the man in the window

Get on Your Hobby Horse!

2011-12-12T09:25:00.001-05:00

Hobby Horse-interesting term. Sometimes we think of a child's riding toy that consists of a long stick with an imitation horse's head on one end.

Britophiles, or anglophiles in love with British culture, might recognize a hobby horse as a costume, a figure of a horse worn attached to the waist of a dancer. They are particularly associated with May Day celebrations in England.

In its entomology, the term morphed first into a designation for a favorite hobby. From there it degenerated into a more negative connotation. Most of us would think of the term in association with someone who frequently brings up or dwells on the same topic, a topic that borders on a fixation.

So while camped out in 2 Peter the other day, I was surprised to see Peter unashamedly on a hobby horse.

¹² Therefore, I will always remind you about these things-even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. ¹³ And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. ¹⁴ For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, ¹⁵ so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

Peter understood that there were certain things that should continually be remembered-things so critical that if we lose sight of them, it will be detrimental to our walk, our witness, our life. So he kept declaring those truths. He climbed on his hobby horse and preached, taught it again.

It dawned on me as I read how critical a leadership principle this is. There are certain things that leaders know are vital to advancing the mission, certain things that keep you moving forward, certain things that keep you focused.

Hobby Horses-fixations we keep coming back to that define us as leaders.

Here are mine.

It's all about the relationship with Christ.
The word always communicates with power and relevancy.
Prayer is vital.
Loving others is the environment of all ministry.
Always expect God to show up and show off.
Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

What are yours, the hobby horses that define you, your leadership?

Climb back on.

The Man in the Window

A Reminder of What it's All About.

2011-12-08T09:20:00.001-05:00

I've begun to camp for a while in 2 Peter. Peter is at least considering the possibility that he may not be around much longer (1:15), and he's writing some final challenging thoughts to those he has led to the Forgiver. He wants to be sure they don't stumble after he's gone, especially with the rise of so many false teachers.

So he makes some pretty incredible statements in chapter one.

Through our knowledge of God and Jesus, grace and peace are possible. V. 2
Everything we need for life and godliness come through that same knowledge. Vv. 3-4
So make every effort to keep adding to what we have, what we are. V. 5
"Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." V 5-7

Then something in verse 8 leaps off the page at me, something that had never registered before, something that resonated with my heart as a leader. "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive. . ."

If those qualities, those attributes are on the increase in my life, it's a guarantee that I will not be ineffective, unproductive.

Wow.

An answer for the great fear every leader has, that somehow we won't make a difference, that we will just spin our wheels, that our lives wont' count for the kingdom.

Peter is so convinced of this truth that he restates to his readers.

Beginning in verse 10, "for if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

He then justifies nagging them about it.

13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Peter's last message is on the effective, productive life. Be ever increasing in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

Leaders know - it's always been about character.

The man in the window

Thanksgiving in the Age of the Pursuit of Stuff!!

2011-12-08T08:41:00.001-05:00

Black Friday is over! In the light of stories like this, maybe we need to reevaluate our weekend.

Twenty Injured After Woman Uses Pepper Spray on Black Friday Crowd

Published November 25, 2011

FoxNews.com

LOS ANGELES - A mother of three shot pepper spray to keep shoppers from grabbing a video game system she wanted during a Black Friday sale, leaving 20 people with minor injuries, authorities said.

The incident occurred shortly after 10:20 p.m. Thursday in a crowded Los Angeles-area Walmart as shoppers hungry for deals were let inside the store. Police said the suspect shot the pepper spray when the coverings over the item she wanted were removed. "Somehow she was trying to use it to gain an upper hand," police Lt. Abel Parga told The Associated Press early Friday. He said she was apparently after an Xbox 360 and used the pepper spray to keep other shoppers at bay.

The store remained open and those not affected by the pepper spray continued shopping.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.

True Thanksgiving--discover it again this weekend. One day wasn't enough.

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Take the Lead-Give thanks!

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

Coming to a Complete Stop

2011-11-26T10:13:00.001-05:00

NOTE: I was sitting with my wife in the window on Saturday when she handed me her journal and asked me to read an entry. It was some very good stuff on communication, and since good communication is a key asset for any leader, I asked her if she'd like to expand the thoughts and write the week's blog. Having already thought of the idea herself, she quickly agreed. So here are my incredible wife's thoughts on one of the key points every leader eventually learns.

A few years ago I was qualifying as a certified driving instructor in Ohio. I had just finished my driving test and the examiner told me I never came to a complete stop at any of the stop signs on the route--not once. I could not imagine that I had failed to come to a complete stop. But since I knew better than to argue with a state trooper, I surrendered the point. If anyone else had said it, I would've strongly objected.

This memory came to me yesterday morning after a less than comfortable discussion with my husband (yes we were irritated with each other). He felt that I had been cutting him off, interrupting him, not permitting him to complete a single thought. The intensity of his frustration lent credibility to the charge, but in my mind I knew I'd been careful to always wait until he completed a sentence before I jumped in with a question or objection or need of my own. There was no way he could be right about this. I had been very careful, because I had stumbled over this many times, and wanted to be blameless this time around.

It was later, while journaling, that the driving test parallel occurred to me. After my miserably failing that driving test, I applied myself to figuring out how to ensure a complete stop. Focus on stopping first, and looking both ways second. I had been "stopping" and looking at the same time. My focus had been, "Can I go now?" instead of "Stop."

As I thought about the conversation with my husband, I realized I had been doing a very similar thing. I had been letting my husband get one sentence out and then felt justified in quickly jumping in with my thoughts, my reasons.

My focus had been "Can I go now?" instead of "Stop and listen."

The analogy of communication as a traffic intersection is pretty valid. Two different streams of thoughts, perspectives, feelings and emotions cross at a particular point. Remembering that car accidents are avoided at an intersection with a traffic light is helpful. If your focus is just on going straight through the intersection with your thoughts, your ideas, your feelings, and the light is red, you are bound for trouble. Sometimes you just have to sit and wait until you get the green light.

I had stumbled over a common communication struggle. When I should have done the "stop-listen-and wait for the green light" I was focused on "can I go now."

Listening, the waiting side of communication.

the wife of

the man in the window

Cheryl and Bruce have been married for 31 years.

What's the Difference?

2011-11-21T07:10:00.001-05:00

My Dad had given me a blower that he had purchased on clearance from a Walmart in Elmira, NY about 15 years ago. A 2 cycle blower that could also vacuum leaves and mulch them. I used it every year in Austintown, and every year since I have been in Norwalk. Over the last few years I noticed it began to be more temperamental in starting and that it began to run lean, so I usually had to apply some choke to keep it running. It kept running so year after year I kept using it.

This fall the blower began to run even leaner than it had before. To blow the leaves off my driveway or out of the yard I often h

ad to restart it after it simply stalled out. But I kept nursing it along. I actually used it twice like that to

clear the front lawn of leaves.

Finally after one of those days when the trees shed their leaves in droves, I gave up on the blower. It had stalled out ten times in ten minutes and it was apparent that it could no longer do the job, meet the need. It could no longer perform.

I headed off to Tractor Supply, forked over the money I would have preferred not to have spent, and took home my new 2 cycle blower, vac/mulching machine. Ten minutes later the lighter, more efficient, more powerful motor roared to life. Ten minutes later the lawn was free of leaves. What a difference the new blower made.

I hadn't realized how much efficiency I had sacrificed over the years. I hadn't realized how much more effort I was putting into the chore because the tool I was using was losing its power. I hadn't realized how dramatic the change would be when the new blower was used. It was actually enjoyable to run it, to use it.

Today I have to go back out and blow more leaves. And as I was sitting in the coffee house, the Holy One began to teach me about the blower, about leadership.

Sometimes we may hang on to a tool, a method way too long. We keep pushing at it, keep tweaking it, we get it running again, we get a job done, but we lose effectiveness, efficiency, power. Somewhere along the way we lose sight of the tipping point of when it costs too much time, energy, frustration to keep it running. But year after year we keep dragging the same tool, the same methods out.

My allegiance to the blower my Dad gave me, my misdirected sense of frugality (if it runs, it doesn't need to be fixed or replaced), my stubbornness thinking that I could get it done with a failing tool, impacted the mission-clearing the leaves. It was harder than it needed to be, it took more time, it robbed me of joy and pleasure. I could say I got the leaves cleared, but it wasn't a good thing.

I changed the tool, accomplished the mission-clearing the leaves, discovered fresh power, new enthusiasm, greater effectiveness and efficiency. I actually told my wife, I should have done that a couple of years ago.

Leaders lead. One aspect of that leadership is the continual review, evaluation of everything that we do and how we do it. Leaders know we are not called to a method, but to a mission. And one of the traps that is so easy for us to fall into is commitment to the tool at the sacrifice of the mission.

What about you where you lead? Have you held on to things, tools, methods too long? Are there tools, methods that have lost their edge, their power? Is it time for a new tool, a new method, a new approach?

Leaders serve the Mission, not method. Keep leading.

the man in the window

Lifting and the Road Back

2011-11-02T14:56:00.001-04:00

I have been sharing a few things from my lifting experience in the last few emails. Lessons about how our schedule can so easily squeeze out the important things, lessons about how much is lost when we forget or neglect the habits that define us. But last night I was reminded once again of one of the important leadership lessons when I was lifting.

I have only been back to lifting for about five weeks, and on my best weeks that means three workouts: one working on chest, one working on back, and one working on arms. Last night was chest--inclined bench, declined bench and fly's.

After just five weeks back, in each of those three exercises I worked at the heaviest weights I had ever worked out at. Five weeks earlier I had lost ground, fallen back. But five weeks later I was not only back to where I was, but I had surpassed my previous marks.

That's the lesson. And it was huge to me. You caught it, right?

It's true that when the schedule crowds out the habits that make us a good leader, there is a price to be paid. We fall back, we lose ground. Whenever we neglect the defining habits, we pay a price. That is a sobering thought, a serious lesson, one that every leader needs to heed.

But the lesson last night was a jubilant thought. You see, last night I was reminded that when ground has been lost, when habits that shape our lives have been neglected, the ground can be reclaimed, redeemed, restored. The recommitment to the habit, the restored discipline, not only swiftly gets you back to where you were, but on the advance, moving forward.

Was it frustrating to have lost ground? YES.

Was it worth the fight to get into the discipline? Absolutely.

That's the lesson. When we've let a discipline slide, a habit that defines us lapse, it's worth the effort to get back to where we were. Always.

As a leader have you let a habit slide? Are you in his word? Are you stretching yourself to grow? Pressing forward in prayer? Are you on top of the disciplines that guard your heart from lust, avarice, sloth? Or have you drifted?

There is Good news. Reapply, start anew, do again the early things that defined you, and the ground can be regained.

The Forgiver challenged a church that was once ablaze with passionate service to do just that.

"But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! ⁵ Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.

Revelation 2:4,5

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

Lifting and the Trap of a Busy Schedule

2011-10-20T09:55:00.001-04:00

Okay, so since I've been lifting, I've discovered that my busy schedule is the number one reason for me to miss a work out. Whether it's a trip to New York on family matters, a volleyball match to officiate, pre-marital counseling to be conducted, a meeting with another

pastor, schedule is the number one reason I miss workouts.

I don't miss workouts because I'm bored with it.
I don't miss workouts because I'm sore.
I don't miss workouts because I think they are ineffective.
I don't miss workouts because I don't like lifting.

Usually if I miss a workout it's because of my schedule.

That is such a big lesson to me. You see if I miss a workout which brings benefits to my life it's usually because of my schedule.

I don't miss studying the word because I find it boring
I don't miss praying because praying is hard work
I don't miss basking in his presence in devotion and worship because I find it worthless.
I don't miss journaling because it has become passé in my life.

Usually if I miss these things it's because of my schedule.

That is such a big lesson to me. You see if I miss one of my personal disciplines that shapes my life, it's usually because of my schedule.

Schedule.

Leaders know mastering it is essential, without it, the important things that should define us easily get pushed out.

Schedule well.

the man in the window

Lifting and the Loss of Gains

2011-10-06T07:57:00.001-04:00

Last March I made a decision to add a regular weight lifting regimen to my schedule. I knew it would take some doing to develop the habit (I had last lifted regularly in High School), and I knew that I would have to work through some significant pains to get into a routine (what was left of my chest I now displayed around my waist), so I petitioned a friend with a regular lifting addiction habit to take me on as a lifting partner.

Over the weeks and month I began to truly enjoy our workout times together. In an ideal week we rotate through workouts on back, chest and arms recording meticulously in our journals how heavy and how many skull crushers, overhead pulls, tricep pulls, alternating bi's, etc. we do. The journal serves as a de facto accountability log. It's a record of our time in his man cave, grunting and lifting, growling and sweating, encouraging and challenging each other.

If you were to look in our logs at the period of late July through mid-September you would see a significant slacking off in our workouts. Vacations, his mission trip to El Salvador, mine to Africa, the battle to overcome a persistent parasite that lingered long after the return to American soil, District Conference, volleyball officiating, counseling, meetings all took a toll. But in mid-September the workouts returned. But we paid a price for the loss of discipline. In every category, in every exercise, we lost ground. I was actually a little surprised by how much had been lost so quickly.

It hurt to lift less weight than we had before. This was both a physical and Psychological hurt. Muscles that had not been worked hard in weeks ached as we got back in the routine. But there was also the emotional hurt of realizing we went backwards. A part of lifting is going heavier or at least maintaining where you've been. It is never good to go backwards.

One evening as we were lifting, I told my workout partner, (who happens to read man in the window) that the Holy Spirit was speaking, teaching me as I lifted. I was having one of those leadership moments as we lifted.

Leaders know and develop habits and practices that define them as leaders, those habits make them strong, they keep them strong. Some of my habits include the time in his presence in the mornings, the reading of books that challenge my thinking, meeting with men who speak into my life, cultivating prayer that believes God for great things. Strength in those disciplines has been gained slowly over time. Lifting was reminding me of a huge truth.

When we stop the disciplines that define us, we lose ground, not just a little, we lose ground surprisingly fast. So we can either keep the disciplines or pay the price.

Leaders know we are defined by the disciplines we keep.

Thanks T. for lifting with me. Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching me even when I'm slinging iron.

the man in the window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

Changed - Iron Man

2011-10-06T07:55:00.001-04:00

Like many movie fans, I have enjoyed Hollywood's recent offerings based on the superheroes of my childhood comic books. Spiderman, Batman, X Men, Green Lantern, Thor, the Fantastic Four have all been recent offerings. Just a few years ago Tony Stark came to life as Iron Man.

This morning in devotional reading I realized that just maybe the apostle Paul was familiar with Iron Man, or at least his story. A man dies and is raised to new life, with a new character, and equipped and armored in a way that makes him indestructible.

Tony Stark was the billionaire playboy heir to the giant Stark weapons manufacturing company. While observing the effects of his experimental technologies on the American war effort in the Middle East, he's injured by a booby trap. Stark's situation is dire and his injuries critical as shrapnel is moving towards his heart. His fellow prisoner constructs a magnetic chest plate to keep the shrapnel from reaching Stark's heart, keeping him alive. Having been captured by the enemy, who then orders him to design weapons, Stark and his prison mate use the workshop to design and construct a suit of powered armor which Stark uses to escape. But Tony Stark is transformed by the experience, including the self-sacrificing death of the prisoner who saved his life. Replacing the temporary power source keeping him alive with an ever renewing source, Tony Stark develops and dons the Iron Man armor, discovering a new passion, a new mission.

Changed, he becomes an unstoppable force against the powers of evil in the world.

Okay, so I was reading Colossians and I saw a similar story.

It's us. Listen.

He who died and in one blow forever disarmed the evil rulers and powers of the world (Col 2:15), set us free from them and their dominion (Col 2:20). Now raised to new life with Christ (Col 3:1) we discover real life (Col 3:4). A real life that brings with it a continually renewed new nature (Col 3:10). We the rescued, the ones freed from the rule of the kingdom of darkness now find ourselves in the kingdom of the Son. Brought into the very presence of God, holy and blameless, we stand (Col 1:22). Called to put on a new armor, for we are destined to join the fight against the evil rulers and authorities of the world (Eph 6:12).

Changed-an unstoppable force against the powers of evil in the world.

I confess I seldom see myself that way, but I think Paul did. Should we?

the man in the window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

Is It Clear?

2011-10-06T07:54:00.001-04:00

It's the morning after perhaps the most challenging District Conference I ever attended. I was sitting in the coffee house writing down some of the blessings and challenges resonating with my heart. Following a quick trip down the hall to the restroom, I returned to discover one of my elders had stopped in to see me. As we greeted each other he stated the following, "I knew you were back in town and I knew I could find you here." I've written before about being defined by our habits, and as leaders that is always a good lesson to remember. But this morning, being remembered for my faithfulness to be at a coffee house in the mornings was sobering for me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad people recognize that I begin most days at a coffee house and that they can drop by to find me, but I was wondering, do they know why I'm here? Was the habit I had developed testifying to the value of what was being pursued? I start the days at a coffee house to get some alone time with myself and God, to read, to pray, to journal, to contemplate, and to drink some good coffee while I do it. Is it clear that my time at the coffee shop is all about my intimacy with God or do people merely think I'm a coffee hound?

It got me thinking-are the habits that define me defining me in the right way? Are my priorities communicating the right things? Can people see what my life is truly committed to?

Then I really started thinking.

Is it clear that I'm committed to intimacy with God?
Is it clear that I'm committed to reaching my neighbors?
Is it clear that I'm dependent upon prayer?
Is it clear that I'm filled with the Holy Spirit?
Is it clear that I walk in victory over sin?
Is it clear that I am becoming more like Christ?
Is it clear that I rejoice with others who rejoice and weep with those who weep?
Is it clear that His glory is more important than mine?

Oh dear God! Is it clear?

The words of Peter whisper through my mind this morning

1 Peter 2:12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. NLT

Oh dear God, let it be clear.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

The Tale of the Lost and Broken Lion

2011-08-12T13:52:00.000-04:00

Just got back from speaking at a Field Forum in West Africa. At the end of the week, the team there gave me a gift of appreciation that both humbled and excited me—a carved ebony lion. It was a beautiful majestic piece that would look great in my office. Receiving it brought tears to my eyes. You see I have prayed to see the lion of the tribe roar. I loved the gift. I also confess it felt good to be appreciated (9 messages in 4 days). I believed that the lion would be a great reminder to me of what God had done while I was there.

Returning to the states, actually in route God would use the Lion to remind once again this leader of who and what I was laboring for.

The lion had been carefully packed by my wife and locked away inside one of our suitcases. Its large size made the idea of taking it in a carry-on less attractive. I knew that in checking the bag there was always the possibility of it becoming lost, but I was okay with that (so I told myself). When we arrived in Brussels, after bathrooms and passport control, we waited at baggage claim and out of the seven checked bags among the team, the bag with the checked lion was lost.

I instantly began to pout. Oh God, this stinks! I’ve lost the lion and I really wanted the lion. Note that I wasn’t bothered that my wife had lost many of her clothes or her mementos from the trip. I was pouting about me, and losing my reward. My lion. It was in this moment of ugly, ungodliness that the Forgiver’s spirit hammered my heart with one question.

“Was this why you came to Africa Bruce, for your reward, for your gift, or did you come for My glory?”

I actually began to weep. “Forgive me Lord. This was never about me, or my rewards. This was all about you. Forgive me for getting wrong again. If I never get the lion back, I’m good with it.” It was only after this when my eyes were off myself that I could appreciate how big of a challenge this would be for my wife, the bulk of her belongs on the trip were in the lost bag.

“Forgive me Cheryl. I didn’t even think about you or your things.” (pretty ugly huh!)

So we headed to the service desk, report the lost bag, and go to the hotel. At 10:00am we receive the great word that the bag was found and would be delivered later that day!!! Praise God. Cheryl doesn’t lose her belongings and I get the lion back. I was elated. We spent a great day in Brussels, enjoyed a fine meal out and the next morning repacked and headed finally for home.

Last night at 6:00pm we are picked up with all our bags at Hopkins International and head for home.

Early this morning I’m unpacking bags and as I take out the box with the lion in it I hear an unsettling sound—it rattled! A big ebony carving shouldn’t be rattling. Opening the box my heart sinks and I discover the broken tail and two broken legs. Instantly I begin to pout again. This stinks! We lost the lion and found it and now it’s broke and . . .

This time it took much less time for me to remember why I went to Africa. Not for the reward, for his Glory. So putting the disappointment aside I told my wife, I can neatly glue these and fix the lion. I can set it on my desk not as a reminder of a time I got to speak at a Field Forum in W. Africa, but as a reminder of what I’m working for – HIS GLORY.

It’s such a beautiful lost and broken lion.

I'm on Vacation

2011-07-28T11:43:00.001-04:00

I was on vacation in Myrtle Beach recently and a leadership thing jumped out of the experience for me. Actually it was a recurring lesson throughout the week away.

Myrtle Beach was packed with people, families, golfers, swimmers, tourists of every make and model. Everyone was there dealing with the heat, the traffic, the reality of lines at restaurants, crowds at the boardwalk, and barefoot landing. But it was also a beautiful week. Lots of sun, ocean breezes, no storms, warm tides and beautiful sunrises.

But for many it was also a week filled with a lot of frustration. The crowds, the traffic, the wait for elevators, for seating in restaurants, and for your turn at a traffic light seemed to bring out the worst in people. People seemed agitated that while they were on vacation that they had to cope with any of the inconveniences that come with a visit to a major tourist area. And it brought out in them unique actions, actions that seemed at times pretty embarrassing.

While no one called it this, it appeared to be a huge sense of "I'm on vacation" entitlement.

It looked like this.

I'm on vacation . . . so I can cut in line.
I'm on vacation . . . so I can park on this guy's lawn.
I'm on vacation . . . so I have a right to complain about the line for seating.
I'm on vacation . . . so I shouldn't have to wait for elevators.
I'm on vacation . . . so I'm entitled to take four lounge chairs, one for myself, one for my friend who may show up later, and two to hold our towels.
I'm on vacation . . . so if I cut you off and flip you the finger as I run the light, don't hold it against the church I worship at as you read the magnetic sign on the back of my SUV.
I'm on vacation. . . so I'm not required to care about you, your feelings, your life, your world - just bring me my food, clean my room, pick up my trash and let me break the rules because I'm on vacation.
I'm on vacation . . .

While I know we'd all like to say we'd never be like that, I watched it being done by people in "witness wear" T-shirts, people who talked about their home churches, people with churches advertised on their vehicles.

And Jesus said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. AND love your neighbor as yourself except on vacation. (21^st c. American Paraphrase Bible)

Forgive us God when we forget the great commandment.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

CROSSWORD PUZZLES ONE MORE TIME

2011-07-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

I realized recently that crossword puzzles have taught me another
thing about leadership. Sometimes the solution is discovered in an
unconventional way.

Typically I work a crossword puzzle starting in the top left corner- #1
across or maybe #1 down. When I think I have a likely answer, I try to
confirm it with other clues before writing it in. Does the answer to #2
or #3 down fit? Does my answer unlock clues to other answers?

Most of the time that is how I proceed. I start in the top left corner
and solve my way through, spreading out, and the answers reveal more
and more of the puzzle. But that doesn't work all the time. For some
people that's when they give up on the puzzle.

But I've learned that when I'm stumped by obscure clues that seem to
make no sense, instead of giving up or settling for a quick fix and
peeking at the solution, I shift strategies. I try the top right. If
that doesn't work I go to the bottom left or right and work backward up
the puzzle. I keep looking for a key clue or starting point that helps
solve the whole puzzle.

Leadership is like that. Many times the solutions flow naturally. They
unfold just as we expect and anticipate. But other times leadership
puzzles take much more. The solution to the problem requires looking at
other ways, other ideas, other methods, before a solution is found.
Some puzzles are never solved until we check out some other
perspectives.

Real leaders know that sometimes the solution will not be found by
following the familiar path. Some solutions are only found by
approaching the puzzle a different way.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let
nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The Man in the Window

CROSSWORD PUZZLES

2011-06-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

My crossword puzzle has been teaching me a lesson, well actually a number of lessons. I've always liked puzzles, any type of puzzle. As a kid I enjoyed those complex wooden puzzles that required you to manipulate the string and blocks and discover the secret of removing the ring without untying the knot.

My enjoyment for puzzles continues. I love to work a good crossword puzzle. Even if I don't get to read the papers, I save the puzzles so I can do them later.

I like thinking them through, linking the clues, and filling in the blanks. I like solving them.

While I do my puzzles in ink, I'm not expert enough to never have to do a write over or a scratch out. But given time, patience, and diligence, I've learned that I can solve most crossword puzzles.

That's the lesson. I hope you caught it.

Leaders know that sometimes leadership feels more like a puzzle than a calling.

- A system is failing. How do you fix it?

- A replacement on a team is needed. How do we recruit the best qualified person?

- New direction is needed. How do we find it?

Just like solving the crossword puzzle, with patience and diligence, we apply ourselves to the situation. As we do, more and more blanks are filled in until we reach the point where the puzzle (oops challenge) is solved.

Perplexed today? Faced with a problem, a challenge, a puzzle? Apply yourself. Be diligent and patient. The solution lies ahead.

the man in the window

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:9.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

-- To follow Jesus is to learn to move with God.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CROSSWORD PUZZLES

2011-06-07T12:49:00.001-04:00

I enjoy working crossword puzzles. And lately God has been speaking to me about crossword puzzles. No really. Here let me help you understand it.

Try this one.

Across

1. Some embroidery (6 Letters)

Down

1. Studies all night (5 letters)

2. Explain away (5 letters)

3. Cheer up (5 letters)

4. Sage (7 letters)

5. Times of preparation (4 letters)

6. Was ahead (3 letters)

Figure it out yet? Puzzled by it?

Here is the solution.

That's the lesson the Father was speaking to me this morning in my devotional time as I puzzled over some of the challenges that lay before us. Half in prayer, half in meditation, my eyes fell on the crossword puzzle in the paper and I was reminded.

Puzzles have solutions. They may take time and effort, trial and error, but puzzles have solutions. Some are very difficult, but puzzles have solutions. I began to think what might happen if I viewed every problem as being a puzzle, and remembered that every puzzle has a solution.

In the midst of puzzling times, this leader was encouraged to keep working at the challenges because all puzzles have a solution.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Tulips Again?

2011-05-18T11:44:00.001-04:00

Most years my tulips only last a week to a week and half before the blooms are gone. Some people don't appreciate them. Here today and gone pretty close to tomorrow. Some people don't thing they are worth the effort, the space. For some the bloom, no matter how spectacular, is not worth it.

But I love my tulips.

I've got some fierce fuchsia colored tulips that I just love. Brilliant. And I learned a secret about my tulips. Given time, they produce more and more tulips. Plant ten bulbs and in five years have twenty plants.

That is so great about tulips.

So for me the bloom, even short lived, is worth it.

It's just like that in my devotional life, that time I seek Him in the window. Very seldom do I have an earth shaking, life changing, career defining moment in my devotions, but I do get blooms of His presence in my life. Blooms of His beauty. Now I admit that these blooms often fade quickly in the face of the rest of my day as my schedule quickly distracts. For some people, it is not worth the effort, not worth the trouble for a brief glimpse.

But I love those moments in the window, those moments of discovering blooms of His presence. Even on the busiest day, the bloom of His presence makes a difference. Discovering it fresh and new each day is so worth the effort.

It's what so great about tulips.

Look for the bloom.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Tulips

2011-05-06T13:44:00.000-04:00

My tulips have been teaching me something this week.

My tulips are blooming-red, yellow, white, variegated rose, fuchsia, orange, pale pink.

They've been coming up for the past few weeks and suddenly they burst into color. Soon the petals drop and the tulips fade away again for another year. This year with so much rain, I've noticed something about the blooms, they have lasted longer.

How long is a tulip bloom supposed to last? This depends on two factors: first, the kind of climate and the season where you live and; two, how quickly the flower is pollinated. During the warm springs, or when the bees are very active, our flowers last for only a week or maybe a week and a half. But during colder, rainy springs, tulip blooms last longer. I've been enjoying tulips for the last three weeks.

In this cold, rainy spring where early May seems like most early Aprils, the blooms last longer. They become a testimony of the season. Spring really is here. Better days, warmer days, drier days are coming.

That's the lesson.

You picked it up right?

The blooms remind me of the presence of God in my life. Often like those warm pleasant springs, my awareness of His beauty, His grace, the wonder of His presence passes quickly. I get distracted by so many other things. But in the tougher days, the colder days, the more challenging seasons, He makes His presence known in more vibrant ways. He seeks to manifest himself as a promise of things to come. He blooms in our lives.

In the midst of a tough season, going through a tough day, look for the bloom of His presence, the promise of change to come.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Fertilizer

2011-04-28T17:04:00.001-04:00

I was fertilizing my lawn yesterday, taking advantage of one of the few dry days this April. I didn't think a lot about it. I just knew I wanted to get the fertilizer down before the rain returned so it could soak deep into the ground. I had previously replanted seed in some bare spots and thin patches and they were starting to fill in but there was still a ways to go.

This morning after a conversation in the coffee house window I realized that a lot of ministry was just like that--fertilizing seed that was planted a while ago. We just came through Easter and at the end of the services gave away a number of copies of Lee Strobel's book, The Case for Easter. And it hit me that what we had done in giving those books away to any seeker who asked for one was fertilize the seed that we hoped was planted that morning in worship, in the preaching of the word, in an atmosphere of love encountered. We gave the book hoping that individuals who visited might choose to look more closely at the resurrection and the truths behind it.

Why did I get to thinking about fertilizer this morning? Because one of those individuals we gave a book to was at my table, sharing with me how he had read it and passed it on to another. Sharing how the book helped fertilize the seed, the Easter event.

Can you think of any seed that you have planted recently that could use a little fertilizer? A note in the mail, a simple book, a CD, a phone call, a few moments in prayer. Not for harvest. But to fertilize the seed planted.

We cast seed, now it's time for the fertilizer.

The Man in the Window

Peach Tea

2011-04-13T13:52:00.000-04:00

I was battling bronchitis or some other such chest ailment recently. On the worst of the days my throat was raw and sore, difficult to swallow. Now most people think of me as an exclusive coffee drinker. And I've been known to drink a cup or two (often). But most people don't know that in the afternoons and at home in the evening, I switch back to my childhood love of hot tea with milk.

Growing up there was nothing like a strong cup of black tea, English Breakfast, deeply steeped and rich with milk remains one of my favorites. But during the week of my real battle with bronchitis, I wasn't drinking much coffee or English tea with milk. Most of the week I was brewing peach tea, drunk without milk sweetened with natural honey. Why? It soothed my throat. It made me feel better. It was what I needed.

99% of the time if I want a hot beverage I would never order, brew or drink peach tea. I actually don't like fruit tea flavors; they smell too much like perfume to me. They have little appeal. But during that week peach tea with honey was the beverage of the day.

Sitting in the window this morning while I was reading on leadership, a lesson from the peach tea kept resurfacing in my mind.

Most leaders have some sense of what type of leader they are wired to be. They are a visionary leader, a strategic leader, a shepherding leader, a team building leader and 99% of the time we function best within the role in how we are wired. But every so often we find ourselves in a set of circumstances that requires one of those other styles of leadership. So we reach for the Peach Tea, because it's what's needed right now.

I've probably always seen myself as a visionary leader, one of those individuals who keeps communicating the vision, keeps placing it before the people, believing wholeheartedly that ultimately they will catch the vision and follow it. It's the coffee cup of my style, the most reached for, most used style of leadership. It's always been balanced by the strategic leadership style that wrestles with how does the vision become reality. It's the English Tea, the other common cup in my life.

But every once in a while, what is most needed is a different style, a shepherding style, a re-engineering style, a bridge-building style. One of those other flavors that need to be picked up because they make sense in the circumstances we are facing.

So what was my leadership lesson?

While I know I'm a morning coffee drinker and evening black enthusiast, there are times when peach tea with honey makes the most sense.

While I know that I'm wired to be a visionary- strategic leader there are times when another style makes the most sense.

What about you? Do you know when it's time for peach tea?

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Deal 'em Again

2011-04-13T13:43:00.000-04:00

After I finished the Man in the Window about playing Euchre and playing the hand you were dealt, almost immediately another leadership thought sprang to my mind.

When you're playing Euchre with friends it's amazing how twisted the conversation becomes when you are on a men's weekend away. Playfully you begin to tease your opponents about how bad they are, or about how great your card playing skill is. You get dealt a great hand and take all the tricks and we're quick to take the credit. We make gloating comments like this:

"Give up now, you can't play with us."
"Watch the master at work."
"How are you guys ever gonna stop us?"
"Do you guys want some lessons?"

When you are playing for fun with friends, the digs and jabs are a part of the game and we laugh them off. You see most of the time, we remember it's not the skill of the player that leads to landslide wins, it's in the deal of the cards. Sure you have to play the hand you are dealt well, but the landslide win is often out of your control. Put four equally good players at the table and the wins will be determined by how the cards are dealt.

Sometimes we forget that it in our ministries. We're too quick to take the credit. Too brag on our own abilities, our own efforts, our own work. But it is God who is in control of the situations. He is the deal of the cards. He calls us to be faithful, the results are HIS not ours. Faithfully fulfilling the call is what is required. He brings the results so if we're going to brag, let's brag on HIM.

Paul said it this way, "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:31

Lord, make me a boaster, a boaster of all that You do and never of what I may think is my doing.

Amen!

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Deal 'em

2011-03-30T16:48:00.001-04:00

I was playing Euchre with a group of guys on an overnight fishing trip. Euchre is dealt in a unique way. In sets of three, then in a set of two, five cards are dealt to each player. The remaining four cards are set in the middle of the table and one is turned up.

Like any card game eventually you get dealt one of those hands that just looks incredible; you're holding both bowers and the Ace King in Trump. And you will also get dealt some of those lousy hands, nines and tens, a queen high in four suits.

I was thinking about the game today and one of those leadership thoughts snuck up on me again. When you are playing euchre, all you can do is play the cards that you are dealt to the best of your ability. Sometimes it's everything you can do to just take one trick and stop your opponents from running the table. Other times it's a cake walk, go loner, shoot the moon and score four points taking them all. But the truth is that in both cases all you can do is play the cards you have been dealt to the best of your ability.

As a leader, there are a lot of similarities between euchre and life. Perhaps more than we ever realize most of the time all we can do is play the hand we are dealt. Circumstances, seasons of life, economic trends, and numerous other things are usually out of our control. So what is required of us? Play the hand to the best of our ability.

Sometimes it will seem like you steam roll the competition, results are obvious and abundant, fruit of your labors is seen on all sides. And other times, it feels like it's everything we can do to just hang on, to see it through, to not give up and quit.

Let me paraphrase how Paul said it, "One thing I do, forgetting what is behind, straining toward what is ahead, I press on."

Been dealt a great hand recently, press on. Play it out well. Going through one of the seasons where it feels like you been dealt one lousy hand after another.

Press on, play the hand well.

Deal em.

The man in the window

And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

2011-03-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

Easter Eggs (Again?)

I'm still thinking about those right now, and so are you. All I had to do was mention them and you instantly had an image in your mind.

Hard boiled, dyed, painted, or decorated with transfers and stickers, nestled amid pink, yellow, or green artificial grass in multi-colored baskets. Or did you picture those plastic eggs that break in half with hidden treats inside.

One way or the other, your mind fixated on one of those two pictures when I mentioned Easter eggs.

Let's do it again-Leader

That one is harder. What does a leader look like? . . . . That's tougher, isn't it?

Let me suggest an image. New leaders are gemstones in the rough, not yet polished, but having the potential of great value. The worth of a gem is measured in carats, a unit of measurement of mass equal to 200 mg. We will use CARAT as an acronym for what defines a good potential leader.

C - Character

Potential godly leaders need to have the right inside stuff. They are people of integrity with a passion for honoring God with their lives.

A - Available

Potential leaders are available, or make themselves available, for use in the advancement of God's kingdom. They are willing to move from the sidelines to the frontlines.

R - Responsible

Potential leaders are willing to take on responsibility. They accept the mantle, the weight of roles, assignments, projects, groups, ministries in the kingdom.

A - Affable

Potential leaders possess the social skills, the people gifts to motivate, involve and influence others without being micromanaging tyrants.

T - Teachable

Potential leaders are constantly learning; submitting to the Holy Spirit's teaching in whatever form it comes. Each success, failure, challenge, encounter, book, or relationship is fertile ground for their ongoing development.

What do you think of when you think of leaders? I've learned to think of them as Gems defined by carats.

The Man in the Window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

IN Search of . . . Easter Eggs?

2011-03-15T13:18:00.001-04:00

Been thinking about them today. Yes it's Lent. Yes we're moving toward Easter. But that's not why I was thinking of Easter eggs. Actually I'm thinking of Easter eggs because of I've been thinking of Easter egg hunts.

We had one every year at our home when our kids were young. Searching, looking, finding. It was so much fun. We often did it over and over on Easter weekend. Each of us would take turns hiding the eggs while the rest of the family waited for the hunt to begin. Then we'd walk through the house looking for every egg. Some were easy to find, some took great patience. We knew the eggs were there just waiting to be found. We knew if we didn't give up, we'd eventually find them all. Every new egg discovered was cause for celebration.

Easter egg hunts. I never looked at them as being a challenge or frustrating. I never dreaded the search. I never procrastinated. I entered in and had a blast.

It got me thinking about leadership.

What would happen if we viewed the search for other leaders, workers, volunteers, like Easter egg hunts? What would happen if every time we needed another youth sponsor, another house church leader, another children's worker, another elder, a board member, a volunteer, we viewed it like an Easter egg hunt? They're already there, hidden somewhere in our midst. Some are easy to find, while others are more challenging. But if we're patient and diligent, we'll find them.

What if when we needed another youth sponsor, our heart was filled with the joy, the excitement of the search? What would happen if when we needed another children's worker, volunteer, or teacher we believed that they were in our church just waiting to be discovered? What would happen if every time we discovered that new worker, leader, teacher, sponsor, or volunteer we celebrated the discovery of a treasure?

I think I know. "In search of" becomes a joy.

the man in the window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

R to A: The S____

2011-03-01T20:07:00.000-05:00

I was looking at my calendar and trying to decide when to make a trip home to see my dad. Lent starts in less than a we

ek. 21 days to Spring, 40 Days to Easter. Board meetings, Coaching Clusters, meetings, Kingdom Advancement events, new sermon series, writing deadlines, staff decisions. Wow does the calendar fill up fast.

I discovered something about my calendar. Something that is a trap, a snare, a stumbling block. Something that can easily occur that can have a huge impact. I know it's a trap that others face, I hear them talk about it all the time. It's that trap of just being too busy, too many things scheduled, too many items on the to do list. Overloaded, overcommitted, we complain about the schedule (often as we're adding this to it). For many of us that busy schedule is inescapable, as much as we may want less commitments, the calendar of events with family, kids, work, church seems to be a cruel taskmaster, demanding more and more.

So what do we do? What does a leader do when faced with an overloaded schedule? I've heard many answers, but for many of us it seems coping with the overload looks like this: what you can't delegate to others, drop or ditch.

Delegate, drop, or ditch.

I've been reading again in the old books, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and that 'Deut' one and as I've been reading a word has been jumping off the page at me. A word that is a reminder of another choice in the face of the overloaded schedule.

Sabbath - That seventh day, that day of not working, the day of honoring God.

It made the top ten list of Commandments

. . . but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Ex 20:10-11 NIV

It was a perpetual holy practice to be observed. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Ex 31:14 NIV

Leviticus and Deuteronomy echo the commands (Lev 23:3, Deut 5:12-14).

But it was in reading Exodus 16:29 that I was reminded of another important truth about the Sabbath. Yes, it was holy, yes it was commanded, yes it is a reminder of how God created, yes keeping the Sabbath honors God, but Exodus 16:29 reminds us of something else about the Sabbath.

Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath. . . Exodus 16:29

How huge is that in our overworked, overloaded scheduled weeks, there is a gift waiting to be unwrapped, embraced, enjoyed, and treasured! A day when the rat race is not run, when the rut is left behind on another road, a day of rest, renewal, recreation.

The Sabbath. I have been reminded of a powerful truth in recent days. The best way to deal with my ongoing overloaded often thin margin schedule, my ever increasing to do list is the weekly retreat to advance-the Sabbath. A day unlike the others when renewal is found so that we might advance again.

Have you allowed the schedule, the to do list, the everything of life to keep you from the Gift-the Sabbath.

Retreat to advance, the gift of the Sabbath, embrace it again.

the man in the window

Another Lesson by the Stream

2010-11-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

This last week I was meeting with a group of pastors I coach. It was a time for me to lead a group of leaders in a good self-evaluation, challenging them to press onward and inward. We met at a trout club in front of the fire in a man cave of a lodge. Lots of dead fish and game mounted on the walls. Rustic décor. Natural setting. It’s a great place. We talked about calling, the posture we take before God, how the Holy Spirit is speaking to us. We compared how we prepared sermon notes, how we preached, and talked about getting input on our preaching skills from an associate or a trusted elder. We committed to asking an open-ended question to our wives about future dreams and hopes. We prayed earnestly about our callings, our roles, our character. It was a valued and powerful time.

But the greatest lesson I learned that day, the greatest reminder of my calling didn’t come at the meeting. It came by the stream. After lunch before I settled behind the computer for a little work I hit the trout stream. Threw a pearl luminescent streamer, silver bead head, red tread. I caught ten trout in an hour. I then went in and tackled some computer project by the fire.

Around 4pm I wanted to hit the stream again before I left. When I left the lodge, I discovered that another group (salesman on a district sales training day) were having a team competition fly fishing on the streams. 20 + adults who had no experience fly-fishing. With my fishing vest on I was mistaken right away for a worker at the lodge. “Hey lost my fly can I get another?” Not wanting to watch this group just be frustrated, I set my rod aside and for the next hour retied lines, taught casting, put individuals on good spots and holes, coached how and where to cast to and worked the stream.” An hour later a group of rookies had caught 16 trout. 14 were caught by individuals I was coaching. I didn’t catch any. I didn’t wet a line.

Driving home it hit me hard. That was the real leadership lesson of my day. Leaders come alongside others, share their knowledge, they encourage, they challenge, they equip, they coach, they direct others that they might succeed. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” THE LEADER, made leaders. Leaders pour their lives into others. That they might succeed.

Who are you coming alongside? Who are you teaching to fish?

So how do you think of yourself?

2010-11-12T12:05:00.000-05:00

I had one of those incredible moments in the Word the other day. One of those moments when something so often overlooked jumped off the page at me. It was one of the defining leadership moments. One of those moments when all I could do was say, “yes Lord I hear you.”

Most leaders have a clear understanding of their calling. Some are called as pastors, some as entrepreneurs, some as international workers, or children’s workers, youth leaders, labors, doctors, elders, administrators. For many leaders they become accustomed to identifying themselves by their calling. I’m a pastor. I’m an international worker. I’m a banker. I’m a businessman.

I admit I do that all the time. Every Sunday I introduce myself to our congregations as the “Lead Pastor of Norwalk Alliance Church.”

So on Thursday in the window at the coffee house I’m focusing in on a new devotional study I wanted to undertake. Seeking insight into Paul’s leadership I planned to do a slow and deliberate study, pouring over the Book of Romans. Using the English Standard Version I dove in. I managed to get all the way through the first verse before the Holy Spirit opened my eyes.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, (Rom 1:1 ESV)

There it is. Huge isn’t it.

Do you see how Paul thinks of himself? Look at his introduction. It isn’t “Paul, the Apostle, the carrier of the Gospel to the Gentiles.” No it’s “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle.”

Apostle was what God choose for Paul. It was the calling he laid upon him.

Servant was what Paul chooses for himself. It was the posture, the identity he assumed.

Wow! Paul identified himself first as a servant. Not just a servant a slave, a doulos, a bought for and owned bond slave. How Paul thought of himself was vastly different than how I normally thought of myself. If you’re like me it’s easy to think of yourself as leader with a calling. Paul saw himself as a servant with call.

How do you think of yourself?

No Cheap Love

2010-10-14T09:29:00.000-04:00

     I saw it on the internet the other day. It was an ad for an engagement ring. The picture of the ring is pretty spectacular. The photograph did a great job highlighting the attractive setting of the ring. The large stone was surrounded by 18 smaller chips and five similar chips were set in the band itself. It looked amazing I could only guess the small fortune it would cost. $2500? $3000? $5000?
     The only problem-it was a fake. "Brigitte's Imitation Diamond Solitaire Ring, Price : $30.00"
     Imagine the disappointment, imagine the insult, and imagine the anger when a woman finds out that her engagement ring, the pledge of his love was a fake.
     We're called to love, especially as leaders who claim the name of the Forgiver. We are called to love.
     So imagine our people, our friends, our family discovering that our supposed love for them was nothing more than an act, a fake, an imitation.
     In one sentence in Romans Paul sets the standard for a leaders love. "Love must be sincere." Romans 12:9 NIV
     The Greek word for sincere could be translated. . .

Guileless - open and honest and not expecting others to behave differently
Pure - clean and free from impurities
True - not pretended or artificial
Genuine - having the qualities or value claimed
Without hypocrisy - without false claims or pretense
Without dissimulation - seeking to hide true feelings, thoughts or intentions

The Forgiver's leaders LOVE.

Lost Lid

2010-10-06T15:25:00.000-04:00

A heavy storm blew through my neighborhood last week. It reminded me of one of those leadership principles I think about so often. It occurred the morning of our usual garbage pickup. Up and down the street, the garbage cans and recycling bins placed at the curb the night before had been dutifully emptied by the sanitation department earlier that morning. But with most people away at work when the winds came, lids, cans, and bins became scattered up and down the street. Anyone driving down our road was forced to avoid numerous objects blown into the street.

At about 3:00 pm I was heading home to get ready for an appointment. As I drove through the garbage can maze, I wondered if I'd find all my cans and lids. A quick survey of the yard revealed a recycling bin and lid, two garbage cans, and ONE lid.

Rats! After a search up and down the street, a search through the landscaping around the house, and a walk through the neighboring yards, it was apparent. The lid was lost.

The lid is a vitally important in getting my garbage out each week. Without a lid, my garbage becomes prone to raccoon invasion. It's not that I dislike raccoons, it's just the mess they make when they get into my garbage.

I had a choice to make. I could: (1) keeping looking; (2) hope that a favoring wind would bring it back; (3) live without a lid; (4) replace the can. Option 4 made the most sense, so $10 and one trip to Wal-Mart later, the problem was solved, the mission accomplished. I could get the garbage out without raccoons getting into it.

So what were the leadership reminders?

1. Storms happen. Sometimes they leave consequences that cannot be avoided.
2. In the wake of a leadership storm, assessing your choices is always the first step.
3. Not every choice makes sense.
4. A leader makes the choice that preserves the mission.

As the church was spreading across Asia Minor, the apostles dealt with leadership storms-storms about Gentiles, Judaizers, legalism versus freedom. Read Acts again and watch leaders in the wake of storms make the choices that preserve the mission.

Leaders lead. Their choices matter, especially in the wake of a storm.

North by North Whatever

2010-09-16T15:26:00.000-04:00

I'm standing at a conference in the middle of a worship service and pull my keys out of my pocket. I'm not sure why. I'm surrounded by fellow leaders, pastors and ministers; each of us dealing with different issues, circumstances and journey to travel in our role as leaders. I don't why but I'm staring at my keys. As I do my focus is drawn to one object and I have one of those "man in the window" moments when His Spirit speaks to mine. I am moved, challenged and encouraged all at the same time.

On my key chain hangs a clip-on compass. Can't remember when I got. Can't remember when I clipped it on. But there it was and as I stared at the dial it swung the arrow point to North. In the building in which I stood, I had no idea where north was. But the compass always points to north. Yes, Lord. I hear you .

Just as the compass found north, so does the undergirding principle of a leaders life always bring him back on point. The call that defines our purpose, swings the dial and points the way.

Like every leader, my life sometimes gets really hectic and very full. I can be distracted by work, by leisure, by challenges, by ease. So many things can distract me from the call, the purpose, the direction the Forgiver has set for me. Yet one thing always puts me back on track and reorients me. It keeps me focused on the goal. It's my true north.

Who am I? Bought and paid for by the sacrifice of the Forgiver, I am a man called to know Him and make Him known.

Leaders who follow the Forgiver know their true north. The calling that always points the way. It is the direction our lives will take no matter the circumstances, challenges or constraints.

It is our compass point, the orientating direction of our lives.

Leaders know that remembering it helps us to make course corrections, stay on track, and to keep moving forward.

Without Limit (or Maybe Not)

2010-09-08T15:42:00.001-04:00

I was having one of those duh moments in my study and reflection time. It occurred as I was thinking about one of those passages in scripture that those of us in ministry or in church have read, heard, studied or even preached. The living Word was again proving it was sharp and about to pierce right through to the very marrow of who I was.

Let me share the passage with you.
Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, . . .

There it is. Huge! I know in the past I've read it, studied it, preached it. I can name the teaching points.

· He gave to each one.
· He gave according to their ability
· He gave expecting a return
· He gave and it's our choice how we use them.
· He gave and he will give more to those who are faithful.
(feel free to add your own key points)

But none of these points were what God was speaking to me about on this particular morning. The truth cutting to the marrow of my being was this.

· He gave to each one with limits.

That's right, he gave with limits. We are called to minister, to lead, to work within those limits. Sometimes we live, minister, lead, and work as if there were no limits, no boundaries, no confines. But he gave with limits. Three talents are smaller than five. One talent is smaller than three. Limits.

As leaders it is easy to fall into the trap of being over-committed, over-extended, and operating with little margin in our lives (a trap this leader has sometimes failed to avoid). But if God gave with limits, when we find ourselves consistently operating in that over-extended pace, it's time to admit we've lost sight of His limits, His agenda, His calling.

I've been in one of those evaluation periods, seeking to ensure that I'm operating within His limits. Is it time for you to take a similar look?

I've Been to the Mountain Top Valley

2010-09-01T15:46:00.001-04:00

     A week ago I was having my worst day dealing with feelings of blueness and depression in the last 9 years of my life. Over the years I've had my battles with the darkness, but for a period of years I enjoyed brighter days and not near the struggle, so I was rattled to find myself battling some significant blueness. Knowing that a break from my regular habits and disciplines often helps in times like that, Cheryl and I planned a weekend away.
     Friday afternoon we headed out to a cheap hotel in but not too close to the city. Dinner and movie, browse time in a bookstore, a good night's sleep, a great day at a great zoo, a swim in a pool later, a card game in a coffee house and by the time Saturday evening closed I was feeling quite better. But it was Sunday morning that was the turning point. Sometimes it is a great thing for a pastor simply to attend another church as a worshipper; to experience a Sunday with no responsibilities other than to meet with God.
     Something in the worship service that morning spurred a thought that I found very comforting. I wrote it out in my journal.
     "Mountain tops are a great place on which to stand, but little growth occurs there. Most real growth occurs in the valleys."
     I've skied in the alpine regions of the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific North West. Above the tree line, the views are spectacular, but there's not much that grows there, a lot of rock, a few sparse trees. But not much else. As you go the mountain, life teems everywhere. "Real growth occurs in the valleys."
     I don't think anyone likes it when they are battling a period of blueness. Like most I love the mountaintop experiences of life. But on Sunday the Holy Spirit was reminding me that He was at work, in the valley. For this leader, it's what I needed to be reminded of. God is at work in the valley, real growth occurs there.
     My God bless the valleys.

iPod Sync

2010-08-18T08:59:00.001-04:00

"Sync"-ed

I have an iPod Nano. On it is uploaded a series of songs, a playlist I listen to when I run, a series of podcasts, everything from Ravi Zacharias, to "Things I Missed In History Class," and a number of messages from a pastors' conference at Moody Bible Institute. On numerous long drives I've enjoyed the company of my I-pod. It is always attached to my arm when I am running, whether in a 5k or just taking a trip through the neighborhood.

The other day it hit me how much I was learning from my iPod. I'm not referring to what I'm learning from all the authors, speakers and sermons. I'm not referring to the lyrics of some of the incredible worship music. My iPod has been teaching me in a different way. I've been learning from how it works. Not the electronics (though I have had to change the battery), but from how it keeps itself up to date.

Most times when I need to recharge my iPod, I plug it into my laptop. As soon as I do, iTunes pops up, connects to my iPod, and automatically does a sync. "Sync" is short for synchronize. When you sync a device, you synchronize it with data on your computer. It updates both the device and the computer with the most recent information. Data is merged in a real time interface. If a message or song has been added to my computer, it gets updated to my iPod. Podcasts that have been listened to on the Nano are removed. The only time this fails is if I break the connection before the sync is completed. My iPod even warns me not to do this. It flashes a message "sync in progress, do not disconnect."

There's the lesson. Huge isn't it? The perfect example of what it means to connect with God occurs every time I recharge my iPod.

I want to be in sync with what God wants to instill into my life and to have what is of no use removed. Every time I connect with God I should expect that he is going to be uploading new messages for me, but he is also seeking to remove other things. My iPod teaches me that there are two ways to goof up the process of hearing from God. First, I can neglect connecting, never getting recharged, never receiving updated messages from God. The second is to break the connection before the sync is complete, not allowing God to do what he wants to do in my heart and my life that day.

When I see my iPod it reminds me to be sure I'm getting connected and letting the sync take place.

How's your sync? Up to date? Current? Recharged?

The man in the window

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Questions?

2010-08-04T13:06:00.001-04:00

Every leader asks questions. The nature of the questions shapes the leader. What are the questions contemplated in your heart? At this point in my life, in my calling, in my role, I've been struggling with a few. The same ones keep surfacing time and time again. The first one opens the door to so many more.

What does it mean?

What does it mean to want God's glory and not your own?

What does it mean to be all things to all men and yet work only to please the Lord?

What does it mean to be LIGHT when most of the time I avoid the darkness?

What does it mean?

What does it mean if I drive by a funeral and don't wonder about the person's fate?

What does it mean when I count my days and know there are more behind me than are likely to be ahead of me?

What does it mean when I remember that one day I will stand in his presence and give an account?

What does it mean?

What does it mean that I have claimed his name, read his word, shared his truth for thirty-two years and yet still battle with sin, toy with apathy, and get distracted so easily.

What does it mean?

What does it mean that I have been cleaned by grace, set free from sin, empowered with gifts, called to purpose?

What does it mean that I live where I do, surrounded by specific faces—specific lives, specific needs. What does it mean?

What does it mean that I am supposed to lead? What does it mean?

What questions are shaping you? As for me, I am haunted by the ones that begin, "What does it mean?"

The Man in the Window

A Sign from God

2010-07-27T12:12:00.001-04:00

Devo -- A Sign from God

Signs and wonders. I confess that most of the time I wonder more about signs and wonders than I ever experience them. I have no stories about the heavens opening, dove descending. No writing on the wall, no parting of waters. It's not that I am closed to the idea of God breaking into my day in a miraculous way; it's just that most often I don't expect it.

But one verse is challenging me to change that. It's one of those passages that I have read time and time again. I've heard it quoted, preached and taught, and now it's got me looking for a sign—a sign that is vital to my relationship with the Forgiver; perhaps it is more vital than anything else in my experience with Him.

I'm looking for a sign. I'm trying to develop the habit of looking for it every day as I go about all the other routines of my life. I'm starting to get glimpses of it, and it's powerful. It is both challenging to me and rewarding when I recognize it and obey.

Yep, I'm looking for a sign from God, a divine interruption in the busyness of my day, my life, my mind, my schedule.

What's the sign I'm looking for? It's one that most of us will encounter today and pass right on by, but now I'm trying to look for it and obey.

Want to find it? Get in your car today and drive to a four way intersection. A residential neighborhood is likely to be more helpful, but you can discover this sign in any city, any town. Keep your eyes open and assume the posture of a searcher. Look for the sign. This is critical. If you're not looking for it, you're likely to miss it.

Before long you will encounter it. It is a guarantee I can make from this computer. There it will be right in front of you. Usually off to the side, visible day and night.

It's an eight-sided sign with one word painted on a red background—STOP.

There it is, my sign from God.

STOP

Every time I see it, I'm seeking to remind myself that God wants me to do just that—STOP. Stop and pause, connect with His presence, break the busyness with a moment that alters reality. STOP. I am not alone. STOP. He is in control. STOP. I am loved. STOP. He is real. STOP. Let the eternal redefine the temporal. STOP. He is speaking. STOP. And know that he is God.

I am trying to imagine how my life would change if every time I encountered a stop sign, I stopped, just for a few moments and reconnected with the God who transcends time. I'm looking for a sign from God, and every time I see it, I'm trying to obey.

¹⁰Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. Psalm 46:10 (The Amplified Bible)

Go ahead and look for the sign.

The Man in the Window.

What Does It Mean?

2010-07-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

I live on fairly nice little street in a smaller little dead end neighborhood. You can't really drive through my neighborhood and get to another one. All roads into my neighborhood start from the same road and lead out to the same road out. The houses are modest, most lawns are well kept, and many have flowers in the yards, bird feeders among the landscape, swings on porches, patio furniture in the yard.

What does it mean to live there?

It means I mow my lawn and weed the flower beds. I trim the trees and rake the leaves. It means I take in the mail and take the trash to the curb. Empty bins are returned back to the house. I repair the sidewalk and keep it clear.

But what does it mean to live there?

I live among people, families, couples, children, and singles. So I'm polite to my neighbors; I wave in passing, play my music low and observe the boundaries between our yards. I've learned their names, returned the wrongly delivered mail.

But what does it mean to live among them?

I'm a follower of the Forgiver who just happens to work at a church.

So what does it mean to live there? The same thing it means for every follower of the Forgiver. It means that living there is more that mowing the lawn, being polite and learning names. It means that living there is a part of my calling, my place of service, my purpose.

It means that living there is a vital part of the advancing the kingdom. It means I have a role to discover in the relationships of those around me, friendships to be develop, and lives to be shared. It means I have a savior to be unveiled, a light to be lived out, love to be demonstrated, truth to be shown.

What does it mean that you live where you live?

The same thing.

The Man in the Window

This is one of those videos worth sharing

2010-07-23T09:48:00.001-04:00

http://www.godtube.com/featured/video/steve-harvey-introduces-jesus-christ

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

2010-07-22T11:39:00.002-04:00

What Does It Mean?

What does it mean to live there?

But what does it mean to live there?

But what does it mean to live among them?

I'm a follower of the Forgiver who just happens to work at a church.

What does it mean that you live where you live?

The same thing.

The Man in the Window

What's on the Scroll?

2010-07-13T14:00:00.000-04:00

I was reading in Psalms this morning, Psalm 40 to be specific, and I was hit with another one of those leadership moments. I was struck by the wording of verses 7-10.

7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

What a powerful thought. David understood that on a scroll before God things about him were already written. A godly leader is always aware that a record is being kept of not just deeds and accomplishments, but a scroll detailing character and habits is perpetually being written before God. As I sit in the window at the coffeehouse I ponder, "What was written on the scroll about me?"

David knew the character of his heart and life were reflected there.

· I desire to do your will.
· Your law is within me.
· I stand for righteousness.
· I speak of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

What would be written about me on the scroll? What would be written about you?

Every leader who follows the Forgiver should remember this truth. There is writing on the Scroll.

The Man in the Window

Running in the Face of Challenge

2010-07-10T12:15:00.002-04:00

I got asked how my "Couch to 5K" running program is working. I admit I'm learning a lot about myself. For instance, I know I can run for over 25 minutes without stopping. Now I admit I'm not setting a blistering pace, but I'm running. I know that I can run and not have my old knees give out. I know that it takes a determined effort to start, and that getting going seems harder than I expected. But as I've begun to run longer distances (well longer for me), one of those leadership principles is jumping to my mind.

You see, this week I've begun to run 2.1 miles without stopping. Okay, it's not a great distance for runners, but for me it's the first time since I was in the military 34 years ago that I've run that far. And considering that I only had to do it once in the military, 2.1 miles seems like a huge hurdle. Just the thought of it is overwhelming. As I set out it seems insurmountable.

But I've discovered a secret that works for me. I have the IPod loaded with uplifting, inspiring music, but that isn't enough. My secret to running in the face of this bigger challenge is this-I spend a lot of time looking at the ground right in front of me. I watch the sidewalk, the road, the trail about 10 feet in front of me. I glance up occasionally and see my progress, but most of the time my head is down and I'm watching the road. I run 2.1 miles, 10 feet at a time.

Leadership is often like that. A leader will face challenges and hurdles. More often than we would like, those hurdles and challenges seem huge, insurmountable, overwhelming. Staring at them can be flat out discouraging and defeating. But real leaders know the secret of facing challenges and hurdles-set your face and keep running. You keep plugging away bit by bit, step by step. You look up occasionally and judge the distance to the overall goal, and then you put your head back down and run on. Building, analyzing, recruiting, modeling, implementing, evaluating, organizing, defining, detailing, equipping, encouraging, we run on-step by step toward the goal.

Proverbs put it this way, "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. "

Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV

Staring into the face of some big challenges? Put your head down and run on.

The Man in the Window

NEWS

2010-07-10T12:03:00.001-04:00

NEW KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE. On Thursday evening, after months of meetings, forums, discussions and prayer it became offical. On August 1st Sandusky Allaince Church will cease it's ministry. The remnant will merge with Norwalk Alliance Church in a New Kingdom Advance Initiative targeting the an overlooked demographic. 31% of families in Sandusky are led by single mothers. 28% led by two parent families undereducated and underemployed. We're targeting that demographic. Pray for the core as it seeks the Father's will.

Bruce D. Rzengota
Norwalk Alliance Church

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle.

Simple Lessons

2010-06-01T09:49:00.004-04:00

I never cease to be amazed at how easy it is to stumble over our tongue. Using it can lead to encouragement and relationship and at the same time it can be used in ways that lead to hurt and alienation. Someday, it will be great to be far beyond the times when I trip over my tongue. God continue to tame my tongue.

the man in the window

2010-05-11T16:37:00.002-04:00

My wife and I headed for Mansfield on Saturday. Planning on spending an enjoyable day at a matinee and browse through our favorite bookstore, we settled in for some good conversation on the drive. As we headed south out of town I glanced down at the dashboard and noted we were "Running on Empty."

I admit the lyrics to Jackson Browne Hit from my teen years ran through my mind.

Running on, running on empty

It's interesting how long I'm willing to let the car run on empty. The warning light wasn't on yet, though I expected it to come on at any time. On the country roads we were taking there were few gas stations along our route. The few that we would come across would likely be higher in price that those in Mansfield, so I determined to just keep (sing it with me) "Running on, running on empty."

In order to just keep running on empty I had to put a few significant possibilities out of my mind.

Running out of Gas was a distinct possibility. The consequences of Running out of Gas would be significant. Not only would there be the loss of time, but I could find myself walking to a gas station in the cold and rain. But it was only 35 miles to Mansfield, so why not just press on.

It's interesting how much running on empty consumed my thoughts as we traveled. Every few miles I looked at the gauge. Still no warning light. We had to be just about on fumes. But even as I came upon gas stations, I ignored the empty gauge and kept driving.

Thinking about it this morning as I sat in the window at the coffee house I realized how easy it had been to ignore the emptiness. I was aware of it. I know there could be consequences, but I just pressed on. Sometimes I realized how much I can be like that spiritually "Running on Empty." Ignoring the emptiness that has crept into my life, I just keep pressing on as though it didn't matter. Sure I know there are possible consequences when we run on empty. But it's too easy to ignore them.

Consequences like:
I get more impatient
I lack compassion
I'm more vulnerable to temptation
I begin to act like I'm entitled to special favor
I'm cynical
I'm critical
I'm disobedient, distant from God
Running on empty is a problem maybe a big problem waiting to happen.

Been running on empty lately? Just hoping that you don't experience problems?

This leader has been reminded once again how important it is to avoid "Running on Empty."

Jackson Browne penned it this way.
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on
Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Paul said it this way.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

How are you running this week?

Trickle Charge

2010-04-07T11:18:00.004-04:00

I own a 500 Piaggio automatic motorcycle. I purchased it a few years ago to help with the ongoing gas crunch we were feeling as prices at the pump soared. I ride it from April well into November and occasionally have even ridden it on an unseasonably warm day in December or March.
Last Thursday on April 1st I went to ride and discovered that my battery was dead. It was my own fault. Being out of town and then country so much over the last two months, I had never thought of starting the bike and getting it charged.

No big deal (I thought). I'll simply give it a jumpstart and be off (right).

Challenge #1: I had no idea where the battery was. After opening every accessible compartment, looking through each service port on the fairing and fenders I still had no Idea where it was.

Challenge #2: I had to locate the owner's manual and seek the information I needed on how to get access to the battery. That would also necessitate locating my reading glasses. A quick read later (not hardly - the Italian owner's manual was not organized in what seemed like a logical way) I discovered the battery was under the tail light compartment.

Challenge #3: To get access to the tail light compartment and the battery, I had to remove the rear hard top stage carrier. Of course since this was an add-on accessory, the owner's manual didn't cover its removal. 20 bolts, four screws and 30 minutes later, I had access to the tail light cover.

There it was, the battery. Success was in sight. I took a 2 amp trickle charger and hooked it up to the terminals. Six hours later, I tested the battery. Fully charged. I tried the starter, and the engine turned over and started.

Success.

I recently spent a month in West Africa,
working with Teams from the US Alliance, the Canadian Alliance, HCJB Global, international workers and indigenous workers doing the same thing (sort of). In the midst of a country locked in darkness as team of individuals installed a radio satellite relay station to allow the Holy Spirit trickle charge access to the land.

To get it hooked up required facing numerous challenges, lost luggage, delayed tools, three cases of heat exhaustion, one broken arm, average weight loss per man was 12 pounds. But in the end, the switch was flipped and it worked.

For all those who went, who gave, who prayed, who stood in the gap, who picked up the ministry pieces at home, the labor was not in vain. In Paul's words, "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV

Seven Words

2010-01-25T15:01:00.003-05:00

One thought led to another. The profound truth of a single statement consumed me as I sat in the window at the coffee house. John Crotts in his book Craftsman: Christ Centered Proverbs for Men said "Everyone becomes like that which surrounds them."

Seven words.

"Everyone becomes like that which surrounds them."

The truth is evident everywhere.

*Surround a positive person with critical ones and the positive spirit becomes more critical.

* Surround an enthusiastic person with apathetic ones and watch how easily passion is lost.

* Surround an outward-focused follower with self-focused believers and watch the burden for the lost diminish.

"Everyone becomes like that which surrounds them."

Sure there are exceptions. Fish that swim against the flow of those in the school. The man or woman of unshakable principle that does not bend, does not waver, does not compromise.

But. . .

Most of us are like the "everyone."

And "Everyone becomes like that which surrounds them."

So today what will surround you? What will surround me?

Which friends, which co-workers, which fellow-followers will be the influences in the "surrounding" of our lives?

It matters.

Living Life Unwrapped

2010-01-22T14:55:00.000-05:00

How do you say you want to live your life? Which of these statements resonates with
your heart?

--I want to live a life that matters.

--I want to make a difference.

--I want to count for the kingdom.

--I want to know Him and make Him known.

Or maybe you are more modern in your jargon.

--I want to live an authentic transformed life with Jesus.

--I want to live in community with others and God.

--I want to live a Missional lifestyle.

--I want to journey the different path.

Most of us who claim the name of Jesus, most of us who are in a relationship with Jesus can likely sum up how we desire to live our lives in a statement like one of those. They inspire us. They challenge us.

I read a great quote today about how we live our lives. Leaping off the pages of the book I was reading was this quote:

"How we live our days is ... how we live our lives." -- Annie Dillard

How I lived yesterday, how I live today and how I will live tomorrow determines how I live my life. A simple thought. A profound reality. The life I live unwraps before me each day. The daily decisions of what to do, the day after day expressions of what I value paint the picture of my life.

How do I live my life in the day by day reality so that it matters? Jesus summed it up in two commandments. He made it all about the vertical and horizontal.

Love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, all your strength and
from where those disciplines take you, love everybody else.

Game on! Goal set. Target in sight. Unwrap the life that matters.

Love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, all your strength and
from where those disciplines take you, love everybody else.

Today, as a leader, as follower, how are you intentionally unwrapping a life that matters?

Stunned

2010-01-04T16:22:00.000-05:00

I was watching one of those reality TV shows where belligerent speeders are being arrested. A 17-year-old young woman was pulled over for speeding and possible intoxication. She adamantly refused to cooperate with any request the officer made, let alone the request to get out of her car. Finally having had enough of her defiance, the officer removes his taser and informs her that she will be tased if she doesn’t get out of the car.

The driver still laughs at the officer and even says “right, your gonna tase me. Sure go ahead.” Warning her one last time the officer tases her when she fails to comply. Stunned, she is dragged from the car and falls face down on the ground.

Ezekiel had a vision by the river Kebar. In chapter one he spent 27 verses describing the experience. Finally he declares, “That is what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of God.” (MSG) Having had that epiphany, stunned he falls on his face to the ground; an instant response to the sovereign God.

What does God have to do to you, to me, to get us to comply to His authority, His lordship, His dominion over our lives, our ministries, our work?

Who are you more like, Ezekiel or the 17-year-girls? When God exercises His sovereignty, do we recognize His authority and respond? Or do we force Him to use the “taser” on us?

May this be a year in which we avoid the “Taser.”

Darn it! There Goes My Favorite Expression!

2010-01-02T14:05:00.001-05:00

I've got a fickle electronic lock on my van door. It's the sliding door on the driver's side. At least once week when I press my unlock button on the car remote or the electronic button inside the car it fails to unlock. Sometimes locking and unlocking again will correct the problem, but every so often even that fails to work. The only way to get the door unlocked is the old fashioned way of reaching in and pulling up the lock.

Since this only occurs when I need to get in the back seat for some reason or the other, the electronic lock failure is inconvenient. Really inconvenient! Because of the inconvenience I've noticed that I've developed an attitude about the situation. Whenever it occurs, my mouth is quick to utter, "Darn it!" I have begun to express immediate frustration when the door lock fails.

Immediate frustration?

It's a minor problem with an electronic convenience, and when it fails I immediately express frustration!

I didn't get it. I didn't see the picture. I didn't put two and two together until the other day I heard my daughter use the same expression in the kitchen. As her father and mentor I was about to encourage her with a "It's not a big deal," "Let it go" and a "Don't let the little things bother you."

That was when the Holy Spirit hammered me. "Preach it brother." "Preach it directly to your heart."

There I was standing in my kitchen under the conviction that I had grown so use to convenience that even a small problem led to "immediate frustration."

James said to consider it all joy when you encounter various types of trials. How will I ever consider a big trial joy when just the small ones were leading to "immediate frustration?" Since that day the Holy Spirit has been leading me through a series of heart checks. He's is challenging me to remove the favorite phrase from use, not substituting it with another. Instead to simple accept the inconvenience as just that a little thing.

There will always be frustrations. It's a part of life. And as leaders we open ourselves up to more frustrations with the responsibilities we carry. Have you found yourself quick to be frustrated in recent days.

This leader had, and The Leader wants to correct it.

Trusting in the Christmas Gift

2009-12-21T14:07:00.000-05:00

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways. . . but now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). It is His birth we are striving to remember in the midst of holiday hecticness. Jesus, the Son of God-let us cling to Him and never stop trusting (Hebrews 4:14).

Never stop trusting the gift described in Hebrews.

He is the. . .
· Reflector of God's glory 1:3
· Exact representation of God 1:3
· Cleanser of the stain of sin 1:3
· Occupier of the place of honor 1:3
· Right hand of the majestic 1:3
· One greater than angels 1:4
· Taster of death 2:9
· Bringer of others to glory 2:10
· Perfect leader 2:10
· Maker of holy ones 2:11
· Unashamed of his brothers 2:11
· Destroyer of the power of the devil 2:14
· Deliverer of those enslaved 2:15
· Partaker of humanity 2:17
· Merciful high priest 2:17
· Taker away of sin 2:17
· Helper of the tempted 2:18
· Messenger of God 3:1
· Deserver of more glory 3:3
· Confidence of our hope 3:6
· Faithful son 3:16
· Key to the place of rest 4:3
· Ascended one 4:14

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us as we need it.

To all who read these musings, may your worship of the Perfect Leader be rich and full this Christmas.
*All references based upon the NLT.

Getting the Gerunds Wrong

2009-12-14T14:09:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that most of the time when I was in school academics was not a priority. So I could often get by with C's and B's based on my half hearted efforts at homework and tests, but because of my lack of commitment, focus and priority there were a number of holes of my own making in my educational background. Many of these would be exposed and require correction why I was in college.

For instance until I was in Greek, I had no idea what a gerund was and how it was different from an infinitive. Here's what I learned.

Gerunds are formed with ING: walking, talking, thinking, and listening
Infinitives are formed with TO: to walk, to talk, to think, to listen

Gerunds and infinitives can do several jobs:
Both can be the subject of a sentence::
Writing in English is difficult.
To write in English is difficult.
Both can be the object of a verb::

I like writing in English. I like to write in English.

But...

Only gerunds can be the object of a preposition::

We are talking about writing in English.

Here is the big thing I learned about gerunds and infinitives.

Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed::

I stopped writing.
(The writing was real and happened until I stopped.)

Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future:

I stopped to write.
(I was doing something else, and I stopped; the writing had not happened yet.)

As believers we often get the gerunds wrong. I'm not talking about the syntax of a sentence. I'm talking about the theology of "praying and doing".

It is very easy to approach life, our work, our ministries, a project, a challenge and get the gerunds wrong. Let me illustrate.

Many of us approach life by doing everything we can to succeed, working hard, planning, theorizing, strategizing, organizing, pushing ourselves. If a problem arises we throw ourselves into it, working hard to fix it, seeking to control it, striving to overcome it. Occasionally we stop "doing" (gerund) "to pray" (infinitive).

Sound familiar?

Stopping "to pray" may be little more than a token acknowledgement that you want God to bless all you are "doing." Stopping "to pray" may be triggered by stress, burn out, overload, fear of failure or even just the guilt of having forgotten to pray. Sometimes stopping "to pray" is a desperate cry for help. We stop "believing it is all on us", we stop "depending on our gifts and skills", we stop "assuming we have the answers" and turn to God "to ask for a bail out plan."

Do you see the problem? It's in the use of the gerunds.

Too often we approach everything with the emphasis on "doing" and only occasionally do we stop "to pray." The use of the gerund on what we do and an infinitive on prayer reveals our dependency upon our works, our talents, our abilities. When we are doing we are not praying. We stop the one to start the other.

I'm convinced that is not the way a leader should lead. Look at Paul's advice he gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Always keep on praying. TLB
pray constantly, RSV
pray without ceasing; NAS
pray continually; NIV
pray all the time; MSG
Never stop praying. NLT

It's never been about stopping to pray. It's always been about "doing and praying." It may be that the hardest challenge for any naturally gifted leader is to believe that there is a big difference between "doing and praying" and just "stopping to pray".

What about you, do you tend to just stop to ask for a blessing? Or are you leading by "doing and praying?"

This next calendar year, this leader will be seeking to get the gerunds right.

An Identity with the Call

2009-12-07T14:13:00.000-05:00

For over four years every Sunday morning worship service at Norwalk Alliance Church has begun with an introduction by the pastor, followed by an identity statement with the entire conversation responding.

"Good morning, I'm Pastor Bruce Rzengota, Lead pastor at Norwalk Alliance Church, and this is my wife, Cheryl. And we're the Norwalk Alliance Church and we're. . .

"Living the Call Together," responds the congregation.

Every Sunday. Without fail. Why? How we identify ourselves helps define our lives.

How the Apostle Paul identified himself defined his life. Look at 2 Timothy 1:1 in these translations[1]

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. NLT

I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God's plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. MSG

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life that is found in Christ Jesus. NIRV

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. God sent me to tell about the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. NCV

No matter how you read it, what Paul claimed to be (identity) defined his mission.

I'm half Polish. That's enough Polish blood to claim that I am Polish, but other than having had to endure numerous Polack jokes as a kid growing up, there are not many ways that my Polish heritage defines my life. I guess you could say I've eaten haluski, guampki, perogi, keilbasi, but I am not defined by that claim I am Polish.

Does the title you claim (identity) define your life mission? How does claiming to be a Christian, a follower of the Forgiver, a pastor, an elder, a church leader, how do they define fine you? Does what you do flow from who you claim to be?

--The Man In the Window --
-- A Follower of the Forgiver --
-- A man seeking to lead others to him --

[1] NLT - New Living Translation, MSG - The Message, NIRV - New International Readers Version, NCV - New Century Version

Confessions of a Jet-Ski rider

2009-11-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

I saw a Waverunner for sale the other day. It brought back memories.

I owned a Waverunner for many years and loved the feeling of being on the water early on a calm clear day. Long before the other boats were out, when the lake Milton was just one huge mirror, I loved to throttle my Yamaha wide open and race across the surface.

Strange thing about running wide open it's only fun for so long before you get tired of it. Wide open makes every turn, every maneuver hazardous. The slightest swell is an obstacle. Splash boom. Splash boom. Wide open your body has to absorb every jarring splash as the boat skims over even the slightest waves. Wide open you can't enjoy the scenery, your eyes fixed on water ahead. Wide open you can't tow a skier, a wake boarder, a knee boarder. Wide open burns fuel at a ridiculously insane rate.

Wide open is no fun for those left behind in the wake as you speed by. It's frustrating to the other boaters, other skiers since they never know when you will turn and crash and burn. Wide open.

Wide open is all about the speed and never about beauty of the lake.

Wide open.

Wide open is too often how I want to do ministry, blazing ahead, throttle wide open, flying across the river of life. There's a rush about what comes with a wide open lifestyle, a wide open ministry philosophy. But strange thing about running wide open, you can only do it for so long, before the body tires of a hasty turn leads to a crash and burn.

Wide open.

How are you running as a leader? Have you been running wide open for too long?

Throttle back and enjoy the ride. You'll stay on the water longer.

Answering the Call

2009-11-06T11:22:00.000-05:00

I was reading in a military history journal [1] this last week and came across this amazing story. I was reminded of what leaders do.

January 15, 1777, in Fort Edward N.Y a tavern owner named Henry Francisco enlisted in the Continental Army. He went on to fight through the Saratoga campaign before he was discharged for medical reasons on April 20, 1778. Attached to Colonel Seth Warner's famed Green Mountain Boys regiment, Francisco saw action in the Battles of Hubbardton, Bennington, Freeman's Farm and ultimately at Bemis Heights. What was so unusual about this volunteer? He was 91 years old at the time of his enlistment.

The story is recorded that at the battle of Bennington a Captain Stafford sought to remove an old man of slender build with a slight stooped framed from the line before assaulting the redoubt [2]. Not desiring to be relegated to merely guarding the baggage, the old man came forward and addressed the captain and politely objected. "Not until I've had a shot at them first, Captain, if you please." His reply sparked a riotous cheer leading the Captain to send the men and the elderly warrior forward to the redoubt.

Francisco, an old warrior, refusing to be sidelined from the battle, inspired those around him when he answered the call.

Abraham was 100.
Moses was 80.
I'm turning 52.

As leaders, no matter what our age, may we answer the call in such a way, that our refusal to be sidelined spurs on those around us. Amen!

What Does it Mean to be a Man of God?

2009-10-26T09:03:00.000-04:00

Does it mean that I claim His name? Does it mean that my allegiance belongs to Him; that I bear the title Christ- follower, believer, Christian? What does it mean to be a man of God?

Does it mean that I rule my life in ways that avoid the moral pit falls and snares of this world? Does it mean that holiness is a battle I strive to win? Does it mean that I work at the development of "God" character, the fruit of the Spirit, in my life? What does it mean?

Does it mean that I force-feed my spirit the Word of God? Does it mean that I strive to make prayer happen interwoven into my busy schedule? What does it mean?

Does it mean that I labor intensely for the sake of the Kingdom? Relentlessly working, reaching out to the hurting, counseling the struggling, leading the willing, seeking the lost? What does it mean?

It may mean all of these things. In fact my life may often be defined by these things, but does it mean I'm a man of God?

Maybe,....

Or maybe a man of God is one who walks in grace so real, fellowship so close, communion so deep, spirit so broken, awe so inspiring, worship so lifted, that who we are becoming is like who God is.

Then the title becomes character.
Holiness a trait, not a goal.
The Word indwelt, not just studied.
Prayer a life stream, not a scheduled appointment.
Kingdom advancement an undeniable consequence, not just the focus of my striving.

What does it mean to be a man of God?

Lord, help me to be such a man.

Chasing after other gods

2009-10-16T08:58:00.000-04:00

I was reading in Hosea. It is always a fascinating book for me to read. Who names a girl Gomer? Who marries a prostitute and expects faithfulness? Who names their children "not my people," "no mercy", "no love"? I have often said, "thank you Lord you didn't call me to be Hosea."

In the midst of this book I was hammered by a statement, a charge God brings against the people of Israel. Hos 6:10 says, "My people have defiled themselves by chasing after other gods." Chasing after other gods-at first the statement just rolled by, then my brain tripped over the truth. It was very easy for me as a leader to chase after other gods. As I sat in the window in the coffee house, I saw clearly how easy it was for me to chase after gods.

There are no temples in my yard, no idols in my home, no false festivals on my calendar, yet I saw all the ways I so easily chased after false gods.

I saw how easy it is to replace "Christ in me the hope of Glory" for "hard work by me the hope of glory." And that was only the first of many false gods I could so easily chase. Others included "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" with "I can do all things"; "You shall have no other gods before me" with "you shall no other gods before me except for rest, recreation and pleasure";
"Meditate on my words day and night" with meditate on the words of Ed Young, George Barna, Crawford Loritts, Reggie McNeal and Andy Stanley"; "without faith it is impossible to please God" with "without faith in coaching, PowerPoint's, blackberry, social networking and websites it's impossible to please God."
It was so easy to chase after other things than Him.

In the same book Hosea wrote. "Oh that we might know the Lord. Let us press on to know Him."

What are you chasing after today? As a leader. As a man or woman of God. What are you chasing? Have other gods become more pressing than pressing on to know Him? Let it not be said of us that we "exchanged the Glory of God for the disgrace of idols[1]" even the modern ones.

Sharp Edges

2009-10-06T08:55:00.000-04:00

I love my landscaping and flower beds. I love how they look when they are neatly mulched, weeded and trimmed. But I have learned unless I maintain the edging on my beds they begin to look sloppy and loose their appeal. So on a semi-regular basis I have to focus on the edging. Whether it's a hand edger, spade, or edging attachment on a Mantis, edging takes work. It takes time and is tedious. Long before I'm finished with it, I'm tired of it. But when the work is done, the beds look so much better.

It hit me the other day how much my life was like a landscape bed. Sometimes when it is neatly trimmed, and well weeded, the fruit of the Spirit is very evident. But more often than I'd like to admit, the evidence of weeds, those fleshly fruit, have emerged. I'm testy here, a little lazy there, less than gentle, self control wavers. What I've discovered is that during those times, the edges of my life need tending. The lines that define who I am as a follower, as a leader become ragged. There is a real need to focus on the edging.

So I get back to the hard work of fasting, prayer, devotion. It feels tedious. Long before I'm finished I'm tempted to quit, but when the work is done, when the investment is made, the shape of my life looks so much better. How are the edges of your life as a leader? Are the lines that define you sharp and clean, or have they been neglected for awhile? Is it time for you dig in and focus on the basic things that define us as followers? If you are like me, from time to time it's a necessary discipline in keeping the edges clean.

Missing the Connection

2009-09-30T16:39:00.003-04:00

Sometimes as a leader it can be easy to take in the details and miss the point of what is occurring.

I had a ticking sound in my left front wheel that accelerated when I accelerated and slowed when I slowed. Three different times I took the vehicle to a mechanic near the coffeehouse. They pulled the hub cap, the wheel, checked the seals, the bearings the brake and found nothing. They put everything back together and the next day the noise was back. Again the vehicle was dropped off for service and again everything was checked. Nothing was found.

This time the noise didn't return-for a few days. Then it was back. Tick tick tick tick .

A third time in the shop. A third look at all the details. Finally the connection is made! A small piece of plastic on the hubcap was broken. As the wheel had turned it would come loose and rattle in the wind.

Observed the detail, yet failed to see the implication. No connection made.

I was reading of just such an instance in John chapter 20 this morning. Peter and the "other disciple" raced to the empty tomb to see for themselves the evidence Mary Magdalene had reported to them. Entering in they saw the linen cloth lying there. The cloth that covered Jesus face was folded and set to the side. Then it says that at least John (the other disciple) makes the connection. It says "he saw and he believed-for until then they hadn't realized that the Scriptures said he would rise from the dead." (John 20:8b,9)

Looking back in hindsight John says that that was the moment he believed. I'm sure he did believe that Jesus was not there, that he was risen, but the connection hadn't been made yet. Why do I think this? Verse 10 says, "Then they went home." They have just seen evidence of the most incredible event since creation, the God-man was risen from the dead. The Forgiver was alive. So they went home.

Amazing some connection is made, but no change takes place. They just go home.

How receptive is your heart as a leader to the little ticks, the indications of His workings in your life? Are you recognizing His hand at work? Are you making the connections to the big things that He is doing in your midst, your ministry, your work, your heart. Or do you have a tendency to see Him at work and then just go home.

Godly leaders see the hand of God continually at work and are changed by it.

Remembering Where You Stand

2009-09-22T08:22:00.000-04:00

I was reading a passage the other day that ended up challenging me as a leader. As a staff we read it together and discussed it at our weekly meeting. In Exodus 32, God is ready to slay the stiff necked, rebellious people of God who have been quick to forget His deliverance. Moses has been on the mountain with God, Aaron is the defacto leader, but the mob has begun to grumble and Aaron's solution leads to disaster.

Ex 32:1-5
32:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."
2 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me."
3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.
4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD."

The affront to Yahweh the Deliverer is more than understandable. Look at his reply.

Ex 32:9-10
9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people.
10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

It is the end of verse 10 that struck me as a leader this time. God offered Moses the equivalent of a new Abrahamic Promise. Moses, give me some time while I wipe out these people and I will start again with you.

Moses knew God's word was true. He had witnessed the power of God in the plagues. Seen His promises of deliverance fulfilled at the Red Sea. Moses knew this promise was his for the asking. He would be the new father of a multitude. Wow!

It is interesting where Moses' heart lies. Without hesitation it becomes clear where Moses stands, with the people he has been called to lead. Though he may have been tempted by the promise of a new beginning, his heart allegiance remains with the stiff-necked people. He intercedes for them.

Where do you stand? Is your allegiance firmly fixed on the people you are called to serve? Or could your heart easily be tempted away to other goals, other glories? When those you serve prove to be stiff-necked, unthankful, is your heart tempted to turn away?

In the worst moment of his tenure as leader of the flock of Israel, when those he leads cavort around the image of a calf his second chair leader, Aaron has created, Moses stood with his people. He was in the place every leader would find himself-standing as intercessor between God and those he serves.

Where do you stand?

Unlikely Proverbs

2009-09-17T16:31:00.002-04:00

Proverbs. Sometimes they can be a little difficult to comprehend. I came across some unique proverbs recently. Here are a few from the African Continent:

A man does not wander far from where his corn is roasting. (Nigeria)
The hunter does not rub himself in oil and lie by the fire to sleep. (Nigeria)
Even the mightiest eagle comes down to the tree tops to rest. (Uganda)
A ripe melon falls by itself. (Zimbabwe)

According to The Free Dictionary, proverbs are short pithy saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a basic truth or practical precept. These African proverbs sound foreign to us, but even outside of their culture we can guess at the meaning.

We're never too far from our roots.
Using Common sense avoids tragedy.
We're all alike in many ways.
Good things come in time.

An entire book of scripture is dedicated to Proverbs, but the other day I was impressed with short pithy sayings not from the hand of Solomon, but from the lips of the Forgiver.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.
Whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
If you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
No servant can serve two masters.

Luke 16:10-13

As leaders we don't need to guess at what the Leader was expressing in these proverbs. They are transparent truths revealing the integrity of character in every leader.

Trustworthy in little things
Honest in the smallest matters
Faithful t in financial matters
Responsible with trusts
Single-mindedly committed to God

The Pharisees scoffed at this (Luke 16:14). Do we? Do I?

God Follower

2009-08-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the pictures of leadership appear in the most unlikely places. This last week I encountered a young teenage girl and she would remind me of one of those great leadership truths.

She was from a religiously active conservative family. She was raised to be a faithful God follower. But she found herself in a horrible situation. She was faced with an unwanted pregnancy. She was in a committed relationship with someone and she was certain the baby wasn’t his.

As you can imagine she was struggling with all the questions anyone in that circumstance would struggle with.

What would her parents say?
What would they do?
How would she tell the young man who she had committed her heart to?
What would he do?
Should she just run away?
Should she seek a way to end the pregnancy?
If she gave birth to the baby how would she care for the child?

In the midst of this struggle she shares the most profound statement.

“I am a God follower, and I will accept whatever He wants in this.”

In the ugliest of situations every leader, every true leader knows two truths.

1. Who they are – “I am a God follower.”
2. What God expects – “I will accept whatever He wants.”

That’s who I aspire to be, a God follower willing to accept whatever He wants.

Want to hear the rest of this young woman’s story? Read it for yourself. It begins in Luke 1:26.

The Man in the Window
A God follower willing to accept whatever God wants.

What are you living?

2009-08-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Monthly new titles are reviewed in Christianity Today. Leadership Journal promotes new must reads quarterly. E-newsletters promote others. Today's leader has no shortage of places to turn for insight and help concerning the role.

But today in my own devotional time I was overwhelmed with the description of a leader. During the day of the return from exile, the days of rebuilding, the days of busyness, during the days of challenge, Ezra is arrives on the scene in Jerusalem. He is described this way.

Ezra . . . the gracious hand of his God was on him. This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the law of the Lord and to teach those laws and regulations to the people of Israel.
Ezra 7:8,10

Those were his qualifications; the cover letter introducing him as leader. This guy experiences the continual grace of God. He's cultivated it by studying the law inside and out, but he hasn't just studied it, it has become a part of him. He obeys it at every point. He is committed to teaching what he has learned to all the people.

I know that when I am with other leaders I often ask, what are you reading? Lorrits? McNeall? Maxwell? I am always looking for clues to what God is doing in their lives, their ministries.

Maybe the better question to ask is, what are you living?

Jesus Chooses the Twelve

2009-08-12T15:18:00.002-04:00

Mark 3:16-19
These are the names of the twelve he chose:

Simon (he renamed Peter),
James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them "sons of Thunder),
Andrew,
Phillip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James (Son of Alphaeus),
Thaddeaus,
Simon (the Zealot),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

It's just the list of names of the twelve. Wrong. Six of the twelve are differentiated by an annotation following their names. A footnote if you will to help us understand who they are. Some of the footnotes are helpful and gracious. Simon, the common man so profoundly remodeled by the Carpenter he gets a new name--Peter. He is different from Simon, the man who can never let it go. The man enthusiastically committed to everything it means to be a Jew. One of the footnotes is rather simple, just a family name added so he can't be confused with another--James, the Son of Alphaeus.

The list of names I have read many times before, but today the weight of two of the footnotes hit me. James and John are called not just the sons of Zebedee, but the "sons of thunder." Ouch! Sons of Thunder! Imagine being remembered as two men who were often quick to speak and maybe slow to think. Or perhaps it's a reference to all the times they stuck their foot in their mouths in one of Jesus discussions. Perhaps it is a reference to their untamed, unedified character--bulls in pottery shops throughout Galilee and Capernaum. What instance birthed the moniker? What personality traits led to the nickname? It's unclear, but it was true that they are remembered by the footnote.

Then there is Judas Iscariot. Did we really need the footnote? There is only one Judas? And we know his family name? Was it needed to include the parenthetical (who later betrayed him)?

Then it hit me, we have little control over the addition of footnotes. They will just be added to our lives. Some will be descriptive. Some will be kind. Some may be gracious. But we need to realize that some might be reminders of weak character, or our biggest failure.

Some footnotes could be infamous like:

OJ (the guy who likely killed his wife)
Mark McGuire (the guy who juiced his way into the record books)
Michael Vick (the guy who went to prison for Dog fighting)
Jimmy Swaggart (the televangelist who frequented hookers)
Some could be just as defeating:

John (the liar),
Bob (the loud one),
Bill (the immoral),
Jana (the one who walked away from God),
Carol (the pew sitter)
Tina (the judgmental)
Dave (the adulterer),
It got me thinking. What footnotes will be written to describe my life?

Before the Father's Throne

2009-07-09T12:35:00.004-04:00

During a recent trip to the African continent, I had the great privilege of working alongside two international workers and their families in a medical clinic outreach to an unreached people group. The last room in our village clinic was set aside for prayer and scripture distribution. My partner introduced me as his ‘imam’ from ‘Amerik’ who had come all the way to give blessings on them in “issa’s’ name (Jesus). Of the 175 clinic patients, 169 agreed to receive the blessing.

Time and time again I found myself in the unique situation of praying for people by name, asking God to bless their lives, their homes, their families, but most importantly I prayed that the Holy Spirit would bring them dreams and visions of who Jesus was. On the second day two realities would strike a strong cord in my heart. Time and time again I found myself weeping as these two thoughts keep surfacing in my mind.

As I prayed I realized that many of the people were being mentioned by name before the Father’s throne in heaven for the first time. For some it may have been the one and only time that they would ever be interceded for by name. I also realized how much I took for granted that my name is so frequently mentioned before the Father’s throne. My family prays for me, my church, my friends, some of you likely even prayed for me. My name has been mentioned often in the Father’s presence. Yet here were Mamadu, Bah, Ibrahim, Hadiaitu, Alseny, Alpha Omar, Bubacar. Some would be prayed for only on this day.

This leader was challenged to change two things in his prayer life. First, I will forever mention more people by name before the father’s throne. Second, to never again take so lightly the fact that others pray for me.

Therefore, to all who have mentioned my name before his throne, thank you. Will you join me in praying for Mamadu and Mounsieur Bah. Pray for them right now that they might be followers of Issa’s way.

Right but Still Wrong

2009-06-26T14:06:00.000-04:00

I was reading in 2 Chronicles when one sentence jumped of the page. It was one of those moments when the leadership principles the Great Leader has written upon our hearts became so clear.

King Joash, one of the great reformers has passed away. Most of his life was dedicated to the repairs of the temple and the renewing of true worship. For most of his life he was guided by the mentorship of the priest, Jehoiada. His son, Amaziah, becomes King at age 25. He would reign for 29 years in Jerusalem.

His entire reign is summed up in one sentence. "Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly" 2 Chronicles 25:2. Wow! Consistently doing what was right, was not enough. God expected his leader to do what was right, not out of obligation, duty, or ritual, but out of a heart wholly committed. Amaziah looked good on the outside, but fell short on the inside.

The passage made me think. How many times in my life do I do the right things but not wholehearted. They are done out of duty, out of ritual, out of obligation.

Is prayer a duty or the reflection of a wholly committed heart?
Is my time in the word more than a daily habit or a checking off of something on my to-do list?
Is my outreach to my neighbors just a project or an act of the heart?
Is my service a job or a passion?
Is the pursuit of holiness a reflection of a devoted heart or a legalistic safeguard?

Amaziah did what was right, but he fell short because it was disconnected from a total heart surrender.

May God deliver me from the example of Amaziah.

May God deliver every leader from the mere outward performance of our calling. May our hearts' commitment be evident in the places we lead.

Leader to Leader: It's All about the Inside Stuff

2009-06-16T12:11:00.000-04:00

I was reading the end of First Chronicles today. I admit it is normally one of those Old Testament sections that I endure reading. It is the last days of David's life. His kingdom is being passed to his son Solomon. A detailed plan for the building of the Temple is being drawn up and entrusted to his heir. It's filled with list of instructions for the organization of musicians and gatekeepers. It recognizes leaders of the clans, appoints treasurers and Military Commanders. Much of it is filled with names I cannot pronounce, and detail which at best seems trivial.

In the midst of these chapters I discover a mentoring moment that stunned me. In Chapter 28 David has summoned all the leaders, commanders, overseers, officials, mighty men and warriors in his Kingdom. He shares with them his vision for seeing a temple erected to house the Ark of the Lord's covenant. He reminds them of God's favor which has rested on the line of Judah. He challenges all present to faithfully obey the commands of the Lord that they may forever possess the good land God has given them.

Then David speaks to his son, his heir, the new King. David shares with him the secret that he has learned. It is a leader to leader defining moment.

9 "And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

Learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. The cultivation of intimacy with God is a character trait of all great leadership. Forget it, overlook it and suffer the consequences.

David to Solomon, leader to leader, it's all about the inside stuff with God.

Solomon would learn it. Will we?

The Heart of a Humble Leader?

2009-06-09T15:48:00.001-04:00

Okay let's admit it. We all know that a leader is supposed to be humble, but what is humility. Is it incompatible with strength? Does it offset aspiration? Can you be masculine and humble at the same time? What does humble confidence look like? Is it possible to be humbly self-assured?

Okay I know what every good Bible student would say. Jesus was humble, Jesus was strong, Jesus was masculine. Many of us would likely end up in Philippians 2, the kenosis. We have preached, taught, read that He emptied himself. He became nothing. We have been told that he was humble; we know that he is our example, but what does it look like.

For too many leaders we know humility is a part of the mix, a measure of the calling, an ingredient in the recipe of leadership development, but ask a leader what it looks like and we struggle to answer. I confess sometimes I don't know how to describe it, but I now think I know it when I see it.

David has become my example of humility. It is from him that I am learning the lesson. In 1 Chronicles 17, we get a glimpse of humility in David. He is now established as King in Jerusalem, and we are allowed into one of his private moments with God.

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,
"Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!
18 "What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like.
1 Chron 17:16-18, NLT

David reminds me that humility is found close to the heart of God, in communion with our Creator, our Lord. Humility is the honest self-assessment of our lives and our accomplishments in His presence. Who am I Lord that you have entrusted this calling, this assignment, this task to me? Who am I Lord that I am privileged to be treated as though I were something when you know what I am really like.
What is humility? In the light of his presence, knowing who we are and what we would be without him.

Let the man or woman of God be humble. Humble yourselves before the Lord, . . . James 4:10

David's Mighty Men

2009-06-02T16:00:00.000-04:00

I've been reading in 1 Chronicles and spent some time pondering some of David's mighty men.
**Jashobeam, commander of the Three, once killed 300 men with his spear in one battle.
**Eleazar fought back to back with David when surrounded by the Philistines and beat them back.
**Shammah, one of the Three, took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the surrounding Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
**Abishai foremost of the Three, killed 300 in a single battle.

The mighty men were being remembered not for their weaknesses but for their strengths.

Reggie McNeal states that we have inadvertently developed a culture where we are much more aware of our weaknesses than our strengths. That's certainly often true in my life. I can list out everything that I struggle with, where I fall short and what I'd like to change. I beat myself up over failures and setbacks.

But the mighty men, they were remembered for their strengths.

I have heard that the fastest and most prominent way to strengthen an organization is to strengthen the weakest element. If team building is weak, strengthen it. If moral is low, raise it. If image is poor, change it. If it's broke, fix it.

But the mighty men, they were remembered for their strengths.

Leaders need to remember this truth. We will always need to address weaknesses, but it is strengths that are celebrated. It is in the area of our strengths that our greatest impact happens.

Mighty men (and women) are remembered for their strengths. Go ahead lead with yours.

Different Window Same Man

2009-05-15T09:01:00.002-04:00

My wife and I are in the midst of a week long personal retreat. More than a vacation, it's a time to rest and renew the two most important relationships in our lives. We're focusing on our individual spiritual journeys with the Forgiver and the journey of intimacy we share together.

On Wednesday afternoon we sat in a coffee house in Delafield, Wisconsin and I was editing a previous Man in the Window entry for distribution. As she finished proofing the draft for me she got up from the table, patted me on the shoulder and said, "Different coffee house, still the Man in the Window."

What a profound truth. Cheryl touched on one of the goals of my own spiritual journey. For a number of years now I have been cultivating my personal walk with God with the regular faithful exercise of spiritual disciplines believing that those disciplines would define my character as a follower of Jesus. Long ago I became fed up with being a different man in public and a different man at home. I grew tired of the façade, the mask of spirituality that was too easy to put on enroute to the church service, a study or the office. Like so many people, I wore different masks and my spirituality was just another mask I put on.

When I finally became dissatisfied with the masks, I sought to become a man defined by the habit of seeking the Forgiver's face in prolonged quiet times, in devotion, and study. And today it dawned on me just how true it was becoming. I am the Man in the Window, the man who now seeks God's presence as a priority, a man who feels lost when he allows the disciplines to become lax. No matter where I am, I am that man.

Here is a great question for every leader. Are the disciplines you practice shaping who you are becoming? The disciplines don't change us, but they keep putting us in a place where his grace can change us. Are your disciplines leading you toward who you're destined to be?

Different window, same man.

Leading in the Caves

2009-05-08T15:59:00.000-04:00

I was reading in 1 Samuel the other week and I was reminded of a truth that is often lost today. Leadership cannot be equated with glory.

David has been fleeing from Saul's fury and jealousy. Having hidden himself among the Philistines in Gath for a period of time, but facing the opposition of King Achish's men, David flees again. As chapter 22 opens David is hiding in the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and other relatives join him there. All those who were discontent, in trouble or in debt gathered there with him. It's a pretty ugly picture; one man fleeing for his life and a bunch of other malcontents hiding in a cave. Yet it is this group of broken, discouraged men that David assumes leadership over. Hiding in a cave a leader rises. It is here that the leader of mighty men emerges.

It is too easy to equate leadership and glory. It is too easy as a leader to expect accolades, too easy to long for recognition, too easy to self promote. It is too easy to long for the palaces, the people, the crowds. David emerges as a leader away from glory. Real leaders emerge in the trenches away from the limelight. It is there that their leadership is proven.

Lebron James gets a lot of credit as a great on-the-court leader for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is in the limelight every night he ties on his shoes, but when you listen to his teammates, you discover where his leadership was born. Lebron leads in the trenches of daily practices and weight room sessions.

Real leaders lead in the trenches, in the hard places often away from the glory.

David led in the cave. Where does your leadership shine?

Real leaders lead.

When Being King isn't Enough

2009-04-24T12:43:00.000-04:00

In I Samuel 18 Saul is confronted with a leadership challenge that most of us will have to face at some point. David had slain the giant Goliath and delivered Israel from a costly war. Samuel wrote, "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang:

'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.'"

That is a pretty understandable response of the people. Thousands of lives had been saved, the terror of Philistine conquest had been eliminated. The people are celebrating and David is the hero of the Hour. But "Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. 'They have credited David with tens of thousands,' he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?' And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. " (1 Samuel 18:6-9)

Every leader battles this at one time or another
· His church has more numbers
· His business is more successful
· Her ministry is more acknowledged
· They got recognized
· They sang his praises and not mine
· He gets all the credit
· They have credited David with tens of thousands but me . . .

Saul was ensnared with jealousy. Interesting thing about jealousy, we're all susceptible to its entrapments. We become jealous when we believe that we've been short-changed. Saul is King. Israel is his to lead. No other man is more powerful in the land, yet Saul is jealous. Why? David's getting more praise.

Every leader becomes jealous when he confuses blessings for rights. Saul believed he deserved more praise rather than recognizing he was blessed to be King. But being king wasn't enough!

I just came back from our Church District Conference, an experience that sometimes left me very frustrated. I confess that early in ministry I viewed district gatherings as times when insecure pastors tried to one up themselves in the eyes of others. Earlier in ministry, pastoring a small church I would often return home struggling with questions of self-worth and often jealousy. It was easy to be jealous of those who had greater ministries, more recognition. I came home failing to see that I was blessed to know the Forgiver, to be entrusted with a place of ministry and leadership.

How about you? Is being leader over that which God has already entrusted you enough?

Leaders lead-and that is a blessing, not a right.

The Day Approaches

2009-04-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

The day approaches. The Leader draws near to His destiny. As we remember His ride into the city, the meal shared with those He loved, the night of prayer and agony, the moment of betrayal, the mockery of a trial, the hostility of the crowd, the via Dolorosa, the fall of the hammer, the jeers of gloaters, the tears, the fears of a few, the words spoken through pain filled lips... might we stand in awe of the Leader who leads us all.

Behold the Lamb of God comes.

Trusting Another Man's Armor

2009-04-01T12:01:00.000-04:00

My daily time reading the word has brought me again to the saga of the early kings of Israel: Saul, David, Solomon. Rereading these stories every year I am never surprised about how many leadership lessons jump off the page at me. In my journal I penned at least 11 leadership truths that were being refreshed in my mind.

Leaders have always learned lessons from other leaders. It's why we read Hybels, Warren, Stanley, Swindoll, McMannus, McClaren, Bell, Eldridge, Evans and Ortberb. And I readily admit that I have gleaned numerous principles, ideas, strategies that have had significant impact upon my life and my ministries. But as I was reading I Samuel 17 recently, I was reminded of a principle that I had to learn in the early years of ministry.

Young David is stepping up to face Goliath, the giant of Philistia. All others have been frozen in their fear. None but this young man is willing to face the challenge. When he is brought before Saul, David speaks of his confidence in his staff, his club, his sling; the weapons with which he has protected his father's sheep. More importantly he speaks of an incredible confidence in God's ability to deliver. I can imagine the awe in Saul's eyes when David speaks, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1 Sam 17:37)." Giving his blessing to David to fight Goliath, Saul offers him the king's own armor and sword.

The leadership lesson being refreshed was in how David responds. He turns down Saul's armor, opting for his staff, sling and five smooth stones. You see David knew that God works through the gifts and talents that he had already been given.

I didn't understand that as a young man, a young pastor. I copied every idea, every method that other leaders did. I not only wore another's man armor, I regularly rotated through a wardrobe of other leader's ideas, methods and programs. It's not that I was learning from them and applying the principles to my ministry. I was just copying what they did. What did I learn; you can't wear another man's armor. What worked in one place does not automatically work in another. While we may learn from each other, God works through each leader individually and distinctly, enabling him to meet the challenges he faces.

Have you ever fallen into the trap of trusting another man's armor, rather than the God who has gifted you uniquely for the challenges you face?

Leader's lead. Each of us uniquely gifted and equipped by the LEADER for the task.

Patience with New Things.

2009-03-25T11:22:00.000-04:00

We have just recently switched from a printed church newsletter to an e-newsletter. We were simply following a trend to try to go digital whenever possible. Board meetings, annual meetings had already gone to a paperless format so this last week I labored with the new software to create our first edition of a paperless newsletter.
Along the way I was reminded of numerous leadership principles that are so easy to take for granted. While I admit they are all elementary, I felt like I was back in leadership 101 learning them all over again.

The idea of an e-newsletter was easy. Finding the right software, the right publishing service, and the right e-newsletter management site was more difficult. Having done some research, I settled on resource and began the process of setting up an e-newsletter.

Writing the articles was easy. Learning how to enter pictures, text, formatting on the new software took time. Learning the intricacies of formatting the pages and imbedding hyperlinks took time.

Sending the newsletter was easy. Doing it well the first time was a challenge. After three drafts, and input from my chief editors (an office manager and an administrative assistant) I thought we were ready to move ahead and publish. I was eager to see the finished work (that tendency we all have to want change to be quick and easy). Thinking we had arrived at the place of perfection, I clicked the send button and promptly sent out a draft copy instead of a corrected copy. ARGH!! So two days later I found myself writing an explanation and encouragement for others to be patient with the change and forwarded a corrected copy of the newsletter.

So what was I learning again? Just the basic stuff of change.

- Change is never easy. It always requires hard work.
- Change won't happen without a few snags along the way. No matter how hard we try we will always fail to foresee every detail, we will always make mistakes along the way.
- Change will always challenge our patience. Leaders see where they want to go and they'd like to get there NOW. Patience in change begins with leaders.
- Change is a process. First attempts always lead to tweaking the system, adjusting the plan, editing the process. When things go wrong leaders don't blame others, they assess what's needed and continue to move forward.

Leaders lead. . . especially when it comes to change.

Leaders lead....

2009-03-12T16:33:00.000-04:00

I have been reading Joshua these last few days and I was struck by an incredible expectation Moses had for his protégée. Repeatedly Moses challenges Joshua to be strong and courageous. It is easy to understand why Joshua may be struggling with fears. Moses will soon be gone. He is the appointed leader. As leader he would have to lead the tribes to a place they had never been before, and getting there would be no easy task. He has seen how rebellious and difficult the Israelites could be. Walled city and giants wait in the land he is supposed to conquer. Sensing his angst, Moses repeatedly encourages him.

But just a few chapters later, Joshua gives the same exhortation to the Israelite tribes. Just a short time earlier he was the one struggling, he was the one in need of a good locker room speech. What happened? Why the change?

Did he suddenly become such a hero that he no longer faced any fears? Did he suddenly become indifferent to dangers they would face as they conquered the land? Was he no longer aware of the responsibility that rested on his shoulder. I don't think so. All the fearsome challenges still lay ahead.

Joshua had done what every leader must do. To take those he is leading to where they need to go, he must face the fears, face the challenges and move forward. Why? Because if the leader hesitates in the face of challenge, those who follow will stop.

Joshua has no idea what each of the battles ahead will look like. He only knows, he must face the battles in order to fulfill the vision--taking the land.

Leaders are not fearless, but they fearlessly face the struggles, the challenges, the battles to lead others to the fulfillment of the vision. Leaders lead… Even when faced with fearsome challenges.

Reorganized by Grace

2009-02-26T12:22:00.000-05:00

I’ve been reading from the Book of Exodus in recent days. A statement lifted off the page to a vibrant new significance. Just as God begins to reveal his plans to destroy the firstborn of Egypt and to “Passover” Israel, he makes an incredible declaration to Moses. “From now on this month will be the first month of the year for you.” Exodus 12:2 God was about to do something so significant that it was worthy of the entire Israelite people reorganizing their lives around it.

Leaders know that there are few things worthy of re-organizing our lives around.

#1 Our marriage to our spouses.
From the day we say I do, for the day the document is signed, from the moment when two become one, our lives are forever reorganized around that new oneness we are chasing.
#2 The birth of children.
From moment they come crying into the world, from the day they are brought home schedules are altered, future plans amended as our lives flow with these new currents.
#3 Never discovered by some, but leaders know it as truth.
From the moment we discover who and what we are meant to be everything changes. When we discover who we are – objects of the Forgivers great love, those who are destined to discover both grace and our role in the story of grace, everything changes.

Just as the Passover changed everything, the discovery of God’s grace and our purpose in Him changes everything.

Embrace the story of Grace, your story and let your life flow from its depths.

Daily Update

2009-02-09T15:13:00.001-05:00

My computers all run the same antivirus software. It runs in the background protecting my work from all sorts of malware and problems. I tend to take it for granted.

Every morning when I start my computer the software begins its work scanning files I open, checking emails and keeping a wall of protection up as I sign on the web.

But every morning my software does another thing automatically; my antivirus software connects with the internet and updates itself. It never misses a day. Yesterdays updates may not be enough for today’s threats so day after day it updates.

Leaders are like that. They know the need to update daily with the great leader Jesus. They seek to connect with him uploading new definitions, new solutions, new management principles, new understanding. Leaders know the value of the daily update with God. Don’t take if for granted, be sure to connect for a daily update.

Lesson From the Woods 3

2009-01-15T10:48:00.003-05:00

I was deer hunting recently. On Tuesday afternoon of gun season I was sitting in a camp chair high atop hay bales overlooking a field. Winter clover was in abundance and I had laid out corn the previous week. Tracks revealed that the corn had been discovered and regularly visited.

At 20 minutes to 5:00pm a large doe and two yearlings began to make their way out of the woods. Ever cautious, they slowly walked the edge of the field coming my way. At 85 yards they stopped, the doe staring in my direction. Frozen in place, sighting down the scope, I waited. When she turned and showed her side I took the shot.

MISSED!

Missed? How did I shoot under that deer? I’m an experienced marksman, expert medals to prove it. I was sitting still, elbow propped on my knee, but I shot under the doe. I went home frustrated and perplexed.

Wednesday was warm and sunny so in the afternoon I took the shotgun to another field, set up a target and checked the sighting on the scope. At fifty yards I was dropping 3 inches. The night before at 85 yards I may have dropped as much as 5 inches.

Three clicks up on the scope. More shots, this time grouped around the center.

By 4:00pm I was back in the field, sitting in high brush under the outstretched arms of tree just 25’ from where I hunted the night before. Nothing to do but sit and wait.

4:40pm – a buck wanders out in an adjacent field.

4:45pm – three deer wander the far edge, close enough to be seen, no chance for a shot.

4:50pm – a huge doe leads five other deer out of the woods. They move my way. I’m uncertain if they will make it to my blind before sunsets at 5:10pm.

4:55pm – three of the deer including one big doe linger in the corner of the field.

4:58pm – The largest doe leads two others toward the corn. Safety off, I watch them through the scope.

5:00pm – The large doe stops in one of my shooting lanes. I squeeze the trigger. She’s hit just behind the front shoulder. Clean through the chest.

En route to the processor that night I’m struck once again by a leadership truth. Preparation and opportunity are not enough. Clear focus, vision, for the objective is essential. The only difference from Tuesday’s failure and Wednesday’s success was a refocused scope. Vision made the difference.

Leaders know success is a combination of preparation, opportunity and focus. Leaders lead – so lead.

Lessons From the Woods 2

2008-12-17T10:47:00.004-05:00

I sat a lot in the woods recently hunting deer. One interesting thing about deer hunting is that good preparation doesn’t equal success. It’s an element of success but it doesn’t equal success.

The Saturday before gun season a friend and I headed out to set up a hunting blind. Trekking across the field we jumped two bucks on the way into the sight. Traveling the edge of the field we saw track after track, scrapings and rubbings. Expecting great hunting we set a blind up overlooking the corner of the field and a well worn trail into the woods. Scattering apples down the shooting lanes we were satisfied we had done everything we could to be ready for opening light.

Early Monday morning we walked into the woods. Settled into the blind and waited out the predawn hour, each of us convinced we would soon take a deer.

6 hours later and still no deer.

I was being reminded that success is a mixture of many things not the least of which is opportunity. Preparation is critical, without it opportunities are missed. But preparation without opportunity is just as futile.

So what do leaders do when opportunity fails to come? The same thing hunters do.

Hunters--They stay prepared.
They return to the woods.
They patiently wait.

What do leaders do?

Leaders--They stay prepared.
They stay involved.
They wait patiently for the next opportunity.

Leaders lead.

Lessons From the Woods 1 - Cold Feet

2008-12-09T15:42:00.002-05:00

Sat in the woods a lot last week, enduring the cold waiting for a chance to take a deer. I know some people may be opposed to the idea of hunting, but the days in the woods reinforced some basic things that leaders know.

Leaders know preparation is critical.

Tuesday morning was bitter cold -- 25￮ with wind chills dropping into the teens. I donned liner pants, heavy jeans, three shirts, a sweatshirt, a fleece vest and my thermal coveralls. Add a warm fleece hat, a turtle fur neck warmer and a heavy duty pair of hunting mitts, and I thought I was ready for anything.

I left the house at 6:00 am, left the car at 6:15, and was set up in the woods on my camp chair by 6:30 am. Legal shooting time started at 7:07 am.

My feet were cold by 7:00 am. My winter boots were failing me. By 7:20 my feet were feeling stiff. By 8:00 am they hurt. By 8:30 I was walking out of the woods, defeated by the lack of the right boots.

I knew my boots were suspect. My feet had been cold on Monday, but I had hunted eight hours.

Tuesday, however, was a different day, different circumstances. I was unprepared for the cold. Failed due to a lack of preparation.

It’s a simple thing--preparing for the circumstances we are going to face. So simple. So easy to take for granted.

This leader was reminded again of what all leaders must learn.

Preparation is critical.

Leaders lead. How’s your preparation been?

the man in the window

Get on Your Hobby Horse!

A Reminder of What it's All About.

Thanksgiving in the Age of the Pursuit of Stuff!!

Psalm 100

Coming to a Complete Stop

What's the Difference?

Lifting and the Road Back

Lifting and the Trap of a Busy Schedule

Lifting and the Loss of Gains

Changed - Iron Man

Is It Clear?

The Tale of the Lost and Broken Lion

I'm on Vacation

CROSSWORD PUZZLES ONE MORE TIME

CROSSWORD PUZZLES

THE TRUTH ABOUT CROSSWORD PUZZLES

Tulips Again?

Tulips

Fertilizer

Peach Tea

Deal 'em Again

Deal 'em

IN Search of . . . Easter Eggs?

R__________ to A____________: The S______________

Another Lesson by the Stream

So how do you think of yourself?

No Cheap Love

Lost Lid

North by North Whatever

Without Limit (or Maybe Not)

I've Been to the Mountain Top Valley

iPod Sync

Questions?

A Sign from God

What Does It Mean?

This is one of those videos worth sharing

What's on the Scroll?

Running in the Face of Challenge

NEWS

Simple Lessons

Trickle Charge

Seven Words

Living Life Unwrapped

Stunned

Darn it! There Goes My Favorite Expression!

Trusting in the Christmas Gift

Getting the Gerunds Wrong

An Identity with the Call

Confessions of a Jet-Ski rider

Answering the Call

What Does it Mean to be a Man of God?

Chasing after other gods

Sharp Edges

Missing the Connection

Remembering Where You Stand

Unlikely Proverbs

God Follower

What are you living?

Jesus Chooses the Twelve

Before the Father's Throne

Right but Still Wrong

Leader to Leader: It's All about the Inside Stuff

The Heart of a Humble Leader?

David's Mighty Men

Different Window Same Man

Leading in the Caves

When Being King isn't Enough

The Day Approaches

Trusting Another Man's Armor

Patience with New Things.

Leaders lead....

Reorganized by Grace

Daily Update

Lesson From the Woods 3

Lessons From the Woods 2

Lessons From the Woods 1 - Cold Feet

R to A: The S____