Category: Leadership

Leaders Know When to Delegate

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Todd Rhoades, editor of Monday Morning Insight, shares insights from an article related to delegation. As he views it, effective delegation involves asking five key questions:

  1. Is there someone else who has (or can be given) the necessary information or expertise to complete the task? Is this a task that someone else can do, or is it critical that you do it yourself?
  2. Does the task provide an opportunity to grow and develop another person’s skills?
  3. Is this a task that will recur, in a similar form, in the future?
  4. Do you have enough time to delegate the job effectively? Time must be available for adequate training, for questions and answers, for opportunities to check progress, and for rework if that is necessary.
  5. Is this a task that I should delegate? Tasks critical for long-term success (for example, recruiting the right people for your team) genuinely do need your attention.

If you can answer “yes” to at least some of the above questions, then it could well be worth delegating this job. Read the whole article.

Which brings us back to time and effort. Looking at this list, it is obvious that delegation, especially first-time delegation, will take some extra time and energy. The payoff is in the long-term. Training someone to do tasks that take up an on-going amount of your time will free you to do things that only you can do. And, in many cases, if you’re like me, most of the things that you should be delegating are things you really don’t enjoy doing in the first place.

One goal of mine at King’s Grant is to get people connected to the church through meaningful volunteerism. I put together a list of tasks that can be delegated to willing volunteers that therefore free ministerial and office staff for other tasks that only they can fulfill. Take a look at the volunteer opportunities.

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Leaders Focus on the Goal

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In the ministry there are lots of important things to be done; but many times the urgent things take priority. You know how it works, probably happens in your office, too. You have your list of things that you alone need to take care of and other people come and make their agenda, your agenda. I learned long ago (although not perfect in this) that saying “no” to a lot of good things can be liberating, because it allows you plenty of time to take care of the important tasks.

I have a friend with a servant heart who told me a story. One day he was ready to leave the office and a co-worker asked for some help on a project. After a few moments of helping, it appeared the co-worker had dumped the project, walked out the door and headed home, leaving my friend with the other guy’s project. One tends to not want to help if this is the sort of abuse one can expect.

Take a look at this episode in the life of Jesus:

Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” (John 7:3-4)

Jesus was under pressure from his brothers, they wanted him to go to the Feast of Tabernacles early and show off his miracle-performing abilities. John 7:5 also tells us that not even these brother were believing in him. Like many Jews, these brothers were looking for someone to “wow” the crowds and eventually lead the people in a rebellion against the Romans. The Feast would have been an ideal platform for launching Jesus’ political career.

Jesus could not be persuaded to become a crowd-pleaser. He knew that his mission on earth was not to win fans, but to redeem people from their sin. Keeping his ultimate purpose in mind, Jesus chose to go to the festival, but in secret (John 7:10). In his wisdom, Jesus could not be persuaded away from his purpose, not even for one day of miracles and popularity. His choice to enter the festival quietly led to a day of heated debates with his enemies and intense discussions with the crowd but no flashy miracles (John 7:11-12, 14, 25, 30). By the end of the day, “many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him” (John 7:31).

Regardless of the agenda others have, a leader needs to stand firm and keep their goal in focus. Leaders with integrity know that they cannot allow themselves to be persuaded to cave in to people-pleasing or glory-grabbing decisions. Pursuing integrity may not always be the popular or easy path, but it usually proves to be the wiser path.

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Servant Leadership

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I like reading on topics about leadership, mentoring, and discipleship. I recently participated in the Dave Ramsey EntreLeadership event (held at Regent University). The seminar was primarily for business owners but the principles learned (many which I’ll share in later posts) can be adapted to my church staff leadership situation, and as I seek to lead others to be ministry and small group leaders. Another servant leadership promoter is Ken Blanchard, the one minute manager guy. He has an entire ministry focusing on Jesus as the ultimate example of leadership (Lead Like Jesus). Men, as you consider your leadership qualities, have you emphasized developing as a servant-leader?

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” (Mark 9:35)

The world tells us that leadership is about power and domination. The stronger, richer, smarter, and better looking you are, the better leader you’ll be. Studies have even shown that a beautiful woman will get a job before a plain woman, even if the latter is more qualified. The world looks on the outwardly aspects as a form of leadership. But that”s a leadership that only goes so far and can actually hinder your influence on people around you.

True leadership is found on the inside. It’s the leader who humbles himself and puts others’ needs before his own. It’s the boss who is willing to put in the extra hours to help you with the work instead of cutting out early. It’s the pastor or staff person who sees himself as much of a sinner as everyone else. In order to be a good leader, you have to learn how to serve others, to put others before you.

Jesus shows us true leadership. Even when he was incredibly weary from travel, he would help and heal. The night before his death, he washed his disciples’ feet. He never asked to be honored on earth, and he’s the Son of God! Jesus knew what it meant to be a leader.

Application: How do you lead the people around you? Do you find yourself becoming authoritarian? Do you lead from a position or a purpose? Do you influence people with fancy words, a nice house, and fancy clothes? Do you influence people by helping them move, cooking a meal for them, or washing the dishes? Husbands, as a leader in the home, do you take the time to make the bed or fold the laundry, straighten the kitchen? We can show our love and God’s love through our service to others. Take inventory on how you use your time to serve those in need. Are you a godly influence?

Identifying Leadership Potential

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I’m on the lookout for new leaders… not that the currently leaders need to be replaced, but if King’s Grant is going to grow, we cannot do more with the same number of leaders. We need to bring new leaders on board, people who will catch the vision of what God can do in this place, and seek ways to exercise their giftedness in various areas of the congregation.

Since qualities of natural leadership are important in discussing spiritual leadership, there is value in seeking to discover leadership potential both in oneself and in others. Most people have hidden or undeveloped characteristics which, through lack of self awareness, may be simply undiscovered. Each of us needs to consider this instrument of self measurement that could result in the discovery of such qualities, (as well as the detection of various weaknesses which would make one unfit for leadership). When I taught a leadership class at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Zambia, I gathered teaching notes on the topic of leadership. Consider asking these questions:

  1. Have you ever broken yourself of a bad habit? To lead others, one must be master of self.
  2. Do you maintain control of yourself when things go wrong? The leader who loses self control in difficult circumstances forfeits respect and loses influence. He must be calm in crisis and resilient in adversity and disappointment.
  3. Do you think independently? While it is good to know the thoughts of others, the leader cannot afford to let others do his thinking or make his decisions for him.
  4. Can you handle criticism objectively and remain unmoved under it? Do you turn it in to good? The humble man can gain benefit from petty and even malicious criticism.
  5. Can you use disappointments creatively?
  6. Do you have the cooperation and win the respect and confidence of others?
  7. Do you possess the ability to discipline without having to resort to a show of authority? True leadership is an internal quality of the spirit and requires no external show of force.
  8. Have you qualified for the beatitude pronounced on the peacemaker (Matthew 5:9)? It is much easier to keep the peace than to make peace where it has been shattered. An important function in leadership is conciliation, the ability to discover common ground between opposing viewpoints and then lead both parties to accept it.
  9. Are you entrusted with the handling of difficult and delicate situations?
  10. Can you induce people to do happily some legitimate thing which they would not normally wish to do?
  11. Can you accept opposition to your viewpoint or decision without considering it a personal insult and reacting accordingly? Leaders must expect opposition and should not be offended by it.
  12. Do you find it easy to make and keep friends? Your circle of loyal friends is an sign of the quality and extent of your leadership.
  13. Are you unduly dependent on the praise or approval of others? Can you hold a steady course in the face of disapproval and even temporary loss of confidence?
  14. Are you at ease in the presence of your superiors or strangers?
  15. Do your subordinates appear at ease in your presence? A leader should give an impression of sympathetic understanding and friendliness that will put others at ease.
  16. Are you really interested in people? In people of all types and all races? Is there hidden racial prejudice? An antisocial person is unlikely to make a good leader.
  17. Do you possess tact? Can you anticipate the likely effect of a statement before you make it?
  18. Do you possess a strong and steady will? A leader will not long retain his position if he is indecisive.
  19. Do you hold on to resentments, or do you quickly forgive injuries done to you?
  20. Are you reasonably optimistic? Pessimism is no asset to a leader.
  21. Are you in the grip of a master passion like Paul who said: “This one thing I do”? Such a singleness of motive will focus all one’s energies and powers on the desired objective.
  22. Do you welcome responsibility?

R. E. Thompson, the founder of Mission Training International (serving in China in the 1920’s and 1930’s), suggests these tests of our attitudes to people as an indication of our capacity for leadership:

  1. Do other people’s failures annoy us or challenge us?
  2. Do we use people or cultivate people?
  3. Do we direct people or develop people?
  4. Do we criticize or encourage?
  5. Do we shun the problem person or seek him out?

It will not be sufficient merely to engage in this exercise in self analysis superficially, and pay no further attention to the discoveries made. Something must be done about it. Why not take some of the points of weakness and failure and, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, concentrate on strengthening or correcting them?

These desirable qualities were all present in their fullness in the character of Jesus, and each Christian should make it their constant prayer that they might more rapidly be incorporated into his or her own personality.

Leading Small Group Discussions

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Beginning in 2011, King’s Grant is preparing to “Hear God’s Voice” and then “Take Steps of Faith.” I’ll post the emphasis is detail later, but for now, my main concern is to invite people to become a part of the journey. My desire is for people to get involved in what God is doing at KGBC, and from where I stand, we need people involved in the leadership of small groups. That is where theological belief meets practical living. In our winter semester (starting in February), I plan on helping our people to improve at what they are doing in small groups, and also to invite new people to investigate if this type of service is for them.

How To Lead Small Group Bible Study Discussions: Why do some Bible study discussion groups sparkle with interest and worthwhile discoveries, while others seem to drag-even though all are studying the living word of God?

Guidelines – To lead a Bible study group successfully and to make this time of fellowship in God’s word a highlight of everyone’s week, consider these guidelines:

  1. Keep the group small (four to eight persons is probably best).
  2. Discuss only the Bible and its application to life.
  3. As the discussion leader, be a chairman rather than a lecturer or teacher.
  4. Before the discussion time, write out a list of questions that will stimulate active discussion.
  5. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you lead.
  6. Pray, prepare, pray.

Why Keep it Small?
A small group encourages even quiet members to talk about what they discover in the Bible, and to share problems and to ask questions. They will grow in their ability to speak comfortably about spiritual issues.

With this kind of discussion setting in which all participate, the members will be more motivated to complete their individual study preparation beforehand. They’ll become more personally involved with what God says in the Bible, and will also profit greatly from hearing the rich discoveries that others in the group are making.

A face-to-face Bible discussion group also provides opportunity for members to get to know one another better, with God and his word at the center of their relationships.

Finally, since the leader of such a group acts as a chairman rather than a teacher, it isn’t necessary for him to know a great deal more about the subject than others in the group. Leading Bible study groups is therefore an excellent ministry opportunity for laymen.

What Should We Aim For?
Perhaps your most important aim is to study the Bible itself. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of man’s life and training him in good living. The Scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God, and fit him fully for all branches of his work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 , Phillips).

Because of this supreme value of Scripture, we want to discover the truths of the Bible, and to understand or interpret their meaning and relevance, This should be the focus of the group’s time together.

Another important aim is to apply the Bible to our daily lives. God wants to change us, not just inform our minds. Keep thinking about these questions.

  1. Which of the these truths in the Scriptures do we need to act on now?
  2. What are we already doing about this, and where are we failing?

Application can also mean using what you have learned to help someone else, or remembering such things as important scriptural doctrines, God’s attributes, and his promises. The three basic aims of Bible study and discussion are:

  1. Discover—finding out what the Bible says,
  2. Understanding—recognizing what it means,
  3. Application—doing, using, and remembering what it says.

What Does the Leader Do?
The Bible discussion leader asks questions which help each group member become a “discoverer.” The leader is not a teacher. He is a guide and a participant himself He uses questions that help the group members discover, understand, and apply biblical truths. He does this by:

  1. Launching the discussion
  2. Guiding the discussion
  3. Summarizing the discussion

A good launching question is one that simply asks the group members what they discovered on their own in a particular section or question of their Bible study preparation. This means using phrases such as “What did you learn?” “What did you observe?” “What did you discover?” “What impressed you?” For example: “What did you learn from this section about prayer?”

To guide the discussion means keeping it moving, and drawing out the principal thoughts the group is sharing. You can ask questions like these! “Who else would like to comment on that?” “What does someone else see in this verse?” “Does anyone else want to add something?”

When the discussion wanders away from the Bible, you may need to get the group back on track by saying, “What we’re discussing is interesting, but we’ve left our topic. Perhaps we could discuss this more at a different time.” Then you could present a thought-provoking question that draws the group back to the biblical issues you were discussing.

Summarizing the discussion is something you may want to do frequently throughout the group’s time together. Your summary will serve as a brief review and as a transition to another topic. Remember to summarize what the group has discussed, rather than your own insights. Don’t preach.

How Do I Ask Questions?
Questioning is a powerful method of stimulating thought. So the more you plan and evaluate the questions you ask in a Bible study group, the greater will be your effectiveness as a leader.

One of the main reasons for asking questions is to help people understand biblical principles. Our questions can help them grasp the basic issue a particular verse or passage is addressing.

Once the group has identified this biblical principle, you can ask a follow-up question that ties in this principle to a specific situation This can be a real-life situation or a hypothetical one, but it should help the group realize how the principle can be practically applied. Then they can see more clearly how the Scriptures can actually change our lives.

When you ask a question, look around the group until someone answers it. Then you can ask “What did others of you find?” or “What did someone else discover?” Again, look around the whole group, watching for anyone who wants to speak instead of pointing out a specific individual.

To begin with, the group members will probably look directly at you as they give their replies. But if you patiently persist with good guiding questions, the members will begin responding to the group instead of to the leader. Thus, true discussion will begin. Rather than being leader-centered, they will become group-centered.

The best way to learn these methods is to write out your discussion questions beforehand.

Common Errors – Try to Avoid These Things:

  1. Not making the questions sound conversational. Even though you prepare and write out your questions beforehand speak them in a conversational tone. And use your own natural vocabulary.
  2. Being afraid of silence after ask a question. Don’t be impatient or nervous. Give everyone time to think.
  3. Limiting yourself to asking questions. The leader is also a participant in the group. Share freely your answers and observations, but don’t dominate the discussion.
  4. Combining two questions in one. Ask one question at a time.
  5. Not explaining what you want the group to do. You’re in charge. Don’t hesitate to step in from time to time to influence the direction of the discussion, to end the discussion on time, to call on someone to pray, and so on.
  6. Trying to maintain too much control. If the discussion “takes off,” don’t worry about it as long as the group doesn’t wander too far from the Scriptures.
  7. Asking a question which can be answered “yes” or “no.” This type of question hinders discussion.
  8. Asking questions that are too complex. State each question simply and clearly.
  9. Emphasizing your own viewpoint or application. Don’t expect everyone to be deeply impressed with the same things in Scripture that deeply impressed you.

A Checklist – Here are Questions to Ask Yourself After Each Group Discussion:

  1. Was I familiar enough with the material to feel free in leading the discussion?
  2. Did everyone take part in the discussion? Or was it a lecture (with me doing most of the talking), or a conversation among only two or three of us?
  3. Did we keep to the subject without wandering?
  4. Did I frequently summarize the main ideas that were brought up by the group?
  5. Did the discussion lead to further understanding of the truths the group members discovered in their personal Bible study?
  6. Did we discuss adequately how we can apply what we learned to our lives?
  7. Did the discussion end on time?

This is an article from Discipleship Journal, November 1981. [print_link] [email_link]

How to Fulfill Your Calling

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I am participating in the Dave Ramsey EntreLeadership event at Regent University this Friday (November 5), so I was already thinking about leadership. I was recently reminded about Isaiah 1:19, which has always been one of my favorite leadership Scriptures. The NIV says it this way, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”

Add the next verse in Peterson’s paraphrase and we get this, “If you’ll willingly obey, you’ll feast like kings. But if you’re willful and stubborn, you’ll die like dogs. That’s right. God says so” (The Message) – Isaiah 1:19-20.

The word eat means satisfied, fulfilled, content, and to enjoy. I suppose that is something all of us want out of life. Sometimes I read on Facebook where a friend might say, “I love my life,” but can I honestly say that? Or do I allow disappointments, stress or unrealistic expectations to distract me from the pure pleasure of ministry; serving God and others?

This verse promises we can live fulfilled, enjoyable lives. But there’s a catch! First, we must be willing and obedient; willing to do things God’s way and be obedient to His leadership. As a leader (or parent, spouse, boss, deacon, employee, worship leader, children’s teacher, or whatever) we must be willing to do things that others are not doing. It sort of comes with the territory. Leaders do what is necessary to get the job done, not looking for credit or passing blame.We see a need and we do whatever it takes to meet that need.

The question then becomes, “When others criticize, or disappoint, or abandon you, are you still willing to let God shape you through His refining process?” In other words, are you willing to be stretched? Are you willing to do things that you know are beyond your abilities. Wait a minute! If we do things beyond our abilities, it seems that we are allowing God to work through us; using our weaknesses for His glory and His kingdom. It’s hard to boast about ourselves when there is no doubt that God accomplished the task (through us).

Consider 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace … will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Being stretched by God means you will:

  1. Be uncomfortable: allow God to push you beyond your comfort zone, forced to grow, change, and be vulnerable to others.
  2. Give up your rights: to be offended, to not forgive, to be right, to judge, to not care or walk away when things get tough.
  3. Discipline your flesh: change your habits, introduce new disciplines, deal with stress in a healthy manner.
  4. Only do now that which you can live with tomorrow: always keep the big picture in mind, even when you want to react to the moment.
  5. Turn your back on the ordinary: accept the fact that God has extraordinary things for you, and be willing to take steps of faith in that direction.

To fulfill our calling as leaders, we don’t have the luxury of staying the same lovable person we are today! Remember that while this stretching ultimately glorifies God in our lives; our fulfillment and enjoyment comes as we are better able to impact others for the Kingdom.

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Just Lead Me

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There is a great debate on roles within a marriage. The issue probably causes more conflict than anything else since people will often enter marriage with differing expectations. Those more conservative tend to focus on the leadership of the husband and father and the submission of the wife; those more egalitarian see the marriage as a partnership with no one person being the head or the leader. A partnership is a great way to go (Philippians 2:3-4, Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:25, 28, 31, 33), the two becoming one. I heard an old preacher once say that “anything with no head is dead and anything with two heads is a freak.” So without getting into that debate, (although I probably opened myself up for one) I have discovered that leadership is often misunderstood.

If a wife and mother says to her husband, “I wish you would take on more of a role of spiritual leader in our home,” I can guarantee she is not saying that she desires for him to be the boss over her, make decisions for the family, or tell her what she can do or where she can go, what to believe, what to cook, how to dress, how to raise the children, or how often she needs to make time for him. If a husband really leads and loves his wife as Christ loved the church, there is no way to lead with such abuse, bossiness or selfishness.

Look at the context of her statement. How many wives attend church alone and bring the children into God’s house without her husband? Or maybe when he comes, he’s thinking more about the game this afternoon than about how the truths he is hearing can change his life, his marriage and his kids? I suspect that what she desires is that her husband lead spiritually by taking the initiative to pray together, to go to church together, to demonstrate the love of God in the home and set the pace for her and the children.

I’m haunted by the lyrics of this Sanctus Real song and thought you all might allow God to speak to you through these lyrics. If you want to hear the song, [ Click Here ]

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying…

Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can’t
Don’t leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you’re willing to fight
That I’m still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They’re just children from the outside
I’m working hard, I tell myself they’ll be fine
They’re in independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying…

Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can’t
Don’t leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you’re willing to fight
That I’m still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I’m called to be
Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won’t You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can’t
Don’t want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I’ll show them I’m willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, ’cause I can’t do this alone

Father, lead me, ’cause I can’t do this alone.

Men, that last section is addressed to the Father. Read it again, we cannot do this alone. Don’t leave you wife and kids hungry for love. Don’t let them stand alone because people stumble and fall when they are alone. Remind your wife that she is the love of your life. Tell your kids just how important they are to you. Make time for the important things in life.

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The Son of a Pharisee

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It’s probably a verse you have come to know over the course of your Christian life. We quote it around Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and use it to remind parents of their responsibility to raise godly children; it does not happen just because we take our kids to church.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

For the parents of the apostle Paul, these were not simply words of a short verse worth memorizing; they were the foundation of family life. In a Jewish home, it was not the job of the mother to teach spiritual things to the kids, it was the father’s responsibility, who learned it from his own father.

Philippians 3:5 tells us a bit of Paul’s early childhood: circumcised on the eighth day, a part of the children of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, and even a “Hebrew of Hebrews.” The readers understood that Paul meant nothing but Jewish influence surrounded him in those early years.

The Code of Jewish Law states that “it is the duty of every father to train his children in the practice of all the precepts, whether biblical or rabbinical” and “to guard his children against any forbidden act.” Paul’s father took this responsibility very seriously.

Looking back through New Testament eyes, we tend to put Pharisees in a negative light, since Jesus had so much conflict with them and they ultimately schemed the crucifixion of Christ, but in the first century the Pharisees held a position of great honor. I wonder if Paul spoke from experience when he penned the words to the Ephesian church that fathers must not exasperate their children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

The Jewish historian Josephus (under contract with the Roman Empire) wrote the Jews lay greater stress on the training of children than on anything else; as one of the most important duties.

Being a Hebrew was not just about religion, or a way of life, but it defined who you were, how you thought and how you felt about life. It affected how you dressed (even the wearing of phylacteries – Exodus 13:9) to what you celebrated (the regular ritual and feasts).

So men, has there been a time in your life when you delegated the task of spiritual instruction to your wife, thinking that religious stuff was for women, or raising the kids is primarily woman’s work? I challenge you to make sure you rethink that position and learn from the life of Paul that religious instruction is the father’s role in the family. There is a phrase that should haunt each of us, “Like father, like son.”

While I don’t want to discount a miracle of God working in our kids lives, but how can we expect our children to mysteriously be right with God one day, or stand up for godly principles, if we ourselves are not right with God? We must model what a relationship with God is all about and train our kids in the way they should go. They might choose another path later on, but it won’t be for a lack of instruction on the father’s part when they were young.

So, what do you need to do to better model what a relationship with Jesus is all about? How well do you know the Bible and the teachings of Christ? Can you pass on the stories and teachings at appropriate times throughout the day, helping your kids know that Christianity is not just something we do on Sundays? Can you quote Scripture in front of your kids, and challenge them to memorize verses as well? How can you relate the teaching of the Bible to the struggles and situations in their daily lives? Have you set up a time each day to read Scripture, a devotional thought and pray? It’s never too late to get on the right path.

Pursuing Excellence

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I’ve read that leaders pursue excellence. They lead their organizations, their families, their businesses, and their lives striving for their best. No one wants to settle for second best. Check out what was said about Jesus…

They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything He does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.” — Mark 7:37

I sense that Jesus was committed to excellence. We read in John 3:16 that God gave his very best–his Son. Likewise, as Mark reminds us, God’s Son gave his very best–his life (Mark 10:45). He prepared the best food (Matthew 13:19-20), made the best wine (John 2:9, 10), and the arms He healed were completely restored (see Mark 3:1, 5). Since we are to be in the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) we should do no less. Less than our best is inadequate, considering the fact that God gave us His very best.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Whatever our role, our position, our organization, or our lot in life, we must strive for our best. The measure of our success is not attached to our career or what we earn but to our character and what we give back.

From my days as a basketball player in school, excellence does not mean you’ll always win, or being the best, but it means being your best. Just as sanctification is becoming more like Jesus every day, excellence is being better today than you were yesterday.

I’ve heard it said that some people have fame thrust upon them. Think about it, very few men have excellence thrust upon them. Excellence is achieved and earned. So, what changes do you need to make so that people may say of you, “Everything He does is wonderful” (Mark 7:37)?

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How Do You Spell Love?

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How’s your summer going? Bethany is on the MFuge trip to Phillly this week and I stopped to think about how fast the summer is passing by. There are only a few weeks left until she heads back to school.

That got me thinking…

Now would be a good time for the Men of Steel to consider how much time we’ve spent with our kids this summer, and how important it is to them that we do. I’m talking about personal, individual time.

Has it been minimal, or have you intentionally put your work and personal interests on hold so that you can invade your child’s world?

Have you spent time reading together? Talking together? Gone on walks, hikes, bike rides? Taken a family vacation together? Gone swimming together? Taken your daughter out on dates? Gone fishing, canoeing, or a ton of other fun outdoor activities with your son?

I read a great quote this week: “The thing our children need most is often in the shortest supply — our time.”

They don’t care or need the “stuff” that a good paying job with long hours can provide. Children of all ages spell love T-I-M-E.

So, before you begin this mental review of your summer schedule, watch this brief video. Hold on to the very end, it’s powerful.

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