What happens when you speak?
If you talk to others...whether on radio, television, in the pulpit, or even with family and friends...what do you expect to happen? As a parent, if you give instructions to your kids, you want them to spring into action and follow your direction...and do it right away (okay...I may be dreaming there). If you manage people and ministries, you may also want them to quickly follow what you direct.
But what if you are on the radio or television? Even speaking to groups or congregations? What are you expecting your audience to do?
Fred Smith, the mentor to many ministry leaders, has some good instruction and insight for all of us in those categories.
“One way we can improve our speaking skills is by remembering our goal is not simply to have people sit quietly while we talk, but to have their minds actively engaged by the subject matter.”
As you speak, get in your mind the visual of what it would be like if your listeners really grasped what you were saying. Would they be driven to action? Would they be moved to tears? Or would they sit there with little or no reaction?
Fred Smith says his goal was always for the listeners to do more than listen passively.
“I don’t want the audience to be observers. I want them to participate because the whole object of speaking is to influence attitudes and behavior.”
Radio consultant Valerie Geller has a mantra she preaches to on-air radio people all over the world.
- Tell the truth.
- Make it matter.
- Never be boring.
Point number two speaks right to the question I began with. If what you are saying matters to the listeners, they will be more engaged with what you are saying and more likely to respond when you provide a “call to action.” And here is a tip: If it doesn’t matter to you, it probably won’t mean much to the listener.
Let me add something from my heart. We are living in very critical days. I personally believe the time is short. And there are many who need to hear the Good News that there is light in the dark world we live in. If you have the privilege to speak to your culture, your community, be careful about the message you are sending. We need to have a sense of urgency about our overall message. If you know there are people lost without Christ in your audience, will they hear about His love for them through you? The prophets of old learned about the importance of delivering God’s message to their audience. The Lord’s direction for Jeremiah showed how important it was for God’s prophet to speak the right words:
Get up and prepare for action.
Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.
Do not be afraid of them,
or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
Jeremiah 1:17 NLT
Think of your audience. Think of what God would have them do. And then recognize the amazing privilege of sharing the hope of Christ with those who need Him now.
God’s best...
Seeing around the bend...
How do you see into the future when things are constantly changing? Good question. I’m glad you asked. One Covid virus is followed by another and another, throwing the world into a tailspin. The political landscape doesn’t help either, with the proverbial wars and rumors of wars. And the communication world is hardly stable. Each new online platform requires us to learn something new, and to see how this new platform is being used and by whom. Only then can we start to make good decisions about whether to embrace it or not. And then...tomorrow comes and things change again.
Most of us look at what is trending to get an idea of where we should invest our ministry time and focus. That can help. But I saw a quote from business and leadership guru Peter Drucker that opened another thought.
“Don’t only watch the trends; watch the bends in the trends.”
In other words, how rapidly are things changing in a particular area or any specific platform. TikTok may be trending, but has that rate of growth and usage slowed or accelerated? That may tell you much more about this new “thing.”
I know. The tyranny of the urgent is raising its ugly head. As a leader, you have to put out fires and redirect people in your organization. And... it’s almost impossible to take time to think ahead to what the future holds. I get it. The famous saying applies here. “Been there. Done that.” Or in this case, been there and didn’t do that!
Preparing, planning, and prognosticating are often left off our agenda of activities. But they are critical. Mark Cole on John Maxwell’s leadership team asks the question, “What happens when you don’t prepare?”
“In my leadership, the results of being unprepared are predictable. Things I hoped wouldn’t happen do happen—and occur with greater frequency than the things I hoped would happen. The reason is simple: being unprepared puts me out of position.”
Cole then goes on to equate our role as leaders to that of team members in sports. He says being out of position often leads to failure and loss for the team. So, taking time to prepare for the future is essential if we are to remain effective in our ministries.
Of course, in ministry we need to balance good business practices with the element of faith and trust. The gospel songwriter Ira Stanfill voiced what most of us encounter:
I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day.
And he later explains that in light of faith in a sovereign God:
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.
That doesn’t mean we don’t plan. It just means that ultimately, we know that our Lord is sovereign and is in charge. Jesus, in teaching his followers the cost of discipleship, also commended the person who plans ahead and prepares for the outcome of the project.
For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
Luke 14:28 NLT
Someone had to look ahead and plan to be sure they did not fail.
So, what is leadership? It’s more than just managing a ministry or the staff. Much more. Again, Peter Drucker gives insight:
"Leadership is the lifting of a man's vision to higher sights, the raising of a man's performance to a higher standard, the building of a man's personality beyond its normal limitations."
That doesn’t happen without taking time to look ahead.
God’s best...
Not what I expected...
With a bit of a scratchy throat, I unwrapped a Hall’s cough drop and started to throw away the wrapper. That’s when I discovered something I didn’t expect. Encouragement! There...printed on that little paper wrapper was a word of encouragement. A bit of a pep talk. As I looked at other ones, I found several motivational phrases on those little paper wrappers.
- Dust off and get up.
- Be unstoppable.
- Turn “can do” into “can did!”.
- Conquer today.
- Don’t waste a precious minute.
- Let’s hear your battle cry.
- Don’t give up on yourself.
OK...some of those could take a person down a self-sufficient path instead of a biblical one, but that’s not the point that came to me. I got to thinking how little effort it takes to encourage someone. A word here. A pat on the back there. A smile to a fellow worker. A “thumbs up” for a job well done. And it didn’t cost a thing!
With those you lead, whether in your ministry, among your friends, or in your family, I will guarantee there is someone that needs encouragement. Someone needs a word to help them get through the day or the week. And you can be the one that provides that word to them.
In talking about the importance of this encouragement, our friend Gary Chapman (Five Love Languages) says we need to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes.
“Encouragement requires empathy .... Only then can we give encouragement. With verbal encouragement, we are trying to communicate, "I know. I care. I am with you. How can I help?"
Dr. Chapman spoke at our MEDIAlliance Summit on his book that relates the five languages of appreciation for the workplace. It is so important that each person feel appreciated. All of us desire that. One reviewer, writing about Chapman’s book, said, “If a manager or leader can properly create and maintain a happy workplace, team members will seamlessly work together, be more productive, and more engaged therefore helping the company as a whole.”
My point today is not to suggest taking yourself and those who serve with you through an appreciation training course. While that isn’t a bad idea, my purpose today is to spur you to do the little things that can make a difference in someone’s life. I think the Bible calls that a word fitly spoken. A good word at the right time.
God’s Word is filled with words of encouragement for all of us.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Jesus brought that kind of encouragement to his disciples and followers.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:31-33 NLT
Surprise someone today with a word of encouragement. See if it doesn’t put a smile on their face and something special in their heart. You’ll be doing something biblical. Paul left these instructions for us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Pardon me...I think I need another cough drop...and a little encouragement myself.
God’s best...
Perspective and priorities...
To be effective in leadership means several things. Among them are perspective and priorities. My pastor got my attention the other day when he talked about perspective. Dr. Robert Jeffress said, “It is amazing how short two weeks seems when you are on a vacation...and how long it seems when you are on a diet!” The actual time is the same. It is just our perspective on what is happening during that time.
The Bible reminds us that a thousand years is like a day to the Lord, and a day is like a thousand years (read Psalm 90 verse 4). God’s perspective is different than ours.
That got me thinking about how those who lead need to live with the right perspective and the right priorities. I’ve come across some things that may help all of us in this area. Here is some advice from leadership coach John Maxwell.
To Stay Focused in Life:
- You can't know everyone.
- You can't do everything.
- You can't go everywhere.
We have to pick and choose between good and a little bit better.
While it may be important to finish you plans for the new year, or that appeal letter, is it more important than helping a staff member or volunteer in their time of need? Is that just an interruption to your schedule? Dr. Henry Blackaby talked about the busyness of ministry, and how it can cause us to miss what the Lord Jesus has for us to do.
“It’s easy to become so busy that you are oblivious to those in need. Your schedule can become so full of accomplishing good things that you are of no help to the people around you. God is at work in the lives of your friends, your neighbors, your family members. He may ask you to interrupt your day long enough to join Him as He ministers to them.”
- Experiencing God Day by Day
Many times, it comes down to our personal character. Our character is built brick by brick through the experiences of life...good and bad. Our choices in times of conflict or challenge help determine how we will lead others. Again, John Maxwell addresses the idea of “character.” He says,
“Your success stops where your character stops. You can never rise above the limitations of your character.”
So... some suggestions as we navigate this new year.
- Relax a bit. Try to see life from God’s perspective and with His priorities. That stack of things on your desk or the long “To Do” list will be there tomorrow. Remember, you can’t do everything. So, take a breath and relax.
- Reorient yourself to God’s voice. The Lord may have an assignment that only you can do. You may be so busy with good things that you miss the most important. Remember Jesus, Mary, and Martha. Martha was interested in getting the meal ready. Important. But the Lord said, “Mary has chosen what is better.”
- Rely on God’s priorities for your life. Only He has the eternal perspective that can align your will with His. And the Lord’s will is always best. Not always the easiest, but the best.
My friend Dr. Jim Denison wrote, "So, make your plans for the new year and the new day, then trust them to God's providence. Prepare for tomorrow but prepare even more for eternity. And your peace ‘which surpasses all understanding’ will be a powerful witness to a fearful culture (Philippians 4:7). The safest place to be is in the center of the will of God."
Relax. Reorient. Rely. The Lord’s got this!
God’s best...
I’ve got a question...
OK...I’ve got a question for you. Actually, I have several questions for you. And I don’t have the answers. You do.
My friend Bob Tiede compiled a long list of some of the questions he has used as he has promoted the idea of leading with questions. As those in charge, we often fall into the trap of always giving directives and providing answers. Bob’s experience is that greater leadership is achieved by asking questions.
So I thought today I would list some of the questions Bob and some of his leadership friends have asked. I think you’ll find they are great lead-ins to productive times with those who serve with you. Here we go...
- When was the last time you tried something new?
- What gets you excited about life?
- What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
- What can you do today that you were not capable of a year ago?
- If not now, then when?
- Which activities make you lose track of time?
- How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
- Which is worse, failing or never trying?
- What has life taught you recently?
- What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?What’s the one thing you’d like others to remember about you at the end of your life?
- What small act of kindness were you once shown that you will never forget?
- What are your top five personal values?
- What is your number one goal for the next six months
- What is your greatest challenge?
These are interesting questions, and not ones that have easy answers. Let me make a suggestion. Take one question each day for the next few weeks. Maybe in the morning at the start of your daily routine, sit down and ponder one of these probing questions. Write down the answer or the thoughts they elicit from you. It will be a good, life-building exercise.
Many times, we get so busy with life, work, family, and daily challenges that we fail to consider who we are and what drives us forward. These kinds of questions can help you get a new picture of yourself...and may even challenge you to reorient yourself to be all that the Lord intends for you to be.
Judy and I had the joy of living in Greece many years ago. We often traveled to Delphi and took in the beautiful ruins of that amazing culture. It was there that a Greek carving was found at the entry to the temple of Apollo with words attributed to Socrates, “Know Thyself.”
This phrase is a reminder that we need to understand our values, our driving philosophy of life and work, and what is most critical for our daily living that brings a sense of both joy and accomplishment. All good things.
Yet, as Christ-followers and those called by Him to serve His purpose, we need to go beyond the good philosophy of the day. We need to know and understand God’s Word in a way that it guides us in all areas of our life.
Jesus used questions as he taught his disciples and other followers. In John’s account of Jesus’ teaching, he quotes the Lord as asking, “For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” (Luke 14:28 NLT) Jesus was saying you need to consider what it will take to be my disciple. Make an honest assessment of the facts and situation. Know yourself. Know the challenges you will face.
So, today...this week...take time to ask yourself these probing questions. And add this one to those I previously gave you.
- Lord, what do I need to do today to effectively serve you in these important days?
God’s best...
What? Another list????
I’m sure it is human nature, a desire to simplify life to a small list of things to do or be. It seems every speaker or leadership expert has a list. I’m thinking of making a list...of everyone who makes lists!
Having said all that, I came across a list by a speaker and author who seems to have a solid perspective. Steve Gutzler has a faith perspective on many of the things he writes and speaks about. At the start of a new year, I thought his “Definite Dozen” was appropriate. I won’t list all 12 of Steve’s things he does each week, but I’ll mention a few that resonated with me. His main point was to develop your own list of things that will help you be all the Lord wants you to be as you serve Him. Here are some of the things on Gutzler’s list, and some of my thoughts on these points.
- Read daily – Along with some recreational reading, be sure to include things that will help you in your professional realm. And, of course, begin with God’s Word. It will set the perspective for everything else.
- Build an inner circle – Gutzler suggests three to five close friends who will inspire, push and support you in all you do. Pick those friends wisely.
- Forgive and move on – This speaks for itself.
- Laugh daily – Life can be hard, and the pressure can build constantly. Find a way to laugh each day. It may be that one of those close friends can provide that kind of input in your life. One of my greatest mentors would call me often and we would spend much of the time laughing. A blessing.
- Think one size bigger – No, this isn’t about your clothes after the holiday feasting! It is about doing your best, and beyond. No small thinking allowed. Think bigger.
- Pray for wisdom – This should be at the top of the list for those of us in ministry leadership. The challenges are great. The days are critical. The time is urgent. The message of hope in Jesus is important. Pray for the Lord’s direction daily...and see where He takes you and your ministry.
- Give – Think more about how you can give...time, talent, treasure...than what you can receive. We know the scripture, but do we live as if we believe it? The writer of Acts gave himself as an example and urged all to follow the words of Jesus.You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35 NLT
So... what would you include in your dozen or so things to do daily...weekly? What would you be like at the end of the year if you made and followed such a list? Remember. Think big! God does.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
God’s best...
An exercise in futility?
Flipping the calendar pages in recent days may bring a bit of frustration. As leaders, it falls to us to plan for the days ahead...to lead our teams forward to the next event or the next goal.
But as I sit and start to plan for this coming year, I fight the attitude that says, “Is this just an exercise in futility?” Covid and all its emerging variants...and the travel protocols that go with them...keep changing almost daily. Travel, conferences, flights, meetings, and many other scheduled events must get unscheduled, rescheduled, then unscheduled again and again. Frustrating!
But you must lead...and you have to plan. Even if those plans get changed. Yogi Berra was an American icon, a baseball player and coach. He often messed up the language in trying to say something, so much so that his sayings became known as Yogi-isms. Example: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!” Or “You can observe a lot by just watching.” Here is a favorite: “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.” Funny!
Yogi Berra also said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” And Yogi is right!
The old saying is true: If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.
In spite of the challenges you are facing as you look ahead for the ministry, you must plan. Yes, those plans will very likely change. But not all of them. And you will have set most of the course for the ministry. And those who serve with you will have a sense of how the future will shape up.
Management consultant Peter Drucker understood things can change, but he still valued the effort. “Plans are worthless, but planning is invaluable.” There needs to be forward movement in ministry. If not, it becomes stagnant and unproductive. When the team senses that the leader is frustrated and uncertain because of the uncertain days, it makes it much more difficult to see the light ahead.
John Maxwell wrote about leading through frightening times. Among the great insight he shared was this on painting a brighter picture:
When things are frightening, the world seems small and dark; to counteract that, you must paint a picture that’s bigger and brighter. We must point beyond the fear to a brighter day, to remind people of what the Psalmist said: “Nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” Leaders must communicate to their people the hope on the other side of the fear.
So, even if it is frustrating...even if you have to change the plans again and again...set a good example for your ministry team and plan for the best days ahead. Yes, you may have to sprinkle your plans with the biblical phrase, “If the Lord allows...,” but that’s OK. It is all in His hands.
I’m planning for the greatest year ahead for MEDIAlliance. How about you and your ministry? If the Lord allows, what will you be doing in 2022?
God’s best...
In? Or out?
Do you wonder sometimes if you are in God’s will...or if along the way you have slipped off the path He has for you? Many times those thoughts come when we are facing unusual or unrelenting challenges. Funding for the ministry is lagging...or lacking all together. We don’t sense God’s direction, or even His voice. Every turn seems to lead to another roadblock. What’s happened? Are we out of God’s will?
Some years back I was reading a devotion by my dear friend Joni Eareckson Tada. If there was ever one who had life-long challenges, it’s Joni. A broken neck in a diving accident as a teen. A life of living in a wheelchair. All the challenges that being a quadriplegic brings. That could certainly lead to questions about God’s will. Yet Joni had some profound insight that helped me better understand how we serve the Lord.
Think of the journey that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was over 100 miles. A five-day journey by foot. We don’t know if Mary rode a donkey or not. But for someone ready to deliver a baby, it could not have been comfortable. Pain. Exhaustion. Frustration. And then to arrive to find no place to stay.
So, here’s the question. Was Mary in God’s will or not in God’s will? With all she and Joseph were going through, were they on the right path for their lives? Joni Eareckson Tada reminded me that the ease of the journey is no measure of being in or out of God’s will.
If we are not careful, we will equate ease of life with being in God’s will. And... hardships probably mean we are out of God’s will. Right? Not necessarily so. The plan that the Lord has for you and for me may take us down some rough roads. There may be hardships, hurts, challenges, and roadblocks on your journey. But that may be the Lord’s way of showing you His power and His presence as you seek His strength and wisdom.
I don’t know what the coming year may bring, but there are several things I do know.
And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14 NASB
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
Psalm 16:11 NASB
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 NLT
And the LORD is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8 NASB
Don’t let the challenges of life move you off the plan set out for you. The Lord is with you.
God’s best...
What difference does it make?
I’ll keep this short. It is Christmas week, and if your calendar is like mine, it is full to overflowing!
Here’s the question: What difference does Christmas make?
The merchant will point to the spreadsheet and show how much their store depends on Christmas sales to provide adequate profit for his or her business.
To the restaurant owner, they will point to all the economic challenges that Covid has brought and say that the food service business during the holiday time is critical for their survival.
The student... they will comment on how much they need a break from their studies, and, often their semester finals.
But many would simply say...Christmas is a nice holiday. But if we didn’t have it, we would come up with something to take its place.
There is a phrase written by Ralph Sockman many years ago that has resonated with me.
“The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.”
Oh, I know. Theologians might point out that Jesus was in a cave. There probably wasn’t a door, much less a hinge. Okay. But think what Sockman was saying. Jesus’ birth changed everything!
Sinful man had a path to be reconciled to a holy God...because of Jesus. The birth of Jesus fulfilled the prophesies made hundreds of years before...and thereby confirmed the faithfulness of God and the truth of His word.
More importantly for me...Christ’s birth...in that stable in Bethlehem...provided a way for ME to have my sins forgiven and for me to have the hope of heaven.
All that “hinged” on what happened over two thousand years ago in a stable in Bethlehem.
As you buy and give gifts, as you join family and friends around the table to fellowship and eat, as you take a break from the routine events of life...don’t forget that the greatest gift ever came from a loving heavenly Father...a gift that changes everything! Truly... God’s best...
Merry Christmas!
Making a list...checking it twice!
This time of year in the U.S. you can hear kids (and parents) singing that little song of Santa:
He’s making a list.
And checking it twice
Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.
Well, if you run a ministry or Christian organization, there is probably a list you should be checking twice. It’s your database of supporters and friends. Periodically you should be going over the list to be sure it is accurate and consistent. If we do physical mailings, we know the cost is going up, up, up. We should not be wasting money on letters going to wrong addresses. Keep the list accurate. It may take some effort to ask for the person’s best address or email, and whether they want you to use a home phone, office phone, or mobile phone when you contact them, but it will pay off.
There is one little thing that is important but often overlooked. It’s the salutation, the way you address that person on your list. I learned something many years ago from...of all people...Amazon about effective communication via email. I have known for a long time that people want a personal touch. It’s one of the reasons that a hand-written note to a donor can be so effective in maintaining a good relationship.
But even when you are doing a mass mailing or a group email, you can still maintain the feel of a personal correspondence. That’s what I learned from Amazon. Way back when the online marketer was mainly selling books, Amazon did an interesting thing. If I ordered a certain book, along with the confirmation of my order came a message like this:
Hi, Ron. Thanks for your order. By the way...people who ordered Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby also ordered these books.
Then would come a list of theology or devotional books by Christian authors similar to Dr. Blackaby. It made me feel like I had a friend at Amazon who was thinking about me. And...they called me “Ron.” Of course, I knew it was all generated by computer, but it left a good impression.
More often than I would like to acknowledge I receive letters and emails from ministries that start out…
Dear Ronald L.,
Or even worse...
Dear Ronald L. Harris,
While that is my name, middle initial and all, none of my friends would ever address me that way. The communication just screams that it was done by an impersonal computer. A little thing? Yes. But it is one of those things that may determine if a person keeps reading your important communication.
Throughout the Bible we see instances where God calls people by name...where Jesus addresses his disciples and friends by name.
In Exodus we see indications of the friend-like relationship God had with Moses.
Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
Exodus 33:11 NLT
I recall the encounter of Jesus with his good friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Mary could not pull herself away from Jesus’ teaching, while Martha was focused on preparing a meal. When Martha complained, Jesus admonished her, and he made it very personal.
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42 NLT
A person’s name is important. And if you want your communications to have the impact you intend, do all you can to personalize it. Check that database. How are you addressing your good friends?
By the way, if I get your name wrong, please let me know! I value you as a friend and as an important part of our ministry.
God’s best...