Thoughts on Life and Leading

3 years ago, Letha and I made a financial pledge to our church for a specific project. The amount God directed us to give wasn’t reasonable. It was way more than we could afford. It wouldn’t be responsible to make such a commitment, and it would impossible to fulfill it. And besides, with the horrible economy, it was no time to be obligating ourselves financially.

At least that’s what we thought.

We prayed hard before making the promise. We reminded ourselves of the scripture that says, “Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up.” (Ecclesiastes 5:5 MSG).

And then we did the right thing: We made the pledge.

On Sunday, we completed our pledge. With God’s help we were able to, week by week, fulfill our obligation. You know the old adage that says: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” Finishing this thing is a huge relief. But more than that, it is a huge lesson. God told us how much to give. We thought it was too much. We were wrong, He was right.

Here are 3 things (among many other things) that I picked up from God through this experience:

–Life is about steps. We like events, but God generally prefers processes. All you have to do is take today’s step.

–Obedience is key. If we trust God enough to actually do what He says, He will take care of the rest.

–God can do cool stuff we can’t do. This one was not possible without God’s help. Some minor miracles happened that enabled us to fulfill our word.

I learned these things on a deeper level than ever, all because of this experience.

What might God want to teach you?

We are about 27 hours out of Guatemala. After only 1 week there, my heart and head are full. 7 friends spent our time serving children in two locations: Rio Bravo Feeding Center and Casa Shalom Orphanage.  The little guy in the picture lives in a shack next to the center in Rio Bravo, along with his mom and at least 4 other siblings. They have nothing.

This little boy kind of represents our trip. We visited him, served him and, hopefully made his day a little better. I hope he knows that Jesus loves him. We were there to be a blessing to little ones like him. The result was, we were the ones who were blessed.

I am stirred by God’s command to take care of those who are without. Psalms 82:3 says, “Defend the weak and the orphans; defend the rights of the poor and suffering.” (NCV) We are honored to have the opportunity to try to make a difference. I hope we did and will continue to.

I realize that some no-good thief can read this post and devise a plan to break into my house and steal all my stuff.  I’ll risk it. Besides – I own nothing of value.

We’re leaving tomorrow for a missions trip to Guatemala.  7 of us representing International Orphan Support will work with children at Casa Shalom Orphanage and the Rio Bravo Feeding Center.  We’re are going to do some painting and deliver some clothes and shoes and feed some hungry children. We plan to just love on some kids who really need it.

We are living out the Gospel of Jesus. For a week I get to serve. Dr. Rick Waldrop, founder of Casa Shalom and pioneer missionary said, “The Gospel is both Word and deed.” I agree. We hope to do both this week.

Next week, I’ll post some stories, pictures and maybe video.

I would appreciate your prayers. And if you’re a thief, I’ll pray that our giant Rottweiler chews your leg off!

Seems like there isn’t enough care to go around these days. People are so busy. They have so many issues going on in their lives. And caring sometimes requires so much from us.

I want to talk about this topic on Sunday. I am convinced that most of us don’t give a lot of thought to this topic. It’s time we do. We’re calling the series Linked and the first message iCare. We will be discussing the awesome story in Luke 10:25-37.

If you’re within driving distance of Cross Community Church, please join us. If it’s too far, you can listen online on Sunday afternoon.

This post is not about orphans. But I have to use an “orphan story” to launch my point.

If you know me, you’ve heard about a sibling group of 8 children who were brought to Casa Shalom orphanage in Guatemala 2 weeks ago. When they came, they were in terrible condition: malnourished, filthy, lice-filled hair, barefoot. After only two weeks at the home, they look much better. You can see the dramatic change. The two pictures below are only two weeks apart; like the ultimate “before and after” pictures. Amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures represent what I hope to see in people’s lives. As a spiritual leader, I really want to see people make progress. Measurable, obvious growth. Am I wrong in this?

I am troubled by the lack of apparent progress by so many people. They have been involved in church for years. They hear messages and go to small groups and interact with friends but some of them have not experienced change. I am not referring to everyone, but too many lives are still in a mess.

It’s OK to be desperate to see change. Isn’t it?

A few years ago, I had a friend who also worked on our church staff for a while. He was a strong individual, with lots of personality. He had a favorite phrase that he pulled out frequently in the middle of an especially heated debate. After making a definitive statement on a particular subject, he would announce, “end of discussion!” And you know what? He was usually right. Once people hear that their input is no longer needed, most of them will oblige – and quit talking about it. The problem with my friend was, there were times when the discussion shouldn’t have ended. There was more dialogue required. There was more than one important opinion. People were left divided when an agreement could have been reached. And his premature pronunciation of the conclusion of the talk was really counterproductive. That is unless he didn’t really care what anyone else had to say.

And that’s my point in this post.

If you want to shut down healthy discussion, adopt the following philosophy:

“To disagree with me is to disagree with God!”

But if you want to work through issues and learn and grow and understand healthy compromise, avoid this approach at all costs.

This is one of the most effective discussion killers known to humankind. After all, how can one argue with God? This discussion ender is usually utilized by well meaning but narrow minded people.  They assume that their opinions and God’s opinions are always the same.  Guess what? They’re probably not!

Once someone plays this trump card, whether or not they are right or wrong, they effectively eliminate the need for anyone else to contribute. The way I see it, there is only one person who can speak for God and that’s Him. And He does so quite effectively without our help.

Read His Word – He tells us everything we need to know in explicit detail.

And if you disagree with this post, talk to God about it – ‘cause He always agrees with me!

Hi Guys, Please take a minute to watch this video about our upcoming trip with IOS and consider clicking on iorphan.cc. Thanks!

 

I feel like I’ve been to school this week. And I took a tough exam.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been challenged by someone who has been trying hard to get me to do something that I did not agree with. There was a lot of pressure to be involved in an activity that goes against what I know is right. This person was not trying to get me to do something illegal or immoral. But I did not feel right doing the thing and there was some coercion going on.

I searched my heart to be sure that I was not simply being stubborn. Letha and I prayed sincerely that God would clearly show us if we were missing something.  But in the end, I know deep in my heart what God wants. And it is not to be manipulated into doing something that I do not believe in.

Thankfully, I stood my ground this week and would not be influenced. And the person trying to do the influencing is angry. I don’t like it when people are angry at me but I feel such a lightening of the load.

While my decision to stick by my ethics will cost me in the short-term, I fully believe that God will reward my staying true to what I know is right. This is an ethics thing. I have to stay submitted to God and I have to remain honest with myself. There is no price that could be worth compromising those things.

I am praying for a stack of cards every day this week. This was part of my commitment on Sunday at Cross Community Church. We talked about how God never gives up on people, how there is no such thing as “too far gone” in God’s eyes.  I asked the people to write the name of a person or people that they have given up on. The response was overwhelming. The picture above is the stack of cards.

I was blown away by the sheer number of names. While I am not reading the cards, I couldn’t help but notice that many cards have multiple names on them. The cards represent a lot of giving up. But God has not given up. I am praying that God will bring these people to Him.

If you have a minute, can you pray for these people with me? Maybe your name is on one of these cards. If so, please know, there is no such thing as too far gone!

I was privileged today to pray with a young man who surrendered his life to Christ. This individual came to me (with the encouragement and accompaniment of a friend) saying he was ready to make a commitment to Christ. I explained the simple process and gave him an opportunity to consider it further. But he was ready. This clearly was the work of the Holy Spirit. Amazing! So much of the time, I find myself trying to convince someone to come to Christ. This person needed no prodding. He had been in our worship event, he had heard the Word of God and it spoke to him. He is now trusting Christ as his Savior and life-leader.

I spoke today about how we are “never too far gone” that God can’t rescue us. I shared about how God captured Saul for His service (Acts 8 and 9). And God drew this guy to Him. He is now a full-fledged Christ-follower.

That’s what it’s all about. What an honor! The highlight of my Sunday. I am thanking God and praying for this guy.

I have an “easy” memorial service tomorrow. By easy, I don’t mean simple or painless or shallow. I mean “easy” because there is no doubt about how this man lived or where he is now. The most difficult part will be to narrow down what to talk about so we are not there all day.

A couple of months ago, I told A.T. Lowery, “I talk about doing God’s work. You do God’s work.” My job as a pastor is to prepare people to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4) Heroes like A.T. Lowery do more than talk. They do.

He built hundreds of church buildings across the world. I don’t mean he just raised some money and wrote checks. I mean he physically constructed these buildings. He poured the footers, he drove the nails, and he carried the block. He built orphanages. He built homes for pastors. He was a builder, a worker. He labored countless hours in incredible heat and in uncomfortable climates. He spent years of his life on the roofs of buildings. He dug holes all over the planet.  And he did all of this with a burning vision of what needed to be accomplished.

A.T. led teams on short-term missions trips. Many of these team members became involved in ongoing missions, and some of them are now full time in the work. A.T. raised money for his projects. He always bought the supplies needed for a particular project. The host would simply need to provide a place for the team to sleep (usually on the floor of the building being constructed) and some food.   A.T. took care of everything else.

Many pastors have told me through the years about what a difference A.T. made in their ministry and life. He invested in them. And they won’t forget him.

A.T. Lowery’s work will remain. Here’s how it works:

A.T. built buildings. People gather in those buildings to hear about Jesus. They give their lives to Him. So, in a very direct way, A.T. was involved in bringing people to Christ. That tells me that he is receiving a great reward in heaven.

So I wonder how many people A.T. influenced to become Christ-followers. And I wonder, how great his reward in heaven must be.

Rest well, A.T.

I’m finding time to squeeze in some reading these days – on one of my favorite topics. The 3 I am working my way through currently are:

Reviewing Leadership by Robert Banks and Bernice M. Ledbetter.

Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders

Being Leaders by Aubrey Malphurs

I don’t usually read three books at a time and certainly not on one topic. I find it difficult enough to remember stuff when I have only a singular source. But I am working on some projects that are calling for some expertise from a variety of sources.  And it’s going really well.

Banks and Ledbetter have some very useful assessments for leaders of leaders. I plan to utilize some of these for myself as well as with staff and leaders at Cross Community Church.

Malphurs does a beautiful job of creating some important distinctions regarding leadership styles and approaches. He encourages a lot of self-development which I think it good.

Sanders is a book that some leaders of our church are reading together. We are only doing 3 chapters a month so it will take a while. This is a re-read for me. It is a classic and I recommend for anyone in leadership on any level.

So tell me: what are you reading?

The world took a hit this morning when A.T. Lowery passed from this life. He was one of the more passionate men I’ve ever known. He spent his life building God’s kingdom and  building churches. He was strong and courageous. In his 19 month battle with cancer, he never complained. Even in his sickness, he continually talked to me about his vision to increase the effectiveness of a church somewhere. I’ve never met anyone like him. A.T. started and built our current church 43 years ago. He has been faithful ever since. He married Imogene 54 years ago. You get the idea this guy knew how to commit?

He was my advocate. He had a lot of confidence in me.  I’m going to miss him. Know this: He was a warrior, a real hero. Lots of pastors around the world hold him in high regard and for good reason. He never quit, never gave up.

The world took a hit but heaven got even better. A.T., we’ll miss you.

We all think that the things we are passionate about are more important than the things that other people are passionate about. I am amazed at how loyal New England Patriots fans are. They brag about their team. They trash talk about other teams. Many of them behave as though their support is in some way connected to the team’s success. They are passionate!

Live your passion!

At the risk of sounding sanctimonious, I am passionate about helping needy kids. And that passion is growing. In fact, I get a little frustrated when people I know don’t seem to give a rip that there are starving kids in the world. But then I remind myself that I am not as passionate about other very important issues. Recovery ministry is awesome and extremely important – but I am not consumed with a desire to get involved. I care a lot about race-relations issues. But I do not wake up in the middle of the night thinking and praying about it. Even pro-life work, as extremely necessary as it is, doesn’t dominate my thinking. But feeding hungry kids does. While my heart-beat seems to me to trump your heart-beat, that kind of thinking is counterproductive

I will do my best not to continue to bombard you with blog posts and facebook posts and reminders about the work of International Orphan Support (OK – shameless self-promotion!). But be aware. If you want to know what gets my motor running, I’ll be glad to tell you.

The picture above is a group of 8 siblings who, on Friday night, were brought to the Casa Shalom Orphanage in Guatemala. My daughter Jessica (that’s her on the right) and her husband Josh run the orphanage which has about 60 kids in it. These 8 new children were abandoned by their parents. They are malnourished and sickly. They are lice-infested and frightened. They have never been to school and they have been abused. And now the workers of Shalom have the task of trying to bring healing to them.

I can get passionate about that! In 3 weeks, we are leading a team of volunteers to Guatemala. We will meet these new children. And we hope to take new clothes and shoes to them. All but one of these kids came to the orphanage barefooted. But we plan to change that.

So, what is your passion?

Whatever is important to you, get on with it! Don’t worry if others have other passions.

Whatever God put in your heart to do, let’s get this thing done!

If you don’t have a passion, there is room to jump on board with us.

Live your passion!

Almost every time I hear a new song or read an article or even watch a commercial on TV, I run it through my “pastor filter”. This means I listen to the song with my “can we use this at church?” ears. I see a billboard, come across a concept in marketing or experience great/rotten customer service in a local restaurant – all with the same vision: is there something I can learn here that we can apply in ministry? I have a hard time disengaging my “pastor filter”. Even when I read scripture, most of the time I am wondering how God wants to apply the principles in an upcoming message.

While God probably doesn’t mind me walking through life consumed with ways to make the ministry more effective, there are times when my “pastor filter” hinders me. Sometimes He doesn’t want me to use what I am experiencing for the benefit of others. Sometimes, He simply wants me to know something for me. There is message preparation that I have to do which includes (duh) Bible reading.  But there are other times He just wants to speak to me through His Word. I have to know the difference and make time for both. I heard a new song a few weeks ago that I really liked and immediately started plotting where we could plug it in in a future worship experience. But the thought came to me, this one is for you to just enjoy. By the way, the song is Starry Night (live version) by Chris August.  Great song!

If I am not careful to monitor when my pastor filter is working, I can get into trouble. My relationship with God and my experience in the world can become completely about my work for Him. I have to be sure that first my relationship with Him is about us – Him and me. Not everything He says to me is for the benefit of those with whom I work. There are some passages of the Bible that speak to me – for me. There are some friendships that are not ministry related – He wants me to have friends because they are good for me, and me for them. And I should be able to laugh at a commercial without trying to find a sermon illustration.

If you are a leader of any kind, learn how to turn your filter off. Or better yet, when it is supposed to be on and when it is supposed to be off. Both are important.

I just believe that most people have a heart to help little children who are hurting. After all, you’d have to be a pretty big scoundrel to hear about hungry kids and not want to feed them – right?

“Heart” is not the problem. “Head” is the problem.

We’ve heard too much and seen too much. Too many stories of corruption and greed. Too much money going into the pockets of unscrupulous politicians. Our thinking get conflicted and our good hearts get overrun by our skepticism.

We started International Orphan Support in an effort to simplify. We want to cut out the red tape. Enough bureaucracy! We personally know kids who don’t have enough to eat. We’ve seen dirty, shoeless kids in the streets of Haiti and Central America. We know missionaries who live and work among these kids. And we can, without a lot of unnecessary baggage, make a difference.

I’ll ask a personal favor. Would you help us spread the word about what we are trying to do? If you want to send your friends a link to my blog, that would be great. Even better, just send them the link to the website for IOS. If you’re on facebook, “like” IOS on facebook.  A Twitterer? Here you go: IOS on Twitter. However you do it, here’s how it works: people hear the stories, they see the faces of the kids and they think, “I can help”. So they make a small donation (or a large one). And within the next few week, kids are eating food bought with that donation. Or they are sleeping in a bed bought with the money, or they are getting some much-needed medical  care. You get the idea.

Thanks for helping us get the word out! Bless you.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the first teaching series of 2011 at Cross Community Church. I will talk about new beginnings and second chances and grace. I hope, if you live in the area of Palm Beach County, you will join us for one of our worship events.

Tomorrow’s character is Lazarus and his story is found in John 11. He died but he didn’t stay dead – Jesus brought him out of the grave!  How’s that for a second chance? The reason this message is so important is that lots of good people are as entombed as Lazarus was. Like him, we get sick. Like him, we give up hope. Like him, we have been dead so long we are stinking.

Jesus is the Lord over both life and death. Whatever your “death” is, it is not too much for Christ. And He never gives up on you.

Who’s up for a “Fresh Start”?

I am further along in my preparations for my sessions with young pastors (32 of them!) on Saturday. My assigned topic is Transformational Leadership.

I plan to use the Biblical character Moses as a model because I think he is one of the greatest examples of a transformational leader in history. Here are some things I like most about him:

He was unqualified to lead

• Moses had never led people, he only had led sheep. His people skills weren’t the best. In fact, he was living a very isolated life. What did he know about leading a million people? Nothing!
• He couldn’t speak well. The Bible indicates that Moses suffered from some type of a speech impediment. Maybe a stutter, maybe a lisp, who knows? But why in the world would God choose a guy as His spokesman who couldn’t speak well?
• He had a hot temper, in fact, Moses was a murderer. He was on the lamb, hiding from the authorities because he had killed a man in a fit of rage. Doesn’t sound over-qualified to lead does he?
• He ran from problems. Moses was hiding in the desert, working an under-the-radar job for his father-in-law. He was here because he refused to deal with the problems that confronted him.  But he was also here because God was preparing him to serve (keep that in mind).

He was unwilling to serve

Moses tried to talk God out of choosing him as a leader. He suggested other people. He argued with God. He finally flat out refused. But God wasn’t bothered by any of that. He didn’t let Moses’ unwillingness deter the calling.  I have never considered this before but just maybe Moses was suffering from a case of false humility. Who knows?

He was old

Moses was 80 when God called him. You’ve got to be kidding me! Now admittedly, people lived longer back then, but 80? Moses’ age didn’t impact God.

Moses lets me know that transformational leadership is not about apparent qualifications and skill and a great attitude and all the stuff we usually associate with great leaders.  Transformational leadership is about doing what God wants.

Is there a chance that God is asking you and me to be transformational leaders in our respective areas of influence? I think, quite possible, so.

Say a prayer for me that I will be able to communicate effectively with these developing pastors.

On Saturday in Bradenton, Florida, I am teaching some young pastors on the topic of transformational leadership. I have two 2 hour sessions with these pastors-to-be.  It should be a pretty exciting opportunity.

When I consider the concept of transformational leadership, I think about how God appoints some to lead others from where they are to where God wants them to be.

While I am still honing the material, here are some of the key, and admittedly disjointed ideas I hope to deal with:

To transforms means to change. If you don’t like change, don’t call yourself a leader.

If a leader does not lead change, she is not a leader.

God did not call us to our respective places of leadership service to maintain.

Transformational leaders must be comfortable with discomfort.

Transformational leaders must be comfortable with not being like by everyone (and sometimes by almost no one!).

Transformational leaders identify the problem, envision the solution and engage the steps that bring resolution.

A “win” for the transformational leader is the safe delivery of followers into a fulfilled vision.

Transformation comes first to the leader, then to individuals and then, as a result, to the group at large.

 

Any feedback I can use on Saturday?

I have a lot of work to do before Saturday…

I am very excited to announce the launch of International Orphan Support! This is a non-profit organization that is literally years in the making. Please take a look at our website: iorphan.cc. Follow us on facebook and Twitter. Help us get the word out about the great opportunities that we have been given to change the lives of some great kids around the world.

International Orphan Support – Bringing Hope to Orphans Worldwide.