5 Key Websites for the Christian Leader

I've been researching resources over the past week or so and have found, what I believe are, some key web-sites for Christian leaders to bookmark and return to often. With the ready availability of leadership resources today, there is no excuse to go under-resourced. The greatest challenge today is narrowing down that ever-growing list to find those that are the most helpful. I hope this blog post helps with that.

Church Planting
Ed Stetzer - The Lifeway Research Blog. Ed Stetzer is an author, speaker, researcher, pastor, church planter, and Christian missiologist. Stetzer is a contributor to the North American discussion on missional church and church planting.

Ministry/Leadership
ChurchLeaders.com - This great site has resources for ministry leaders from Lead Pastors, to CM, Youth Ministries, Worship Pastors, etc... It also provides a compilation of blog posts relevant to ministry. There's something for everyone and is worth a daily visit.

Coaching For Pastors
ServingStrong.com - Scott Couchenour provides some great encouragement and coaching for pastors who need some help. If you're stressed out or feeling close to burnout, spend some time with Scott. In his own words: "I’m a recovering burnout and depression sufferer." His blogs are short and sweet and helpful.

Pastor's Perspective
RonEdmondson.com - Ron is the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. He is also a consultant to church leaders, a church planter and founder of Mustard Seed Ministry, which provides devotionals, family resources and leadership materials. Lots of great material to glean from here.

Church Administration
InsideNorthpoint.org - I stumbled on this site which provides an inside look at how one of the most successful churches in America - Northpoint Community - runs the business side of things. You'll find sections on Budgeting, Facilities, Committees, Church Structures, etc... Lots of stuff to keep the admin minded leader occupied.

These are just a few that I have found to be helpful. What sites are you using to help you in your ministry?

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Prime The Pump

 

Prime The Pump

There's an old story about a traveler who hiked for many miles across the Desert Mountains. His water supply was gone, and he knew that if he didn't find water soon, he would surely die. In the distance, he noticed an abandoned cabin and hoped to find some water there. Once he made it to the cabin, he discovered an old well. Then he noticed a tin can tied to the pump, with a note inside.

The note said:

Dear stranger: This water pump is in working condition, but the pump needs to be primed in order for the water to come out. Under the white rock, I buried a jar of water, out of the sun. There’s enough water in the jar to prime the pump, but not if you drink any first. When you are finished, please fill the jar and put it back as you found it for the next stranger who comes this way.

This parable is really about giving back, or paying it forward, if you like. What kind of a leader are you?

Are you the kind of leader who thinks only in the short term, or does your vision extend beyond perhaps even your lifetime? What can we learn from this parable?

1. There are risks to take in leadership. It's not easy investing precious resources in something that can potentially give you a return. It's very tempting to look at that water and think about all of the "what ifs." What if I use this water to prime the pump and the pump still doesn't work - then I'm stuck with no water? What if this is just some cruel joke?
2. Real leadership takes faith. It takes a lot of faith to pour out water that could save your life. Sometimes leadership requires stepping out and doing something that risks our very survival, simply because it's the right thing to do.
3. Real leadership cares about those who follow after. The easiest thing to do here would be to drink deeply from the bottle, slake your thirst and then go happily on your way. But there will be another weary traveler crossing those mountains someday. Without your conscientious effort, they will more than likely perish. Someone cared enough to make provision for you; will you return the favor?

It's believed that Isaac Newton was the first to popularize the phrase: "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." It speaks well to the subject of leadership. Each of us in leadership have learned what we know from leaders who have gone before, whether in person, by recording or in written form. And each of us then decide what kind of leader we will become.

Many years ago I attended a conference in which John Maxwell spoke of his desire to add value to everyone he met. That thought has stuck with me through the years. Will you leave people better off than when they first met you, or will you simply take advantage of what they have to offer and move on to the next client (victim)? What difference could you make if you made a commitment to add value to every person with whom you come in contact? It seems to me a better option than leaving a legacy of very thirsty people. Don't neglect to prime the pump!

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First Follow - Then Lead

Some people have the mistaken idea that leadership is simply mastering a group of skills. It's much more than that. True leadership, at least Biblical leadership, is about helping people become what they were intended to become, and accomplishing together what we couldn't do by ourselves; it's about fulfilling potential. In other words, Biblical leadership is other-centered. It's not about tasks, but relationship. While it is about results, those results aren't necessarily numbers.

For all of these reasons, one of the most important things a leader can do is to learn how to follow. Jesus didn't say "obey these rules," He said, "Follow Me." It is in the following, not just in the lesson, that the relationship is developed. Let's look at this lesson from the perspective of a follower: what do followers expect from leaders?

Followers expect leaders to have their best interests at heart.
If I'm going to follow someone, I want to know that they care about me. I want to know that what happens to me, matters to them. As some wise person once said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Followers expect that leaders can get them safely to the right destination.
When a leader is confused, it spreads quickly. When a leader knows where they're going and how to get there, it inspires confidence. If and when the journey gets challenging, followers want to know what's going on. When problems arise, they want to see the leader dealing with them; not running from them.

Followers expect honesty and integrity.
When a follower sets out on a journey with a leader, implicit in that commitment is trust. People generally want to believe the best of their leader. The cynicism of our age has largely come about as a result of leaders who say one thing to assume the role of leader and then do another. A leader with integrity will see to it that their actions match their words; that they are, in fact, what they say they are.

It is in the process of learning how to follow that a leader can appreciate the qualities necessary to lead effectively. This walking with and observing ought not to be rushed nor short-circuited, it's a necessary part of leadership development. I believe that's what Paul meant when he wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:22 - "Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader." (NLT)

Some of the best leaders that I've ever seen were those who were servants first. They simply did what needed to be done, regardless of how menial the task may be. As a Lead Pastor I've cleaned my fair share of toilets. If someone is not willing to do those kinds of things, when necessary, how can they expect others to do them? Conversely, when a follower sees his leader rolling up his sleeves and getting dirty once in a while, it makes their own work more meaningful.

When leaders remember what it's like to be a follower, indeed, when we continue to be followers, we are much better leaders. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

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Some Articles Worth Reading - For Pastors

 

Here are three helpful articles that I wanted to pass on for all of the pastors and ministry leaders out there. There's nothing earth-shattering here - just good things to be reminded of. I hope you enjoy, and if you come across helpful links, please drop me a line at tdbok@rogers.com

 

3 Things Every Pastor Should Unlearn - by Pete Wilson

 

 

 

 

Solid Advice for Young Leaders from Dr. Billy Graham  - by Ron Edmondson

 

 

 

 

IN THE WAKE OF LEADERSHIP - by Andy Stanley

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How To Avoid Burn-out

A while ago I listened to an interesting lesson from Wayne Cordeiro, a Pastor and teacher from Hawaii. He was sharing some of his experiences with burnout and how to avoid it. This lesson is particularly helpful for anyone in the people business - teachers, health professionals, pastors, social workers, etc..., but also for anyone in a high-stress job.

Here it is in a nutshell. Each of us have a limited capacity emotionally. While we may think that we are superman or superwoman, life has a way of demonstrating how wrong we are. The landscape is strewn with many from the helping professions who have crashed and burned after pushing it too hard and too long. Each of us have to learn our limits, and ensure that we build in time and activities that refill us.

Wayne uses the analogy of an emotional fuel tank. It's something that we don't often think about, but keeping that tank full is important to our long-term success. None of us wants to become a statistic.

So, here's the question, what are the things that you do that feed you emotionally; that help you feel better about life; that recharge your batteries? For some that may be long walks, sports, reading, traveling, going to the beach, gardening or any number of things. Whatever they are, you need to identify them, and you need to make them a regular part of your routine.

This seems counter-intuitive for many "Type-A"personalities, who tend to feel that they have to always be on the go. The truth is, without recharging, you are likely hurting your long-term productivity. I know, in my experience, sometimes the schedule has gotten away from me and, inevitably, what ends up getting dropped is the "me" time. The tank is then depleted and, if it goes too long, emotional damage is done.

I experienced this a few years ago in my own ministry. The church was growing, I was getting busier; trying to launch new initiatives and keep the ball rolling. I was trying to help others with their problems. I had other stresses in my life that contributed to a mounting sense that I was losing control. It took me longer and used more energy to do what I used to do. All I knew was that I stopped caring - and that's not a good place to be in ministry.

Thankfully, I had an understanding Board and a caring church family that allowed me to take the time I needed to get myself right. I learned some lessons the hard way during that time. Here are some of the bigger ones.

There's only one God, and I'm not Him.
Pastors, in particular, can tend to fall into this trap where they feel that they have to save the world. The truth is that we're all only human, with very real limitations. I've had to learn that there are some situations that are beyond my control. I've preached on this verse for years, but learned through these experiences just how true it is:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) Remember, as well, that none of us are indispensable.

Build margin and stay away from the edge.
What this simply means is that you have to choose carefully where you will spend your time. There are two opposite temptations for pastors: one is to become a workaholic and never take time for themselves; the other is to be lazy and to neglect their ministry. Both are wrong and damaging in their own way. The key is balance. If you are going to take time for yourself you have to build that into your schedule and you have to learn to say no (something I have a hard time with). Learn to prioritize, remember the Pareto Principle: 20% of your activity will provide 80% of the productivity.

Know yourself.
You need to be able to tell when your stress level is rising and you need to know what to do about it. In this case especially, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When you sense the pressure building, offload the stressors if you can and do something to recharge. It's better to take a couple of days sooner, then be forced to take a few weeks or months later. 

Identify what gives you energy and what takes it away.
There are some things in my ministry that I do because I have to - they're part of the job. There are other parts of my job that I love to do. When you find your energy level being depleted, do your best to focus on the parts that you love, where your passions lie. 

We can be healthy, and we need to be healthy if we're going to continue to be of use to others. Ask yourself this, on a scale of 1-10, what would be the level in your emotional tank? If it's dropping down below 5, what can you do to get it back up in the healthy range? If you're running on empty, who do you need to talk to who can help you? Take care of yourself. Life is hard but God is good.

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Wet Cement

Guest post by Mark Collins

On a small corner of a sidewalk, on a non-descript street in the west end of Brantford my name is immortalized. mark collins 67. With fear, fondness and a small twig I carefully carved each letter in wet cement. It was so easy, the twig glided through the impressionable gravelly paste. To change it now would require a diamond tipped high speed grinder and three city employees.

I was reminded of this cement incident last summer while parked on the QEW waiting for a cement truck to fill a 36 inch round wooden form that would become the support pillar of a new four lane bridge. The weeks long preparation before the cement was poured became tedious. Daily, at the legal limit, I drove past as a cement footing was placed deep in the ground to prevent any shifting due to weight, freezing or ground conditions. Days later, iron workers came and cut, bent and welded reinforcement rod to create a metal inner support cage that eventually would be hidden by the cement. Time passed, hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent as they dug, welded and then created the exterior forms. Now I was watching fresh wet cement being shaped into pillars that will stand long after I am gone.

Conversely, at the Guelph Line exit, just off the QEW, there are the remains of a cement truck spill. It is an oddly shaped clump of cement. It serves absolutely no purpose, other than to remind me each morning of the importance of preparation, reinforcement and formation of wet cement.

A lead pastor recently emailed me to say that the staff person that he had so much hope for was taking a lot more time, effort and resources than he had originally thought would be necessary. As I read his email I became dismayed thinking that soon this staff person would be sensing a call somewhere else. Shocked, I read the next line. The lead pastor said, “But I am totally committed to him.  I have NO desire for a crash landing.  I have ALL the interest to see him be everything Jesus wants him to be.”

If we leave this next generation to simply be poured into meaningless forms they will be ignored, useless and non-productive for Christ’s Kingdom.      

The challenge is for all leaders to engage in shaping Godly leaders for the future. This will require skilled workmanship and resources. One cannot merely assemble some rough structures to temporarily navigate some tough patches, thinking that it will be a long term solution. Building people and leaders into pillars who are the upholders of Holy Living, Biblical Standards and Christ’s Love should be our key priority. It will require effort, support, resources and accountability.   

DID YOU KNOW?  The Temple in Jerusalem had two main support pillars. The name engraved in one of those pillars was Boaz. Psalm 144 “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.”

• This post was written by Mark Collins. He is a leadership consultant and a part of the Leadership Team for the Western Ontario District of the PAOC.

When Confrontation is Necessary

I hate confrontation! I just thought that I'd get that out there right at the outset. I've never enjoyed difficult conversations; I'd much prefer to avoid them altogether. The truth is, however, that sometimes confrontation is necessary.

That being said, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. If you want to look at the wrong way, take a peek at how the Parliament of Canada operates - or the U.S. Congress for that matter. In both cases the issue rarely matters, what seems to matter is who can yell the loudest or score the most points with their sound bite. It's not the place to take your child to learn about civil discourse.

The wrong way is also modelled often on Facebook and other social media. The airing of public laundry seems to have become the equivalent of a pre-emptive strike for some people. It's certainly not the place to get into a confrontation - you do know you can send a private message, right? As Ravi Zacharias says, "When we start throwing dirt, we both get dirty and everybody loses ground."

So, why and how should we confront? Let's look at the why first. (Full disclosure: I'm looking at this from a Biblical perspective.)

We should confront when we firmly believe that we are doing so for the good of others. Confrontation should not be about evening the score, or putting someone in their place. That is revenge. In Romans 12:19 God says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” No, confrontation ought to be done, first of all, for the good of the person being confronted. I try to assume that everyone wants to do the right thing until proven otherwise.

We should confront when coming to the aid of someone who cannot defend themselves.
There are times when we see things that need to be dealt with. Bullying is one example. When we stand by and watch someone being bullied without doing something about it, we are giving our tacit approval. One of the most powerful quotes I have read on this subject was written by Martin Niemoller, A Lutheran Pastor in Germany during World War II. He said, "When they came for the Jews, I did nothing, for I am not a Jew. When they came for the Socialists, I did nothing, for I am not a Socialist. When they came for the labor leaders, the homosexuals, the gypsies, I did nothing, for I am none of these, and when they came for me, I was alone, there was no one to stand up for me."

We should confront when it's for the common good.
There are times in leadership when we must confront because not to do so would allow the organization to be damaged. The same goes for society as a whole. There are times when we do need to speak up firmly, but respectively, and confront - when we see injustice, abuse or neglect for example.

We should confront when we are in a position of accountability to someone.
When in a position of trust we are to act accordingly. I am often asked to provide accountability for people, I take that very seriously. If I see something wrong and don't say something about it, that becomes my responsibility. Too many people are guilty of benign neglect - allowing things to slide because they don't want to step on toes.

Those are some of the whys of confrontation. Here are a few reasons why people don't confront.

• Fear of being disliked.
• Fear of making things worse.
• Fear of rejection.
• Don't know how.
• Who are we to confront? We're not perfect either.

Now let's look at some suggestions on how to confront.

Deal with issues as they arise.
Don't store up issues until you're so frustrated that you can't take it anymore. Nothing is worse, as an employee for example, than thinking that everything's fine only to be blindsided with a list of things you've been doing wrong for months. If it bothers you, talk about it politely when it's fresh, then move on.

Check your attitude first.
Remember, when we confront, our goal is to fix the problem or to restore a relationship - not to destroy a person. What are your motives? If they aren't right, perhaps you need to take some time to pray about it before you have the meeting. Don't contribute to the problem; be a part of the solution.

Start on a positive note.
People are much more willing to hear you out if they know that you care about them. As someone said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Outline the problem.
What is the issue that is causing the problem?
How is this affecting you or others?
Why is this a problem?

Encourage a response.
Prepare yourself for an emotional response. Often people may feel shock, bitterness or resentment and may want to "vent."

Put yourself in their place.
Try to understand how they may be feeling. Restate back to them what they've told you to demonstrate that they've been heard.

Communicate the expected result.
Focus on moving forward. People of good will want to move towards a solution. Let them know that you have high expectations for them.

Put it in the past.
Don't keep bringing it up again and again unless the problem is recurring. We have all made mistakes and would appreciate it if we could just move on after correcting them.

Here are some parting thoughts on confrontation that I've learned from experience.

• The longer you wait to confront, the harder it is.
• It's rarely as bad as you think it is.
• Aim for a better understanding; a positive change and a growing relationship.
• If you truly care about people, it shows - so work on you first.
• It's not about you, so don't make it about you.
• You really can be nice and honest at the same time. Try it, you might like it.

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Growing a Thick Skin

One thing that is guaranteed, regardless of your field of leadership, you will be subject to criticism. Often it's the way that we respond to our critics that can determine whether we succeed or fail over the long term.

A lot of leaders are like the young man who's father gave him advice as he joined the military. He told him to "always get in the middle of the line and don't draw attention to yourself." That might work in the military, but it certainly won't work in leadership. The nature of the beast is that we are up front, making decisions, casting vision and being accountable. All of these things attract attention and criticism.

What are the keys to handling criticism and being healthy in leadership?

Recognize it as a normal part of the job.
You will be criticized. Don't be surprised when it happens. Not every decision you make is going to be popular with everyone. That's life. The greatest leaders were all the recipients of healthy doses of criticism. It didn't mean that they weren't good leaders, it meant they were doing something.

Look after your emotional health.
From my own experience, I have found that when I am emotionally healthy, it is much easier to take criticism in stride. Conversely, when I have allowed myself to be run down and have neglected myself emotionally, negative feedback has a much greater impact.

As leaders, we need to know ourselves. Recognize the signs that you are pushing your limits. Before you reach that point, take action.

• Return to your strengths, those things that build your confidence.
• Take a break if you can. Look toward the finish line, whether it be the weekend, the end of the assignment, or that much needed vacation. 
• Turn to your support network. Who are those trusted people that you can rely on to pick you up when times get tough? 
• Share the load. Delegate. We should do this all the time, but especially when we are overwhelmed, just remember to delegate, not dump.

Accept the pressure of the moment.
You are the leader. Don't run, hide or obfuscate. Face the challenge and deal with it accordingly. This is a particular challenge for those who don't like confrontation or difficult conversations but, as stated above, it comes with the territory. Face it and fix it.

Hear your critics.
Surprisingly, sometimes critics are our best friends. Winston Churchill said that “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” Even our worst critics can provide us with useful information. When faced with someone who is irate or concerned, here are a few hints.

• Act - don't react. Don't allow someone's childish behaviour to push you into acting childish yourself. Welcome their input and give them a fair hearing. I have found Proverbs 15:1 speaks very well to this situation: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Show grace. 
• Consider the source. Is this person someone whose opinion you value? If so, be sure to listen intently. Often, however, when someone approaches a leader about an issue, it's not about the issue, it's about them. People are people, and all people have problems. Sometimes leaders make great targets for criticism because they are out front. And sometimes they are having problems with everyone and you're the only one they can come to. When criticism is completely unfounded, ignore it. 
• Look for the nugget of truth. We can learn from almost everyone. See and hear through the bluster and try to find something of value to take away from your meeting. Invite your critic to help you with suggestions.
• Thank your critic. This is difficult to do, but helpful. A wise leader I spoke to about an issue surprised me with this statement, he said, "Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to share your concerns with me." He gained a great deal of respect from me in a tough situation.
• Win them over. Handling a confrontation well can often result in a much stronger relationship. As a Christian leader, I recognize that people are not my enemies, they're in need of God's grace, as am I.

Act on what you've learned.
When your employees or volunteers care enough to speak out about an issue, it means that it matters to them. Sometimes it means that changes do actually need to be made. When this is the case, actions speak louder than words. A leader is willing to respond when they see the need gains leadership points with their followers. Those who build a wall and ignore their critics will soon find themselves isolated.

Create the proper vehicle for input.
Here's a good question, when your people see something that needs to change, how can they go about providing that suggestion? Here's one suggested method. Communicate that you are open for suggestions. Tell your people that for every issue they recognize you would like them to provide two possible solutions or alternatives. This gives them permission to participate and may provide some great ideas. It will also likely help you to avoid some not-so-pleasant encounters.

Communication problems are one of the most common problems in organizations. People want their voices to be heard. For most people, I've found that their hearts are in the right place and they really want to help. Believe in your people, value them and listen to them. People will be either your greatest asset or your greatest liability, see them as the former.

Grow through the criticism.
Don't take it personally - all leaders are criticized. You will usually find that criticism can become a great tool for your personal growth. Early in my ministry I found that I was taking a lot of heat, and it bothered me. But when I really took the time to consider what was being said, I found much of it to be true. This resulted in some major changes in my life. If I had rejected the criticism outright, as many do, I would have put a cap on my own potential.

Ask yourself, what can I learn from this? What skill do I need that can help me to do better? If you're hearing the same criticism from different sources, you should seriously consider dealing with that issue. In all of these things, having mentors you can trust to share with is invaluable. Talk to them about what you're hearing, and ask them for honest feedback. Remember, "Iron sharpens iron." Sometimes the greatest opportunities come from uncomfortable circumstances.  

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The Power of Words

"I have a dream..." Martin Luther King, Jr. uttered those famous words in 1963. (Watch full speech here). I was one year old, and am now 49. Yet they resonate, and will continue to do so, because of the powerful thoughts that they represent. Words are powerful things, and they have the potential to turn men's hearts and to alter the course of nations. With this kind of power we ought to be careful how we use them.

Words aren't always used for good, sometimes they are used for manipulation. Witness the powerful imagery that Hitler conjured with his speeches about a "thousand year reich." The world shook for years as the nation of Germany united around a madman who was good with words.

As leaders, then, this is a subject that must be thoughtfully considered. The more influential the leader, and the more challenging the times, the greater import of the choice of words. Look again to World War II as an example. Most of mainland Europe lay completely under the boot of Hitler's Nazis, and he turned his murderous attention on England. The island nation was facing the full might of the powerful German airforce - the Luftwaffe. On numerous occasions over the next few years, his voice and words rose to inspire a nation.

On June 4, 1940 he declared:

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air,

we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender..."  

(Read the whole speech here.)

On October 29, 1941 he famously uttered these words:

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." (See more here.)

It is the power of words that can turn leaders into legends. Witness John F. Kennedy's stirring call to Americans at the time of his inauguration: "...ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

As a leader, I've witnessed that the power of words is critical, not just for the world-shaking occasions described above, but for the challenges that face your organization and mine. When difficult times come, what you choose to say (or not say) can result in a renewed vision and determination or a continued loss of momentum. How do you know what to say? Here are some keys that I think need to be remembered:

Have a sense of the times.
Those who follow you need to know that you have a sense of perspective. You don't have to mouth platitudes that "everything is going to be all right," but you do need to explain the situation. The last thing that people want is their leader "fudging figures" or trying to tiptoe around reality. People already have a sense when things aren't going well. The best way to deal with that is to acknowledge that and set a course of action to change it.

Be a "dealer in hope."
Napoleon famously stated that “A leader is a dealer in hope.” This is a true statement, even if we can question Napoleon's motives. The truth is that people need to be inspired, and without hope, people will quickly abandon the fight or the cause. They need to know why they ought to continue to pay the price, and it's a question which deserves an answer.  

Believe it before you say it.
No-one wants to follow a hypocrite, and nothing serves to destroy the heart of an organization more quickly than to find out that their commitment was being taken advantage of. If you do not believe in what you are doing  - get off the bus, call u-haul and leave town. Let another leader emerge who has the courage of their convictions. Sharp people are very quick to sniff out a fraud or a coward. On the other hand, people long to follow a leader who they can believe in. Witness my favorite scene from Braveheart:



Think before you speak.
This speaks of preparation and intentionality. When you understand that what you say could turn the fortunes of your organization or the future of your people you'd best take your time. Focus your mind on the key thought that you want to convey. Remarkably, Martin Luther King, Jr. rarely used a manuscript, but preached from an outline, having the key thoughts committed to memory. Listening to him you have a sense that he had spent a great deal of time pondering how to express the burden that was in his heart. This, I believe is a  real hallmark of great leaders: they embody their cause.

I sincerely believe that people are looking and longing for a cause that is bigger than themselves; something that is worth living for. They are looking for leaders that are able to articulate the vision in a way that they can understand. They want to know why they ought to sacrifice; why they ought to commit wholeheartedly to a cause. It is a large part of a leader's role to cast that vision with clarity - so choose your words wisely.

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Learn This Lesson First

There are many versions of this lesson, but I'll share it the way that I heard it the first time.

There was once a wise teacher who was asked to speak with a group of professionals and business students. He decided that the best way to communicate with them was through an object lesson. Here is what he shared.

He took a large one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and sat it on the table in front of him. Then he took some large rocks and began to put them in the jar, one at a time, until he could fit no more in the jar. He then looked up at his accomplished students and asked them, "What do you think? Is the jar full?" All of them said, "Yes!"

He then pulled a jar of gravel from under the table and poured it into the mason jar, shaking it as he did so that the gravel filled the cracks between the rocks. He then asked the question again, "Is the jar full?" This time some of the students said "Yes," and some said, "No."

He proceeded to pull out another jar, this one of sand, from beneath the table, and began to pour it into the mason jar, filling each crevice that was left between the gravel stones. One more time he asked, "Is it full?" This time, the response was timid, again with some saying "Yes," and some "No."

He then took a ptcher of water on the table and began to pour it into the jar, continuing until the water reached the top of the jar. As he finished pouring he said, "Now, it is full." Then he asked, "Now, what is the lesson?"

An eager student raised his hand and said, "The lesson is that no matter how busy you are, you can always find time to do something else."

The teacher shook his head and said, "No, the lesson is this, if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."

Here is a profound lesson on priorities - putting first things first. It's a lesson that has been stated in different ways by different people at different times. The greatest teacher in history, Jesus Christ, basically said it like this: "Love God first, then love people; everything else follows after these." (Matthew 22:37-39 - my paraphrase).

What is it that you are choosing to put in your jar first? What are the priorities that govern your life? Some choose success, position, money, fame or pleasure. All of us find, at some point in our lives, that none of these can provide long-term satisfaction, and certainly not anything of eternal significance.

The greatest lesson that any leader can learn is to, first, humble themself before the God of the universe. As Billy Graham said, "Wise men know when to bow." The writer of Proverbs wrote in Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." We were created for eternity, by God, for His purposes. Understanding this first can keep us from the fate of many who have climbed the ladder of success, reached the top, and found that it was leaning against the wrong building. Don't let that be said of you.

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Cool Link of the Day #6

I've long been a fan of Andy Stanley's ministry at North Point Community Church in Atlanta. I've found many of their resources very helpful in my own ministry and in my leadership development. They've just created a page to put all of their on-line content on one web-page for easy access! So this easily qualifies for my Cool Link of the Day. I hope you find this as helpful as I have. Here is the link.

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Resources: Top Ten Lists For Canadian Christian Leaders - Part II

Last week I posted a blog showing the results of a survey of Canadian Christian leaders. This is a follow-up to that. The Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada was intending to discover what resources Canadian leaders were using to develop their leadership skills and resource their ministries. The previous post looked at favorite books, authors and podcasts. Today's post gives the results for the most popular blogs.

Interestingly, other questions regarding social media like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn didn't receive enough feedback to produce a result. The measurable scale of impact has not been there for those services as of yet. I'm going to add my own top ten for Twitter just because I've found some helpful ones. (The survey only found three that rated a mention). But before we get to that, here's the first question.

Which 3 BLOGS, Christian or secular, are currently having the most impact or relevance to your ministry?

1. Seth Godin
2. Rick Warren
3. Steven Furtick
4. Andy Stanley
5. Catalyst
6. Ed Stetzer
7. Mark Driscoll
8. Rachel Held Evans
9. Relevant Magazine
10. Scot McKnight

The next question only had three results. I'll list those first and then fill out the list with my own suggestions. If you have suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment.

If applicable, what 3 TWITTER accounts do you find most relevant to your ministry?

1. @RickWarren
2. @CSLewisDaily
3. @PastorMark (Mark Driscoll)
4. @erwinmcmanus
5. @DailyKeller (Tim Keller)
6. @MichaelHyatt
7. @ChristianPost
8. @garyhaugen
9. @RaviZacharias
10. @craiggroeschel
11. @tdbok (Tony denBok) - Hey, it is my blog!

Let me encourage you to plug into these online resources, but to keep a balance. That can be difficult to do as we can find ourselves overwhelmed by content. It may help to set time limits daily in order to keep from getting out of synch. I hope that you find these resources helpful.

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Cool Link of the Day #2!

6 WAYS LEADERS CAN BUILD TRUST

Guest post by Dr. Jeremy Statton

We have all had a boss that we did not respect. No matter how intelligent or charismatic, you knew that placing blind faith in him or her would be a mistake. You were always watching your back waiting for the sucker punch to come.

A lack of trust allows fear to become a primary motivation with your team members. They will fear your opinions. They will fear your decisions and evaluations. They will fear failure. They will fear you.

Once fear creeps in, your team members will become paralyzed.

Trust is something that has to be earned. It is something we are all told to give away slowly and to take back quickly.

Here are six ways that a leader can instill respect and trust in his team:

1. Expose yourself.
Open yourself to others. Not in a dangerous way where people can take advantage of you, but rather in a way that demonstrates honesty and humility. Your team needs to know that you are just like them. Be willing to admit your own failures. If you put up a wall around yourself, your team will too.

2. Take the hit.
When undesirable outcomes happen, we are all quick to point the finger. If your team members see that you are willing to take the blame for the good of the team, even if its not directly your fault, then they will start to let go and trust you. As leader of a team you need to accept the responsibility for both the good and the bad.

3. Build your team members up.
This is the opposite of taking the hit. Whenever it is appropriate make sure you praise your team members in front of their peers and superiors. Be sure to applaud their efforts and results. Never try to take sole credit for something good that the team did.

4. Get rid of the leash.
Allow for freedom to explore new ideas and to be creative. If people feel that you are micro-managing them, they will stop trusting you. Make room for failure and more importantly the opportunity to learn from failure.

5. Accept confrontation.
Fighting is not good, but neither is false agreement. When there is a difference of opinion, promote discussion. Explore solutions with the intent to solve problems. If disagreement never occurs, then your team is afraid of telling you the truth.

6. Find the value in each person.
We all have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table. Find what is unique in each individual and use that unique strength for the good of the team.

• This post is written by Dr. Jeremy Statton. He is an orthopedic surgeon and a writer. His blog focuses on encouraging others to live a better story with their lives. You can connect with him on Twitter.

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Resources: Top Ten Lists For Canadian Christian Leaders

Recently The Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada conducted surveys of Canadian church leaders to find out what was impacting their ministries. I know that I'm always on the prowl for resources that can help me with my leadership so I thought I'd share in one place for you what I found in a series of Scott Cochrane's blogs.

I was pleased to find that I already use many of these resources (so I'm not completely out of touch). I also was pleased to find that there were a few that I haven't checked out yet. Links to the applicable sites are also included  for your convenience. If you have some others that you've stumbled on and would like to share, please leave a comment. So here goes...

In answer to the question:
Which 3 AUTHORS, Christian or secular, are currently having the most impact or relevance to your ministry?

1. Tim Keller
2. Bill Hybels
3. Andy Stanley
4. N.T. Wright
5. Francis Chan
6. Dallas Willard
7. Eugene Peterson
8. Henri Nouwen
9. Brian McLaren
10. Patrick Lencioni
11. Ravi Zacharias - Wasn't on the list but I added him because it's my blog. : )

In answer to the question:
In 2011, what were the 3 most ministry-impacting BOOKS you read?

1. Sun Stand Still, Steven Furtick
2. Radical, David Platt
3. The Power of a Whisper, Bill Hybels Find book review here.
4. Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright
5. Humilitas, John Dickson
6. Prodigal God, Timothy Keller
7. Sticky Church, Larry Osborne
8. Disappointment With God, Philip Yancey
9. Leading on Empty, Wayne Cordeiro
10. Simple Church, Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger
11. What Good is God? Philip Yancey - Again... it's my blog. See review here.

Final question:
Which 3 PODCASTS, Christian or secular, are currently having the most impact or relevance to your ministry?

1. Andy Stanley
2. Timothy Keller
3. Mark Driscoll
4. Bill Hybels
5. Craig Groeschel
6. Focus on the Family
7. Ravi Zacharias
8. Mark Buchanan
9. TEDTalks
10. The Meeting House
11. Erwin McManus - It's still my blog.

These are great resources for leaders. I hope that you take some tome and check them out. Remember to do something - every day - to help yourself grow as a leader.

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Key Leadership Qualities - Countability

This is one those "made-up" words, coined by John Maxwell. It captures the idea of people being able to count on each other no matter what. This lesson is about what it means to be a team leader and what it means to lead with character and integrity. So, how can we be a leader who has a reputation of "countability?"

Lead Yourself First
Thomas J. Watson (former chairman of IBM), said “Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others, as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” If you're going to lead, you must stay out in front. This means living a disciplined life, staying abreast of best practices and constntly looking for ways to improve. If you are growing, your team members know they can rely on you to lead the way.

Demonstrate Character
This quote by J. C. Watts is particularly true today. "Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught." It is the leader's responsibility not just to set a standard, but to model it. In fact, a leader should hold him or herself to a higher standard than others do. When we keep the bar high for ourselves, it helps others to be willing to do the same.

Know Your Team
This is about relationship. One thing we can know about people is that they want their leaders to hear them and to know who they are. If you truly care about your people they will follow you where they wouldn't follow someone else. Ask them the right questions and listen to their responses. What do you know about their families? What are they passionate about? What are their hopes and dreams? A wise leader recognizes that people are not means to an end, but are valuable in and of themselves. When you value people achieve their goals, they will believe in you and help you to achieve yours.

Model Servanthood
True leadership leads for others. Servant leaders recognize that the greatest way to build loyalty is to truly care. This is the type of leadership that was modelled by Jesus, who demonstrated His commitment to His followers by laying down His life. This is the same kind of leadership the Bible encourages men to model in their homes. This sacrificial model builds security in followers. When team members are convinced that the leader would "take a bullet" for them, they will show the same commitment to you and the team.

“Leadership is the ability to inspire others to follow you. A leader never pushes or pulls. A leader moves, and those around him fall in behind and go with him wherever he takes them because they trust him.” — Brian Cameron

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Key Leadership Qualities - Endurance

This is one of those subjects that I find myself focusing on more and more lately. The truth is, anyone can get it right in spurts and starts, it's much more difficult to have sustainability as a leader. In leadership, particularly in ministry, it's not so much about how you start, but how you finish. This is one of the reasons why we honor men like Billy Graham and Charles Swindoll, because they're finishing well.

Let's start with some sobering statistics. In a recent article by Dr. Richard J. Krejcir it was revealed that 60% to 80% of those who enter the ministry will not still be in it 10 years later, and only a fraction will stay in it as a lifetime career. I suspect that statistics for other high pressure leadership careers would be similar. So, what can be done to buck this trend? How can we develop the endurance necessary for the long haul in our chosen field?

Choose Wisely
This is the first key to success. I've told all of my sons to find the thing that they enjoy doing the most, then learn to do it so well that people will gladly pay them to do it. I firmly believe that this is true. As far as ministry is concerned, my first question for young candidates is this: why are you wanting to do this? Biblically speaking, ministry is not a vocation, it's a calling. Again my advice to potential ministers, knowing the stress they will face, is this: if you can do anything else and be happy - do it. The reason I can say this is if they are truly called they will never be truly happy doing anything else. Regardless of your chosen field, you need to love what you're doing in order to persevere.

Commit to Growth
Successful leaders are lifelong learners. There are no exceptions. Relying on your past accomplishments will very quickly make you yesterday's man or woman. The world is changing rapidly; only those willing to keep their minds open will be willing to adapt and use new technologies, methods and systems. What have you learned lately?

Be Accountable
No-one gets to the point where they don't need accountability. The higher you go in leadership, the more this is necessary, particularly since you may have to invite it rather than have it imposed on you. A wise leader doesn't look at accountability as a threat, but rather as a friend.

Stop and Smell the Roses
Maintain a healthy balance between work and recreation. Everyone has their limits. While being a workaholic might push you to the top, that kind of pace can only be sustained so long. Take a break. Don't neglect your family; they are (or should be) your base of support.

Remember to Nurture Your Heart
The writer of the Biblical book of Proverbs wrote "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)
It was interesting in reading the surveys of pastors that the vast majority of those who were no longer in ministry admitted that they had neglected their personal devotional life.

What many miss is that God is interested in our work. He created us and gifted us as individuals. He knows the satisfaction that we get from a job well done because He placed that need in us. He created us for a purpose. When His purpose and ours align wonderful things happen. There's a fulfillment that takes place that few ever experience.

There was an interesting scene that took place in the movie "Chariots of Fire." (I know I'm dating myself.) In this movie, Eric Liddel, a runner, is preparing for the Olympics. He was also training to be a missionary to China. I couldn't embed the clip, but you can watch it here if you'd like. The line "He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure," has always resonated with me. I believe that this is how we ought to live our lives - doing what we do with joy because it's what God made us to do. Endurance would be a good deal less trying if we could all manage that.

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Key Leadership Qualities - Servanthood

The following is an article I've held onto since it was originally written by Mark Earley in June of 2007. As I was looking at this subject matter I came across it again and thought I'd share it with you. Servanthood is not often talked about in leadership circles, but it is the pattern modeled by the greatest leader of all time - Jesus Christ. Remember what Max Depree said: “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” Enjoy!

The Will to Power - To Reign or to Serve?

Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley.

Power. Even the word is seductive. A love of power can separate the most resolute of Christians from the true nature of Christian leadership, which is to serve others. This truth is perhaps most graphically illustrated in the world of politics.

As Chuck Colson writes in his marvelous new book, God & Government, the everyday business of politics is power, and power can be perilous.

The history of the last fifty years has richly validated Friedrich Nietzsche's argument that man's desire to control his own destiny and to impose his will on others is the most basic human motivation. Nietzsche's prophecy that the "will to power" would fill the twentieth-century's vacuum of values has been fulfilled through Hitler, Mao and Stalin, to name only the worst tyrants.

All governments use power to hang on to power—election-year favors and pork-barrel politics are even common here in America. But in regimes where there are few moral restraints, tyrants wield power shamelessly—and often viciously.

But remember this: power corrupts, but power itself is not necessarily corrupt. God has given power to the state to be used to restrain evil and maintain order. It is the use of power, whether for personal gain or for the state's ordained function, that is really at issue.

Jesus Christ turned conventional views of power upside-down. He not only offered mankind redemption, He also washed the dusty feet of His own followers. The apostle Paul said, "My power is made perfect in weakness."

As Chuck writes in God & Government, nothing distinguishes the kingdoms of man from the kingdom of God more than their diametrically opposed views of the exercise of power. One seeks to control people; the other seeks to serve people. One promotes self; the other prostrates self. One seeks prestige and position; the other lifts up the lowly and despised.

It's crucial for Christians to understand this difference. For through this upside-down view of power, the Kingdom of God can play a special role in the affairs of the world.

When we, as citizens of the Kingdom today, practice this view of power, we're setting an example for our neighbors by modeling servanthood — and exposing the illusions worldly power creates.

This doesn't mean that Christians can't use power. In positions of leadership, especially in government institutions, the Christian can wield power in good conscience. But the Christian uses power with a different motive and in a different way: to serve, to seek the common good, and to seek justice.


Those who accept the biblical view of servant leadership treat power as a humbling delegation from God, not as a right to control others.

The challenge for the Christian in a position of influence is to follow the example of Jesus, who knelt down to wash His disciples' feet, rather than embrace Nietzsche's will to power. In doing so, the citizen of the Kingdom can offer light to a world often shrouded by the dark pretensions of power-mad tyrants.

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Key Leadership Qualities - Security

Here's a quality that is not talked about often, but it's certainly evident when it's missing. Think about the insecure people for whom you've had the misfortune of working. What insecurity in leadership does for the working climate of an organization can be devastating. The opposite is also true.

When a leader is emotionally healthy, secure in who they are, and confident in their abilities, it helps to provide a stable environment for everyone else. Maxwell shares a great story about Karl, who enjoyed a good laugh at his office after he attached a sign to his door - "I'm the Boss!" The laughter was even louder when he returned from lunch and saw that someone had made an addition to his sign. Next to it was a yellow Post-it note on which someone had scribbled, "Your wife called and said she wants her sign back." Secure leaders can laugh at themselves.

What makes us insecure? There are a lot of things, really. Bad experiences, family history, negative self-image, many things can go together to cause us to be insecure. Fundamentally, I believe that insecurity primarily comes from bad thought patterns. We believe certain things about ourselves, and eventually those beliefs become so powerful that they shape our behaviour - and that can get ugly.

Insecure leaders hesitate to bring around them capable people, because they don't want to look bad. They would rather have the organization flounder, or not reach its potential, then to risk being "shown up" by a subordinate. Insecurity can also lead to self-sabotage. Self-sabotage has been described like this: "shooting yourself in the foot," "putting your foot in your mouth," or "cutting off your nose to spite your face." These phrases all refer to a desire to achieve a goal, but in the process of pursuing that goal you burn bridges to achieving another, more desirable goal. The insecure person can't get past their insecurity to see the bigger picture.

In my leadership I've seen some things that have been very common for myself and others. The first is self-talk. Self-talk is the conversation you have with yourself - the voice in your head. It's almost as though each of us has a message that plays over and over in our heads; sometimes these messages can be powerful. For example, I've spoken with many who grew up in abusive homes where the primary message they heard from adults in their lives was "You're never going to amount to anything." Even though they didn't like the message, over a period of years they gradually came to believe it.

This comes into play every time they face difficulty, opposition or even opportunity. A secure person looks at a new challenge and gets excited, believing that they can learn and grow and achieve. An insecure person sees the same challenge and thinks "Here we go again, this is going to get ugly." Rather than excitement, the emotion felt may be paralyzing fear.

How can this be changed? The Bible has some great truth on this issue. In Romans 12:2 We are told to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds." A modern way of looking at it is the computer programming term GIGO, short for "Garbage in, garbage out." What we put into our minds eventually shapes our thought patterns. If the way that you think about yourself is wrong, change it.

I recommend reading books like John Maxwell's "Be All You Can Be." As a pastor, I also believe that you will never be all that you can be until you have a proper relationship with God. Replacing the negative self-image that others have placed in your minds with the truth that you were created and are loved by a personal God has had a transforming affect on many with whom I've had the privilege of working.

Security is really about what you believe. It was Henry Ford who said, "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right." Every leader is responsible for his own thought life. No-one else can change this for you but you. Read good books, listen to good talks, be influenced by positive people and think good thoughts. You will find that the opposite of GIGO is also true. As the writer of Proverbs said, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Do you want to be a good leader? Think good thoughts.

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Key Leadership Qualities - Communication

Understand this first: good leaders are good communicators. Poor communication has shipwrecked many a leader and many an organization. Secondly, good communication skills can be learned. For the purposes of this article, we'll be looking at communicating in a personal setting; not public speaking. What are some keys to good communication?

Know your desired outcome:
A leader needs to know with clarity just exactly what it is that he/she is trying to accomplish during communication. Is it relationship building? Is it a meeting to point out changes that need to be made in someone's job performance? If your thinking is fuzzy going into a meeting, your results will likely be equally as unclear.

Seek first to understand, rather than be understood:
This is a key in any relationship, including employee/employer. Since leadership is influence, and people are influenced in different ways, wise leaders make it a priority to understand those they wish to lead. What are the commonalities that can be called upon to further the relationship? What are the unique challenges this person faces? What is their potential? What are their hopes, dreams and priorities? The more you understand, the easier it is to lead.

Consider Perspective:
Everyone has a point of view, and each one is unique. Consider who you are communicating with. What is their background? What is their personality? What is their agenda? Is it different from yours? Since different people respond differently to different approaches, learn to adapt your communication style accordingly.

Ask Good, Open-Ended Questions:
Remember that you're dealing with people, and everyone wants to be valued as a person. Asking open-ended questions builds rapport which builds trust.
It also shows interest. If you honestly find yourself not caring and having difficulty with the relational part of communicating, I suggest you do some homework like reading "Be A People Person" by John Maxwell. Asking open-ended questions also leads to deeper communication because it gets people talking.

The greater your responsibility, the more important communication becomes. In light of that, let's leave the final word to Martin Luther King, Jr., who managed to keep a broad-based, loosely organized group together through some of the most trying circumstances in American history. Here's what he said: "The biggest job in getting any movement off the ground is to keep together the people who form it. This task requires more than a common aim; it demands a philosophy that wins and holds the people's allegiance; and it depends upon open channels of communication between the people and their leaders."

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