The Most Beautiful Place... Ever!

I absolutely love Cheltenham! Located at the heart of the Cotswolds Cheltenham is such a beautiful place to live. Characterised by intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco façades, line the historic Promenade, squares and terraces. With its award-winning gardens, impressive range of stylish shops and restaurants, and its festivals of music and literature there is always something great to do.

Check out these awesome photos taken by Lorah! 

What about you? What is your favourite place?

All Night Prayer

I love our prayer nights, they are just awesome. You cannot help feeling closer to God as we refuse to move until He moves His hand on our behalf. 

Please note that at D7 we don't use prayer as an excuse to our apathy and inertia. We will intentionally find opportunities to get our hands dirty! You see without you,  God will not do what only you can. That's your duty! Without God you cannot do what only He can. That's His power! We have limits but He doesn't. He can heal that disease that has been plaguing your child, He has the power to turn your marriage around, He can set you free from the addiction that has been slowly eating up your body, He can change our community and He is powerful enough to heal our nation. Without God, you cannot. Without you, God will not. All He needs is a bunch of people that are bold enough to ask!

We believe in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which says: "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  

What about you? Do you believe that prayer can move mountains? If so refuse to stay home tonight! Talk yourself into it and find excuses not not to turn up. You will not regret it! - There is something powerful about a bunch of people gathering together to seek God.

Join us for a great night of seeking God, praying for our world, our church and our city and nation. For venue details and general information please get in touch.

Building Great Team Members

You cannot build a strong organisation without a strong team. You cannot build a strong team without building the individuals within the team.  Ask the individual team members the following:

1. What their main challenge is (Problem).

2. What they need in order to perform (Need).

3. What their passion is (Passion).

4. What you can provide (Solution).

The chart above has helped me to quickly assess where a team member is at. You might find it overly simplistic, but I like simple. I believe simple can help us leaders to unclutter, to see clearly beyond the mess and focus on the results we are looking for.

Let's look into the four categories;

Problem - When you detect a problem (e.g. poor performance) within a team you've got to act immediately. You just cannot afford to ignore the issue and expect it to go away. It won't! The longer you take the more the problem will grow and spread among the team. So write the main problem on this part of the chart.

Need - Is the problem caused by a particular need (e.g. training). Assess the need by asking direct questions (e.g. what do you think your primary need is?).  Also assess past performance to detect the need.

Passion - Do you know what your team member is passionate about? This part of the chart should be revealing something to you. Is the person in the right role? Perhaps his dreams are different to what he is doing at the moment. People will flourish when they start doing what they love. After discussing the topic add your team member's passion to this part of the chart. 

Solution - This is your chance to write down a solution in order to move your team member forward. Take this opportunity to describe what is required from you and your team member in order to achieve results. Be concise and clear - I've found that too much information tends to get people confused.

The chart above can also be used in interviews, appraisals, coaching and informal meetings.  If you want to zero in on a problem, focus, think, develop and provide clear solutions with clear instructions, why not give the above development chart a try and let me know if it worked for you too. 

Keep it simple!

Emotion vs. Passion

Being around people that are passionate about the same things that you are, will fuel your passion. Nothing great is ever accomplished and sustained without passion. Emotions might offer a starting point but they will not produce sustainable results. Where emotion is a strong feeling, passion is an intense desire. 

Therefore same passion = more passion. Being around passionate people will generate more passion.

Emotion vs. Passion

Emotion says: “I will!” but then doesn’t (or if it does it can’t sustain it when emotions fade).
Passion says: “I will!” and it does more than what’s required.

Emotion gives some when convenient.
Passion gives it all consistently.

Emotion serves until it becomes uncomfortable.
Passion serves despite of discomfort.

Emotion has a strong sense of obligation.
Passion has a strong sense of purpose.

Emotion will lie to you.
Passion will always be true.

Emotion doesn’t count the cost and gives up.
Passion counts the cost and chooses to pay the price.

What are you passionate about? If people cannot tell you what your passion is you haven't got one. Why not start by being passionate about God's house (The Church)? If Jesus was passionate enough to build it and die for it, it must be something that we should also be passionate about and set it as the top of our priorities.