Leadership 101

If there ever was an example of being given every chance for success and screwing it up it would be Saul from the Old Testament.  He was chosen by God to be the King of Israel, and still couldn’t seem to get his act together.

But from him we can learn a valuable lesson in leadership.  In 1 Samuel 14, we see that Saul has placed an oath upon his whole army that no one can eat until he had avenged himself of his enemies.  Only problem is that his oath placed his entire army in a grave situation…. starvation.

2 problems with what Saul did.  First he made the decision based upon emotion.  ”Darn them mean ‘ol Philistines!  I’ll show them if it kills my whole army!”  Second he made a decision for the benefit of himself.

So if you are in leadership, which nearly everybody is, even if your a parent, these are 2 good things NOT to do.  Don’t base your decisions based upon emotion.  You’re never in your right mind and they usually aren’t very reliable decisions.  And don’t base your decisions on what will be best for you.  Need I pull out examples from the banking industry?  Do what is best for those you are leading.

Secret Sins

Yesterday I heard the sad news that a Pastor I keep up with lost his position at his church due to a moral failure…an affair.  Let’s just say it.  Last Sunday I heard of another Pastor that is an acquaintance that lost his position for the same reason.  I walked in from church yesterday siked by the day, but saddened by the news I had recieved.  My wife asked if their was an affair epedemic going around.  Sad that is a legitimate question.

My prayers go out to both of those pastors.  Both are good people with great churches.  And both, using the systems of authority around them, have resigned from their lead pastor position (both of churches they planted) and are going through a healing process.  Pray for the churches.  Pray for the families.  God’s grace is evident, but sin still has consequences.

Someone quipped yesterday that pastors shouldn’t have women personal assistances.  Don’t think that would’ve helped Ted Haggard, who had a homosexual affair.  My wife said they should be old ugly grandma’s.  Hmmm.  Maybe that would work.  But honestly I think it is a failure of personal accountability and systems in place to prevent things like that from happening.  Which brings me to the point of the whole blog post to begin with.

I’m sure there are some Pastors out there who are having affairs and getting away with it.  Not many, but odds are it’s happening.  But that isn’t the overwhelming problem in ministry.  Let me ask a different question.  How many Pastors are out there who, if they put their private life up on a screen, would be asked to resign their Pastorship?  Now we’re getting somewhere.

Just throwing out random numbers, but I’d bet for every 1 Pastor who has a public moral failure, there are 2, maybe 3 who are having a private moral failure.  Porn?  Verbal abuse?  Physical abuse?  Neglecting their wife?  Non-existent prayer life?  Neglecting their kids?  Lust?  Emotional affairs?  Filthy language?  These issues are killing the church from the inside out and we need to hit them head on.

I think the only way to do this is to hold each other accountable.  Have the guts to call out what you see.  And if your a Pastor, for God’s sake put someone around you that you can say ANYTHING to without fear – someone who could tell you like it is and get you help before it’s too late.  Open yourself up.  Have some humility  Know you aren’t superhuman.

And don’t think that just because your sin isn’t being shouted from the rooftop your not hurting anybody.  If their is sin in the camp it is hurting EVERYBODY.  It is hurting your ability to hear from God.  It is hurting your ability to cast vision.  It is hurting your ability to communicate the Gospel.  And it is hurting yours and your church’s ability to reach people who need Christ.  So your sin is causing people to end up in hell.  Repent.  Get some accountability.  Be a man.  And let’s fight satan’s plan to make the church impotent.

Self criticism vs. Self condemnation

There are times when I look back at my actions and think, ‘Oh Dear Lord, I actually did that?’  You know the feeling.  Your cheeks get all flushed and you are horrified by how you acted.  Typically these visions are centered around my adolescent years and college years – those awkward times when I was socially inempt and clueless.

I still have those thoughts for even recent events.  Now there are 2 approaches.  You can really beat yourself up.  I’m really bad about this simply because I’m harder on myself than on others.  But what good does that do except to put you in a funk and search out things to numb the feeling – Krispy Kream Donuts and Frappacinos do well.  The only problem with this is, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  And that is on all levels.

Then there is option 2.  Evaluate, learn, and move on.  Don’t dwell.  Don’t constantly relive a moment – that’s called OCD…or CDO for you really bad cases.

Self improvement is a great quality.  Self condemnation is a destructive one.

Leadership is Coaching

I learned a valuable lesson watching the Olympics.  I don't care how many talented, motivated, Type-A, Maxwell protege's you have on your team, you still need to call time-outs and coach.

Think about it.  The 'Redeem-Team', the men's Volleyball Team, the women's Volleyball Team – they all have the best of the best in their sport.  Koby knows how to play, how to pass, how to dunk (body doesn't he).  He's probably watched more film of Jordan than we can imgagine.  He knows his opponents.  He understands the philosophy of coach K.  He's played with these guys for 3 years getting ready for the Olympics.  Same with all of the other players in different sports – volleyball, softball, etc.

But alas!  Coach K has to call a time out!  What does this mean?  Well let's look at what it doesn't mean:

• It doesn't mean that Coach K must have screwed up somewhere in his leadership because the team is losing focus.
• It doesn't mean the players are inempt.
• It doesn't mean the team is in trouble, per se.
• It doesn't mean the wrong players were picked.
• It doesn't even mean that the players are 'on the wrong seat on the bus.'

What does it mean exactly?  It means that the coach is doing his job – and the players are doing theirs.  You see, the players get so into the match, the battle if you will, that they aren't able to see the forest for the trees.  But Coach K – he has removed himself from the battle field so that he can see the entire game.  He can make adjustments when needed.

What is the correlation?  Don't ever think you can hire the best of the best and then let them just go.  Even the best need coaching.  Even the best need re-direction.  Even the best laid plans need adjusting.  So call time-outs.  Refocus.  Never-ever think that a timeout, or the need for coaching is a refelction on the people you've hired or recruited, or even a reflection on yourself.  It simply means your doing what your supposed to be doing and they're doing what their supposed to be doing.

Sure Koby knows he's supposed to cut off the lane.  But the coach has a different perspect and is able to communicate that in a better way.  So coach don't coast.

Count Me In

Can’t wait to do this song Sunday!

08 Conferences…

I posted a question about conferences a few months back and didn’t get much response.  So let’s try again!

We can go to 2 confrences a year.  One will definetly be Drive at Northpoint.  So I can choose 1 more.  What do you recommend?

Buzz Conference – D.C. – June 08
Purpose Driven Worship – Orange Co. – June 08
Willow Arts Conference – Chicago – June 08
C3 – Dallas – 08
Catalyst – Atlanta -Oct 08
Re:Create Conference – Franklin – Feb 08

Please help!

Being Intentional

So it’s no secret that we are portable.  And with that comes a number of challenges.  Both Daniel and I work out of our homes – not ideal.  And we are on the front end of growth – so its just the two of us.  Yet there is a lot to get done. 

My job is to oversee everything that a person experiences from when they drive on the lot – to walking in door -  to getting coffee – to getting seated – to what they hear, see and do during the service – to when they leave – apart from what Daniel preaches of course.  Still I have my hand in that as well. 

So I’ve got a HUGE department.  In the past I’ve used email and phone calls to make sure things get done.  And many times I just assume things get done – and they usually do. 

But starting in 2 weeks my department is doing staff meetings and I am pumped!  How can I be pumped about meetings?  Because now everybody that is in leadership under the umbrella of the Sunday morning service will see each other and talk regularly about what is happening, what is coming up, and how things went.  So if the creative team decided to do something that the lighting and media team should know about, it will come out in those meetings.  In the past I’ve been the go between and it is exhausting. 

The best part is the time.  Most of these people work in D.C.  So we’re looking at 5:30 on a weekday morning – and I’m still pumped.  How can this be?

Leadership in the heat of battle

For half the day today I watched man movies…war movies…movies that make you want to go punch something.  If you’re wondering why – I putting together some clips for our Father’s day service.

While watching everything on fast forward, I stopped and ended up watching something for a bit – "We We’re Soldiers."  I’ve seen it before.  And I didn’t watch the whole thing this time.  But I was mesmerized by Mel Gibson’s character – Lt. Gen. Hal Moore.  I think this has to be one of the best depictions of leadership I’ve seen in a movie.  Tomorrow you should all go get it, put it in your DVD player, and pull out a notebook and take notes.  I’m not kidding.  DO IT!

Moore led 450 young soldiers into the la Drang Valley in one of the first battles of the Vietnam war.  Consequently, as soon as he landed, he was surrounded by 2000 Viet. regulars.  The movie recounts this 3 day battle and is gutwrenching, inspiring, and sad at the same time.  Moore states, "I can’t promise you that I will bring you all home alive, but this I
swear : I will be the first one to set foot on the field, and I will be
the last to step off. And I will leave no one behind. Dead, or alive,
we all come home together."

Leadership qualities I noticed:

• He was fearless – Often you would see Moore standing up in the midst of battle gaging the fight, while bullets whizzed passed his head.
• He was decisive – Moore would asses the situation and make a quick decision.
• He was studied – Moore was a student of war.  He read up on his adversary in order to know his tactics.  He also read up on previous battles and warriors before him.
• He was encouraging – Wow was he always encouraging!  Moore constantly encouraged his men.  He wouldn’t allow them to dwell on their mistakes.  Instead, he affirmed his confidence in them and allowed them to lead.
• He was protective – He saw those men as HIS men…entrusted to his care.  He wept when they died.  He did all he could to keep them safe.
• He was a teacher – Moore did his utmost best to prepare his men for battle.  He knew the better prepared they were…the more likely they would make it out alive.
• He was the first one in and the last one out – Moore led….in the real sense.  He showed his men that he was in the fight with them.
• He was passionate – The man lived and breathed leadership.  He loved what he did.  He loved leading.  He was PASSIONATE!
• He was a family man – Moore made time for his family.

This is what I have off the top of my head….think I’ll watch it again with a note pad.

June 1 Song List

• Not To Us/Here is Our King (From North Point Live)
• You Never Let Go (M. Redman)
• Amazing Grace (C. Tomlin)
• You Are the Light (S. Fee)

Last minute scurry

I was on the ball this time.  Matt, our very reliable drummer, goes out of town about 4 times a year…the nerve.  But he always gives me plenty of heads up.  So instead of a last minute panicked search for a drummer, which are increasingly hard to come by, I had one lined up 2 weeks in advance – GO ME!

Then…

Yesterday I got a phone call from our backup….he’s canceling, one day before practice.  So I found myself again in a last minute scurry.  But God provided – as he always does.  This will be the 2nd time this guy has filled in for us.  He’ll be the one I call first from now on.

I learned very early to make a list of musicians I can call up and hire out for a Sunday.  Being a small church, losing 1 musician can be killer.