So, today I had another one of "those days." The kind that don't come around often, and, when they do, rock your world and your paradigm. I've come to appreciate these days, and the potential they hold.
Today, I spent the morning in a staff meeting with Sy Rogers. Sy is a leading voice around the world on the topic of sexual healing and brokenness. He has a story of past abuse, abandonment and struggles with sexual sin. His story is not only an awesome testimony to the redeeming power of God, but also provides a relevant message that pierces to the heart of the issues facing our generation.
"The roots of our humanity go deep in our lives, but God's grace goes deeper."
Today I was again reminded of the fact that we all share a common humanity...a sin nature. Every single person you have ever met is equally a sinner...and in need of a savior. As modern issues of sexualtiy have surfaced, the Church, at times, has lost it's voice of love and grace...and has become viewed hostile to people, rather than an advocate for a God who is an advocate for people. I don't think this happened intentionally...and is not meant to be a broad statement of every Christian or Pastor. But there is no doubt that, in our generation, the Church is struggling to find it's footing in combating this issue.
At the same time, I see Churches (like ours, and others around the world), who are committed to getting it right in this area. To find a voice of Grace and Truth to a world that desperately needs both!
As we move forward, we need a daily reminder of the cross and our own humanity as leaders. We need to walk in the grace of God, and display it to the world. And we need to listen to the leaders in the Church today who are carrying this message...and follow their lead, so the Church can find it's way to a place of relevance...all for the purpose of bringing broken people back to God.
I say all of this to say....
I hope you are planning to be at Church tonight (if you are in the Seattle/Tacoma area). Sy is going to bring a message and story that is sure to leave an imprint on your life. Let me know if I can provide you with details.
Let's keep moving forward Church...our greatest days are ahead of us.
Another Life-Changing Meeting
Will You Lose It? Pt.1
Adding Value
How do you respond to vision that you did not dream up or conceive? This is familiar territory, and a common road that all support leaders and teams will walk. It is a journey that requires our attention, since it is tied closely to team success and unity.
I'm taking a break today from talking about Rebellion to bring you a thought from the legendary John Maxwell today. If most people will never serve at the top of their organization, Church, etc....then most people will also be in a place to receive and implement vision they did not generate. This is a place of sacrifice, but also a place of greatness. People who are willing to lose themselves for the good of their teams will find their lives in a new way.
John Maxwell describes the common responses to Vision:
1. Attack It – People who immediately set out against a vision.
2. Ignore It – These people may not attack the vision, but they don’t support it either.
3. Abandon It – These people leave the organization because the vision violates their deep down values. They cannot bring support, so they leave.
4. Adapt To It – These people find a way to align with the vision, although reluctantly.
5. Champion It – These people make the vision of “WE” the vision of “ME.” They realize that vision is cast by one person, but accomplished by many.
6. Add Value To It – The most positive response to a leader’s vision is to be beyond championing it and to actually add value to it. The vision moves forward because of their investment and support. It is impossible to distinguish personal and team vision for this person, because they are one in the same.
**NOTE: Not everyone gets the chance to add value to the vision. There is a prerequisite to this – and that is to Champion It first.
As you and your team set out this fall to build God's Kingdom...don't be a long ranger. Don't build in isolation. Make up your mind that your best position is the place of unity...no matter what the cost. Our teams are better when we add to the vision together.
Rebellion - pt.2
God takes rebellion seriously because He takes authority seriously.
1 Samuel 15:23 NKJV - “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
God takes authority so seriously, that He considers rebellion the same as serving another God, and working against His will. Rebellion towards an authority figure in our lives directly sets our will against God's...and leaves us in a place far from his blessing.
When I think of rebellion, my mind goes first to the story of Korah, and the rebellion he led against Moses in Numbers 16. Korah was the first cousin of Moses. So in their world, Korah was a person of influence and power. The problem: Korah wanted the authority that Moses had...and he recruited 250 men who felt the same way he did. This group of 250 men would prove to be enough to infect the entire nation with grumbling and complaining against Moses.
What you need to understand is that Korah and his men were men of distinction in their nation - they were middle leadership. They were men who wanted the priesthood. They were jealous they had not been picked. They had probably ministered in holy things to some degree, and now they felt that they distinction of the priesthood was best suited for all of them. Little did they know they weren't just picking a fight with Moses on this day...
How often does a support leader have the opportunity to feel like Korah? Personally, I think it is a regular battle! Support leaders are brought onto a team for their leadership strength...their ability to handle leadership tasks on behalf of their Senior leader. We are strong leaders! We desire to see progress made, and take results very personally. The challenge lies when opinions vary. When opportunity comes, and someone else is picked for the task, it is another proving ground of our internal strength and humility.
I made a decision a long time ago that I would not sacrifice my place in life on the altar of my own opinion. I have learned that the place of peace and agreement in God's Kingdom often comes with sacrificing your own opinion, or personal desires, for the good of the team. You know what happened after I crossed this line? I found this is the place of God's blessing. It's not the place of ME-first...it's TEAM-first.
Unfortunately Korah didn't learn the lesson soon enough. His fate? God cause the ground to open up and swallow he and his rebellious team.
Next time we'll talk about where rebellion starts...and how it grows.
Until then, have a great weekend and lead well. Let's bring honor back!
Rebellion - pt.1
Most people will never find themselves leading at the top of the organization they serve in (business, Church, community, etc…). The top is reserved for a few whom God places there. Most people in life will spend their lives and careers leading from somewhere in the middle. John Maxwell describes this as the 360 Degree Leader – a person who leads relationships with a Senior leader, peers, and people serving under them on an organizational chart.
For the leader in the middle, a proper approach to authority is a life or death issue. If God places everyone in authority (Romans 13), then the way we relate to the authority in our lives is an important issue. This is the place of greatest protection and blessing by God...and unfortunately, its the place where many support leaders experience their worst enemy: themselves.
The temptation for us, as support leaders, is that we so easily forget this, and can be drawn to a place of self-interest….a place of “ME-first.” The Bible refers to this as … REBELLION.
When we use words like Rebellion, many people would excuse themselves from this word… saying, “This doesn’t apply to my, I’m loyal…I work hard…I always do what I’m asked to do.” But, before you are too quick to turn me off, lets talk about what rebellion looks like (even in it's smallest form):
Have you ever….
1. Shared your perspective with a team member or volunteer that would show your distance from your Pastor and his vision?
• People allow themselves to show how “they would do it differently” in an attempt to win support from distant team members, even if it means showing a distance between themselves and their Pastor
2. Attempted to sabotage another team member
• This can happen even slightly, by showing a lack of support, or speaking out against them. Me-first choices promote your success at the expense of their failure
3. Taken advice or counsel from your Pastor lightly? Or disregarded it as unimportant?
4. Sabotaged or attacked a vision presented from your Senior Leader?
5. Entertained complaints from Church members, volunteers, or other staff members about what the Pastor or leaders should be doing differently?
…if you have, you have seen the face of rebellion. The question is…how did you respond to its momentary presence in your life? Did it become a companion on your journey, or a momentary thought to overcome?
(We'll continue this conversation next time...)
