don’t expect you to carry what Sheryl and I carry. Our calling as Pastors of Impact Church is not yours. It is our responsibility that we accepted which means we inherited the load. We bear the burdens. We bear the vision. We bear your concerns. I believe we need to lead from a place of rest, but we cannot confuse rest with relaxation. I can’t sit back, watch from the sideline the battle for souls that is in front of me.
What is God’s rest? The rest God is talking about is not rest from your daily work or physically exhausted when you have worked hard. It is that profound peace that God gives to those who love and obey Him regardless of circumstances.
Peace is not the absence of conflict; It is the presence of a Person! Jesus!
It is from that place of peace that the Prince of Peace is revealed.
THE LORD TOLD ME “If you pastor from a place of peace and patience, you will never panic when you face pandemonium in this pandemic”.
Football- defence will shift and intimidate the offence to flinch. This will cause them to unintentionally surrender ground.
The testing of your faith produces endurance. Trials test your faith before they test your character. Trials are testing your testimony.
- Our testimony of the Gospel of Grace in this broken world will cause transformation. The transformation of city begins with the transformation of the church and the transformation of the church begins with the transformation of myself seeking global glory.
The bigger picture to me will help us add colour to a picture that is now tainted with black and white
How refreshing it was at Worship on the River!
I was reading a post from Bruxy Cavey and some of his thoughts resonated with me.
As I pass through my own mental filters of what matters most to me. I am pretty much a one-dimensional guy. Leading people to Jesus and keeping them on the straight and narrow.
While I am completely sympathetic with those struggling with mask, mandates, vaccines, passports, the violation of rights and civil liberties, I support their decisions and fundamental rights. However, as pastor I am not going to be persuaded or forced to choose a side. I CHOSE THE SIDE OF JESUS and that is the side I take wherever it may lead me.
1st Century Rabbi Hillel said, “Jesus is life to me; the rest is a commentary. Bruxy Cavey said, “ That commentary can be helpful support and important backup , but when it starts to overtake the central place in my mental space and prime real estate in conversations with others around me, it becomes distracting noise and I need to re-adjust my focus before my soul begins to shrivel.”
If you want to be an elder, if you want to teach, if you want a ministry, if you want to sing, then you better be ready to serve and lay it all down. The way to get respect is not demanding it or thinking it is entitled by your position. It is earned by lifting others up.
Sheryl and I exist so you can live! Is it hard? Yes! Is it worth it? YES! What gives us joy? When you walk in the completeness of Christ without the fear of competition.
When Christianity becomes all about you, you have become a victim of entitlement.
- Be willing to be misunderstood: I am a visionary. I have been that way in 39 years of ministry. I sometimes see things before it ever becomes a reality. Not all have been successful. Having vision is way better than having no vision!
SHEEP DIPPING PICTURE:
Gets rid of toxic things. Flees, ticks, etc. Sheep say YUCK but the Shepherd says it’s good for me!
Sometimes we have to go through a sheep dip!
3.) In order to lead I have to learn how to identify SHAPES:
Spiritual Gifts, Your Heart, Your attitude, Your personality and your Experience.
How is this done? By celebrating uniqueness and encourage diversity.
EXAMPLE: The only mode we are required to conform to is JESUS. Outside of that we are all different. We have to celebrate the differences both in culture, decisions and opinions.
Sheryl and I must be able to extend grace to those he has entrusted us to lead, guide and protect. The biggest challenge as leaders is understanding an individual’s limitations, expectations and strengths.
We must be able to adapt our leadership style. I must admit mask, vaccines and others questionable concerns don’t bother me. People are my priority!
Bruxy said, “Christ-followers are called to provoke one another, to jab one another, to poke and prod one another toward loving well and living well.”
Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how we spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
4.) Be willing to eliminate problems: Proverbs 22:10 “Say goodbye to a troublemaker and you will say goodbye to quarrels, strife, tension and arguments for a troublemaker traffics in shame.”
I will protect this house from wolves in sheep’s clothing. I promise you! NO ONE will be allowed to stir up dissension. Many churches have crumbled not by the woodpeckers on the outside but by the termites from within.
Example: David and Uriah: David went through a period in his life that was very questionable. David had just slept with Uriah’s wife and was now trying to cover up his sin.
Uriah means “God is my fire.”
Uriah slept at the king’s doorway rather than his wife.
Uriah said, how can I “a warrior” sleep in my bed when the armies of Israel are camped in the fields.
David gets Uriah drunk; He sleeps again at the king’s door. Uriah had better character drunk then David did sober. David wrote a note to Joab the commander. “Put Uriah in the most intense position in the battlefield, withhold your cover and let him be alone to die by the sword of the enemy.”
Nathan was a court prophet who lived in the time of King David. He was an advisor to David and came to him in 2 Samuel 12:7 Nathan said, “you are the guy!” God chose David, gave him favour, and would have done more if he asked but he took this man’s wife.
Innocence is not lost from one virtuous act it is death by a thousand paper cuts.
It starts with an attitude long before it becomes an action. Arrogance, entitlement, disillusionment, pride, self-justification, are pathways to pitfalls.
Our attitudes are turning into judgements. Our opinions have grown into offenses. If someone disagrees, we automatically go into a rage and start hating the people we are called to love.
We don’t know people like we think, yet we want to be the judge, jury and executioner.
- HOW TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE WHILE LIVING IN THE PRESENT
1 Peter 5: 5-7 “ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to you one another (SUPPORT) and be clothed with humility for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your care/worry/concerns on him because he cares for you.
Unless any government asks me to deny, disrespect or disobey Jesus I personally have to trust ( even though I may question their motives) knowing that even Jesus submitted himself to Pontius Pilate saying, “You would not have any power over me were it not given to you from above.
I have had to ask Holy Spirit for inner peace even when I have a government that for the most part is unjust, ungodly and even at times unstable.
REMEMBER: We are Christ-ian more than we are Canad-ian.
YOUR DESTINY IS IN YOUR DADDY not your distractions.
Be MENTORED. Be willing to listen to someone who has walked the road before you. Learn from their experience. PASTOR KARL AND CHERYL ARE OUR GO-TO’S. I may have 39 years of ministry under my belt but they have 40 plus years of pastoring!
BE HUMBLE– PRIDE IS A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE> humility is not think less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.
BE PATIENT: DON’T FORCE THE NARRATIVE. God knows your future, your destiny and your dilemmas.
It is imperative for us to be patient. Every answer I give during these trying times, I want it to be tempered in love and flow in the Holy Spirit.
How To Overcome Our Adversary from Peters Perspective
1 Peter 5:8-11 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary THE DEVIL walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
As a believer in Christ, everyone should be an object of your love, affections and attention!
Some of you are picking fights with the wrong people!
I heard that mature lions will roar but have no teeth! They have lost their ability to hunt and attack. The younger ones will come and devour.
The Devil is trying to Make you jump out of your faith (noun), your position in Christ.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, (not in faith or by faith) (In the faith) knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
We can’t fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons. It is impossible! True freedom is when you don’t have to demand your rights because you are already free!!!
You are not free when you have to run around demanding it! You can tell when you are still of this world when you want everything it has to offer. You can tell when you are still of this world when you get upset that something is taken from you.
If we are truly aliens, citizens of Heaven and passing through then it really doesn’t matter what the world says. They can strip me down of everything and I still have it all in Christ. THE WORLD CAN NOT TOUCH YOUR FREEDOM!!
John 8:36 “Who the son sets free is free indeed” The devil can not take what God gave you unless you wilfully surrender it.
I’m free to give up my rights and esteem others greater than myself. I am free to love those in the spirit who I used to hate in the flesh. I’m willing to walk in the realm of honor so I can demonstrate a higher Kingdom.
Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus.”
Have you ever thought that service may be a pathway to victory? You surrender self when you serve. Yielding, surrender, and supporting maybe a healthier option that produces less stress in your life.
- Be Well Yourself– Controlled, balanced, cool head. If you don’t take care of you, you can’t take care of anyone else.
- Be Aware Of Your Adversary – Devil is real problem — It’s not your boss, spouse, neighbour, ….It is not what you can see but what you can’t see! If God can get the church to battle on their knees more would be accomplished.
- Be Firm In Your Position — IN THE FAITH– I’m a child of God; Father will never let me down!!! Resist the devil in the faith
- Be Mindful Of Others– Everyone is experiencing trials — It’s not about you … look around!—Let His mind become your motivation. In other words, let the mind of Christ move you.
Philippians 2: 2-5 So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together (BE LIKE MINDED) with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy.
3 Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. 4 Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. 5 And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation.
- Be Fixed In God’s Faithfulness – God of all GRACE!Abundant grace for every circumstance
- Be Aligned with His Purpose – Glory, dominion forever Have the long view in mind!!!!
vs 12,14 “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand … Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
I believe that if we introduce Grace to Suffering it will result in GLORY!
Our testimony of the Gospel of Grace in this broken world will cause transformation. I can assure you that my thoughts are on making Jesus a reality as I impart the message and mission. That is my mandate! To present a living Jesus to a dying world.
My mind is aligning with His!
Stop Naval gazing!
New International Version
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
We will make it through this mess!
Thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil!
New International Version
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
20 years ago yesterday, 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning tomorrow. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift of saving lives. None of them saw past 10:00 am Sept 11, 2001. In one single moment life may never be the same. As you live and enjoy the breaths you take today and tonight before you go to sleep in preparation for your life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted.
