The Messenger - October 22, 2010 - A Sacred Calling

First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro

October 22, 2010

The Messenger

Pastor's Corner

A Sacred Calling (Part 2)

In preparation for last week's election of church officers, I listed a number of quotes about leadership in The Messenger. These quotes came from several good books I have been reading, and I promised to share a second set this week. Whether God calls you to lead in your family, your small group, your committee, or some other setting, I think you will find these quotes to be helpful.

The leader's task

True leadership finds a ways to say lovingly and resolutely, "this is where we need to go if we are to become healthy." The definitive measure of success is simply this: Did you move then to where God wanted them to be?

God's primary concern is not results but relationships.

The leader's methods

We must let the Christ within us lead through us. To do this, engage in a life of prayer that allows your will to resonate with God's will.

Good leaders appeal to people's innate need to believe they have made a valuable contribution to society. People want their lives to make a difference.

"Mini obsessions" are Satan's major tool to split the church. . . . But if you try to fight the demonic through human power, Satan makes you just as obsessed as your enemy.

What I've noticed is that love spreads. I've found that as I love them and they love one another, many of the problems that afflict churches simply melt away. Love's power is amazing.

Relationships are the currency and vehicle for change.

The leader's insight

Not all churches have the resources to provide exceptional and groundbreaking programs..... But if If excellence means following God and honoring Him through their best efforts, any church can be excellent.

Resources should follow vision, not determine it.

Compassionate leaders recognize that people don't fail on purpose..... Good leaders have compassion and let people know that it is OK to make mistakes or fail, that a new opportunity will eventually present itself, and that the person is still valued and important.

Our lives are a tiny thread of God's tapestry, and much of life is spent trying to find that thread and discern its meaning.

The leader's challenge

Leadership is the exercise of power - and power creates distance between people. Dissonance becomes the default.

Most leaders are tempted to establish a facade while under stress. It doesn't work. Subtle body clues are very difficult to control and strong signals to other people of our true emotions. We can smell the leader's emotions a mile away.

The inherent paradox of being a spiritual leader is that I must become self-focused and other-focused at the same time.

The Leader's Resolve

Every effective leader will receive criticism, and harsh criticism is an "ego bruise." I allow myself about 3 days to recover.

Sometimes, success demands going repeatedly from failure to failure without evident loss of enthusiasm (Winston Churchill).

No experience - good or bad - is wasted.

I'll see you Sunday!

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