Grow Up!

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Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center Thanksgiving season is when we celebrate the harvest. However, there would be no harvest without growth. Or, as Jesus said it, “The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head” (Mark 4:28). Growth is a foundational premise of leadership development. The following devotional is a mildly-modified version from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening of October 10. It is based upon Ephesians 4:15, “We must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”   Many leaders have stopped growing and stagnated in spiritual things. They present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined development is seen in them. They exist but do not "grow up in every way into him." Why should we be content with being a "stalk" when we might advance to the "head" stage, and, eventually, ripen into the "full grain in the head?" Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ at the same level year after year? Should we be content to say, "I am okay as I am," without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fullness that is to be found in him? It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven's market, desire to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep the vineyards of others, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time; it is true, but oh for a spring time and then a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus--in his presence--ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face and come near, as John did, “reclining next to him” (John 13:23). Then we shall find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope and in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with its light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveler; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit's light on the head of a Christ-follower, who has risen up in spiritual stature, like Saul, above others, till, like a mighty Alpine, snow-capped mountain, he or she reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his brightness high aloft for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven. Church Leadership Center provides for leadership development for growth in faith and leadership skills through personalized training plans, classes, and mentoring so that participants are able to minister effectively. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. New courses begin in January in New Testament, Sacraments and Liturgy. Reply to this email for course information. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.

Keeping Everyone Happy

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center NOT! It can’t be done. You shouldn't try. Have you read the children’s book, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie? The story begins with… If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the milk, he’ll probably ask you for a straw. When he’s finished, he’ll ask for a napkin. Then he’ll want to look in a mirror to make sure that he doesn’t have a milk mustache. When he looks into the mirror, he might notice his hair needs a trim. So he’ll probably ask for a pair of scissors... The story goes on until the last page when… you’ll have to read it yourself to see how it ends. Leaders need to be careful that they do not spend too much time feeding cookies to mice. One pastor compares the challenge of working with people to the task of flying an airplane. He says that there are four main principles in flying an airplane: lift, thrust, weight, and drag. You have to take into account all four of these to make sure a plane will fly. Most people fall into one of these four categories, which he goes on to elaborate.   Lift: There are people who lift you. They brighten your day and make you feel better about yourself. When you leave them, you have a spring in your step. Thrust: There are people who thrust you. They motivate you. They inspire you. They challenge you to move forward and accomplish your dreams. Weight: There are people who are a weight. They pull you down. When you leave them, you feel heavier, discouraged, negative, worse than you were before. Drag: There are people who are a drag. They always have a sad story. They are always in the doldrums and they expect you to cheer them up, to solve their problems, to carry their heavy load. This airplane illustration came from Joel Osteen. To hear the entire message, click here. The Give a Mouse a Cookie story and the flying an airplane illustration are examples of issues that relate to leadership. These issues may also be associated with terms such as co-dependency, self-differentiation, and servitude. Ministry leaders can slide into these tendencies. Codependency is when one person is controlled or manipulated by the needs of another person, placing lower priority on one’s own needs and being preoccupied by the needs of another. (See the Celebrate Recovery series by Rick Warren and John Baker.) Differentiation (or self-differentiation) is the capacity to take maximum responsibility for one’s self, being a non-anxious presence exuding clarity about one’s own goals and values even when dealing with the anxiety of others. (See Generation to Generation by Edwin H. Friedman.) Servitude is sometimes used in contrast to servanthood:  -servitude – over-identification, superficial sweetness, being manipulated, and begrudging care;  -servanthood – empathy, genuineness, meeting needs, intentionality. (See Christian Caregiving: A Way Of Life by Kenneth Haugk.) Whether described by simple stories or technical terms, the point is that leaders need to spend a significant amount of their time with those who help to lift their spirits and inspire them to accomplish their dreams. It does not mean that the leader should not be of support to a certain number of “mice.” But, rather, leaders need to pay attention to all of their relationships and especially seek out those that build them up. Changes may be necessary for the leader’s emotional health and ministry effectiveness. One kind of change involves continuing education. Church Leadership Center provides for leadership development through personalized training plans, classes, and mentoring so that participants are able to minister effectively. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Honoring Veterans: Leaders in Commitment and Courage

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center There are only three things for which I have said that I would sacrifice my life, if need be. They are faith, family, and country. It was my privilege as a young person to serve aboard the US Navy Submarine Tender, USS Fulton, as an expression of commitment to country. For the Navy hymn, click here. We take time on this Veterans Day to honor those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. Following are selected insights that are relevant for Veterans Day. Let some veterans show you the scars that they have received in battle, and you will realize how much suffering, heartache and blood our freedoms have cost. Out of this comes a great lesson to Christians. The Apostle Paul said, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). In other words, Paul said that he bore in his body the branding marks of a slave. When he called himself a servant of Jesus Christ, he did not mean a paid worker, as the word connotes today. He meant a slave, in utter subjection to the Master. But this subjection is borne out of love and devotion to Christ, and it ultimately brings liberty. Billy Graham We're in a world in which the possibility of terrorism, married up with technology, could make us very, very sorry we didn't act. Condoleeza Rice Any soldier worth his salt should be anti-war. And still, there are things worth fighting for. General Norman Schwarzkopf God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it. Daniel Webster I am well aware of the toll and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States .Yet through all the gloom I can see rays of ravishing light and glory .I can see that the end is worth more than all the means. John Adams When you go home Tell them for us and say For your tomorrow We gave our today Inscription on the military cemetery at Iwo Jima Soldiers that carry their lives in their hands should carry the grace of God in their hearts. Richard Baxter The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction. Charles Spurgeon There are also Scripture passages that seem to be of special relevance to those who serve. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed Deuteronomy 31:8 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:1-2 In conclusion Take time today to give thanks for those who have served and are serving. They are the leaders who have protected our freedom. Many have been called into ministry while serving in the military. I am one of them. Church Leadership Center provides for leadership development through personalized training plans, classes, and mentoring so that participants are able to minister effectively. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Flying Purple People Eaters

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center “Flying Purple People Eater” is a novelty tune from the early days of rock and roll. It was number one on the pop charts in 1958, in spite of the fact that the lyrics made little—if any--sense. To hear an original edition of this number about an alien who comes out of the sky, has one long horn, one big eye, is pigeon-toed; and wants to eat purple people, as well as be in a rock and roll band, click here. The title of the song somehow reminds me that there are leaders who “eat people.” By that I mean, they seem to chew people up and spit them out. They are the heavy-handed directors or the passive-aggressive manipulators. Their organizations, including “their” churches, are revolving doors for staff turn-over and dysfunction. The reality is that there is some “people eater” in each of us. Here are some of the characteristics. You might be a people eater if you …  -are not open, transparent, and vulnerable with other team members and are, consequently, unwilling to admit mistakes, acknowledge weaknesses, or ask for help;  -do not allow your team to engage in forthright, straightforward, and intense discussion about key issues, especially when their views are different from your own;  -expect team members to be unquestioningly committed to your conclusions without having some level of buy-in to the decision-making processes and without being given genuine opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback;  -choose not to hold team members accountable for ineffective performance, counterproductive behaviors, independent agendas, or passivity in their areas of responsibility;  -fail to focus on team or organizational results, or if team members are permitted to put personal success (e.g., individual status and ego) before team success. (These points are based upon The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni.) Conversely, you might be a people developer if you…  -earn the trust of team members;  -interact positively, thoughtfully, and even passionately with others as you tackle together ideas and issues;  -follow through on your commitments, doing what you said you would do;  -are a person of integrity as you set high standards and processes of accountability for yourself and others;  -get the job done as a team and afterward together celebrate the results. A biblical story I think of the centurion in Luke 7:1-10 as a people developer. His servant is sick. He hears about Jesus and sends representatives to him. When Jesus is nearby, he sends the message, “Say the word and my servant will be healed” (verse 7). Jesus responds by saying that he has not found such great faith in Israel. And then, the passage tells us, the servant who was sick is healed. The passage causes me to wonder about the centurion: How is he an example of trust? How does he interact positively with others? How does he follow through on his word? To what standards or commitments does he hold himself accountable? How does he use teamwork to get the desired results?/What do you imagine the celebration to be like? Church Leadership Center provides for leadership development through personalized training plans, classes, and mentoring so that participants are able minister effectively. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

All About Saws

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center “Saw:” the past tense of “see.” Reverse the word order and put them together and you get a see-saw. “Saw:” a twisted and gory R-rated horror film that some may be watching on Halloween, but I will not—not ever. Instead, on Halloween I’ll be thinking about the five “solas” of the Protestant Reformation: Sola scriptura (by faith alone), Sola fide (by faith alone), Sola gratia (by grace alone), Solus Christus (by Christ alone), Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone), along with the Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther.   “Saw:” a tool with thin blade and toothed edges for cutting wood and other hard materials’; also used as a musical instrument. For a rendition of “Amazing Grace” played on a saw, click here. “Saw:” a word that is part of the phrase, “Sharpen the Saw,” and explained in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey). Sharpen the Saw is the seventh habit, which refers to the need for leaders to continually improve themselves. Expanding upon this final definition, Covey tells about meeting a woodsman who is attempting to cut down a tree. The woodsman is making very little progress and the saw blade is getting more and more dull. Covey asks, “Why don’t you stop to sharpen your saw?” The woodsman replies, “I can’t. I haven’t got the time.” Covey uses this illustration to remind his readers that in order to be highly effective, they need to take time to focus on self-renewal in order to increase their productivity.   The “saw” needs to be sharpened in these four areas: Physical - diet, endurance, flexibility, strength Spiritual - meditation, prayer, Scripture, values Mental - reading, writing, continuing education, challenging conversations Social - relationships, group involvement, deep friendships For ministry leaders, renewal often comes through continuing education classes, conferences, and retreats. Church Leadership Center and Synod of the Great Lakes (RCA) sponsored a retreat this past weekend. It was attended by Commissioned Pastors, mentors, course facilitators, and other leaders.  It was an amazing “saw sharpening” experience as we discussed, talked, sang, learned, and shared our life stories, both indoors and out. Here are a few questions to ask about your own renewal. - Am I working on self-renewal on a daily and weekly basis? - Do I have a personal mentor whose feedback I trust? - Am I involved in a supportive group as a participant or leader? - Do I have a plan for my development and renewal? Church Leadership Center helps leaders with self-renewal and growth experiences through personalized training plans, classes, and mentoring so that they are able minister effectively. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

On the Worst Day of Your Life

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center As a leader, you've navigated through times when everything falls apart, even times when you've thought, "This is the worst day of my life." Pastor Tom Holladay of Saddleback Church offers guidelines on his "Drive Time" podcast of October 17, 2013. To listen to the podcast, click here. The guidelines are based upon the book, What to Do on the Worst Day of Your Life (Brian Zahnd) that was used in a sermon on the Sunday after the suicide of Pastor Rick Warren's son, Matthew. Six ways are identified for dealing with the worst of situations. 1. Weep. With dependence upon God, allow the emotions of your heart to reflect your pain. 2. Don't get bitter. Focus on healing rather than revenge. Ask God for the strength so that you are able to forgive. 3. Encourage yourself in God. Get around those of God's people who are the encouragers in your life. Get a word from God. Open the Bible and let God's word soak in. 4. Look to the future with hope. This is different for everyone. Regain and restore vision. Start to see again the future that God may have in store. 5. Attack evil. Recognize that we are living in a broken world. Evil will never be overcome by focusing on evil: evil will only be overcome by focusing on the good. 6. Keep on giving. When you have the worst day of your life, you may want to pull in and focus on yourself. It is easy to become selfish. Instead, break through this and reach out to the needs of others. The above six stages are based on an exposition of 1 Samuel 30. Other related passages are listed below.  - "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).  - "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).  - "Cast your cares on the LORD, and he will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22).  - "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (I John 4:4).  - "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).  - "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). So, reflect on what have been the worst of days for you. Have there been stages listed above that you have skipped? By looking back with these stages in mind, are you now better equipped to deal with the days when everything falls apart? What characteristics do you come by easily and which ones are more challenging… weeping?, bitterness?, encouragement?, hope?, evil?, giving? What new commitments are you willing to make to deal with the worst of days, the times when everything seems to be falling apart? Church Leadership Center helps leaders grow in strength through personalized training plans, classes, and mentoring so that they are able minister effectively, even during the struggles and challenges of life. Church Leadership Center assists leaders and churches with leadership development through personalized training plans, contextually-relevant approaches to learning, and mentored support. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Last chance to register: Leadership and Commissioned Pastor Retreat is this week, October 25 – 26, 2013 at Camp Geneva, Holland, MI. Guest presenter: Pastor Marlin Vis. Topic: Reading the Bible through Middle Eastern Eyes." For additional information click here. To be put on the retreat mailing list, contact Alison DeBoer, adeboer@rcagl.org Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Go, Dog. Go!

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center Go, Dog. Go! is a Seuss-esque children's book about dogs on the go. The story includes lots of things that go, all ridden on or driven by dogs… bikes, scooters, skates, skis, cars, roller coasters, carts,  boats, ferris wheels, and hot air balloons.  You can have someone read the book to you by clicking here. A leader needs to be on-the-go… a Go, Dog. Go! kind of person, pursuing purpose and showing satisfaction. While there are constructive voices calling for balance in the lives of leaders (see  Balanced Leadership in Unbalanced Times by Robert Pasick), I'm more comfortable with a modus operandi that is singular and springs from inner commitment and strength. Sometimes we refer to this as a person "being in his/her sweet spot." The "balanced" approach to life makes a distinction between work-life and personal-life, often concerned that a high-capacity leader may be working too much. A dichotomy is made between personal time and work time. The book, Off Balance (Matthew Kelly), points out that we do not have two lives, and we should not, therefore, compartmentalize areas of our lives. (This sounds like a holistic view to me!) Kelly says, "People need and want a satisfying experience of life" (chapter 1). In other words, they need to live all of life to the full… Go, Dog. Go! An area of emphasis that I especially appreciated in Off Balance is the description of four levels of energy. Here they are, ranging from least desirable to most desirable: Level one: low energy – feeling depressed, exhausted, burned-out, defeated, and overwhelmed. Level two: high negative energy – feeling angry, fearful, anxious, defensive, and resentful. Level three: restorative and reflective energy – feeling mellow, serene, and content. Level four: high level positive energy – feeling confident, joyful, enthusiastic, and invigorated. Level four is the Go, Dog. Go! level; "It is contagious, attractive, life-giving" (Off Balance, chapter 4). When functioning at level four, even at level three, it is not necessary to talk about "balance," because the total person has a high degree of fulfillment, satisfaction, and direction. Level four is what I imagine the Apostle Paul to be in when he wrote in Philippians, "I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings…" (3:10), as well as "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (4:13). I think of Paul as always being "on the go," even while in prison. So, what is your level of energy as you read this? If it is not at level three or four, what changes do you need to make? Church Leadership Center develops training plans and puts together mentoring relationships to help leaders grow. How can we serve you, your church staff, or leaders in your congregation? Church Leadership Center assists leaders and churches with leadership development through personalized training plans, contextually-relevant approaches to learning, and mentored support. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Mark your calendar: Leadership and Commissioned Pastor Retreat is planned for October 25 – 26, 2013 at Camp Geneva, Holland, MI. Guest presenter: Pastor Marlin Vis. Topic: Reading the Bible through Middle Eastern Eyes." For additional information click here. To be put on the retreat mailing list, contact Alison DeBoer, adeboer@rcagl.org Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Rainy Days and Mondays – Dealing with Discouragement

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Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Church Leadership Center When in juxtaposition to one another, the songs "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Singin' in the Rain" reflect the extremes of our emotions. Karen Carpenter sings, "Hangin' around, nothing to do but frown. Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down." To feel sad, click here. Gene Kelly, in contrast, soft (soggy)-shoes while crooning, "I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again." To experience a few moments of bliss, click here. There are times when leaders must deal with their own discouragement. If they do not, the ministry will suffer. Here's how to do it according to a few strong leaders. General Colin Powell has rules for dealing with himself. Here are a few that relate to discouragement: -It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. -Get mad, then get over it. -Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. -Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. -Check small things. -Remain calm. Be kind. -Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers. -Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. (for more of Powell's thinking, see his latest book, It Worked for Me.) Dan Rockwell, in his "Leadership Freak" blog, in part says to deal with discouragement by remembering… You're never at your best when you're tired. Problems are bigger and success is smaller. Regret follows exhaustion. You end up saying, "I wish I hadn't said/done that." Refuel your tank - -Hang with positive people. -Let someone care for you. It's time for self-reflection if no one cares for you. -Do more of what you love. -Eat healthy food. -Sleep or nap. (For the entire blog, click here) Rick Warren gives some "Keys to Getting Victory Over Discouragement in Ministry." -Keep your eyes on your vision, not what things look like now. -Keep your personal relationship with God strong. When you are weary, spending time waiting upon Him is the answer to getting refreshed. -If possible, have people you can turn to and talk to... We need to be able to be real with others - especially peers in ministry - and not feel like we have to put on a front for them. Ministers need to be able to be a support system for each other. -Seek God for wisdom about why things are not going according to plan! There are times when we may have missed God or disobeyed an instruction and now the project is not going right. It may not be that the actual project is wrong, but maybe that we are not implementing it how God intended. -Numerical growth is not everything! Don't get caught up in the numbers game and feel it is all about how many people you have compared to another church down the road! Focus on God's call for you and be faithful to minister to those you have. (For the full article, click here) Church Leadership Center assists leaders and churches with leadership development through personalized training plans, contextually-relevant approaches to learning, and mentored support. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Mark your calendar: Leadership and Commissioned Pastor Retreat is planned for October 25 – 26, 2013 at Camp Geneva, Holland, MI. Guest presenter: Pastor Marlin Vis. Topic: Reading the Bible through Middle Eastern Eyes." For additional information click here. To be put on the retreat mailing list, contact Alison DeBoer, adeboer@rcagl.org Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email. Church Leadership Center assists leaders and churches with leadership development through personalized training plans, contextually-relevant approaches to learning, and mentored support. Click here for more information. To view videos about Commissioned Pastors and those who support them, click here. To read previous blogs, click here. Mark your calendar: Leadership and Commissioned Pastor Retreat is planned for October 25 – 26, 2013 at Camp Geneva, Holland, MI. Guest presenter: Pastor Marlin Vis. Topic: Reading the Bible through Middle Eastern Eyes. For additional information click here. To be put on the retreat mailing list, contact Alison DeBoer, adeboer@rcagl.org Please forward this email to a lay leader or church staff member who may benefit from information about leadership development and Church Leadership Center. To contribute financially to CLC or to learn about options for leadership development in your church, reply to this email.