6 Dangerous Viruses That Take Leaders Down

The enemy of our souls and of His ministry through us is always on the hunt for ways to bring us down. Eric Geiger shares 6 dangerous viruses that take leaders down. Please prayerfully read what Eric has to share and pray for the protection of the Holy Spirit over your life and ministy.  Originally posted by Eric Geiger

6 Dangerous Viruses That Take Leaders Down

Six deadly viruses that leaders can be hit with!

Not all viruses have the same devastating impact on people. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations have plotted viruses on a chart with deadly on the y-axis and contagious on the x-axis. Some viruses are just more deadly than others. Regarding spiritual viruses, here are 6 (not an exhaustive list) that take leaders down.

1. Greed

Leaders, even ministry leaders, can be filled with greed—the continual desire for more— often more money. When greed has a leader’s heart, the leader makes decisions that are centered on cash and not on Christ and His people.

2. Lust

When lust resides in a leader’s heart, the leader makes destructive decisions. What once seemed unthinkable becomes a fantasy that can easily move to reality. When lust grows in the heart of a leader, a fall is inevitable.

3. Revenge

When leaders are harmed or feel like they have been harmed, they can wrongly feel it is their role and responsibility to right every wrong and extract pain from others—pain they feel makes the scales even. A leader filled with a desire for revenge fails to walk in wisdom.

4. Independence

Sometimes leaders use the excuse that “no one understands” as justification for their preference to be alone. But when leaders are alone, they make foolish decisions.

5. Pride

Because leaders are often in places of authority and influence, pride can easily build in the heart and mind of a leader. When pride spreads, the leader fails to learn from others, fails to recognize the fragility of the moment, and fails to serve for the benefit of others.

6. Laziness

Laziness can plague leaders who feel they have earned the right to stop serving or who have lost their passion for the mission they have heralded. When leaders grow lazy, the culture of those they lead quickly deteriorates.

These may start small, but they can quickly spread in the leader’s heart. Leaders are wise to continually ask the Lord to search their hearts to bring these to mind so repentance can occur.

6 Areas of Life Where Successful Leaders Practice Self-Discipline

No matter how you look at it, it all eventually comes down to discipline. Effective and fruitful leaders develop disciplines in key areas of life and ministry. Rick Warren shares 6 areas of life where successful leaders practice self-discipline.  Originally posted by Rick Warren

High achievers usually have one obvious thing in common: personal discipline.  Successful people are willing to do things that most people are unwilling to do.

I’ve observed that successful people express self-discipline in six key ways:

1. Successful people master their moods.

They live by their commitments, not their emotions. People who do the right thing even when they don’t feel like it accomplish most of what gets done in the world!

“A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls” Proverbs 25:28 (TLB).

2. Successful people watch their words.

They put their minds in gear before opening their mouths.

“He who guards his lips guards his life” Proverbs 13:3 (NIV).

3. Successful people restrain their reactions.

How much can you take before you lose your cool? Unfortunately, a lot of potential influence can be cut short by a short temper.

“If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it” Proverbs 19:11 (GNT).

4. Successful people stick to their schedule.

If you don’t determine how you will spend your time, you can be sure that others will decide for you. When you lead a church that grows in size, you will inevitably be pulled in a multitude of directions. You’ll have to become a great steward of time to be successful in life.

“Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility . . . Make the best use of your time” (Ephesians 5:15-16 Phillips).

5. Successful people manage their money.

They learn to live on less than what they make, and they invest the difference into savings and give to causes that matter. The value of a budget is that it tells your money where you want it to go rather than wondering where it went!

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20 TLB).

6. Successful people maintain their health.

They form habits in their eating and activities that keep their energy level up and help them last through stressful seasons in good health. That way they can accomplish more and enjoy their achievements.

“Every one of you should learn to control his own body, keeping it pure and treating it with respect”
(1 Thessalonians 4:4 Phillips).

Where do you need to develop self-control?  The disciplines you establish today will determine your success tomorrow.

But it takes more than just willpower to produce lasting self-control. It takes a power greater than yourself.

The more you accept God’s control over your life, the more self-control he gives you!

A good name is more desirable than great riches

The Bible says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches." In other words, your self-worth is more important than your net-worth.

The common mistake most people make is thinking that reputation is a matter of “image.” So they worry themselves with questions like "How do I look?" or "Did I say the right thing?" To build a long-term good reputation, you must focus on your character, not your image. Respect must be earned. The book of Proverbs in the Bible identifies six character qualities found in people who are respected by others:

1. RESPECT IS EARNED THROUGH INTEGRITY. "Respected people do not tell lies."(17:7) "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." (10:9)
2. RESPECT IS EARNED THROUGH HUMILITY. "Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected."(29:23) "Anyone who listens to correction is respected."(13:18)
3. RESPECT IS EARNED THROUGH DEPENDABILITY. "Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give."(25:15) "He who keeps an oath even when it hurts will never be shaken." (Psalm 15:4-5)
4. RESPECT IS EARNED THROUGH HAVING PRIORITIES. "If your goals are good, you will be respected." (11:27) "You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good."(14:22)
5. RESPECT IS EARNED THROUGH GENEROSITY. "He who gives generously to the needy and shows kindness will be powerful and respected." (Psalm 112:9)
6. RESPECT IS EARNED THROUGH PUTTING GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE. "If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." (3:4-6)

What are people going to remember most about you? How many of these qualities could you work on this week -- starting today?

 

OUR ENEMY HAS EMBEDDED HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF LEADERSHIP

A great post by  Dave Kraft

For some time now I’ve said that I Peter 5 is the “lost” chapter on leadership. When churches are vetting potential leaders, often the go-to chapters are I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, where we have a list of leadership qualities and attributes.

Most of what we find in Timothy and Titus is not competence, but character in the context of healthy relationships. This is very notesworthy given today’s obsesssion with competency and talent.

However, 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 1-11 are often not referenced at all,  or not enough, when it comes to the choosing of future leaders. One insight that came to me not too long ago is that right in the middle (verse 8, ESV) of this exquisite chapter on leadership by Peter (who rose from the ashes of failure, defeat and disappointment to become a key leader in the early church) is a statement about our enemy, the devil.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

What struck me was the fact that the enemy’s tactics certainly applies to all followers of Jesus; but this is in the middle of a chapter on leadership, which leads me to conclude that our enemy is mostly, and primarily, after leaders; to “devour,” take them out of the race, cause them to be disqualified. (I Corinthians 9:27).

I’m currently reading through the New Testament in the New Living Translation, and a day or two ago, I read I Thessalonians 3:5:

“That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.” (Emphasis mine)

The phrase, “…the tempter had gotten the best of you…” really caught my attention. The last thing true Christian leaders want is to have the tempter (the devil, the enemy, the accuser) get the best of them, taking them down and out. But we all know it happens to lots of leaders and has been happening for a very long time.

As I was reflecting and praying about this, I thought of four areas where the enemy can get the best of us:

1. SEXUAL

Men in leadership need to be especially watchful on this one. The strongest man in the Bible (Sampson), the wisest man in the Bible (Solomon), and the man after God’s own heart (David), all got  significantly hit on this one. This is something I pray about daily/hourly for myself.  Five minutes of illicit pleasure, real or imagined through pornography, can in a matter of hours reverse a legacy that has been years in building. Numerous chapters in the book of Proverbs deal expressly with this danger.

2. FINANCIAL

Personal greed, lack of integrity, the misuse and/or mismanagement of corporate monies, as well as financial envy and jealously, has brought many a leader down. Total honesty and honor in the handling of money is an endangered species in politics, business and, sad to say, in the church. Years ago I worked in a church where an elder stole money from the offering to the tune of $10,000 to pay off personal debt. I’m convinced this is not an isolated incident.

3. RELATIONAL

Not clearly and consistently living out of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) in the context of working relationships is devastating and destructive to fruitful Christian ministry. 

Often relationally challenged leaders are given a pass (due to their stellar success) when it comes to loving relationships. But, sooner or later, the lack of genuine love, consideration and kindness in how people are treated, spoken to (and about) and appreciated can cause the outward trappings of success to come to a screeching halt.

Many leaders get promoted on the basis of their ability to get things done, but are eventually let go due to their inability to get along with the people they work with day in and day out.

4. PRIDEFUL

It was the late John Stott who said: “Pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.” A leader all wrapped up in him/herself makes a very small package. Pride sent Lucifer crashing down and it has been the undoing of many leaders in the Bible, in early church history and still takes its toll today. As I said in my book, “Mistakes Leaders Make,” “Pride is a difficult issue for leaders to recognize in themselves and even more difficult to deal with. It often hides under the cloak of confidence and conviction.”

 Keep a watchful eye open

Please join me in praying for yourself and for leaders you know that the tempter will not get the best of any of us;  sexually, financially, relationally or pridefully.

Jesus wants the best of all of us!

Disturb Us, Lord

Disturb Us, Lord

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

(Attributed to Sir Francis Drake -1577)

What to Do When You Want to Give Up

This is a great post by Rick Warren.

I hear from pastors all the time who are ready to give up. They’re tired. They’re frustrated. They feel like they’ve failed their family, their congregation—and God.

Any veteran church leader has experienced discouragement. In fact, some of us have been through several trying seasons.

It’s not a sin to get discouraged—it happens to all of us. Discouragement is a byproduct of spiritual warfare. It also happens when our expectations need to be readjusted.

God uses discouragement to draw us closer to him and to refine our ministry.

Don’t give up! What you are doing is far too important! We are in this battle together! God can still do more than you could ever imagine in your life and through your ministry.

If you are ready to give up, consider the following:

Remember how much God loves you. I suspect that you often preach about God’s love. If you’re feeling discouraged, it’s time to “preach it” to yourself. You can’t feel the love of God and feel discouraged at the same time.

Refuse to “fake it.” Typically, this is tough for those of us in ministry. Much of our lives are on display. We buy into the lie that we can’t be real and still be effective in church ministry. This simply isn’t true. The people in your church are struggling. It gives them hope when they know you are too.

Naturally, you need to be wise about what you share. You need to match your integrity with discernment. You may be able to live a double life for a little while, but it will eventually catch up with you.

Take the focus off of yourself. Remember that there’s more to your life than just you. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! The more self-focused you become, the more discouraged you will get. Life is bigger than you. Take the focus off of your problems, broaden your perspective to include others, and your discouragement will diminish.

Be realistic about your limitations. You are a ministry leader, not the latest hero in a comic book movie. You can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound. You are a normal person and you have limits.

Unless you have a realistic view of what you can and cannot do, you’re headed for regular bouts of discouragement. But there’s good news for you—when you learn to be realistic about your limitations, you’ll be less discouraged.

• You can’t keep everyone happy
• You aren’t going to hit a home run with every sermon
• You won’t successfully handle every conflict

“That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT).

Take time for renewal. If you want to be in ministry for the long haul, you need to find ways to recharge. You need to divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually.

You need to do something every day that recharges you—whether it’s taking a walk, engaging in a hobby, playing with the kids, or anything else that leaves you with more energy when you’re done. You need a day of rest, a Sabbath day when you don’t do any work. Maybe it’s not during the weekend for you. Make sure you’re taking another day as your Sabbath. Then, make sure you take vacation time every year.

Stay focused on eternity. I call it the tyranny of the trivial. It’s when we major in the minors and ignore the majors. Even in ministry, it’s tempting to focus on issues that just don’t matter. When we take on the weight of a seemingly infinite amount of insignificant things, the only result can be a discouragement.

Unless you can let go of the minutiae, discouragement will be a constant companion.

Don’t spend your time worrying about issues that won’t matter next week or even next year. Keep your perspective on what will outlast you on this earth. Your present struggles will only last for a brief time compared to eternity.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14 NIV).

THE FIVE PRACTICES OF SMART TEAMS

A great post by Dan Rockwell 

Teams, like individuals, can be stupid or smart.  Stupid teams consist of smart people who engage in stupid behaviors.

The 5 practices of smart teams:

#1. Team members disagree with the team leader.

Smart teams don’t have dominant leaders. The lid of a team’s intelligence is the dominant person who controls the team.

Effective leaders keep teams focused on important issues. 

Effective leaders establish and control the direction of conversations. Dominant leaders control the content of conversations.

Dominant leaders stifle conversations. Effective leaders ignite conversations.

#2. Conversations feel unscripted and spontaneous.

I heard an ineffective leader say, “I never hold a meeting until I’m sure of the outcome.” That leader has a stupid team.

It doesn’t matter how smart the individual players are if meetings are scripted.

Tip: Get heads turning toward each other, not the head of the table.

#3. Team members engage in vigorous debate.

Smart teams engage in respectful conflict.

Constructive dissent challenges thinking and sparks creativity.

#4. Team members notice emotional states.

Smart teammates say, “Something seems to be bothering you,” when a fellow team member isn’t them self.

Smart teams connect and care. Stupid teams bury their heads and stick to business.

Strong connection is the foundation for vigorous debate. (See behavior #3.)

#5. Smart teams explore crazy ideas.

Creative ideas don’t fit the mold.

Smart teams ask, “What if?”

3 ways to develop smart teams:

#1. Create psychological safety.

Anything that makes a team unsafe makes a team stupid.

Teams get smarter when the people around the table speak freely.

#2. Eliminate monologues.

Expect equal participation from every member, on average.

Monologues move teams from dumb to dumber.

#3. Practice social sensitivity.

Explore, don’t ignore emotion. “Professional” teams are dumb.

Smart teams may not be soft, but they are safe.

Have you been on a smart team? What made it smart?

Resources:

Amy Edmondson, “The Fearless Organization.”

Patrick Lencioni, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.”

HOW TO AVOID DISTRACTION AND FOCUS ON REAL ISSUES

Evidence for a Collective Intelligence Factor in the Performance of Human Groups

I first read about smart teams in Charles Duhigg’s book, “Smarter Faster Better.”