All posts tagged: leadership

7 reminders to help take frustration in ministry to level zero

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If you’ve been in the ministry any length of time, I am sure you have come to understand that it is glorious but sometimes very difficult. This is  an across the board experience for both highly successful leaders and not so highly successful leaders. It also doesn’t really matter where you are or how long you’ve been in the ministry, we have all experienced frustration one way or the other. I certainly don’t think this little post is going to stop all the frustration that ministry can bring – fact is, some of that stuff is very good for you. They come highly recommended. But at least, I think this little post  can point out some common mistakes leaders make and shine some light  on how to avoid them. Let’s share with you a few: It is simply dumb to compare yourself with others Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, …

Planning is not of the devil:

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Have you ever heard that planning is of the devil? Back in the day I use to run with a few guys who were convinced that planning is of the devil. I often wondered what bible they were reading. Take a look at what the bible actually says about planning: The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to meet another king in war, will not sit …

Does leadership = Getting Along with People?

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“A good leader can’t get too far ahead of his followers.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt   “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” – John Maxwell “As a leader you should always start with where people are before you try to take them to where you want them to go.” — Jim Rohn “I light my candle from their torches.” — Robert Burton “I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” — Indira Gandhi “High sentiments always win in the end, The leaders who offer blood, toil, tears and sweat always get more out of their followers than those who offer safety and a good time. When it comes to the pinch, human beings are heroic.” — George Orwell “Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” – John Maxwell “The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you …

5 Things that get a great leader snubbed

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I often ask myself why some of the smartest people in the world are not the ones calling the shots or running the show? Why is it that some people with great ideas and awesome resume don’t get their projects and ideas approved or get that promotion based on their smarts. Why do they get smack down or shuffled off into other departments in a company or just get completely ignored? Being smart and full of good ideas are not the only things that get you noticed and keeps you productive and ahead of your peers. Character is the most important trait you could ever possess. It is rather unfortunate that most smart people get smacked down or get ignored, but it is a reality. From my observation, there are five crucial reasons: Arrogance, Ego, Insincerity, and Over-selling of self and Insubordination. Let’s unpack these: Arrogance Unfortunately most arrogant driven people don’t even realize it. They don”t even have to say a word, because their attitude speaks louder. They are snobbish, and love making others …

Dear Pastor: A Letter from a Humble Church Member

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Dear Pastor, I don’t think I need to apologize for anything but here it is… I sincerely apologize for anything, or apparently the many things I have said and/or done to offend you and/or made you feel defensive towards me and my efforts to do what I have felt was serving the Lord with all the blessings He had provided. I truly respect your spiritual leadership. I feel that we are all purposefully imperfectly made with strengths and weaknesses. I definitely have a need for a spiritual leader. I am thankful that He has put you in my life. I have pride issues but I think you do too I realize that I have to fight the battle of pride and perhaps that is also why God has put you in my life. On the other hand, perhaps in this pride I felt you had been blessed for me to be put here to help YOU make our church even more successful than you have already made it. Pastor, I have often been successful and consider …

Bold and Courageous Leadership

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“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” — William Shedo “Boldness, more boldness, and always boldness!” — George Jacques Danton “Courage is the enforcing virtue, the one that makes possible all the other virtues common to exceptional leaders: honesty, integrity, confidence, compassion and humility.” — John McCain  “Leaders make decisions that create the future they desire.” — Mike Murdock “Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don’t take too much advice — keep at the helm and steer your own ship, and remember that the great art of commanding is to take a fair share of the work. Fire above the mark you intend to hit. Energy, invincible determination with the right motive, are the levers that move the world.” — Noah Porter  “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” — Faye Wattleton _____________________ Resource: Leadership Quotes

How do I get to the post office?

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In the book, The Leadership secrets of Billy Graham, W. Clement Stone writes a story about Billy Graham trying to find his way to the post office in a small town. Upon asking a boy how to get to the post office in this small town and upon getting directions he needed, Billy invited the boy to come to his meeting that evening, saying, “you will hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.” The boy’s response was hilarious – he said, “I don’t think I will be there, you don’t even know your way to the post office.” Myra, Harold and Shelley, Marshall. The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham. (Zondervan, 2005), page 49.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Christians

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Charles Nobles once said, “first we make our habits, then our habits make us.” We are what we repeatedly do. And if we ever want excellence in our lives, we need to remember that it “is not an act, but a habit.” Some habits are good, others very bad and still some are of no value or eternal significance. However, to effectively impact the people around us and leave a lasting impression, we must develop good habits and do everything in our power to unlearn bad ones. I would like to leave you with 7 Habits of highly effective christians. By their constant practice of 7 biblical principles they do not only excel in their knowledge of God, devotion to the Lord, ministry and calling, they also effectively inspire and challenge others to personal development and growth. They give cheerfully Their primary motivation is not what they will get out of their giving. They are more interested in being a blessing than receiving a blessing. They are kingdom driven and what ever promotes the work of …

Don’t Toot your own Horn

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Take heed that you do not your give alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does:  That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. When it come to bragging or boasting about our accomplishments or achievements, some people have a hard time reining it in. Because of that lack of self-control they come across as proud, boastful and obnoxious. I understand that there is usually tension, especially for professionals, between selling oneself and humility. To be frank, even people who find themselves on church staff or on staff at other christian organizations, struggle with the tension between humility and standing out. But whatever situation you find yourself, the biblical principle of humility still stands. …