Leaders

We have three grown kids, one grandson, and one grandchild on the way. We love all of our kids and they love us. As I reflect over my parenting years, I’d give myself a solid “B+” in the parenting department. But, I also would have parented differently in several ways.

Change is so complex and depends on timing, who is involved, how the process is designed and how the spiritual aspect is integrated (at least with Christian institutions). The Space for Grace Learning Centre has many articles that provide useful tips on understanding Organizational Development change processes and how to manage or support such processes.

I hope you realize that you have less time ahead of you than at any point in your life. So, let’s talk about time.

As a senior leader myself, I know I play a unique role in our organization, but I also know I’m not the end-all. In fact, by God’s design, each of our giftings is accompanied by built-in limitations. We need each other, and we’re better together. Here’s why I think having appropriate staffers participate in board meetings is healthy for your organization.

While not difficult to understand, reconciliation can be a difficult word to put into practice. It can be very difficult to get two family members who are at odds to be reconciled. And it can sometimes seem very difficult for us (or for others we know) to be made right with God.

None of us can forget that we aren’t just the list of tasks we do, we are the collective difference we make for those we serve.

A pastor recently contacted me to ask if there was any hope for his church to survive. The few people in his church were aged, and the church was slowly but surely declining in numbers. My answer shocked him. I said there was great hope for him and his church ‒ because the Father was already at work in his town.

We know healthy leadership requires good character, but how do we deal with those headstrong, sinful habits?

As leaders we cast vision. The problem is that we can easily cast visions from our own minds, not the mouth of the Lord (Jer. 23:16).

If even Jesus, the Son of God, could do "nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father do," how much more so do we need to depend on living in the Presence of God, sensing what He is doing in the situation and partnering with Him to carry it out. Yes, the Lord uses our talents, gifts, intellect and skills. But we can't trust those things for the answer. We need to allow Christ to build His wisdom as we wait in His presence.

Are you lost in God? God is asking us, “Do you really, intentionally love Me?” If you are not doing this, you cannot teach your people to love God. It’s learned by examples, whether it's a leader in the Old Testament or us. Our kids and disciples know how to love God because they’ve seen it modeled before them.

For over a decade I was a pastor of spiritual development. As I analyzed the process that I had seen bring radical breakthrough to so many, I discovered over and again the rhythms of grace consistently playing a significant role at key points of change.