by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 12, 2011 | regular
Golf is an EXPENSIVE sport! Honestly, I’m not the greatest fan of golf. I only like a few aspects of the game and lugging a heavy bag of clubs around a lawn looking for a tiny ball and hole to put it in all day isn’t one of them. Honestly, the best parts of the game are driving the ball, putting and driving around in the golf cart.
All three of these skills can better be implemented in any reputable driving range/putt-putt/go-cart facility without having to walk around aimlessly all afternoon (Here’s a million-dollar idea – anyone want to partner with me on this). If you want to master golf, there’s a steep price you must pay mentally, physically, and financially. The same could be said for those who aspire to be great leaders.
Can you drink of the cup that I drink of… (Mark 10:38)
No one should aspire to lead God’s work if they are not prepared to pay a price greater than his contemporaries and colleagues are willing to pay. True leadership always exacts a heavy toll on the leader and the more effective their leadership is, the higher the price to be paid. The cost of every great achievement is not paid in a lump. It is bought on a payment plan, with installments paid daily.
Greatest Installment: Loneliness
From its very nature, the lot of the leader must be a lonely one. They must always be ahead of their followers. Human nature craves company, and it is only natural to wish to share with others the heavy burdens of responsibility and care. It’s often heartbreaking to have to make important decisions, which affect the lives of others alone. This is one of the heaviest prices to pay, but it must be paid.
Moses paid this price for his leadership – alone on the mountain…alone in the plain…alone when criticized. The socially conscious Apostle Paul (He would’ve loved Facebook & Twitter) was a lonely man who experienced the bitterness of being misunderstood by his contemporaries, misrepresentation by his enemies, and desertion by his friends.
“Most of the world’s great souls have been lonely,” wrote A.W. Tozer. Leaders must be people who, while welcoming the friendship and support of all who can offer it, has sufficient inner resources to stand alone, even in the face of fierce opposition.
As a leader, how do you deal with loneliness?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 9, 2011 | Book Reviews, Books
Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less.
Can you imagine your life without fear?
Review
This was a very easy, quick read and I enjoyed it. I think it’s a topic that is very relevant in today’s world, there just seems to be an endless amount of things to fear nowadays. I like the message by the author that with faith, anything is possible. With faith, you have an endless amount of support and can live without fear. Pretty powerful stuff! I think we need more reading material like this, more positive messages like this and reminders how strong a tool faith really is. I thought this was an inspirational read and would recommend it to anyone who’s feeling they’ve kind of lost their footing a bit.
About the Author
In almost 25 years of writing, Max Lucado’s books have been sold 65 million times. He is the only author to have won three Christian Book of the Year awards. In 2005, Reader’s Digest magazine dubbed him “America’s Best Preacher” and in 2004, Christianity Today magazine called him “America’s Pastor.” His works have appeared on every major national bestseller list including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, The New York Times, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, and Christian Booksellers Association. He has been featured in countless media outlets and national broadcasts.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a copy of Fearless and a chance to review this book. Please note that I was not compensated for this review.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 9, 2011 | regular
For better or worse, leaders put themselves out there, on display, for the entire world to see. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, business owner, entrepreneur, supervisor, or hold no titles, at some point in your professional career, you’re going to be criticized.
Recently, God’s overwhelming presence cut into my sermon time and I didn’t preach a full message. Boy, did the critics come out. They criticized me for using the Holy Spirit’s visitation for not wanting to preach. OUCH!
Criticism, even to the most seasoned professionals, is still a difficult pill to swallow and one that doesn’t go down easily or sit well with many of us. When someone publicly (or privately) criticizes you, take a deep breath and follow these guidelines:
- Ask: Is this constructive or destructive criticism? Constructive criticism is probably based, at least in part, on some truths. Through constructive criticism we have the opportunity to learn and improve from their suggestions. On the other hand, destructive criticism is down right nasty, hurtful, and offensive. Cowards usually prefer this method and you’ll immediately know the difference between the two.
- Don’t Take It Personally. One of the first things that seems to always happen upon receiving criticism is that the person to whom the criticism is directed takes it as a personal attack. Granted, there are some people out there who take pleasure in bringing people down. However, there is a distinction between constructive criticism and vicious condemnation. Learn to decipher the distinction and the first step to do that is to not take what is said personally. Easier said than done, I know…but it’s essential.
- Keep The Vision Before You At All Times. Criticism directed at you can easily break your momentum. An hour ago you were confident and in full pursuit of your vision. Suddenly, you’re filled with doubt. As a leader, you already realize how important it is to ride the wave. Don’t let an anonymous coward (most who criticize rarely do it to your face) break your stride and distract you from your vision. Like an army ant, keep moving forward!
- Just Walk Away. When you get called out for making a mistake or are challenged, it might be your instinct to stand up for yourself and come out swinging. It’s important not to react right away. Fight the urge to respond. Go for a short walk, grab a cup of coffee or move on to another project. Keep in mind that if you are nasty or condescending in your response, you can expect others to do likewise. This can lead to a war of words that benefits no one.
- Keep Smiling. Haters hate. That’s who they are and were created to do. Smiling, even a false smile, can helps us to relax more. It creates a more positive vibration and smoothes the situation. It will definitely help psychologically. Smiling will motivate the other person to moderate their approach.
Question: How do you handle critics? What would you like to add?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 8, 2011 | regular
A team is capable of accomplishing things that no individual, no matter how multi-talented, could do alone. To function well:
A team must be committed to a common vision and purpose, and it must be willing to work in unity for the improvement of the whole rather than the advancement of any one member.
Synergism can be defined as the interaction of elements that, when combined, produce an effect that is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Therefore, synergy is a joint action that increases the effectiveness of each member of a team. Synergy is exactly what Jesus had in mind when he chose His twelve disciples.
From a large pool of disciples who were following him, Jesus designated only twelve men who would become his disciples. This was such a significant decision that the Lord prayed all night to prepare for it (Luke 6:12-13 & Mark 3:14).
Jesus knew that this was the team that would be with Him for the rest of his ministry, and He was prepared to pour Himself unreservedly into their lives. Jesus’ actions, the unshakable reality of the resurrection and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit turned a group of men who were characterized by confusion, infighting, and self-interest into a genuinely synergistic team. Today the church (the body of Christ on earth) is not an organization but an organism that manifests both unity and diversity.
What does Ephesians 4:4-16 tell us about the dynamics and purpose of this organism, and what do 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 andRomans 12:3-8 tell us about how spiritual gifts contribute to the effectiveness of the groups of believers?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 7, 2011 | regular
Consider this statement:
It doesn’t have to be perfect for God to bless it.
As I read Scripture, I can’t find any instance where conditions were perfect before God blessed it. Abraham didn’t have all the answers when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac…he proceeded anyway. Moses had a speech problem and was insecure about his leadership abilities…he proceeded anyway. Nehemiah certainly didn’t know how the building project would turn out, but he proceeded anyway. Are you noticing a pattern here?
Why The Big Push For Excellence?
Every generation is quick to point out the hypocrisy of the one that preceded it. The generation born just after WWII began rejecting the values of their parents during the ’60s. Now it’s their kids’ turn. Today’s young adults see a generation of baby-boomer Christians that has striven for “excellence” in every part of church life. Boomers proclaimed in the 1980s that image is everything, and their churches have reflected that cultural trend.
The nurseries have got to be sparkling clean, the church buildings are marvelously functional as opposed to artistic, the music is as close to FM radio quality as possible (even if they must hire a band), the Sunday services are seamless with perfect transitions (just like television), the preaching is entertaining and informative (but not so deep as to offend visitors), and the plants on stage are beautiful (but artificial).
As a result, according to Dieter Zander, the next generation has concluded that “everything is image,” and therefore nothing can be trusted. Church is too slick, too good, too polished to be real. And the twenty-something hunger for raw authenticity just doesn’t fit in (Source: Out of Ur Blog).
Let me repeat: It doesn’t have to be perfect for God to bless it.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do your best. But striving for perfection/excellence when “good enough is good enough” is a waste of time. Consider the way new technologies come to market. Major software and electronics companies cut down on time and costs by putting products on the market before they’ve been completely tested. Remember the original iPhone & all the bugs it had? These companies know that consumers will offer feedback that teaches them more in a month than they’d discover through years of in-house training.
Google is one of the most admired and innovative companies in the world and they release MOSTLY EVERYTHING in beta. In other words, they knowingly release products that are incomplete and gather feedback from their customers on how to improve them. Churches, companies, ministries, & people should learn from Google and others. You should know when your work is “good enough.” At Mars Hill, we don’t have the best facilities, slick marketing, it’s over-crowded, and located in the inner-city. Conditions are FAR from perfect, but God’s blessing and adding to our numbers daily.
Alexander Hamilton said, “I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.” Don’t let unhealthy perfectionism keep you from pursuing God’s best.
Question: What do you think? Is excellence overrated?
