Anthony
Friday, December 14, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Difference Between Big Personalities and Great Leaders by Matt Keller
When the 2012 Major League Baseball season came to a close, the usual letting go of some players and managers took place.
Most noticeable to me was the firing of Boston Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine and the firing of Ozzie Guillen, the manager of the Miami Marlins.
Both men are in their first year as managers for their respective clubs. However, both men have served as managers for other teams in the past.
What I find interesting is how both men have the reputation of being "Big Personalities" in the baseball world.
In fact, I would go so far as to say both men were hired as much for their big personality as for their ability to lead a major league ball club effectively.
Unfortunately for both men, their teams under-performed in a big way this year, disappointing fans, team members and the front office.
It has cost both of them their job and the city of Miami the hope of building momentum for their newly renamed and rebranded ball club.
Which brings me to my Main Observation: There is a big difference between a "Big Personality" and good leadership.
The baseball world is a microcosm of how the world of leadership has changed in the last decade.
No longer can a "Big Personality" compensate for poor leadership, especially when you're called upon to lead the young generation.
Every 30-and-under high-capacity leader I know has a radar for authenticity, vulnerability and approachability. No longer can poor leadership hide behind "Big Personality." The proof shows up in the results every time.
The challenging takeaway for us as leaders is to examine ourselves.
Most noticeable to me was the firing of Boston Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine and the firing of Ozzie Guillen, the manager of the Miami Marlins.
Both men are in their first year as managers for their respective clubs. However, both men have served as managers for other teams in the past.
What I find interesting is how both men have the reputation of being "Big Personalities" in the baseball world.
In fact, I would go so far as to say both men were hired as much for their big personality as for their ability to lead a major league ball club effectively.
Unfortunately for both men, their teams under-performed in a big way this year, disappointing fans, team members and the front office.
It has cost both of them their job and the city of Miami the hope of building momentum for their newly renamed and rebranded ball club.
Which brings me to my Main Observation: There is a big difference between a "Big Personality" and good leadership.
The baseball world is a microcosm of how the world of leadership has changed in the last decade.
No longer can a "Big Personality" compensate for poor leadership, especially when you're called upon to lead the young generation.
Every 30-and-under high-capacity leader I know has a radar for authenticity, vulnerability and approachability. No longer can poor leadership hide behind "Big Personality." The proof shows up in the results every time.
The challenging takeaway for us as leaders is to examine ourselves.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Milk, Meat and the Malnourished Church by Steven Furtick
One of the greatest critiques of the American Church today is it’s malnourished.
Some would even say it’s our most pressing problem.
When most people voice this complaint, the focus is on the worship experience.
From people who leave these churches, you hear, “I wasn’t getting fed.”
Or, “I just want some deeper teaching.”
From people outside these churches you hear, “Too much milk, not enough meat.”
In some cases, I’m sure this is true. But I really don’t think that’s the real problem.
Yes, American Christians are malnourished. But I don’t believe it has anything to do with milk or meat.
Most American Christians aren’t malnourished because of what they’re getting fed on Sunday. They’re malnourished because they don’t feed themselves Monday through Saturday.
So you had filet mignon on Sunday and learned about the mystical union of Christ and the church as it relates to the rapture and the design of the tabernacle in relation to Levitical dietary laws as understood by the Council of Trent.
Good for you.
Have fun starving yourself the rest of the week and letting your pastor read the Bible so you don’t have to.
So you had some milk on Sunday and learned 37 ways to ________. Have fun having 37 new ways to not obey God during the coming week.
The crisis facing the church today isn’t what people are getting fed on Sundays.
It’s what they’re not feeding themselves the rest of the days.
Who really cares whether you consume meat or milk on Sunday if it’s the only meal you have all week?
I’m not saying this to get pastors and churches off the hook.
It is the shepherd’s job to feed the sheep (John 21). And feed them well based on their needs and faith development.
But it’s also the sheep’s job to eat:
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:13-14).
Here’s the point. Churches: We have a responsibility.
We should serve up the Word, hot and fresh every single Sunday. As church leaders, it is our job to create and sustain processes and systems that responsibly enable people to grow in their faith after receiving Christ. Tomorrow I’ll be sharing our philosophy and approach of how we do that at Elevation.
People in our churches: You also have a responsibility.
If you refuse to study the Word, apply it, pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others, there’s not much we can do to help you. Your malnourishment won’t be cured by anything we give you on Sunday.
So are you an infant and need milk? Drink it for now, but the only way you’re getting more mature and will be ready for meat is by training yourself.
Constantly.
Do you want meat? From these verses, it seems like meat is doing the milk. On your own.
Constantly.
Not getting it served to you once a week.
Anthony
Some would even say it’s our most pressing problem.
When most people voice this complaint, the focus is on the worship experience.
From people who leave these churches, you hear, “I wasn’t getting fed.”
Or, “I just want some deeper teaching.”
From people outside these churches you hear, “Too much milk, not enough meat.”
In some cases, I’m sure this is true. But I really don’t think that’s the real problem.
Yes, American Christians are malnourished. But I don’t believe it has anything to do with milk or meat.
Most American Christians aren’t malnourished because of what they’re getting fed on Sunday. They’re malnourished because they don’t feed themselves Monday through Saturday.
So you had filet mignon on Sunday and learned about the mystical union of Christ and the church as it relates to the rapture and the design of the tabernacle in relation to Levitical dietary laws as understood by the Council of Trent.
Good for you.
Have fun starving yourself the rest of the week and letting your pastor read the Bible so you don’t have to.
So you had some milk on Sunday and learned 37 ways to ________. Have fun having 37 new ways to not obey God during the coming week.
The crisis facing the church today isn’t what people are getting fed on Sundays.
It’s what they’re not feeding themselves the rest of the days.
Who really cares whether you consume meat or milk on Sunday if it’s the only meal you have all week?
I’m not saying this to get pastors and churches off the hook.
It is the shepherd’s job to feed the sheep (John 21). And feed them well based on their needs and faith development.
But it’s also the sheep’s job to eat:
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:13-14).
Here’s the point. Churches: We have a responsibility.
We should serve up the Word, hot and fresh every single Sunday. As church leaders, it is our job to create and sustain processes and systems that responsibly enable people to grow in their faith after receiving Christ. Tomorrow I’ll be sharing our philosophy and approach of how we do that at Elevation.
People in our churches: You also have a responsibility.
If you refuse to study the Word, apply it, pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others, there’s not much we can do to help you. Your malnourishment won’t be cured by anything we give you on Sunday.
So are you an infant and need milk? Drink it for now, but the only way you’re getting more mature and will be ready for meat is by training yourself.
Constantly.
Do you want meat? From these verses, it seems like meat is doing the milk. On your own.
Constantly.
Not getting it served to you once a week.
Anthony
Monday, November 19, 2012
6 Reasons Pastors Want to Quit on Mondays
by Jon McIntosh
Mark Driscoll calls them "Bread Truck Mondays."
A Sunday that was so difficult or draining that the day after makes a pastor wish he were anything but a pastor—even the driver of a bread truck.
Not every pastor wants to quit all the time, but from time to time, discouragement sets in, and often it’s hard for pastors to find a safe, anonymous place to talk about it.
I took an informal poll of my friends in pastoral ministry. “What recently has made you want to quit?”
These are their top responses:
1. To Protect my Family.
Sometimes, the pastor’s family will sacrifice in ways that make the pastor want to give it up for an easier or, frankly, more lucrative job.
One pastor, discouraged by his young church’s inability to pay him a decent salary, responded that he feels like he is being a “terrible provider.”
Another friend who has moved into a difficult neighborhood to be an incarnational presence there cited drug dealers in his neighborhood as a reason he’s wanted to quit.
Difficult days can make you question your call to take the Gospel to the hard places.
2. Criticism.
Often, pastors feel attacked on all sides.
One friend of mine replied to my question with simply the words “sinful criticism,” which he later described as “criticism that is nit-picky and comes from a consumeristic church culture.”
3. The Hard Work of Shepherding.
For one church planter, it was the difficult realization that after you “launch” the church, you have to actually pastor people.
His response: "Coming to the reality we can’t just make cool websites, network in the community and launch a church. We actually have to do the hard work of shepherding."
4. Restlessness.
Some of the time, the issue is simply that entrepreneurial church-planting pastors have a hard time staying in one place for very long.
"Restlessness and feeling a desire for another city," was one pastor’s response to my question.
5. Coveting Others’ Gifts.
Even though only a small percentage of the churches in the world see rapid numeric growth, it is these stories of fast-growing churches that get promoted the most in the church world.
Add to this, because of the connectivity of the Internet, that everyone has access to the most gifted preachers and teachers around.
One pastor named his struggle for what it is: "coveting others’ gifts, leadership, fruitfulness."
If you are a "normal" pastor of a "normal" church, this can lead to great discouragement. It can cause you to question if you alone are struggling with difficult people or a difficult context.
One pastor responded (ironically, via Twitter) to my question on what’s made him want to quit recently: "Twitter. Following people who always seem to have the momentum and success and few struggles. Seriously—it has gotten to me."
6. Lack of Change.
"Stagnation in the church that won’t change gets me down a lot," was one pastor’s response to my question.
The single most discouraging issue for pastors is a sense that things in the church are not changing or progressing.
One pastor cited a "lack of change … doing the same things the same ways without vision for the why behind it all."
Pastors are pouring out their lives in order to see transformation—change in people, a neighborhood or an entire city. When things seem stuck, it can feel like it’s time to throw in the towel.
One pastor described it as a "lack of mission: feeling as if we’re just spinning our wheels. Spiritual apathy among leaders who were 'with' us."
What about you? Pastors, what things have made you want to quit recently? How do you get past “Bread Truck Mondays”?
Anthony
Friday, November 16, 2012
General Petraeus, Leadership and Why Adultery is Never Private
by Thom Rainer
It’s somewhat surprising that the media is making a fuss about the David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell affair.
After all, adultery is normative according to most media standards.
This time, however, there is the potential damage of compromising highly sensitive security information. And there are the unanswered questions of “Who knew?” and “When did they know?”
But the spectacle does raise the question: What is the impact on a leader and his or her leadership when he or she is involved in an affair?
I have been disgusted as I heard different pundits attempt to answer this question.
It’s Not a Private Matter
The typical perspective regurgitated about the Petraeus and Broadwell affair is that, outside of the security concerns, it’s really no big deal. After all, it is argued, this relationship is a private matter between two consenting adults.
That’s garbage.
It is not a private matter. Their two spouses are undoubtedly wounded and humiliated. Children are innocent victims who try to grasp with the strains and perhaps destruction of the secure world they knew when all was well with their parents. Other family and friends are hurt as well.
One television commentator this week cheered the actions of adulterous men, celebrating their testosterone levels and manhood. One is left to wonder if he would cheer similar actions of his own wife, and celebrate her own hormonal drives and femininity with other men.
It’s Not Endemic to All Great Leaders
I have heard more than one pundit opine that uncontrolled sex drives are just part of the nature of great leaders.
They have such a great drive, we are told, that it is only natural that such drives include unfettered desires for sexual conquests.
I even heard a commentator cite adultery as a common characteristic of our great American presidents. The more anemic presidents tended to be those who were faithful to their wives.
Adultery is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness.
Adultery is not an indicator of healthy adulthood. It’s an indicator of juvenile behavior.
Adultery is not a sign of self-controlled leaders. It’s a sign of out-of-control leaders.
Adultery is not the badge of great leadership. It’s the badge of failed leadership.
It’s Not a Matter of Triumph
Ultimately adultery is not a matter of triumph; it’s a matter of failed trust.
An adulterous man or woman once stood before God and human witnesses and pledged his or her lifelong commitment to another person. Indeed he or she entered the sanctity of marriage as a promise that neither would ever break trust with the other.
Adultery is failed trust; it is therefore failed leadership.
How can we trust a leader who failed to keep trust with the person to whom he or she has devoted his or her life? How can we believe what that leader says when he has deceived and lied to the person who is supposed to be closest to him?
Don’t read me wrongly. Adultery is not unforgivable. I am reminded of an adulterous woman about to be stoned to death only to see her life spared. There was no one around without sin to cast the first stone except Jesus. And He showed grace.
But please don’t take adultery as lightly and with such frivolity as much of the media and society. The breach of trust is indeed forgivable. But the consequences are deep and far reaching.
Great leaders keep trust at all levels: in their friendships; in their business dealings; in their organizations and, above all, in their marriages.
Anthony
It’s somewhat surprising that the media is making a fuss about the David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell affair.
After all, adultery is normative according to most media standards.
This time, however, there is the potential damage of compromising highly sensitive security information. And there are the unanswered questions of “Who knew?” and “When did they know?”
But the spectacle does raise the question: What is the impact on a leader and his or her leadership when he or she is involved in an affair?
I have been disgusted as I heard different pundits attempt to answer this question.
It’s Not a Private Matter
The typical perspective regurgitated about the Petraeus and Broadwell affair is that, outside of the security concerns, it’s really no big deal. After all, it is argued, this relationship is a private matter between two consenting adults.
That’s garbage.
It is not a private matter. Their two spouses are undoubtedly wounded and humiliated. Children are innocent victims who try to grasp with the strains and perhaps destruction of the secure world they knew when all was well with their parents. Other family and friends are hurt as well.
One television commentator this week cheered the actions of adulterous men, celebrating their testosterone levels and manhood. One is left to wonder if he would cheer similar actions of his own wife, and celebrate her own hormonal drives and femininity with other men.
It’s Not Endemic to All Great Leaders
I have heard more than one pundit opine that uncontrolled sex drives are just part of the nature of great leaders.
They have such a great drive, we are told, that it is only natural that such drives include unfettered desires for sexual conquests.
I even heard a commentator cite adultery as a common characteristic of our great American presidents. The more anemic presidents tended to be those who were faithful to their wives.
Adultery is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness.
Adultery is not an indicator of healthy adulthood. It’s an indicator of juvenile behavior.
Adultery is not a sign of self-controlled leaders. It’s a sign of out-of-control leaders.
Adultery is not the badge of great leadership. It’s the badge of failed leadership.
It’s Not a Matter of Triumph
Ultimately adultery is not a matter of triumph; it’s a matter of failed trust.
An adulterous man or woman once stood before God and human witnesses and pledged his or her lifelong commitment to another person. Indeed he or she entered the sanctity of marriage as a promise that neither would ever break trust with the other.
Adultery is failed trust; it is therefore failed leadership.
How can we trust a leader who failed to keep trust with the person to whom he or she has devoted his or her life? How can we believe what that leader says when he has deceived and lied to the person who is supposed to be closest to him?
Don’t read me wrongly. Adultery is not unforgivable. I am reminded of an adulterous woman about to be stoned to death only to see her life spared. There was no one around without sin to cast the first stone except Jesus. And He showed grace.
But please don’t take adultery as lightly and with such frivolity as much of the media and society. The breach of trust is indeed forgivable. But the consequences are deep and far reaching.
Great leaders keep trust at all levels: in their friendships; in their business dealings; in their organizations and, above all, in their marriages.
Anthony
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11 Hindrances To Prayer
Tonight we only made it to number 5, so here is the rest.
1. Unconfessed sin
Ps. 66:18
2. Insincerity
Matt. 6:5
3. Carnal motives
James 4:3
4. Unbelief
James 1:5-6
5. Satanic activity
Dan. 10:10-13
6. Domestic problems
1 Pet. 3:7
7. Pride
Luke 18:10-14
8. Robbing God
Mal. 3:8-10
9. Refusing to submit to biblical teaching
Prov. 1:24-28; 28:9; Zech. 7:11-14
10. Refusing to forgive or to be forgiven
Matt. 5:23-24; 12, 14
11. Refusing to help the needy
Prov. 21:3; 1 John 3:16-17
Anthony
1. Unconfessed sin
Ps. 66:18
2. Insincerity
Matt. 6:5
3. Carnal motives
James 4:3
4. Unbelief
James 1:5-6
5. Satanic activity
Dan. 10:10-13
6. Domestic problems
1 Pet. 3:7
7. Pride
Luke 18:10-14
8. Robbing God
Mal. 3:8-10
9. Refusing to submit to biblical teaching
Prov. 1:24-28; 28:9; Zech. 7:11-14
10. Refusing to forgive or to be forgiven
Matt. 5:23-24; 12, 14
11. Refusing to help the needy
Prov. 21:3; 1 John 3:16-17
Anthony
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thom Rainer: What Non-Christians Really Think About Christians
One of my greatest joys in research is talking to and listening to those who clearly identify themselves as non-Christians. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not celebrating their absence of faith in Christ. My joy comes from listening to those who don’t believe as I do, so that I might be better equipped to witness to them.
Over the past several years, my research teams and I have interviewed thousands of unchurched non-Christians. Among the more interesting insights I gleaned were those where the interviewees shared with me their perspectives of Christians.
In this article, I group the seven most common types of comments in order of frequency. I then follow that representative statement with a direct quote from a non-Christian. Read these comments and see if you learn some of the lessons I learned.
1. Christians are against more things than they are for.
“It just seems to me that Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other. They are so negative that they seem unhappy. I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time.”
2. I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.
“I’m really interested in what they believe and how they carry out their beliefs. I wish I could find a Christian that would be willing to spend some time with me.”
3. I would like to learn about the Bible from a Christian.
“The Bible really fascinates me, but I don’t want to go to a stuffy and legalistic church to learn about it. I would be nice if a Christian invited me to study the Bible in his home or at a place like Starbucks.”
4. I don’t see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.
“I really can’t tell what a Christian believes because he doesn’t seem much different than other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously.”
5. I wish I could learn to be a better husband, wife, dad, mom, etc., from a Christian.
“My wife is threatening to divorce me, and I think she means it this time. My neighbor is a Christian, and he seems to have it together. I am swallowing my pride and asking him to help me.”
6. Some Christians try to act like they have no problems.
“Harriett works in my department. She is one of those Christians who seem to have a mask on. I would respect her more if she didn’t put on such an act. I know better.”
7. I wish a Christian would take me to his or her church.
“I really would like to visit a church, but I’m not particularly comfortable going by myself. What is weird is that I am 32-years old, and I’ve never had a Christian invite me to church in my entire life.”
Do you see the pattern? Non-Christians want to interact with Christians. They want to see Christians’ actions match their beliefs. They want Christians to be real.
In one study we conducted, we found that only five percent of non-Christians are antagonistic toward Christians. It’s time to stop believing the lies we have been told. Jesus said it clearly: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Luke10:2, HCSB).
Satan is the author of excuses. There is no reason to wait to reach those who don’t know Jesus Christ. We must go now. The harvest is waiting. And the Lord of the harvest has prepared the way.
Anthony
Over the past several years, my research teams and I have interviewed thousands of unchurched non-Christians. Among the more interesting insights I gleaned were those where the interviewees shared with me their perspectives of Christians.
In this article, I group the seven most common types of comments in order of frequency. I then follow that representative statement with a direct quote from a non-Christian. Read these comments and see if you learn some of the lessons I learned.
1. Christians are against more things than they are for.
“It just seems to me that Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other. They are so negative that they seem unhappy. I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time.”
2. I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.
“I’m really interested in what they believe and how they carry out their beliefs. I wish I could find a Christian that would be willing to spend some time with me.”
3. I would like to learn about the Bible from a Christian.
“The Bible really fascinates me, but I don’t want to go to a stuffy and legalistic church to learn about it. I would be nice if a Christian invited me to study the Bible in his home or at a place like Starbucks.”
4. I don’t see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.
“I really can’t tell what a Christian believes because he doesn’t seem much different than other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously.”
5. I wish I could learn to be a better husband, wife, dad, mom, etc., from a Christian.
“My wife is threatening to divorce me, and I think she means it this time. My neighbor is a Christian, and he seems to have it together. I am swallowing my pride and asking him to help me.”
6. Some Christians try to act like they have no problems.
“Harriett works in my department. She is one of those Christians who seem to have a mask on. I would respect her more if she didn’t put on such an act. I know better.”
7. I wish a Christian would take me to his or her church.
“I really would like to visit a church, but I’m not particularly comfortable going by myself. What is weird is that I am 32-years old, and I’ve never had a Christian invite me to church in my entire life.”
Do you see the pattern? Non-Christians want to interact with Christians. They want to see Christians’ actions match their beliefs. They want Christians to be real.
In one study we conducted, we found that only five percent of non-Christians are antagonistic toward Christians. It’s time to stop believing the lies we have been told. Jesus said it clearly: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Luke10:2, HCSB).
Satan is the author of excuses. There is no reason to wait to reach those who don’t know Jesus Christ. We must go now. The harvest is waiting. And the Lord of the harvest has prepared the way.
Anthony
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