Leadership’s decisions aren't either-or calls . . .

It’s just over forty years since I moved from the commercial world to the ministry world; two worlds on the same planet, not two worlds apart.

Oh – by the way, I’m ruminating, not reminiscing . . .

Two things always sat on my last commercial world desk, a motivational sign and a photo of my family.  Or was it a photo of my family and a motivational sign?  Each was a message. Was it a one-or-the-other message?  No, they were both-and-messages.

The sign’s message said “trade for profit” the photo’s voice “remember why you are there.” Two voices, two values.

Two values, not competing ones – values calling me into integrated thinking, to reasoned action, applying thinking process of looking at connections, explanations, beliefs, conclusions, actions or feelings.  Not to a one-or-the-other mode of reasoning.

Most values in front of me then and now are not choices between good and bad; they are between good and good.  Choices are not simple this-or-that, either-or. Not simply you can have one, but not the other. Good choices call for good reasoning, perceptive reasoning.

The sign said, trade for profit; not make a profit!

The photo didn’t say, don’t forget us, it said remember why you are there!

Good leadership decisions in whatever world I lead within, does not countenance “this-or-that-reasoning” – it requires wrestling with making “both-and-decisions.” Integrating two values, two goods; profit and people, how I trade and why I’m here.

“Both-and-reasoning” gives us larger-picture-leadership. Admittedly how and why motivations are good, but not by themselves.

Saint Paul, big on “both-and-leadership motivations” writing as a “how-and-why reasoner” sums it up this way . . .

“ . . . friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Message Bible)

Don't just grow old, keep growing up

Ruminating again . . .

I’m at a point of life where I still have an annual birthday. 

According to the developmental psychologists, well one Eric Erickson (1902-94) in particular I’m still growing my personality. 

In case you haven’t heard of him, he was an “apprentice to one Sigmund Freud’s” school of thought.

• Freud's theory of psychosexual development is one of the best known, but also one of the most controversial. Freud believed that personality develops through a series of childhood stages during which the pleasure-seeking energies of the id become focused on certain erogenous areas. This psychosexual energy, or libido, was described as the driving force behind behaviour.

Erik, in ruminating about Siggy’s system thought; “is it really all like that?”

• The Freuds focused on the psychosexual aspects of development; but Erikson’s psychosocial theory identified how other/more influences helped to broaden and expand the field of psychoanalytic theory. Erik contributed to an understanding of personality as it is developed and shaped over the course of the lifespan.

Erik observed development is lifelong. It occurs in our world of social and self interactions. It has stages with characteristics, challenges, tasks, and expectations
  
I'm thinking about it this way . . .

• Life expectancy is the length of life we may live
• Expectancy life is the way we live for all of life’s length – expectancy is a synonym for hope.

Erik made this cool observation . . .

• Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired. 

Jeremiah communicated this cool observation from God . . .  

• I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (29:11)

Paul who had seen a whole lot of "doing life" sums up on “expectancy-life” this way . . .

• We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!  But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (Message Bible)

COOL or what!

There are advantages to staying awake in church

For one, you can think with your eyes open

Our pastor who is approaching middle middle-age says lots of good get-you-thinking stuff over a range of Biblical and life themes.  Some are central in his message, others passing comments . . .  over the last six months there’s been three bytes on the “order of life and death” – this morning’s is the third one . . . 

• 100% of all people in any cemetery were once alive.

• This week I visited my doctor; he checked my heart and assured me it would work for as long as I live.

• Don’t over celebrate good health, it only means you are dying more slowly than other people.

Cogitating on this morning’s “giveaway”; “Don’t over celebrate good health, it only means you are dying more slowly than other people.” Got me right into ruminating, yet another advantage of staying awake in church . . .

Here’s my “think-train” . . .

1. He’s told us already (constantly and nicely), that belief in and confession of Jesus gives us the gift of eternal life – our soul and spirit will live forever, so it’s life all the way on that one, no work needed here!                                                                   
2. I’m going to die, it a human thing – just a matter of speed and time, so this is not a call-for-faith deal, just how it works.                                                                    
3. Two lives here, well I’m not a cat, so hey, can’t complain; two are better than one – One settled, the other still open, running and can be worked on. It’s a no-brainer, “what am I doing with life #2?” The first one is gained by faith in Jesus; the second one is out-working my faith in and with Jesus. So it’s working to grow and not to gain, that’s how faith and human life works.

Oh, by the way, he used this cool text . . .

 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. - James 2:17-18 (Message Bible)

“So, what did you think last time you were awake in Church?” 

If you weren’t awake . .

• “What did you dream about, which now you are awake, should be outliving by your faith in and with Jesus?”

I know what I’m chewing on, do you?

Working in my study right now – doing deep doctoral type writing; opening my drawer for something, found a “Christmas leftover” . . . 

Yes!!

Then as I was just about to eat this last of the “goodies/candy” from my Christmas stocking, it was so pretty seemed a shame to eat it, but “hey” – that’s what it was made for (sort of its’ destiny) . . . thought, "this is an historical event!!!” . . . This candy has never been eaten before, it’s reincarnation free!!!"

So to record the “passing” had a 68 year old photographer record the event . . . he was “really close to the action” – in more than one way!!!

It’s not a “pretty picture” . . . but it was a yummy one!!!

So, what am I chewing on? It's obvious from the picture - it’s what’s in my mouth. But what's in my mind?

What am I ruminating on?

• By the way, “God only knows is the wrong answer”

What are you ruminating on?

• By the way, “God only knows is still the wrong answer” . . . think about your thinking . . . 

Doing what’s always done isn’t always all bad

Taking a guess here . . . I’m guessing, that like me you’ve more-than-once heard the common “alleged” wisdom-saying . . . 

• “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”

Such wisdom commonly assumes two things . . .

• What I’m already doing isn’t what I now require
• Changes only come when I change my methods or life activities

My Christian pilgrimage, a fifty-eight year journey so far (by the way - I’m older than the journey) contains an “always-done-that element” . . . a daily spiritual discipline.

I’m referring to the generalized evangelical discipleship practice of observing a daily routine of bible reading, prayer, reflection/meditation which may include the spiritual discipline of journaling; the bible reading element is frequently supported by published “reading support notes.” The common expectation is the timing of one’s daily devotions will be observed in the morning, often before breakfast, employment, or other larger responsibilities. This practice is also referred to as, “daily devotions” or “quiet time.”

I’m chewing over the thought how life’s a whole lot more than just doing things; it’s also remembering why the things I’m doing are being done. So I’m not just asking “what am I doing?”  I’m asking myself – “why am I doing this?”

Now, in thinking about my daily spiritual discipline  . . .

“Always doing what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got” – equals, time and opportunity for refreshing the journey with Jesus  . . .

“Now why should I change that?”

Renew YES – change NO!

Learning and leading in leadership is lifelong

In what seems like a former lifetime I managed an urban supermarket for a major chain of stores. It was there a concept first dawned on me, “management is task, leadership the means of effective operation.” Not merely to exercise a role of leadership; but to create and foster mission-structured community which produces continuous leadership. I was not just there as store manager; I was functionally there as leadership-force in mission-structured community. The store was not a mere organization it was a functional organism sort of “organic” before its time; with three key aspects in its organic-mix; leadership, community, and structure. Forty years ago next month that lifetime ended.

Been thinking; “so what have I been doing the last forty years?”

Answer - same old, same old.  Still learning, living, and leading what I learned, lived, and led in back then; or should I say from and since then. Not for a national chain of stores, but within and through an international, trans-cultural mission-structured community – you guessed it (I hope) the church as God’s Kingdom mission structured community; the only truly global organism operating a continuous production of leadership. 

The continuity of leadership is a product of healthy community structure and function. Methinks the very nature of the church as community produces, responds to, and ensures the continuity of fresh or new leadership.

I’ve been ruminating on some organic codes of belief for church leadership continuity. . .

• Existing leaders equip, enable, or facilitate the growth of community
• The church as nurturing community arises from the self-structuring of the Spirit’s work within a group of related persons
• Life and growing lessons of ministry are experienced and passed on through the church community
•  Leaders beget other leaders through equipping in the environment of community
•  Leadership formation is proactive function in the community as context of ministry formation
•  The continuity of leadership is a natural-product of healthy community structure and function.

“So JCD, your thoughts on what you will do with the next forty years?” 

Answer - well as I would be turning one hundred and eight at the end of that period, best I focus on this week and the next. I anticipate to be still learning, living, and leading what I’m learning, living, and leading in today and my tomorrows. Still hear the challenge to Tim . . .

“So, my man, throw yourself into this work for Jesus. Pass on what you heard —the whole congregation saying Amen!— to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.”                                         II Timothy 2:1-2 (Message/DPV)

Read the author’s heart first, then their words

Reading is part of life; it’s a major aspect of my life. 

I read cerebral stuff, devotional stuff, informational stuff, and ... well, I read all sorts of stuff.

Reading and thinking are connected.  Sometimes I read first, think second; other times think first then read. This week I’ve been reading about thinking, so stopped to ruminate about reading.

As well as reading the thinking (cognitive processing theory) stuff, read some old stuff.  Just read Thomas A’Kempis’s fifth chapter “About reading the holy writings.”  In it he highlights to me the “normal human danger” of being influenced by the academic status of others, how through curiosity and ego we try to master difficulties of comprehension, rather than being inspired by simplicity, humility and applying faith. 

Here’s my chew on “faith or spiritual formation reading” . . .

“When you read, read for the author’s heart, before you seek to analyse their head.   Consider that the author, no matter how intellectually developed they are, wrote from heart before head.  Their head served their heart as they sought to capture and communicate authentic and actualised faith.” 

I think I have this one “dynamically right” but I should never assume I have the essence of A‘Kempis’ warning, “statically-historically right.”  Reading right is an ongoing developmental discipline, not achieved competency.

Heart first, words second.