March 19, 2009
Back in January I posted 2 blogs that still to date have been my most viewed posts.
I have talked from time to time about posting a Leadership Via Dora Part 3.
So here it goes!
Have you ever noticed when watching Dora that she is not about her own business?
She continually is looking to serve and help people on every episode. {Okay, maybe there was that one Dora’s Birthday Surprise}.
Every time I watch Dora with my three year old, it jumps out at me that she is trying to serve someone or something. Always trying to bring restoration to a situation, reconcile a relationship, or help someone accomplish a goal.
Sound like anyone you know?
Matthew 20:28
28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
It is amazing that a simple childrens program gets it, but the majority of our society is out for themselves. Our society teaches people to be out for number one.
In our culture we are so caught up with instant gratification, and securing goods for ourselves that many fail to serve their neighbor. We definitely live in a time and culture that no longer loves their neighbor as thyself or serves others as a lifestyle.
Another interesting fact about Dora is that she is no respecter of persons and even forgives Swiper the Fox for swiping items from her party or adventures. In several episodes Swiper and Dora work together to accomplish their goal like the Friendship 1 hour special.
I know… it sounds like I am obsessed with Dora. I am not.
I am however, very interested in learning from Media how to reach and teach the next generation {and our adults} how to get a hold of the truth God has laid out in his wonderful & amazing Word!
Hope you enjoyed Part 3…please feel free to leave some feedback.
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Appleton, Challenging, Family, God, Life, Overflow | Tagged: Dora, Family, Leadership Via Dora, Life, Overflow | 
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Posted by kevinjbradford
February 18, 2009
A few thoughts from the last week.
- Thursday Night I took the family out to Disney on Ice. It was a blast. We went to dinner at Margarita’s in Green Bay before hand. The entire experience was a lot of fun, and my girls were so excited and cute.
- Saturday was filled with errands, building jewelry boxes with the girls, and birthday parties.
- Our service Sunday was powerful. Many people were ministered too, and several people were responding throughout the message. In the end three people gave their life to Christ, and a couple renewed their commitment to Christ. Amazing!
- God has continued to bless our family with some amazing stuff the last several days. We have been able to buy gifts for people we care about, pay for the things we needed, and put some money in savings.
- God is still pouring out revelation at a rate faster than I can find places to preach or teach it.
- Our House of Prayer “The Flood” was very powerful on Monday Night. The best night of prayer and intercession this year hands down. God really showed up. Two women in particular were ministered to in a very personal way.
- I still cannot believe we have a new sound system, a worship pastor who plays guitar (she did not 3 months ago), and some partners becoming more committed.
- I have been begging God for some Young Men and Women to join our church that were already walking with Him, to help round out a team for growth. I believe God is starting to do that very thing.
- We have a young man that is quitting his day job, and heading to Appleton to help us advance the Kingdom. YEA GOD!
- Some young couples that have become interested in Overflow, and some high school & college students will be attending Life Groups for the first time this week.
Well that is all I have for tonight, probably much more I should include, but…
Leadership Lessons Via Dora 3 coming in the next couple of days, along with a special guest blogger.
In His Favor
2 Comments | Church, God, His Kingdom, Jesus, Overflow, Prayer, Tuesday Night Reflections | Tagged: Dora, God, Leadership, Overflow, Tuesday Night Relfections | Permalink
Posted by kevinjbradford
January 30, 2009
A few days ago I posted Leadership Lessons Via Dora. I had some good feedback and a few people who thought it was a good lesson. The next morning I was praying during my quiet time, and God began to speak to me about another leadership lesson that can be learned from Dora. So over the last couple of days I have been asking God about it.
These are the observations God has brought to my attention from Dora the Explorer, and especially Wii Dora saves the Snow Princess.
- When Dora begins an adventure she is always with that special someone, that sidekick, Boots. Boots is who climbs all the trees, goes into all the holes, or catches balls in the show and the game.
- Who are you going to call when you don’t know where to go? The Map! The Map!
- When Dora needs something to accomplish a her quest, she calls upon backpack.
- The Fiesta Trio celebrate and congratulate Dora each time she accomplishes a portion of her quest.
Can I tell you that I was completely blown away by why God was showing me through Dora.
This little girl “Dora” is showing some leadership skills that few leaders in the corporate world possess, let alone in the church!
- Dora is definitely the leader, but she has no problem delegating tasks to someone that is better at them than her. A monkey is always going to be a better tree climber, hands down. So why should Dora even attempt it.
- Dora does not even attempt to act like she knows where she is going. She always seeks out the map on what direction to take to accomplish a task. Then along the way, she checks it often. (Vision for your life, company, church?)
- This chick has one cool backpack. It carries ladders, snow boots, coats, etc… Dora never leaves for an adventure without the right equipment. How many times as leaders do we set out on a path, without even asking what tools will be needed.
- Dora is surrounded by people who will cheer her on as she accomplishes parts of her quest. In the corporate and church world, we rarely find those that are there as an encouragement as we see parts of our vision accomplished. Typically we only here about the negative stuff.
The final and maybe overall lesson God was trying to teach me was this, Dora maybe the star of the show (game), but there are several other characters that are equally important in accomplishing the quests they set out on.
Romans 12:4-5 says, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
In the body of Christ we need to build a caste of characters (not shady) around us to help us accomplish the quest that God has set before us. Each one of us, just like in Dora, do not have the same function but are equally important in accomplishing God’s will for our church.
1 Comment | Challenging, Church, Family, God, Inspirational, Leadership, Life | Tagged: Dora, Family, Inspirational, Jesus, Leadership, Life, Wii | Permalink
Posted by kevinjbradford
January 29, 2009
I only have a few moments here before I head off to bed. Thursday will bring Leadership via Dora #2.
I had to blog quickly to say that God completely rocked some people tonight at our Life Group.
Over the last 4 days, I have brought a straight Kingdom message “Introduction to The Kingdom of God” and God has really challenged some people and moved them.
It was not a fancy inspirational or practical message, but it was purely laying out there the fact that Jesus’ primary message was not salvation, but “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”
To be honest, people getting rocked by God through simple messages, NEVER GETS OLD!
Leave a Comment » | Challenging, Church, God, Jesus, Life, Overflow | Tagged: Dora, God, Inspirational, Jesus, Life, Overflow, Random Thoughts | Permalink
Posted by kevinjbradford
January 28, 2009
The last seven days has been extremely amazing. God has been so good in the past few days.
- God has been setting me on fire this last week.
- We launched our 2009 Life Groups this past week. Wednesday Nights will be every week, and Saturday Nights will be the 1st and 3rd Saturday’s of each month.
- Friday the girls went to have a Diva For A Day Treatment at a local kids Spa! So I had to take them out for a Night Out with Mommy and Daddy. We went out to to El Azteca a local authentic Mexican restaurant the girls love.
- Saturday we spent the day playing Wii and me reading and praying through various things that have been on my heart.
- Sunday was awesome! I preached a message called “The Kingdom of God” which was the first message in a series called The Design For Life!
- I was really unsure about this message, because it was a hard-core teaching and not the inspirational, practical type of preaching I normally bring on Sundays.
- Can I tell you, people got touched on Sunday. God proved that if you simply speak what Father says, people will be rocked.
- God continued His faithfulness yesterday. I got the scriptures and basic outline for my next two sermons during my prayer time.
- The next two services are The Kingdom of God – Refine & Align and then Define & Design
Well those are my reflections for tonight. Overall, the tone of the week has been that God is good and we are in a season of recieving His blessings.
Check back this week for blogs on: Leadership Via Dora 2, All things are lawful but may not be helpful, and things God taught me through parenting.
Has God lit a fire in you lately about something?
1 Comment | Family, Inspirational, Jesus, Leadership, Life, Random Thoughts | Tagged: Dora, Jesus, Leadership, Life, Random Thoughts, Tuesday Night Relfections, Wii | Permalink
Posted by kevinjbradford
January 27, 2009
About a week ago I was playing Wii with the kids (big surprise I know).
We played several different games, and finally ended up playing Dora Saves the Snow Princess Wii game. There is a portion of the game called Dora’s Forest Adventure. It is basically snow sledding down hill for coins. You can also race with a dog sled. At the end of each race the game counts your coins and gives you either a bronze, silver, or gold medal.
I had to go and spend a few precious Facebook moments and the girls were playing with the dog sleds and at the end of each race my youngest was upset that she only had a few coins and would only get a bronze. While my oldest daughter would have a ton of coins, and get a gold medal.
So I told her I would sit and watch the following race to give her some desperately requested advice in the game. The following is the list of my observations.
- She simply set there with the remote and allowed Dora to slide down one side of the course for 1/4 of the hill, then she would change sides.
- She would not move toward the coins.
- Then she would get 3/4 down and just sit down the remote completely and run for a drink of water.
- My older daughter however had an intense grip on the remote, game face on, and determined to get as many coins as possible.
Later that night I was praying and asking God about our leadership team at Overflow. During that prayer time I began to realize that many Christians out there are living the same way my daughter was playing Dora.
- They simply went one direction with no specific goal or plan, until they decided they were tired of going that way, so they change direction.
- At some point many Christians get discouraged or bored with the path and they abandon it completely.
- Another thing I have noticed is that many of those same people are very frustrated that others seem to be winning or doing well in this life.
- They get frustrated and seek advice on how to be like, act like, or achieve what those successful Christians or people are doing.
The reality of the situation is this, all they have to do is simply grab the reigns and begin to go for it. They need to understand what they are trying to accomplish and then pursue it with intensity.
1 Corinthians 9:24 state, ” Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
You see in this life, we must seek God’s plan and destiny for our lives. Once we hear God and understand the prize (goal) we must pursue relentlessly so that you can obtain it.
The concept is really simple. Hear God, and pursue it!
LEADERSHIP VIA DORA!
3 Comments | Challenging, Church, Family, Inspirational, Jesus, Leadership, Life, Random Thoughts | Tagged: Dora, Family, Leadership, Life, Random Thoughts, Vision, Wii | Permalink
Posted by kevinjbradford
