Few leaders finish well. Most quit, leave early, or fail. Life can be considered like a chess game: there is an opening game, a middle game, and an end game. Decisions made in the opening have a profound effect on the middle game, and it's in the middle game that your choices make the biggest difference. Most chess games are won or lost in the middle game. However, poor choices in the end can ruin the best of games.
What does it take to finish well? Most of us try to do whatever it takes but we usually have the criteria wrong. We are trying to finish in the wrong way or in the wrong things. We must know God deeply, know ourselves deeply, and be known deeply in community. We need humility and discipline, and we need a learning posture. My host in Colorado Springs was a great example of finishing well. After 88 years of living, he amazed me several times with his wisdom. He had lived a full life, including more than 60 years of marriage with never raising voices at each other. When I stayed at his house he was filling his schedule with social activities, family activities, and hospital visitation. Even as a lifelong introvert whose wife had led him in social interaction, he forced himself to visit people in the hospital and bring them hope and joy because he felt called. He believed that we must never stop giving - when you stop giving, you lose purpose for living. Many years back he had trained himself in evangelism so that even if he ended up in a nursing home he'd be able to give the Gospel to others at the home.
There are several barriers that we must overcome if we are to finish well. A major one is finances - their abuse or misuse. Another is power issues or inordinate pride. Many leaders fall victim to sexual immorality, and others fall victim to family-critical issues. Others never overcome emotional wounding. Still others plateau and become content with the status quo. To avoid plateauing we must ensure that we always seek mentors.
What leaders have you seen who finished well? What were their secrets? Or do you know more leaders who didn't finish well? What did they fall victim to?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Seminary, Part Five
The way that I have read the Bible has always continually changed. I can think in terms of major shifts in my life: when the Navigators taught me the "hand" illustration (read, study, hear, meditate, memorize), when Perspectives taught me to read the Bible missionally....at Fuller last week they taught us to pray thoroughly, then read several times with the help of Bible dictionaries, and only after considerable study should we begin to refer to commentaries. We must ask many questions of the text. Our professor proposed that if we study books deeply, we may tend to develop "core" books that we keep returning back to. We will become experts in these books as we "live" in them for long periods of time.
Our professor suggested that many of the major characters in the Bible are cross-cultural ministers. For example, Abraham discovered God's heart for the nations and sought to bless them, such as by interceding for Sodom and entering into covenants with Abimelech. David developed relationships with the Philistines while fleeing from Saul that led to very long-term relationships. Jonah failed as a missionary but displayed God's heart for the nations in a way that would convict Israel. Jesus came to the marginalized of Israel and brought his disciples with him as he traveled widely, interacting with many Gentiles and attracting many Gentile followers.
We tend to divide the Bible up way too much these days. It is important to read the Bible much more holistically. Additionally, it's important to press through our own lenses to discover deeper meanings and truer understandings. We view the Bible through many lenses. For example, some of my lenses are white, male, American, wealthy, Lutheran, young, charismatic, missional, and many more that I probably don't even realize. As we recognize our lenses, we can try to look past them. There are five major aspects to our understanding of Scripture: our context, personal experiences, theological tradition, history, and our definitions of terms. Additionally, it's important to study the historical and cultural context of the original writers. Our professor recommended books such as those by Kenneth Bailey and Joichim Jeremias.
What tactics do you have for overcoming your own lenses? What impact do they have on your understanding of the Bible?
Our professor suggested that many of the major characters in the Bible are cross-cultural ministers. For example, Abraham discovered God's heart for the nations and sought to bless them, such as by interceding for Sodom and entering into covenants with Abimelech. David developed relationships with the Philistines while fleeing from Saul that led to very long-term relationships. Jonah failed as a missionary but displayed God's heart for the nations in a way that would convict Israel. Jesus came to the marginalized of Israel and brought his disciples with him as he traveled widely, interacting with many Gentiles and attracting many Gentile followers.
We tend to divide the Bible up way too much these days. It is important to read the Bible much more holistically. Additionally, it's important to press through our own lenses to discover deeper meanings and truer understandings. We view the Bible through many lenses. For example, some of my lenses are white, male, American, wealthy, Lutheran, young, charismatic, missional, and many more that I probably don't even realize. As we recognize our lenses, we can try to look past them. There are five major aspects to our understanding of Scripture: our context, personal experiences, theological tradition, history, and our definitions of terms. Additionally, it's important to study the historical and cultural context of the original writers. Our professor recommended books such as those by Kenneth Bailey and Joichim Jeremias.
What tactics do you have for overcoming your own lenses? What impact do they have on your understanding of the Bible?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Seminary, Part Four
In Colorado Springs, we learned skills for being lifelong learners. One of our professors taught us about critical thinking. As we encounter new ideas, it's crucial to think about them, because in today's world we are constantly bombarded by thoughts and ideas, and if you don't think critically about them you'll be swayed by many things and fall victim to each latest passing fad. We were taught about asking about the author's point of view, purpose, assumptions, and implications. The goal is to be intellectually humble yet courageous, confident in reason and fair-minded. As leaders, we should embody intellectual integrity, perseverance, empathy, and autonomy.
They also taught us about "reading on the run" (from a book of the same title). Counter to what we've always assumed, you don't need to read every word of every book. You only need to glean from each book what needs to be learned. Sir Francis Bacon said, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." You can often learn all you need to learn from a book by reading the first sentence of each paragraph, or perhaps even less. This requires great discernment and quick critical thinking skills.
Do you consider yourself a critical thinker and a good reader?
They also taught us about "reading on the run" (from a book of the same title). Counter to what we've always assumed, you don't need to read every word of every book. You only need to glean from each book what needs to be learned. Sir Francis Bacon said, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." You can often learn all you need to learn from a book by reading the first sentence of each paragraph, or perhaps even less. This requires great discernment and quick critical thinking skills.
Do you consider yourself a critical thinker and a good reader?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Seminary, Part Three
I don't even know that I can put down everything that I've learned in two weeks here...it's a bit overwhelming. But I will try to summarize 3 major themes over the next 3 posts.
This program places a huge emphasis on character development. The most important thing is not what you do, it's who you are. Being is more important than doing. We talked about leading out of being: who you are determines how you lead, and how you lead determines who you are. Which is more important: leadership capacity, or leadership character?
There was a major emphasis on doing ministry as a family man. We have already lost several members of our cohort to family stresses, and several current members shared testimonies about losing and almost losing marriages due to work and ministry. Leaders need to find the balance between accomplishing the task that God has called them to and making their family a priority. One of the pastors who has a great testimony of a marriage nearly failing yet being saved shared three bits of wisdom: never take your marriage and your family for granted (schedule date nights and family nights), never underestimate your ability to justify anything, and try to think long-term (even in the moment).
Finally, one of our professors proposed that leaders must write. We know things that others need to know, and our life experiences can advance the collective wisdom of our generation. Many of us are on the cutting edge of ministry and leadership and if we do not write, our impact will be short-lived. He also suggested that our writing should be for our own benefit as well: if you write down your experiences and understandings, you will steadily build a treasure trove of accumulated wisdom. That is part of the reason for trying to write more in this blog.
This program places a huge emphasis on character development. The most important thing is not what you do, it's who you are. Being is more important than doing. We talked about leading out of being: who you are determines how you lead, and how you lead determines who you are. Which is more important: leadership capacity, or leadership character?
There was a major emphasis on doing ministry as a family man. We have already lost several members of our cohort to family stresses, and several current members shared testimonies about losing and almost losing marriages due to work and ministry. Leaders need to find the balance between accomplishing the task that God has called them to and making their family a priority. One of the pastors who has a great testimony of a marriage nearly failing yet being saved shared three bits of wisdom: never take your marriage and your family for granted (schedule date nights and family nights), never underestimate your ability to justify anything, and try to think long-term (even in the moment).
Finally, one of our professors proposed that leaders must write. We know things that others need to know, and our life experiences can advance the collective wisdom of our generation. Many of us are on the cutting edge of ministry and leadership and if we do not write, our impact will be short-lived. He also suggested that our writing should be for our own benefit as well: if you write down your experiences and understandings, you will steadily build a treasure trove of accumulated wisdom. That is part of the reason for trying to write more in this blog.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Seminary, Part Two
I arrived in Colorado Springs two weeks ago and met a good friend's parents at the airport. Out of their amazing generosity, they were lending me one of their cars for two weeks, choosing to go with one car so that their daughter's friend could have one. They had also gotten me in touch with a man in the Springs who was alone with his dog in a really nice house on a hill overlooking the city. He had a basement with a bedroom, bathroom, and living space that I could stay in for free. He turned out to be an 88-year old retired Air Force Lt. Col who had flown in WW2 and taught aerospace engineering at the Academy. Since retiring, he had continued to work in the Lutheran school system and now continued his life philosophy of giving. He now invests heavily in hospital visitation.
Not meeting the basic requirements for the program, I am privileged to get to study with people who have decades of experience in global leadership. The oldest member of the class is 58 and he's spent nearly 30 years working in Afghanistan. Another class member is 53 and he's just started a second career as the construction manager for all of Africa for Wycliffe. We've also got a missionary in a 100% Muslim country, a church planter in the Amazon river basin, and a student ministry director in Romania. On the US side, we've got pastors from rural churches, inner-city churches, large churches, small churches, and even an online church and a Silicon Valley church.
While here, I got the opportunity to visit New Life Church, a megachurch that has been through losing a pastor to a homosexual affair and a Sunday morning shooting. I got to check out Garden of the Gods and drive up to 14,115 feet at the summit of Pike's Peak. Sitting on a rock on the edge of the summit, I met with God. I got to meet my girlfriend's cousin in Denver, and hang out with an old friend who goes to Denver Seminary. And, I did all this in the context of beautiful mountains and amazing Christian leaders that I built lasting friendships with.
Have you had times in your life when everything seemed to come together in remarkable ways to become a huge milestone blessing in your life?
Not meeting the basic requirements for the program, I am privileged to get to study with people who have decades of experience in global leadership. The oldest member of the class is 58 and he's spent nearly 30 years working in Afghanistan. Another class member is 53 and he's just started a second career as the construction manager for all of Africa for Wycliffe. We've also got a missionary in a 100% Muslim country, a church planter in the Amazon river basin, and a student ministry director in Romania. On the US side, we've got pastors from rural churches, inner-city churches, large churches, small churches, and even an online church and a Silicon Valley church.
While here, I got the opportunity to visit New Life Church, a megachurch that has been through losing a pastor to a homosexual affair and a Sunday morning shooting. I got to check out Garden of the Gods and drive up to 14,115 feet at the summit of Pike's Peak. Sitting on a rock on the edge of the summit, I met with God. I got to meet my girlfriend's cousin in Denver, and hang out with an old friend who goes to Denver Seminary. And, I did all this in the context of beautiful mountains and amazing Christian leaders that I built lasting friendships with.
Have you had times in your life when everything seemed to come together in remarkable ways to become a huge milestone blessing in your life?
Friday, July 23, 2010
Seminary, Part One
I've been in Colorado Springs for the last two weeks studying in person at Fuller Theological Seminary. I am here with my cohort of 22 leaders and we've just finished two weeks of intensive studying. I've been so blessed by the opportunity to be part of this group. I am the youngest one in the cohort, and the only unmarried guy.
The Master of Arts in Global Leadership program is an amazing online program through Fuller that enables me to study toward my Masters while remaining in my ministry context. Not only that, but it combines light theological training, practical ministry training, and leadership training with a heavy emphasis on character and lifelong development as a disciple of Christ. I will finish probably either in December 2013 or March 2014.
This trip has been absolutely incredible, and I'll be describing it over the next few posts. It struck me as I was in the Denver airport waiting to head down to the Springs that I was flying into a city where I knew nearly nobody to borrow a car from people I'd never met so that I could stay at a house of a guy I'd never met and go to school with people I'd only exchanged e-mails with online. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and take a risk. In my next post I'll let you know how it turned out...but first, I'm sure each of you have similar experiences. How did they turn out?
The Master of Arts in Global Leadership program is an amazing online program through Fuller that enables me to study toward my Masters while remaining in my ministry context. Not only that, but it combines light theological training, practical ministry training, and leadership training with a heavy emphasis on character and lifelong development as a disciple of Christ. I will finish probably either in December 2013 or March 2014.
This trip has been absolutely incredible, and I'll be describing it over the next few posts. It struck me as I was in the Denver airport waiting to head down to the Springs that I was flying into a city where I knew nearly nobody to borrow a car from people I'd never met so that I could stay at a house of a guy I'd never met and go to school with people I'd only exchanged e-mails with online. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and take a risk. In my next post I'll let you know how it turned out...but first, I'm sure each of you have similar experiences. How did they turn out?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ethal
Thought this story was worth sharing...it's how my mom came to get her dog!
Hi my name is Elise and i work for Operation Kindness, I wanted to e-mail you and let you know that i am very happy that u adopted Ethel and that i rescued her.. She was hit by a car right in front of me, i didn't see it but i heard it and i could hear her crying from the street. So when i figured out were she was, I picked her up and moved her to the sidewalk, i wasn't sure what to do because she wasn't bleeding or anything, she was in shock, she couldn't get up, she was really stiff and wouldn't stop crying.so i wrapped her up in a towel and put her in the car with me.. And this is all happening around eleven p.m. so i knew we were closed at operation kindness so i couldn't take her there. I figured that she wasn't gonna make it because she wouldn't stop screaming and she was breathing so hard. I couldn't leave her there to just die, so i called animal control and told them What happened and they told me that it could take any were from one hour to twenty four hours before they could get there, and there was no way i was going to leave this poor little poodle to die alone.. so i thought that at least if she was not going to make it that i could get her some were so she can be put to sleep, and not suffer anymore. So i took her to Dallas Animal Services on Westmoreland, because they have a night drop box and you can leave the dog in there and someone will get her out on the other side of the door. so i filled the information on the card out, and then when i put her in there she stands up and looks at me and starts walking around. I'm feeling bad about even bringing her there but i shut the door, And i go home that night after all this, and i cant sleep i keep thinking about this poor little dog, and so the next morning i call up there and she if she made it threw the night and she did! I was so happy. So i told my boss the whole story and asked her if i could bring her to Operation Kindness, And she gave me the ok, And we do surgery on animals if they have broken limbs, or hips so i figured she would be a good dog to bring into the shelter for that reason. So i had to wait 72 hours before i could pick her up, because she was a stray so the owner had 72 hours to find her. I knew no one would be looking for this dog, from the matted fur, to the long nails, and dirty ears. So after 72 hours i got to go pick her up and when i saw her laying in the cage, she got up and came to the door like nothing was wrong with her. i asked them do they know her problems and the hadn't done x-rays so the were unsure. So we leave and i get her to OK and they do x-rays and its a broken pelvis. and she stayed there until you came and adopted her! And i want to thank you for giving her a good home! And i thank your both lucky to have one another. It makes me so happy when one of my personal rescues gets a forever loving home. thank you!
Hi my name is Elise and i work for Operation Kindness, I wanted to e-mail you and let you know that i am very happy that u adopted Ethel and that i rescued her.. She was hit by a car right in front of me, i didn't see it but i heard it and i could hear her crying from the street. So when i figured out were she was, I picked her up and moved her to the sidewalk, i wasn't sure what to do because she wasn't bleeding or anything, she was in shock, she couldn't get up, she was really stiff and wouldn't stop crying.so i wrapped her up in a towel and put her in the car with me.. And this is all happening around eleven p.m. so i knew we were closed at operation kindness so i couldn't take her there. I figured that she wasn't gonna make it because she wouldn't stop screaming and she was breathing so hard. I couldn't leave her there to just die, so i called animal control and told them What happened and they told me that it could take any were from one hour to twenty four hours before they could get there, and there was no way i was going to leave this poor little poodle to die alone.. so i thought that at least if she was not going to make it that i could get her some were so she can be put to sleep, and not suffer anymore. So i took her to Dallas Animal Services on Westmoreland, because they have a night drop box and you can leave the dog in there and someone will get her out on the other side of the door. so i filled the information on the card out, and then when i put her in there she stands up and looks at me and starts walking around. I'm feeling bad about even bringing her there but i shut the door, And i go home that night after all this, and i cant sleep i keep thinking about this poor little dog, and so the next morning i call up there and she if she made it threw the night and she did! I was so happy. So i told my boss the whole story and asked her if i could bring her to Operation Kindness, And she gave me the ok, And we do surgery on animals if they have broken limbs, or hips so i figured she would be a good dog to bring into the shelter for that reason. So i had to wait 72 hours before i could pick her up, because she was a stray so the owner had 72 hours to find her. I knew no one would be looking for this dog, from the matted fur, to the long nails, and dirty ears. So after 72 hours i got to go pick her up and when i saw her laying in the cage, she got up and came to the door like nothing was wrong with her. i asked them do they know her problems and the hadn't done x-rays so the were unsure. So we leave and i get her to OK and they do x-rays and its a broken pelvis. and she stayed there until you came and adopted her! And i want to thank you for giving her a good home! And i thank your both lucky to have one another. It makes me so happy when one of my personal rescues gets a forever loving home. thank you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)