Daniel Im

Pastor + Author

thoughts

Tuesday’s Thought – Leonardo da Vinci and Simplicity

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Leonardo da Vinci is arguably one of the most talented artists that has ever lived. Among his works are the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. In addition to his ability to create art, did you know that he had a stellar vision for what did not yet exist? He conceptualized solar power, armored vehicles and even flying machines! Now that’s impressive.

Consider how this quote relates to your leadership:

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

How are you making your leadership simple? Is your vision for your church or your organization simple? Or is it so complex that you find yourself continually having to clarify it to those you are leading?

Complex ideas aren’t necessarily better ideas. It actually requires genius and a lot of hard work to make complex concepts into simple ones. When you do that, your idea becomes scalable – which then can enlarge your leadership influence like none other.

Simplicity leads to scalability. Simplicity really is the ultimate sophistication.

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Tuesday’s Thought – D.L. Moody and the Bible

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In North American Christianity, we don’t have a deficit of Biblical knowledge, we have a deficit of Biblical application.

That’s why on this Tuesday, D.L. Moody’s quote is so relevant.

The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.

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Ministry is More than Pastoring

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What you’re doing seems fine…but I still wish you would just go back to a church and preach. Isn’t that what pastors do? Isn’t that why God called you into the ministry? Isn’t that the better thing?

Those were the words of my grandmother to me when I told her how I was transitioning to work for LifeWay to launch their new emphasis in church planting and multisite (albeit, she did speak those words in Korean).

God’s call on our lives is a mysterious thing, isn’t it? There were times in my life, where I was convinced that God had called me to a specific place and role (sometimes also to date a particular girl), only to discover that the circumstances didn’t pan out the way that I wanted them to (that means I was rejected).

“Was God’s initial call wrong? Did I hear him incorrectly? Is there sin in my life?” These were the types of questions that I would wrestle through when things didn’t go the way that I wanted them to, or expected them to.

My wife and I have gone through many transitions. Since getting married, we’ve lived in six cities and three different countries. I’ve served in a number of roles in four different churches ranging from a church attendance of 100 – 50,000 people. And most recently, we’ve moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to work for LifeWay – in a role that my grandmother apparently doesn’t approve of since I’m not preaching 🙂

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Tuesday’s Thought – Lincoln and Character

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Abraham Lincoln has no need for an introduction. So here’s a quote that probably has more relevance today than it did when he first said it.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

When given a seat of authority or power, do you find yourself leading and functioning differently?

Abrahahm Lincoln quote

My Hope for Beulah, the Local Church and Edmonton

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Whenever I pray, “God may your kingdom come and your will be done,” I’m not just going through the motions and praying some sort of ritualistic prayer. Nor am I praying it and hoping that God would do that through someone else in some other place. Since this is a part of the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, I have confidence that he is doing “something” when we have the audacity to pray that prayer with sincerity and faith. And I’m convinced that God chooses to do that “something” through you and I – through the church.

Let’s face it. The local church can be dysfunctional because we are the local church and we can all be dysfunctional. Regardless, I have full faith in God’s redemptive power and his desire to usher in his kingdom through the local church.

God wants to usher in his kingdom through the local church.

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When I came to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to serve at Beulah Alliance Church in 2010, I wasn’t just coming for some job. I came because I was convinced that Beulah was all about God’s kingdom and his mission. After all, since its birth in 1921, over 60 churches have been planted out of Beulah.

And now that God is leading us into a new season of ministry, I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on this question,

“What gives me hope that Beulah will continue on this trajectory and be a transformational kingdom agent in Edmonton and beyond?”

Here are some of my thoughts:

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