Like Getting a Scholarship!
How would you like to go to college or graduate school and have someone else pay the price? Most of us would snap that up in an instant. It is great to learn, but even better to learn on someone else’s nickel...or drachma...or rupee...or... you get the idea.
Life is often referred to as “The School of Hard Knocks.” And there is a price to pay for our stumbles in life. While we can learn from our own mistakes, our own failures along the way, there is a better way.
For a life-long learner like you, this is good news. The Bible even talks about it as a great strategy. Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, commented on this concept in a devotional from their radio/TV ministry, Pathway to Victory.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]An important principle about learning from our failures is this: learn on someone else’s nickel. It is good to learn from your failure. But it is better to learn from somebody else’s failure. Failure is like tuition we pay for a college course. Wouldn’t it be great to have somebody else pay that fee? That is what the Bible says we can do. We can profit by learning from other people’s failures.[/blockquote]
Dr. Jeffress goes on to use the example of Solomon found in Proverbs 24. The wisest man who ever lived was walking and saw the field of a sluggard, an obviously lazy man. Rather than just complain or put the person down, Solomon set about to learn from what he observed. And what he saw was a field that was overgrown with weeds and vines and whose wall was broken down from lack of attention. What did Solomon learn?
[blockquote author="Proverbs 24:32-34 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.[/blockquote]
Someone else paid the price, and Solomon gained the life lesson.
I wonder how many times we observe something around us and simply complain or overlook the potential educational opportunity. We often, as parents, look for “teachable moments” for our children. We help them learn a lesson from their own failure. But how much better if they...or if we...can learn from the mistakes of others? The late American humorist Sam Levinson put it in perspective:
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.[/blockquote]
Now, with eyes wide open, let’s go to school!
The 18-Minute Wall
We often hear about attention spans being shorter and shorter. While I don’t automatically buy into that supposition (people will sit with a friend for hours and talk), there is a limit to what we can impart to an audience.
You may have occasions to talk to staff, volunteers, donors, or others interested in your ministry and work. It would serve you well to know about the 18-minute wall.
In his book The Articulate Executive author Granville Toogood tells of a study done by the U. S. Navy in the 1970s. They wanted to see how long sailors would listen to instruction or lectures and retain what they heard. The results of the study...18 minutes!
Most of us don’t have the ability to limit our speeches and messages to just 18 minutes. So, what do we do to insure the audience absorbs what we are saying? Toogood has some suggestions.
1. Use Q and A’s (questions and answers) in your presentation. The author suggests going about 15 minutes and then opening the floor for questions.
2. Use another speaker. You may be able to bring in another person on your staff who works in the particular area you are discussing, or who serves in another capacity related to your topic. They can speak for 2-3 minutes and clarify or amplify a particular area for the audience.
3. Show a tape. If you can highlight and give an overview of your ministry, your area of interest, it will refresh the audience and also give them a better picture of what you are doing. Remember...a picture is worth at least a thousand words.
4. Tell a ministry story. Tell an anecdote every few minutes...a recollection of something in your life, or something you have seen on TV or in a movie that relates. On this point the author uses Billy Graham as an example, and the well-chosen illustrations that Dr. Graham used to vividly back up the spiritual points he was making. Toogood wrote that Graham’s points were “... not just scattered or used randomly but are linked to one clear theme...in this case, redemption and salvation.”
When I teach or hold media seminars, I have to be careful that I don’t just drone on and on. Sometimes we feel we have a lot of information to share and a limited time to get it all in. If we remember the 18-minute wall and plan for the limitations of the audience, we can be more effective in our presentation, our leadership, and in sharing the story of God’s work through our ministries.
Say YES to No!
I remember those years. Good things were happening in ministry. Others were excited about what they saw. And requests would come in to do this, speak there, meet with these folks, lead this workshop, serve on this committee...and on and on. Most of the time...I said YES. It was as if the word “no” wasn’t in my vocabulary.
To be honest, I haven’t progressed too far down the road, but I have learned there is nothing wrong with saying no to something that is not a priority. It isn’t easy. And it is even harder to do without guilt when it is a good friend or colleague who is asking.
Recently, my friend Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth helped me better understand the whole concept of saying no in a devotional from her book, The Quiet Place. Your own to-do list is usually augmented by the to-do list others have for you...especially if you are in leadership.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]There will seldom be enough time in a twenty-four-hour day for you to do everything that is on your to-do list. For sure, there will never be enough time for everything that is on everyone else’s list for your life! You can’t spend time with every person who wants to talk, read all the books you’d like, and tackle every project you’re interested in....[/blockquote]
So, what is the secret? How do you prioritize things that all seem like a priority? The answer is in the life of Jesus. He didn’t do everything others wanted Him to do. He didn’t heal everyone, feed everyone, calm every storm, or raise every dead person to life. What was Christ's guiding principle? Jesus did what His Father had for Him to do. He had God’s to-do list...His priority. In Jesus’ high priestly prayer to His Heavenly Father found in John 17, the Lord said,
[blockquote author="John 17:4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.[/blockquote]
Did you see that? Jesus said He did what His Father gave Him to do. Great insight for us today.
There will be many demands on you, your time, your talent, your knowledge, your energy. Which among them is God’s will for you? Which ones are obviously part of the Lord’s plan for you? More importantly, which ones...though good things to do...are NOT in His will for you? Setting the parameters and priorities according the Lord’s plan will make saying “no” a bit easier. As Nancy Wolgemuth says,
[blockquote]All you have to do is the work God assigns to you. And believe it or not, there is always time (and grace) to do everything that is on His to-do list for you.[/blockquote]
Hmmm...I think I may still need to work on that in my own life these days.
Watch what you're saying!
There is no way around it. If you lead, you speak. While you may not have to give a long oratorical speech or bring a Sunday sermon, you still find yourself standing before others sharing vision, strategy, and overall mission for your organization. Often it is in relation to your ministry or organization when it comes to funding. And, to be honest, many leaders don’t spend enough time in preparation for the opportunities they have to speak.
In his book, The Articulate Executive, Granville N. Toogood (yep, that’s his name) gives some great insight into how to prepare for those opportunities that come our way as leaders. After listing some incredible world and corporate leaders and their accomplishments, Toogood says they all possessed what he calls the three C’s.
1. Competence – You have to be at least fairly good at what you do. And you also have to have a few extra skills handy: computer skills...and maybe a working knowledge of marketing and financial services.
2. Clarity – You’ve got to be able to see beyond the job, have some historical perspective and a knowledgeable overview, understand trends, and be able to project fairly accurately into the future. You have to be willing to acknowledge and embrace change. Many call this having a vision.
3. Communication – This is the element most often lacking in the equation...the element that says you’ve got to be able to share your knowledge and information, even your vision, with other people. The only way you can ever be a leader is to learn to speak effectively.
Toogood gives five key elements that will help any presentation.
1. Strong start
2. One theme
3. Good examples
4. Conversational language
5. Strong ending
You could spend a lot of time on each of these points but let me just expand on the first one...a strong start. I have been guilty of starting a message rather softly, building up slowly to what the presentation is about. A better way is to start with the ending. Use the conclusion...where you are headed... in your opening. It nails down where you are taking them, and lets the audience know what you are wanting them to understand or learn.
So rather than say, “It‘s great to be with you today. We have a really good ministry. And lots of people are listening every day...” you could start with something like, “Traditional radio remains a powerful tool. But every day more and more people are turning off their radio and turning on their smart phone. While we must maintain our position in traditional broadcasting, we cannot ignore how a new generation is receiving their information and entertainment.”
Direct. To the point. And then you build your case and share your vision.
I remember how the Apostle Paul spoke to a less than friendly audience on Mars Hill at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. As he addressed the curious Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, Paul quickly got to his point.
[blockquote author="Acts 17:22-23 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]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.[/blockquote]
Your communication skills may not be all you would like them to be today. But if you are willing to work and prepare, you can be the leader the Lord has called you to be...for His purpose...His will...His ministry...and His glory.
Where are our tears?
I’m writing this under conviction. It is as much to me as to you. The question, “Have we lost our tears?” impacts me personally as I look at my spiritual life and the things that concern me most.
A favorite Old Testament book of mine is Nehemiah. There is so much in the story of the cupbearer to the king who became God’s leader for his day. So, when my long-time friend, Dr. O. S. Hawkins came out with another one of his “Code” books (The James Code, The Daniel Code, The Jesus Code), I took note to see what God might have for me today. The new book is titled The Nehemiah Code: It’s Never Too Late for a New Beginning.
You remember Nehemiah’s story. The Israelites had been exiled. Only a remnant remained in Jerusalem, and the enemy took advantage of that, tearing down the walls of the city of David, making the people more vulnerable to attacks. Nehemiah was in exile, too, but his heart was with his people in Jerusalem. He sought out people who could tell him what was happening there. And what he learned impacted him greatly.
[blockquote author="Nehemiah 1:4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.[/blockquote]
Dr. Hawkins lists several things of note that Nehemiah did upon learning this tragic news.
He made an honest evaluation of the situation.
He identified with the need of the people.
He mourned, fasted, and prayed.
And he did one more thing.
Nehemiah wept.
I grew up in an era when churches sometimes had all-night prayer meetings. They were marked by passionate prayer...and tears. I have read of more recent outbreaks of God’s spirit. They are characterised by fervent prayer, confession of sin...and weeping.
So, I have to ask myself as I ask you...where are the tears today? Where is the passion for the will of the Lord in our world, our culture, our lives, our family, ourselves? Where?
Most of us want to be seen as strong leaders. We want others to look to us to draw insight and wisdom. We want to be seen as a powerful person in the Lord’s army. Weeping seems weak. And as a leader, we don’t want to be weak.
What did the Apostle Paul say to the Corinthians?
[blockquote author="2 Corinthians 11:30 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.[/blockquote]
O. S. Hawkins says that Nehemiah recognized his inability to do anything on his own. Yet he was so overwhelmed by the need, he knew he must do something. In The Nehemiah Code, Hawkins says,
“The more I have studied the process of rebuilding, the more convinced I have become that one never rebuilds until he personally identifies with the need and weeps over the ruins. We live in a culture that seems to have lost its tears.
“Nehemiah did what all godly leaders must do: he drew strength from outside himself, from His Lord.”
Godly tears equal passion. And without passion for the things you see around you, you will most likely never see your goal accomplished.
As I understand it, the objective is not “tears.” The objective is such a deep passion for the Lord...His will and His ways...that we immerse ourselves completely in accomplishing the Lord’s plan...in His strength, even to the point of tears.
What do Others see in you?
Remember the old question? If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The possible answers to that question have been debated for years. I have another question for you. If someone never heard your testimony, but watched how you worked, would they know you were a Christian?
We are so success oriented in our world today that we think we are judged by what we attain, our level of success. God is more interested in the process we are going through in our spiritual journey than He is in our level of achievement.
I was watching an interview with Dr. Henry Blackaby about a monthly phone forum he had with top CEOs in the United States. He said several things that caught my attention. Blackaby talked about our character determining the assignment the Lord has for us.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]He (God) is concerned about our character…and He will be developing your character.... He will never give a large assignment to a small character.[/blockquote]
Architect, film producer, and author Raymond Harris has just released another book, Business by Design. It’s based on his study of Jesus’ parables and their application to running a business or running a ministry or nonprofit for that matter. Harris writes that through his study of the parables he has learned who he should be.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]I am to be a person of righteous character who is rich in good deeds, and I am to do the work of Christ on this earth by being His hands and feet.[/blockquote]
There’s that word again. Character. In spite of what we see in politics, in the public marketplace, or even sometimes in the pulpit, character does matter. And in many ways, it is by your godly character that people come to recognize there is something in you that makes you different. It is how you treat others. It is in your genuine love for those around you. And it is evident in your main goal...to please God and not man.
Some might say, “Yeah, but the Christian world isn’t the real world today.” That is exactly right. Raymond Harris underscored that in his book.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]The world’s economy operates only in the physical world into which you were born; you naturally believe it to be the most real. God’s economy operates in the spiritual world that is unseen by your eyes; it calls you into a greater and more enduring reality...a reality that the physical can never provide.[/blockquote]
So, you are in a leadership role. Maybe the head of a business, nonprofit, ministry, or charitable organization. What is your purpose in being in that position? Again, Henry Blackaby has some insight.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Your position is not so you will be recognized by men, but so that you will be used by God.[/blockquote]
Does the person who does business with you suspect something different about you? What about your staff? Can they see and even experience God’s love flowing through you to them? God wants to use you for His purpose, to accomplish His will in the lives of those around you.
Are you living a life of godly character so that the Lord can give you the next assignment He has for you?
Vision in the Midst of the Mundane
I have often said that on many days, ministry just seems like work. No mountain top experience. Just mundane activities and tedious things to do. What carries us through days (or weeks) like that? I am convinced that it is the overarching vision and passion that God gives to His leaders.
Moses had some amazing moments with the Lord. Talking to a burning bush. Seeing miracle after miracle before Pharaoh. The waters parting. Manna from heaven. Water from a rock. Miraculous moments.
Yet in between these high points for Moses were many tedious days he had to endure. Tough days. Contentious days. Disappointing days. How did Moses keep going? I believe it was the vision and promise the Lord gave him, and Moses’ passion to serve the Lord with his whole heart.
My friend Dr. Ramesh Richard reminded me recently that God doesn’t give a vision to a committee. He gives it to individuals who are faithful to His call on their lives, and it is their responsibility to live and work in light of that vision. And...to pass the vision on to others.
Oswald Chambers in his daily devotional book My Utmost for His Highest wrote about vision and how we can hold on to what God has given us even in the struggles of life.
[blockquote author="Oswald Chambers" link="" target="_blank"]If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all up with the vision God has given. The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for God’s highest, and this can only be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings.[/blockquote]
The apostle Paul in his testimony before King Agrippa was able to declare,
[blockquote author="Acts 26:19 (KJV)" link="" target="_blank"]...I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.[/blockquote]
So how do you keep that godly vision when you are slogging through the muck and mire of a mundane (or worse) day? How do you inspire others to work and follow the “heavenly vision” that drives you?
Many organizations and corporations print up the vision statement, mount it on the walls, and ask their key leaders to memorize it. These are efforts to make sure that when difficult days come, the vision will keep the business or ministry on track and moving forward toward its goal.
Writing for Entrepreneur magazine, Andre Lavoie presented some steps to ensure that everyone in your organization understands and operates in accordance with the vision.
- Reinforce the company vision by tying it to team and individual goals.
- Promote the company vision by always making sure it’s visible.
- Share success stories that realize the company vision.
These are good reminders for our ministries and Christian organizations.
Again, Oswald Chambers spoke of the challenges facing a leader as he lives and shares God’s vision.
“It is essential to practice the walk of the feet in the light of the vision.”
Are you having one of those mundane days? Here are some steps to take:
- Revisit the vision God has given you.
- Recommit to His will and His way.
- Reveal to those who serve with you how the Lord is using and blessing the vision for eternal purposes.
It's complete surrender
You probably know the name Eric Liddell, especially if you have seen and remember the movie “Chariots of Fire.” This 1981 film told the story of a Scottish Olympian who, in the 1924 Paris Olympics, refused to run his main race because the qualifying round was being run on Sunday. Eric Liddell was the son of Scottish missionary parents and had been born in China when they served there. Eric was strong in his faith, and as the film detailed, he competed in a race that he was not fully prepared for. Yet the Lord honored his commitment, and Eric Liddell not only won the 400-meter race, winning Gold for Scotland, he set a world record in that event.
The most famous line from the film was Eric telling his sister Jenny, “God…made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” What a beautiful line that can be applied in many ways in our own lives.
For most of us, that’s all the story of Eric Liddell that we know. But there is more. In fact, the line that was uttered in the movie about God making Eric fast was in context about him eventually going back to China as a missionary when he finished running. And he did just that.
Author Randy Alcorn wrote about this part of Eric’s life recently. While in China, the country became occupied by the Japanese, and Eric and many others were rounded up and placed in a squalid prison camp. Many stories have emerged in later years of Eric Liddell organizing and refereeing sports for the many kids in the camp. At some point, Eric developed a brain tumor. And it was in that filthy prison camp hospital that Eric Liddell died.
Some would call this a great waste. Those children, and many others in the camp, didn’t feel that way. One survivor said of life in those conditions, “...without the faithful and cheerful support of Eric Liddell, many people would never have been able to manage." That survivor went on to say,
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]…None of us will ever forget this man who was totally committed to putting God first, a man whose humble life combined muscular Christianity with radiant godliness.[/blockquote]
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth also wrote of Eric’s life and its seemingly tragic end. Yet even then, there was a sense of victory.
[blockquote author="Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth" link="" target="_blank"]On February 21, 1945, Eric lay in a hospital bed, struggling to breathe, drifting in and out of consciousness. Suddenly his body erupted into a violent convulsion. Shocked, the nurse tending to his care scooped him up into her arms to calm his trembling body. Then, in those fleeting seconds before he slipped into a coma, she heard him speak these final words in a barely audible voice, no doubt reflecting on the span of his life’s choices: ‘Annie,’ he said, ‘it’s complete surrender.’[/blockquote]
Complete surrender.
What did the Apostle Paul say about gain and loss?
[blockquote author="Philippians 3:8 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ...[/blockquote]
You may be in a very real struggle today. You may be dealing with what seems like a loss by today’s standards. Yet if we are living in complete surrender to the Lord Jesus and His will for our lives, we can recognize that every victory here on earth is worthless compared to what the Lord has for us if we remain faithful to Him, day in and day out, no matter the circumstances.
It is complete surrender to Christ and His cause that brings ultimate joy and victory.
Words and Attitudes
There was an article a while back that listed ten things extraordinary people say every day. No I’m not sure if they followed a lot of extraordinary people around and took down what they said. I don’t even know who those extraordinary people were. Did they contact you? Well, whatever their methodology, there are some good thoughts in the article.
The writer is Jeff Hayden of Inc.
Without listing all of Jeff’s point, let me revisit a few of them.
"Here's what I'm thinking."
You're in charge, but that doesn't mean you're smarter, savvier, or more insightful than everyone else. Back up your statements and decisions. Give reasons. Justify with logic, not with position or authority. Though taking the time to explain your decisions opens those decisions up to discussion or criticism, it also opens up your decisions to improvement.
"I was wrong."
When you're wrong, say you're wrong. You won't lose respect--you'll gain it.
“Can you help me?"
When you need help, regardless of the type of help you need or the person you need it from, just say sincerely and humbly, "Can you help me?" I promise you'll get help. And in the process, you'll show vulnerability, respect, and a willingness to listen--which, by the way, are all qualities of a great leader.
"I'm sorry."
We all make mistakes, so we all have things we need to apologize for: words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, show support... say you're sorry.
But never follow an apology with a disclaimer like "But I was really mad, because..." or "But I did think you were..." or any statement that in any way places even the smallest amount of blame back on the other person. Say you're sorry, say why you're sorry, and take all the blame. No less. No more.
Nothing.
Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If you're upset, frustrated, or angry, stay quiet. You may think venting will make you feel better, but it never does. Before you speak, spend more time considering how employees will think and feel than you do evaluating whether the decision makes objective sense. Be quiet until you know exactly what to say--and exactly what effect your words will have.
Victorian novelist George Eliot wrote, “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.”
King Solomon also spoke of this.
[blockquote author="Proverbs 17:27 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.[/blockquote]
What will an extraordinary person like you be caught saying... or not saying... as you lead those around you?
Turn Down the Volume
My friend Dr. Brent Taylor shared a brief devotional with a group recently, and it packed a punch. This busy pastor had just finished a seven-week sabbatical that his church gave him, so he could be refreshed and renewed. Very thoughtful of his church.
The phrase that caught my attention as Brent spoke was “the volume of life.” He wasn’t talking about quantity, like “the abundant life.” No, this pastor, professor, speaker, husband, and father was reflecting on all the things swirling around us every day that pull us away from God and His best for us. We are media people, and we have to recognize that we are part of that volume, that noise. And we are subjected to the volume of life that robs us of our time and attention for the Lord.
Have you ever come to the end of a busy day and realized you didn’t read your Bible or have any quality (much less quantity) time with the Lord? That wasn’t what you intended. The volume of life drowned out God’s still, small voice...God’s desire to communicate with you. I can speak from experience. This happens.
Brent probed a little deeper when he confessed that though he says the Lord is the most important thing in his life and in his schedule, “My life shows I am a liar.” Ouch. I’m thinking there are days that if someone followed me and tracked how I spent my time, I would fall into that same category.
So, what do we do? Live like a monk in a monastery? I doubt that is God’s plan for us. Remember the admonition to be in the world and not of it? But Jesus did give a warning about being caught up in the things of this world when he talked of the sower and the seed.
[blockquote author="Mark 4:19 NASB" link="" target="_blank"]…but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.[/blockquote]
Turn down the volume!
Carve out quality time in God’s Word. Don’t be distracted from God’s best. Spend more time listening to the Lord’s voice than in giving Him the list of things on your agenda. Turn off the radio, the TV, withdraw from social media if you need to. Let God’s voice into your life.
The old hymn says:
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give.
Do we surrender these noisy things in our lives so we can spend time with our Lord? Do we freely give Him our time and attention? I’m thinking about these things today. I have some adjustments to make.