The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership ...

In 2006 a talented leader in the church I was serving encouraged me to read works on leadership. Such has been very helpful for since then I have read and read in this area right at 100 works from both the church and business world. I suppose I am a leader seeking to go on to perfection. It is a journey that does not end.

From the church world I have read works by Bandy, Bonhoeffer, Burke, Callahan, Carter, Clinton, Clowd, Crabb, DeYmaz, Haughen, Herrington, Hybells, Job, Johnson, Maxwell, McManus, McNeal, Niebuhr, Oakes, Olsen, Richardson, Schnase, Shawchuck, Slaughter, Smedes, Tickle, Williamson, Wright, Yancey, and Young.

From the business world I have read works from Bennis, Blanchard, Boers, Buckingham, Collins, Drucker, George, Goleman, Greenleaf, Gerzon, Giuliani, Huckabee, Kopp, Kotter, Kouzes, Murphy, Neuhauser, Raines, Rock, and Senge.

Presently, I am reading John C. Maxwell's work in the title. The point is this--God uses various means to teach so never get tired of learning and apply what you learn to life as a whole.

Reflections on Psalm 31 and some of Jesus' last words ...

Wow! It sure helps to read where one-liner Old Testament quotations come from in the New Testament such as Jesus' final words in Luke: Father, "Into your hand I commit my Spirit" (Luke 23:46). This morning I am reading Psalm 31 and Jesus words are quoting from Psalm 31:5a.

I believe Jesus is referring to all of Psalm 31 in those final words in Luke. And, if he is, then he is also acknowledging that help is sure to come. Indeed this psalm ends in these words:

"Love the Lord, all you his saints.
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one who act haughtily.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait on the Lord."

In invite you to read all of Psalm 31 ...

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbours,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many—
terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, ‘You are my God.’
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,
for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.

O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
from contentious tongues.

Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was beset as a city under siege.
I had said in my alarm,
‘I am driven far from your sight.’
But you heard my supplications
when I cried out to you for help.

Love the Lord, all you his saints.
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord.

Choices: Making Right Decisions in a Complex World

I just finished reading a book with the same title by Lewis B. Smedes who was the professor of philosophy and integrations at the Fuller Graduate School of Theology. The chapter titles give themes of the book, but I will leave that up to you to research those titles.

The one chapter that speaks to me most today has this title: "When you can't be sure, be responsible". In this chapter he mentions rules from another ethicist, H. Richard Niebuhr, who stressed that responsible people are able to: (1) initiate action; (2) make a genuine response to the situation that they are in; and, (3) account for their actions.

In this work Lewis Smedes invites us to become discerning by seeing 'little, yet significant', things in life by taking our time in decision-making until we catch the insight that is being taught by experience. Such discernment "... takes practice, it doesn't come easy. It is a gift, and like all personal gifts it comes only with exercise. It is not a gut reaction; it comes with using our eyes, our ears, our minds, our imagination, our empathy and, yes, our intuition" (p. 97).

Good decisions indeed are made when enough time has been given for the decision-making process. Slow down, take a deep breath, get advice, and ponder. The world we live in does not allow us the time to do so but such is required for the best of all.

If I boast ...

This morning's devotional included this phrase from Paul, a first-generation follower of Jesus, which is:

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness" (2 Corinthians 11:30).

Simply put, God is amazing in that he can work through both our strengths and our weaknesses.

• 
  
  Ministry through weakness such as a widow, who has done well in facing grief, helping another widow.


• 
  
  Ministry through weakness as a person with a lifetime disease assisting another under similar condition.


• 
  
  Ministry through weakness as a person who found another person in their organization to cover areas of their weakness.


• 
  
  Ministry through weakness as an individual working on strengthening one of their own weaknesses at a time while primarily building upon their strengths.

If I boast ...

Max Lucado's book, The Gospel of Matthew

Max is a very popular Christian writer. The discussion questions from each of the twelve sessions provide a very open-ended discussion among who come on Wednesday night. This is one of the two times when people of the community who desire a free meal can come to Arlington UMC to eat, to talk, to discuss and learn from each other, and ultimately from God. The other time is on Sunday morning at our free breakfast at 8:30 AM. Tonight's lesson, referring to the resurrection of Jesus, is "He's Alive!" And one of the questions will be:

"If Christ was able to raise others from the dead,

and if he himself conquered death, what are the implications for us?"

Wednesday night supper and lessons begin at 5:45 PM.

Today's Life Journaling ...

Scripture: "Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped ..." (Ruth 2:9a).

Observation: This is from the story of Ruth after father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband have all died. And so she follows her mother-in-law, Naomi, to her home which is Bethlehem. There she begins to gather crops which was the custom for travelers back then for there were few, if any, restaurants. And it just so happens she is gathering crops from a field that just so happens to be a relative of her deceased husband's family whose name is Boaz.

Application: Right now I am seeking to both keep my eyes on the field of the church which I and presently appointed while I am beginning to research the community to which I am projected toward on June 28, 2011. Such is "keeping my eyes on the field".

Prayer: Lord God, whose love is limitless: for that I give you praise! Praise you for the love that you have for those to whom I am appointed--the churches and the surrounding communities. Shape my loving gifts! May my words echo your words! May my actions mirror your actions! Your Spirit is already wherever I go! Prepare the hearts of those who go to see and hear and those who are heard and seen! Blessed be your name! Amen.

Yield: To praise of God and good works for God's Kingdom.

Reading James F. Hopewell's book, Congregation: Stories and Structures

Jim was one of my professors in my master's work that I finished in 1981. His lectures and procedures for learning about a congregation have been very helpful through the years.

In his book, he invites pastors to learn about their congregation and community basically by listening to the stories that are told and, particularly, to those that are retold. In a very short fashion, his point is that the retold stories can help identify the values, essentials, identifications, integrity, characteristics, and hopes of a church and community.

Immediately, I recall the retold story of the chandelier that was falling on the preacher 'who jumped over the communion rail to avoid being hit' about sixty years ago during worship. Why was it retold quite a few times by different people at this local church?

I am taking time to read again his book that was published after his death to cancer. Such prepares me to listen well and ponder the deepest meaning of the story being told.

Completion and Preparation

I am in the process of completing one appointment and preparing for the next pastor appointed to Arlington. Such is a loving process in concluding months giving a healthy completion of my work primarily in listening and overseeing good preparation for the one who is being sent to Arlington UMC. Such preparation includes things such as Lay Leadership lists, church and community demographics, lists of member's contact information, etc. And I will be inviting the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) to give me a final evaluation of my work at Arlington. Such will help me walk toward Christian perfection--becoming more like Christ Jesus.

And then there is completion and preparation for the next appointment as well. Completing research of both the church and community setting of where I am being sent in preparation for becoming a trusted friend to both the church and the community. I will need to take time to slow down and ponder what actions will be most effective there. Such is required for gaining such a trust-level that I can be a part of winning people to Jesus and teaching them to faithfully follow him. Indeed, such actions need to be custom-fit to the place and the time.

In both cases, such completion and preparation includes Scripture lessons, prayer, caring for my family, caring for myself, research of where I am going, making a rough draft of first steps after the move, coming to agreement and adjustment with the SPRC there on those first steps, and, of course, ultimately listening well to God. The dream begins.

a phrase I like ...

The church has left the building ...

Wrestling with Jesus

Jesus preached a lot about the kingdom of God, or the rule of God. For me, in the teaching of Jesus the rule of God boils down to love. That is, love God, neighbor, enemy, and self. For me, it is in that order for before I can love myself I believe I must love God and others. Is that because of low self-esteem? No, not for me. That is because of what I see as the model of Jesus' behavior that expressed the love of God at its highest point when he gave his entire life for love. He healed the sick, raised the dead, hung out with those that society rejected, and this radical behavior cost him his life. Somehow or another because of that fully expressed love of God alive in Jesus that love sets us free to love.

What I believe is that solely because of what Jesus did I am set right with God. Yes, that is for sure. Yet, at the same time because of that "setting right with God" act in Jesus I am called to strive at living a holy life. This, for me, is more like the striving, the journey toward holiness, godliness, a sinless existence. Do I even have a sinless existence? For me, it is a now and then, here and there experience. That is, when just for a moment -- a site -- all is right with 'the world'.

As I am wrestling with Jesus for those moments when all is right with the world I read his demanding "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew, chapters 5-7, where he says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect".

"Anger is the attack on the brother's life
for it refuses to let him live and aims at his destruction ..."

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 1937. p. 127)

Brief ponderings of Psalm 19:7-14

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
¹³ Keep back your servant also from the insolent;^*
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The law of the LORD? It is basic -- love God neighbor, self and enemy. Such revives, makes wise, brings joy, enlightens, and endures.

Salt, light, and law

Just listening to Sunday's sermon text which is from Matthew 5:13-20. It goes like this:

‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,^* not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks^* one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Such raises in my own mind these questions:

• What are the various ways salt is used? How does this add to the meaning of Jesus' words: 'you are the salt of the earth'?
• What are the various sources of light? uses of light? What does this say about Jesus saying, 'you are the light of the world'?
• How are we living out the law--the love--of God? What needs to be taken away or added to our behavior so that we live out the love of God for all the more?

Let's just say Jesus represents, and ultimately is, a challenging love for all.

"And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God" (Exodus 29:46).

The phrase that grabs a hold of me this morning is "that I (the LORD) might dwell among them ...". The setting of this verse is a journey. The people of God are following God's leadership on their journey. The way God is leading in this setting is as a 'cloud by day' and a 'fire by night'. Questions pop into my head:

• How is God leading us today?
• In what directions is God leading?
• What is he leading us toward?
• What are the ways that God is 'dwelling' with us?

Such questions like these I do seek to answer as I walk through my mission and vision to my goals and actions. My prayers are to follow God well. May it be.

For those with a low Christmas ...

But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ (John 11:37)

The setting of "some of them" is at the tomb of Lazarus. He has died and while Jesus is there outside his tomb "some of them" ask the above question, and their question raises the following question for me: 'Can impossible possibilities really be possible in Jesus?' And the answer is, "Yes!"

On a personal level that is especially good for me to hear right now as I watch a family member go through the aging process. Curiously, while watching over my family member until late hours last night I was reading parts of Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N. T. Wright. He speaks of how the resurrection can be experienced today in this life.

And in light of last night's experience and today's devotional reading from John 9-11 that ends with Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, I wrote and prayed this prayer. May it ring true for you as well.

Lord God, for the daily experience of the resurrection in this life I give You thanks.
For me, such an experience gives life meaning, value, purpose, insight, hope, and empowerment to resist evil and do good through love.
Your gift of experiencing your Son's resurrection in my daily life helps me to walk through experiences like sorrow, remorse, guilt, despair and depression.
All of such is being risen from life as it is to life as it not only will be but can be here and now by just holding on to hope in you.
Again, praise be to you.
Amen.

The Misunderstood Jew ... comments ...

Amy-Jill Levine is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter professor of the New Testament at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. I have just finished her book about Jesus entitled The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus.

As just one example, it was very helpful to hear her view of Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and tax collector that is in Luke 18:9-14 as I was preparing to preach from that parable.

Honestly, she gives a view of Jesus that makes your eyebrow raise, but then did not Jesus do that as well?

Praise and Prayer Request

Again, I wish to thank you and God for the “formational and spiritual growth leave” during July of this year. On the physical side I got in the habits of a healthy diet and walking. On the social side I balanced paying attention to my family together with time alone. On the mental side I journaled, dreamed, and read five works in the areas of pastoring, preaching, evangelism, and connecting with God. On the spiritual side I continued my Life Journaling (Scripture reading and reflection); and added to that reading Genesis, Matthew and Philippians.

I also did some personal property care such as washing the windows, sealing the driveway, clean and organize our garage, replace kitchen cabinet door knobs, and hang a new light in our dining area.

My leave followed this structure. For the first week I worked at getting my mind off of our work here for such is recommended in order to increase creativity. During that time I read a 100+ page work on the battle of Franklin while visiting the historic markers mentioned such as the Carter House and the McGavock Confederate Cemetery in Franklin. The next two weeks I just read and reflected on where we are and where God may be calling us at AUMC. The last two weeks I began to allow this reflection to be a means of God continuing to reshape me into the husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and leader God is seeking me to become. Such is a continuing work.

All of this is a significant part of what James S. Stewart, a classical Scottish teacher of preachers suggests in his book Heralds of God in his chapter entitled “The Preacher’s Inner Life”. Honestly, I believe this can apply to all who follow Jesus.

· Be utterly dedicated to the work God has set you aside to accomplish. This means that we are to be absorbed by our great God-given task (201).

· Be dedicated to prayer … “for every family, every soul by name” (203).

· Be one marked by humility of heart. Humility comes from the magnitude of the task … anything we achieve is God’s doing (208).

· Be a person of authority. Authority comes from the fact that it is God’s Word, not our own, that we proclaim (213).

· Be one on fire for Christ. When all is said and done the supreme need of the Church is people on fire for Christ Jesus!

Pray that I am on fire for Christ Jesus and I will give the same prayer for you as well.

The Celtic Way of Evangelism

This is part of a title of one of George G. "Chuck" Hunters book. The full title is The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West (2000).

He opens by telling the story of St. Patrick who brought the gospel to Ireland in the late fourth/early fifth centuries. Patrick began by studying the community and shaping the presentation of the gospel in word and deed for the setting where it was heard and seen.

Hunter's reflections upon Patrick and his followers' 'Celtic model' of evangelism, it was shaped around three areas. They were: fellowship; ministry and conversations followed by belief; and, an invitation and commitment to Jesus. For him, this was more a 'right-brain' experience stirred from intuition, emotions, imagination, art such as music and poetry, and experience.

Who Stole My Church?

I finished a day and a half reading Who Stole My Church? What to Do When the Church You Love Tries to Enter the 21st Century. The author is Gordon MacDonald written in 2007.

It is a fictional work where a pastor tells the story of a congregation that is changing in order to reach the community around them. It follows the basic style of C. S. Lewis book, The Great Divorce, because each chapter in both deals with different individual response to change. And MacDonald also tells of how the pastor and others in the community of faith deal with that response.

The question in the book's title comes from a parishioner asking it because that person's present-day church is totally different from that character's past. It was worth my time to read. It includes "points to ponder" that are discussion questions in the back of the book for each chapter. I can see this as a book for various groups at church to explore and ponder.

Connecting With God: A Spiritual Formation Guide

Connecting with God is a 12-week long course that explores God and God's relationship with us. The authors of this are Lynda Graybeal and Julia Roller. The introduction is written by one who is known for his work on spiritual disciplines: Richard Foster.

I have been using it during my 5-week formational and spiritual growth leave reading three lessons per week. Through it, I have been exploring areas such as living, talking, meeting, listening, hearing, perceiving, seeking, seeing, sensing, encountering, wrestling, and walking with God.

Each day begins with a devotional reading from Christian authors. And then it is followed by a 'My Life with God Exercise' that includes a Scripture lesson and four means of reflection upon that lesson until you finish with 'taking it further'. I do like the way it is structured and a prayer that pulls from both Psalm 25 and 27. It goes as follows:

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;

teach me your paths.

Lead me in truth, and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation,

for you I wait all day long.

"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"

Your face, LORD, do I seek.

Give ear to me words, O LORD;

give heed to my sighing.

Listen to the sound of my cry,

My King and my God,

for to you I pray. Amen.

To you, O LORD; to you ... may all be to you.