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If our leadership is going to last and make a difference, there will be points of reference which define us and create spaces where we reflect back and remember. If I’m right, then God provided two such moments for me this week that I’ve chosen to share in hopes they will help you focus your leadership potential. Here they are…
PARANOIA WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY.
King Saul was a man anointed to be king but in his disobedience, God sent the prophet Samuel to let him know his time was up. The remaining years of his leadership were marked by insane craziness even with his own son, thinking that someone was after him. He eventually drove himself to do things he would never have considered doing in his early days. Why? Paranoia. “Paranoia” is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.
A man whose leadership has been exemplary for many years is under attack by a parishioner whose motives are less than stellar. Strangely, the seasoned leader is under siege emotionally and has been talking and speaking in terms of fear that I have not heard from him in many years. Fear can do that. Leaders are
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Hi, my name is Jason Isaacs, and I am a control freak! I can’t help it; it’s a blessing and a curse. I love it, and I hate it. I try to worship during our services without thinking about how the sound mix could be adjusted, or how the bass player could play a different note, or how the guitar player needs to adjust his EQ, but I can’t. I can at your church, just not at mine.
At one time or another, during the last 7 years at my church, I have held every position except children’s pastor (she gets it easy because I’ve never worked that job), but I have been the student pastor, worship pastor, small group director, teaching pastor, video editor, and sound man. Today, 7 years later, I don’t hold any of those positions. I have delegated all of them. A volunteer holds every position I’ve just listed (except a small part time video position). I can't wait to be able to hire full-time staff personnel, but I can't wait for that day and have nothing going on until then. I've got to raise-up volunteers with whom God has trusted me with now. I don’t claim to be an expert at delegating, and the fact that those volunteers are still with me is more of a testament to them than to me. They
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Good luck to you and yours tonight if you are hoping to win the $640 million lotto jackpot. I didn't participate not out of any moral standard, the line was just to long at the gas station. With all the hysteria around the jackpot it got me thinking about what I would do with the money If I won it.
What I would do with $640 million
1. Give $64 million to my church.
I know, I know. I'm a pastor I'm supposed to say that, right? I believe in tithing. I don't just believe it because I'm a pastor, I believe it because God made it really clear in the Bible that he expects our "firsts". Tithing is more about a "first" thing than it is a percentage. God wants us to give him what's his first, and while you can argue about whether or not the New Testament teaches 10%, what you cannot argue is that the Bible expect us to bring to God first before we put money anywhere else.
2. Pay the taxes
Give to Ceasers what is Ceasers. Jesus made it clear that it's not spiritual to cheat the government. Nowhere to go with this one.
3. Give generously to other churches/ministries/missions
This is over and above what I tithe to my church. This would be generosity because God always blesses us
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I’ve been reading John Eldridge’s new book, Beautiful Outlaw and in the reading I’ve been reflecting on who Jesus is and how I interact with who He is affects my life, my family and my future.
The first time I heard the phrase, “mysterious Jesus” was from Mike Yaconelli who was conducting early morning Bible study as part of a Youth Specialties Conference in Tampa, Florida. He was teaching about Matthew 20 and parable of the vineyard workers. He kept saying this mysterious Jesus escapes us and will not be captured by our imaginations or assumptions about Him!
He’s right.
Just about the time I think I have a good read on who Jesus is, I see a different side of Him or He reveals a different perspective of His love for me and I’m again totally lost in the mystery of who He is and how that affects me. Like the lover in Song of Solomon, He escapes me and I’m forced to chase Him into places scary and unknown. If that is not enough, He beckons for me to join Him for adventures that take my breath away and when I think I now know what He desires, it once again seems to elude me and I’m back to the wonder and mystery of Him!
Jesus has changed my life and I’m trying to walk
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How long have you been at the church your pastoring now? If you’ve been there for longer than a year you know the frustration of wanting and needing your church to change but no matter what you do nothing changes. Why is it so hard? It makes so much sense in your head but your people just seem stuck in their ways. I don’t think the problem is your sermons, music, facility, or your church council, I think the problem is you.
I think we underestimate our people (church attenders) and their ability to spot a fake. In your attempt to grow and change your church you have tried every method and model you could get your hands on, but you’ve yet to try the best one. What is the best model? It’s the one that’s the most like you. God made you with unique gifts, abilities, and personalities and he called you to pastor that church using those gifts he has given you. Stop trying to be Andy Stanley, Rick Warren, Rod Parsley, or anyone else. Your church isn’t changing because they know long term you’re not going to stick with this new fad much longer than you stuck with the last one. First it was small groups, then it was revival, then you started dressing “casual” and stopped doing altar
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The movement of God is always forward. We have been made to soar and to embrace our future as God sees it. Forwardleadership is designed to engage leaders who have tomorrow in their hearts. Thank you for visiting.
