Encourage the Good Nigel Pollock

In my experience the hardest things in leadership are dealing with opposition and managing internal frustration and disappointment. In both cases the strength of emotion that accompanies the narrative makes it hard to chart a steady course.The people are in need, insecure and in debt. They are in despair and impotent.. This threat is from within.. The division is a diversion from the work of God and a distraction from the real enemyI can think of a few instances where red mist has descended, ...

Opposition can feel like an indication that we are doing something wrong, but it can often indicative that we are moving in the right direction. One of the things to consider facing opposition is what is the truth of this accusation.Problem is that we resonate with the elements of truth in the accusation rather than considering the truth in the wider context and situation. The people are frail, it is frustrating, and they have good reason to be afraid.When you are tired and have real iss...

Everything is broken down, the state of disrepair is exhaustive, but it is addressed by a comprehensive endeavour where each person and group plays their part. Each of us has a part to play. The different individuals and groups have a common vision and a shared purpose. Their diversity enriches the task force as they bring different backgrounds, strengths and perspectives.In IFES we work in many different countries and contexts. But the common purpose is to help youth, students and gradu...

Nehemiah Episode 4It is very informative to watch how Nehemiah goes about things in this new season.He catches his breath. He does not do anything for three days. Rest and reset are important. The whole idea of recreation is being recreated in the image of God. God has ordained rhythms of rest and work, night and day, sleep and activity.He explores the ground. He needs to see for himself what the situation is. This is missiology. He seeks to understand the context and the nature of the c...

Nehemiah: Episode 3Timing is everything. One of my recurrent prayers is that I would be in the right place at the right time with the right heart, with the right words for the right people.Nehemiah decides that this day in the month of Nisan will be when he takes the risk of talking to the king. He is a servant and although he has access to the king his position is precarious and he is fearful of losing his position, his freedom or even his life.He repurposes a situation to turn it into an op...

Nehemiah: Episode 2How does Nehemiah cope in the in between time of a growing sense of what the future may hold and continuing to carry out his responsibilities in the present. How do we cope in our own in between times, facing the opportunities of tomorrow and the challenges of today? I often find conflict in processing experiences and reflecting on how I feel about circumstances. There is almost always a lot to process and to be in an emotional interference pattern is not at...