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January 15, 2013: Volume 2, Number 6
In This Issue
FIRST BACK 40 OUTREACH TRIP COMING UP
Feature: HOW TO FIND THE TRUE FIX
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
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What does it mean to "be a good example"?

Looks can be deceiving. Sometimes, in our enthusiasm to demonstrate Christ, we can get caught up in being "too religious," pushing people away rather than engaging them. In this issue of The Cultivator, find out more about The Great Deception in Serving.

Dalton & Vicki up closeAs we look ahead to our upcoming Back 40 outreach trips, we're incredibly grateful for your unwavering support. Will you please pray for us? We're excited about what God will do through your faithfulness in this new season of ministry.

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FIRST BACK 40 OUTREACH TRIP COMING UP!  
Thank you for your Back 40 Backers gifts, which have totaled $15,000! We are overwhelmed by God's goodness and your generosity, which will provide for our two Back 40 trips in spring 2013, plus make down payment on ongoing process of creating the ESL (English as a Second Language)/culturally biblical (non-western) version of Spiritually Healthy Leaders� (SHL).

First 2013 Back 40 Trip is coming up!
Our first 2013 Back 40 Outreach trip begins on January 22, when we fly to San Jose, Costa Rica to train and coach two different workshop groups in partnership with our missionary friends Geiner and Denise Alvarado. Registrations are accumulating and the local ministry has moved into a new building. Will you pray for us and invite God's anointing for this outreach? Thank you!

The Back 40 Backers Project is an Ongoing Outreach
The Back 40 Project will continue to train, coach, and equip Christian leaders who live in geographically remote areas of the world and who hunger for opportunities to grow spiritually.  We are working to develop effective, online worldwide access for SHL to reach Christians in remote areas.

Will you prayerfully consider how you can partner in this long-term effort?  Thank you for giving as the Lord leads!
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featureFeature:  THE GREAT DECEPTION IN SERVING 
"I thought I should be an example to the tribe," explained the former missionary as he described his role in the village's building project. The tribesmen, weighing fully one-third less than him, each carried two 80-pound bags of cement from the river to the building site without falling or dropping any part of the load. In response, the missionary carried three bags at a time. He mistakenly felt that to lead and serve effectively, he needed to outperform those in his sphere of influence in order to gain their respect.

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Image: www.theworldrace.org
What's Your Motive As You Serve?


This well-intentioned servant felt pressure to not only perform up to a certain standard, but exceed it. Yet who set that standard? The tribesmen did not require it of him. Neither did God.

Nor were the tribesmen impressed. None of them made an effort to mirror the missionary's behavior and carry three bags instead of two. His sweat and strained back did not spark an interest in spiritual things, but in fact were viewed as one-upmanship.

Whether rooted in personal pride ("I will show them what it means to be a Christian") or expectations from other believers ("my congregation expects me to ..."), the Christ-follower's "being-an-example" motive cultivates an image of activity. But does that activity stem from our heart-relationship with Christ? If we're honest, most of the time the answer is no.

The Great Deception in Serving

Christ-followers easily fall prey to the assumption that others look up to us when we "perform." Yet in setting ourselves up as a model to follow, the subliminal message is a subtle works-based faith that says knowing Christ is all about tasks.  "Religion" takes the upper hand over having a relationship with Jesus.

The truth is quite the opposite. God does not need us to "sell" Him by "performing" in His name. Others are impacted the most not when they see Christ-followers "performing," but when they see Christ-followers living in an authentic relationship with Him.

The great deception in serving is performance. Check your motives. Do you carry bags of cement as part of your religion ... or in response to your relationship with Christ?

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  Growth Point

   

An authentic Christian example models a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  

 

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Scripture


Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10, NIV)  

  

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Prayer Point
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  • Think of a time when your service was motivated either by pride or by expectations of other Christians. What could you do differently next time?
  • Imagine you are an unbeliever observing you as you serve. What would you see?
  • Spend a few minutes talking with God about a current task and seeking His desires for you in it.
What People Are Saying ...
 
circle-looking-up "Dalton is a terrific facilitator, mentor and coach. He has a knack for getting to the core issues in a meeting and forming executable strategies for growth. Dalton has helped me professionally and personally to achieve more. I would recommend him to anyone who wants to get more out of life, ministry, or business."
 

Marvin Procter, President, The Improve Group 


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