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The Leader as Self Aware

February 21, 2012 / / 0 Comments

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” ~Socrates

Socrates said to look after and care for the soul was more important than money, honor, and even reputation.

One of the greatest dangers facing us as church leaders is that we can so easily become way too busy or too bored, too proud or depressed, so the things we desire the most go unexamined. Our thoughts and actions go unexamined. Because we want something so much, we assume it’s right for us and we are doing it well.

In Norman Shawchuck and Roger Heuser’s book Leading the Congregation, the authors remind that to be the right kind of spiritual leaders God is calling us to be requires that we pay attention to ourselves. Self care. Self awareness.

First, they suggest a continual examination of the quality and character of your life when you’re not in the public eye. When I’m by myself, what kind of a person am I? What thoughts do I entertain? To what private and secret activities do I give myself?

Second, we should examine the quality and character of our work and our lives when we are in the public eye, when everybody is watching. What are my values and behaviours as a leader? To what do I give myself? What are the true results of my leadership?

Martin Luther made it a practice at the end of every day to examine his motives and actions of the previous 24 hours, give the day and those motives and actions to God in prayer, and then go to sleep. His reasoning was that while he was asleep, while he was out of the way during the hours of his temporary death, God may finish his work. God would do for him in his sleep what he could not accomplish while he was awake. In John Wesley’s early years, he planned time every day for self examination. Later, he began setting aside the first five minutes of every hour, every day, to examine the past hour. Now, that’s intentional. And, yeah, it helped keep him on track.

Our congregations expect competent leaders. But they also expect elders and ministers who possess inner character and integrity. Above all, there must be a congruency between what we profess and what we do. The number one expectation — and it’s the right one! — is that we walk our talk.

This kind of continual self examination is not a barrier to leadership freedom; it is the door to true freedom as a leader of God’s people. Our interior lives do work their ways into and through all the other aspects of our ministries. Continual self evaluation guards against our manipulation of others for our own desires, it keeps us from using others, and from abusing ourselves. It keeps our eyes on the process of being saved, on being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory.

“O Lord, give me beauty of my inner soul, and let the outward person and the inward person be the same.”

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By the way, Rangers pitchers and catchers report tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Thank you,

Allan

The Leader as Servant

February 20, 2012 / / 0 Comments

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~Matthew 20:28

It is always essential that we love what we are doing. If we don’t love what we’re doing, we’re not going to be very good at it for very long. And we won’t last. The body and the mind and the sense have to all be totally into it. the intellect can’t do much without the aid of the heart and the liver and all the limbs. And vice versa. We have to love what we are doing with all of everything we have. Everything we are.

This is not untrue for those of us in spiritual leadership roles. We must love what we are doing, regardless of the level of difficulty which sometimes reaches “eleven” on a scale of one-to-ten. And we must do it with hearty abandon. The desire to be a leader has to burn like a fire in our bellies. Obviously, that desire to be a leader can’t get the job done alone. There are definitely other conditions and disciplines involved. But unless you truly desire to be a leader, you won’t be. You might wear the title and occupy the office, but you won’t fill the role.

Today, I’m still riding a wave of energy and enthusiasm that built up inside me during our elders/ministers retreat this past weekend. Our positive and productive time together has everything to do with a group of spiritual shepherds who are truly seeking God and wonderful ministers who are serious about following Christ and a gracious Father who continues to bless me far beyond what I could ever deserve. I’m going to reflect more in this space about those powerful 24 hours. Later.

For now, I’m still processing through Leading the Congregation and the four interior attitudes of the leader as presented by Norman Shawchuck and Roger Heuser.

Yes, it takes great desire. We talked about that Friday night. But that desire must be correctly placed. Your desire to serve others must be greater than your desire to lead. As with our risen Lord, leadership is a means of serving. Serving others comes first and then results in Christian leadership. Robert Greenleaf says, “Being a servant leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That perhaps is sharply different from one who is a leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. For such, it will be a latter choice to serve… The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types.”

What’s the difference between leader-first and servant first? Maybe it’s in making sure other people’s highest priority needs are met. The best test, and certainly a most difficult one to administer, in determining one’s own servant-first leadership is to ask, “Are those I’m serving really growing as persons? Do they, while I’m serving them, become healthier, wiser, freer, more likely themselves to become servants?”

Choosing to be a servant-first leader in our materialistic and power-grabbing society is always difficult since it runs counter to the values of leadership for the sake of power and position and wealth. To become a servant leader, we have to lead in a way that reflects what we see in our God.

“That God is beautiful is no secret. It is written on every flower, on the sea, and in the mountains. That God is immense is not secret. All you have to do is look at the unniverse. What is the secret? Here it is: God is a crucified God. God is the one who allows himself to be defeated, God is the God who has revealed himself in the poor. God is the God who has washed me feet, God is Jesus of Nazareth. We are not accustomed to a God like this.”

Peace,

Allan

Happy Birthday, Whitney!

February 19, 2012 / / 2 Comments

Whit,

Your birthday was the day before yesterday. Friday. You turned nineteen. Nineteen? Oh, yeah. Nineteen.

We’re filling out college application forms and seeking scholarships, looking at high school graduation schedules and making plans for family visits that first weekend in June. We’re working on senior projects and taking a ton of pictures. You’re in your last year of high school, Whit. And your mom and I are so proud of you.

I’m so proud of the way you have just absolutely blossomed here in our new home in Amarillo. I honestly can’t hardly believe the friends you have made and the clubs you belong to and the activities with which you’re involved. Key Club. FCA. Student Council. I can’t believe how well you’ve adapted to this move. Cheerfully. Enthusiastically. Driving off with your friends to eat lunch or go to the mall or see all those movies. Driving to the Sandies basketball games and hanging out with those girls. You’ve come a long, long way from “Dad, you have ruined my life!” eight months ago.

Our God has placed kind and loving people in your path here in Amarillo, Whit. All those friends you have, all those teachers who love you so much are a gift from our Father, an obvious answer to our prayers. Coach K is a blessing from God. So is Mrs. Gramowski. Adam and Missy and Tanner and Jason and Kasey and Steve and Tammy all love you very much because, honestly, you are so very lovable.

God has created inside you, girl, a very sweet spirit. You and I have talked before about how God is using your medical issues and your struggles to make you more like Jesus. God has helped you conquer so many things in your life; we give him all the praise for all those victories. And you are better because of it. You are sensitive to the needs of others; just like Jesus. You are helpful and considerate, over-the-top loving and concerned about everything that’s going on around you; just like Jesus.

Your enthusiasm for your sports teams is infectious. Your deep need for conversation — constant conversation — is endearing. Your desire to please those you love is admirable. The way you trash talk me when we’re shooting hoops or playing backgammon is hilarious. You are precious, Whitney. Precious.

But the best part of you is the inside part, the part where our Lord dwells. I see our Savior in you, Whitney. I do. He shines out of almost every facet of your complex personality and quirky little mannerisms. You reflect Jesus. And it’s beautiful. And I’m very proud of you. I’m very proud to be Whitney’s dad.

I love you,

Dad

The Leader as Pauper

February 16, 2012 / / 0 Comments

I’m re-reading several parts of Norman Shawchuck and Roger Heuser’s book, Leading the Congregation, in advance of our elders / ministers retreat this weekend. I’m especially interested in chapter two: The Interior Attitudes of the Leader. A couple of days ago, I wrote a little bit about childlikeness in our spiritual leaders. Today, let’s consider the church leader as a pauper. A poor person.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” ~Matthew 5:3

This is the first of the Beatitudes, those ideas and promises at the beginning of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” that are intended to shape our thoughts and lives. Bonhoeffer says it’s not the actual poverty that is the virtue — there’s nothing good about being poor. Instead, it’s the willingness to be poor, it’s the desire to follow Christ at the risk of becoming poor, it’s embracing the call of Jesus knowing that you may very well lose everything. I’m obviously paraphrasing here. But, that’s the virtue. That’s the blessing.

Shawchuck and Heuser put another twist on it. They say that church leaders go into their roles, they accept their mantels of leadership, from a position of poverty. We know that when it comes to leading God’s people, we have nothing. We’re wholly inadequate. We can’t do this; and we know it. Inherent in our call to ministry is the realization that we are not by nature equipped to bear this burden of leadership that God has dropped in our laps. We always embrace our calling as paupers.

Now, personally, this one’s easy for me. I feel completely inadequate every single time I jump in the pulpit to preach. I’m terrified every single Sunday morning. Scared to death. The words of God are too powerful for me. Knowledge of him and his great love for us is too lofty for me to attain. I rarely ever feel like I’ve done our holy God justice. In the words of Augustine, I am saddened that my tongue cannot live up to my heart.

I’m not smart enough to teach these classes I’m supposed to teach. I’m not trained to counsel these brothers and sisters in Christ through their marital problems and addictions and depression. I’m not equipped at all to visit with parents who just lost their teenage daughter to cancer. I’m not able to adequately lead this church staff. I’m not prepared for any of this.

I know what that means to entirely lean on God for my ministry. It’s his; it’s not mine. I couldn’t even begin to do any of this without his power, his strength, his pushing and guiding and equipping. I have no competence on my own; it all belongs to and comes from God. I get that part of it. I understand fully that the apostle is staring right at me when he says, “Consider your own call… not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth (sorry, dad). But God chose what is foolish… what is weak. God chose what is low and despised in the world” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

Humility? Yeah, I guess. It’s the same; but different.

The authors move on to say that being a pauper, being poor in spirit as a church leader, means to actually desire this poor position. To be a faithful leader of God’s people means, in their view, to seek this poverty. Because that’s what our Lord did.

“It is hard to desire littleness and nothingness, obscurity and benign respect, in a world obsessed with possessions and positions. It is hard to choose a pauper’s station when everyone around us is scrambling for upward mobility. The temptation that afflicts us as leaders is not that of monetary wealth. Only a fool would choose a profession in the church if the goal were to become rich. Indeed, the ‘to be rich’ temptations among most clergy are not for money but for admiration, respect, adulation, prestige, and power. These are the riches that must be guarded against, if ever we are to experience the freedom of being poor in spirit. God means this poverty as a gift and blessing, not as a practical joke upon those whom God has chosen as leaders in the church.”

Downward mobility. (Did Nouwen coin that term?) The way of the cross is downward mobility. We empty ourselves of all desire for gain — monetary or otherwise — just like Jesus in order to take on the role of a lowly servant. Like our Lord, we move down to the bottom of the ladder, down the depth chart, giving up all power and position and prestige to seek the good of others.

This world draws hard lines between the winners and losers. We label everything as failure or success. No middle ground. What a difference is God’s way for us! His Word came down to us and lived among us in order to serve us. He became poor so that we, through his poverty, might become rich.

Bishop Walpole is credited with saying to a friend who was considering a call to ministry, “If you are uncertain of which two paths to take, choose the one on which the shadow of the cross falls.” That’s the way and the spirit of poverty, to which our Christ calls every Christian leader.

Peace,

Allan

A Disciple of His

February 14, 2012 / / 1 Comment

“Everyone wishes very much to be a servant of Christ, but no one wishes to be his follower. No one can love Christ who does not follow the example of his holy life.” ~ Johann Arndt, 1610

“I feel a burning desire to be in everything a complete Christian; and conformed to the blessed image of Jesus Christ.” ~ Jonathan Edwards, 1720

“Whoever wishes to truly understand the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.” ~ Thomas a Kempis, 1451

“The object of the Christian religion is to make men and women like Jesus Christ. To the extent that it fails to make us like Christ in our whole character, to that extent it fails to benefit man. The great end to be gained here through the religion he has given us is to make ourselves like him in all that we think, feel, purpose, and do.” ~ David Lipscomb, 1867

“I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” ~ Galatians 4:19

I’m captured by the concept of Christ being formed in those of us who are “being saved.” There is no other goal. Giving ourselves completely over to the resurrection of our Savior and the power of that resurrection to save us takes away all of our fears and anxieties about following him. There should be no hesitation. No doubt. We’re not afraid to risk anything because we don’t have anything to risk. We’ve given it all to him. And we trust him to furnish our every need as we become more and more like him.

Rick Ross, the preaching minister at Mesquite at the time, gave me a copy of a discipleship pledge in 2001. He had used it in a sermon on commitment and it really moved me. I’ve kept the copy, fairly tattered now, taped to the top of my desk or tacked to the wall above my computer wherever I’ve been ever since. And I read it everyday. I don’t know who wrote it. I think it was a missionary from maybe nearly a hundred years ago. I think it’s timeless.

I read it to our congregation here at Central this past Sunday. A couple of you have asked for a copy. Here it is:

I am a member of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have Holy Spirit power.
The die has been cast.
I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I am a disciple of his.
I won’t look back, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, side walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, same visions, mundane talking, cinchy giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminance, prosperity, promotions, position, plaudits, or popularity.
I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, regarded, rewarded, or praised.
I now live by present, lean by faith. walk by patience, lift by prayer and labor power.
My face is set, my gait it fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, lured, manipulated, enticed, or bribed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the Adversary, negotiate at the table of the Enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I’ve stayed up, prayed up, and preached for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of his. I must go until he comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until he stops me.
And when he comes back he will have no problem recognizing me.
For I have forgotten all that is in the past, I’m pressing on for the prize, the high calling of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My colors are clear.
I am a disciple of his.

Peace,

Allan

Packed With Promise

February 13, 2012 / / 0 Comments

When Jesus looks you in the eye and says, “Follow me,” it’s packed with promise. When the Savior of the World taps you on the shoulder and says, “Do what I do in the ways I do it; follow me,” you must understand that wherever he leads, it’ll be for your own good. His call comes with promises. And his promises always come true.

In Luke chapter five — this is one of my all-time favorite stories about Peter — Jesus calls this first disciple to “put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” And Peter got a huge catch, more fish than his boat could handle. While Peter was up to his hips in flopping fish, while he was scared and disoriented and maybe laughing hysterically, Jesus says to Peter, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” And three thousand people are baptized the first time Peter attempts to preach. Jesus tells Peter he’s got a job for him, and Peter winds up as the cornerstone of God’s eternal Church.

You don’t have to be confident. You don’t even have to be competent to answer the call of Christ. You just have to follow. You just have to be willing to go. The rest is up to Jesus. In fact, it’s all on Jesus.

Jesus is the one who takes the initiative. He calls Peter. He’s the one who changes Peter from the miserable failure of not catching any fish all night to the wild success of all those fresh fish busting Peter’s nets. Jesus is the one who calms Peter in the middle of the chaos and promises him even greater success in matters much more important. Jesus understands the mission, not Peter. Jesus is the one who controls the outcome of the mission, not Peter.

Jesus’ call on your life is packed with his promises.

“Lose your life and I’ll save it. Throw everything away and I’ll give you all things. Be last and I’ll make you first. Serve and suffer in my name and for my cause and I’ll give you eternal glory.”

Don’t you want to go all-out for a Savior like that?

Peace,

Allan

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