Archive for the ‘Healthy Leaders’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Leaders Must Develop A Theology of “Waiting”. What is yours?

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Reading through the Bible over a year’s time and an article by Henri Nouwen along with God placing my leadership goals in the “waiting room” were the three elements in a ‘perfect storm’ to begin to ask God for his perspective on waiting for leaders. Leaders are wired on ‘go’ and ‘finish’. Most leaders I know have difficulty embracing waiting. Many times in my leadership I have seen waiting as ‘spiritual warfare’ or at least ‘sinful resistance’ either one to be prayed out of the way so progress continues.

Yet in reality most of my life is in the gaps between God’s promise and the answer. Much of my leadership has been seeking clarity on what to do while we are waiting on something else — that God seems to be delaying.

Here are three short articles written during the winter months (the waiting season). May they help you as you forge a theology of waiting for leaders. I welcome your comments.

In Part One I presented the idea that a great deal of the Christian’s life is invested in waiting. Waiting well is looking in faith at God’s promises. DOWNLOAD PART ONE

In Part Two I described waiting as a revisiting of the past by remembering what God has done and a longing look at the future as we anticipate what God will do. When God “engineers” a waiting gap for us he is calling us to exercise our faith and hope ‘muscles’ to strongly hold on to him. DOWNLOAD PART TWO

In Part Three I reflect on being in God’s waiting room and how it become a place to love. DOWNLOAD PART THREE

Posted in Healthy Leaders, Leadership, Resources | No Comments »

Sabbath It’s A Snow Day!

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Refresh your perspective on God’s gift of a day of rest! DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE FOR FREE!

Posted in Healthy Leaders, Leadership | No Comments »

Darkness – A Season of asking, “Where is God?”

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

A Columbia International University chapel message by Roy King about the seasons our lives when the normal sense of God’s presence is absent. How are we to react to seasons of a perceived loss of God’s presence.

This is a 14 minute message given during a summer school chapel at CIU.

Strange Minister – Darkness (MP3 – 14 minutes)
download MP3

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Audio, Healthy Leaders | No Comments »

Facing Pornorgraphy & Sexual Impurity (CIU Chapel)

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Do we understand what is happening in our hearts when we cross over into sexual impurity?

A Columbia International University chapel message by Roy King for those who struggle with the temptation to view pornography from one who regrets the exposure earlier in life.

Lessons from a Sensual Heart (MP3 – 57 minutes)
download MP3

Posted in Audio, Healthy Leaders | 2 Comments »

Today’s Leaders Must Be Explorers!

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Leonard Sweet and others have the perspective that today’s leaders must approach their leadership as a journey without a map. Why is there no map? Because no one has been there yet. It is “new world exploration”. To be leaders who know how to use a compass of unchanging, reliable principles to navigate by instead of following a predefined path is a very different approach to making directional decisions.

Explorers have a unshakable commitment to completing the mission… Go for it or die!
Explorers have a vague sense of what the destination will be like... “Your kingdom come!”
Explorers know they must be willing to take risks and tap into all of the creative capacity that they or others on the team possess…”We may have to back up when we hit dead end canyon walls, but we will keep moving forward!”

One my courses in the seminary seeks to train pastors and missionaries to live as EXPLORERS. I often begin the day of the one week intensives with a devotion that frames our theme for the day.

You can download them as MP3 files or listen to them here:

Audio 1:

First Day of Class: An overview of some of the critical disciplines being an EXPLORER requires.

Listen to the audio here:
Become an Explorer

Audio 2:

In Romans 15 Paul gives us a glimpse of how he viewed his life — He was linked to the redemptive flow of God’s activity that started in Abraham and flowed through the Old Testament to the stream that was carrying him forward as a Christ follower. He also knew how to give gifts to God that he knew God would enjoy unwrapping.

Listen to the audio here:
Romans 15 – Paul’s Perspective and Gifts

Audio 3:

Explorers do not back down from sacrificial giving and they do not let even the ones with the least resources off the hook. There is no room on the trail for passive consumers. Hear the story of two widows

Listen to the audio here:
Two Widows and Giving

Audio 4:

Change produces conflict because it surfaces differences in beliefs, values and assumptions. Galatians addresses 3 groups in the church that face a choice. They must choose GRACE GOSPEL or ANOTHER GOSPEL. They must choose FREEDOM AS SONS or SLAVERY OF TRADITIONALISTS. They must choose investing their FREEDOM TO LOVE or the BONDAGE OF LICENSE. Churches processing changes will also face these teachable moments. Hear the full overview of Galatians applied to CHANGE PROCESSING.

Listen to the audio here:
Galatians Grid for Change

Posted in Audio, Class materials, Healthy Leaders, Leadership, Resources | 1 Comment »

Leaders are you Seekng Counsel or Feeding A Fire of Gossip?

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Leadership is filled with problems where getting a different perspective could be helpful. After all there is wisdom in getting outside counsel says the Proverbs of Solomon. But where do we cross a line with sharing a challenge with another person that becomes gossip or other harmful speech?

Here are some questions and principles for leaders to consider before seeking advice:

1) What is my level of responsibility, given to me by God, in this situation? Does this problem really fall within my circle of responsibility? If so is it part of God’s assignment, my stewardship and contribution, to take action. Or — is it outside of my circle of my contribution but is within my circle of influence?

Perhaps the responsibility for implementing a response and solution is held by someone else or a group of leaders but they have invited me to offer my perspective and possible solutions. I may not have authority to act but God may have given me a “voice” of influence. OR — is the situation outside of my direct contribution or my indirect influence and resides within my circle of concern?

I am not sure why God allows me to see a glimpse of problems and challenges that I have little or no ability to impact. My guess is it is His call to me to pray and watch. Before I start telling others about what I see I need to begin with determining where God has placed ME in relationship to the problem and others involved.

2) Have I established a clear understanding for why I am sharing this information with the person I am approaching? In other words, what is my expectation for how they can assist me? Am I seeking clarity from someone with greater experience in these types of problems? Am I seeking support and prayer support for courage to do the right thing? Am I seeking perspective to resolve my confusion? All of these may be appropriate.

BUT — If I am seeking to unload my responsibility on another person and walk away clean; STOP! Or, if I am seeking to gather their vote and support for my cause to defeat my opposition and create division I am on dangerous ground. If I tend to frame the problem in language of “US” against “THEM” that is a good indication I am standing in the wrong place. If I am just emotionally venting I may be making the situation worse.

3) With a spouse or special friend I may just need a hug and a reminder of encouragement that God will help me. That can be very helpful if the person I am sharing with understands the contribution I need. Usually I do not need to rehearse all of the history, details or attack others in my seeking some emotional care. Those details only confuse what I am asking the person to provide.

Perhaps this axiom from Robertson McQuilkin is a helpful summary of what I have tried to frame in the three questions. “When responding to a problem seek SOLUTIONS and not VICTORIES.”

Posted in Case Studies, Healthy Leaders, Leadership, Questions Coaches Hear | No Comments »

God’s Adventures For Us Purifies Our Heart

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Adventure, risk, steps of faith, exploring a new frontier, — all the language of a Christ follower’s journey with God.

I was inspired by the true story of a young adventurer found at www.zacsunderland.com . Zac is the first person under to sail solo around the world before turning 18 years of age! Adventure helps PURIFY us and God often enrolls us in ones we could have never imagined.

Joseph had a prison and palace adventures. Moses faced an enemy and a lot of water, David faced giants and the murderous lust in his own heart.

God has a way of using challenges to get at places in our heart untouched by daily chores.

Download the article here

Posted in Healthy Leaders | No Comments »

Hiring or Being Hired — Here are some good questions to help you prepare

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Let these questions prime your own creativity as you prepare for employment interviews? Are you the one being interviewed? These questions may help you prepare.
1) Tell me about yourself?
2) Are you an organized person?
3) How do you respond to pressure and deadlines?
4) How to you handle frequent interruptions?
5) How do you balance accomplishing tasks and investing in relationships?
6) How do you determine priorities?
7) What rapidly depletes you?
8) What restores and refreshes you?
9) How do you learn new technology?
10) How do you define a good day?
11) What is God teaching you right now? Where is He working in you? What is your growing edge?
12) How would you describe good supervision for you?
13) Describe an experience of bad supervision you had to endure? How did you respond?
14) Describe a time when you participated in a team and what was your role?
15) What would make your work situation difficult?
16) Where do you see yourself in three years?
17) What is a favorite book, movie, music?
18) Who was your best boss and your worst boss and why?
19) Describe your experience in working with people of different ages.
20) What are your three greatest strengths you contribute?
21) What are your three greatest weaknesses and how do you manage them?

Posted in Healthy Leaders, Leadership, Questions Coaches Hear | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »