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Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category

Listen To God And Bring Them Along

Posted in Church, Hope, Leadership on September 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Last Wednesday, during my prayer and reading time, I was feeling a little overwhelmed with the pressures of the day.  It was early in the morning before anyone in the house was up, but already I was feeling like there was no way to get it all done.  There were meetings to lead and planning to be done.  The church is in the midst of searching for a music minister and so trying to discern God’s direction has been heavy on my mind and heart for weeks.  All these things were running through my mind.

I began to pray and take my focus off my day and put it on God.  As I did, God began to calm me down.  I opened my Bible and began to read but as I read and prayed, my mind began to race back toward my list of things to do that day.  I continued to try and focus on God and what God would say to me and the most amazing thing happened.  God spoke.

No, not in an audible voice but it was clearly God.  God impressed me with this thought and these words, “Listen to me and bring them along.”

As a pastor, I needed to be reminded of that simple process.  My calling is to listen to God and then bring people along the path God has chosen for us.  Am I the only one God speaks to in our church?  Absolutely not.  But I am in the position that people look to me for leadership.  So it was helpful to remember that my primary task is to listen to God and then lead people in God’s direction.

Many of you are leaders in your churches.  You have people who look to you to take the lead.  Stop today and listen to God.  Remember that God has a plan for you and those you lead.  Your task is to simply listen to God and then bring them along.

Be blessed today.

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The Importance of the Pour

Posted in Community, Hope, Leadership on September 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »

As I turned on my computer this morning and began opening all the applications I keep running throughout the day, I opened BibleGateway in one of my browser windows.  There I saw the verse of the day – 2 Timothy 1:13-14.  There Paul reminded Timothy to hold fast to the teaching he had given him.  Paul instructed Timothy to “guard the deposit entrusted” to him.  The image I see is that of a security guard tasked with carrying money bags to an armored vehicle for transport.

There are many things I could say about this passage.  But the one that sticks out to me today is not so much the deposit or the instruction to guard that deposit but rather the depositor.  Paul had shared his life with Timothy.  Timothy traveled with Paul, watched Paul, learned from Paul.  Paul had poured into Timothy’s life.  And now he instructed Timothy to guard what he had learned – to make use of it.

This leads me to ask two questions.

1.  Who can you look to in your own life who has poured into you?  Somewhere along the way, someone has taken an interest.  Someone has gone out of their way to invest in you.  You would not be where you are today without them.  Take time today to thank them.

2.  Who are you pouring into?  Maybe you have someone that you are investing in and if so, I applaud you – keep it up.  But if there is no one you are helping, find someone today.  You have much to offer.  God has brought you through the challenges you have faced in your life so that you can turn around and help someone else through similar circumstances.

We are in this together.  God created us for community.  And living in community means investing in one another.

Be a blessing today!

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A Leadership Lesson at a Baseball Game

Posted in Leadership, Motivational on April 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Earlier this week I went to watch our hometown baseball team fight for a chance to go to the playoffs.  It was a beautiful evening and there was a great crowd.  The guys played well and ultimately won the game.

At a pivotal point during the game, we had a runner on third and a runner on second.  The batter hit a grounder toward third base.  The third baseman did just as he should, he advanced on the ball, fielded it and then . . . froze.  He had a runner headed for home, a runner headed for first and behind him, a runner making his way from second to third.  He raised his arm to make the throw home but then looked toward first.  Then he swung around to try and see if he could tag the runner passing by behind him but he was way out of reach.  By the time he turned back around, it was too late to make a throw anywhere.

Because of his indecisiveness, a run scored, a runner advanced to scoring position and now he had another runner on first.  Not a good day in the life of that third baseman.  I looked at the man sitting next to me and said, “there is a sermon illustration in there somewhere.”

I have thought a lot about that play since Monday and what we witnessed has a lot of application to leadership.

  1. A leader has to be prepared.  Life is going to come at us like a blazing grounder.  We need to be able to think on our feet.  A good way to enhance our chances of being able to make decisions quickly is to have our heads in the game.  We need to remember where the runners are and where they are headed.  Sometimes it may feel we have too many plates spinning and there is too much to keep up with.  If that is truly the case, we might have some hard decisions to make as to what needs to be delegated or even discontinued.
  2. A leader needs to weigh the options.  Even though the ball may be screaming his way, the third baseman has to be able to see the field.  We must determine what the viable options are in each situation.  Having the ability to weigh the options takes practice and experience.
  3. A leader needs to commit.  Once the options have been surveyed, the leader has to commit.  Failure to commit costs everyone.  Often we balk at commitment because of the fear of failure.  Fear of failure can cause us to freeze.  Just as the baseball player watched a run score and two runners advance, all while he was standing there holding the ball, the leader who fails to commit most likely fails.  Weigh the options, make a decision and stick with it.  There is always an element of risk but that comes with the territory.

No one ever said leadership was easy.  Sometimes we have to make tough decisions.  But the key is making the decision.  Indecisiveness is costly – take the risk and make the throw.  Otherwise, you are just standing there holding the ball while the play goes on without you.

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Not-So-Random Act of Service

Posted in Community, Formation, Leadership on April 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Today is Thursday – Holy Thursday.  We have walked with Jesus this week as he has moved closer and closer to the cross.  This morning we turn our thoughts toward tonight.  Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare for the Passover.  I can imagine that they hurried around purchasing the items for the meal and getting the room ready.  They were excited about celebrating this time together.

As they gathered that night, Jesus took the opportunity to spend his last few hours with them trying to pour into them as much as possible.  He had taught them that the last will be first and that the true way to greatness in God’s eyes is through serving others.  But tonight we will remember one of Jesus’ most vivid illustrations of service.

He took off his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist.  He put water in a basin and then he went one by one to his disciples and washed their feet.  This was one of the most lowly acts known to their culture.  The disciples were shocked.

Have you ever had someone show you this type of kindness?  How did it make you feel?  Uncomfortable?

That is what the disciples felt.  Here was their teacher – their master – doing what they would never think to do.  Foot washing was the lowliest servant’s task.  But that was what Jesus was doing.  Peter even tried to stop Jesus.

But Jesus persisted in order to make a point.  If the disciples were to follow him – really follow him – they would have to learn to put others first.  They would have to come to the realization that being a true follower  means serving.

I pray that as we move through this day and rememberer the events of Maundy Thursday, that we will be reminded of who we are called to be and what we are expected to do – the first will be last and the last will be first.

So Holy Week continues.  Keep walking.

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On-Going Impact

Posted in Community, Formation, Leadership on November 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I told you about a man who distinctly influenced me early in my life.  Brother Green was the pastor of the church I grew up in as a child.  In fact, he is the pastor who baptized me.  I have to be honest, I can’t say that I remember every sermon he preached (did I mention that I was young?), but I do remember his passion in the pulpit and in the way he led the church.

Another memorable aspect of Brother Green was that he was a giant of a man.  Not just in stature even though he was over 6 feet tall, he was and is a giant in character as well.  I remember him as being a man whose word was as good as any written contract.  If he said he was going to do something, he did it.

But at the top of my list of how L.D. Green impacted my life was what I saw in his heart.  His heart for people was (and is) something that, even as a child, I had no problem recognizing.  It was obvious that his love for people was a direct result of his love for God.  He  loves people.  He taught me that one can say all day long that they love God, but if it is not evidenced in the way they love people, then is there really any love of God present in their lives.  Even at age 90, he is still loving God and loving people.

Thanks Brother Green for the way you impacted my life – and so many others.  And thank you even more that you are still at work serving God and loving others.

You are an inspiration!

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The Truth and Relevance of God’s Word

Posted in Formation, Leadership on October 24, 2011| 1 Comment »

Yesterday in our worship service, we talked about the importance of God’s word.

Think about those two words used together – God’s word.  The very words of God.  2 Timothy 3:16 says that scripture is God-breathed.  The image is the same as that given in Genesis 2 when God breathed life into the first man.  God breathed insight and understanding into those authors all those years ago.  Their eyes were opened to see God’s desire and God’s truth.  The word was true and relevant.  It was given to the world for instruction and conviction – to train people to be all that God desired.

But what about today?  Is God’s word still true and relevant?  Nothing has changed to make the word less true today as it was when the ink was drying on the parchment.  But what about it’s relevance?

I ran across an article last week from Jim Dennison that reminded me of a seminary professor we both sat under at Southwestern Seminary years ago.  Yandall Woodfin taught theology and the philosophy of religion.  He wrote a book entitled, With All Your Mind.  In that book he made the statement that human nature does not change.  Think about that for a second.  Throughout the history of the world, things have been in continuous change and growth.  But one thing has never changed – human nature.  People are still basically self-centered and sinful.

Because of that fact, God’s word is just as relevant today as it was the day it was written.

God’s word is alive – it is relevant – it is true – and it is written so that we might know how to live as God created us to live.

So how much time do we spend with it?

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Steve Jobs and Making Your Mark

Posted in Hope, Leadership on October 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

A genius passed yesterday. It is no secret that I am an Apple fiend. You can find just about anything put out by Apple in my home. Today, I am writing this on my iPad 2. So today is a sad day. Steve Jobs, creator and innovator of Apple, passed away yesterday after several years of battling cancer. There are eulogies all over the internet this morning. But this is one you need to read.

Jim Dennison offers up a daily devotion and I make it a habit to read it each day. But today I wanted share it with you. You can link to it here.

Have a blessed day today – and think about how you can make your life count today.

 

 

 

 

 

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In Spite of My Plan

Posted in Grace, Hope, Leadership on August 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Have you ever had one of those days?  Yesterday started out to be “one of those days.”  I got up at my normal 6:10 to get my youngest son up and off to cross-country practice.  I took him to practice and then returned home to get ready for work and a busy day.  At 7:25 I headed back to the practice to pick him up.  His run yesterday was much longer than normal so he did not make it to the car until about 8.  So now I was late.  I ran him back home, darted into the kitchen to top off my travel mug of coffee and then back to the car and down the road.

I made good time through town and out on the highway for the 24 mile drive to Littlefield.  I had my day mapped out and ready to go when I arrived at the office.  I parked the car and got out, opened the back door to grab my backpack (which contains my laptop) and – – yep, you guessed it – no backpack.  My “life” was sitting beside my chair at home – 24 miles away!

I went into the office and told my ministry assistant what I had done and then went back to the car to make the drive back home to get my computer!

I suppose it goes without saying that my scheduled plans were shot!

But I have to tell you – the day went fine in spite of me.  I had a good premarital counseling session (for which I did not feel as prepared as I like due to be being rushed), I had a great visit with a wonderful man who just lost his wife last month and actually got some things done to boot.

I was reminded that God can work in my life whether it is through my plan or in spite of it!

So today, I say – have a plan.  But don’t be so tied to it that you fail to see God at work around you!

Be blessed today!

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Service in the Midst of Threats

Posted in Leadership, Missions on August 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I had a unique opportunity last night.  As many of you who read my ramblings on a regular basis may know by now, I am involved fairly heavily in mission efforts to the El Paso, Texas area.  In the past, before the violence became so severe in Juarez, Mexico, I led groups into Mexico as well.  So I have a heart for the people of this area.

I traveled to El Paso on Sunday to meet with some area pastors and have the blessing of getting to give the tour to our new area missionary at home.  It was an incredible day of hearing what God is doing in and through several churches here in El Paso and the surrounding area and how, even now, some of these churches are still involved in ministry in Juarez.

Our final meeting of the day was with a pastor named José.  He lives and serves in Juarez, Mexico.  It has been some time since I have actually had the opportunity to sit across the table from someone on the front lines in the way that José is on a daily basis.  Over three thousand people were killed in Juarez last year due to the drug wars.  Pastors and churches are threatened weekly.  The threats normally take the shape of extortion.  Pastors are told that they must pay “security” money or their families will be killed.  Some of these men have left their churches but most have stayed.

I cannot imagine living in that environment.  I would hope that my trust in God would give me strength to carry out my calling, but I have admit that the desire to flee the area would be heavy on my mind most of the time.

José told us stories of how God is at work and that he has chosen to stay and serve in Juarez.  God is at work through José and others who minister to the people of Juarez on a daily basis.

As I have reflected on meeting with José, I have two challenges for you (and me) today.  The first is simple.  Please make it a priority to pray for Mexico and the pastors who are there offering ministry to the people who need it most.  The second challenge is harder.  Take some time today to examine your own walk.  How faithful would you be if your life was threatened simply for following Jesus?  Commit yourself today to living in faith and boldly sharing God’s love with those you meet.

Be a blessing today!

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How Would Jesus Do Your Job?

Posted in Formation, Leadership on August 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I am sure you have heard of the movement WWJD.  For many years we saw the bracelets and the T-shirts with the acronym displayed on them.  I actually thought it was a great idea and I still do.  Asking the question, “What would Jesus do?” became a pretty popular thing to ask among believers.

But the question, at least for me, seemed to be something that came up as I was faced with a decision.  The idea was that when we had to chose between one thing or another, we should ask ourselves what Jesus would do.

I subscribe to an emailed devotional offered by Lead Like Jesus and so earlier this week, I received my regular devotional and it put this question into a different light for me.

The first question of the Lead Like Jesus post on Monday was this:  “How would Jesus do your job differently?”

Think about that for a minute.  This question moves beyond assistance in decision making to directly addressing our lifestyle and leadership style.  What am I planning on doing today and would  Jesus do it differently?

I have to say that this question caused me to stop and think.

How about you?  Would Jesus do your job differently today?  Would he treat people differently than you normally treat them?  Would he approach the tasks at hand with more vigor?  Would he place the same importance on the things you see as important?

Just some things to think about today.

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