David CM Bell Leadership Blog

 John 8:12 - Walking in the Light - Keeping it Simple           As I close out the year I’ve been rereading my favorite business book, Management , by Peter F. Drucker.  It’s worth reading all year long.  Drucker keeps it simple.  Drucker tells us to constantly ask questions such as "What is our business?" and "What should our business be?"  And then, "How's business?"  Likewise, "Who is our customer?", "Where is our customer?", and "What does the customer buy?"  And "How can we innovate to create new customer desires and demands?"  Drucker tells the business leader that we must constantly test and retest our purpose and mission.  And annually we must set objectives, develop strategies, concentrate resources, and get to work!          Drucker  reminds us that business is a discipline.  He tells the business leader to constantly make assessments of the theory of our business....

  John 7:37-53 - The Wisdom of the Crowd         There is a distinct difference in how Jesus looks at the crowds compared to how the so-called Jewish leaders looked at the crowds.  First, hear from the religious leaders.  They said, “‘Have you been led astray, too?’ the Pharisees mocked. ‘Is there one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?  This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law.  God’s curse is on them!’” (John 7:47-49).  And compare that with what Jesus said.  “Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds ‘Anyone thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!  For the scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (7:37-38).          The Pharisees hated the crowds, but Jesus loved them—so much so that He died to pay the penalty for their sins and offered the gift of living water (eternal life) for anyone who would  b...

 John 7:25-36 - A Breakthrough Year          I don't know about you, but I'm  more than ready for a breakthrough. I have a sense of optimism, ready for a new era and new beginnings. I'm not quite ready to start my 2025 diet, but I am ready for growth—personal growth, church growth, and growth in every area. I pray 2025 will be a breakthrough year for all of us.  But what does that mean and how will we measure a good year, nay, a breakthrough year?          How do we make each day count in the coming year?   How we grow this year will of course be in large degree a function of what we do (eat, watch, read, work, say, exercise, drink, listen) and who we do it with.  But our breakthrough comes by faith.  All good things are from the Father; so it's through God that we'll get a breakthrough.  Through increased faith, we will grow in our ability to learn, understand, serve, and mentor others.  Let’...

 John 7:1-24  - Look Beneath the Surface           We’ve all been quick to judge. Some of the business leaders I’ve worked with over the years, true men of character, I initially thought were way off. Be patient and ensure you are getting all the facts before assessing. Better yet, grab people for coffee and get to know where they are coming from. Listen. Understand their point of view.           This is an amazing passage of Scripture and I’ll just make a brief comment on it.  It’s quite something that Jesus brothers so boldly and dismissively tell Jesus that if he wants to be famous he ought to go to the Festival of Shelters in Judea to do his wonderful things and show himself to the world (7:1-5).  Sad and tragic.  And it reminds me of Joseph’s brothers who later would understand through Joseph's grace, but who treated Joseph so derisively.  Our families can be our biggest supporters and our har...

  John 6:22-59  - Spending Energy on Eternal Things         The exciting truth is that God the Father wants us to grow in our understanding.  We are often quick to speak.  But this Christmas, let's desire to listen to God.  And He will teach us.  It’s one thing to be observant.  It’s another to be understanding.  All people are made in the image of God.  We have faculties and abilities, senses, and volition.  Each of us is also fallen, needing God because of our personal sins.  God's atonement is the payment for our primordial problem: sin.         You may disagree with me - and so be it - but Scripture teaches us that God came to earth to save sinners from this evil world (Galatians 1:4).  When I became a believer in Jesus Christ I had no doubt that I was a sinner (still no doubt today).  The thing that blew my mind (still does) was that God loves me.  The Bible says, "God show...

 John 6:16-21  - Walking on Water - Growing in Christ          What's harder, walking on water or teaching an old dog new tricks?  I'm not so sure.           Jesus slipped away from the masses after miraculously feeding thousands of them.  They wanted to make him king by force, but Jesus wanted none of that.  Fully man and fully God He was on a mission to save.  The disciples, apparently without instructions and not sure what to do, waited for Jesus.  But by dark Jesus didn’t arrive so they got the bright idea to leave Jesus behind (or maybe they thought He went on ahead of them).  They hopped into the boat at night and started to row the long distance (the Sea is about eight miles at its widest) to the other side.  Having done some sailing on Saskatchewan lakes I can say that six or eight miles even by sail is a fair way!           After three or four miles ...

 John 6:1-15  - The Far Side - Miracles at Christmas           Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Tiberias at the height of His earthly ministry.  The crowds (over 5,000 men in this scene) wanted Jesus to be their earthly king (5:15).  Jesus saw the large crowd coming towards Him and He knew what He wanted to do.  He had compassion on them and He wanted them to know that He was the answer - not money, not things of this world, but God Himself.   Jesus would not be dissuaded from His preaching and teaching of the need to hear the message of the Son and to believe in the One lifted up.  The crowds would not understand at that point - and neither would His disciples - but they would after the resurrection.           Jesus sat down with His proverbs men and showed them how to serve.  Jesus rejected the fame and fortune of the world (not that it could tempt Him - it cou...

 John 5:16-47  - The Song of Moses - Songs of Freedom           In this passage of Scripture, we hear Jesus speaking to the Jewish leaders 2,000 years ago (and to us today) about who He is and why He came to earth.  Jesus talks of life and freedom.  I’ve never been so optimistic about God advancing His Kingdom - God is showing us overwhelming signs and wonders of His goodness and grace.  What a remarkable time to be alive.  I’m praying for my friends and family today and anyone reading this blog.  I truly believe God has great things in store for us as we work alongside the One who is always working.           Don’t worry about other people getting ahead of you.  You have no idea where they are going.  Sometimes, like the paralyzed man in this story, someone else always gets ahead of us.  God cares about you.  Your character.  Your growth.  God loves you beyond me...

  John 5:1-18  - Pool of Bethesda - Always Working           Scripture is economical.  There is life-giving power in the succinct words perfectly said by God. - And we can learn too from what isn’t said.  Jesus is no stranger to angels - indeed He’s their author and commander (Hebrews 1:14 and Luke 15:10).  Jesus’ incarnation was announced to His mom by an angel (Luke 1:26-38).  And Jesus’ dad too was told of His birth by an angel and the angel confirmed to Joseph that He who was conceived in Mary was “from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).  Angels announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds in the fields by Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-10).  And angels were commanded by God to warn Joseph of the need to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus and to stay there until it was safe to return to Judea from Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23).           Angels.  Angels are all around - and we, mere humans, have little t...

John 4:43-54  - Christmas Faith           As we approach Christmas this year let’s encourage each other to believe in and trust God.  Let's follow the example of the government official in this passage who believed Jesus could do the impossible - he believed in Jesus and Jesus healed the man’s son who was about to die.           I pray for my family and friends this Christmas season - but much more than that, for revival in the Church.  As we approach 2025, let's increase our faith in God and trust Him more to hold our families in His hand for blessing and protection, provision, and providential opportunities to do the impossible.  2024 was quite something.  Let’s trust God to lead us as we follow Him this coming year.           “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3).  In your heart today and in every...

 John 4:39-42  - Belief by Hearing the Good News          Ya gotta hear it for yourself.  That's what the Bible says.  Hear from God yourself.   Many people will come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior today.  They will hear that Jesus died on the Cross to pay for their sins.  Uniquely, they will hear that God loves them and that the Son was sent to earth to be lifted high on the Cross so that anyone who believes in Him will be made right with God and have everlasting life.  Born again!  God’s Kingdom is gloriously advancing, one soul at a time.           We see in the example of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman that God indeed does take the initiative for people to believe Jesus is the Savior of the world (John 4:42 and 1 John 4:14).  But it is not at all, as some man-made theories say.  Jesus does not magically change Nicodemus’ heart, mind, or soul.  G...

 John 4:1-38  - The Hockey Dressing Room          We'll get into the great story of the Samaritan Woman in a second, but first a thought on the church and getting real with God.   If you are like me, a lot of sermons have gone in one ear and out the other.  You could say the same thing about hockey coaches’ lessons.          In my hockey career (as nasty, brutish, and short as it was)  I loved a fast-paced practice.  Those are the practices where the team goes immediately from one drill to the next.  When I played for Barry MacKenzie in Notre Dame (SJHL, 1988-89) it was like that.  “Bear” could somehow squish two practices into one.  Exhausting, but fun.  That’s one of the reasons he won national championships (he won one the year before I got to ND).           Okay, I know, pot calling the kettle black - I’ll get on with the point.  What does it ta...