Priorities

I recently received my alumni magazine from Emory University. James Wagner, President of Emory University shares the need for change at Emory. The change is a result of the economic struggle that is being faced across the country. I find it interesting that change is not usually taken serious in institutions, organizations, or churches until we become financially strapped. It is during those times that if not careful we will make foolish and irreversible changes that impact the organization negatively. We are sometimes quick to move to the "how" question before we spend some time asking "what." The "how" is always governed by the "what." What has God called us to do? What is our purpose? The answer to those questions will govern how we go about accomplishing the task before us. But if we are not careful we can start making changes before we fully understand why we are making the changes. Dr. Wagner suggest some important questions every institution, organization, or church must ask as change occurs.
1. Where are we headed?
2. What is essential?
3. What do we do best today?
4. At what are we least successful, to what are we less well suited?
5. What must be strengthened?
6. What must be eliminated?
7. What opportunities for leadership do we see?
8. Is the institution, organization, church organized appropriately for what we imagine the future to be?
9. Does potential changes compromise the institution, organization, or church in its excellence (I would add also values)?

Careful Not Fearful

In Sunday's sermon we discussed the courage of David and applied David's courage in facing the Goliath in our own life. What was not said is that courage is not careless. David recognized that Saul's armor and military equipment was not the right tools for him to fight the giant. He took what he was familiar with and used it to his advantage. David had courage, but he wasn't careless. He didn't get caught up in the moment and rush onto the battle scene before he was ready.
The problem is that fearful is sometimes disguised as careful. When you find yourself in a situation where courage is demanded and you are resistant to move forward ask, "Am I careful or fearful?"

Influence

Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, says he believes the church is the most leadership-intensive enterprise in society. I assume any organization that is dependent upon volunteer labor would fall under this category. The military has rank. Business leaders have paychecks. Leaders of volunteer organizations have to influence from something deeper. The temptation in the church is not to influence but to manipulate. What is the difference between manipulation and influence? Where is the line drawn that distinguishes the two?
The difference must exist with motivation. Is my motivation as a leader to increase my power or to empower others? As a minister my role is to see more in others than they see in themselves. This type of influence does not come with position (be a lot easier if it did) but comes from relationship building.

Focus

Dr. Howard Hendricks wrote this: "If anything has kept me on track all these years, it's being skewed to this principle of central focus. There are many things I can do, but I have to narrow it down to the one thing I must do. The secret of concentration is elimination." If you had to narrow your life statement to one word/sentence what would it be? What is the one thing you must do?

Strengths

We have this culture maxim we live by in America: "You can be anything you want to be, if you just try hard enough." We set kids up for failure. It also ignores the gifts that God has given to each person. A few years ago Michael Jordan decided he would play baseball. After a few strike outs he had a choice: he could either focus his energy and time on his weakness - becoming a better baseball player or instead focus his energy and time on his area of strength - basketball. The same goes for us. Andy Stanley says, "your real value to your organization lay within the context of your giftedness, not necessarily the number of hours you worked."

Measure of Leadership

There is a difference between success and leadership. A person can work hard to succeed and still not lead. A person may have dedication to a task/problem and still lack leadership. King David had a lot of military successes but it wasn't until the people come to recognize his leadership that he was able to influence others. As a parent it is important if my children listen and obey when I say something. But it is more important that those lessons they have learned are carried over into their life when I am not there. A lot of pastors have been successful in building churches and growing budgets. But the true mark of leadership is what happens when he/she leaves. The same is true in business. If we strive to be a great leader success will follow. If we strive for success there is no guarantees that leadership will occur.

Cart Before the Horse

I reread the story of David being crowned king by Israel in 2 Samuel 5. It was not until after some military defeats and then the building of his house that it is said, "David then percieved that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel." What was it about the building of this house that brought forth this realization for David?
I think it is like moving to Braselton and building a house only to discover that the job is in Macon. It was only after gaining the position of leadership through victory that David was ready to settle in and rule as king. How many times do we get the cart before the horse? We make all these plans without proving that we can do the job or perform the task. Let's not get to comfortable before we know we are the right match for the position.