Eliminating the Red tape

I discovered lately a problem that many organizations have that prevent them from ever reaching their goals and accomplishing their mission. They just don't care. And I think this problem can be broken down in three ways; they don't care to know, they don't care to look, and they don't care to accept. First they don't care to know. Many leaders primarily consumed with the issues that directly involved their time and in the process of delegating responsibility, they leave somethings that my appear to be of minor importance for other people to handle. I'm not talking about actually doing those things but making sure they are done right. Organizations, especially churches, are in denial about what people really think about their services. Taking the time to ask someone what they think is to small of a task for leaders to deal with (I'm being sarcastic of course) and their for they simple don't care to know. Secondly, they don't care to look. Leaders often miss the little things that make the biggest difference. You could have the most brilliantly designed restrooms with expensive decorations amenities, but if you don't have any toilet paper...you've got a huge problem. What tags along with not caring to know is not ever finding out! Without habitual evaluation by simply looking around and checking things out and seeing if people are in need of basic accommodations, a leader can force themselves out of the loop that the people they are leading. Finally, some don't care to accept. This boils down to being honest about the condition of the organization. Most leaders are afraid of reality. They spending most of their time dealing with what might happen or what already happen, that they have no idea whats happening right now. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and having an agenda of how to accomplish them, but if a leader can not accept the true condition of their organization by the process of knowing and then looking, they will never know if they are being successful or not. I've used the work simply several times on purpose because it really is simple. Taking the time and initiative to evaluate yourself on a daily basis and accept the reality of where you are and the current moment and making adjustments based of what you've found. Once you have accepted where you are you can move to where you want to be. I have found that most organizations and especially churches are guarded with proverbial "red tape" in order to eliminate having to cater to the new comers and needy people in the church. But but not being aware of who you are "really" doing you eliminate people altogether. Many churches have a desire to invite people into their fellowship but make it darn near impossible to do it. Eliminating the red tape means leaders should make sure they are not unknowingly doing things to prevent people from having the experience they desire for them to have, by making sure that the know what is going on...at all times.

Finding the right team

Often in sports, managers and coaches build their teams around their most talented players. They even go as far as building their offensive and defenses in order to allow their franchise player to have the freedom to operate in their strengths. Sometimes, after being loyal to the organization for many years, it become obvious that the chances of them winning a championship is very slim and the find another team to join. Many athletes join team know that they will not be the star or will have to play for less money. But all they car about is reaching the person goal they have set for themselves. As a leader, it is important to know you role. You may be a star and the organization you work for has built their program around your gifts but sometimes that doesn't guarantee that goal is being reached. Some of us are simple satisfied with just having a good team...doing alright but never really reaching a place where you are performing at the highest level. As in sports, many times a player becomes better when they finally learn how to discover the gifts of those around them and sacrifice there stats for the good of the team. How many of us are willing to do that? On a practical level. Are we will to preach less, talk less, or plan less? Are we willing to step down and allow others to do things that we have not control over? How much confidence do we have in our team? How much do they have in us? Because sometimes its better to work for the team you have been given that be traded just so you can keep control. The right team is where God wants you to be. Where ever He sends you, is where He wants you to be. We just have to decided if we want to be the star or win a championship.

It comes with the job

Many think that positions of leadership come with great privileges and perks. But true leadership requires a sacrifice and often the cost is high.  Jesus was and still is the greatest leader the world has ever seen and if you look carefully at His work on earth, you will find that every successful moment was accompanied by criticism and rebuke. Sadly, many leaders today desire to be successful but they refuse to suffer through the pain that comes with it.  In fact, many leaders avoid doing anything that will bring any negative backlash.   Jesus said that anyone who desires to follow Him would have to pick up their own cross as well. In other words, if they want be anything like Him in regards to their leadership qualities, they will encounter ridicule and strife.  As leaders we are called to be true to the mission that God has given us no matter what it might cost us. We must have the courage to press through the hard times and work even harder to accomplish what we have been commissioned to do and to be. And when we are attacked for doing what is right, we should remember, that it comes with the job.  And that is a great indication that we are heading the right direction. 

Forced to face it

There are many things you will never understand until you live through them. As a leader our strength comes from learning how to ask God for wisdom in the midst of not knowing what to do. We often find ourselves in situations where we are forced to make very difficult decisions.  Because of our responsibility to lead, there will be no one to give us counsel, we are expected to find the way. But in these times it is important to remember that we can trust God to give us the wisdom we need. If fact God is trusting us to learn how to seek what will glorify Him and his purpose.  We must trust that even if we make the wrong decision, God is able to teach us and make us better leaders. Sometimes, making the wrong decision is the best thing we could have even done, because a minor mistake made early will prevent a major mistake later.  Handling pressure gives us the opportunity make ourselves vulnerable and feel that we have lost control. Yet God uses these moments to force us the face the situation head on. If we seek what is right to do and guide our thoughts along what we know is the will of God, we will embrace difficult times without fear or restraint. 

Taking Thoughts Captive

This weekend Dr. Mark Leear shared a powerful teaching about sexual addiction or sexual addictive behavior. One point that was extremly powerful, was the idea that we need to put our thoughts into captivity can interview them. He told us to ask, "what is this message saying to my soul?" As a leader, we need to not only manage the ideas and thoughts the people we are leading, but we must also understand our own thoughts in order to know exactly what is in our hearts. How else can when determine who's direction we are under? Not only must we recognize God's voice as He gives us wisdom but we must be able to recognize the voice of the enemy and the sinful thoughts that come from years selfish living. Shakespeare said it best, "to thy own self be true". Knowing how to effectively interview our thoughts in order to know where they came from is a skill that every leader must master with the power of God.

Taking Advantage of Now

I lived my whole life on "doing it later". There is a strange dichotomy in my confidence and self-actualization in being a leader. On one hand, I feel inadequate for the task before me, yet on the other hand I have the confidence that I am able to pull it off in crunch time. As of lately, I have tried to develop the ethic of "doing it now". If I think about now, I should do it now. I make the mistake of waiting to do something at the perfect time which never ever comes. Isn't it funny how we believe that somethings are true and that if we apply them we could really benefit from them? I mean we really believe that...at least I do. But as Paul (the apostle) confessed "the good that I wanted to do I don't do."(Rom 7:25). Being a great leader doesn't mean that you are super talented or brilliantly gifted. It means that you do what your supposed to do. Every day. Every time. If a person wanted to go from one place to another which situation would be better: (a) the run for a few yards and then rest for a few minutes and then run again? Or, (b) take their time and walk each step at a time? I think that even though different situations require different things, the best option is probably (b). One step at time. I have also found that their will never be a ideal situation for success. You will never have enough time or such few responsibilities you can easily handle the things that leadership demands. NO! But you must make time. Create time. And use the time you have to accomplish what you can and what success gain momentum from simple steps. Someone I am acquainted with, and daughter of a friend, died last week. She was only 30 years old. I've known her since she was 15 and now she is gone. And all I can think about is what she was planning to do this week. What were the thing that she put off doing because she thought she had more time to do it. Fear should never motivate us but time should be respected. If you have "now", take advantage of it. Leaders lead from "now" into the "future", never from "later".

4x4 Ministry

Today there is news of a great tragedy. A friend as lost his daughter at the age of 30. Something like this happens everyday, just to different people. But sometimes, when its someone you know, it hurts. For me it reminds me of my weakness of assuming that time is on my side. This world is really getting worse and as leader I am being made aware of this every day and I believe God is challenging me to step up to the plate. There is so much pain in my family. Even more with my friends. But I forget and overlook just how much He has blessed me and my family with peace and safety. I know that tragedy is not punishment or selective to hit based on merit but it is only held back by the mercy of God. I see today that my slackness and slothful spirituality is going to cause others to suffer. Being honest, I believe that I am afraid to truly walk in what God is calling me to do. And maybe I being to generous to myself by saying that because to me it is obvious that many times I am just plain old lazy. When the weather gets really bad here in Michigan most times I drive the GMC around town. Its big and bulky and handles well in the snow. Sometimes when I didn't shovel the driveway I would often get stuck trying to get out. The funny thing is, is that the GMC has 4 wheel drive. I hesitated to use it because it takes a lot of gas and I think its harmful to the car if it over used. But that's what it's made for. It's make to drive in 4 wheel drive. I see that same thing in my spiritual life. I rather get stuck than turn on 4 wheel drive. Even though its going to wear me down and use alot of energy., I hesitate to do what it takes to seek the Lord and serve my family as a priest. A true leader is a leader in his or her home and private life. The question is, I'm I ready for 4x4 ministry? If I believe that I can do it for the total stranger, why can't I do it for my family?

Remembering the Source

He have the strange power to believe our own words. As soon as we figure this out we have the opportunity to experience a glimmer of the power that God has. Whether it is positive or negative, consciously or subconsciously our brain some how responds to what we say. Today I learned how powerful this. I made the mistake to assume something and speak something out of my own words that did not have its source rooted in God and I watched the opposite transpire right before my eyes. I think this is why Jesus says, "Let you yea be yea and your nay be nay". As a leader I must be aware to only speak what God would have me say, even to myself, and never trust my own strength or wisdom. I thank the Lord for teaching me this lesson. I thank Him for allowing me to know the Source and to trust in His power and not my own.

I've never asked God

I have recently discovered the importance of following the path that God has given me. One of my greatest weaknesses is to chase to many dreams and never see them come to life. I desire to do many things in this life but what is the "thing" that God wants me to do. Where do I start? As I'm searching to know this path, I have been reminded of the what I have already known. To replay the experiences that have brought me progress and growth and returning to them as I did in times past. When have I grown the most? When I have I experienced the change for the good? I hear my own heart answering me, saying, "When you lived what you believed". The simple truth is that when I live what I know I will know what I live. I confess, that my heart has not been plunged into the depth of love for God. I have not embraced Him and made Him real in my life. I have not lived in obedience out of live being transformed. I have not spoken words that echo what God has told me. I have been blind, deaf, and dumb, and yes naked. My life is exposed and uncoverd. I am not who I think I am. But if God is in control, that would be a good thing.

Planning for the Future

For months I have put aside my dreams and goals. It is time to step up and walk into what God is asking me to do. No more excuses. No more delays. Only progress. Now is the time to prepare for the future, today.

Introduction

The purpose of this blog is to journal my thoughts for the three required readings.