Personal Blog...

Hey guys, I launched another blog that deals with my personal walk, ministry and well...anything else.
www.thewellpsl.wordpress.com

I hope you enjoy it. It is real and down to earth.

Wearing Blinders

Horses that are used in parades or other events have blinders put on them. These blinders hinder the horse's periphial vision. They are not able to see those around them. When the horses do not have blinders they are usually frightened and get off course because of the distractions of what others are doing.

Leaders who start movements have to wear blinders.
The Apostle Paul of the New Testament even said, "It is not wise to compare ourselves with ouselves or to compare ourselves with others."

It is easy to get distracted by those around you. It is great to have an awareness of the things happening around you, but you cannot focus on that. Leading an organization or ministry is filled with periphial distractions. They are other horses around you that are going faster. There are prettier horses and there are slower horses.

If we don't wear blinders and stay focused on the path and mission, we will start to try to be like the other "horses" around us.

When are you most discouraged?
Do you always think others are doing better than you?
How do the "horses" around you affect you?

Sent to Change Culture

I have had some "revelation" this week. God never sends those people who are called to change culture to a culture where no change is needed. When we look at our city, our jobs, our homes, and yes....our churches and say, "Man, these guys just don't get what I am trying to convey. They think totally opposite." That is the point you realize that you have been sent for a purpose and such a time is this.

I respect and love all denominations. I have studied the teachings of their fathers in the faith. I glean so much from them. I personally am from a Pentecostal/Charismatic denomination. I love to enjoy and connect to God through worship. I enjoy seeing healings taking place. It is great to see people seeking God with their whole hearts during a worship service. I am glad to be where I am at. It is not better, just where I am called.

Pentecostals/Charismatics are notorious for a "childish" faith instead of a child-like faith. They are also notorious for lack of planning and structure. They are also known as too "heavenly to be any earthly good." If a Pentecostal talks about "God moving" they think of tongues, people jumping pews, and someone going to an altar. They don't believe that God can move when someone is silent and reflective.

• It has been a battle for me try to teach Pentecostals to be mindful of unbelievers in our services.
• It has been a battle for me to try to teach Pentecostals to develop a strategic plan.
• It has been a battle for me to try to teach Pentescostals to set up parking lot attendants, greeters and ushers. To help them develop a system to help someone move from the door to the core of your ministry.
• It has been a battle to teach them that Biblical favor is not some "mist" that comes down on them at revival, but favor is directly to your obedience to God AND your ability to relate and serve someone.

In the midst of this frustration..... I have realized that I have been sent. If there is no resistance or change needed, there is also no reason to be sent.

What is frustrating you?
What you see the most backlash against?
What drives you?

Don't let these things discourage you. Rather look at this as your assignment. You have been sent to change the culture....

Big Babies Don't Start Movements

Big babies don't start movements.....

I recently had a situation occur in my life where a mentor/spiritual father had to correct me and give me perspective. He literally told me, "No, you are wrong and have the wrong attitude. If you go act on this, you will cripple your ministry." Now of course, he did not say it that way. He was much more diplomatic. At the end of the conversation I realized that I had a faulty perspective.

As I view leaders who attempt to start movements I have seen that many fail because of not allowing someone to say, "You are wrong. That is stupid. You cannot do that, or treat people like that." We need someone to look at us and tell us that we are wrong. In America pastors don't have spiritual fathers, they have conference superintendents who for the most part don't know them enough to speak into their lives. We have independent churches and pastors who have no voice.

One of my close friends recently had an idea. I encouraged him to go someone who he considered a spiritual father and let that person tell them what they think. I personally will not move forward with an idea, notion, or decision if all my mentors think it is not a good idea.

Too many leaders want someone who will tell them they are okay and are right in every situation. The greatest times of growth have been when I have submitted decisions and actions that I am "married" to unto my mentors.

You know you have a voice when you allow someone (on a regular basis) to:
1. Challenge you to reconsider your decisions.
2. Tell you to go and say you are sorry.
3. Evaluate your ministry and help you (with no excuses).
4. Correct you and you submit.
5. Challenge your relationships or if you are married, challenge you to treat your family better.
6. Speak to your character issues. "They can tell you that you have pride."
7. Ask you about your private life and you are honest.

Great communication skills, leadership skills or abilities are not the "determining" factor of success. I see so many leaders who are very full of themselves and are too prideful to receive.
When is the last time you allowed someone to challenge you personally to your core about your actions, attitudes or decisions?

Babies want their way. They fight and complain. Babies need discipline through love. Big babies do not start movements....

Leaders are born in times of crisis

On September 11th, 2001 an unlikely leader emerged in a time of crisis. A group of bankers were finishing a billion dollar merger plan in one section of the twin towers. They had the versacci (think it is spelled right, never had one) suits, alligator skin briefcases and rolex watches. After their meeting they were traveling from the 102nd floor down to the 1st floor when the first plane struck about 10 stories above them. They had no clue. The elevator stopped, lights went out and they began to take out their cute blackberries and try to find personal assistance. The janitor was on the elevator with them. He knew they were between the 75th and 77th floor. He also knew there was an air vent in the men's bathroom here. He used his mop handle to pry open the air vent. He convinced the bankers to climb out of there. He then directed them to a hidden staircase where they exited at the 1st floor. About 5 minutes later as they were walking down Wall Street, the building collapsed.

That day the hero the was not men in thousand dollar suits. The hero that day was a janitor.

Whoever emerges in a time of crisis will be the leader.

We can start in Genesis and go to the book of Revelation in the Bible and find leaders who emerged in times of crisis.

Think on this:

• People are watching you in times of crisis in your personal life and organization.
• They are watching for your attitude and approach.
• People will ultimately deem you as their leader when they see you handle adversity correctly.

Leaders who start movements usually started these movements in the worst of circumstances and in great adversity.

What the USFL Teahes Us...

Last night I watched the ESPN 30 for 30. They highlighted the USFL. It was a start up football league in 1981 that was going to rival the NFL. They enlisted Herschel Walker, heisman winner from UGA, among other notable players that are now in the NFL hall of fame. They met and exceeded all their goals for the first year. The television viewing audience was high, their attendance was record at games was also high. They did this by having a "fun" league that was high energy and added great entertainment. Fans had fun at the games. It offered something different from the NFL. Their first championship was a sellout audience and excitement was building.
But I had to keep watching to find out how the USFL failed.

In the midst of excitement and growth they attracted Donal Trump who bought the New Jersey Generals, which was the team Herschel Walker played for. He brought in NFL stars to the team and pushed the league forward.
In the midst of the excitement, they added 8 new teams to the league their second year.
They also made the decision in 83' to attempt to move into the fall and compete with the NFL.....

So, that was the story of the USFL. They disbanded in 1983 with millions of lost dollars, hopes and dreams.

Why?

Apply this to starting a movement. Here are some principles of why they failed:
1) They got caught up in the emotion as growth came. They were not able to stick to a viable plan for sustaining growth. There will always be seasons of growth and their will always be seasons of decline.
2) They expanded too quickly. Many of the league officials will tell you this diluted and destroyed them. Do not outgrow your resources that fuel the system.
3) They got conceited and thought too much of themselves. They went up against the NFL. They lost. Don't think you are that good. Those who have success worked for it. You will too.

Applying it to Starting a Movement:
It is not how good we look when we start. The key as leaders is to be able to make a viable, God-led, plan that we stick to. Emotional fervor cannot make decisions for us. We must not get "too big for our britches." We must slowly grow into what God has for us. Don't jump out too soon. I have never heard a leader say, "I took it too slow. I waited too long. I saved up too much money." But you will always hear the opposite.

Let's learn from the USFL. Look it up on the internet.

Men in Black on Mentoring

Leaders who start movements mentor those with potential and position them to take their place.

I love the movie Men in Black, namely the first one. You have this young, energetic man that they bring in for an interview to be on the Men in Black team. He is picked because he is sharp, can find creative ways to solve problems and gets the job done.

During one of their first elevator rides, Will Smith looks at Tommy Lee Jones and says, "Hey, I know I am young, but I don't want to be called 'sport,' 'kid,' 'junior,' or 'slick.'" Tommy Lee Jones looks back and says, "Alright Slick, have it your way."

As a young leader (30 now) and a lead pastor, I am often times talked down to by leaders that are older than me. I was told this week that I have a lot of great ideas, but have never worked them out in ministry. I did not stop to tell the guy that everything I am doing, I learned by doing it! It can be very frustrating when you have a vision and know you can lead then you are talked down to and told that you are too young to lead (in so many words).

Men in Black is a great story of mentoring. Will Smith is trained and developed. Tommy Lee Jones knows that Will can and will out do everything he has done. He lets Will make mistakes. He gives opportunities and experiences. The greatest part is at the end when Will takes over.

Here are some questions for you....
1) Who is actively mentoring you now? Do they speak to your potential or do they see age/limitations?
2) If you are mentoring someone, do you speak their potential? Do you treat them as "sport," "slick," or "junior?" I once gave my new book to some denominational leaders. They responded by saying, "cool dude." They never read it. I am no longer with their conference.
3) Are you positioning the next generation to move into their rightful place?

We need to know this...
The next great leaders of the Church are in elementary, middle school or high school. You may have experience, but experience is not the best teacher. Evaluated experience is the best teacher. Being married for 30 years or pastoring for 30 years means nothing. Are you better or still making the same mistakes? Don't judge them based on their experience. Learning things the wrong way can be a bad teacher.

The youth music you hate. The way they dress. They way they talk. Their views toward spirituality and your traditions will be leading the church of tomorrow. Look at the most innovative and fastest growing churches in America. They look a lot youth ministries from 5-10 years ago.

You can talk down to sport, junior or slick, but they will be leading your denomination, organization and church in the years to come.