A Soldier handed me flyer from at&t which said "TXTNG & DRIVNG --- IT CAN WAIT". I read it several times, and then gave him my alternative version - "PRAYNG & DRIVNG --- IT CANT WAIT".
Now, I'm not advocating more distracted driving, but I would like to talk about prayer from my own perspective as a spiritual leader.
At first glance, prayer may seem all about whining and begging God, "Please heal this person. . . please help me survive this brigade run..." etc... One could mistakenly thing that God is holding out on us.
When we're faced with very serious problems, many have the practice of asking others to join together in prayer. What's that all about? It seems as if we hope to move God through force: "God, if you don't respond to my prayers, when I will recruit through the email thousands of others to pray."
Do we think these strategies really work? What are we actually doing here? If God is all knowing then why am I telling Him my problems? He already knows them. If God is good, then why am I asking Him to change my situation?
Prayer is an act of connecting to one's spirituality. It allows us to examine ourselves. Perhaps the question shouldn't be "Is God listening to my prayers?" but rather "Am I listening to my prayers? Does what I say impact me? Have I changed?"
For most of our Soldiers the power of prayer is a significant part of their spiritual fitness and resiliency. As leaders, we can insure they have the opportunity to pray, each in his or her own faith tradition, and know that in doing so, the mission, Soldier and Family are better for it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The True Measure of a Leader
When Moses sent them to explore the Canaanite territory, he said to them, Head North to the Negev, and then continue North to the hill country. See what kind of land it is. Are the people who live there strong or weak, few or many? Is the inhabited area good or bad? Are the cities where they live open or fortified. Is the soil rich or week? Does [the land] have trees or not? Make a special effort to bring back some of the land's fruids. Numbers 13:17-19The above quote takes place as Moses sends a small group of scouts North to gather intel. I would have thought that he should have them investigate the halls of government or the universities. Perhaps visit the Canaanite pentagon and listened to their version of CNN and Fox News.
Instead of having the men visit the leaders, he had them go out among the people, in the country and the forests, and in the village squares.
You see, its really the people who show what kind of leaders they have. The true measure of a leader is their ability to influence others, and the impact they have on those around them.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Developing Your Team
Great leaders have influence and use their position to accomplish as much as possible through the gifts of others.
In I Chronicles 18:14-17 we see that King David ruled wisely and did what was right for all his people. David understood that he was a steward of the human gifts and talents of his people. He gave appropriate responsibility and authority to people of proven commitment and ability.
Have you developed your team today?
In I Chronicles 18:14-17 we see that King David ruled wisely and did what was right for all his people. David understood that he was a steward of the human gifts and talents of his people. He gave appropriate responsibility and authority to people of proven commitment and ability.
Have you developed your team today?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Don't Lead Like Pharoh!
In the Book of Exodus, why does Pharoh always get such a bad rap? After all, through his leadership cities were built (Exod. 1:11) and great building programs started. Even today we can travel to Egypt as tourists and be amazed by the accomplishments of ancient builders (though it wasn't so amazing for the slaves).
The story begins "There arose a new Pharoh who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people...come let us deal cleverly with them". While Pharoh made many mistakes, his first mistake is probably the most instructive for us here today - Instead of being appreciative, he chose to ignore the past and instead of leading for the common good, he acted for his own selfish interests. Pharoh was afraid of losing his own position and authority and he didn't remember that superb logistician (and Wagonmaster, see Gen. 45:21) Joseph, who just a few years earlier saved all of Egypt from starvation.
All that Pharoh did - lying, promoting fear, ethnic hatred, enslaving a minority and committing mass murder; it all started from a lack of appreciation and from leading selfishly. And the consequences for Pharoh and his people were disastrous. Plagues, famine, war and eventually the destruction of his army.
The night before leaving Egypt, when it was time to cast off the bonds of their enslavement, the people offered sacrifices, ate together and celebrated. That was a very different beginning. They started out by appreciating each other and working together for the common good. Appreciation and acting for the sake of the common good is the beginning of great leadership.
As a leader, can you pause and find something to appreciate and be thankful for, even in the most trying of circumstances? Try it and see what happens!
The story begins "There arose a new Pharoh who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people...come let us deal cleverly with them". While Pharoh made many mistakes, his first mistake is probably the most instructive for us here today - Instead of being appreciative, he chose to ignore the past and instead of leading for the common good, he acted for his own selfish interests. Pharoh was afraid of losing his own position and authority and he didn't remember that superb logistician (and Wagonmaster, see Gen. 45:21) Joseph, who just a few years earlier saved all of Egypt from starvation.
All that Pharoh did - lying, promoting fear, ethnic hatred, enslaving a minority and committing mass murder; it all started from a lack of appreciation and from leading selfishly. And the consequences for Pharoh and his people were disastrous. Plagues, famine, war and eventually the destruction of his army.
The night before leaving Egypt, when it was time to cast off the bonds of their enslavement, the people offered sacrifices, ate together and celebrated. That was a very different beginning. They started out by appreciating each other and working together for the common good. Appreciation and acting for the sake of the common good is the beginning of great leadership.
As a leader, can you pause and find something to appreciate and be thankful for, even in the most trying of circumstances? Try it and see what happens!
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