Great Leaders Walk With A Limp

What Is Your Greatest Moment?

2008-11-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine if we could somehow fast forward to the end of life, and look back? As you review life, what would be the single greatest moment? Before you read further, ponder this for a moment or two.

The great moments of life may not have much to do with accomplishments, promotions, and goals met. But it may have more to do with relationships, kind words, generous actions, and acts of grace.

I doubt the single greatest moment of life would be lived in the 'comfort zone'. Very possibly it could be at the point of greatest trial, when you feel weak and vulnerable. And at that moment you reach deep inside to find a strength previously unknown. I believe this is what is referred to as a walk of faith.

Now rewind to the present; with that view of destiny in mind, how different would the decisions of today be? Walking with a sense of destiny may cause us to rise and make the most of every circumstance and relationship.

Truth At Work

2008-06-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have recently picked up a copy of Conversation, which is 'The Message' translation of the Bile with Eugene Peterson's comments and notes. Great stuff!
In John 8, Jesus said that 'you will experience for yourself the truth, and the truth will set you free'. Powerful words to be sure. Its not just knowing the truth, it is experiencing truth that makes the difference. And once truth begins to work within us, it creates an appetite for more truth. It becomes freeing in our lives to let truth invade into more and more of our lives. We truly become free people.
When I let the insanity of the world, get exposed to truth, and then apply it, I face the challenge to let truth work in me, or to continue to live under false assumptions. My choice; but as I choose truth, I find I become free!
Just prior to these awesome words of Jesus, he opens a window into his humanity. Verse 18, speaks of Jesus judgement or decision process on a matter 'I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience, but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father.' We let so many of our decisions, opinions and values be shaped by our experience. That becomes our framework of truth. But is it really true? We think our opinions are true, otherwise we would not hold on to them. Is everything we believe true? If not, then what part is true? We think our relationships are based on truth, but many times we painfully discover hidden agendas, and false expectations.
These are hard questions and issues, and tells us that we really must let God's Word become active within us, and become our experience. When truth is at work within us, it causes us to become free people.

A New Challenge

2008-05-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since there have been any new entries; a new ministry assignment has dominated my attention in the past few months, and just now finding level ground again.

Here is a great challenge from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

What would your world be like if you practiced this for one week; always joyful ; prayed continually; and gave thanks in all circumstances?

Before you dismiss this entirely, perhaps it would be helpful to be reminded, that each of these practices are a choice we make. And each of these are commands from the Scripture, not recommendations. God never commands behaviour we cannot do, so this is within the reach of all of us.

So try this for a week; seven days, and see the if practice of these verses create a changed environment for you.

When Experience Goes Beyond Theology

2008-01-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

Churches tell us to stand firm on our theology when life’s experiences are contrary. I want to go on record to say I believe the worth of our faith is proved true in the crucible of testing. After all, it really is not faith when all is figured out and settled.

Recently I was asked what the difference was between trust and faith. Faith is acting on what
we trust. I may have trust without faith, but I could not exercise faith without trust.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequences.” So without doubt, we must stand firm in what we believe, and when adversity tries us, grab onto the anchor of faith.

But I have been challenged a great deal lately from the Gospel of Mark. In fact a sermon series is brewing called the ‘Power Series’. On two occasions Jesus disciples were in a boat during a storm. From my limited sailing experiences, I can appreciate the anxiety of the disciples in such moments.

In both instances, Jesus calmed the storm by His spoken word. Amazing! So amazing in fact, the disciples became fearful, not of the storm, but of this One so powerful that he could control violent storms by a spoken word.

They were introduced to another dimension of Jesus. And here is my point. The disciples were serious, and seasoned followers of Jesus. Yet they did not fully understand this God they followed. Neither do we. Perhaps the reason we do not fully comprehend what God is doing, is
that we do not fully understand Him. He is bigger than our best attempts at theology.

Life is all about growing, learning, adjusting and refocusing. So while we do not discount our belief in God for understanding of the moment, we do add depth of understanding of God because of the life’s experiences. My finite mind does not comprehend an infinite God. But I follow beyond understanding. Faith then becomes real, and leads me to learn something more about Jesus than previously known.

The theology of many Christians is flawed not because it’s not true, but because it does not address issues of real life. We are content to know a God we understand; how about a God who is bigger than our understanding. I am not content or challenged by a theology I fully comprehend. I am however powerfully challenged by a theology of a God whom I am becoming acquainted with and who stretches me to new levels of understanding.

Storing Treasure

2007-11-21T07:21:00.000-08:00

Over the past few days, I have been contemplating losses we experience in life. A close friend contacted me with the sad news of the death of a family member. Just a few days prior to my friend’s loss, we had an uncle pass away.
Loss is a part of life. I began to consider Jesus’ words “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-20
We can view the losses of life as only that. Or we can see opportunities to store treasure in heaven. Lost relationships, opportunities, possessions, all can become treasures we store in heaven, if we commit them to the Lord. Proverbs tells us ‘Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.’ 34:4-6
The Apostle Paul cited the example of the ‘grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.’ It appears to me they had grace to turn extreme hardships around, and rather than seeing things as a loss, they stored up treasure in heaven. Instead of seeing what has been taken from us, lets become more invested in heaven. Lord, help us to day to filter the events and circumstances of life, and rather than keep record of the losses, commit them as investments in heaven.

The Appointed Time

2007-10-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

Throughout scripture this phrase is repeated. It speaks of a season more than an event. But it has impact upon events. It is an appointed date on a calendar, but it only happens at the fulfillment of an appropriate season.

Genesis 1:2 talks about the Spirit of God hovering, or brooding over the waters. The image is that of a mother bird nesting and incubating eggs. When the time of development has been completed, the young bird breaks through the shell. James 1:3-4 says ‘because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Here is the process of development, and when completed, at the appointed time, ‘break-out’ occurs.

Premature birth creates complications. Aborted vision is tragic. Paul tells Timothy (and us) that Hymenaeus and Alexander made shipwreck of their faith because they rejected the working of God (1Tim1:18-20). It appears they broke ranks with what God was incubating in their lives. It does not indicate they were never disciples, but rather they were disciples who lost their faith. Disappointments with the outcome of circumstances can cause any of us to question why God allows such things. It can even cause us to question God himself. Jesus said in Matt 11:6, ‘Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” If any had reason to question God’s calling, and the implication of the outcome, it was John. God’s purposes for John were not anticipated. Disappointment and shattered expectations were real emotions for John as he sat in the prison. He could have aborted the vision, got swallowed up in disillusionment, and lost faith in God’s plan. Although the outcome did not change and he was still executed. He was however, not just another victim of a corrupt system. He realized he was an intricate and critical part of God’s overall design. The bigger picture was hatching. At the appointed time Jesus steps into His appointed place.
Make no mistake, extreme leadership is incubated and hatched in extreme conditions. The challenge? Don’t loose sight of the bigger picture. Don’t abort the vision prematurely. At the appointed time, when development is completed, breakout from the surrounding shell happens. All around us, our world is desperate for leaders who have been fully incubated and matured. Allow me to speak a word of encouragement to leaders in the incubator. All of us will appreciate the leader who has the endurance to outlast circumstances. Breakout happens at the appointed time!

Reading The Map

2007-10-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

A Scripture that has been rattling around in my brain lately is found in Exodus 33:13 '...show me your ways, so that I might know you...' We gain greater understandings of God as we understand His ways. Then in Hebrews 12 from the Message "... God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training...". So life is all about being trained to read the map, so to speak, so we can know the ways of God, which leads to knowing Him. And that is the destination: to know Him!

Walk In The Future

2007-09-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Time travel has captured people attention for a long time. I remember when we lived in Australia, flying back to the US, we would leave Sydney at 11:00 am, and 15 hours later arrive in California at 7:30 am on the same date. Trust me, time travel can wear you out! (crossing the international date line)
God lives in a multi-dimensional time frame. We live with a horizontal view of time; past, present and future. God sees time in more of a spherical perspective; he sees all of it all at once.
In Isa. 42:9 God says, “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” This is a dimension of faith. To see what God sees and to begin to declare it, and live in that reality.
There is an appointed time for God’s purposes. We tend to think that during the dormant time nothing is happening. Yet Philippians 1:6 gives us a perspective that God’s works on a continuum of time. “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
So while things are being worked out on the surface, we can live in the future, by living out the plans of God. Be the person now that you see in the future. Live future tense. Live the blessing of God today just like it will be when the appointed time unfolds. Walk in the life of God today and let the future catch up to you!

Appointment with Destiny

2007-09-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Thinking a lot lately about the concept of an appointed time. An appointment with destiny if you will. Habakkuk 2:2-3 from the Message translation states this: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.
The encouragement I draw from this is not found in the word 'wait', but from the idea that a time is appointed-planned. That planned timing is perfect.
As a friend of mine said once, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Prepare The Way

2007-09-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

Talking a walk: leisurely, relaxing, stress relieving; sounds enticing. But let’s get real. Who has time or energy for that? Arrival is preference. The words expressed in a song say it all, “I don’t care how you get here, just get here.”
One of the great truths of life and leadership is the discovery that the treasure is in the journey, not the destination. “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord” are the words of Isa. 40:3 NIV). It’s a picture like the movie ‘Field of Dreams’. Just build it, and they will come. While still in the desert prepare. Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the desert a God-Place. Act like He is there, and He will be. He will come.
Next question is ‘when’? ‘At the appointed time’ is a phrase from the Bible that is running around in my head lately. God’s timing is perfect, everything in sync, in rhythm. It’s all about a faith that the future is not dependant or defined by the present. It is dependant upon God and His design. So prepare now for the way of the Lord.

Walking With New Strength

2007-09-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Life is filled with paradoxes, many, if not most, clearly I have not figured out yet. So while I believe that 'great leaders walk with a limp'*, I also believe that renewal comes to those who wait and trust God. (Let me digress for just a moment to say that in our world lately, 'wait' has been identified as a four letter word!)
Isa. 40:31 from The Message reads, "But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles,They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind."
So there it is, great leaders walk with a limp, but run in the strength of God.
*(see 'Great Leaders Walk With A Limp' article below)

Going Forward Is The Best Option

2007-09-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

I recently spent considerable time studying the life of Joseph as found in the Bible. Many interesting incites from his life surfaced; here are a few thoughts.

I wonder if Joseph had ever wished he could go back to the way things were. I'm sure he did, we all do; its human nature. From the pit where his brothers had thrown him, he may have wished to go home again. Unfortunately however, home was a place of tension, strife and ridicule. Certainly not an environment for growth. Whatever the future held, it would have to be better than the constant demeaning of character he experienced from his brothers.

From the pit into slavery. As bad as that potentially could have been, at least he was not constantly put down and ridiculed. In fact he was recognized as a man with potential. He was given responsibility and trust. Life does not stand still however. Falsely accused he found himself in prison. Going back may have been better than a prison cell, but it still would have been a life of slavery.

Each phase of Joseph's life presented greater hardships. Going back may have been easier in some respects, but certainly it did not measure up to his potential. Joseph would never have gone to the palace, had it not been for the prison. Each hardship he faced introduced him to the next opportunity. Opportunities cannot be measured by the level of comfort, but rather by the level of influence and the next open door. Going back may be familiar and comfortable, but probably will not take you to your palace opprotunity. Going forward is the best option!

Great Leaders Walk With A Limp

2007-09-14T05:13:00.001-07:00

Great leaders walk with a limp. This thought comes from the story of Jacob, as found in the book of Genesis. Here we read of a man who was cunning, scheming, always looking out for himself. You may not have known Jacob, but perhaps some of his relatives have crossed your path. This is a person that when you get to know him you wished you had not. And yet we see God giving special interest to him. In fact, in his later life, he became known as the ‘friend of God’. He was a flawed man, like all of us, and yet God chose to identify Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. By today’s standards his parenting skills would have earned him the label ‘dysfunctional’. God calls him His friend!

We like to put leaders on a pedestal. Certainly there is a facet of leadership where life’s lessons have been proved in the leader and they lead out of their experience. We like to follow one who has been this way before and knows what they are doing, and where they are going. But leaders are flawed people because they are human. We like the hero, but we get disillusioned with the human element in leaders.

It helps to see how God viewed Jacob. Why Jacob, and not a better candidate? One of the assignments Jacob had was to raise a son who would become the leader of the largest populated nation of that day. Should this be entrusted to a schemer like Jacob? Some may speculate the likes of Jacob was all that God had to work with. That view however paints God into a corner leaving Him without options. Rather, I think God deliberately looked for the least likely candidate to work His purpose in. Jacob became a trophy of God’s grace.

So what does this have to do with me, and my life, you ask? Well Jacob, it has a lot to do with you. Life unpacks the unexpected to all of us. Powering along, checking off the goals, accumulating the nest egg, and then life happens; an unexpected crisis arrives on your doorstep. Something beyond the scope of your control occurs. You watch helplessly as this unfolds in your life, as if you were viewing it on a TV screen. You wonder, ‘how did I get here’, ‘why is this happening to me’?

Somebody said, ‘it does not matter whether these are the best of times or the worst of times. These are the only times you have’. We burn so much energy trying to justify and get back to where we were. But perhaps we need to accept that change has come, life is different. Not worse, just different. Perhaps even better! Just maybe God is taking you to a new level of influence. Its been said that ‘those God uses greatly, He wounds deeply’.

So while you may be walking with a limp these days, your level of influence increases. And leadership is all about influence. Understanding that God works His purpose to the randomness of life, gives perspective. Limping along, we help others on their journey.