Talk about something to be THANKFUL for this year…
Please pray for us as we get ready for this new bundle of joy God is sending our way.
More details to come later, but for now it is definitely a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Archive for November, 2008
Blogging Break
We have a lot of BIG THINGS to accomplish the next two weeks so I’ve decided to take a little break from blogging during the next 6 days in order to let God speak to me as I take time to appreciate all the blessing He is bestoying upon me, my family, and our Church.
We are at a critical time in the life of our Launch Team Phase as we enter the 2nd half of this journey before setting out to launch this thing sometime after the beginning of the new year, and God is moving in such a powerful way that I really don’t have very much time to sort through things on the internet right now.
But, I do have to say that I have a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT coming on Thanksgiving (don’t worry, its already written) that I will be posting on here on Thursday, so make sure to check back later this week a for little better look at what God is doing here in the Porter-household…
Also know that I will be back Monday, Dec. 1st to give you all of the Revive Church fix you can get!!!
Leadership Lesson #3 – Humility
I once heard a very influential leader say, “Humility is a man’s best friend!”
Now being in a position of significant leadership myself, I must say that I agree with his statement wholeheartedly. God is teaching me that there is nothing more defeating to the people you are trying to lead than an cocky, pompous, jerk.
And “jerk” is putting it nicely compared to many of the “leaders” I have had the unfortunate opportunity to be around. You know the ones, who ALWAYS have to be right, who NEVER listen to anyone else, who ALWAYS take every bit of the credit, and who NEVER remember from where they came. Yeah, those are the ones.
I pray everyday Jesus will keep me humble. Because arrogance is such an easy trap to fall into especially after you experience a little bit of success. But we as leaders, and especially Pastors, must always remember that Jesus has called us to first be servants before we are leaders.
Thankfully, God has placed people in my life to always keep me humble. My wife is one of them. The staff I serve with are some of the others. And then other men of God who are also leading tremendous movements of God’s people are there to remind me as well that it is HE who receives the glory and me who must remain on my knees.
Because all it takes is one arrogant outburst where you proclaim to be the reason for everything happening that the people behind you will stop following because apparently you don’t need them anyway.
If you think you can do it on your own, remember that people will actually let you. And its no fun going at it alone.
Always stay humble and always give credit where credit is due. You will be amazed what a little humility will do for your ministry! Nobody likes a cocky leader.
Leadership Lesson #2 – We Must Uphold Moral Authority
OK. So I stole this one from Andy Stanley, but he says it better than I’ve ever heard. Now that I think about, maybe I just learned it from him…
At the end of the day, everyone you are leading is a VOLUNTEER. Even if they receive a paycheck, they are still volunteering because God has not appointed you as King of the World. So they can choose to walk away any time they get the notion.
And I promise you they will walk away if we lose our Moral Authority. “Creed and Deed” must match up. Otherwise, people will not adhere to the influence we are seeking to leverage. Here’s a secret to leadership I’m learning right now, the majority of people desire to follow but they must have a leader worth following.
But what scares me even more for those of us leading in ministry is that God will choose not to bless. Nothing drives the Spirit of God away quicker than an immoral leader. God simply will not bless sin! You see it over and over and over again all throughout the Scripture…
So lets do the math. If I lose my Moral Authority, people will not follow and God will not bless. Sounds like disaster to me! Which is all the more reason for me walk straight.
In no way am I suggesting we have to be perfect. But I am suggesting we do things the right way through due diligence and the highest prudence.
Always remember, (as I’m learning now from a very good friend) ”Secrecy Kills, Honesty Heals.” Find someone in whom you can bear your soul in order that God can build you back up. Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And by means necessary, PLEASE KEEP YOUR PANTS UP!!!
The last thing this Kingdom needs is another fallen leader.
Leadership Lesson #1 – Be Yourself
Nothing good can ever come from trying to be something you’re not. God created YOU to be YOU and He can see through any sort of facade you attempt to portray. And so can the people you are desiring to lead. To take a page out of our high school lingo,
NOBODY LIKES A POSER!!!
Sooner or later the real you will show up. And if you have been faking it up that point, then you will ultimately lose any respect you previously had. So quit trying to be everyone else. You’ll be surprised how much easier it becomes when you quit trying to be something (or someone) you are not…
And what I’m discovering in my own life is that true innovation actually comes from doing the things no one else does simply because YOU did it first & not everyone else you are trying to imitate. I’m learning that if I really want to lead then I have to start LEADING and stop worrying about following the lead of every one else.
Because this is where the true leaders emerge!
