I had this deep thought the other day. It had to do with mentoring and team building. It was based upon what I am calling a “New Polish Proverb.” I’m calling it that in honor of my Polish Grandfather who said such pithy things to me growing up.
Here it is.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
Whenever my grandfather would say something profound to me he would follow it up with this great statement in his broken English accent. “You understand me that Brucie?”
Read the proverb again.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
“You understand me that leader?”
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Persistence
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson four is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are persistent. “Reel” fishermen are always ready to fish and they will keep fishing when others have quit.
I’ve gone fishing on a Friday night and suffered through a poor bite. The water color was off, the temperature too high. For whatever the reason, the fishing was poor, but ask me if I want to go back out on Saturday morning and the answer is yes. “Reel” fishermen know that the bite that was off on Friday night may be hot on Saturday morning. So back they head.
“Reel” fishermen are persistent because they will keep trying to catch fish even when the bite is off. I’ve changed lures and techniques numerous times on the bank of a river, the back of the boat, the side of the stream. “Reel” fishermen know that even when the bite is off some fish will bite if they can just present the right lure in the right way. So they keep trying until they catch fish.
Imagine if we were as persistent as fishers of men. Imagine if the night after a seemingly futile witness attempt we headed right back out to the stream. Imagine remaining so persistent in our effort to reach our neighbors that we tried approach after approach, conversation after conversation, invitation followed by invitations until they responded.
“Reel” Fishermen have persistence, shouldn’t we?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson four is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are persistent. “Reel” fishermen are always ready to fish and they will keep fishing when others have quit.
I’ve gone fishing on a Friday night and suffered through a poor bite. The water color was off, the temperature too high. For whatever the reason, the fishing was poor, but ask me if I want to go back out on Saturday morning and the answer is yes. “Reel” fishermen know that the bite that was off on Friday night may be hot on Saturday morning. So back they head.
“Reel” fishermen are persistent because they will keep trying to catch fish even when the bite is off. I’ve changed lures and techniques numerous times on the bank of a river, the back of the boat, the side of the stream. “Reel” fishermen know that even when the bite is off some fish will bite if they can just present the right lure in the right way. So they keep trying until they catch fish.
Imagine if we were as persistent as fishers of men. Imagine if the night after a seemingly futile witness attempt we headed right back out to the stream. Imagine remaining so persistent in our effort to reach our neighbors that we tried approach after approach, conversation after conversation, invitation followed by invitations until they responded.
“Reel” Fishermen have persistence, shouldn’t we?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Optimism
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson three is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are optimistic about fishing. It doesn’t matter if the fish aren’t biting; “reel” fishermen are always thinking that the next cast will lead to results; a lunker waits just beyond that weed bank. If I change my lure, freshen my bait, move down the bank the fishing will change.
Strike out on a Thursday; “reel” fishermen will be back out on a Saturday, trying again. They know that a day is coming when the bite will be on, when cast after cast will lead to fish. Success is just a matter of time, conditions and persistence. No “reel” fisherman is ever defeated, just delayed.
The optimism that a fisherman has is fueled by others. Put ten guys on a pond. Let them fish without success for an hour, wait right up until some are ready to quit, then suddenly someone lands a perch, nails a bass and all ten are ready to keep fishing.
When it comes to being a “fisher of men” we must be optimistic. After all the Master Fisherman has declared that we can do this. Each of us can be successful, so with the Forgiver next to us on the bank, we should keep casting. Success may be only one cast away. If we’re not catching fish, not impacting others with the Forgiver’s story, change the lure, reposition on the bank, but keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away. And when you hear stories of successful fishermen, don’t be discouraged. Listen and learn, pick up a tip or two and keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away.
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson three is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are optimistic about fishing. It doesn’t matter if the fish aren’t biting; “reel” fishermen are always thinking that the next cast will lead to results; a lunker waits just beyond that weed bank. If I change my lure, freshen my bait, move down the bank the fishing will change.
Strike out on a Thursday; “reel” fishermen will be back out on a Saturday, trying again. They know that a day is coming when the bite will be on, when cast after cast will lead to fish. Success is just a matter of time, conditions and persistence. No “reel” fisherman is ever defeated, just delayed.
The optimism that a fisherman has is fueled by others. Put ten guys on a pond. Let them fish without success for an hour, wait right up until some are ready to quit, then suddenly someone lands a perch, nails a bass and all ten are ready to keep fishing.
When it comes to being a “fisher of men” we must be optimistic. After all the Master Fisherman has declared that we can do this. Each of us can be successful, so with the Forgiver next to us on the bank, we should keep casting. Success may be only one cast away. If we’re not catching fish, not impacting others with the Forgiver’s story, change the lure, reposition on the bank, but keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away. And when you hear stories of successful fishermen, don’t be discouraged. Listen and learn, pick up a tip or two and keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away.
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Purpose
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.
Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.
“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.
When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?
Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?
When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.
Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.
“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.
When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?
Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?
When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
What could be better than fishing?
Some of you know that I like to fish (that is an understatement) I love to fish! But I’ve been discovering something about fishing that makes the experience even better. I like fishing even more when I get to take someone else fishing and show them some of the things I know about fishing. Things like:
• How to catch a bass on a weed-less Texas rigged rubber worm.
• How to catch blue gills on small jigs.
• How to catch their first trout on a fly rod.
I realized this morning when the man I was fishing with nailed his first bass out of the weeds just how much fun I was having just sharing the knowledge. I realized that as much as I like to fish, I liked mentoring others to catch fish.
Imagine if every leader made a discovery that all the things that they loved to do were even more enjoyable when we were teaching someone else how to do them. Mentoring, it’s one of the joys of leadership. Have you discovered it?
• How to catch a bass on a weed-less Texas rigged rubber worm.
• How to catch blue gills on small jigs.
• How to catch their first trout on a fly rod.
I realized this morning when the man I was fishing with nailed his first bass out of the weeds just how much fun I was having just sharing the knowledge. I realized that as much as I like to fish, I liked mentoring others to catch fish.
Imagine if every leader made a discovery that all the things that they loved to do were even more enjoyable when we were teaching someone else how to do them. Mentoring, it’s one of the joys of leadership. Have you discovered it?
Friday, June 22, 2007
It Isn't Heavy - Right!
My son and I were discussing his ministry as Staff Director at a Christian camp and Conference Center this summer. It was interesting to hear him share that he was coming to the realization that with so many things, so many events, so many projects, so many expectations that the buck stopped with Him. It was his responsibility to schedule, to assign jobs, to delegate projects, to ensure that the job get completed, that it’s done appropriately, he also has to worry about staff morale, encouragement and evaluation.
It was interesting listening to him because this summer he was discovering something that every leader wrestles with—the unseen, but often very oppressive weight of leadership.
There is no escaping the weight. It is there on vacation, on your days off, at the beginning of the week and it’s still there at the end of the week. It is always there.
So how does a leader deal with it? How does he cope with the weight?
I eventually came to this conclusion and it was freeing. I remind myself that I stink at being God. But God is actually quite good at it. He is able to care for all those things better than I could hope too.
So I work hard, I study, I plan, I program, I train, I equip, I lead, but through it all I keep reminding myself that it’s His weight and He’s good at dealing with it.
To all those who know the weight, to all those who have been oppressed by its burden, to all those longed for relief, remind yourself.
The weight belongs to Him.
It was interesting listening to him because this summer he was discovering something that every leader wrestles with—the unseen, but often very oppressive weight of leadership.
There is no escaping the weight. It is there on vacation, on your days off, at the beginning of the week and it’s still there at the end of the week. It is always there.
So how does a leader deal with it? How does he cope with the weight?
I eventually came to this conclusion and it was freeing. I remind myself that I stink at being God. But God is actually quite good at it. He is able to care for all those things better than I could hope too.
So I work hard, I study, I plan, I program, I train, I equip, I lead, but through it all I keep reminding myself that it’s His weight and He’s good at dealing with it.
To all those who know the weight, to all those who have been oppressed by its burden, to all those longed for relief, remind yourself.
The weight belongs to Him.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Waiting on the Blossom
For Mother’s Day my son and I planted a new flowerbed—a heart shaped gift of love to the love of my life. We transplanted a number of perennials from other spots on our property. I added a few roses and flox from the nursery. I also added an unknown plant, a tall spindly plant I was sure I had seen in bloom behind my garage. Water, fertilizer and mulch finished the effort.
Over the coming weeks the new bed thrived. Roses bloomed, irises unfolded, black-eyed susans took hold. I added annuals—marigolds and petunias. All the while the tall spindly thing grew and spread.
My wife began to ask me if the tall spindly thing was just a weed. To both of us it looked pretty terrible.
“I think it will bloom. Let’s give it more time.”
I have to confess I was having my doubts. It sure did look like a weed. And if it was a weed it was dominating the center of the flower bed. It’s presence was hard to ignore. But I waited on it.
Eventually I saw buds coming. It was about the time my wife began suggesting we pull it out.
“It’s got buds. It’s going to bloom. Let’s wait.”
Then one day, the hint of color peeked out. Was that blue I saw tipping the buds? A few days later deep blue blossoms were opening on every spindly stalk, beautiful flowers unfolding in praise to the Creator. No more discussion about the weed. No more talk of pulling it out, instead a growing appreciation for its beauty now marked our discussions of the flower bed.
Leaders have to learn this truth. Some things, some people, some programs, some strategies, some changes take a long time in developing. Long before their beauty emerges we may have to endure the awkwardness of their development. Early on in the mentoring of others, early on in the implementation of new programs or strategies, early on in an emerging leader we may see more weed than flower. While every program or strategy may not succeed, while every change may not work, while every potential leader may not develop, good leaders are slow to give up, longsuffering in patience. Good leaders give time for the blossoms to appear.
Over the coming weeks the new bed thrived. Roses bloomed, irises unfolded, black-eyed susans took hold. I added annuals—marigolds and petunias. All the while the tall spindly thing grew and spread.
My wife began to ask me if the tall spindly thing was just a weed. To both of us it looked pretty terrible.
“I think it will bloom. Let’s give it more time.”
I have to confess I was having my doubts. It sure did look like a weed. And if it was a weed it was dominating the center of the flower bed. It’s presence was hard to ignore. But I waited on it.
Eventually I saw buds coming. It was about the time my wife began suggesting we pull it out.
“It’s got buds. It’s going to bloom. Let’s wait.”
Then one day, the hint of color peeked out. Was that blue I saw tipping the buds? A few days later deep blue blossoms were opening on every spindly stalk, beautiful flowers unfolding in praise to the Creator. No more discussion about the weed. No more talk of pulling it out, instead a growing appreciation for its beauty now marked our discussions of the flower bed.
Leaders have to learn this truth. Some things, some people, some programs, some strategies, some changes take a long time in developing. Long before their beauty emerges we may have to endure the awkwardness of their development. Early on in the mentoring of others, early on in the implementation of new programs or strategies, early on in an emerging leader we may see more weed than flower. While every program or strategy may not succeed, while every change may not work, while every potential leader may not develop, good leaders are slow to give up, longsuffering in patience. Good leaders give time for the blossoms to appear.
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