Ron Harris

You work hard at crafting a message, a program, an article for publication. But is that where it ends? Is just expressing yourself or sharing truth, even biblical Truth, through radio, television, digital media or print good enough?

What happens after you send out your message? That’s the big question.

It was the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who thousands of years ago put together his model of communication. It still holds true today. Aristotle was one of the most important philosophers of ancient Greece, and arguably one of the most influential thinkers of all time. His communication model was made up of these components:

• Speaker
• Speech
• Occasion
• Audience
• Effect.

It is pretty obvious you need an audience. No communication happens if there is not a receiver of the message. But it can’t end there. I want to focus your thoughts on the final point…effect.

What do you want to happen to those who read your message, hear your program, or see your social media post? Are they moved to do anything? If not, It would be difficult to say your message was effective.

I have often used the Apostle Paul’s speech to those Greeks who lived a few hundred years after Aristotle. In Acts 17 we see his message to the men of Athens. There are several great points of the speech that he used to draw in the listeners, mentioning the statue to the unknown god, and quoting their own Greek poet. But was the message effective? At the end of the message Paul spoke of the resurrection, and that put an end to his speech.

When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers.

Acts 17:32-34 NLT

It seems the message impacted everyone.

So, take time to evaluate your message. Do you get a response? Even a negative one? Do you get questions from your audience? Are some moved to action? That is when you know real communication has taken place. Strive for that in all your messages.

God’s best,

Did you ever play the child’s game Follow the Leader? One person would be appointed the “leader” and all the other kids lined up behind them. When the game started, the leader would do something…make a move, jump, wiggle their hands…and the “followers” would have to do what the leader did. If they missed it, they were out of the game. A nice game for kids to learn how to follow instructions, concentrate, and exercise motor skills. And it was fun.

All of us are leaders at some level. We may lead a large organization, a small group, or even our family. That leadership role is important. People are watching and following.

And, we are all followers, too. Especially Christ-followers. How are we doing in that activity that is anything but a game? A recent Lead Like Jesus devotional talks about that and the important role we need to play as both leaders and followers:

“We aren’t looking for followers for ourselves; our role is to point people to Jesus as the leader worth following. As we follow Jesus, we invite others to join us on the journey, and we keep pace with them, so they don’t get left behind.”

Someone quipped, “If you want to see if you are a leader, turn around and see if anyone is following.” That’s only partly true. There are many who follow you that you may never see. Young believers may be looking to you to see how to follow Jesus in the everyday activities of life. Some may be looking to you as you go through a major trial to see how you handle it and to see if your faith plays a part during those dark days.

Peter, who knew what it costs to follow Jesus, had strong words of encouragement to those who put their trust in the Lord:

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 NLT

There is a saying in business: Lead, follow, or get out of the way! 

Jesus says: “Follow me, lead others to do the same. For that is the way.”

God’s best,

OK…I’ll be blunt about this. Where is prayer on your ministry or personal To Do list? I’m not talking about the prayer before a meal or at bedtime. I mean, amid plans, preparations, and execution…all the busyness and activity of life and ministry…where and when do you pray?

My morning Bible reading has been in Nehemiah recently, and I was struck by the prayer life of this amazing leader. Many have gleaned great leadership principles from Nehemiah’s account of rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. If you haven’t read it in a while, I would encourage you to do so.

This time my attention was drawn to Nehemiah’s prayers. Within the first verses of the Old Testament that bears his name, Nehemiah prayed several times and in several different ways. Upon learning of the condition of the walls in Jerusalem and the spirit of the people, here is what this great leader did:

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:4 NLT

So, this leader fasted and prayed for days. What follows is a rather long prayer to God, acknowledging His greatness and reminding the Lord of His promises to His people. Then Nehemiah asks for success and favor with King Artaxerxes.

At some point later the king asks Nehemiah what is wrong, and inquires what he, the King, can do to help. Nehemiah flings a very brief prayer to God and responds to Artaxerxes. I imagine Nehemiah saying, “God, help me.”

Do you wonder if this pattern of prayer in the life of Nehemiah had anything to do with his success as a leader? Of course, it did. When you spend time thinking through a situation and praying deeply about it, God is faithful to grant His wisdom.

By the way, the little brief prayer of Nehemiah’s? It was backed up by his extended time with the Lord. Don’t overlook that.

So… look over your To Do list. Where is prayer on that list? More importantly, where will it be for the days to come as you lead?

God’s best,

“It’s not how you start the race that’s important…it’s how you finish!”

I think all of us would like to finish well. We should desire to manage the race in order to make it to the finish line. Admittedly, we usually think of that ultimate finish line…death…when we hope to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” But what about today? Tomorrow? Next week? Don’t you want to finish well then, too?

My pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress spoke about this recently. He said we need to have a goal…a finish line…on a weekly basis, maybe even a daily basis. From my experience, it is so easy to just keep plugging away at the task, feeling like it will never end. What we thought was a sprint turns into a marathon, maybe even a super marathon. Jeffress says we need to change our way of thinking about these tasks.

“We don’t do all there is to do…but all we need to do.”

Here are some practical ways to help move us in the direction of establishing finish lines that allow us to rest and enjoy what the Lord has for us.

• Organize your day, don’t let it just run you. What we call the tyranny of the urgent often overrides other decisions and keeps us from accomplishing the important things. Guard your schedule.
• Know what can wait until tomorrow. Not everything has to be done today. Make your “tomorrow” list as today winds down.
• Delegate…but don’t just dump your to-do list on someone else. Make delegation part of the planning process.
• Turn it off. I once had to instruct a person in media to stop doing his editing work and go to bed. He was letting his ministry work intrude on his family life. Yes, there are times when deadlines have to be met. But with better planning, these become the rare exception, not the normal routine.
• Do something you enjoy. Take a walk. Go shopping. Go out to eat with friends. Play a game.
• Spend time with your family…and especially with your Heavenly Father.

Someone recently commented, “Our internet was down all day. I couldn’t do anything online. So, I went downstairs to visit with my family. They seem like nice people.”

The Apostle Paul often used the running of a race as an illustration of the Christian life. He said of himself:

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

Set a finish line daily. Weekly. Pace yourself as you run the race set before you.

I think I see a checkered flag ahead. I’m wrapping up this Monday MEMO and I’m going to spend some time with my wife.

God’s best,

In the U.S. today people are getting things ready for a cookout, a picnic, hot dogs, fireworks, barbecue, homemade ice cream, and maybe some apple pie. We celebrate our independence with friends and family…and hopefully, with gratitude.

Fred Smith mentored many leaders, and he often talked about the power of gratitude…thankfulness. Smith says, “Authentic gratitude is recognizing and appreciating what we have now, not for what we hope to have.” And Fred Smith points out it isn’t gratitude just for good things in the past, though it’s good to recognize our blessings. Smith says, “It is relatively easy for people to recite a list of past items, but it is sometimes more difficult to express the current ones.”

One struggle we sometimes have with gratitude is that it shows our need for others. Once again, Fred Smith addresses this:

“Gratitude represents dependence. It says, ‘I can’t do this all by myself… I need your help.’ Whether we speak that to parents, teachers, colleagues, or God, it is a sign of humility.”

In a devotional, Henry Blackaby takes gratitude one step further:

“Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we have been forgiven, saved from death, and adopted as God’s children. There could be no better reason for a grateful heart!”

And, as leaders, there is another byproduct of our gratitude. Those around us are blessed, as Fred Smith points out:

“When we acknowledge the contribution of others, we build them up.”

So, enjoy your day, and be grateful.

I recently came across a simple song by Marvin Winans. You may recognize his name as the father of the famous Winan family of singers…CeCe and BeBe and eight others. This pastor and gospel singer talked of seeing a fight break out at a bar he passed by on his way from church. Under conviction, he penned the message:

Who’s gonna tell them Jesus loves them
Who’s gonna tell them there’s a better way
Who’s gonna warn them of the things coming on them
So God can turn their nights to day

I listened as Winans and the singers repeated the little chorus again and again. Then it shifted:

I’m gonna tell them Jesus loves them
I’m gonna tell them there’s a better way

That simple shift of focus is monumental. It’s one thing to ask, “Who?” and quite another thing to respond, “I will be the one to warn them, to tell them.”

I needed that. I sometimes think what I do in Christian communications is all I need to do. Helping others share God’s hope. That’s good…but it can’t be all I do.

Jesus didn’t just talk about healing people. He healed them. He didn’t just tell others of God’s path that leads to eternal life. He walked the path…right to the Cross.

Though Jesus’ disciples stumbled a few times, they ultimately “walked the talk” even to the point of their death.

At MEDIAlliance we are privileged to serve with some of the Lord’s most amazing servants. They build ministries, grow their media reach, and guide dedicated staff. Is that enough?

I think God calls each of us to be a personal witness of the Lord’s love and saving power. Is it sometimes uncomfortable? Sometimes awkward? Yes. But we should get beyond that. Jesus did.

As needed, we must answer the call and shift our focus from just asking who is going to tell others, warn others, point others to a better way…to responding from our heart, “I’m gonna tell them Jesus loves them.”

Can I get an amen?

I hope that doesn’t make you uncomfortable. For some of us, the word “intelligence” causes us to think back to our school days, and those thoughts can zero in on a failed test or a failed class. Rarely do we think of our best experiences in school. Or…is that just me?

The latest buzz words today are “artificial intelligence.” My colleague Kyle Gilbert is often stepping into my office to share with me the latest application of AI in writing, graphics, photographs, and more. (By the way…this is really me writing this Monday MEMO…not AI. I am not a robot!)

Another phrase gaining popularity is emotional intelligence. Here is a good definition:

…the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman talks of the five areas of emotional intelligence:

• Empathy
• Effective communication or social skills
• Self-awareness
• Self-regulation
• Motivation

Many people in our organizations are looking for leaders who exhibit these qualities.

Our MEDIAlliance friend Steve Gutzler is something of an authority on managing emotional intelligence for leadership purposes. He has some ways to build up your emotional intelligence for effective leadership.

1. Be mindful of setting your emotional tone early in the morning. Be positive and grateful.
2. Rather than being a self-critic, be a self-coach who builds your self-confidence.
3. Channel your energy into something productive and joyful each day.
4. Focus on one percent improvement each day.
5. Maintain a healthy diet and ensure a good night’s rest.

There is much more to emotional intelligence, but these steps can be good starting points.

As I share these suggestions, I remember the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Philippian church on setting our emotional tone.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 NLT

Try that…and see what a difference it can make in the team around you.

God’s best,

True confession. I love to laugh. And I love to see others laugh. In elementary school I got into trouble on more than one occasion for trying to make my classmates laugh. I still gauge the value of my days by how much joy I shared or received. Just this morning as I headed off to work, my wife instructed me, “You boys have fun today.” Judy knows me well.

Spiritual and leadership mentor Fred Smith wrote: “Humor is part of a healthy rhythm of life. It relieves the monotony. It improves the taste, like salt on vegetables or the meat.” It seems I am always looking for humor in the midst of life. And, believe me, it is there if you look for it.”

Humor is not just telling jokes. There is a difference between a comedian who tells jokes and a humorist who sees the funny in the ordinariness of everyday life. American humorist Will Rogers once said, “Things ain’t what they used to be…and never were.” One of his most famous quotes is still true some 80 years after Rogers’ death:

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”

I recently attended my 60th anniversary high school reunion. The last one I attended was the 40th one and I noticed some major differences. First, there were more walkers and canes than previously. Second, there was a contest to see who had the most hip replacement surgeries. (Judy won with four.) And third, the event started at 5:00 p.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m. so folks could get back home before dark and take their nighttime medicines. Humor often comes from truth.

Fred Smith quoted a doctor friend who told him, “Laughter has been linked by longstanding tradition with longevity. One thing almost all very healthy elderly patients have in common is their sense of humor.”

The Bible provides a foundation for that and a warning for those who don’t apply humor to their life:

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Proverbs 17:22 NLT

After an amazing spiritual service and the reading of the Law of the Lord, Prophet Nehemiah instructed the people to have a feast and share joy with others. He concluded with these words:

“…This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

So go ahead…laugh a little. It will bring others joy. At the very least it will make people wonder, and it just might start a great conversation when they ask, “What’s so funny?”

God’s best,

Recently I attended a dinner where singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman performed. Chatting with him, I told him I had been thinking of one of his songs all week. Maybe you remember it.

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call

No other reason at all but the sake of the call

Wholly devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call

I wonder if we really believe that. I think of the hymn many of us sing in our churches:

All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

And then the chorus:

I surrender all, I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Savior

I surrender all

Do we? Do we surrender all?

There is a book that tells the life of Bible teacher Oswald Chambers. His material through the years became that best-selling devotion My Utmost for His Highest. The book on Chambers’ life is called Abandoned to God.

Are we? Abandoned to God?

Jesus, over and over, told would-be followers to leave all, to sell their possessions and give it to the poor before becoming His disciple. Did Jesus mean that? When Christ called those fishermen to be his disciples, the Bible tells us they just walked away from their fishing business, they left it all behind to be a follower of Jesus.

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Matthew 4:19-20 NLT

I wonder what God could do in our lives, our ministries, if we could be fully abandoned to Him. Steven Curtis Chapman’s song goes on to say:

Not for the sake of a creed or a cause

Not for a dream or a promise

Simply because it is Jesus who called

And if we believe we’ll obey

Maybe we need a fresh look at Jesus…and His call on our lives.

God’s best,

What gets you excited? What is it that gets your heart beating a bit faster and causes you to focus more intently on what’s before you?

My friend and leadership expert Steve Gutzler shared some thoughts on the importance and value of passion in all we do. Here are some of his points:

• Passion invigorates achievement.
• Passion inspires you from the inside out.
• Passion sustains you during tough times.
• Passion expands you and pushes boundaries.

Paul encouraged those to whom he ministered to be people of passion in their service to the Lord.

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Romans 12:11 NLT

One leadership ministry described passion this way:

“Passion is the God-given desire that compels us to make a difference in a particular area of life or in a ministry.”

Making a difference. That is what the Lord calls us to do. Make a difference. And the passion for the Lord and what He has for us to do in ministry ought to compel us to give, as Oswald Chambers phrased it, our utmost for His glory.

God-given passion calls us to choose a different path than many might take. Not being complacent or comfortable but pushing forward with passion. Pastor and author Mark Batterson put it bluntly:

“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.”

What’s your passion? How is it driving you as you lead and serve others?

God’s best,