Years ago I sat in a group listening to Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel. As he told his story I was incredibly captured. He spoke of the Calvary Chapel strategy of straight biblical teaching which captured masses. But then, almost in passing, he related what I think is the wonder of his leadership. He and his wife lived in Huntington Beach CA. On a… Read more »
Today I was reflecting on my desire to live a life of worship; to be connected to the Lord and live out/ from my times of connection to my savior and Lord. And it struck me. The cross is a picture worth a thousand words! The cross is God’s amazing gift of everything to me, the one who least deserves it. The cross, a… Read more »
Leadership can appear to be places of privilege, positions where your preferences can be played out. Before you sign up for leading you may want to reconsider! 1. Your whole life has to be shaped around your calling as a leader. 2. You will have to give up your rights and live with higher responsibility. 3. You will have to do the hard work… Read more »
Ezekiel’s prophetic leadership spanned several years. Multiple years. Years of living a message and speaking a message to deaf ears. Years of a “trust” from the Lord, a trust that was obviously important in the Lord’s plan. But they were years full of heartache, full of loss and nothing like the success we anticipate and long to see. How does a leader continue to stay… Read more »
People often speak of wanting to change the world. One important question would be why? Another is how? But our understanding of success is still flawed. The people who change the world in ways that reach multi-generations do not focus on a one time big moment of cataclysmic proportions. They do so over time, in catalytic ways, one person at a time. Real… Read more »
Who makes that decision? That was the question a team member asked me one day. That we were making a decision was clear. Who would make it? He was the one with the oversight in the area of the decision. I was the leader. So, who would make the call? The point of leadership is not power. It is not having the position so… Read more »
The work continues! Along the way to significant leadership and our destiny, we have a few tests to pass. One is our willingness to hear the Word of the Lord and to obey, even when it is painful, even when it is humbling, even when it is embarrassing, even when it is a sacrifice and costly. Without passing this test, no leader is ready… Read more »
The inner work of a leader is often elusive. The inner work includes patterns that will feed and fuel the leader’s soul. Learning to be disciplined in reflective prayer, learning to sit with scripture; not to produce a lesson, but to invite the Lord to shape the heart and soul are essential. Years seeded with hours upon hours of alone prayer and reflective reading catalyzes a… Read more »
The inner work is often elusive. Our tendency is to live “externally,” thinking that our challenges and obstacles are “out there” among others, hence our lack of resources, our setting, etc. Human nature is to look outside of our hearts, as opposed to in our hearts and souls for the key breakthroughs. The inner work, for some leaders, remains elusive their whole life! The only… Read more »
The inner work of the leader is the most challenging work. It is also the work that will eventually produce fruit. As we do the inner work, the Lord will trust us with opportunities of greater impact (he who is faithful in little…). The inner work is difficult as it puts our hearts and minds under the spotlight. The inner work uses life setting, people,… Read more »