Thoughts about Christian Leadership

It is not enough for (Christian leaders) of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time...it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God’s presence, to listen to God’s voice, to look at God’s beauty, to touch God’s incarnate Word and to taste fully God’s infinite goodness?
Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

Nouwen doesn't mince words when it comes to leadership. When we think of leadership, it is so tempting to lose focus on the heart. The heart of a leader is broken, redeemed, shaped, transformed and kept in the presence of God. It is in the presence of God that we learn to see what God wants us to see. It is there that we receive our direction. In the presence of God, we dare not attempt to impress with the things that do not matter.

Competition

Describe God. What are the first words out of your mouth? Maybe you said "indescribable". Good answer, but you're dodging the question. You might have thrown out some theology...sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, almighty, eternal, holy. I'll bet the first word was not "jealous". We live in a day when we must deal with competition that has risen to an extreme level. Competition for our time, our attention, our affection, our resources is fierce. Can anything or anyone really "compete" with God? Of course not. Yet, we ignore God's "jealous" nature on a regular basis with our choices and our allegiance. For the past week, I have made a choice to spend my time in the car without radio (I enjoy sports talk radio) or music (I love music). Is sports talk radio bad? Well, sometimes. Is music bad? Much to my surprise the quiet has been really really enjoyable.

Open Tryouts

I have been thinking about our response to God's call lately. The past few weeks I have been digging into Scriptures that reveal the "heart and soul" of Christian leadership. Because I believe that every person is called (personally) by God to serve Him, our response is a critical part of life. Sometimes we struggle to understand the personal nature of God's calling. Last night Nick tried out for his Middle School basketball team. After I watched the boys go through the drills and competition necessary to put the team together, I thought about how we mistakenly treat God's call the same way. We think we are called based upon the number of shots we take and make. We think it comes down to speed or agility. We think it comes down to whether or not we impress the coach with our skills. We think, in order to be on God's team, we have to shine. Nothing could be further from the truth. God made each of us so that we can live out our role on His team. God delights in writing our name on His roster. We need not show up at a tryout. We only need to say yes to the invitation. We don't have to prove our worthiness. (We could never do that). We need only to give Him our heart and begin to follow His lead. It's not a tryout at all. It's an honor. By the way, Nick made the team. So have you.

Sanctuary

Last Sunday I shared a challenge to do some "fasting". Although fasting usually involves giving up food, the principle applies very well to other things in our lives. The goal in fasting is to attack selfishness that can gain strength so easily in our lives. It is a way to get our selfishness out of the way and yield ourselves to God. When we do so we can discover a purer perspective on "strength" and "weakness". Paul's words begin to make sense. God's power is made perfect in our weakness. So, give up some food. Give up some TV. Give up something in an effort to deny your own desires. That's the first step. But, the second step is more important. Focus on God. Enter into the sanctuary - the presence of God.

Teaching at Seminary

I have been enjoying a great learning opportunity at the Seminary. This week, Dr. Fred Garmon and I have been teaching a missional leadership course for doctoral students. It's has been refreshing to meet some leaders who are passionate about growing in Christ-likeness. It is a journey. Consider the words of Fenelon

We must bear with ourselves with patience and without flattery, and remain in unceasing subjection to every means of overcoming our thoughts and inward repugnancies. We will thus become more pliable to the impressions of grace in the practice of the gospel. But let this work be done quietly and peacefully, and let it not be entered upon too eagerly, as though it could all be accomplished in a single day.

Together

Last night I was at the church prior to meeting with the men's group. Typically, on Wednesdays I stay at the church until time for our meeting. Lynn and Nick came to the church just before I left for my meeting. Lynn came by the office to say hello and Nick went straight to the Youth room. Before I left I went by to see Nick. I went because I missed seeing him. I hadn't talked to him all day, nor had I seen him since I left for the gym before he got up for school. After seeing him, I thought a lot about how much I love my son. I love to be with him and I miss him when we are not together. In that moment I thought of God's perspective. I cannot begin to understand how God "feels", but I know He loves me as His own. Though it shouldn't be - it's hard for me to think that the God of all creation "wants" to be with me. Yet, I know He does. Many scholars have taken the beautiful language of the Song of Solomon to be a picture of God's love for His own. Without a doubt, it is the language of love. At one point the desire is described in these terms: "I am my beloved's. And His desire is for me" (7:10). As I think about His love for me, I begin to realize that when I do not cherish the presence of God it goes against God's desire to be with me.

Transformation

Every Christian knows that God loves him or her. Unfortunately, that fact often remians a tenet or tenant of the mind. And until it gets into your heart, it remains information. Once it gets into your heart, it results in transformation.
Mark Batterson

What a tragedy that we do not soak in the love of God. God's love is so much more than a theological principle that we deposit in our minds. It is more than a confession in a creed. As I survey the landscape of Christianity around me, it seems that we run the risk of keeping the love of God in our heads and out of our hearts. I agree with Mark Batterson. The result is information without transformation. In order for God's love to transform us, we have to let Him near. We have to long to be near to Him. To know, to really know God is to experience His presence, His love. Remember, Jesus came to teach us that He is Emmanuel (God with us).

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday marked 21 years. Lynn and I were married in Nashville on a lovely (rain-soaked) fall day. I remember when we selected October 1st because we said, "it's always beautiful in October". The day was beautiful, not because of the weather, but because we established our covenant of marriage in recognition that God had blessed us with one another. Since our wedding day, we have enjoyed many sunny days and many rainy days. It's hard for me to decide whether I am more thankful for her presence in my life during the sunny days so that we can share the joys of life together or for the encouragement and support she has given me on the rainy days. Either way, God knew what I needed (and I like to think He knew what she needed too).