"I have Plans for you!"

Jer 29:10-13

 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

As we end one year and begin the New Year, we fix plans to our agenda as if it all depends on us. Let us always remember that as we make our earthly plans for the day and the year, that God has some plans from a heavenly agenda! He has aligned the circumstances just right so that when we are ready … ready to return to him …  ready to acknowledge  him … ready to share his beauty with others … when we are ready, He has some plans with our names on them.  He has plans to prosper our endeavors and lead us into a future filled with hope. He sets it all up for us and it is up to us to simply claim it! As God’s people we have to trust and acknowledge Him and that he has always been there  … Yes, He has been there this year when we were at our worst … He was looking when we did that which shouldn’t be seen … He saw that which we tried to hide! Yet He still has a plan for our lives. That plan includes our seeking Him with all of our heart, and He bringing us out of the miry mess that our lives has gotten us into.  Yes, He knows our state and He still loves us … Still plans for us … Still wants us to want Him! What a remarkable God we serve! He’s ready  … He has plans for you … Are you ready?

Now You Have The Final CLUE of 2010!

Peace for a Prosperous New Year!

He Chose a barn ... not a castle!

Author Gene Edwards writes in his book “The Divine Romance”, of a scene that must’ve been not only mind blowing but mind bending for the angelic beings of heaven: “Gabriel lifted his hand and announced: ‘Universal history is about to know its greatest hour. The Lord God is about to incarnate himself in the womb of woman and come forth in the form of human flesh.” ‘

He describes how the angels looked in amazement as their Lord disappeared from His place to that place to become God in the flesh.  Even further he describes their angelic ignorance when they discovered that he chose for his birth on earth a barn and not a castle.  (The Divine Romance)

I often wonder what that scene really looked like. Imagine if you can how it appeared when the God of all creation stepped out of that portal from the spiritual realm to the physical.  When he set out on a journey as if to find his long lost mate and bring her back to him. That day in the city of David, his journey began on earth. His travels would take him to the most amazing places: the hearts of men and women. It was in those places that it was manifested who he really was and what his mission was to be among them. He became a healer to the hurting, a helper to the helpless, and a restorer of honor to the honor-less. Although those who needed him resided in castles too, his path took him closer to those associated with the “barn type” of existence.

It was in those hearts that he stayed, even after his departure. It is because of those hearts set a blaze by his love that you & I can rejoice that we too were found and redeemed from our lost state.

I wonder how different things would’ve been if he chose a castle instead of a barn! Thank you Jesus!

Oh, and he found his bride, the church!

Now you have the CLUE!

Ok ... I got this ... I think?

Often, as leaders we may feel the need to prove our worth by being the “point man/woman” on every issue. "I got this" we say. Do we? I often wondered how great leaders do what they do seemingly by themselves. Then I discovered that they don’t. They get help!  Here’s my CLUE for the week:

            When Moses is considered in the area of administration, it is difficult to discuss him without a mention and elaboration on his father-in-law Jethro. There was a time during Moses’ leadership when he was overworked, over-tasked, and generally “in over his head”. We find this story in the book of Exodus 18:13-27. Moses had taken on the awesome responsibility of settling the disputes and other problems of the entire nation of Israel there in the wilderness.  Moses sat literally from morning to evening doing this. He felt that he alone was capable of such a monumental task. This guy had a serious “Superman Complex”! LOL. How many times is this the case in our churches, businesses, and even in the home (Superwoman – ladies!) His father-in-law came to visit and could not believe his eyes! Yes, in-laws are a great asset in financial and home planning because in most cases they have been where you are … just a CLUE! J

            Jethro inquired as to what he was doing and why other people were sitting around not being utilized. When Moses explained what he was doing, Jethro immediately gave his son-in-law some very valuable administrative advice. “The Old Man” stated that what Moses was doing was not good for the people or good for Moses. Essentially what he told him could easily be called “Principles of Administration 101”.  He shared with the basics of good administration and delegation. Moses was to train capable men for the work and allow them to make meager decisions and bring the difficult ones to him. He was to choose men with certain qualifications and train them to be effective in their roles. This is a foundational component of administration. No man can and should do it all. I mean, why would you want to!?

            Upon listening to his father-in-law Moses became a much better leader. This proves that leadership and administration principles can be taught. Kenneth O. Gangel says although “Moses was skilled in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was trained for politics and war, the task of supervising the massive movement of people seemed beyond his managerial competence.” To lead and administrate over any number of people (Moses lead over a million) you must be adept in administration. Despite his lack of stellar performance during on this occasion, Moses stands tall in the annals of leadership, management, and administration as a positive role model.

Now you have the CLUE!

(I dedicate this article to fellow gospel preacher who was recently called from his labor to rest to await his heavenly reward – Evangelist Donald J. Bennett, a great leader called too soon!)

Administration in the church … I thought all I needed was an “Axe and TwoThirty-Eights”? (Acts 2:38)

            Often times people have the faulty perception that all “The preacher” does is preach! Well, that is a great calling and one that I am glad to do each and every day! However to say that is “all” he does is not factual or fair. There are “set-ups” in churches where a board of elders or deacons oversee or ”see to it” that the work gets done, but even in those situations much of the influential guidance is held by the minister (whether he knows it or not). Now don’t hate me for living my own experience! LOL. Let’s get a CLUE … At the preachers disposal, is a text book replete with examples of the “man of God” taking the administrative role in dealing with and within God’s heritage. This text book is none other than the bible.

            The bible, God’s word, is a great handbook for administration. From the very beginning, we see God utilizing administrative leadership in the creation of the world. Everything Jehovah God did was orderly, methodical, and with a purpose. He then delegated certain work to Adam to carry out and even came by to evaluate his progress (Genesis chapter 3). God gave Adam a place to live and work (The Garden of Eden). He gave him a job to do (Keep the Garden), and he gave him a wife to care for (Eve). Each of these areas lends itself to proper administration and handling of complex situations. Adam was not only the first human being, but he was the first administrator! God tells him “… Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”  (Genesis 2:28) As an administrator, Adam set the groundwork for other patriarchs of the faith such as Abraham, Joseph, and of course Moses

            Administration can be defined as “The identification of work to be done, the division of that work into jobs, the delegation of those jobs to responsible individuals and the supervision of the work to its completion.” The display of this definition can be clearly seen during the time of the biblical character Joseph, son of Jacob, overseer of Pharaoh’s house and second in command to Pharaoh (Genesis 41). After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, he elaborated on a highly effective process of keeping the nation (and the world) from starving. He identified the work to be done – take up a fifth part; he described the division of that work – gather all the food of the good years; he suggested they delegate that work to responsible individuals – appoint officers over the land; and that they should supervise the work until completion – let them keep food in the cities. When the famine came, Pharaoh directed everyone to Joseph for his administrative guidance. He was a master administrator leaving some practical lessons for the modern church, school, or Christian organization administrator today such as: being spiritually connected with God, using wisdom, and keeping a level head. These are all good qualities for spiritual administrators. Whether you are a preacher or other leader in your organization, it is always to your advantage to seek to the follow the timeless pattern set before us by the Great Administrator of the universe! [Note: Even in situations where there are no elders or other leadership, the principles of sound biblical and managerial administration can and should be utilized by those taking a leadership role.]

Now you have the CLUE!

"Will they follow your lead ... Do People matter 2U?"

It becomes quite important when the state of the present world is considered to prepare the next generation for leadership. It has been said on more than one occasion and in many ways, the importance of the youth of today and tomorrow. As we look through the streets of “anytownusa” we see the remnants of a generation that allowed popular culture to play a significant part in the lives of their youth. Let’s face it, if you are reading this blog you probably didn’t grow up wearing your “pants to the ground”. But any effort you may have made to thrwart it has not been taken serious enough, either due to lack of urgency. And somewhere along the line it became less and less important to enforce proper modes of dress and behavior and more and more important to allow “free expression”. Let's get a CLUE: Our mission as Christian leaders is to “perfect the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12) this must be perpetuated in order to insure future generations continue to stay the course laid out for us by the Holy Scriptures.

            The result of a Transformational Leadership (see previous posts) environment on future generations is of paramount significance. A transformational leader seeks to cast vision for the future. He is a futurist. The vision of what can be must be passed on to the next generation. Considering the power relationships within leadership (Downward power of leader to subordinate, Upward power of the subordinate to the leader, Upward power of the leader to his superiors, Lateral power of the leader to his equals, and Downward power of the  superiors over the leader), the leader will inculcate his philosophy of life and leadership downward  to the coming generation.  When the “vision” is caught and ingrained in the minds of those subordinate to the leader, a powerful thing happens, the progression and perpetuation of the organization is realized.  

            The great apostle Paul instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” In reality he is saying “The way I lead you into transforming your life is the way you are to lead others in transforming their lives. They in turn will lead others in transforming their lives, etc.” The potential is endless and awe inspiring. Each leader should be concerned about his/her legacy. A good leader is someone who makes their organization as strong as they can and prepares a successor to carry on. The leader must possess the understanding that “No matter how good he is, no leader can do it all alone.” He must begin to think of his finish soon after he begins and if possible begin to seek out and train his successor. This was strong point with Moses and his leadership in choosing and mentoring Joshua.

To gain a better “clue” of which I am speaking, all you really have to do is study the young people and children of a particular congregation. This will help you understand how they see congregational life. I challenge you to follow the children through the full life of the congregation … it will give definite insight on its future. Do they sit in total boredom? Do they leave the church after their eighteenth (18^th) birthday? How are they handling situations that come up in their lives? How do they face death and suffering? The fact is, they face these issues based on how effectively the leaders (Ministers, teachers, parents) have instructed and prepared them. Are the leaders transforming their lives? Are they leading in a way that helps the children to grow and learn and adapt to life situations?

            In a very similar vein, what level of commitment do our young people show to the congregation? Are they merely attending services or are they actively participating in them. A Transformational leadership will seek to involve them in the life and direction of the church. They must invest in them in order to perpetuate the goals, aims, and objectives of the congregation. This will have a tremendous impact on their affective commitment to the congregation.

            They will learn from a transformational leadership model that “People matter.” 

Now you've got the CLUE!

Are You “One Dimensional”? … Create what you “want”!

The transformational leader (see last post for definition) is needed in Christian leadership to help his/her organization reach the highest need they have which is to conform to the image of Christ. In the gospels and epistles, we find a number of things Christians should do i.e. love neighbors, be kind and gentle, preach the gospel, etc. However, at the root of everything we are commanded to do, is the call to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) A leader who envisions and inculcates the mind of Christ will encourage and help his followers become transformational leaders in their own respects as well.

            A transformational leader realizes that one particular style of leadership may not appropriate for every situation. He/she therefore will employ a variety of styles to fit each occasion. This in fact is “transformational.” No one wants to be “one-dimensional.” By utilizing different styles of leadership the leader is teaching i.e. transforming his followers and helping them to make decisions using various methods and experiences.

            The transformational leader should seek to build an environment where “life-change” and “life-touch” is possible and real needs are met and discovered. People must feel free enough to express their desires, thoughts, and goals in the open without fear of reprisals. One way of building this type of environment is through the art of “connection.” John Maxwell communicates this well in his writings. He states “Effective leaders know that you have to touch people’s hearts before you ask them for a hand.” When a leader connects, either publicly or privately he gives his followers the feeling that he truly wants to help them achieve their greatest potential. A very popular saying goes “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

            The wise leader will take upon himself the responsibility of initiating direct contact because as a leader you must create the environment you want.

Now you have the CLUE!

Let Me Upgrade You! Leadership that matters ...

Let me upgrade you!

In my studies in leadership I have found that there are many, many types of leadership. One type that I believe in and form my ministry around is Transformational Leadership.

Transformational Leadership is leadership that is concerned primarily with positive change in the person or organization. As a transformational leader, you must act as an encourager and nurture of people. You must help your followers reach their dreams and aspirations. Transformational leaders touch lives at the deepest level and seeks to change/transform their lives. Our Lord Jesus Christ was truly a transformational leader. He changed the lives of twelve ordinary men and they in turn, turned the world upside-down for his cause.

            A look into many of our churches and organizatons today may reveal the absence of this type of life changing leadership. Many church ministers/pastors have become merely “temporary-feeders” and not “life changers” in that they spend the bulk of their time making deals (meeting immediate needs) with members for a desired outcome (meeting the minister or leaderships needs). This type of leadership can be utilized and is “Transactional Leadership.”  A good leader will use a mix of both transactional and transformational leadership. Better organizations become better as their leader(s) become better. The leader who is lackluster will not produce the desired results of the organization and in the case of the church or religious organization, will not please God. Transformational leadership is perhaps the central key to developing a better organization. Jack Welch, former CEO of GE notes in his writings that leadership is more than just about the leader. He gives a list of certain things leaders do … Among them he says that leaders always and with persistence upgrade their team, using every encounter to evaluate, coach, and build self-confidence.

            That in a nutshell is a “Transformational” style of leadership. He states that leaders have to make sure their people not only see the vision, but that they have to breathe it. This is done on a daily basis. Every contact, every conversation, every chance meeting is used to bring the best out of their people. This helps foster a better work and team environment thereby making the whole organization better. Who have you upgraded lately!

Now you have the CLUE!

Peace