Let the Music Pla, Music Pla, Music Pla...

I'm going a bit 'retro' this morning....  I grew up playing records.... big, black vinyl records.  (I did have a cool red one and might have even had one with a picture on it, but for the most part, they were black...)  The first records I bought were produced by K-Tel.  (Dynamite and Canadian Mint as I recall.) 

Records were great until they got scratched. Once they were scratched, the needle would skip and the record would play the same phrase over and over until you lifted the needle and moved it past the skip.

I had a conversation with a friend this week.  We were discussing how to help people who face recurring issues in their lives.  We see it far too often in our work.  Good people with great potential get 'stuck' at a point in their lives.  Their loss, pain, injustice, failure or setback affects them like a scratch on an old record.  Sadly, they seem oblivious to the seriousness of their situation.  For them, what could be an opportunity to be wiser, stronger, better equipped and aware, becomes a recurring phrase in the soundtrack of their lives.  It sounds like this.... my life was good and then the b-bad thi, b-bad thi, b-bad thi.. until someone mercifully picks up the needle and moves it ahead of the scratch. 

I'm not making fun of people who have had bad things happen in their lives.  I want to help them get past their pain so they can move forward towards what God has in store for their lives. If you are reading this,  and your past is affecting your present and future negatively, I have good news for you!

You were made to be an overcomer!  You were made to live free from the pain of your past!  Your past can be a building block for you future if you let it!  

Ask Jesus to heal the 'broken' part of your past that you keep replaying and reliving.  Ask him to turn your mourning into dancing and your sorrow into joy so that you can move forward into the goodness and greatness of all that God has for you!

He's written a beautiful sound track for your life!  Get past the skip and let the music play on!

Back To The Legislature We Go!

The BC Legislature resumes sitting on Tuesday with the Throne Speech.  This will mark the 2nd Session of the 40th Parlaiment.  While we won't know until Tuesday what the government's priorities will be for the coming year, we are happy to share our prayer focus themes with you in advance.  On Tuesday of this week, a group of intercessors prayed on the grounds of the Legislature asking God to work in the following ways.  While we've prayed privately on the grounds before, this is the first time we are publishing the content of what we prayed.  We invite you to pray along with us!

Leading Influence Prayer Initiative - February 2014

 “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”      

                                                                                                            Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)

Psalm 72

·         Pray that the government would lead with wisdom and grace.

·       For a compassionate and generous response to those who are most at risk in our province: Youth, Homeless, those struggling with Mental illness, the disenfranchised

·      For wisdom, revelation and development of a strategy that would form policies and legislation to combat child poverty in our province as it is the highest in our nation

·    That the government would continue to develop policies and legislation in the upcoming session that would be beneficial to families

·     We pray for harmonious positive relationships that will bring together parents, teachers, school trustees to achieve long-term labour stability in our classrooms so that the education of our greatest natural resource, our children, is achieved.

·    Pray for continued discipline that will produce a balanced budget and strike a balance between reducing taxes and cost for families, investing in programs and services while reducing provincial debt.

·         Pray for wisdom, revelation and understanding to reduce the ongoing challenges in the global and domestic economies and that these economies would begin to flourish

·  That the government would balance Economic Development and meet appropriate environmental concerns.

·   For wisdom in allocating resources to the appropriate needs in light of the increasing expectations and demands.

·         For the success of a diversified and sustainable approach to job creation and that a needed 94,000 jobs would be created in our province.

On Hardship and Suffering

I don't often talk about suffering.  Suffering is hard.  Suffering hurts.  Suffering and hardship are difficult to understand.  Suffering opens questions that are often very hard to answer.  Why do bad things happen to good people???

Here are some things that I've come to understand are true.

1) Suffering is part of life in a messed up world.  No one escapes it.  Everyone is touched by hardship, setbacks, pain, sickness and loss. 

2) God uses suffering to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  This is not to say that He uses suffering in a punitive way to 'teach us a lesson', although there are times when that may happen.  What I am saying is that God allowing suffering in our lives just to watch us suffer seems outside of His care and love for us.  God's purpose in suffering is always to point us to Him and to conform us into His image.  That process never ends and for that reason, there is always a measure of suffering somewhere in our lives.

  

3) Suffering comes for a season. Check this verse  out from Psalms,  'weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (30:5) You may be in the middle of your dark night, but morning will come and so will the end to whatever you are suffering through. Suffering is not forever for the Christian. 

4) Suffering provides the opportunity to overcome. Not everyone who experiences suffering embraces the opportunity to overcome.  In some cases, they embrace their suffering to such an extent that it becomes their identity.  I love the way Paul writes about being pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.  He recognizes reality but is looking towards a truth that is far more powerful than what he currently faces.  He was made to overcome and so are you!

5) Overcoming suffering is more art than science.  No one likes a 4 point check-list to overcoming when the wheels have fallen off your life but there are some foundations you can count on when your world is turned upside down.  

a) Romans 8:28 tells us that God works ALL THINGS together for our good.  Never forget that God is ALWAYS doing more than you think He is.  He is constantly at work on your behalf!  

b) God responds to our faith!  Stop telling God how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big your God is!  Things will start to change in you and then they will start to change for you because that's how God works.  The battle that rages is not over what your outward circumstances are but on what will ultimately happen inside of you.  Faith will either grow and be refined or it will be snuffed out in your life based on how you respond to suffering.

c) Never give up!  I love how Jesus shows up in the darkest, most critical times to do something amazing!  Expect the unexpected as you go through your trial and hardship.  He will turn your sorrow into joy!

In the News... Article in 'The Testimony'

This is an article in the most recent version of 'The Testimony'.  The Testimony is published by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.  I hope you enjoy it!

Ministering to politicians isn’t at the top of most people’s agendas— but it is for Tim Schindel and thousands of prayer partners supporting the activities of Leading Influence.  (LI) Ministries. LI was launched in 2007 out of British Columbia with a primary focus on serving provincial politicians— honouring the impact of their

God-given roles by supporting them in prayer and influencing their lives and decisions for God’s glory and purposes.

Tim, LI’s founder and full-time chaplain, shares how the vision to expand to all of Canada has been unfolding.

t: What was the primary motivation for launching LI?

TS: The vision for LI came as a result of a long process that was a combination of shifting passion and new doors of opportunity opening while others were closing. It was hard to understand at the time, but I began to see God connect fresh passion and vision to the open door that would allow me to fulfil it. Our vision and mission are to be a positive spiritual influence in the lives of our political leaders, reaching them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have no political agenda but are relationally focused and have friends on both sides of the legislature. There are approximately 1,150 elected officials at provincial and federal levels

in our country. Reaching them results in tremendous kingdom impact across Canada.

t: Where does Leading Influence serve?

TS: We launched in B.C. full time in 2007, and in January 2013, we launched in Alberta. We are in serious discussions to add a third western province in 2014. (Saskatchewan) When that happens, our ministry footprint will extend to just over 225 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly). Our vision remains

to establish what we are doing in B.C. and Alberta across the country, and we are eager to fulfil that task. If you would like to get involved with us, please contact our office [LI website provided at the end of this article].

t: Do political changes impact the approach that’s being taken by LI?

TS: Leading Influence functions on the basis of relationship, not political ideology.  Our approach is simply to meet and befriend people and demonstrate the love and goodness of Jesus to them through honour, kindness, personal interest and prayer. As my role has become more established, we’ve been able to build bridges and establish trust. Over time, conversations about God’s care, interest and concern for politicians as

people are no longer intimidating for them, and inevitably a door of opportunity for ministry opens to us.

t: Can you name some developments you’ve seen as a direct answer to LI’s prayers and influence?

TS: We’ve seen God do some pretty amazing things in response to the prayers of His people.

Unfortunately, most of those answers related to personal and confidential matters. That said, let me tell you about what happened in the last B.C. provincial election. In late March, we launched a prayer campaign. For 60 days prior to election day, we sent out a short prayer that focused in some way on the decision that British Columbians were about to make. Our central theme was to ask God to give us leaders after His own heart. It was incredible to see God at work as the poll results came in. Because we had done candidate research, we knew which candidates in each riding were either Christians or, at the very least, “faith friendly.” We saw approximately 13 to15 Christians elected that night. That number represents nearly 15 per

cent of the seats in B.C. Some of those elected won their seats by narrow margins in ridings where they should not have won at all. It’s important to understand that the results aren’t an indication of God’s political preferences. Good people who love Jesus are represented in every political party in our legislature. I believe that the results speak to God’s willingness to give us leaders after His heart when His people dare to ask at the right time.

t: Politicians are still generally perceived with mistrust. What’s your take on this?

TS: I just checked the Reader’s Digest “Most Distrusted Professions” list, and politicians come right behind psychics. But I have seen politicians who make tremendous personal sacrifices so they can help people. I’ve yet to meet someone who is involved politically so they can benefit personally. Most members work 50 to 60 hours a week, including evenings and weekends away from their families. Cabinet ministers work 60 to 70 hours a week and, in most cases, are away from home four to five days a week. When they do come home, they have to catch up on all of their community responsibilities. It’s hard and taxing work. (pun intended)

t: What are some of the needs that politicians have? How can we support them more effectively?

First things first: politicians need us to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1). If you live in B.C. or Alberta, (and very soon in Saskatchewan) you can track along with us in praying for political leaders by visiting either www.praybc.com or www.prayab.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

This is not just “the right thing” to do; it is remarkable to see how many times our specific prayer is exactly what the member needs at that time. Last spring I walked into the dining room for lunch, and the member

we were praying for that day rushed over to meet me and thank me. He said, “It was exactly what I need today.” What makes it even more remarkable is that the prayers are written and scheduled weeks in advance. It’s a great way to be a blessing to the political leaders who serve you.

Secondly, express your thanks and gratitude. Political life is generally a thankless task. Stopping by with a card that says “Thanks for your hard work” will produce amazing results. Not only will your representative feel appreciated, but you will also open the door to further relationship. Proverbs 18:16 provides

insight into the power of gratitude.

Offer to serve. Most politicians have community focus/feedback groups. You don’t necessarily have to share their political views in order to participate. Most decisions affecting your community at that level are made based on the feedback that comes out of those groups. It becomes a win-win situation.

Tim Schindel is the founder of Leading Influence Ministries. He lives in Victoria, BC, with his wife, Barb, and their three children, Brittany, Zack and Tyler. In his spare time, Tim loves to run, ride his motorcycle, and

watch his sons play baseball. For more information on LI, please visit www.leadinginfluence.com 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Like a lot of people, this is the time of year where I like to reflect on what has been and look forward to what I believe can happen over the coming year.  2013 was a year of growth, surprises and challenges.  In many ways, the year was better than anything I would have dared to hope, think or imagine. 

On a personal level, 2013 was amazing!   Barb and I celebrated our 25th anniversary.  God has been good to us in the past 25 years.  3 fantastic kids, tremendous blessings on many fronts and we remain madly in love!   I bought Barb a new ring with a bigger and better diamond to replace the one that accidentally got lost last Christmas.  I ran 1000 miles.  What's most surprising is that 3 years ago, I hadn't run 5kms in a year for many years!  Running has been a tremendously good thing for me in so many ways.

On a ministry level, 2013 was nothing short of incredible!  We launched two provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan), ran a hugely successful prayer campaign during the BC election that resulted in approx. 15 Christians elected to serve as MLAs for the next 4 years.  Today we care and lead prayer movements for over 220 MLAs in 3 provinces.  It's an incredible privilege and honor! 

Our plans for 2014 are to launch in Manitoba and Ontario.  The size of the challenge in accomplishing those goals is a bit like eating an elephant.  My good friend often reminds me that there's only one way to eat an elephant.  You do it one bite at a time!  That said, it's a lot of elephant and it will only be with God's help and grace that we will see our vision of providing pastoral ministry to provincial and federal political leaders across the country.  The size of the vision remains a daunting challenge, but one that I am confident we will see fulfilled as we stay faithful to the call and cause.

I have two 'life verses' that shape my thinking and living..  The first is Jer. 29:11 - 'For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future.'  The second verse is Eph 3:20.  I love the way the KJV presents it..  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...'

These verses remind me of several things...

1) God is FOR me, not against me.  (And if God is for me, who can be against me?)

2) God's plan is to PROSPER me.  His plan is IMPROVE my situation and my circumstances.  I know some people don't agree and want to spin the message to mean something else, but when the scriptures say He has a plan to prosper me, that's good enough for me....

3) God is always ABLE!  This truth gives me hope that sustains me over and over again.  Regardless of what I may see in front of me, God is always able to intervene.... and He is able to do it in dramatic and remarkable fashion.... 'exceedingly, abundantly above all we are able to ask or think...'

4) God always works in PARTNERSHIP! We see the fruit of God's plans and ability when we work in partnership with him.  These things happen 'according to the power that works in us....'  I love the fact that God is committed to a partnership with you and me.  It keeps things 'real'!  While He is always able, He chooses to engage us in a meaningful way in His incredible plan!  What an amazing honor and privilege to partner with the ONE who is always able! 

My prayer for you in 2014 is that you would experience the 'exceedingly abundant, above all we are able to ask or think...' goodness and blessing of God in 2014 as you partner with HIM in this coming year!

A Christmas Story

I read this story earlier today in a church newsletter.  It is well published on the Internet with no known source.  I hope you enjoy it!

 

This is a story of a young pastor. His church was old. Long ago it had flourished. Famous men had preached from its pulpit, prayed before its altar. Rich and poor alike had worshiped there. Now the good days had passed from the sections of town where it stood. But the pastor and his wife believed in their rundown church. They felt that with paint, hammer and faith they could get it into shape. Together they went to work.

Late one December, a severe storm whipped through the river valley and the worst blow fell on the little church. A huge chunk of rain soaked plaster fell out of the inside wall just behind the altar. The pastor and his wife swept away the mess, but they couldn’t hide the ragged hole. His wife despaired, “Christmas is only two days away!”

That afternoon the dispirited couple attended an auction held for a local youth group. The auctioneer opened a box and shook out a handsome gold and ivory tablecloth. It was a magnificent item, over 4 metres long. There were a few half-hearted bids, then the pastor was seized with a great idea and he placed the winning bid of $6.50.

He carried the cloth back to the church and tacked it up on the wall behind the altar. It completely hid the hole. Its shimmering handiwork was a fine holiday glow over the presbytery. It was a triumph.

Just before noon on Christmas Eve as the pastor was opening the church he noticed a woman standing in the cold at the bus stop. “The bus won’t be here for 40 minute,” he called and he invited her in to get warm. She told him that she had come from the city that morning to be interviewed for a job as a governess to the children of a wealthy family, but had been turned down. She was a war refugee and spoke imperfect English.

The woman sat in the pew and prayed. She looked up as the pastor began to adjust the great gold and ivory lace cloth across the hole. She rose suddenly and walked to the steps of the chancel. The pastor smiled and started to tell her about the storm damage but she didn’t seem to listen. She took up a fold of the cloth between her fingers.

“It is mine” she said. “It is my banquet cloth.” She lifted up a corner of the cloth and showed the pastor that there were initials monogrammed on it. “My husband had the cloth made especially for me in Brussels. There could not be another like it.”

For the next few minutes, the woman and the pastor talked solemnly together. She explained that she was Viennese and that she and her husband had opposed the Nazis and decided to leave Austria. They went separately. Her husband put her on a train for Switzerland. They planned that he would join her as soon as he could arrange to ship their household goods across the border. She never saw him again. Later she heard that he had died in a concentration camp.

“I’ve always felt that it was my fault to leave without him. Perhaps these years of wandering have been my punishment...” The pastor tried to comfort her and urged her to take the tablecloth but she refused and then she left.

As the church began to fill for Christmas Eve, it was clear that the cloth was going to be a great success. It had been skillfully designed to look its best by candlelight. After the service the pastor stood at the doorway and many people told him that the church looked beautiful. One gentle faced middle aged man, the local clock and watch repairman looked rather puzzled.

“It is strange,” he said in his accent. “Many years ago my wife – God rest her – and I owned such a cloth. In our home in Vienna, my wife put it on the table only when the Bishop came to dinner.”

The pastor became very excited. He told the watchmaker about the woman who had been in church earlier that day. The startled man clutched the pastor’s arm. “Can it be?” Where does she live?’

Together the two got in touch with the family who had interviewed the woman. Than in the pastor’s car they started for the city. And on Christmas Day, this man and his wife who had been separated so many years were reunited.

To all who have heard this story, the joyful purpose of the storm that had knocked a hole in the wall of the church was now clear. People said it was a miracle, but I think you will agree it was the season for it!

Growing Forward!

December is a great opportunity for reflection and evaluation on the year that has passed.  Looking back over 2013, I’m amazed again at God’s goodness, blessing and favor on us.  It has been an exciting year of ministry opportunities, growth and some stunning ‘God moments’ that went beyond anything that we would have dared to ask, dream or think.

In January, Barb and I travelled to Edmonton for the launch of Leading Influence Alberta.  Everyone needs to make at least one trip to Edmonton at that time of year just to experience the incredible sunshine, the fresh air and especially the ‘dry cold’.  Pastor Larry Lindoff serves as our chaplain at the Alberta Legislature but he could also be an unofficial ambassador for the city of Edmonton.  He regaled us with insights and facts about Edmonton that were almost enough to distract us from the -20C daytime temperature.  Larry’s warm and outgoing personality is a fantastic fit for us at the Legislature ‘village’.  I visited again in mid-April, just as the snow was starting to melt and was thrilled to watch Larry in action.  He’s a virtual ‘people magnet’ and MLAs and staff alike are drawn to him. 

While we were in Alberta, we also launched PrayAB (www.prayab.com) which is the prayer ministry of Leading Influence in Alberta.  Elaine Baille is doing a fantastic job of providing leadership and oversight to this important part of what we do. 

February marked the beginning of the spring session of the BC Legislature.  More importantly, it marked the start of something we have worked towards for a long time.  As the result of a request from a member, we were able to launch a weekly prayer gathering in the Legislature.  This has been a long road of 2 steps forward, 1 and sometimes 3 steps back, but by God’s grace we were finally able to see this long-term goal achieved.  On a weekly basis, a group of MLAs meet together to pray and encourage each other in their faith as they serve Jesus in the political arena.  We finished the spring session by celebrating communion at our last meeting time before the election was called.  I’m not sure if it was the first time that happened, but I know it’s the first time in a very long time!

In March we held our 7^th MLA Prayer Breakfast.  The sold out event was well supported by MLAs and many friends and supporters.   The Prayer Breakfast also marked the beginning of our 60 Days of Prayer Campaign.  60 Days was designed to mobilize the church to pray during the BC Election Campaign.  In addition to daily emails, FaceBook posts, twitter updates, highway billboards, smartscreen and radio ads (and the list goes on…) we used simple silicone bracelets as a reminder for people to pray.  One Cabinet minister put a bracelet on at the breakfast and wore it through the entire campaign.  One of my favorite memories of the spring session was to see him ‘flash’ his bracelet at me from the floor during Question Period.  He wanted me to know that he was praying. I would flash mine back at him to show him that I was too.

April marked the end of the 39^th Parliament in BC and launched the beginning of the election campaign.  Sadly, we said goodbye to some retiring members who were instrumental in helping us establish Leading Influence in BC.  We will always be grateful to those who opened doors, made introductions and helped us find our feet as we began our ministry.  I was able to make a quick trip to Alberta to cheer on Larry and Elaine during the Alberta Youth Call to Prayer.  Elaine initiated the AYC2P in Alberta.  While we were in the building, Larry and I were welcomed and introduced before Question Period.

May held some huge surprises for us.  On Election Night in BC, we saw 13-15 Christians elected to office.  While God is neither a BC Liberal nor a member of the BC NDP, He is advancing His Kingdom and it’s important to remind ourselves that God is eager and able to respond when His people come together around the purposes that are close to His heart.  In this case He gave us men and women who have hearts inclined to His plans and purposes.

The Legislature resumed sitting in late June and through all of July.  I was asked to open the 40^th Parliament in prayer.  It’s the second time that I’ve been given the privilege to pray at the Throne Speech and always an honor. 

Through the combined generosity of our ministry partners and the Canadian Bible Society, we were able to provide a bible to every MLA.  It was an exciting project that was well received by Members on both sides of the House. 

Through a series of ‘promptings’ and conversations, I made a trip to Saskatchewan in September to explore the possibility of launching Leading Influence Saskatchewan.  As is often the case, I arrived to discover that God had already been at work in preparing the way before I got there.  He had not only prepared the way, but prepared the right person for us.  As a result we are pleased to announce that Pastor Barry Berglund would be joining our chaplaincy team to provide ministry to MLAs in Saskatchewan starting in 2014.  Barry will be a great addition to our team.  He comes from a successful background in business and has a long track record of ministry involvement both in the church and in the marketplace.  His understanding of life in the business world will be a tremendous advantage for him as he takes on this ministry challenge.  Barry will continue in his role as Senior Associate at Lawson Heights Church in Saskatoon in addition to working with us.  We are delighted to have him join our team! 

One of our goals for 2013 was to increase the number of church visits as a way to stay in touch with our partners and share what God is doing through Leading Influence.  As of last week, I visited 28 churches this year and had the privilege of speaking to well over 6000 people. We covered most of Vancouver Island and the lower mainland with several visits into the Interior and Alberta as well.  BC Ferries should show a profit off our ferry fees alone!  

It’s been a great year!  God has been faithful to make a way time and time again.  Thanks so much for standing with us!  We cannot do this without your partnership and support! 

Do You See What I See?

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time this fall working on a 5 year strategic plan for Leading Influence.  While it’s always been in my heart to see the ministry established in every province and territory, it was time to re-visit the how behind what that looks like, and then map it out step by step.  Going through this process has challenged me and my faith tremendously.  In many ways, I am as overwhelmed at the size and scope of what God is calling us to do as I was in the very beginning.  The task is ENORMOUS!  At the same time, I am filled with a growing excitement and anticipation as I look forward to what God has in store for us.  Here’s what we see as we look towards the future.

As you already know, we currently are underway in BC, Alberta and now, Saskatchewan.  As God helps us and goes before us, we plan to launch in Manitoba and Ontario in 2014.  Depending on how many doors God opens, Ontario for us could mean both Toronto (Queens Park) and Ottawa.  Our first priority is Queen’s Park.  Establishing a presence in Ottawa will continue to be high priority for us moving forward and we will do so at the earliest opportunity.

In 2015, our plan is to add two Maritime Provinces and then follow with two more in 2016.  Which two go first depends largely on the doors that God opens for us. 

In 2017, we will launch Leading Influence in Quebec.  Quebec presents many challenges, but it’s important that we are there to reach out and serve the members of the National Assembly.  We will spend considerable time over the next few years developing a viable strategy to reach the leaders of Canada’s oldest and 2^nd largest province.

In 2018, we will establish Leading Influence in each of the 3 Territories. 

It’s an ambitious vision that presents many challenges.  At the same time, it is a vision with many opportunities and possibilities and puts us in a place where we can effectively reach leaders and shape nations. 

One of my favorite bible stories is found in Num. 13:30 when Caleb stands before the people and boldly declares ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for surely we can do it!’  I love his faith, passion and absolute confidence in spite of what he sees in before him.  I know that Leading Influence can do nothing unless the Lord helps us and our partners and friends stand with us. 

The past 6 years have been exciting and rewarding, but our biggest opportunities are before us.  We are can’t do this without your partnership and financial support.  As you consider any year-end giving you would like to do, we would be grateful if you remembered Leading Influence.  We have an ambitious 2014 ahead of us.  Reaching our goal will require a tremendous amount of favor, wisdom, faith and financial investment.    Your gift as we approach the close of 2013 would be very timely and greatly appreciated.  Click here to be taken to our secure online giving portal.

Thanks so much for standing with us!  Have blessed and prosperous 2014!

Life Climatology

It's foggy outside today... so foggy that flights from Victoria have been cancelled since early this morning.  Ironically, Victorians cope with fog fairly easily, but if 10 flakes of snow had fallen this morning we would be in full panic mode and schools would be closing for the day.

Over the past week, I've had multiple conversations with leaders and followers alike who are struggling with a personal fog.  For whatever reason, their job, relationships or personal lives aren't as sunny and bright as they believed they would be.  Without exception, they all believe that the sun is shining brighter 'over there'.  While it's true that the sun might be shining brighter 'over there', I'm convinced that by the time they get there, the sun will be shining brighter somewhere else.  Contrary to what they believe, there is no conspiracy against them.  It's not even that they are unluckier than most.  It's generally because they bring or create their own fog wherever they go.  We create our own weather!

The older I get, the more I become aware that the bulk of my challenges are self-created.  They come out of my decisions, my choices and my behaviors.  As I look back over the course of my life, the decisions that have created the most grief for me have been made based on impulse, impatience or an intentional irresponsibility.  Sometimes the challenges in my life have been created by my personal stubbornness and unwillingness to bend or yield. Inevitably those negative characteristics in my life have created fog or worse yet, thunderstorms, tornadoes and even the occasional hurricane.  I can tell you it's not any fun to live through a hurricane that you've created.

In the same way that we create 'fog' in our lives, we also create the conditions for the sun to shine!  Admittedly, there are things that happen that are outside of our ability to control or influence, but in the grand scheme, those are fewer than we think.  Here are my thoughts on how to make the sun shine in your life.

1) Have a positive attitude.  Opportunities come to those who are upbeat and have a bright outlook.  John Maxwell says it this way, 'Your attitude determines your altitude'.  You only fly as high as your perspective will permit you.

2) Watch your language.  Eliminate negative vocabulary.  Negative thinking and conversation saps life out of those around you.  Stop saying things like 'I can't...', 'it's too hard' and 'impossible'.  Start saying, YES we can! and soon you will see that NOTHING is impossible.

3) Adjust your focus. An important lesson that every motorcyclist learns is that the motorcycle goes where you look.  The same is true with life.  We generally get what we are looking for.  Learn to look past the fog and see what's there.

4) Be Proactive.  Do things that help your situation.  Make a call.  Send an email. Go beyond what is normally expected.  Do the things that help your situation.  It all pays dividends.

5) Create Momentum - Find a way to create a series of small 'wins'.  Depending on your situation, a win might be as simple as creating a to do list that you follow through on.  Accomplishing something is better than accomplishing nothing and provides momentum.

6) Stick with it. Life has more in common with a marathon than it does with a sprint.  I've learned a few things about running over the past few years.  The only way to be successful is stick with it.  Learn to run in the sun, learn to run in the rain.  The easiest thing to do is quit.  The hardest thing to do is succeed.  This much I know to be true.  Winners never quit.  Quitters never win.

7) Be Patient.  The fog may not lift tomorrow, but it will lift!  Speaking of lifting, the fog has dissipated.  The sun is shining.  Good things await! 

Eastward Ho!

August 28th marked the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's iconic 'I Have A Dream' speech.  Thanks to YouTube, I was able to watch the full length speech several times.  Even though we live in a different time, the speech had an effect on me.  The issues are different than they were in 1963, but the hope of a better tomorrow inspired me to do my own dreaming, and more importantly, take some steps towards fulfilling the dream that already exists in my heart.  Without concrete steps, a dream is a momentary wisp that is either forgotten or disappointing. 

As many of you know, Leading Influence has a vision is to provide Chaplaincy care to every politician in Canada.  Since 2007, we have been doing that on a full time basis at the BC Legislature. By God's grace, we've found favor and seen good success.  We've created a model that works and that is transferable.  In January of 2013, we launched Leading Influence Alberta.  While our current chaplain (Rev. Larry Lindoff) is only able to commit to a volunteer role at this time, we are seeing great gains in terms of laying a solid foundation for the future.  I'm excited about what we've accomplished, but I am restless and determined to fulfill all that God has placed before Leading Influence.

I'm pleased to announce that we are exploring partnership opportunities in Saskatchewan. We are very early in the process, but there are some excellent possibilities before us.  I'm hopeful that we will have a chaplain in place for the Spring session in Regina. These are crucial days in our world and a godly presence and voice in the lives of leaders is more important now than ever before.  Pray with us that we find both God's leading and His wisdom as we move forward.  In the meantime, we'll keep you posted as things develop.

He vs. She .... The Rematch!

After a hard fought battle last year, the 2nd Annual He vs.She Half-Marathon looms large on the horizon.  This epic fundraising battle of the sexes between Tim and Barb happens again this fall, culminating with the Good Life Half Marathon on Oct 13.  The plan is simple.  Sponsor the participant of your choice on either a per/km basis or at a flat rate. A half marathon is 21 kms, so a $5/km pledge is a $105 commitment, $10/km is $210. 

Last year, the stakes were high... Tim would be required to wear a costume to the Legislature.  Barb would compose and perform a song on the Legislature steps declaring her love for Tim.  However, Tim won by $1 at the wire, so the costume option is still a possibility. (Admit it, you'd love to see pictures of Tim in a costume at the Legislature...)

Our goal for this fundraiser is $7500. It is a planned part of our regular budget that helps us provide ministry to MLAs.  This is a fantastic way for those of you who believe in what we do but don't often have the opportunity to get to a local fundraiser to support the work of Leading Influence.  We need and value your financial partnership!

Make your pledge by clicking here!  Thanks for your support! 

Pledge deadline is October 15.

It's A New Day!

Did you know that the average turn over in any BC election is just below 50%?  Somewhere between 40 and 43 people either retire, choose not to run again or are defeated every 4 years.  Elections are a bittersweet time for me as I say goodbye to people that I've invested in and pray that the seed we've sown produces a harvest in their lives.  The upside is that there are new people who take their places and life and ministry carry on.

We've seen some exceptional people replace those who have moved on to other opportunities.  I'm very excited about the core of people that I've been able to connect with thus far.  We continue to hold a weekly prayer gathering when the Legislature is in session.  That meeting has grown over what it has been previously and we've had some exciting times together. 

One of my first conversations with a new member went something like this:  'I'm pretty excited about becoming an MLA, but I'm much more excited to see how God will use me to bring others to him while I'm here.'  What a great sense of purpose and calling!  I'm looking forward to being a part of seeing that happen!

Our Bibles for MLA project was fantastic.  We built on a great partnership with the Canadian Bible Society and were able to place Bibles into the hands of MLAs.  Most were gladly received!  We combined the Bibles with a welcome package profiling Leading Influence and our work at the Legislature. It was a great way to introduce ourselves to 'The Class of 2013'.  Over the past few weeks, we've received thank you letters and phone calls from MLAs expressing their appreciation for the gift and our work. 

I'm excited about what I see as we move forward.  We've got some great momentum and some excellent possibilities.

They Found WHAT at the Legislature?

The news took me by surprise on Tuesday morning.  Two people had been arrested on terrorism charges after 3 Boston Style bombs were planted on the grounds of the Legislature early Monday morning.  Bombs?  Victoria?  OUR Legislature?  These are things that happen in other parts of the world, not downtown Victoria at the place where I work and where I was the night before with thousands of other people celebrating Canada's birthday.

A big hats off to the many branches of law enforcement agencies that worked together to ensure that the threat was 'defused' (pun intended) so that no harm was done.  That said, just to think that there were people (fellow Canadians at that....) who sought to do great harm to the people of my city on the grounds of the buildings where I serve is a bit unsettling to say the least.  I appreciated the response of the Premier yesterday morning who said it this way. 

“We cannot let this change us, We cannot be ruled by fear.”  Premier Christy Clark is right, we cannot be ruled by fear.  We must be ruled by Someone greater who sets us free from fear and allows us to live in freedom and peace.  (There's some great sermon material there, but I'll leave that for another time!)

The best antidote for fear is faith!  As the only Christian ministry actively engaged at the BC Legislature, we felt it was appropriate to respond in faith to what had just occurred.  We wanted to be proactive, responsible, respectful and wise.  Today, 15 people walked the grounds of the Legislature, mixed in among the tourists and spent their time asking God to protect the buildings and the people who work in them.  The buildings are just stone, but they are a symbol of our freedom and way of life.  The people who work in them, regardless of what their role, are just like you and me.  They have families, lives, hopes, dreams, goals and ambitions.  We prayed for their protection and safety.  As I walked and 'floated' from group to group, I found these words in Ps 91:4,5 that became my primary prayer focus.  Pray it along with me today!

He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.

 

 

 

 

Throne Speech Prayer - June 2013

It was my privilege to open the 40th session of the BC Parliament in prayer today.  This week also marks the start of our 7th year of living in Victoria. 

This is the 2nd time I've been afforded the privilege of opening in prayer for the Throne Speech.  You can read about the first time here. (Someone actually forgot they were scheduled to pray and I was called from the gallery to 'pinch hit'.  It was a pretty remarkable moment...) The difference between then and now is amazing.  Then, I prayed in a group of strangers.  Today, I prayed for friends and people that I have walked with  and built relationships with for the past 6 years.  BC is blessed with some incredible people who freely give themselves to serve us.  What an incredible privilege I have to serve God in this way! 

Here's the prayer I prayed today. Take a minute to pray it along with me.

God in Heaven, we thank you for the bounty and beauty of our great province and the many ways in which You have blessed us. We live in a majestic land that is rich in beauty, in natural resources and in the diversity of gifts, talents and abilities instilled in the many people who call British Columbia their home.

We pray today for those who have been chosen to lead our province both in government and opposition for the next 4 years.   Give them strength to walk with integrity and honor.  Help them to do what is right, to govern from a place of compassion and to walk with great humility before You and the people of British Columbia. 

We pray for our Premier and her Cabinet.  We ask that You will help them set a course that is prudent, compassionate and courageous.  Grant them the ability to see clearly those things that must have the greatest attention and priority in the days to come.

Let your blessing and favor be on our province and those who will lead us forward.

Amen.

MLA Bible Project

We've just discovered an exciting ministry opportunity. We'd like to provide bibles to every MLA marking the occasion of their election, but more importantly we'd like to make an investment of the Living Word into the lives of our political leaders. 

Combined with the strong number of Christian MLAs elected to office, these bibles will be like seed in the ground that will in due time produce a harvest! Our cost on giving each MLA an attractive, leather bound bible is $35. 

We need your help to make this happen! The bibles will be presented during the first week of July. To help us with this project, please click the link below. https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/798

2 Minutes 2 Change the World

What if you could actually change the world in 2 minutes a day?  I know it sounds like one of those gimmick weight loss or fitness commercials that promises incredible results while you do basically nothing, but I'm thinking about something much more significant than what you might see in a late night infomercial.

When we launched the 60 Days of Prayer campaign coming up to the recent election our strategy was to invite people to pray along with us for 2 minutes a day.  We kept the prayers brief and to the point.  Hundreds, maybe even thousands of people engaged with us through email and social media.  We were astounded by what we saw take place on Election Day.  The media kept referring to the outcome as a miracle!  They don't know the half!!  13-17 Christians were elected to office!  I don't know that it's the most we've ever seen, but it's a significant number to be sure.

To be clear, God isn't partisan.  God is SOVEREIGN and He responded to the prayers of His people all across BC.  In His wisdom, He prepared leaders from across BC to serve our province for the next 4 years and we had huge part in seeing them elected to office simply because we prayed.

It's exciting to have a large number of Christians serving as MLAs.  If the number is as high as 17 that's almost 20%.  That said, public service is still a tremendously difficult role and those who serve need our prayer support. 

Consider this:  If the 2 minute prayers of hundreds of people across our province resulted in a stunning election result, what might happen if we continued to pray for those who govern over us?  It just might be that God would respond to us again and hear from heaven and heal our land. 

'When people find out that this prayer thing really works, everyone is going to want to do it!'

Post-Election Reflections

Most of the pundits have had their say on the come back from the brink electoral miracle we saw a few weeks ago.  It was a stunning turn around of fortunes for the BC Liberals and can only be seen as a huge disappointment for the BC NDP.  Here are my 'Post-Election Reflections'.

I am tremendously proud of the prayer campaign that we ran for the 60 days preceding election day.  We had hundreds of people across BC praying every day that God would use this election to accomplish His purposes for our province and that He would give us leaders of His own choosing.  I believe that what we did was a HUGE FACTOR in the outcome!  We have seen somewhere between 13 and 17 Christians voted into office. I am MOST EXCITED about this result!  God is not partisan, but He has shown again that He is Sovereign.  This is a huge answer to our prayers and a confirmation that the ministry of PrayBC was both effective and fruitful. Simply put...PRAYER WORKS!

Today, we have strong Christian members who sit on both sides of the House.   Those I know are people with a strong faith and a commitment to serve God as they serve the people of BC.   This is a blessing to our province. My great hope is that the Church across BC will continue to stand in the gap for all MLAs as they serve our province.  While we are blessed with a strong contingent of Christian members, we must remember that we live in a democracy and not a theocracy and adjust our expectations accordingly.  By God's grace those who have been elected to serve will find favor and be effective as both salt and light in their respective caucuses.  At Leading Influence, we are committed to helping them do that in the best way we can.

In a few weeks, MLAs will be sworn into office and our work of serving, supporting and encouraging members continues.  We are looking forward to the next 4 years!

Join the Movement

What if there was a way to mobilize people all across B.C. to pray, with focus over the next 60 Days, about the future of our province? What could happen? What might God do in response to our prayers? How might He answer and what kind of future could we shape for our province… simply because we prayed?

We’re about to find out!

Starting on March 14, Leading Influence Ministries is launching our “60 Days of Prayer” campaign through our prayer ministry Pray BC. We invite you to “Join the Movement” and participate in our cyber prayer meeting. Each day, we will send out a tweet, Facebook update, email and post a prayer on our website that will serve as a prayer focus for that day. We're inviting you to pray and share with your networks our focused prayer each day for the next 60 days.

You can join the movement:

1) Follow us on twitter @praybc and using #praybc when you retweet.

2) Like our PrayBC page on Facebook and share with your friends.

3) Join our email list and tell your friends.

4) Wear a PrayBC bracelet. See our website for more information.

We look forward to seeing what God will do as we seek His will for our provincial election, May 14, 2013. Please join the movement and thank you!

Yours in Prayer,

Tim Schindel

7th Annual MLA Prayer Breakfast

We held our 7th Annual MLA Prayer Breakfast on March 7 in Victoria.  This was our best breakfast ever on so many levels!  We had the best response from MLAs that we've ever had with 27 confirmations.  Our speaker was Shelley Morris, CEO for the Cridge Centre for the Family .  Shelley did an amazing job of honoring our leaders, inspiring us to live out our 'life sentences' and subtly and yet very pointedly sharing her own faith.  It was a rich time.

I'm told we have 500 pictures of the breakfast.  I've yet to see them, but when I do we'll post the best ones on our website or the blog and let you know about it!

Thanks to all of our sponsors who made the event possible.  We can't do this without you!

Do Politicians Really Have Souls?

If your opinion of politicians is based on what you see/hear in the media and on those 15 second sound bytes that come out of Question Period or media scrums, I can understand completely why you might wonder if politicians have souls.  There's not much less complimentary than a clip of a red-faced politician pointing at his/her opponent making outrageous accusations.

If your opinion of politicians is based on what you hear politicians saying about other politicians, that too might lead you to conclude that politicians have no souls.  When it comes to politics the goal is always to make the other team appear to be heartless and uncaring.

If your opinion of politicians is based on what you hear other people saying about politicians, you might also conclude that politicians have no souls.  They are after all, the people who raise our taxes, close our schools and appear to fail at addressing our many concerns.

After working with politicians personally for the past 6 years, I see something very different...

I see people who have given up their right to personal privacy and personal opinion for the sake of giving themselves to a cause that they believe in.

I see people who make tremendous personal and family sacrifices for the sake of serving others.  Most backbenchers work 50 hours/wk.  Most Cabinet Ministers work somewhere around 70 hours/wk.  They leave for work early and get home late and their world revolves entirely around serving other people.

I see people who try to manage unrealistic expectations.  No one likes a wait list, no one likes to see a school closed.  At the same time, our expectations are generally way over the top.  We willingly understand that in our lives there are times when we have to wait, sometimes years in order to get the things we really want or need.  When it comes to services that government provides, we want it now, we want it fast and we want it for free. Politicians are saddled with the same financial realities that you and I are wrestle with.  Wants and needs are subject to our ability to pay for them. 

I've sat with politicians who were hurting because of what is being said about them.  I've sat with politicians who have wept because of what they see in the media.  I've been with members at the bedside of their loved ones and have prayed with them for family needs, personal needs and professional concerns.  There's no doubt in my mind that the people who make themselves available to serve us politically are real people, with real feelings and a genuine desire to serve the people they represent.

The Bible tells us that we should pray for those who govern over us so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives.  (1 Tim 2:1)  The context of this verse is profound.  Paul is writing this letter to Christians who are living under Nero's rule.  This was in a day when were Christians were openly persecuted for their faith.  Nero would dip Christians in tar and have them mounted on poles to be burned alive and at the same time light the streets of Rome.  You might not like Christy Clark or Adrian Dix or Stephen Harper, but none of those people are burning you or your children to light the city streets at night. 

Praying for our leaders makes a huge difference in their lives.  Since 2008, we have been championing a prayer movement for BC politicians that we call PrayBC.  Each day of the week, we pray for one of the 85 MLAs that serve our province.  The prayers are personalized and written from a non-partisan platform.  Not only do members appreciate them, I often hear reports of how those prayers have appeared at 'just the right time' and how it was 'just what they needed'.  One member said it this way: 'I can mark on a calendar the days the church prays for me.  Everything in my life goes better!'

We'd love to have you pray along with us.  The easiest way to learn more about PrayBC and to join our prayer network is to visit www.praybc.com