A while ago I had a tree come down in my yard. Yesterday I laid twelve bags of mulch completing the new landscaping. The new bed looks great. It has a three-inch layer of deep brown mulch.
I was very satisfied as I viewed the result. Anyone passing by would notice how well it looks. But the mulch is just a top dressing. It is everything else I did that will truly make the bed a great piece of landscaping.
overgrown ground cover was killed off
the tree stump was ground out
the ground was tilled
weed inhibitor was applied
6 day lilies, 7 bearded irises, 6 mini-irises, 2 azaleas, one mum, one black- eyed susan, one decorated grass, 18 crocus bulbs, 18 tulips, 18 daffodils had all been planted.
Right now the top dressing looks good, but the real work of creating a flower bed had already been done.
As a leader have you settled for top dressing an outward appearance of having it together? Are you doing the hard work that truly develops leadership in you?
Are you planting…
Are you tilling…
Are you fertilizing…
Are you weeding…
…in your life that you might be the leader that more than looks good on the surface?
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
New Fonts or Software
I had to search for a font the other day. On a different computer, I had previously used a font entitled “The Aeroplane Flies High.” Having transferred the file to my new computer, the document would correctly open without installing the font. The process of looking for the font reminded me of a leadership principle.
Often when a person encounters a problem, the easy response would be to just do some surface thing to cover it up. People selling homes paint over the mildew in their basements. A person with out-of-control spending habits applies for a refinance. A church with a poor self image buys new carpeting. A business with declining sales creates a new ad campaign.
Leaders know that most problems are not so easily fixed. Covering them up, or looking for the quick fix, is like installing a new font. You may change how it looks but the content remains the same.
Fonts don’t change how my computer operates, software does. It changes how it operates, how it allocates its memory, how it organizes information, how it allows me to access and manipulate information. Leaders know that solving problems often entails real change. Real change occurs in the software, it occurs in how a person, a ministry, an organization operates.
What’s your approach to problems, surface answers? Or is it time for an update?
Often when a person encounters a problem, the easy response would be to just do some surface thing to cover it up. People selling homes paint over the mildew in their basements. A person with out-of-control spending habits applies for a refinance. A church with a poor self image buys new carpeting. A business with declining sales creates a new ad campaign.
Leaders know that most problems are not so easily fixed. Covering them up, or looking for the quick fix, is like installing a new font. You may change how it looks but the content remains the same.
Fonts don’t change how my computer operates, software does. It changes how it operates, how it allocates its memory, how it organizes information, how it allows me to access and manipulate information. Leaders know that solving problems often entails real change. Real change occurs in the software, it occurs in how a person, a ministry, an organization operates.
What’s your approach to problems, surface answers? Or is it time for an update?
Friday, October 5, 2007
Focus Factor
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.
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.
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.
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