Problem solving
This Monday MEMO is a bit different. Today, I want you to do something for me. Take out a piece of paper and a writing instrument. I’ll wait for you to find something.
Now...put down the top one or two problems that are keeping you from accomplishing your God-given task. You probably won’t have to think too hard. They are probably before you every day you try to lead and serve. By the way...if you want, you can include problems that keep you from being the person the Lord intends for you to be. Just one or two items.
Now, hold onto that paper while I tell you what God showed me as I was reading through Numbers in the Old Testament. To be honest, some of these passages are rather tedious. Counting men who could fight. Rules and laws for living lives that please the Lord. Sacrifices and gifts to be given to atone for sin and shortcomings. Many of them become repetitive. So, I often ask the Holy Spirit to teach me something through these passages.
I began to think of those Israelites who left Egypt and wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. By many accounts they numbered over two million people. That’s huge. As I figure it, there were probably 400,000 family units throughout the twelve tribes. And God gave Moses instructions for them to make sacrifices.
“...This is the special gift you must present to the Lord as your daily burnt offering. You must offer two one-year-old male lambs with no defects. Sacrifice one lamb in the morning and the other in the evening.” Numbers 28:3-4 NLT
As I read this, each family was to make this sacrifice. If so, four hundred thousand lambs in the morning. Four hundred thousand lambs in the evening. Eight hundred thousand lambs a day. In
five days...four million lambs sacrificed. And this was to go on and on, week after week, month after month, year after year. Where did all these sacrificial lambs come from?
Someone calculated what it would take to feed these two million people. The basic food needed each day was over four million pounds worth. To bring that much food would have taken three trains of boxcars, each over a mile long. And for water...it would have required 11 million gallons each day and a freight train with tanker cars over 1,800 miles long...each day.
Of course, they didn’t have trains!
I could go on and on detailing the magnitude of the challenges these people had and what it would take to meet their needs. Impossible. But...God!
Now...grab that piece of paper you wrote on a few moments ago. Look at the items you wrote down. I’ll wait...
My question to you...how big is that problem of yours?
Over and over throughout the Bible we hear the God saying:
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
The question then is this: Do you trust God or not? Do you believe Him or not? Is He the same yesterday, today, and forever?
The writer of Hebrews has good instructions for us as we trod the often difficult path of life the Lord has for us.
...let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
OK...one more time...look at those things you wrote down. Then look to Jesus and place those problems before Him.
He has been waiting for you.
A string and two cans
Did you ever try the old string and can form of communication? As a kid...probably my Cub Scout days...I punched small holes in two cans (green beans, I think...though it doesn’t matter). Then I threaded a string from the outside bottom of the can through the small hole and tied a knot large enough to not slip back through the hole. I repeated it with the other can. Then with a buddy, we stretched the cans a distance away. One would speak into their can and the other would listen. Then we would reverse the roles. OK...it wasn’t hi-fi or anything...but I could hear him, and he could hear me.
Communication.
Crude, but it worked. You know what the key element was in that process? That person on the other end of the can-string gizmo. Without my buddy...no communication.
That truth, illustrated crudely in my Cub Scout days, stretches from the days of Greek philosopher Aristotle to today. While his teacher and colleague Plato dealt more with content, Aristotle developed a theory of communication that takes into account more than the speaker and the content. Aristotle included the listener...the audience...in his equation, as well as the outcome of the communication. Aristotle’s five points in his theory of communication are these.
• Speaker
• Speech
• Occasion
• Audience
• Effect
This theory can still guide us in the communication process. Out of it flows the principles that we need to know our audience and know what we are wanting them to act upon...the effect of the communication.
I love the Apostle Paul’s speech to the Areopagites in Athens when he was invited to talk about this new “religion.” Paul seized the occasion, understood his audience, and had firmly in mind the goal of his speech to these men. It is found in Acts 17. Paul started...
“Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about....” Acts 17:22-23 NLT
Paul had done his homework. Having traveled the great city of Athens he had been distressed by all the statues and the allegiance of the Athenians to all sorts of gods. He used that as an introduction to his speech. He even later quoted a Greek poet to help build a relationship with his audience. But his focus and purpose was to always preach Christ. He cleverly told them the “unknown god” they had built a statue to was the very One Paul wanted to share with them.
Jesus.
That homework on Paul’s part was to keep his audience listening. No audience...no communication. Many of us have stood on Mars Hill looking down into the Agora and across to the Acropolis. I could have stood on the very spot where Paul spoke and could have given my finest speech. But unless there was an audience...another person on the other end of the string...there was no real or effective communication.
When you broadcast, podcast, or speak today, do you know who your audience is? Do you know if they are really tuned into you as you speak? Have you done your homework? Do you say things that relate to their world to help keep them tuned in and catch your message? If not...you may find there is no one on the other end of the string and tin can...and real communication is not happening.
Jesus was a master communicator.
Ken Gosnell leads Christian CEO’s and in an article on Jesus and His example of communication. Gosnell said:
“Jesus always knew His audience. He spoke the right words to the right people with the right tone to deliver the right message.”
So...is anyone on the other end of the string? Do you know who they are? Do you know how to draw them in? Do you have a plan and a purpose for your time speaking to them? Is communication really happening or are you just speaking into a disconnected tin can? How critical is this communication process? Paul summed it up this way:
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? Romans 10:14 NLT
You have the tools. You have the plan. You have the message. Do you have the heart for others?
Distractons
Distractions...I've had a few...
Singer Frank Sinatra felt that way about “regrets” as he crooned the song “My Way.” Most of us today would feel that regrets have been eclipsed by distractions today. The coronavirus is a global distraction, as well as being a major health and economic concern. Racial unrest in my country and protesters of all kinds draw our attention more that other things. Distractions. Sometimes it is even the daily impact of our ministry and its needs. Distractions.
You may be asking, “Distractions from what?” Glad you asked.
The other morning Judy and I were reading one of the accounts of Jesus’ feeding of the enormous crowds that sometimes packed around Him to hear His teaching. It happened several times...but Jesus gave a brief and stark response to His disciples when they talked to him about the hunger of the crowd.
Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” Mark 6:35-36 NLT
Sounds like a reasonable suggestion, right? Except for one thing. The disciples were distracted. Distracted by the need. Distracted by the lack of food for the masses. Distracted by their meager resources. And in verse 37, what was that stark response from Jesus?
...“You feed them.”
Can you put yourself in the place of the disciples? They look out over the hillside at the five thousand men, along with women and children. Probably 10 to 15 thousand hungry folks. And then the disciples did what I probably would have done: weigh the options and the obstacles; try to strategize a way to do what the Master said...and come up short. Jesus’ command to His disciples...“You feed them." The disciples’ response?
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” Mark 6:37 NLT
You can almost hear the frustration in their voices. Impossible task. Lacking resources. Yet a clear command from Jesus. I’m thinking there were several awkward seconds that passed as Jesus looked at his key leaders and they looked at Him.
We need to remember that these disciples had seen amazing things happen as Jesus ministered. Their Master had healed the sick, rescued people from demons, calmed the seas...miracle after miracle. But a lack of bread and a large crowd had somehow distracted them from the Lord’s amazing power.
Are you making the application? God has called you to ministry. You have great opportunities. You see the hand of the Lord at work in amazing ways. Then...some obstacle comes up. The need is too great. The resources are too little. The budget is too small. The donations are too few. On and on...distracted by the things we see. And we hear Jesus say, “YOU feed them. YOU do it.” How?
Jesus' plan was simple.
- What DO you have?
- Bring it to me.
“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” Mark 6:38 NLT
Yes, there is a global pandemic. Yes, the global economy is teetering. Yes, we have all sorts of challenges. But Jesus’ direction to the distracted disciples is just as true for us today. What DO you have? Bring it to me.
The few brief words in the opening verses of Hebrews 12 are the key.
“...keeping our eyes on Jesus....”
A. W. Tozer directs us, "If we are to gaze into the face of God, we must look beyond our present circumstances."
I’m sure you know the rest of the story. The people were fed from those meager resources. And as He does again and again, Jesus showed His exceedingly abundant power and love as the disciples brought back more food than they started with. God will make a way...
Distracted? Keep your eyes on Jesus!
Is the long view the wrong view?
My friend Richard Blackaby is trying to lose weight. And part of his plan includes running. I’m not revealing any secrets here. Richard wrote about it the other day. As he explained about the process he was experiencing, he said something that got me thinking. Dr. Blackaby, author of such books as Living Out of the Overflow, and Unlimiting God, set a goal of running in a 10K race. He set a long-term goal. Then he noticed something. He kept getting defeated over and over. The hill before him was too steep. And too long. He got a late start to the day. Many little things deterred him from achieving his goal.
After buying all the right gear...he certainly looked like a runner...he would look down the road too far, and he would be overwhelmed at how distant the goal was. As Blackaby explains...
“I always began my runs with noble intentions. But then I would look at the road ahead. I would see the hill on the horizon, and, inevitably, I’d get psyched out. As I began to ascend the hill, my legs would burn. My heart would race. My head would feel faint, and I’d slow to a walk.”
Are you relating to that? Whether you are a runner or not, we often set lofty goals...good goals...then realize how far away we are from that goal and begin to think of all the obstacles in the way of achieving that goal. Richard Blackaby learned some wisdom in this process. First of all, he learned our minds don’t always do us a favor. “It is amazing how creative your mind can be when it is looking for an excuse not to do what is best!” But there is a more important lesson. Blackaby explains.
“What I have learned is that, sometimes, the long view is a mistake. It involves too many questions and uncertainties.... And, just like that, you’ve talked yourself out of doing something that would have enriched your life and opened new doors of opportunity.”
So, if the long view is sometimes the wrong view, what’s the answer? Keep your vision on the next steps you need to take. Forget the big hill, or how far away the finish line is. Just take the next step...and the next...and the next. In essence, set aside the overall goal, and keep doing the small things that will get you there. Don’t let the long view overwhelm you.
I think of what Paul told the Galatian believers.
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
The long view...the big goal...may discourage you from achieving today what God has for you to accomplish. American preacher Robert Schuller, known for his pithy quotes, often said, “Inch by inch everything’s a cinch.”
Is there ever a time to take a long view? Of course. It is those lofty goals and plans that inspire. Urban planner Daniel Burnham is quoted as leading Chicago in the late 1800s with these words:
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.... Make big plans; aim high in hope and work....”
However, in the day-to-day struggles toward those big plans, keep striving for that next step...and the next. The goal will soon be realized. The accomplishment will bring satisfaction. Others will be inspired. And, as God’s servant, you will be on your way to bringing more glory to the Lord through your life.
Were the good old days really good?
Some friends at a broadcast ministry where I served over 15 years ago were texting about the adventures and memories of those times. And the phrase came up. Those were the “good old days.” I had to answer them. “No...those weren’t the good old days.
They were the GREAT old days.
That got me thinking about those special days. Did we have challenges and problems? Absolutely. Did we have times when we didn’t have the funds we needed to keep the ministry going and growing? Absolutely. So why did we think those days were great...or even good?
I believe it was in the struggle of those days that our outstanding team of servants pulled together even more than usual. Financial struggles caused us to tighten the ministry belt. I remember one staffer going around making sure the lights in the bathroom were turned off. Most folks used both sides of the yellow post-it notes. The monthly staff lunch became a time when each person brought their favorite food, and we all shared.
The struggles of those days led to a stronger relationship among the staff, and a real sense of joy as we overcame challenge after challenge. And we prayed through the difficult days for the Lord to bless. And He did. In spite of the struggles, those times weren’t just good days...they were great days.
Legendary American football coach Lou Holtz explains the importance of struggles in life this way:
“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.”
Blind Helen Keller, who overcame great adversity, reminds us to focus past today’s downturns to what tomorrow may bring.
“Be of good cheer. Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourself a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere, and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.”
A joy in overcoming! That’s a great perspective. And it is a good reminder that today’s struggles and adversities are not the ultimate defining characteristics for us. How we handle the challenges is what makes the difference.
Solomon talked about what we learn from adversity.
If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. Proverbs 24:10 NLT
Peter wrote about the rewards...the hope... we have as we deal with life’s challenges. See how Eugene Peterson paraphrased Peter’s encouragement.
You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. 1 Peter 5:10-11 MSG
We have many challenges and adversities today...from the global pandemic to racial unrest to economic downturns to oppression from those opposed to the Gospel. In 10 years or 20 years, how will we see these days? We can look back and remember the struggles, defeats, and failures. Or we can see the hand of God, we can respond with a positive attitude because of His promises and see days that weren’t just good...but were great!
The Lord gave Joshua advice that serves us well today.
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NLT
These challenging days can be tomorrows “great old days” if you live in the light of God’s promises.
I...or you?
Radio is probably the most intimate of all media platforms available to us today. And those who want to claim all the power of radio...to deliver a message or sell a product...can use that sense of intimacy in a positive way. Of course, if you are in ministry and are proclaiming God’s Truth and offering Jesus as the source of all our hope, you want to do that in the most compelling way. One-on-one is that “most compelling way.”
Whether you are talking about traditional over-the-air radio, online, or podcasting, it is wise to understand how to build that sense of intimacy between the person on the air and the listener. And it is usually done in small and simple ways.
It is often pointed out that those who regularly listen to a person on radio feel like that on-air individual is a personal friend. When you watch someone on television, you don’t get the same feel. It is a difference in these mediums, and it is especially true when someone uses radio well.
Most radio folks know that this communication tool works best when it is considered as one-on-one communication. At least we know that in our head. But does it translate to what we do or say on the air? Any person on the air who says the old phrase, “Hello, everyone out there in radio land!” doesn’t understand this principle. You are not talking to everyone. You are talking to one single, solitary person. Yes, there are many “one’s” out there. But it is just one person.
Valerie Geller in her great book Beyond Powerful Radio underscores that.
“Radio, no matter the delivery method, is very, very personal. People no longer sit around in groups listening to it. Today, much listening is done alone, almost in secret, through headphones, computers, on mobile devices, or in the steel-and glass-enclosed privacy of a car.”
Geller illustrates the application of this principle with a simple example. She says the announcer must consider the other person, that solitary listener, and lean towards them in all you say. In an interview, she gave the following simple illustration.
“Suppose you have tickets to give away to a coming concert or event. It would be normal to say something like, ‘I’ve got four sets of concert tickets to give away in the next hour.’ But you reinforce the one-on-one relationship if you change “I” to “you.” What you would say is ‘You’ve got four chances to win concert tickets in the next hour.”
Do you see the difference? Not “I have tickets...” but “You have four chances...” Slight change...but a big difference. So if a person was doing a traffic report, instead of saying, “All of you on I-30 are in for a big delay,” you would say, “If you are driving I-30 this morning, you may want to consider a different route. Let me give you some alternates.” One-on-one. Personal.
Little things like that can build a relationship with the listener, allowing you to speak God’s truth from friend to friend. Jesus, when speaking to the multitudes, did not say, “All of you folks are the salt of the earth.” Too general. Here is the passage from the Sermon on the Mount.
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden..." Matthew 5:12-14 NLT
Over and over in this brief passage Jesus used the pronoun “you.” The teaching becomes personal. Individual. One-on-one.
And, by the way, this shouldn’t be just a mechanical adjustment. It should reflect the heart of a believer, to consider others before yourself. Paul taught that in his letter to the believers in Philippi.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NLT
So, work on changing your speech...and your heart...from “I” to “you.” See what a powerful difference it can make. By the way, this is not just for radio. It works in life, too. Consider others before yourself, and it will open many doors of opportunity for service, ministry, and the Gospel.
A different angle
I found the idea in a radio book, of all things! Recently I referenced Valerie Geller’s book Beyond Powerful Radio. And though it is for audio professionals, it had a great suggestion for all of us in media. Find another camera angle. What? Another camera angle? For radio?
The idea behind that suggestion works in many areas of media and ministry. God is the great Creator. And He has not stopped the creative process. So, we need to approach our media work with a creative mind. Do you start your program the same way each time? Do you use the same visuals over and over again? Is your writing so predictable that listeners are bored? I have a suggestion for you.
Find another camera angle.
To do this, some people use what they call the prism method. If you hold a prism up to a light you get a wide variety of colors. And the color patterns change as you move the prism. The same prism...the same light...different patterns of colors. If you use this idea as you consider the story you are telling and how you are telling it, you may be able to find a different angle to an old story. And you may be able to freshen up your presentation.
If your ministry helps the poor and the homeless, how do you communicate that? Do you tell about the number of coats and blankets you provide in winter? Do you list how many were given out? How many were helped? These are very normal ways to detail a ministry story.
Think about telling the story from the “angle” of someone who has been poor and homeless all their life. Describe a typical day for someone who has virtually nothing. Then share the wonder of someone...a stranger...arriving to bring needed items. Clothes. Food. Necessities. Simply saying, “We love you...and God loves you. You are valuable to Him.”
I learned the power of finding a new angle some 25 years ago. Our Christian radio station began helping orphan kids in Russia not too many years after Communism fell. We learned that a key need at each orphanage we visited was for shoes. As I made phone reports from Russia to our Dallas station, I told stories. I would detail the existence of a single child, what they had been through in their young life, and their obvious deep need for joy. One small thing that would bring them such joy would be a pair of shoes for the cold Russian winters. The story of one child. Told in about two minutes at most. A different angle.
When I returned home, I learned of men who said they had to pull over to the side of the road because they were weeping. Some recounted my stories almost word for word. And when it came time to ask listeners to donate shoes, we didn’t get the 500 or 600 we were hoping for. We received well over five thousand pairs of winter shoes and boots for children in Russia. The power of a story from a different angle.
I was recently reading some of Jesus’ parables. Sometimes He would explain something, like the kingdom of God, and would use several parables to do so. He was using a “different camera angle” to help the listener better grasp the story. At one point, Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. You are probably ahead of me on that story. The smallest of seeds. Grows into one of the largest of the garden bushes. Birds nest in its branches.
Then Jesus tries another angle.
He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Luke 13:20-21 NLT
Being creative is often hard work. But it is worth the effort. Look at the story you are telling, then look at it from another angle. How can you make it so people want to hear what you are telling and showing them? What will intrigue them? Keep them listening?
Move that “camera” over this way a bit and see if you don’t have a new way of communicating a timeless truth. It will be worth the effort.
There’s no difference
I was a toddler... maybe five or six years old. Even though Texas isn’t the “deep south,” we had our share of racial bias. You could hear it in expressions used casually among regular folks. I remember being in one of the downtown department stores with my mom and siblings. I was thirsty, but there was a line at the “White” water fountain. No one was at the “Colored” water fountain. I remember Mom saying, “Drink here. There’s no difference.” I heard.
My dad had a radio-TV repair shop in downtown Fort Worth. I sometimes rode with him in his 1949 GMC panel truck when he went on calls to take repaired TVs to their owners, or to pick up a broken one. On occasion Dad would have too much work for his small shop, so we would go see Bob Durham in southeast Fort Worth, a black man who also repaired TVs. Dad and Bob treated each other with mutual respect. I watched.
Were there racial prejudices and problems in my hometown? Sure. Were my mom and dad totally without fault in matters of skin color and race? No. And though I learned to respect all people as a young boy, I must admit my heart and my attitudes are not always where they should be. I still need to hear, to watch, and to learn.
Others have said it and I’m the same. I’m sure I don’t understand what our black friends experience or what they and their families have had to endure all their lives. I don’t see the world from their perspective, and that keeps a barrier between us, even though it may be a low cultural wall. Still...it is there.
You may be reading this in another country and are wondering why I am writing this for a Monday Memo. Every country I have visited has racial prejudice among the different ethnic groups. A friend in Russia was concerned for her husband because he was from a different ethnic background, from a region that was engaged in fighting with authorities over their rights. She was afraid he would be attacked on the streets. Sound familiar? If you give it some thought, you can probably come up with a people...an ethnic group...that you struggle with in your heart. “We don’t trust them. We don’t accept them. We don’t relate to them. Bottom line...we don’t love them.” We don’t communicate that in words, but we do with our actions...or lack of action.
Love.
That’s what it comes down to. Do we love others...all others...as we love ourselves? Do we take God’s Word seriously when it says we should consider others more highly than ourselves? Paul underscored the importance of honoring others.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
James taught what discrimination and a judgmental heart reveals about a follower of Christ.
...doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? James 2:4 NLT
The Apostle Paul, that former terrorist and persecutor of those who turned from Judaism to follow Christ, had a change of heart. When Christ came to rule his life, he saw things differently. To the believers in Ephesus he said:
...be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT
That nails me. “...just as God...has forgiven you.” I was forgiven while I was still sinning.
God’s Word reminds us to not be just hearers of the word...but doers. This is a time for action. And it is a time for us to earnestly pray that the Lord might lead us to take steps to reconcile with those of another race, color, or ethnic group. To listen to them. To hear their heart and to try to better understand their world. It won’t be easy and it won’t be perfect. It will be a step.
Judy and I, over the past several days, have reached out to some of our black friends. We wanted to let them know we were hurting with them. That we loved them. A step. A small one. I hope it will lead to further dialogue between our friends of other skin color and other backgrounds. Better understanding. And a better sense of how God sees us and how we should see each other.
Now is the time. The time to listen, learn, and love.
I had THAT dream again
If you have worked in media, you have probably had THAT dream. There are variations for other professions, I’m sure. But for my days in radio, THAT dream was pretty much the same. A couple of nights ago I had an updated version of THAT dream, but it was basically a repetition of earlier versions, even though I have not worked in radio for 14 years.
In THAT dream, I was in a radio studio ready to start my on-air shift. But some things were missing. I had a person on the phone to interview but I had no prep sheet telling me who it was and what we were to talk about. I looked around the studio thinking I could play some music while I looked for this info sheet, but there was nothing to play. Suddenly the interviewee was on the air with me. Yikes. Who was he? What are we supposed to be talking about?
Then...I heard some other voice coming over the air. I looked at the control board trying to find out where this other sound was coming from. I quickly realized the production engineers had rewired the board and nothing was in the same place as before. I was totally lost.
Mercifully, my dream ended before things got any worse.
I’m not Joseph, interpreting dreams for bakers or cupbearers...but I think I know what this dream was reminding me.
Be prepared!
I remember a TV interview I did many years ago with a congressman in his office. I was ready to ask my couple of questions when he said, “I suppose you want to talk about my new House Bill number...” such and such! I had no idea what he was talking about. And that became painfully obvious to both of us. I walked away thinking I never wanted to be unprepared for something like that again.
So...being prepared. What does that mean? Here are some thoughts.
Mark Cole is the CEO of the John Maxwell companies. He likens being unprepared to being out of position. Like a basketball or football player, being out of position usually leads to bad things happening. Being out of position in work or ministry means losing at negotiations or missing out on ministry opportunities. Cole says the reason for being unprepared is almost always the same thing. Lack of planning.
“A frustrating thing about preparation is that it usually takes much more time than the actual event you prepare for. And the preparation is far less glamorous than the event. Spectacular achievement comes from unspectacular preparation.”
I love that last line.
Spectacular achievement comes from unspectacular preparation.
Automobile pioneer Henry Ford said, “Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.”
From a spiritual standpoint, Jesus talked about being prepared when he told the parable of the ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom. Five were prepared with enough oil for their lamps, five were unprepared and were missing when the bridegroom returned (Matthew 25).
How important is it for the Christian to be fully prepared personally, spiritually? Richard Blackaby explains:
“Christians lose many opportunities to experience God’s activity because they have not devoted enough time to their relationship with God. If you have not yet developed the habit of daily prayer and Bible study, why not begin now, so that you will be equipped for whatever life brings?”
Peter urged believers to be prepared to share the hope they have and that the world needs.
And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15 NLT
And about THAT radio dream of mine? It is one dream I hope never becomes reality!
Check your ego
How’s your ego? One of the most challenging things for a leader is dealing with ego...with pride. If things go well, we have a tendency to pat ourselves on the back for the good planning and the good leadership we give that leads to success. If things go wrong, we can come up with a whole list of reasons why our plan failed. Others didn’t execute our good plan as well as they should have. Situational timing caused the plan to miss the mark. Our ego works to keep us on top and others below us.
Someone has said, “A bad day for your ego is a great day for your soul.” That may be a good starting point for us today. Taming our ego...our pride...is one of the most challenging things, and one of the key areas where Satan does his work. Sadly, most of us don’t realize the amazing potential that awaits us if we can just let go of our pride, control our ego, and embrace God’s plan.
The Lord speaks directly about this issue. James said it well.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:10 NLT
When I think about this passage, I like what Ken Blanchard says about EGO. In his book Lead Like Jesus, Blanchard explains our human ego as an anachronym.
EGO = Edging God Out.
That really says it, doesn’t it? When our ego takes over, we claim praise for ourselves that rightly should go to God. We tend to forget that anything we have, think, or do...anything...is a result of God’s grace in our lives. The Lord gives us breath. He brings about circumstances and experiences that help us develop and grow as leaders. And His Spirit provides inspiration to our thoughts. Yet we often simply Edge God Out and let our ego take over. We claim praise that belongs to the Lord and take it as our own. Edging God Out. And that is dangerous.
Through Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord admonishes us.
This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 9: 23-24 NLT
Ken Blanchard offers another definition for EGO that we would be wise to embrace.
EGO = Exalt God Only.
That means doing what Jeremiah wrote those thousands of years ago...boast only that we know God and understand and acknowledge that He alone is God...and we aren’t!
One of the warning signs that we are Edging God Out, according to Blanchard, is the constant use of the pronoun, “I”. I did this. I deserve that. My plans...my ideas....and on and on. Take inventory of your own language and see how many times you fall into this trap. A phrase like, “If the Lord allows...” should be more than a trite slogan. It should permeate all we do. And we need to quickly and sincerely add at the end of an accomplishment, “Praise God for His great work in my life.”
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, gave good advice.
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 NLT
So...what will it be for you and your ego. Will you Edge God Out? Or will you, more and more, day by day, Exalt God Only?
The decision is yours. The glory belongs to God.
