Thursday, May 30, 2013

I Didn’t Choose To Lead. It Chose Me. And Therefore I Choose To Lead.

I always had a certain amount of influence growing up, but I never fought for it or necessarily desired it.  Circumstances just made it happen. 

At the same time, as I read and took the Bible very seriously to heart, it talked of living in a way that you Do not withhold good from those to who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”[1] And “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”[2] And “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”[3] And “Telling the Good News does not give me any reason for bragging. Telling the Good News is my duty—something I must do. And how terrible it will be for me if I do not tell the Good News. 17 If I preach because it is my own choice, I have a reward. But if I preach and it is not my choice to do so, I am only doing the duty that was given to me.”[4] 

…I couldn’t help but help people. 

I have been given too much.  There is too much I can give, I must give, rather than stay still or self-centered.  It’s not right.  This is how I became a leader. 

Up until this point, I have been a leader by default, not by choice.  I made a choice to make a difference, not an active choice to lead people.  Leading was the product (and a product I’ve hesitantly feared for different reasons).  I chose to not be still and make a difference for God and somehow this has translated into me coming alongside of friends and people who have the same heart.

Only in the last couple of years have I been coming to acknowledge, accept, and own this leadership personally.  I don’t want to go through life being “a leader by default”.  I don’t want to be an apologetic or begrudging leader of false humility.  I want to own who God has created me to be…  A Servant leaders’ leader.

This whole blog came from my reflection as I just finished reading the excerpt below on the choice of leadership in Seth Godin’s book called Tribes: 
Every tribe is different.  Every leader is different.  The very nature of leadership is that you’re not doing what’s been done before.  If you were, you’d be following, not leading.
All I can hope for is that you’ll make a choice. Every leader I’ve ever met has made the choice, and they’ve been glad they did… 
Once your choose to lead, you’ll be under huge pressure to reconsider your choice; to compromise, to dumb it down, or to give up.  Of course you will.  That’s the world’s job: to get you to be quiet and follow.  The status quo is the status quo for a reason. 
But once you choose to lead, you’ll also discover that it’s not so difficult.  That the options available to you seem really clear, and that yes, in fact, you get from here to there.
Go.”[5]

So really, the title of this blog should read,
I Didn’t Choose To Lead.  God Chose Me.  And Therefore I Choose To Lead.
           

Thank you God for the life, opportunities, strength, and calling that you have given to me to make a difference for You and all that is good.


[1] Prov 3:27
[2] Matt 28:19
[3] Eph 4:29
[4] 1 Cor 9:17 NCV
[5] p. 146-147

Thursday, May 02, 2013

How Do I Express GOD?

How Do I Say All That God Is?
How Do I Express... GOD.

Words are just not enough.

I can try and use words but sometimes I need art or sports or music to express what words can't.

Even if I know all the right words there's some feelings that only art without words can express.
Even with word and art, there are some physical aspects that only sports can express without words or art. 
Even with words, art, and sports, there is some connection that only relationships can express. 
Even with words, art, sports, and relationships, there is still a peace that can only come from being with God's creation instead of man made structure. 
And even with words, art, sports, relationships and God's creation, there are still some spiritual moments that only a sanctuary moment can express.

How can I fully express God to others?

It is a constant joyful striving of finding him not only in words, but the emotions of art/music and the physicality/challenge of sports and the grass root peace of God's creation and the God connection/acceptance of the sanctuary moments that are too full to be able to express in one way or one experience...

....actually it would take a lifetime.


He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end