A deeply profound leadership truth emerged in devotional time this morning. I realized why I like fishing so much.
Okay, I know that doesn’t seem very significant, the profundity of it may be obscured. But it really was an eye-opening revelation.
Let me explain.
When I fish, all I do is fish. All I think about is fishing. I read the current in the water; I focus on picking up the bait. I think through the next cast, the next presentation. I’m focused on fishing.
But what hit me this morning, about why I like fishing was this: I really like fishing because of what I’m not thinking about. I’m not thinking about the church I lead, the staff I lead, the people, and the ministries I lead. You see one of the costs of leadership, one of the prices we pay, and one of the sacrifices we make is this: Leaders lose the right to think about just themselves. Leaders are constantly thinking about the organizations they lead, the people they lead, the ministries they lead. With leadership come increased responsibilities, and that increase in responsibilities call for a leader to think differently.
The impact of being a leader on how we think is not a bad thing. It’s just that, we cannot escape it. Leaders think for more than themselves.
We all need the moments of distraction but when The Day on The Bank of a Pond is done, the round of golf, the run of night, or whatever it is that you do to disengage, leaders pick up the responsibility to think for more than themselves.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
DUH!
Duh! Homer Simpson’s exclamation of dimwittedness has been adopted by a generation of TV viewers. Phrases like, “Well Duh!” and “Duh moments” have crept into our vocabulary. I confess that this morning during my study time I had a mind-rending “Duh moment.”
Hang onto your seat. This is it.
People do not follow worthy causes. People do not follow vision or mission statements. People follow worthy leaders who promote a worthwhile cause.
Pretty profound isn’t. I remember the vision statement craze that rushed through our churches a few years ago. It seemed like every church, no matter how small, how struggling, was wrestling with creating a fresh, vibrant vision statement. Boards sat in meetings clarifying, editing and producing concise proclamations. Sadly for some, if not many, of those churches the exercise produced little fruit. Why?
The reason is people follow worthy leaders, not worthy vision statements. The difference has never been the quality of the vision; the difference has always been the quality of the leader.
People followed the Forgiver. They embraced His teachings because they followed Him.
Look behind you. Are people following? They will if you are a leader.
Hang onto your seat. This is it.
People do not follow worthy causes. People do not follow vision or mission statements. People follow worthy leaders who promote a worthwhile cause.
Pretty profound isn’t. I remember the vision statement craze that rushed through our churches a few years ago. It seemed like every church, no matter how small, how struggling, was wrestling with creating a fresh, vibrant vision statement. Boards sat in meetings clarifying, editing and producing concise proclamations. Sadly for some, if not many, of those churches the exercise produced little fruit. Why?
The reason is people follow worthy leaders, not worthy vision statements. The difference has never been the quality of the vision; the difference has always been the quality of the leader.
People followed the Forgiver. They embraced His teachings because they followed Him.
Look behind you. Are people following? They will if you are a leader.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Slap, Drift, Jerk
On a recent fishing trip in Alaska I was reminded of an important leadership principle. I call it the lesson of the “slap, drift, jerk.” People follow who they trust. Trust is based on the experience and the character of the leader involved. Therefore, people follow the leader with proven character.
Having never before fished for Sockeye Salmon, I found myself faced with a dilemma. I observed that people were fishing for Sockeyes with what appeared to be a “slap, drift and jerk” technique that to me defied every fishing practice and skill I had ever learned.
Slap about 12’ of line out into the current with a 1oz. weight and a bead and a hook rigged to it. Let the weight ‘drift’ down stream as it swings on your line. At the bottom of the swing ‘jerk’ the tackle up and slap it down again.
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
The friend I was with is an experienced fisherman, but I’m no slouch. BUT he was an experienced Alaskan fisherman and guide. So my choice was this. Do it my way, experiment with trial and error, or trust the “Alaskan fisherman.”
Leaders should always remember others will follow and trust our leadership because we have developed a measure of proven character. The more proven our character, the greater the perseverance of our followers.
When we started our first morning of ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk” fishing the salmon were elusive. But I trusted in the proven character of my guide, my friend, so I kept up the ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk’ and waited for the results.
We limited out.
Do you want others to trust your leadership? Let your character be proven.
Having never before fished for Sockeye Salmon, I found myself faced with a dilemma. I observed that people were fishing for Sockeyes with what appeared to be a “slap, drift and jerk” technique that to me defied every fishing practice and skill I had ever learned.
Slap about 12’ of line out into the current with a 1oz. weight and a bead and a hook rigged to it. Let the weight ‘drift’ down stream as it swings on your line. At the bottom of the swing ‘jerk’ the tackle up and slap it down again.
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
Slap, Drift, Jerk
The friend I was with is an experienced fisherman, but I’m no slouch. BUT he was an experienced Alaskan fisherman and guide. So my choice was this. Do it my way, experiment with trial and error, or trust the “Alaskan fisherman.”
Leaders should always remember others will follow and trust our leadership because we have developed a measure of proven character. The more proven our character, the greater the perseverance of our followers.
When we started our first morning of ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk” fishing the salmon were elusive. But I trusted in the proven character of my guide, my friend, so I kept up the ‘Slap, Drift, Jerk’ and waited for the results.
We limited out.
Do you want others to trust your leadership? Let your character be proven.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Watermelon Dilemma
How good is seedless watermelon? I admit that I’ve had a few that were pretty tasty. I’ve never done a side by side comparison, but seedless melons get at least a B+ in my book.
But seedless melons have led to an unusual consequence for me. Whenever I approach a platter of watermelon at a social setting, a BBQ or a picnic, I look for the seedless melon. Even if the variety being served is not seedless, I look for the pieces with the fewest seeds. There are always a few. Usually cut from the “heel” or the “”bowl” end of the melon. While those pieces have fewer seeds, they are often less flavorful—often a little “rhinny” in taste. The best pieces in a standard melon are cut from the middle, teeming with rows of imbedded black seeds. But the advent of seedless melons has taught me I can avoid seeds and still have watermelon.
What an allegory for our lives. We want the sweetest things that life offers, and we want them seedless, no obstacles, no work required. If something we desire seems like it will take too much work or effort, we look for a way around the seeds.
C. S. Lewis said, “We are too easily pleased.”
Perhaps we lose in our quest for a seedless watermelon life?
James said, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends when you encounter challenges, obstacles and watermelon seeds (my paraphrase).
Pass the watermelon.
But seedless melons have led to an unusual consequence for me. Whenever I approach a platter of watermelon at a social setting, a BBQ or a picnic, I look for the seedless melon. Even if the variety being served is not seedless, I look for the pieces with the fewest seeds. There are always a few. Usually cut from the “heel” or the “”bowl” end of the melon. While those pieces have fewer seeds, they are often less flavorful—often a little “rhinny” in taste. The best pieces in a standard melon are cut from the middle, teeming with rows of imbedded black seeds. But the advent of seedless melons has taught me I can avoid seeds and still have watermelon.
What an allegory for our lives. We want the sweetest things that life offers, and we want them seedless, no obstacles, no work required. If something we desire seems like it will take too much work or effort, we look for a way around the seeds.
C. S. Lewis said, “We are too easily pleased.”
Perhaps we lose in our quest for a seedless watermelon life?
James said, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends when you encounter challenges, obstacles and watermelon seeds (my paraphrase).
Pass the watermelon.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Lifeline
All spiritual disciplines must breathe in the relationship with the Forgiver. Otherwise all they become are workouts in the gym of religious exercises.
Fasting is about mourning Him.
Prayer is about communing with Him.
Worship is about celebrating Him.
Baptism is about uniting with Him.
Study is about knowing Him.
Communion is about remembering Him.
Service is about honoring Him.
Too often we have trumpeted the discipline a part from Him. No wonder for so many engaging in spiritual disciplines is an empty undesirable chore.
Talking with my wife is never a chore. Dating her is never a task. Honoring her with acts of honor or service are not disciplines. They are simply a part of the romance of being married to her.
Perhaps we should see spiritual disciplines as the avenues of the Dance of Romance with the Savior.
“But I have been loved by people who know Jesus. And I don’t know that there is any greater love than the love from those who have been touched by the Messiah.”1
1 Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What (Thomas Nelson, October 13, 2004), p. 212.
Prayer is about communing with Him.
Worship is about celebrating Him.
Baptism is about uniting with Him.
Study is about knowing Him.
Communion is about remembering Him.
Service is about honoring Him.
Too often we have trumpeted the discipline a part from Him. No wonder for so many engaging in spiritual disciplines is an empty undesirable chore.
Talking with my wife is never a chore. Dating her is never a task. Honoring her with acts of honor or service are not disciplines. They are simply a part of the romance of being married to her.
Perhaps we should see spiritual disciplines as the avenues of the Dance of Romance with the Savior.
“But I have been loved by people who know Jesus. And I don’t know that there is any greater love than the love from those who have been touched by the Messiah.”1
1 Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What (Thomas Nelson, October 13, 2004), p. 212.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
David's Prayer
I read this in a Swindoll devotional book today.
David’s prayer as a leader, “Keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
What a great prayer. David understood our capacity, your capacity, my capacity, to overthrow every good thing with one stupid act, one willful sojourn in sin.
What a great pattern of prayer for every leader!
Keep me; guard me from trashing it all.
Where I have failed in the past- free me not first of guilt, but from the act.
We will then know true innocence.
Pray it with me.
“Keep me from deliberate wrongs. Help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
David’s prayer as a leader, “Keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
What a great prayer. David understood our capacity, your capacity, my capacity, to overthrow every good thing with one stupid act, one willful sojourn in sin.
What a great pattern of prayer for every leader!
Keep me; guard me from trashing it all.
Where I have failed in the past- free me not first of guilt, but from the act.
We will then know true innocence.
Pray it with me.
“Keep me from deliberate wrongs. Help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.” Ps 19:13
Friday, August 24, 2007
Good Leaders Seek.....
Good leaders seek to be well prepared and try to head off problems before they arise. But sometimes no matter how well prepared, even good leaders end up dealing with a fire to put out.
This week we had to get both our children off to their perspective colleges. Being our daughter's first semester, we had been working through a long checklist of preparations, including the purchase of a used vehicle in good working order. In May we acquired a small sporty two-door in good mechanical and physical condition. We had our garage check it over and I was assured it had new tires and brakes before we made the purchase.
On Wednesday after we got her moved into the loft she was renting from a former administrative assistant of mine, my daughter and my son left in her car to meet some friends for dinner. My wife and I joined with the landlady for a short prayer of dedication for the coming year.
As we are praying the cell phone in my pocket was vibrating. Cutting short our intercession, I answered the phone. It was my son. The conversation went like this.
“What’s up?”
“The car’s on fire.”
“What do you mean the car’s on fire?”
“It’s on fire.”
“What, is it smoking?”
“No it’s burning.”
“How bad?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Is everybody okay?”
“Yeah, some guy’s putting it out.”
“Where are you? … Okay, we’re on our way.”
You can tell my son is very stoic. Not much fazes him. As my wife and I headed to the scene of the fire, I was laughing out loud. Why? Because I was being reminded once again of a leadership lesson I had learned long ago.
Leaders know that sometimes no matter how thorough the plan, no matter how well prepared you are for an event, sometimes ‘fires’ still occur. When those unexpected fires ignite all we can do is put out the flames, assess the damages, evaluate your resources and options, regroup and press on.
How well do you handle the fires?
This week we had to get both our children off to their perspective colleges. Being our daughter's first semester, we had been working through a long checklist of preparations, including the purchase of a used vehicle in good working order. In May we acquired a small sporty two-door in good mechanical and physical condition. We had our garage check it over and I was assured it had new tires and brakes before we made the purchase.
On Wednesday after we got her moved into the loft she was renting from a former administrative assistant of mine, my daughter and my son left in her car to meet some friends for dinner. My wife and I joined with the landlady for a short prayer of dedication for the coming year.
As we are praying the cell phone in my pocket was vibrating. Cutting short our intercession, I answered the phone. It was my son. The conversation went like this.
“What’s up?”
“The car’s on fire.”
“What do you mean the car’s on fire?”
“It’s on fire.”
“What, is it smoking?”
“No it’s burning.”
“How bad?”
“Pretty bad.”
“Is everybody okay?”
“Yeah, some guy’s putting it out.”
“Where are you? … Okay, we’re on our way.”
You can tell my son is very stoic. Not much fazes him. As my wife and I headed to the scene of the fire, I was laughing out loud. Why? Because I was being reminded once again of a leadership lesson I had learned long ago.
Leaders know that sometimes no matter how thorough the plan, no matter how well prepared you are for an event, sometimes ‘fires’ still occur. When those unexpected fires ignite all we can do is put out the flames, assess the damages, evaluate your resources and options, regroup and press on.
How well do you handle the fires?
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