In Chapter 4 Blackaby says,
The only vision some leaders have is for their organizations to conquer the obstacles immediately in front of them. They do not reflect on why they are doing what they are doing. They do not consider the long-term ramification to them personally or to the organizations they lead. They hardly consider their alternatives. They value action over reflection. They assume that moving forward is always better than standing still…
How do you identify leaders who subscribe to this reactionary approach to vision? A leader may launch into a new building program without considering its long-term const or effect. Once the expense of the building project escalates and the people begin to grumble, these leaders find themselves halfway up a mountain without resources to complete the climb. They may also begin new programs or hire more staff simply because opportunities arise. Christians often call these opportunities open doors. Because an opportunity presents itself, the leader assumes it must be God’s will to move forward. This is an undiscerning approach to leadership. There is much more to determining God’s will than merely assuming that every “open door” is an invitation from God.
This is worth thinking through.
Blackaby shoots down
- Borrowing visions from success in the past
- Imitating fads
- Goals that will bring the leader fame
- Goals that will give people what they think they need.
- Goals based on available resources
And advocates God’s revelation.
This should spur us on to walk close to God, and frequently ask for his help and guidance.
Application
Blackaby defines leadership as "moving people onto God's agenda."
Are you a leader? Is there anyone in your life right now that you should be influencing -- moving to God's agenda?
How do we seperate God's agenda from fads?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Developing Leadership
Chapter 3 is mildly disturbing.
"The greatness of an organization will be directly proportional to the greatness of its leader."
Blackaby then moves to a typical leadership question - Are leaders born or made?
Even without reading the remainder of the chapter we can predict the answer. If leadership is essential to a organization's success, and they are merely born, than this book is pointless. It would need to become a book on how to recognize leadership rather than develop it. Perhaps the point of that question is whether or not you can train someone with no leadership ability.
I think you can. Primarily because I've never met anyone with 0 leadership ability. Everyone has at least a little.
The disturbing part of the chapter is the description of the preparation of leaders, which is through adversity. Perhaps you could summarize it, "whatever does not kill you has the potential to make you a better leader." At the very least it makes your bio a little more interesting.
However, since we are not going to advocate killing a parent of kids we think might be good leaders, the tragedy strategy for developing leaders is off the table.
Instead we look to Abraham for some guidance.
"The greatness of an organization will be directly proportional to the greatness of its leader."
Blackaby then moves to a typical leadership question - Are leaders born or made?
Even without reading the remainder of the chapter we can predict the answer. If leadership is essential to a organization's success, and they are merely born, than this book is pointless. It would need to become a book on how to recognize leadership rather than develop it. Perhaps the point of that question is whether or not you can train someone with no leadership ability.
I think you can. Primarily because I've never met anyone with 0 leadership ability. Everyone has at least a little.
The disturbing part of the chapter is the description of the preparation of leaders, which is through adversity. Perhaps you could summarize it, "whatever does not kill you has the potential to make you a better leader." At the very least it makes your bio a little more interesting.
However, since we are not going to advocate killing a parent of kids we think might be good leaders, the tragedy strategy for developing leaders is off the table.
Instead we look to Abraham for some guidance.
- Abraham was an ordinary person.
- Abraham built on his heritage.
- Abraham grew through failure.
- Abraham built spiritual landmarks
- Abraham experienced God's redemption.
- Abraham learned by experience.
- Abraham was not allowed to take shortcuts
- Abraham demonstrated his faith
- Abraham obeyed God
- Abraham became a friend of God.
As leaders we should not become embittered about trajedy, rather understand that it builds character. Admittedly this is a cliche, and not terribly comforting, but it does seem to be how life works.
Questions for discussion
1. What have you learned from adversity?
2. If you had it to do over again, would you prefer a life free from tragedy?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Leader's Role
Why do leaders read so many books?
Is it because they have no clue what they are doing?
Blackaby gives this quote, "Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth." - James MacGregor Burns
I fearlessly assert that every leader has their own definition of leadership. Not every one's is good, but everyone has one.
One of my favorite leadership books, Spiritual Leadership, by Oswald Sanders, defines leadership as "influence," and we could all certainly agree that if you have no influence you are not a leader. However, Blackaby wants a more precise definition. His definition is "Spiritual Leadership is moving people on to God's agenda." Blackaby defines it further.
1. The spiritual leader's task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be.
2. Spiritual leaders depend on the Holy Spirit.
3. Spiritual leaders are accountable to God.
4. Spiritual leaders can influence all people, not just God's people.
5. Spiritual leaders work from God's agenda.
Other important thoughts.
- Leaders are also good followers - Are you following God's instructions or your own agendas?
"If Christians around the world were to suddenly renounce their personal agendas, their life goals and their aspirations, and begin responding in radical obedience to everything God showed them, the world would be turned upside down. How do we know? Because that's what first century Christians did, and the world is still talking about it."
Questions for discussion.
1. What specific part of God's agenda do we need to move people in the northwest on to?
2. What personal agendas do we need to avoid moving people on to?
Is it because they have no clue what they are doing?
Blackaby gives this quote, "Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth." - James MacGregor Burns
I fearlessly assert that every leader has their own definition of leadership. Not every one's is good, but everyone has one.
One of my favorite leadership books, Spiritual Leadership, by Oswald Sanders, defines leadership as "influence," and we could all certainly agree that if you have no influence you are not a leader. However, Blackaby wants a more precise definition. His definition is "Spiritual Leadership is moving people on to God's agenda." Blackaby defines it further.
1. The spiritual leader's task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be.
2. Spiritual leaders depend on the Holy Spirit.
3. Spiritual leaders are accountable to God.
4. Spiritual leaders can influence all people, not just God's people.
5. Spiritual leaders work from God's agenda.
Other important thoughts.
- Leaders are also good followers - Are you following God's instructions or your own agendas?
"If Christians around the world were to suddenly renounce their personal agendas, their life goals and their aspirations, and begin responding in radical obedience to everything God showed them, the world would be turned upside down. How do we know? Because that's what first century Christians did, and the world is still talking about it."
Questions for discussion.
1. What specific part of God's agenda do we need to move people in the northwest on to?
2. What personal agendas do we need to avoid moving people on to?
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Getting Things Rolling
Welcome to the discussion.
I will be reading a chapter a week in Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby, that will serve as the basis of our discussion. I will likely draw from other material as I see fit.
Here is the Amazon link if you'd like to order it. http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Leadership-Moving-People-Agenda/dp/0805418458/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-1462657-9296407?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190775434&sr=8-2
I invite you to join me and add your comments.
Chapter 1. The Leader's Challenge
The Blackabys list a few stories to hook us: A discouraged executive who finds his values at odds with business strategies of his executive team. A pastor who finds that his preaching and visitation strategies have not been enough to ward off criticism in his consumer-driven congregation.
My son asked me this week why so many people hate President Bush. I tried to explain to him that any leadership position invites opposition. Like any other leader, the President has made errors, but the very fact that he leads a party means that 35-40% of the American public will almost always be opposed to him.
So, as leaders we should expect opposition. If you can't handle opposition, you can't handle leadership. This is even difficult for the street fighters among us, but it is an essential truth.
Think of leaders in the last century. Political giants -- Churchill, Roosevelt, Wilson, Mandela, and MLK Jr. Which ones did not have opposition? Religious giants -- Billy Graham (ushered out of the White House by Truman -- opposed by fundamentalists for being too inclusive) -- Pope John Paul (shot), Dali Lama (exiled). Sports stars -- Jerry Rice often was double teamed, baseball stars get beamed, I need not go any further down the list.
Some thoughts on this phenomena.
1. Expect opposition. The more success you have moving people onto God's agenda (the definition of leadership given by the Blackabys), the more opposition you should expect.
2. Learn how to deal with opposition in a Christian manner. You may be surprised how much information there is in the NT on how to deal with opposition. Given -- when you step out as a leader you paint a target on your back. However, it is worth the pain and suffering, because nothing is more needed in the world then leaders. This has always been so, and will always be so. Does it surprise you that God Himself looks for leaders? "The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." 2 Chron. 16:9
3. If you do not fight for your follower's hearts and lives your enemy will.
4. ???
I welcome your comments, stories, questions, and Bible quotes. Perhaps you have a thought or lesson you've learned about facing or learning from opposition.
I will be reading a chapter a week in Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby, that will serve as the basis of our discussion. I will likely draw from other material as I see fit.
Here is the Amazon link if you'd like to order it. http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Leadership-Moving-People-Agenda/dp/0805418458/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-1462657-9296407?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190775434&sr=8-2
I invite you to join me and add your comments.
Chapter 1. The Leader's Challenge
The Blackabys list a few stories to hook us: A discouraged executive who finds his values at odds with business strategies of his executive team. A pastor who finds that his preaching and visitation strategies have not been enough to ward off criticism in his consumer-driven congregation.
My son asked me this week why so many people hate President Bush. I tried to explain to him that any leadership position invites opposition. Like any other leader, the President has made errors, but the very fact that he leads a party means that 35-40% of the American public will almost always be opposed to him.
So, as leaders we should expect opposition. If you can't handle opposition, you can't handle leadership. This is even difficult for the street fighters among us, but it is an essential truth.
Think of leaders in the last century. Political giants -- Churchill, Roosevelt, Wilson, Mandela, and MLK Jr. Which ones did not have opposition? Religious giants -- Billy Graham (ushered out of the White House by Truman -- opposed by fundamentalists for being too inclusive) -- Pope John Paul (shot), Dali Lama (exiled). Sports stars -- Jerry Rice often was double teamed, baseball stars get beamed, I need not go any further down the list.
Some thoughts on this phenomena.
1. Expect opposition. The more success you have moving people onto God's agenda (the definition of leadership given by the Blackabys), the more opposition you should expect.
2. Learn how to deal with opposition in a Christian manner. You may be surprised how much information there is in the NT on how to deal with opposition. Given -- when you step out as a leader you paint a target on your back. However, it is worth the pain and suffering, because nothing is more needed in the world then leaders. This has always been so, and will always be so. Does it surprise you that God Himself looks for leaders? "The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." 2 Chron. 16:9
3. If you do not fight for your follower's hearts and lives your enemy will.
4. ???
I welcome your comments, stories, questions, and Bible quotes. Perhaps you have a thought or lesson you've learned about facing or learning from opposition.
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