Imagine the impact on the United States if Christians here were known – first of all — for being people of action. When you read the New Testament, you see Jesus in action much of the time. So much so that when he drew away for prayer, reflection, and rest—it was noteworthy. But, most sermons […]
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Imagine the impact on the United States if Christians here were known – first of all — for being people of action. If we were regarded as people who leap when there’s an opportunity to help others. People who jump at the chance to undermine injustice? Those who are swift to relieve suffering? What
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When someone behaves in ways that don’t seem to make sense it’s usually due to one of the “formidable four” motivators: looking good, feeling good, being right, or, today’s focus: being in control. The older I get the more sure I am that it is impossible to control anyone … other than myself. And, controlling
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Last time, I suggested that no matter how astonishing, everything you do, at some level, made sense, at the time you did it. Almost always, in situations like this, you were motivated by one or more of the formidable four. I once worked for a clinically-diagnosable narcissist. This psychological malady renders a person unable to
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Last time, I introduced the phrase: Throw your body into the middle of the room and see what God does with it. Let me clarify. When you’re surprised by life and find yourself frozen in uncertainty, the pervading impulse is to stop. Ponder. Evaluate. Assess. Trouble is, often life’s reality won’t give you the luxury
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Leadership Courage Series # 44 Go first! Leaders go. They take action. They leap. Managers, strategists, futurists, idea practitioners, educators, and visionaries can all get by without going—and particularly without going first. Leaders, however cannot. Leaders lead. It’s just what they do. That what Jesus did. The apostles, too. Somehow, as Christianity has passed from
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Leadership Courage Series # 43 Reintroduce yourself to the adventurous life. This is the eighth of nine characteristics necessary to lead the Church well today. Notice how little risk-taking the Church does today? Other than making a bold “leap of faith” to finance a 400-seat sanctuary for the comfort and convenience of their own people,
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Leadership Courage Series # 42 The seventh of nine leadership characteristics needed in the Church today: Disengage from an unreasonable faith in reasonableness. Let me ask you: How reasonable was Jesus when confronting opposition, faithlessness, and cowardice? Consider his arrest, in Gethsemane. Jesus is betrayed with a kiss by one of his closest confidants, an
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Leadership Courage Series # 41 The sixth leadership characteristic needed in the Church today is: Undermine the 80/20 Rule. 80/20 is another evidence that cowardice is thriving in much of the American Church. A week ago, my pastor announced that last year’s tithes and offerings – totaling more than $5 million – came from 15%
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Leadership Courage Series # 40 As we review the nine leadership characteristics I think are necessary to lead the Church in this hour, today we turn to #5: Don’t “push on the rope”: the unmotivated are invulnerable to insight. Ever tried to get a kite out of a tree? If you’re like me, there’ll be
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