Vision is overrated if what we mean by vision is pure numbers, statements like, “our church’s vision is 1500 people”. That really isn’t vision, and that kind of statement is not empowering and therefore overrated. Vision that empowers has to capture our imagination, has to connect to those we serve. Then vision becomes powerful, it interprets what we do and what we don’t do, which… Read more »
Ezekiel takes us behind the scenes of history, behind the bravado of a nation, the crisis of exile and the hopelessness of their setting. God speaks to the prophet of the coming fall of nations who appear invincible. Assyria may look “all that,” but one day… and that day, declares the Lord through the prophet, is in the hands of God. Hopelessness permeates our lives,… Read more »
Our church had been through a long season of challenge. The leaders had made the shift and the focus was clear. I then said to the Lord, “We need a blessing. Would you send us people?” The response was immediate, “No chance!” It was shocking, but somehow didn’t seem like a rebuke. “If I send you people now you will shift back to your… Read more »
Why would we allow you to lead us? Yes, the key word is allow, for leadership is always about choosing to follow. Why would we allow you to lead us? Because we like you? We like many people whom we would not follow to the future. Yes, “like” is a powerful force, but getting people to like you does not mean they will follow… Read more »
Life without wonder is lived small, lived in the confines of our thinking, our ability, our limitations. Wonder opens our imagination. Wonder calls us to live in majesty, in the amazement of a God to whom nothing is impossible. Wonder opens us to possibilities and future. Leaders need wonder. Leaders need to be captured by the majesty of the Lord who orchestrates future, who calls… Read more »
Jesus will always call out our inner world. He did it for the disciples (Mark 9:14-33). Before we can be used mightily, we must be cleansed deeply. He does this inner work by asking the questions that deeply reveal our hearts. “What were you arguing about along the way?” He asked, knowing that the subject of the argument was revealing their inner world. What… Read more »
You can’t lead them if you need them! You can’t lead people when you need their approval. You can’t lead people when you need their finances. You can’t lead people unless you are free, whole and healthy. The inner work of a leader must go to this depth, to do the work of being “free” to lead, free to encourage and to call up… Read more »
Leaders lead out of trust. Trust accelerates momentum, eases conflict and overcomes mistakes. However, trust has a dark side. When someone says, “I don’t trust” it can indicate more work needs to be done in that relationship. It can be a call to listen, to have a conversation about where the trust was lost. It can also be an invitation to the dark side…. Read more »
It was a season our church wasn’t doing well. Our income had bottomed out and the bills were mounting. Then, as providence would have it, our giving was even lower. As I drove away I crashed in my spirit. But the Lord began to speak to me tenderly. “Would you like for me to speak to you about this?” He asked. I was hurt… Read more »
It happens regularly. A leader experiences a time when the organization or group they lead appears to take off. Momentum is high and obstacles appear easy. Other leaders gather around listening and looking for the magic bullet, the one thing that brought the “pitch” and turned everything. The funny thing is, the leader leading the now energized organization most often misses what has really happened…. Read more »