The best way to lead better is to be a better leader” - Rags
OK, that sounds like stating the obvious and may sound a bit stupid to some of you.
But really, I have found many times that I think to be a better leader, I need to do many many things and do them again and again. But doing those things don’t necessary make me a better leader. Doing great leadership activities as a weak leader doesn’t make me anything other than a discouraged weak leader.
I only become a better leader if I first believe.
The Lord says “You are the salt of the earth…. You are the light of the world”. When you let salt be and light shine before men, the salt and the light is already there, you don’t have to make it or work at it. You have to ‘be’ and ‘let it’. It’s not as much what you do, as it is what you are.
Do you believe you are the salt of the earth and light of the world? You cannot lead better if you do not believe you are a better leader. Do you believe you are already that next level leader?
The bottom line is this, if you cannot convince yourself, you will not be able to convince others no matter how hard you lead.
Don’t do and then believe. Believe first, then do! It’ll make the biggest difference.
OK i have another not so smart sounding quote.
“We all know that faith without deeds is dead but I reckon deeds without faith may be just as dead if not deadier”
Yesterday, a very special group of people in our team sat me down to ask me about the trip that I terminated plans to go because of some private reasons. They conspired to sponsor me and Mag there, as a blessing to us. I was delighted and grateful for their kindness + generosity. I thank them but felt it isn’t necessary at this point. Their spirit of giving is enough encouragement to us.
If everyone gives only to himself, one has only one giver. If everyone gives to everyone else, one has many many givers.
A life with only one giver is miserable. Whenever we are desperate about something, we expect something to be given regardless whether they are willing givers. If only I have that thing or that success, I’ll be a happy camper. Such campers are never happy because the only givers in their life is themselves. I have learned never to be desperate, to be unhappy or dissatisfied with what life has given me for if I’m not happy today, most likely I won’t be tomorrow and ever.
On the other hand, a life with many givers, now that’s what it is about. That’s community and what life is meant to be…. That is infact the only way church will work.
Being in it and building it is the best thing in the world. I heartily recommend to everyone … not to receive (for that will only grant you 1 giver) but to give (for that is the formula for a community of many many givers)
The service is packed again. After weeks of lower attendance due to the school holidays, we saw almost every regular child come back today. We were excited to see new kids coming as well for a few consecutive weeks.
I don’t have an official role today but seeing the team in action, fellowship and evaluating with them during lunch time and thereafter triggers the thought of how leadership has changed through the years.
The 2 things I don’t used to need to do as a leader but I need to right now are:
1) Add more value to people than is expected. Our true self gives and it is in giving and helping people advance that leadership should be defined. It is as if we need to compete to add more to people we lead because many things like good service, kindness and podcasts are free.
2) Ensure people will bring their problem to you. Superficiality and superiority that structures leadership in the past no longer works today. It is replaced by authenticity, selflessness and servanthood. When people stop bringing their problems to us then we know we have become irrelevant. It will be a matter of time before leadership is taken away from us.
There are many more I’m sure but these are two that I’ve just had close encounter with today. I’m so proud of my day today.
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Corinthian 3:10-15
The relieve is that we will still be saved, if our work is mediocre and gets burned up with fire. It will be a relief by God’s grace but why do we settle for that type of life?
I had a mediocre week, I was running around, having too many things to do with too few focuses. I did many things that just met requirements. I notice that if our work is mediocre that we don’t inspire ourselves or anyone. We make work a burden and a chore for ourselves as well as others in the team.
Anything that doesn’t inspire, will expire. If we settle for mediocrity, people will leave, business will close down and life will die. It’s more expensive to maintain the chore of a dull team than the excitement of an inspired one.
We cannot afford to build with hay or straw. We got to use quality stuff. We have to be expert builders and inspire one another, especially ourselves. Today is Sunday, we all need to be expert builders in God’s service.
Dedicated to all children’s ministry workers.
http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/10581/real-men-of-genius
Found this through ‘the way we see it’ blog. You have to love a good rock ballad!
I had some time before a meeting this morning at our auditorium. I saw a booklet and browsed through it.
It was our Youth Ministry Y-Hope’s 10th anniversary booklet. Published last year and I cannot believe this is the first time I’ve seen it. It was a great publication and I’m really proud of what our Youth has done for the past 10 years for His glory. Our team led by Pastor Shirley has really move on from glory to glory and now is one of the most vibrant youth ministries in Singapore.
At the end of the booklet was a write up which says “It is the year 2017 and Y-Hope is having our first ever service in the indoor stadium…..”. They went on to say how big the event will be and there will be speakers and bands from Hillsongs and Planetshakers leading the event.
So bands of Hillsong and Planetshakers, mark your calendars cos you have been invited in 2017.
I am so excited as I can see it! Not that I’ll be invited, but that it is so possible every present HopeKids will be. All our kids today would have gone to Y-Hope in year 2017. The foundations we built will enable them to play a pivotal part in fulfilling the Great Commission there. Their so called 20th anniversary will be such a grand time to enfold God’s people, to celebrate His faithfulness and to look out for many familiar faces.
Actually, I’m not sure if I will be there or in a elderly ministry conference, but it doesn’t matter because I’ll be happy. If its going to be 10 good years in the house of the Lord, how else can I be but happy.
My new morning club alarm tune is “Leaving Borderland” by Forty Days taken from the album of the same title.
Yeah it’s makes better sense than the default tune I have used for years. Also the old one tends to wake up and scares my son.
We leave negative thoughts, evil desires and intentions, half-heartedness or anything that hints to harm the spirit and the soul. We leave the old into the new, from ‘borderland’ into the promisedland because mediocrity, indecision and luke-warmness tends to scare other people.
Christians enjoy embracing things but not letting go. We will never be who Christ call us to be unless we let go. List of things to let go:
1. The past
2. Habits & Mindsets
3. Perfection
4. The future
5. Negative emotions
6. Material stuff
7. Ministry methods
Trash is trash no matter how we cover it up. Instead love and serve God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength.
We are brainstorming for big ideas for Holiday Club. I am also thinking of this week’s service appetizer.
To say creativity is to … think out of the box is to say …. “let’s don’t care about anything, let’s be wild and crazy”. This may suit the young and the wild at heart but not many of us.
To say creativity is to … think in many boxes, makes it more practical, systematic and fit for melancholic people like me.
I like this definition of creativity and its the best I’ve heard in quite a while.
The best advice I’ve ever given to a child who comes to me and say “I don’t know how to do it” is “I want you to make mistakes, Go on make some mistakes for me”.
Then the child went on to do her best.
She made 5 out of 6 guesses correctly. Yes the success rate for those who don’t try is 0%. For those who try, it’s definitely more.
