Who has influenced you?
A while back I wrote about the things that are influencing us in our culture today. It seems that many care more about what movie stars and politicians say than what the Lord would be telling us. That was reflected in a recent devotional by the people at Lead Like Jesus.
“Jesus’ life reflected the Father’s influence, an influence strengthened and sustained through solitude, Scripture, and prayer. He resisted the influence of those who did not understand His call from God.”
Today, I have just a brief thought...and a suggestion.
Do you recall who most influenced you to follow Christ? It may have been a parent or a close friend. It could have been a pastor or Bible teacher. You may have even been directed to Jesus by someone on the radio or television. Do you remember?
Here is my suggestion. If at all possible, connect with that person to let them know how they influenced your life. You may even be able to share with them how the Lord is using you to be a spiritual influence in the life of another person, or many people, through your work. Call. Write a handwritten note. Or go visit. Any contact from you would be a great encouragement to them.
If it isn’t possible...that person may be enjoying the reward of heaven...then give thanks to the Lord for what that individual meant in your life. God will honor that reflection and prayer from your heart.
The Apostle Paul was good about that sort of thing. He not only remembered those whom he was able to influence, he also recalled those who encouraged him as he served the Lord.
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
Philippians 1:3-5 NLT
What would you say to that special person who made an eternal impact on your life? Why not tell them now?
God’s best...
Life-changing practices?
Sometimes it is the seemingly small things in life that make a big difference. One of those may be the decision to put a small amount of your income into a savings account. When you start, it doesn’t look too monumental. But if you start early and keep to your plan, the result can be surprising. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, for instance, that the greatest mathematical discovery of all time is...compound interest! Powerful. And Einstein knew the key was consistency.
What if you were to learn that, in a similar fashion, you could make some small investments in your leadership practices that will provide exponential return? Interested?
Leadership expert Steve Gutzler listed nine things that, if implemented consistently in the life of a leader, will make a lasting difference in both you and the organization you lead. Let’s look at them:
- Creating a morning routine that includes solitude, prayer, or meditation
- Setting three professional goals per day (That may be challenging.)
- Carving out time for 10 minutes of reading daily
- Showing up early and prepared
- Asking smart questions
- Keeping your workspace clutter-free (I’ve got work to do!)
- Forming one health habit monthly
- Staying focused on priorities
- Working hard and staying accountable
Let me highlight just three of these and add a bit. First, creating a morning routine is essential. And to the time of solitude, prayer, or meditation, I would add Bible reading.
I love number four...showing up early and prepared. In my many years in hosting the morning drivetime program on our Christian radio station, I tried to follow that idea. It meant I woke up at 3:15 a.m. most mornings. I read the local newspapers to see what was happening in our world and coupled that with some Bible reading for balance. Then it was off to the station to look through material that had already been prepared for that morning show. Just before we went on the air at 6:00 a.m., our team took time to pray. It was a routine...a habit...and it served us well.
The last principle Gutzler mentions is critical. Work hard and stay accountable. You may have a board over your organization to whom you stay accountable. That’s great. The ministries and companies who skip the accountability part eventually find themselves in trouble.
Of course, as Christ-followers and servants, we must be accountable to our Savior. Our daily prayer should include the confession of sin, seeking forgiveness. That may be confessing a bad attitude or ungodly spirit or response to a co-worker. It may go to the more serious areas of lust or infidelity. Whatever it is, we need to be accountable to the Lord.
The Apostle Paul reminded the Colossians of just that principle:
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24 NLT
If some of those principles from Steve Gutzler are not in your daily routine, try adding one or two each week. See what a difference it will make in your leadership...and in you.
God’s best...
Doing good...
It’s a small comment in the book of Acts. It’s easy to skip over it or not give it much thought. Yet God has often brought it to my attention. In Acts 10, Peter has been shown the importance of sharing the hope of Christ with Gentiles...way out of his comfort zone... and specifically to Cornelius. And as Peter talked with this Gentile Roman soldier, he said this:
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10:38 NLT
Buried in that declaration of who Jesus is came the little phrase saying Jesus went about “doing good.” Yes, He healed. Yes, He cast out demons. And Yes, He raised some from the dead. But it seems Peter is saying that as Jesus went, taught, and healed, He just did good things that were before Him.
Mentor and leadership guru Fred Smith also noted this interesting phrase. He told a group he was mentoring that Christ didn’t go about doing good just when He felt like it. It was the pattern of His life. And Smith made another interesting point:
“Christ did not go about looking for the “highest good.” He just did the good that was at hand. It is easy to become immobilized looking for the highest good because we tend to ignore the small bits all around us. What is small! We cannot measure the quality or quantity of good.”
The Bible talks of a word fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11). Solomon says those timely words are like apples of gold in a silver bowl. Priceless to the one receiving them. Doing good may be speaking that word of encouragement to someone on your staff. It could be as simple as a smile and a greeting to someone who cleans your facilities. And it could be lending a helping hand when you see the need.
Judy and I try to always greet the security people and the cleaning crew at our church. It’s a simple thing, but through that we are acknowledging they are valuable people...people who Jesus loves and died for.
Let me challenge you (and myself) to look for something today you can do. Something right before you as you go through your tasks. Something small. Fred Smith set that goal for himself, too.
“I challenge myself each morning to see what’s around me and ask for the discernment to respond rightly. I don’t go out to be a “do-gooder,” but instead to see what is in front of me and do good.”
Let’s follow the pattern Jesus set. Let’s go about doing good.
God’s best...
Talk is cheap!
There is probably a comparable saying in many countries to what we say in the U.S. ... “Talk is cheap!” That phrase can take on meaning at various levels. It may mean that it is easy to say something, hard to do it or live it. It could mean that “much speaking” is not necessarily a virtue. And while we are communicators, we need to choose our words carefully.
Valerie Geller travels the world teaching communication principles to broadcasters. Her book Beyond Powerful Radio has become a classic and has wisdom for all in the media field. In fact, the subtitle to that book is A Communicator’s Guide to the Internet Age. I have drawn wisdom from it for years for courses and seminars I teach. And Valerie has been part of our conferences and online seminars in the past.
In a section called Avoid Useless Chatter, Geller says, “Just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should.” And she says this applies no matter what medium you are using—radio, television, or social media. Wow. Half or more of Facebook might disappear if people took this to heart. My posts included!
Valerie Geller also quotes air personality Turi Ryder who says, “Think of all the available content as crude oil. There may be a lot of it, but it’s no good to you unless it’s refined.” One of your roles as a communicator is to take raw material and refine it for the audience. Your role is not to just replicate what you hear or read. Many have been caught on the internet passing on “fake news” because it sounded good, only to (hopefully) retract it when the false story was discovered.
Our communications need focus. We need to know our topic and the point we are trying to make. We need to be aware of the “brand” we are building. People associate what they see, hear, and experience with a person, a station, a blog, or even a product. Most of us have been disappointed when we purchased a consumer item based on the brand to discover that the brand had produced a low cost, inferior product. Just because they could do that, should they have done it? Not if it costs them their reputation.
The Bible even addresses this topic. Solomon was pretty direct in his writings in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes:
...too many words make you a fool.
Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT
Sometimes we can improve our communication process by simply finding the “off-ramp.” We may make a solid point, then continue to ramble on with the result that the good point is lost in our many words. Use your words carefully and communicate truth in a clear and powerful way. That has the greatest impact for your audience.
God’s best...
I was shocked!
I was shocked!
My days as general manager of a Christian radio station in Dallas gave me some wonderful and unique opportunities. One occurred many years ago at a large gathering of station listeners at a mega church in the area. I had the privilege of introducing well-known pastor, speaker, and radio preacher Chuck Swindoll. His program Insight for Living had run on our station for many years, and we had become acquainted through that relationship and National Religious Broadcasters.
As part of the evening, I was to do a brief interview with Dr. Swindoll to give the audience some insight to the man behind the wonderful programs and messages. I remember us taking our place on a platform, and as I was about to ask my first question, Chuck interrupted me with a question of his own.
“Ron, how do you keep from becoming cynical?”
I was stunned. Shocked. I was supposed to be asking the questions, and rather easy ones at that. His question floored me. It came out of left field. I don’t remember exactly how I responded, but it must have been acceptable. The conversation flowed and the audience got a bit more than they expected.
I have thought of that moment often. Sometimes I just think about how Chuck Swindoll rendered me almost speechless. But I also think deeper...of the questions itself. It must have been something this great spiritual leader had dealt with personally in his ministry. Certainly, it is something that all in leadership, especially in spiritual leadership, deal with at some point in their ministry.
Maybe you have been there. The dictionary definition of the word “cynical” is “believing that people are motivated by self-interest and being distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.” Yep. I’ve been there. And, yes, even in the Christian media world. And when we see it, it is hard not to be cynical ourselves.
As we see great spiritual leaders tumble and fall, as we see ministries discredited due to self-serving leadership and a drift from the original vision, people understandably become cynical. John Maxwell addressed this in a leadership blog a couple of years ago:
“In a time of cynicism, leaders inspire people—one of the most challenging things for a leader to do is balance reality with vision.”
Ok...that addresses the corporate situation, but what happens when you become cynical? That’s probably what Chuck Swindoll was asking me about those years ago. We may call it by other names. Being spiritually dry or calloused.
Swindoll addressed the topic quite bluntly in a message:
“THIS IS A ROTTEN WORLD. And some people just can't be trusted. And con men (and women) and phonies and charlatans are out there, ready to rip us off.”
But Swindoll gives great advice...biblical advice.
“I've learned over the years...that cynicism can quickly set in, bringing only heartache and bitterness. God offers us a better way:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Recognize that? It’s from Philippians 4:4-8. The key words for me in that passage are pray about everything. Everything! Is your prayer life lagging? Pray about it. Are you struggling in your leadership role due to other people and their selfish ways? Pray about it. Then strive once again for excellence to honor the Lord and to accomplish His calling in your life and ministry. Lead. Inspire. For the Lord’s sake and His purpose.
Cynicism has no place in the life of a leader.
God’s best...
I finally get it...
I’m in my late 70s and I’m still learning and figuring things out. Better late than never, as the saying goes.
As a kid, I remember asking my dad about a deep scratch on his arm, or a bruise, “Where did that come from?” Dad would simply reply, “I don’t know.” I couldn’t believe it! How could you scratch your arm or run into something and not remember the incident? That was beyond my comprehension as a young boy.
I’m beginning to understand. Getting dressed this morning I noticed a couple of scratches on one leg and a bruise on the other. I have no idea where they came from. And I flashed back to my time with Dad and understood that he was teaching me without lecturing me. What Dad was saying without specific words was, “It doesn’t matter. Not worth worrying about or spending time thinking about.”
I’m finding a lot of applications for that lesson beyond scratches or bruises. There are many things that happen in life that we sometimes spend way too much time thinking about...or obsessing over. We try to find the cause of this little thing or the reason for that little thing. Or we assign some sort of spiritual application to it as a way of explaining it. Flip Wilson was an American comedian famous for saying, “The Devil made me do it.” Pardon the pun, but that was his “flip” answer for why some things happened.
As a leader you encounter many things each day that could command your attention, at home or at your office or ministry. And many of those things won’t matter. Don’t waste valuable time on trivial things that can detract from the important things of your ministry, your work, your family, or your life.
The Apostle Paul often encourages us to focus on the important. After admitting to the Philippian Christ-followers that he didn’t fully comprehend everything, Paul said this:
...but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
My translation of that is, “Quit worrying about the little things or the past things. You’re probably not going to figure them all out, anyway. Look forward. See the goal God has set before you...and press on to that. There is a greater reward than figuring out...where that little scratch came from.”
God’s best...
To choose or not to choose...
As leaders, we make scores of choices every day. Some of them you don’t even think about. For instance, you chose to read or watch this Monday MEMO. You could have deleted it, skipped over it, or set it aside for another time. Choices. And, as we all know, choices, particularly bad choices, have consequences.
In the book Smart Leadership Mark Miller writes about choices. He acknowledges that all choices are not equal. Some choices are smart ones, and others...well, not so smart. We have all made bad decisions in life. Some don’t matter much in the sweep of things. Others, though, can be monumental...and not in a good way.
Miller says smart leaders make smart choices. That sounds obvious. He goes on to point out that many times we don’t think much about the choices we make. And then Miller details four kinds of choices:
- Costly
- Smart
- Trivial
- Routine
The book points out that trivial choices are what Miller calls “low energy.” They require little thought, energy, or attention. And they have little impact on your leadership. They may include such choices as what to have for lunch, or what shirt or blouse you should wear tomorrow.
Also in the “low energy” category are the routine choices. They don’t require much effort to make, but they have greater consequences.
Miller says the costly choices are the ones we spend too much time on though they don’t make much difference. We overinvest in these decisions without a significant return for our time and effort.
Mark Miller zeroes in on the smart choices and the key ones that make or break a powerful and successful leader. Miller says, “...if you can keep your eye on these choices and choose wisely, you will experience multiple benefits....” He lists some of those smart choices:
- Confront Reality – to stay grounded in truth and lead from a position of strength
- Grow Capacity – to meet the demands of the moment and the challenges of the future
- Fuel Curiosity – to maintain relevance and vitality in a changing world
- Create Change – to ensure a better tomorrow
Some good information to ponder. And it got me thinking of what the Bible says about our choices.
Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
Proverbs 2:11 NLT
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 37:5 NLT
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
Those are certainly some wise choices that will impact your life...and the life of others...for all eternity.
God’s best...
A startling truth...
Some truths are easy to digest. Chocolate ice cream is good. Majestic, snow-capped mountains are beautiful. The giggle of a little child is delightful. But some truths are harder to process. Like this truth from leadership guru Fred Smith:
“Aloneness is chosen; loneliness is imposed.”
When I read that recently I had to take time and think through it. And I had to read further to see how Fred Smith arrived at that. Smith was moving into an executive role at a major shoe company when his boss and mentor Maxie Jarman confronted him.
“Fred, how far do you want to go?” “Mr. Jarman, I want to go as far as I can.” He responded, “Then learn to live with loneliness.”
The startling truth is that those who lead find they cannot relate to their staff as they might with close friends. Smith says,
“Aloneness is chosen; loneliness is imposed. It can be imposed by responsibility…for example, an executive who is highly functioning can never really be ‘one of the boys.’”
Smith goes on to relate a story of an executive who shared everything with many people on his staff. His challenges, his vision for the future for the company, and his concerns. What happened was that different ones formed different opinions and set their mind in one direction or another. Then, when the executive made a decision, there was a faction that was immediately against the decision...and that brought on unnecessary strife in the organization. Smith called it abdicating his leadership to create a comfortable environment.
Is it OK to share things with some of the staff? Smith says that for a leader, “Talking over his potential decisions is valuable if and only if he chooses the right person and assesses his motivation.”
Do you remember the story of King Rehoboam found in 1 Kings 12? Solomon’s son was faced with a decision regarding the treatment of some of the Israelites. Rehoboam sought counsel of his father’s older advisors who encouraged him to treat the Israelites kindly. But Rehoboam went to his own young advisors who said he needed to be even harsher to them. The counsel he received from these men brought strife and grief. Their advice was born out of their own personal agenda.
When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,
“Down with the dynasty of David!
We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
Back to your homes, O Israel!
Look out for your own house, O David!”
1 Kings 12:16 NLT
A wedge was driven between a people that was unnecessary.
You as a leader may need to set yourself apart from others on your team. Think of the times Jesus went off by himself to pray. He chose to be alone as he sought His Father’s direction for His purpose and plan.
Choosing aloneness.
As Fred Smith says,” The loneliness of leadership must be accepted as part of the price.” Are you willing to pay that price to lead effectively?
God’s best...
Well worn...
It’s been over a year since our house flooded from frozen water pipes that burst. That led to a moving and storage company boxing up everything in our home...and I mean everything...and carting it off for over six months. And it has now been over six months since the boxes containing almost everything we owned were returned. We quickly attacked the boxes, and soon learned that not every box was labeled properly. In many cases we could figure out what went in the kitchen and what went in our closet. But there were lots of boxes that we didn’t know if they contained treasure or trash. Good stuff or giveaway.
After we got most of the main items needed for day-to-day living, we stopped opening boxes. I think we lost our drive to do it. So, our garage has a bunch of them in it...just waiting. Well, I decided the wait is over. We have a few key items we want to find, but mostly we want to get rid of the boxes and return the garage to its main purpose...housing our cars.
I opened a box this morning before heading off to the office. “Books,” said the label. That was partly true. There were some other things in there. But there were books. A quick look and I saw that some of these books were water stained. They were in my home office bookcases where water flowed down from the attic and those busted pipes. Thankfully, they weren’t in too bad of shape.
As I lifted one book, I saw a rather small black leather one in that box. I recognized it quickly as a Bible. And not just any Bible. There was writing on the inside cover and the date 12-25-63. A Christmas gift from my mom when I was 18 years old.
Dear Ronnie,
It gives me great satisfaction to give you this Bible, for your faithful study of God’s Word has always pleased me....
She went on to say a few other things, then signed it...
Love, Mother
As I continue looking through this box later today, I may find trash. But this...this definitely is a treasure. I’m glad to say it is worn around the edges. I did put it to use. I’m not one who marks up my Bibles, but as I thumbed through this Bible, I did find some passages underlined. In the account of Jesus on the cross, the words “forgive them” are underscored. It must have impacted me that while my Savior hung in agony on the cross, He still was forgiving those around him, including a thief who was hanging next to him. Another underline is where the thief cried, “Lord, remember me.” And Jesus did.
Let me see if there is some spiritual insight to learn from this bit of nostalgia.
- There can be a treasure among the mundane, even among the trash. That might even apply to life... and to people the Lord brings into our path.
- God’s Word should not just adorn your bookshelf or desktop. It should be read, studied, probed for wisdom from above. James reminds us that wisdom is available to all who seek it.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
James 1:5 NLT
- And thinking of Jesus at Calvary...even on your worst day, you can bless others. And you can forgive. Who knows, it might make an eternal difference in their life.
Now, I will tell you this particular Bible won’t get a lot more use. My 76-year-old eyes and this tiny print don’t work too well together. But it will serve as a reminder to me. A reminder of a loving family who knew what I needed most in my young life...God’s Truth. And a reminder that God’s Truth still works today. Remember the verse...
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
Or as Eugene Peterson expressed it in The Message:
Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
I think I’ll just underline that verse here in this Bible.
God’s best...
The plus side of the power...
In our leadership roles it is so easy to accentuate the negative. The same is true for parenting. We often hear that the best thing a mom or dad can do to motivate their child is to catch them doing something right and praise them for it. Our tendency is to point out the wrong things...the negative...and then punish them for it. Yes, there are times that must be done. But it isn’t the best overall way to motivate a child or an employee to greatness.
Leadership expert Steve Gutzler wrote about this recently. He said:
“I've learned there is a very real human tendency to focus on the negative. Negativity can quickly become pervasive and contagious. It can also stifle performance. Your team needs optimism during tough times.”
That is easier said than done for most leaders. Many are under pressure to make sure the ministry, business, or organization stays on track and is accomplishing all that is expected...and then some. It’s hard to lift your head up and look for something good, especially when the work is demanding or the deadlines loom.
In his article, Gutzler cited a study by the University of North Carolina Psychology Department. The focus of its study was what happens when people experience positive emotions. The results are pretty amazing.
- Their minds stretch to opportunities.
- They become open to new ways of thinking.
- They become more creative and innovative.
- They experience health benefits of lower stress and increased energy.
- They develop better coping mechanisms.
- They have more engaging relationships.
That sounds exactly like the kind of person you would like on your team, doesn’t it? You can develop people who reflect these traits if you will work at being more positive in your leadership style.
No... I’m not talking about syrupy sweet comments that are not sincere. But if you begin to look for good things to praise, you will begin to find them. In fact, you will be surprised at how many great things are going on around you with your staff and volunteers.
I remember the first silver colored car I bought. I though it was both cool and unique. Until I got out on the road and began to see other silver cars...many of them. When we look for something, we often find it.
Guess what else will happen? The leader who begins to point out the positive and diminish the negative in their leadership will themselves be changed. You can’t live on the negative side of life and not be affected. And you are not the same when you decide to be more positive in your approach to leadership.
Maybe that’s why the Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to accentuate the positive in their lives:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you have learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4: 8-9 NLT
I am positive...this will make a difference in your ministry, your organization, and your home. And it will make a difference in you.
God’s best...