still learning to lead

The majority of the fellow pastor blogs I read from around the country tend to focus most on leadership issues. Things like vision, staff performance, setting church goals…etc. I’ve held leadership positions in and outside the church since I was 19 years old. I have co-served with some great and not so great leaders, all of whom have left an indelible imprint. In the business world, I was fortunate to sit under some of the most brilliant minds in the marketing industry, people who set and shaped national marketing trends. Seeing them in action behind the scenes and then watch their ideas take shape in the national media arena was pretty thrilling. The staff I presently work with is an outstanding crew. The crazy thing about leadership for me is that it’s very last thing I ever wanted do. Being chronically shy, I’m most at home in the last row yet God has consistently pressed me into leadership venues.

Church leadership does have many of the same dynamics you would find in any other organization. The pursuit of excellence, keeping staff motivated, meeting the expectations of those you serve and taking your congregation soundly into the future is as much a pastoral teams responsibility as it would be any general manager or company VP. The dramatic difference between leadership in the church vs. the private sector is the soul of the leader. I’ve seen people with immense organizational/leadership skills take absolutely no stock in the health of their inner-self. While the company they navigate thrives and enjoys explosive growth, the home-front is in ruin. Doing our best in the ministry environment is a must but most important for the Christ follower is the level of their spirtual health.

Christian leadership is far more about who you are than what you do. The apostle Paul was very comfortable telling young believers to simply watch his life and follow his example until their own faith matured. As a church leader, my deepest desire is to provide a consistent godly example for my co-servants. People at all levels desperately need to experience and be challenged by the fruit of the Holy Spirit emanating from the ideas, speech, emotions and inter-action they have with those who lead them.

Story from whoisgrace.com

Author Mignon McLaughlin is most famous for writing just one sentence. A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person. As I write this, I have lived the past 12,614 days of my life with the same person at my side. Could there be any greater dare than promising to share a massive portion of your one and only life at its most intimate level exclusively with one other soul? Some feel a good marriage is reserved for those lucky few who somehow seamlessly click on multiple levels. How about all the others who can’t seem to find a solid place to even begin a friendship let alone heartfelt solidarity? The truth is, nothing good just happens. Meaningful, fluid things take a good measure of intentionality and nothing is more meaningful and fluid than marriage. I don’t care for the phrase working on my marriage. I like how CCN journalist Anne Taylor frames it. A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time.

I didn’t promise myself to Annie to control her or write the script for her life. I wanted the chance to dance with her holding her tightly though all of life’s chapters while at the same time giving her great opportunity and room to grow as an individual. That requires me to take to the dance floor every day with those two things in mind. To lead with confidence and grace during the duet and rejoice when I get to spin her free and applaud the solo. No, a good marriage doesn’t just happen but it certainly is possible.

Allison Phillips!

It seems everytime I get in my car it somehow finds its way toward the home of one of my favorite people on earth. Allison Phillips came into my life at a time I needed her most. I've always felt eighteen years old in my heart but lately the mirror and declining health tell me otherwise. Growing older can be a scary proposition. You have to work much harder at staying pliable and viable or you can slip into a suffocating rut. I hate ruts.

Allison is my granddaughter. She's pushing three years old and she embodies the word vivid. I draw so much strength and life from this little girl. As a pastor, my entire world centers around the relational needs of others. Working in the trenches with hurting people can be demanding and draining. I thank God for God. My comfort is knowing I can confidently point people toward a relationship with the true source of comfort and resolve. When I feel depleted, I make my way toward Allison. Her giggle, silly dances, passion for books, love of music, wild expressions and crazy imagination draw me out of my world and into hers. Being in the presence of a well loved child is intoxicating. Like I said, she appeared just in time to keep my soul from slipping to a narrow place. I'm heading over there now!

Humility

Early this morning, I heard a young musician on tv give the clearest definition of humility I've ever heard. Here's how he framed it. Humility is not thinking less of yourself...it's thinking about yourself...less. That really caused me to pause and re-think a few things. The apostle Paul teaches that we should have the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ. He then defines that attitude. Christ in very nature is God, yet He didn't cling tightly to it rather He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. I always embraced this as Christ purging Himself of His glory and reducing His status to nothing. Although there is truth to that...the bigger story is that Christ didn't think less of Himself, He simply put the concerns of virtually everyone before His own. He humbled Himself to the extent He laid down even His existence and became obedient to death. For you and for me. I tend to wade in a self-effacing humility that has often been emotionally destructive. There's so much more life involved by intentionally loving your neighbor as yourself and putting their needs first.