Quicksand! It surrounds me.
How many urgent things are on your desk right now? How many times has someone stepped up to you and given you one more urgent item? Some days...some weeks...it seems that those urgent things make up 90 percent of what’s on our agenda. Or rather, they replace the important things on our To Do list. And while those things usually are urgent, they can keep you from moving forward in ministry and in life.
Dutch theologian Henri Nouwen said, “If I were to let my life be taken over by what is urgent, I might very well never get around to what is essential.”
Do you feel that way? I often do. And it isn’t just in work or ministry, it is in family and all of life. Someone somewhere “needs” my attention on something they feel is urgent.
And what about all those meetings? A study done at Harvard surveyed CEOs over a 12-year period. Their average week contained 37 meetings! And that accounted for a whopping 72 percent of their work week. Yikes! Quicksand all around.
It’s more than just meetings or interruptions. There is the whole digital world that we are immersed in. In fact, we are generators of disruptions to someone else’s schedule and priorities. Yes, we are all in this together. In a book by Nicholas Carr called The Shallows we read this:
“What the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. Whether I’m online or not, my mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.”
And if you are like me, I feel like I am sometimes drowning in that stream. Any hope? John Maxwell in his classic book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership writes, “It is the responsibility of leaders to make tough decisions based on priorities.” In other words, you and I must make the decision on what is most important at the moment. That may mean ignoring what seems urgent or delegating its solution to someone else. Maxwell goes on to cite something called the Pareto Principle, which states that if you spend your time on tasks that rank in the top 20 percent of importance, you will see an 80 percent return on investment.
If you have a To Do list with 10 items you have prioritized, you simply concentrate on the first two things...if you want to be productive and effective. The others may be for another day or another person. By the way...that is easy to say, but hard to do. It is a learned discipline for most of us.
I think of the Apostle Paul who said, “This one thing I do....” Focus. Priority. Or Jesus, who set His face toward Jerusalem. No doubt Jesus passed by some people in need, but His priority was the Cross.
Today...step away from the quicksand of the urgent. Set your priorities on the most important things in your ministry and in your life. And see what God will do in and through you with that kind of focus.
...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
God’s best...
Routine...or rut?
There is a difference between a routine and a rut. And the biggest difference is in our mind. Sometimes doing the same thing over and over, day after day, can be frustrating. We feel trapped in the sameness of life. Stuck. And sometimes the walls of that rut can seem as tall as Mount Everest.
But a routine is different. Yes, a routine can be doing the same thing over and over, day after day. But a routine can help us stay on track toward the goals of our life. It’s like a runner in a marathon. That person takes one stride after another, thousands of those strides, over and over again, until the finish line is reached and the goal is accomplished.
Judy and I have several routines when it comes to our spiritual lives. We are both early risers and have as a routine reading the Bible as one of the very first things we do. OK...I fix a cup of coffee. But after that it’s to my favorite chair and digging into the Scriptures. Judy does about the same. She is studying in Matthew these mornings and I am on a plan to read through the Bible in a year.
Over the past year I have looked for a passage out of my reading that I can share on social media, along with a picture that I feel helps illustrate the verse. Routine.
At the breakfast table we share a devotional thought. This year we are reading (actually, re-reading) Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God Day by Day. Though we don’t do it every morning, many times that devotion will remind us of an old hymn or Gospel song, so we head to YouTube to see if we can find a good version of that song. It often becomes a sweet worship experience.
In the evening when we can eat dinner at home, we often read another devotional. This time we are reading from a book by Dr. Robert Jeffress of Pathway to Victory and First Baptist Church of Dallas. Robert is both my friend and my pastor. Right now, we are looking into the life of Nehemiah and gleaning leadership principles from Nehemiah’s book and his experiences.
Is that a rut or a positive routine? Well, to be honest, if I didn’t love the Lord and desire to know Him better through His Word, it could quickly become a rut. Thankfully, God has put a desire in my heart that turns this potential rut into a beneficial routine.
Are there days when I don’t feel like going through this routine? Absolutely. But the discipline of the routine...and a glimpse of the goal...keep me at it.
Do we sometimes NOT follow this routine? Yes. But those are the exceptions. I believe our Lord is more interested in honoring our desire to know Him than He is in punishing us each time we fail to follow our routine. The Lord has eternity in view. We often just see the next step. But if we are faithful in the next step, our Lord Jesus will let us see a bit of eternity...even in our daily routine.
God's best...
Do you tremble?
I’m afraid I sometimes fall into a trap. I read God’s word too casually. I read a familiar passage in His Holy Word, and It has little or no effect on me. I wonder what’s on God’s heart when that happens? Convicting.
My spiritual mentor Dr. Henry Blackaby often said he trembled as he read passages of God’s Word. I was with him one day and asked him, “Do you really tremble? Actually?” He looked me in the eye and said, “Ron I often literally shake when I read the powerful message of the Lord to me through His Word.”
I don’t often tremble as I read the Bible. Yet I believe Almighty God looks into our hearts to see if we are taking His message into the depths of our souls. Listen to Ezra’s words:
Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me....
Ezra 9:4 NLT
Ezra was upset when he learned that the returning exiles had not taken God’s Word, His commands, seriously. Yet there were some, evidenced by their trembling, who were fearful of what the Lord might do to those who so casually strayed from what God had told them, the boundaries He set for them.
If God’s Word is a living, breathing communication from our Heavenly Father to us personally...and it is...why would we skim over it and go on our way unchanged? We can make excuses, but we are bankrupt of any real reason. Busy? Then we are too busy. Distracted? Then we need to learn to shut out the world and focus on His Word, His message to us personally.
I’m reminded of the humorous phrase about some who shoot weapons. “Ready. Fire. Aim.” How can we accomplish God’s will if we fire off our weapon without knowing God’s direction for our lives? Think of this:
Ready – Prepare to encounter God in His Word by removing distractions or removing yourself from distractions. And prepare your heart to receive what He has to say. Look expectantly into the Bible for His message.
Aim – Learn from reading the Bible each day what the Lord would have you do and how He wants you to serve Him today. Be sure you are aimed in such a way that you don’t miss the mark.
Fire – Go confidently into the day with His focus in your heart and His assignment for you and those you lead.
Finally, I would say we need to put ourselves in a position to tremble as God speaks directly to us through His Word and through prayer.
In reading through the Bible, as I have done for many years now, I came across an interesting passage. I had to ask myself, “What is that there for?” If we believe that God’s Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit, then there is always a reason, a purpose in a passage, whether we grasp it easily or not. Here’s what I read:
But when the people come in through the north gateway to worship the Lord during the religious festivals, they must leave by the south gateway. And those who entered through the south gateway must leave by the north gateway. They must never leave by the same gateway they came in, but must always use the opposite gateway.
Ezekiel 46:9 NLT
After some thought and prayer, here is what came to me. When we enter into the presence of the Lord, we should never leave the same way we came in. I’m not talking physically. I believe the Lord is presenting a picture for His people of what should take place in our lives. We should be so impacted by the Lord’s message as He encounters us, that we are not the same. We tremble at His holiness and at our sinfulness. And then we leave... a different person because of our time spent with our Lord Jesus.
Now that’s a worthy goal for each day.
God’s best...
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...