From One Degree to Another

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LRC Email – 3 questions with Bob Bush

October 1, 2014 by Phil Auxier

Here’s my latest installment for Leadership Reno County alumni…

In this, Bob Bush answers the following questions:

1) Our program defines leadership as “mobilizing people to do difficult work.”  How have you seen this definition at work in our community? 
2) How does having a clear purpose flesh itself out in your life? 
3) How do you work to build bridges between parties that disagree in our community? 
Hope this is encouraging to your work in leadership.  

Filed Under: 3 Questions, LRCAA, Purpose

LRC Email – Your Purpose in the Gap

December 9, 2013 by Phil Auxier

Here’s the email I wrote to Leadership Reno County alums today, 12/9/13: So it’s been a couple of weeks and I thought I’d check back in. First off, I might remind you that I’ve been writing about how there is a huge gap between our current reality and our expectations. Part of my contention was that bridging the gap between those challenges we face and where we’d like them to be takes us acting different. It requires us to engage in an act of leadership, which will help move people to difficult work. We talked a bit about authority and how anyone can lead, anytime, anywhere; it’s not just the most gifted people at the table that can bridge the gaps you see in your reality. We also mentioned how these acts of leadership start with you and engage others. Too often, we’re sitting waiting for someone else to act not realizing that we have the capability to engage. Today, I want us to think about the gap and how a clear purpose helps our way of behaving in the gap. You might recognize that sometimes the gap is a scary place. People of all different political stripes and spectrums think that engaging in the gap requires this or that. In other words, progress may look different to different people. Moving from our current reality to make things better needs a clear purpose. This way, the focus isn’t on the change but on the purpose. This is hard to do. We want to focus in our results and effects. But, if we spent more time thinking purposefully about our engagement, I believe we’d make more progress. So, today, take this idea out for a spin by clearly articulating why you do what you do. And why is that true? And why do you that? And why is that so important? Press those why questions and see if you get at a purpose that isn’t so disagreeable as much as something that must be pursued at all costs. Seeking to be purposeful with you….

Filed Under: KLC, LRCAA, Purpose

LRC Email – So Happy Together

October 7, 2013 by Phil Auxier

Here’s my email from 10/7/13 to Leadership Reno County alums:

With all that’s happening in our world today, I thought it would be good to reengage one of those helpful cards from the Kansas Leadership Center today.  This one, in particular, had a very relevant subject matter: Inspire A Collective Purpose.  Here’s a recap:
How do you inspire a collective purpose?
·         Make the goal attainable.  Your purpose may be lofty—the work of a lifetime, perhaps.  Keep people energized by breaking it into achievable chunks.
·         Build trust along the way.  Allow time and space for shareholders to share stories and ask questions.  Create space for people to be heard.
·         Engage others.  Look for people who share your purpose.  Ask how they want to be involved.
·         Ignite imaginations.  Build momentum by inviting everyone to dream, contribute and create a shared vision. 
·         Take action.  Nothing is less inspiring than a whole lot of talk and no action.  Harness the momentum by starting to experiment and make progress.
Why is it important to inspire a collective purpose?
One person can only do so much.  Together—with a shared purpose and through collective action—we can achieve so much more.  When we work together for the common good, we constantly exceed our expectations for strong, healthy, prosperous Kansas communities.
What does inspire a collective purpose look like?
·         Our purpose is broad enough to unite diverse factions.
·         The group is building a common language. 
·         We stay inspired by celebrating success, large or small.
·         We use everyone’s talents and assets to help make progress.
How many people does it take to inspire a collective purpose?
Leadership starts with you and must engage others.  Don’t wait until you’ve gathered a crowd to start talking about what you care about and looking for others who want to get involved.
What does inspiration have to do with leadership?
“Inspire” means “to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence.”  Something got you fired up.  Now you must motivate others through your words and your example.  If you hope to make progress on a daunting, adaptive challenge you cannot do it alone.
(Based on experiences shared by KLC Alumni in a February 6, 2013 “On the Balcony” conference call, hosted by KLC President and CEO Ed O’Malley.)

So, tying all this together, what one thing could you do to engage others this work and help inspire that collective purpose?  Let’s do that thing, then, so that we can be happy together, moving our community forward.  

Filed Under: KLC, LRCAA, Purpose

Mission, Vision and What Not…

May 2, 2010 by Phil Auxier


I’ve been doing some thinking lately about our church, vision, purpose, mission, etc. The graphic above represents some doodling about such ideas. Our church’s purpose statement can be found on our website:

Recognizing that all people were created for the glory of God, our purpose is to exhort people to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to encourage Christians to live passionately for God, by glorifying and enjoying Him as the goal of their lives.

While this is a great statement, it is a bit wordy. So, I’ve been thinking about how this can be put in a nutshell. Boil it down to its bare essence. What are we getting at?

glorifying God. (everyone is made for this purpose and is to live to this end)
proclaiming the Gospel. (Jesus has given us an amazing message to spread)
everywhere. (this is where we take the amazing message of the Gospel: to all people everywhere. There is no place that doesn’t need the Gospel.)

or another way…
glorifying God. (our vision)
proclaiming the Gospel. (our mission)
everywhere. (our goal)

putting it in the language of our purpose statement…
glorifying God. (…and to encourage Christians to live passionately for God, by glorifying and enjoying Him as the goal of their lives.)
proclaiming the Gospel. (…our purpose is to exhort people to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ…)
everywhere. (Recognizing that all people were created for the glory of God…)

I’m still continuing to think about these things. I do know one thing: God has given us a mission during our days here and it is spreading this message–making disciples of all nations. I realize as a pastor, I need to be stoking the flames that lead in this way. Hopefully, these ideas will be lived out and move from paper to action, not only in my life, but in the life of the church.

Filed Under: Crestview, Purpose, Vision

From One Degree To Another?

Yeah, that's right. My one, consuming passion is Jesus Christ, my Lord. I'm totally gripped by one message: the Gospel - the good news that God came after me when I was far from Him. So, the life I live, I live by faith in Him: He loved me and gave Himself for me.

From One Degree To Another is the change that He's accomplishing in me by grace. Growing downward in humility, upward into Him, outward toward others, and inward with renewal characterize my existence.

This site is where I flesh all of these types of things out, including my life as a slave to Jesus, husband, father, coffee-enjoyer, and pastor. I hope it encourages you.

RSS My latest sermons at Crestview

  • Love One Another April 27, 2025
  • The Word of Contentment April 20, 2025
  • Good Friday 2025 April 19, 2025

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