Leaders

I wonder what descriptive words your people use for you. Do their words match your intentions?

Being flexible allows us to assess what’s coming at us, and it helps us to focus on the things we can control and to not lose it when things come that we can’t control. I want to tell you, those things will come; they always do.

If a leader does not set priorities, the pressures of today and the problems that fill an inbox will dominate every day’s agenda.

No matter how big our church or ministry is, no matter how much we are respected, we are never “above” God’s words that remind us that “the first shall be last” and that “those who exalt themselves will be humbled.” If anybody was deserving, it was Jesus, but He chose humility, sacrifice and death for those He loved. May our ambition not be to serve ourselves but to give our lives in service to others. May our legacy be measured not as much in what we have accomplished as in how much we have loved. That’s my prayer.

Have you ever wondered why some leaders see incredible growth and others seem to struggle? I think back to leaders that I have worked with who have all had great potential. Some have gone from strength to strength and others just didn’t make it. Having pondered this question for some time, the Lord gave me an insight. Put the right gifts together and the ministry will work. Leave out certain gifts and the work will falter.

Every once in a while I see leaders hesitating to act for no apparent reason. Probing, I've found a number of leaders seem to be waiting for permission. What keeps them paralyzed is that those expected to grant permission don’t even know their permission is hoped for.

I’ve done a lot of recruitment in my time. Competence was usually the most important thing we looked for (if not the only thing). After all we don’t want to hire incompetent staff. But I now wonder if we placed too much emphasis on competence alone. Perhaps we should also recruit based on calling.

Not for earthly comfort or gain, not for recognition or fame, but because in due season, I will reap. And that, my friends, is truly good.

How do you see the people God puts in your path?

Most people blame external sources when they are criticized, yet doing that is a huge character flaw. Here are three questions you can ask to align yourself when faced with negative feedback.

Worship is not a concert. It’s not karaoke. Worship is not about us. It’s about God. How do we decide which style is right or best? Is it popular opinion? Does the pastor get to decide? How do we resolve this worship war?

There will be times when I share a verse with someone, but most of the time I’m supposed to wait for God to do the changing.