Category: Leadership

Sheep without a Shepherd

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

Last week Amy received a group text message alerting us to a rogue sheep wandering through our community. In the cultivated lawns of suburbia we see squirrels, rabbits, and on occasion, even deer. What I’ve never seen apart from the fair, the petting zoo, or the ranch, is a fluffy white sheep just milling about. Yesterday, while driving, I spotted this mysterious sheep walking around the dam just down the street from our house. It’s like a little shock to the system-this critter is out of place. He obviously belongs on a farm somewhere along with at least a few others of his kind. I don’t know how he ended up here. Did he escape his enclosure or was he intentionally released “into the wild?” How is he going to survive?

It reminds me of one of passage in the Bible where Jesus uses sees a crowd of people and has compassion because they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” Like the little guy wandering around my neighborhood, there are many who are wandering through life without any direction. As a pastor this passage points me in three directions.

First, Jesus saw the crowd. As pastors we must be out there with our spiritual eyes open. It is easy to get in our holy huddles. It is easy to entrench ourselves “in the study.” This isn’t to say that networking with other believers, pastors, or ministry leaders is not important, it is. It’s not to say that we shouldn’t be spending ample time preparing the message(s) for the upcoming week. Those are good things that shouldn’t distract us from the mission: seeking to reach those that are far from God and bring the ultimate message of healing and hope.

Second, Jesus had compassion. The reality is that we are going to face rejection, criticism, and opposition. We must, however, resist the temptation to allow our hearts to grow cold and our minds to grow cynical, even after repeated attacks. I recently read a post by Pastor Kurt Bubna who wrote on this topic and encourages pastors to

“Guard your heart. Don’t be cynical. Don’t live in fear of rejection. Remember, Jesus too went from awesome to awful in the minds of many. He understands, so take your pain to Him when you are rejected.”

Kurt Bubna “5 THINGS EVERY LEADER SHOULD REMEMBER WHEN REJECTED”

Third, Jesus took action. Compassion short of action is simply an emotion. Jesus didn’t just look at the crowd and feel bad. He did what he was called to do and “began to teach them many things.” As pastors we are called to teach. We are called to teach the Gospel. We are called to equip our generation with the truth of the Bible as it relates to our world.

Points to Ponder:

-If you are stuck in a “holy huddle” ask yourself the question, “How can I break out of this and break into the world around me?”

-If you’ve found your heart has grown cold, ask the Lord to eyes and heart to the needs around you.

-What are you doing to stay on mission, to stay on target, and to advance the gospel in your home, workplace, school, and community?

Digital Decluttering

Like it or not we live in a digital world. There are a lot of positives that come with being as connected as we are. Sometimes a quick text or email can help our team or family make on-the-spot decisions that can save quite a bit of grief now or in the future. Back in October of last year we had planned a trip to the beach, though we did not plan for a hurricane to make landfall the week before. Though the storm had passed without major damage, it had dumped a tremendous amount of rain and most of the roads we normally use were flooded and impassible. Through the Waze app, we were able to take advantage of the reports of other drivers who were constantly updating the road conditions, alerting us to unknown trouble ahead. What would have been a dangerous trip just a few years ago we were able to make safely due to technology (this technology did not extend any assistance to the swarms of mosquitos we faced that were spawned by the floodwaters, however!).

What we do face now in this digital world is an overwhelming surge of information. In the beginning of the world-wide-web, we went in search of the information. Now, the information comes straight to us-in the form of texts, emails, and notifications. With artificial intelligence and machine learning, the “bots” now know where we like to go, what we like to eat, what we like to do, and what new interesting thingamajig we should buy now and get free one day shipping. Linger too long on a picture of a sofa and next thing you know that same sofa is appearing in the sidebar on all the other websites you browse as well as several followup emails. With our smartphones, our smartwatches, tablets, computers, smart speakers, and connected devices constantly alerting us to the next bit of information it makes the Amish lifestyle look pretty good. The information overload can be immense at times and as Amy and I bemoaned recently, the 2020 Presidential election is just warming up (cue the endless robocalls, texts and emails that are impossible to stop).

I’ve found it helpful to periodically do a digital decluttering. Just like you would clean up your office, your desk, your room, your closet, your garage, (etc.), it’s important to clear up our digital workplaces and tools. Here are two suggestions that have been part of my regular routine:

1. Get control of your email.

Create some healthy separation. I literally get inundated with emails. Some are legitimate, others are not. Email marketing has exploded so my inbox gets littered with all kinds of promotions. I know this might sound dated, but when I transitioned from pastoring full-time to the marketplace, I quickly realized the necessity of maintaining a separate email address. I didn’t need to have legitimate work emails get lost in the shuffle of amazon and apple receipts and notifications, not to mention the 1000 of other benefits of having the same personal @yahoo email address since the 1990’s.

Get to inbox zero as quickly as possible. I never dreamed I could do it, but the feeling is amazing. Carey Niewouf has a very helpful post entitled, 3 Simple Steps to Get to Inbox Zero on his site. It’s not rocket science, but so helpful if you can do get there and stay there.

Turn down the notifications. You can do this on all your devices. For me it means my phone doesn’t continually fetch for email unless I specifically open the email app. Email is a less immediate form of communication (unlike phone calls or texts) and I’ve found that it helps stay focused to checking email when I have time to check email, not whenever email feels like it (I.e., constantly).

2. Clean Up Your Workspace

They say a cluttered desk is sign of a cluttered mind. That can be said of our desktop (on our computers) or the number of apps on our tables and smartphones.

For the laptops or desktops we need to periodically clean the actual desktop screen. You know, all the random files or icons that may have found their way there as a result of needing to download or find something quickly. Clean it up, file away the things that need to be saved, and delete what you don’t need. It might mean uninstalling some old, outdated applications that you no longer need. For our smartphones and tables take a look at your apps in the same way. We may have downloaded hundreds of the latest and greatest game, app, or time waster that is simply cluttering up and taking up space on our device. Clear it out and simplify your life.

Just like tidying up a room can improve your well-being, getting a handle on the digital clutter can help your mind breathe and relax. With the advance of technology continuing to pick up speed it looks like we are going to have to stay vigilant and take back our devices for our own sanity!

How about you, what are some tips for digital decluttering you would add to the list?

Sunday Night Stress

Photo by Inzmam Khan on Pexels.com

I recently came across a study that concluded that 76% of Americans deal with an increased amount of anxiety on Sunday night concerning the impending arrival of Monday and the beginning of the workweek. While it may be called Sunday Night Stress, Sunday Night Blues, or even the Sunday Scaries, whatever it’s called it seems to be having an effect. Personally, I do fine Sunday night, it is at whatever point that I wake up on Monday morning do I feel the stress of “all the things” that need to be done to begin the week. This feeling abates little by little as I accomplish those things and usually by mid-afternoon I can take a deep breath and begin to feel normal again.

Practically speaking what can be done to mitigate or eliminate Sunday Night Stress altogether? Proper planning throughout the week may help. If you aren’t procrastinating or putting things off through the week it will definitely reduce the amount of stress on Monday morning. I’ve found that if I do certain tasks at the end of each work, day in preparation, it makes the next morning go much more smoothly. Having a proper perspective may also help. There may seasons in your work where you know they are going to be busier or more stressful by their nature. Learning the cycles of your business will help you prepare your mindset to know “it won’t be like this forever, just for now.” Also, it may be that there are stressful aspects to your job that are unavoidable. Having a proper perspective means that you learn to accept those things that you simply cannot change. Finally, might I suggest persistent prayer. There is a verse in the Bible which encourages us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6 ESV). There is a calm assurance that awaits those who can offload the stress and anxiety to One who is a little more capable of carrying it.

Book Review – From Weakness To Strength: Eight Vulnerabilities That Will Bring Out the Best in Your Leadership by Scott Sauls

I came across this little gem by way of recommendation from Tim Challies’ blog. While written with the Christian ministry context in mind, the principles could apply to almost any area of leadership. Through this book Sauls breaks down the vulnerabilities of ambition, isolation, criticism, envy, insecurity, anticlimax, opposition, and suffering. Spend enough time in a position of leadership and you are going to face several, if not all of these issues at some point. Fortunately, the author addresses from his personal experience how he has walked through each area and gives some helpful instruction on how to recognize and overcome them. This is the book that I wish they had handed out in seminary, or at the very least about 10 years in.

*disclaimer: this is not a paid review, but if you click through the amazon affiliate link and purchase this book you will help support this site.

The Cure For Conflict Part 3: Turn It Over

“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:17 (ESV)

So when you have tried one on one to no avail. When you have taken two or three with you to verify and tried again to come together and the conflict remains. Jesus then says to a) tell it to the church and b) treat the offender as a lost person in need of salvation. 

He says to “tell it to the church” and by church he means the ecclesia – the “called out” ones, the local group of Jesus followers. Now, I admit, I wish a couple of things here. I wish Jesus told us in a little more detail exactly how this is supposed to work. I mean do you get the town crier out to say “Hear ye, Hear ye?” I’m not so sure, but I do think he gives each local ecclesia, or church, the freedom to handle this step as they see fit. 

The main idea, however, is not to just make this situation public. If the situation was severe enough that it was not resolved by steps one or two, in all likelihood the situation was already public. The idea is to turn the situation over. To give the conflict, the situation, the person over to God and pray for their salvation-but don’t live in fear or slavery to resolving a conflict with someone that doesn’t want to resolve it!

Jesus commands his followers to treat the unrepentant person like a tax collector or Gentile. While this means a necessary separation from full participation in community life, it does not necessarily mean shunning. Jesus didn’t shun tax collectors and Gentiles, he came to seek and save them/us. It means that even after repeated attempts at reconciliation that have been rebuffed, we should always leave the door open for restoration. We are to treat the offending party just as Christ has treated us, as a sinner in need of a Savior. 

Questions To Ponder:

Is there any bitterness toward someone that I’m harboring in my heart and life right now that I need to ask forgiveness, even if I might have justification for my feelings?

What unresolved conflict do I need to surrender to God and let Him handle?

The Cure For Conflict Part 2: Trust But Verify

“But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” Matthew 18:16 (ESV)

Jesus begins his instruction on how to resolve conflict by keeping the circle as tight as possible. He understands, however, that someones when one cannot resolve conflict one-on-one, its time to seek outside help or counsel. He gives a second step to take along one or two with you. This principle was established in Deuteronomy 19:15 as a bedrock for establishing official legal testimony in the nation of Israel. Sometimes our own emotions, pride, or insecurities can feed into the conflict and make it harder to resolve. Sometimes we might have misinterpreted the situation and we need someone or some others outside of the situation who can freely speak into the situation and help a healthy resolution take place. I’ve called this step “Trust but Verify. ” This Russian proverb was made famous by President Ronald Reagan who used it in the context of his negotiations with the Soviet Union over nuclear disarmament during the 1980’s. For our purposes in seeking to resolve conflict with this step by taking along two or three others we can verify the source and on-going nature of the conflict and identify steps on how it might be resolved.

In a marriage relationship with a lot of conflict this may involve inviting a trusted Godly couple alongside, pastoral counsel, or an experienced marriage and family counselor. At work this may mean bringing in your supervisor, team leader, or hr facilitator to bring resolution to the conflict. Again, the purpose isn’t to create further division, but to bring reconciliation and restoration.

Questions to Ponder:

Is there a situation that I have already tried resolving one-on-one that I should consider seeking help to come alongside?

How can I work to resolve conflict in my own family, workplace, or community?

Why Do We Have Conflict?

Why Do We Have Conflict?

This week I’ve been studying the teaching of Jesus and one message in particular where he deals with conflict. Particularly conflict within the community of His followers. This message is found in Matthew 18:15-17. To set the stage for this topic I asked myself the question, why do we face conflict in this life?

  1. We live in an imperfect world.

In the perfect world milkshakes would have little or no calories. In the perfect world my car would never break down on the interstate. In the perfect world Disney would not need a “FastPass” system. Even in the most optimistic person would have to agree that this world is not the way it should or ought to be. On a more serious note, violence, injustice, and suffering all point out that the world we live in is not perfect. Try as we might to insulate ourselves from all forms of suffering or harm by very nature of the world we are not able to live 100% free from conflict.

2. We are imperfect people

Unlike the life that many like to portray on social media, just like the filters that smooth out wrinkles and the effects of age, we are an imperfect people. In fact, wherever you find people you will find problems. Anyone who tells you they are perfect is lying and has just proven the point!

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 (ESV)

3. We have sinister adversary

Jesus also mentioned that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV). Sometimes we vilify other people who may bring conflict into our lives. The truth is, “people” are not our problem. There is a spiritual enemy working behind the scenes who would seek to bring conflict, disillusionment, discord, and strife to our homes, lives, and communities.

Just a few questions for thought:

Am I bringing and fostering peace in my home, work, or community, or am I a source of conflict?

How can I work against the attitudes and actions that cause conflict in my sphere(s) of influence?

Leading Through Encouragement

The sky is falling! In the past few days the President sent out a tweet threatening increased tariffs on products coming from China that would either directly or indirectly affect thousands of dollars on the bottom line by the end of the week. Amazon announces they are entering your business on top of the increased competition you are already facing. Even with what seems to be an endless string of positive economic news you notice your customers are more and more financially strapped and leveraged. While you strive for a harmonious workplace another office conflict has flared up again. All of this is happening on top of the normal day-to-day operations of your life.

Sound familiar? That was just Monday.

All of us face struggles wherever we lead. It is easy to focus on the negatives or the challenges and lead against them. As leaders, while it is necessary sometimes to rightly call things out, we are called to rise above. We are called not to tear people down, but to build them up. We are called, not to dismiss reality, but to frame it-to paint the vision of a positive future and then lead our teams toward that future. If we can’t lead by encouragement, we will be faced with the downward spiral of negativity which only secures our pessimistic future.

The Bible speaks to this truth when one of the early church leaders, the Apostle Paul writes, “But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NLT). To prophesy means to proclaim the truth. If you are proclaiming the truth in love, then you are strengthening, encouraging, and comforting your team. You are building them up.

If you are leading a team, leading your family, or leading yourself, how are you going to proclaim truth and lead through encouragement this week? Even if the sky is falling.

The Importance of Time Planning

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About ten years ago I was living the dream: dream job, dream wife, 2 dream kids, and a dream dog. In spite of living the dream, I was still functioning off the same financial plan I had in my twenties, which meant if there was money in the account it was spent and then some. I grew frustrated because I knew there had to be a better way until I was introduced to Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Now I am not a paid consultant, I don’t get any royalties, but learning those simple principles and putting them into practice in my life turned things around in the right direction. You have to go through the whole course but a few principles stood out. First, most Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck, and it doesn’t matter the size of the paycheck. My take was and has been that simply making more money somehow was not going to solve my financial situation. The second principle he teaches is that a budget is simply a plan to tell your money where to go instead of your money telling you where to go.

Fast-forward ten years later. I’m working in a very demanding high responsibility job, with my dream wife, and dream kids, we’ve buried the dream dog and are raising the dream puppy. My struggle lately has not been financial it has been about time. The nature of my work now has become physically demanding and it is challenging to get it all done. I find myself struggling because I don’t “have enough time.” Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard the response to that challenge… “but that’s not true because everyone has the same amount of time in a day.” Well that’s true, but it sure seems sometimes as if my tasks, meetings, emails, phone calls, etc., can quickly mount up and take over. Enter Carey Nieuwhof. I’ve been following his leadership blog and podcast for about a year now. The “one thing” I picked up recently from Carey is when he shared the principle of planning our time in advance. I immediately made the connection back to having a financial budget, but now having to develop a time budget. It means that we know what we want to accomplish and spend time on in a given week, though very often we fail to take care of our priorities because we get interrupted or side tracked. I’m still seeing how this works out in my current work/life context, but when we take the discipline to plan ahead it gives us an opportunity to say yes to the things that are most important and no to those things that seek to get us off track.

What are your most important tasks, dreams, or goals? They could be spiritual, family, work, educational goal. How are you planning your time this week to make those things a reality?