It’s Impossible
In the late 1960s a songwriter from Mexico penned a lyrical tune. It made its way to America and gained great popularity when recorded by crooner Perry Como. It was a love song called “It’s Impossible,” and some think it the best love song of all time. The lyrics speak of the impossible thought of not loving his sweetheart. Some of the verses:
Can the ocean keep from rushin' to the shore?
It's just impossible.
Ask a baby not to cry
It's just impossible.
You get the idea. It is a beautiful expression of love.
But what happens when you are faced with a seemingly impossible situation? As a leader, you often feel that it’s not one impossible thing but a series of them. One after another.
I was just reading of an impossible event that Jesus’ disciples faced, and it is interesting to see the Lord’s response to them as they explained it to him.
It happened during one of the times Jesus was teaching the thousands who had come to hear this unusual man. Luke writes of the impossible thing the disciples were facing.
Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”
Luke 9:12 NLT
Jesus listened to his disciples, looked at them, and then told them to do something impossible.
You feed them. (v.13)
Do you ever wonder what the disciples thought? “Jesus, didn’t you just hear us? There. Is. Nothing. Here. To. Eat!”
Have you ever found yourself in an impossible situation, one where you were sure God was leading you? Be ready. The Lord may have something miraculous right around the corner.
You know the story. Jesus asked what food they DID have. Five loaves of bread and a couple of small fish. Jesus then took what was available to the disciples and did the miraculous. After blessing the tiny amount of food, He fed the thousands upon thousands, with a surplus left over.
My friend Richard Blackaby says to be careful when God places before you something that seems impossible.
“When you declare it's impossible for you to do what God told you to do, you show your doubts about how powerful God really is. It is one thing to believe in God's power, it is quite another to live your life in obedient response to an all-powerful God.”
― Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God
So...an impossible situation before you? Don’t tell God why it can’t be done. Look to see what things you have and be willing to bring that to the Lord. Then...watch and see Jesus do another miracle before your eyes. You see, with God, it’s not so impossible after all.
God’s best,
Who do you trust?
Back in the 60s and early 70s, there was a TV show in the U.S. called “Who Do You Trust?” Never mind that grammatically it should have been “whom” instead of “who.” The show was quite popular and helped launch the career of a man named Johnny Carson. He would also host The Tonight Show for over 30 years.
It was a simple show. A couple was asked questions and would win money for correct answers. They couldn’t collaborate. Only one of them could answer, so they had to trust each other for the answer. Actually, it was kind of a silly show, but Johnny Carson used his humor to get laughs as he interviewed the contestants, and that made the show entertaining.
That show popped into my mind this morning as Judy and I listened to a YouTube video of Christian singer/songwriter Don Moen singing the old hymn “Trust and Obey.” Then we read a devotional by Henry Blackaby that just “happened” to be on trusting God.
So, who (whom) do you trust? More than a silly game show question, it reveals a lot about us as Christian leaders. In our roles, we are faced with decisions many times each day. Some are small, but often we have monumental questions about our ministry, our future, our staff or potential staff, our finances. The list could go on and on.
You probably know what I’m going to say.
Trust God.
Seek the Lord’s direction for your ministry in every area. The more we trust Him, the more He reveals His will to us. And the more satisfied we are in our leadership situation.
The chorus of that old hymn I mentioned spells that out:
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.
All throughout God’s Word we are urged to seek the Lord’s wisdom and trust Him. King David understood that. In his darkest, most challenging hours, he looked to His Lord:
But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56: 3-4 NLT
What about the everyday decisions of life and leadership? Solomon wrote of that:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
Yes, there are times when wise counselors can help guide us. But ultimately, we need to seek the wisdom of the Mighty Counselor, Jesus.
Whom are you trusting today?
God’s best,
Over the Horizon
What does it take to see beyond today? What would you like your organization to look like next year? Does that image of your ministry or organization meet the reality of the culture we are trying to serve?
Have you found yourself asking these questions recently? Good leaders are constantly looking over the horizon to try to see the future. And it’s a tough job. Leaders in Christian ministries also have the responsibility of communicating that vision to their team and those linked to the ministry...those who pray for and support the work.
John Maxwell spelled out the role of a leader as it relates to vision:
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
A group out of Australia did a study of leaders and vision. One of the things they learned about leaders is that they will exhibit a compelling vision that challenges people to work toward a higher standard of excellence. I like that. The group went on to explain what a leader's vision is:
A vision is a mental model of an ideal future state. It provides a picture of a future that is better than the present, is grounded in values, and advocates change toward some new set of ideals.
Let me throw out a caution. What is your source of this vision? If you are a Christian leader, you need to acknowledge God as the course for your vision. In fact, Henry Blackaby says what we are really seeking should be the Lord’s revelation to us of His plan.
“There is a significant difference between revelation and vision. Vision is something people produce; revelation is something people receive. Leaders can dream up a vision, but they cannot discover God’s will. God must reveal it. The visions that drive spiritual leaders must be derived from God. It is critical for leaders to walk closely with the Father, so they are keenly aware of His revelation and are ready to respond in obedience.”
– Henry Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership
Man’s vision is limited. Not so with God. If we set a vision apart from God’s plan, we are likely to fail. Or, maybe worse, succeed as something that is not pleasing to our Lord. God reassured his prophet Habakkuk that the vision...God’s vision...will succeed in God’s time.
This vision is for a future time.
It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.
Habakkuk 2:3 NLT
So...to look over the horizon to find a vision is best accomplished by looking into God’s Word and into God’s heart through prayer. Then, when you receive His revelation, you have the assurance of His victory.
Yes...look over the horizon. But first, look to Jesus.
God’s best,
How hard is it to do good?
When I was growing up it was something of a negative trait to always be doing good things, trying to help others. Often a person like that was labeled with the term “goodie-two-shoes.” It didn’t matter that the term didn’t have a clear meaning. Its reference was obvious. No one wanted to carry that label around in life.
Yet today, one of the best qualities a person can have is that of a “servant leader.” Serving others. Helping others. Encouraging others. It is a pattern set by Jesus. In fact, in Acts, we are told just that:
Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10:38 NLT
The writers at Lead Like Jesus asked a series of probing questions recently on this topic:
- How long have you been on the servant leadership journey?
- What Christ-like growth in your leadership point-of-view are you seeing?
- What new habits are you building into your life to sustain you?
- Whom are you serving in order to influence their thinking, behavior, and development as godly servant leaders?
- What steps are you taking to reorient your life around living, loving, and leading like Jesus?
It is this servant-leader activity in our lives that the Lord will reward in eternity.
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
Matthew 16:27 NLT
Can I share a secret I’ve learned through the years? It’s not easy helping others. Many times, you serve others and receive no thanks in return. Sometimes your help causes criticism from others, even the person you are trying to support. And often you just get tired. One person recognized this and wrote about the challenge of trying to follow the Lord’s leadership in this area:
“Those who genuinely ‘do good’ will be tempted soon enough to grow weary. Give yourself to doing good for others—on God’s terms, to fulfill his calling—and it’s just a matter of time before you will be tempted to tire.”
David Mathis, Executive Editor, desiringGod.org
The Apostle Paul understood this. To paraphrase his comments to the Galatians, Paul said “keep on keeping on!”
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Galatians 6:9 NLT
And to the believers in Thessalonica, he had a similar message:
...dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 NLT
The article from Lead Like Jesus concluded with this great encouragement:
A lifetime of leading like Jesus will reap rewards for you and for those you impact, now and for eternity. Keep going!
Whom are you leading today? Whom are you influencing, helping, serving? Don’t grow weary. There is an ultimate reward. And along the way, you will have set a great pattern for others to follow.
God’s best,
Failure or a Stepping Stone?
Have you failed lately? That’s kind of a shocking question. No one I know sets out to fail. It’s not in anyone’s business or ministry plan. But it happens. So, then what?
Fred Smith told of a young man he had known who was a success story in the making. He was named Outstanding Young Man by a state business group. And his career took off like a rocket. But then he hit a brick wall. A major plan failed, he had to file for bankruptcy, and found himself dejected and sitting in Smith’s office. Fred Smith was a wise mentor to many in business and in ministry. He listened to the man tell of this terrible situation and what it meant to his career, and to him personally. Fred Smith let him talk. When he finished, Smith gave him words of both wisdom and encouragement. He said:
“Only your plans have failed; you have not.”
Has there been a project or venture you have tried that was not met with success? How did you feel? How long did it take you to get over it? For many of us who have walked that path, it is a hard thing to endure. We feel our reputation has been stained. If other people were affected, we wonder what they think of us. And we are sometimes afraid to step back up and try again...because we might fail again. Honest thoughts...but negative ones.
If you ask almost anyone to name the inventor of the light bulb, they will quickly say Thomas Edison. Yet Edison had hundreds of failures along the way. Someone once asked the inventor about all his failures. His response was both classic and instructional:
“I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
Fred Smith felt we can look at our failures as pitons. These are the spikes driven into a crack in the rock that a climber uses to secure his rope. The piton becomes a way forward, a way up, and is necessary for a climber to be successful. Often our failures become stepping stones, or pitons, to success. Necessary experiences that can propel us toward our goal...our calling.
John Maxwell puts it this way:
“When you’re a leader, failure is your friend. In leadership, it’s not a question of if you fail, it’s a question of when—and how you respond.”
The Apostle Paul had a godly perspective on failure. His Lord spoke to his heart and told him:
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
And the Psalmist had a more personal and even higher perspective on failure:
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26 NLT
Have you failed lately? How have you handled it? What have you learned from it? And have you looked at your failure in a spiritual light? We may fail...humanly speaking...but God is our strength and in Him, we have the ultimate success.
God’s best,
At the Top of Your Game
Adapted from a previous Monday MEMO
John Paciorek holds an unusual record in major league baseball. He got three hits in three at-bats in his only major league game. In the record book, Paciorek hit one thousand. Statistically, batting 1.000 is 100 percent, perfect. If a player could maintain that...or even something close to that...we could call them excellent, and today they would get paid multiple millions of dollars. But the proof doesn’t come in doing something right once...or even three times. The proof of excellence is measured over time.
Most of us can recall a time with a sport or an activity when we got lucky and performed well. But as time went on, we weren’t able to sustain that same level of greatness. Excellence over time is not easy.
The website Vocabulary.com says this about excellence:
Excellence means greatness—the very best. Achieving excellence is never easy to do. Excellence is a quality that people really appreciate, because it's so hard to find. Excellence is the quality of excelling, of being truly the best at something.
The key word there is being truly best. We can accidentally hit the bullseye. We can happen to know the particular questions to a quiz. But how do we achieve excellence...greatness...again and again?
By the way, the desire and the striving for consistent excellence is not a new thing. The Greek philosopher Aristotle had some words of wisdom for those seeking to achieve at a high level:
Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives—choice, not chance, determines your destiny.
Hard work doesn’t always produce excellence. But an attitude that doesn’t accept poor work will move you in the right direction. Here are some thoughts for you to ponder and apply:
- Set a high standard and keep working toward it in key areas of your work and life.
- Check your work. How does it measure up to your standard? If it misses the mark, what can you do to bring it up to your standard?
- If you are consistently missing your standard of excellence, what is holding you back? Time? Knowledge of the needed skills? Lack of clear direction? Work to change those things and try again.
- Be willing to go the extra mile to make your project excellent.
- Remember that you are not working for man’s approval but in service to the Lord, who provided an excellent sacrifice for your salvation.
Our motivation for excellence is not for better pay, better position, or anything that is simply the world’s standard. We have a much higher calling as we serve the Lord. Paul’s words...his call to excellence...to the Christ-followers at Colossae instruct us today:
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Colossians 1:10 NLT
The former president of IBM, Thomas J. Watson, issued this challenge:
If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.
A final thought from Aristotle:
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Make striving for excellence a habit with you. And do your work as unto the Lord.
God’s best,
Words you may not know
Growing up in the southern part of the United States...Texas, to be specific...I heard and used words that may not be in general use globally. Part of the richness of our various heritages. Here are some examples:
Slather – it means to smear something on you or something else. Usage: Slather this cream on your face and by morning you will look ten years younger!
Tump – to tip or turn over something. Usage (usually heard from my mom or dad): Don’t you tump that bucket of water in here, young man!
Fixin’ – not to be confused with “fixing” something. It is not about fixing something or someone. It is about anticipating something. Usage: I’m fixin’ to go to the store. Y’all need anything?
There is a word I have been hearing a lot these days. Revival. What has transpired on the campus of Asbury University in Kentucky has rightly been called a revival. But that isn’t what I thought the word meant growing up. We had revival meetings...some lasting two weeks...that were all about getting the lost to church and seeing them ask Jesus to be their Lord. That’s a good thing, but it wasn’t revival. You see, you can’t RE-vive something that has never been “vived.” Those were evangelistic meetings we mistakenly called revivals.
To be clear, we need both kinds of meetings. It starts with a conviction of our own sin before God. Then, our heartfelt repentance and confession of that sin. Followed by our turning from the path of sin to a path of righteousness. Revival.
Out of that should come a sense of evangelism that drives us to share the hope and joy we have in Christ with those around us on that pathway of sin. Without our own hearts being revived, evangelism is an exercise, an external activity not driven by our hearts.
I’ve been through multiple conferences and seminars on how to share my faith in Jesus with others. I don’t remember one that began with true revival. What I learned was good. The various methods have been helpful. But it is a rote activity if not driven by a heart in tune with and led by the Holy Spirit.
The Psalmist cried out to God:
Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven’s Armies.
Look down from heaven and see our plight.
Then we will never abandon you again.
Revive us so we can call on your name once more.
Psalm 80:14,18 NLT
The prophet Habakkuk had a similar impassioned plea to the Lord:
I have heard all about you, Lord.
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
remember your mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 NLT
And, of course, we are moved and propelled toward a revival of our own hearts with these words of Scripture:
...if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
Words matter. But the condition of our heart matters more. What will the Lord do with the outpouring of confession, repentance, and pure worship borne from a heart committed to Him? I pray we see it in our lifetime...and may it be very soon!
God’s best,
Who stands fast?
A lifelong learner. That’s what I try to be. And I have so much to learn! Sometimes I feel that the smartphone I carry around with me is secretly laughing at me! That phone and other ever-changing technologies compel me to be that lifelong learner, whether I want to or not. I know I can’t learn everything, but my life can be greatly enriched and inspired as I gain knowledge and, hopefully, some wisdom.
One of my privileges is to work with media leaders and faithful Christ-followers in over 40 countries. And each person in each country and culture enriches my life. In fact, many are my heroes...and I learn much from being with them.
So many of those we serve through MEDIAlliance... and you may be in this group... serve in hard places, facing government challenges and cultural pushback for their work in Christian media. Yet you stand fast. You are teaching many of us what it means to stay committed to the cause of Christ even in the face of adversity.
German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one who stood his ground against great odds...and it ultimately cost Bonhoeffer his life. Prior to his death, this Christian leader...who stood strong in the midst of overwhelming moral compromise in his land...wrote this:
“Who stands fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God—the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God. Where are these responsible people?”
A good question. Where are these responsible people?
Yes, Bonhoeffer’s stand on his allegiance to Christ resulted in his tragic death. But Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood that God changes tribulation to glory. He believed just as the Apostle Paul did, who told the Christ-followers in Colossae:
We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
Colossians 1:11 MSG
Strength that endures the unendurable...and spills over into joy. That is quite a challenge...and quite a calling. Thank you who serve so faithfully for teaching me about commitment. May my lifelong learning surpass just the technical or the interesting things of life. May it focus more on learning how to serve our Lord Jesus, proclaiming His Name and His hope to a lost and hopeless world, and do it with great joy. Our example is Jesus...
...the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:2 NLT
Throughout this entire year, may the Lord give us new vision, new insight, new resolve, and new commitment to serve the One who endured the cross so that we might have hope and life eternal with Him. And may our Heavenly Father count each of us among those who stand fast!
God’s best,
To Do...or not To Do?
I came across an article recently that has me trying something new. At least new to me. It’s called timeboxing. The article was in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), and it was about becoming more productive. I’m all for being more productive, aren’t you?
Timeboxing is a simple time management technique that involves allotting a fixed, maximum unit of time for an activity in advance, and then completing the activity within that time frame. More importantly, it is taking your To Do list and building it out on your calendar. That long (and growing) list can be intimidating, and it often doesn’t relate to how long a job should take. Timeboxing can solve that, and has several other benefits, too.
The idea is to take your normal list of things to accomplish and assign them a place and time frame on your calendar. If you know a writing project will take an hour, you look at your weekly calendar and with the deadline in mind, find an appropriate place to block out for time to do the job. Simple.
Yes, it can get more complex, and there are apps, like Sunsama that can help you deal with multi-layered projects. For most of us, though, it is enough to control our time...our day... and get the job done in a timely way. I’m just getting started in using timeboxing, but I like it already.
The HBR article lists several advantages of timeboxing. Among them is the visual picture of your day or week, and the tasks you need to accomplish. If you share your calendar with others on your team, they also can see what you are working on, and they can see the time that is blocked out and (hopefully) not interrupt you at those times. HBR also points out that timeboxing gives you a comprehensive record of what you have done. One of the most important advantages is you will feel more in control and more content with what you are accomplishing. And, yes, you will be more productive.
So... how to get started? An article on timeboxing at Forbes.com lists these steps:
- Choose a system or app that will help you.
- Define the tasks that need to get done.
- Block the time on the calendar.
- Check the calendar to be sure you have the relevant tasks properly blocked with an adequate amount of time.
- Work at following your calendar. Trust your initial planning, then evaluate as you go. You are learning a new technique, and it will be a process.
As I was thinking through this (and seeking to stay within the time I set out on my calendar) I thought of Jesus' teaching about constructing a building.
...who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
Luke 14: 28-29 NLT
How can you count the cost if you don’t measure it and plan for it?
Yes...Jesus was talking about discipleship here. A far more important application of this truth. But think about this. If your important things are being done in a timely way and you are less stressed over a long To Do list, don’t you think you can be a more effective disciple of Christ?
I’m working on this. I would love to hear what you have discovered if you toss out the To Do list and begin to timebox. And I would love to hear how the Lord is allowing you to be a better ambassador for Christ and His Gospel as a result.
God’s best,
How’s your vision?
Confession time. I’m not really big on organizational vision statements. So many I have read seem somewhat clinical. “We exist to...” fill in the blank. I’m not saying they are unimportant. But sitting in a room for half a day and coming up with a vision statement isn’t the solution to an organization's focus needs. It is part of the process, for sure.
What is a vision statement? I gleaned a bit from some church and ministry leaders. Ken Shaffer says it is “a one-sentence statement describing the clear and inspirational long-term desired change, resulting from an organization or program’s work.” Evan Doyle adds “every church and religious organization needs to communicate what it stands for and where it sees itself in the future.”
So, how do you get to that one-sentence statement that accurately tells others what you, as the leader, see in the future? Our friend and leadership expert Steve Gutzler has some suggestions to get you started. He says leaders can ask these questions of themselves:
- How would I like to change the world?
- What is my dream about this work, this ministry?
- What is my burning passion?
- What drives you to do your very best?
That might bring you to a short vision statement, like one church I know:
Reach people, build lives.
Or it might be a bit longer, like that of Southwest Airlines:
To be the world's most loved, most efficient, and most profitable airline.
One company that helps folks craft their vision statement gives these steps.
- They should be short – a maximum of two sentences.
- They need to be specific to your organization or ministry and should describe a unique outcome that only you can provide.
- Use present tense.
- Keep it simple enough for people both inside and outside your organization to understand.
- It should be ambitious enough to be exciting but not too ambitious that it seems unachievable.
- Vision needs to align with the organization’s core values you want your people to exhibit as they perform their work.
So... here’s my caution. Leaders are clever, creative creatures. And most feel the pressure to “cast a vision” for the ministry or organization. But how do we get to that vision?
Dr. Henry Blackaby says it MUST come from God, not just thought up by the leader and staff in a conference room. He says what is needed is revelation. Blackaby says:
There is a significant difference between revelation and vision. Vision is something people produce; revelation is something people receive. Leaders can dream up a vision, but they cannot discover God’s will. God must reveal it. The visions that drive spiritual leaders must be derived from God.
If we want to pattern our lives and leadership after Jesus, we must follow His example. Jesus looked to His Father for direction for his earthly activity. He told His disciples:
... I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
So... How’s your vision? Seek the Lord’s direction for your ministry and let that be the driving force behind your ministry and your mission.
God’s best,
