the reluctant leader

The Most Intimidating Crowd I've Ever Faced

That was the most intimidating crowd I have ever spoken to. I felt like a lion in a den of Daniels, like Samson at a barbershop, like a blade of grass facing a Weed Wacker.

I am a professional public speaker. I fly all over the world to speak in front of small groups and large crowds and everything in between. I've been doing the this for thirty years. I rarely get nervous because of an audience. But yesterday I was beyond nervous. I was totally intimidated by those 250 people in the pews in front of me. To put it in Tennessee English: I was scared spitless.

I am in Napier, New Zealand speaking to 600 Kiwi pastors at the Assembly of God national conference. I preached to the whole group the opening night. No problem. But those 250 staring at me in the second morning elective session had me shaking like a leaf in a typhoon.

I have spoken in many nations, many denominations, many cultures, but never to a group like this one.

On the way to the podium, I prayed in desperation, "God help me. Please!"

None of my best messages seemed appropriate for this group.

I continued my prayer: "God, you know my eschatological position doesn't allow me to predict a date for the rapture, but if it be thy will, now would be a great time to beam me up. And please hurry!"

God did not answer my prayer; the rapture did not happen.

So there I am, standing in front of 250 FEMALE pastors and pastor's WIVES. Yes, because of some strange cosmic mistake or a disturbance in the force, I'm the speaker at the WOMAN'S session.

I guess there is a first time for everything.

I have no messages in my iPad for women in general, female pastors, or pastor's wives. So, I preached a leadership message that I have preached to leaders (mostly men) all over the world.

I honestly had no clue if I had hit the mark or not. But to my great relief, several women approached me after my message with slight variations of this line:
"Thank you for speaking to us like leaders, rather than giving us the typical condescending woman's meeting message."

Lesson of the week: All leaders face the same obstacles, so I should speak to leaders - male and female leaders, young and old leaders - like they are leaders. And if I treat them like leaders, there is a good chance they will act like leaders and lead.

A Simple Solution to the Leadership Shortage

Churches and other volunteer-based organizations are always plagued with leadership shortages. Too many good people are waiting around for a title, a position, a salary, or an invitation to lead. But that's not how real leadership works.

Consider the leadership lesson in Judges 10:18.

"The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, 'WHOEVER WILL TAKE THE LEAD in attacking the Ammonites WILL BE HEAD over all who live in Gilead.'"

In other words:
Whoever acts like a leader will be recognized as a leader.
Whoever takes responsibility will get authority.
Whoever takes action will get a title.
Whoever leads will be the leader.

You want to be a leader? Start leading and you will be.

The Futility of Running from God

I recently read the Jonah story. Here's my quick chapter by chapter summary:

Chapter 1: WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD, WE RUN INTO TROUBLE. Because of Jonah's racism, he refused to preach to the hated Ninevites. So, he ran from God's call into triple danger: first a massive storm, then his fellow seafarers, then the giant fish that God provided. No matter how difficult and unfair God's calling might seem, running from God is never a smart move.

Chapter 2: NO MATTER HOW FAR WE RUN FROM GOD, IF WE CRY OUT FOR HELP, HE HEARS AND HELPS. Jonah cried out to God from the stomach of the fish in the bottom of the ocean, and God answered, causing the obedient fish to vomit the disobedient prophet on dry land. Jonah did not have to fix his mess before God would answer his prayer. Neither do we.

Chapter 3: GOD GIVES SECOND CHANCES. God gave his runaway prophet a second chance, and God gave the idolatrous Ninevites a second chance. I'm thankful that God has given me so many second chances.

Chapter 4: GOD IS GRACIOUS, COMPASSIONATE, AND FORGIVING; WE ARE JUDGMENTAL, HARSH, AND SELFISH. In the end, Jonah was angry that God extended grace, compassion and forgiveness to people who did not deserve it. We tend do celebrate the grace God gives us, and complain about the grace he gives those we don't like.

Have you run from God lately? How did that work out for you? It is never too late to run back to Him.

4 Next Generation Leadership Tips

Moses was one of the strongest leaders ever, but occasionally the leadership burden got to him. At one particularly low moment he said to God, "I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:14)

Moses discovered that doing leadership alone is a heavy burden. He also discovered that equipping and empowering next generation leaders is the best way to lighten the leadership load.

That sounds simple, but how do we equip and empower leaders? Here are four leadership development tips from Numbers 11:

1. GROW YOUR OWN. Next generation leaders are already with you. When more leaders were needed, God told Moses to bring 70 of Israel's elders. He did not tell him to find some Egyptians. The future leaders were already with Moses, he just had not yet recognized them. (Numbers 11:16a)

2. LOOK FOR LOYALTY. Next generation leaders must be willing to "stand with you" for a season. If they are only interested in replacing you, and are not willing to stand with you, then they are not ready to lead. (Numbers 11:16b)

3. THE GOD FACTOR. Next generation leaders need the power of the Spirit. No amount of natural leadership ability, education, or charisma can replace the power of God's Spirit. You have your part to play, but only God can anoint leaders with the power of his Spirit. (Numbers 11:17)

4. THE NECESSITY OF COMMITMENT. Next generation leaders must consecrate themselves. You can teach them and you can train them, but only they can consecrated themselves. (Numbers 11:18)

If your leadership burden seems too heavy to bear, it's probably time to identify, equip, and empower a new generation of leaders.

No One Wants to Follow a Slave Driver Leader

While reading Exodus on my recent Manila to China flight, I scribbled some notes contrasting the leadership styles of Moses and Pharaoh.

Here's how Moses led:
1. Moses called God's people to a "festival" which is like a party. Good leaders know how to mix work and fun. (Ex5:1)
2. Moses called God's people to "sacrifice." Good leaders are not afraid to lead people to greater sacrifice. (Ex5:3)

And, here's how Pharaoh led:
1. Pharaoh leaders constantly demand, "Get back to your work!" (Ex5:4)
2. Pharaoh leaders produce underlings who are "slave drivers." (Ex5:6)
3. Pharaoh leaders are obsessed with "requirements" and "quotas." (Ex5:8,17)
4. Pharaoh leaders look for ways to "make the work harder" rather than looking for ways to lift the burdens of their workers. (Ex5:9)
5. Pharaoh leaders will never "reduce the work" load. (Ex5:11)
6. Pharaoh leaders "beat" their people when they don't produce enough. (Ex5:14)

What type of leader would you rather follow?
What type of leader are you?

Self-Absorbed Leaders

Self-absorbed leaders cannot build multi-generational ministries or businesses. In fact, they repel potential next generation leaders.

The ancient prophet Isaiah tells a sad story about a self-absorbed one-generation-wonder named Hezekiah.

In many ways Hezekiah was a good king. But when it came to next generation leadership, he failed royally.

Here's what happened:

1. DISASTER. The prophet boldly warns the king that A DAY IS COMING when everything he owns will be stolen by his enemy, the evil Babylonians. (Isaiah 39:6) Hezekiah sees no problem since this refers to a future disaster.

2. DESCENDANTS. The prophet also warns that the next generation, Hezekiah's descendants, will be kidnapped and dragged to Babylon. (verse 7) Again, no worries since this affects future generations not Hezekiah himself.

3. DECEPTION. You don't need a prophetic interpreter to tell you that this is bad news, yet the king responds: "The word of the Lord you have spoken is good, " For he thought, "There will be PEACE AND SECURITY IN MY LIFETIME." (verse 8)

Self-absorbed leaders only concern themselves with their own lifetime, and that is why they will never build multi-generational ministries. They sellout future generations for momentary glory rather than sacrificing now so that future generations can succeed.

(WARNING: short political rant... And that is exactly how American political leaders think as they accumulate astronomical debt, selling out future generations for temporal peace and security and entitlements and votes...)

What to Look for in a Potential Leader

I am often asked by pastors, church planters and missionaries: "What should I look for in potential leaders?" Simple. The starting line for potential leaders is HUNGER & HUMILITY.

HUNGER. Spiritual hunger. I'm not interested in someone who is spiritually fat and overfed, but someone who is hungry for more, hungry to learn.

HUMILITY. I can't teach someone who already knows it all. I can't mentor an expert. Potential leaders know they need to know more. The best leaders are learners, not experts. Humility is a non-negotiable leadership foundation.

It does not matter how gifted, connected or credentialed a person is, it he is not hungry and humble, he is not a potential leader. 

------------------

Bonus leadership thought from twitter: LEADERSHIP. Need more leaders? You already have them. You simply need to equip & empower them - then validate & celebrate them.

 

 

Two Types of Leaders

Two leaders: Moses and Pharaoh.
Two completely different leadership philosophies.
Two voices giving us two totally different directions.

One is destructive, the other is constructive.
One is demanding, the other is empowering.
One produces bondage, the other produces freedom.

Moses or Pharaoh, which leader would you rather follow?
Moses or Pharaoh, which leader do you sound like?

Pharaoh type leaders constantly say things like:
- "Get back to work" (Ex 5:4)
- "Work harder" (Ex 5:9)
- "Your work will not be reduced" (Ex 5:11)
- "Complete the work required of you" (Ex 5:12)
- "Meet your quota" (Ex 5:14)
- "Get back to work" (Ex 5:18)
- "produce your full quota" (Ex 5:18)

Pharaoh leaders love words like:
- requirements
- quotas
- work

As a recovering work-a-holic, I am all for hard work. But I would rather follow a Moses leader than a Pharaoh leader.

Moses leaders call people to: (Exodus 5:1)
- worship
- freedom
- festival

Questions for leaders:
Do you sound like Moses or Pharaoh?
Do you call people to work for God or to walk with God?
Do you preach about requirements or about relationships?

Leadership Lessons from Abraham

Abraham is one of the greatest leaders ever, and one my all-time favorite Bible characters. Here are seven simple leadership lessons from his adventure:

1.   Great leaders are CALLED (Gen 12:1). They don’t just make it up as they go; they hear from God and obey. They don’t do whatever they want to do; they do what God calls them to do. They don’t live to please the crowd; they live to please God.

2.   Great leaders are WORSHIPPERS (Gen 12:7,8). Just as Abraham was constantly setting up altars and crying out to God, great leaders don’t even attempt to lead without God’s presence.

3.   Great leaders are NOT PERFECT (Gen 12:13, Gen 20:2). Abraham lied about his wife, twice! But God still used him. And, He will probably still use us, in spite of our mistakes.

4.   Great leaders are LOYAL (Gen 14:12-17). Abraham risked his life rescuing Lot from his selfish decisions. What are friends for?

5.   Great leaders are GENEROUS (Gen 14:20). Abraham tithed. Do you tithe? Do the members of your leadership team tithe?

6.   Great leaders are TEMPORARY and they know it. That’s why Abraham was always thinking about the next generation. (Gen 17:7-9, 18:19)

7.   Great leaders are TESTED (Gen 22). God always tests, before he invests.

The Paralyzing Power of Fear

How many times do we make wrong decisions because of fear?

Joseph and Mary are engaged. Mary is pregnant. Joseph decides to dump her. Then the Lord appears to him in a dream and says, "Joseph, son of David, DO NOT BE AFRAID to take Mary home as your wife..." (Matt 1:18-21)

God dealt with the real issue that was pushing Joseph to make a bad decision - FEAR. 

How many times do we make bad decisions because we are afraid of of what people will think, afraid of how much it will cost, afraid we might fail?

I don't really do new years resolutions, but if I did, I'd resolve not to listen to fear in 2010. What about you?