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In the Mean Time

by Dr. Richard Blackaby

History books are filled with turning points. Those are key events that turned the tide of a calamity or changed history in some fashion. The Battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar changed the nature of Europe. The invention of the printing press, and later the Internet, revolutionized society. The dropping of the atomic bomb did more than end World War Two; it ushered in the atomic age. There are numerous books that do nothing more than examine key moments in history when someone rose up to make a supreme difference in a war, crisis, government, or business.

Thomas Carlisle famously proposed the “Great Man Theory” which postulated that history was the summation of the efforts of great men. For many, there is an innate desire to do something with one’s life that could be attributed by posterity as “great.” Horace Mann once intoned: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” In 1832 Abraham Lincoln confessed: “Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition . . . I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition, is yet to be developed.” Most historians would agree that the Illinois lawyer ultimately achieved his goal.

But here’s the rub. Most people, even “great” leaders, do not spend the bulk of their time doing “great” things. Even Julius Caesar, Admiral Nelson, and Churchill did not spend every waking hour turning the tide of history. They each experienced what we know as the “in between times.” That is, those mundane moments when we are engaged in ordinary affairs while waiting to undertake something of greater significance.

It could be argued that people who dramatically change their world are not necessarily the ones who are constantly fighting battles or inventing new technologies, but those who mine their “down time” most effectively. Since the bulk of our life is spent in ordinary pursuits, it is how we use those periods in our lives that may well determine the sum total of our accomplishments.

In recent years I have been struck by the large number of people I meet who tell me they are currently in a time of “transition.” They may have been laid off their job. They may sense God leading them to quit their current employment and to venture out into something new. Some have suffered the loss of a loved one. These people know they will not remain in that place in life for long, but they are there now.

Change can be traumatic. Some people who are downsized from their company fall apart. They are in shock and unable to think clearly. They become consumed with finding another job. They worry and fret and desperately scan the help wanted pages of the newspaper. In God’s perfect timing, another job eventually is found, but the “in between time” was entirely wasted. The weeks or months spent in transition could have been invested much more wisely. The temporarily unemployed person might have volunteered at his church. She could have read some helpful books or taken a class to upgrade her skills. He might have invested time in relationships or spent time developing his devotional life. Instead, they squandered their time, worrying about their next job.

Some people lose their spouse to illness or divorce. Rather than investing time growing personally, they worry about finding another mate. When they do, the new companion gets the same person as before, because they never grew.

Others experience failure. These individuals are so frustrated and embarrassed by what transpired that they desperately want to “move on.” But they don’t grow. They may have “moved on,” but they are the same person who failed previously. History-changers are not people who “move on” from their failures; they are people who grow from their mistakes.

The prophet Jeremiah ministered to people in the “in between” stage of life. He wrote to the Israelite captives who had been relocated to Babylon. These displaced people desperately wanted to know if they would ever return to their homeland and be able to truly “live” once again. How long would they be cruelly consigned to live in exile?

Jeremiah replied, “For thus says the Lord; After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place” (Jer. 29:10). Seventy years! That was a long time of transition! Can you imagine wasting seventy years of your life waiting for things to become “normal” again? Yet some of those people would have done just that!

That is why the prophet also instructed them: “Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace” (Jer. 29:5-7).

God was urging his people not to waste time waiting for their lives to be different! He was saying they should live in such a manner that they blessed the city where they lived and the family that they raised. They should conduct themselves so that, even while they lived in exile, their family “increased” and was not “diminished.” Sadly, many children suffer under parents in the “in between time.” Rather than having a mother or father who continues to grow and to bless, they have parents who are curled up in a fetal position awaiting a change in their circumstances.

The truth is that one of the best ways to work your way out of a transition time is to grow. When I have people who are unemployed talk to me about a job, the first thing I do is not to ask them under what unfair circumstances they were let go by their previous employer. What I ask them is how they have been investing the “gift” of additional time their former employer bestowed upon them. Are they reading, taking classes, reflecting, and working with a mentor? The way we handle our transitions says much about our character.

John Churchill suffered the adverse affects of political intrigue. For six years he was banished from royal favor. Even though he was his nation’s most skilled military leader, he was forced to wait in the wings while lesser men held the reins of power. Yet his biographer, Winston Churchill observed: “Few features in Marlborough’s long life are more remarkable than the manner in which he steadily grew in weight and influence through the whole of the six years when he was banished from favour and office.” When John Churchill was finally restored and given an opportunity to lead, he became England’s greatest general. He never lost a battle in a decade of conflict and would ultimately be elevated to become the Duke of Marlborough. How he handled his “in between times” determined his effectiveness once he returned to the stage.

We cannot always determine how our employer or others treats us. But we can choose our response to the situation in life in which we find ourselves. We can mope and worry and cast blame, or we can grow and seek to bless those around us. If you find yourself in a place in your career or personal life that appears to be temporary, don’t squander it! Life is too precious to waste a day of it. But more, capitalize on those moments. It could well be that your future success hinges on what you do, in the mean time.

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The Kingdom Matrix: Designing a Church for the Kingdom of God by Jeff Christopherson

[rating:4.0]

( Boise: Russell Media, 2012)

267 pgs

I have been looking forward to this book! I have known Jeff since we were both youth (In other words, a long time!). He has always been somewhat unconventional. As a church planter, I watched him mature. I listened as he evaluated the current way “church” was being done. I also saw him “take one for the team” when he had the courage to try things others wanted to do, but didn’t yet have the courage to do. This book is about being a kingdom minded Christian and about being a church that is kingdom-focused rather than self (or brand) focused.

Jeff lays out the problem up front: “Sure, we may now have more large churches than any other time in Christian history, but if you dig a little deeper you discover there are fewer people attending church today than before the church growth movement began discipling our leaders en masse thirty years ago. We are working hard. What is wrong?” (17). He asks: “What about the disciple? Maybe that’s the wrong descriptor. How about “church member” or “church attendee” or, perhaps, consumer?” (17).

Jeff was reared under men like my father and my father’s first mission pastor, Jack Conner. So it is not a surprise he stays God-focused. Throughout the book, Christopherson challenges the church growth movement assumptions. He claims: “He (God) assumes the entire responsibility for His kingdom plans” (18). In the first chapter, Jeff tells a marvelous story about his father Alan (19-23). The book is worth the purchase price for this story alone. He tells about an ordinary businessman who sought to invest in God’s kingdom. Yet it took him over 40 years before he learned about how much his investment had paid off.

The first section of the book addresses “Deconstructing Christian Mythology” (25ff). In the following pages Jeff challenges common assumptions by the church that have been crippling its effectiveness. These include: The myth of the third kingdom, the myth of church growth, and the myth of kingdom turf.

Jeff has never been very “wishy washy” in his opinions! Concerning the “third kingdom” he states: “At any given moment I am either expanding the Kingdom of God or the Dominion of Darkness. Period” (27) He adds: “Every decision we make is inspired by, and advances the agenda of one of these two Kingdoms. There is no neutral territory” (28).

Concerning the “myth of church growth,” he notes: “It is possible to participate in church expansion and unintentionally be an agent for shrinking the Kingdom of God” (43). He offers a devastating critique on those pastors, driven by ego, who focus on the numbers sitting in their pews, while they are actually harming God’s kingdom instead of expanding it. Jeff was the lead pastor at The Sanctuary, a church planting network in the Toronto area. In his first year, his team simultaneously planted four churches (49). They built it into their DNA to give themselves away. He understood that the local church was not meant to be the “goal” but the “tool” (50). He takes the customary swipe at Constantine and notes that “Hell’s solution to the problem of the Christian revolution was consolidation. In 313 A.D. we became a world-class religion. The movement was over in one edict of preservation” (64).

Throughout the book, Jeff uses charts and systems (hence the term “Matrix”). For some like me, who like ideas, the charts can at times seem a bit much. But Jeff balances those with his sardonic wit and withering critique of the status quo. He has a number of thought-provoking comments such as; “Prayer is a channel, not a source. I don’t believe in the power of prayer. I believe in the power of our omnipotent God who spoke a universe into existence” (97). Jeff also challenges the simplistic “sinner’s prayer.” He notes: “In all of our evangelical fervor, we have made a costly error in our theology; for many, we have reduced the cost of discipleship to a mere rehearsing of a magical prayer” (99).

Once Christopherson deconstructs current church practices, he seeks to construct it in a more biblical model. He uses four quadrants for his “kingdom matrix (109 ff). He lists two kingdoms: The Dominion of Darkness, and The Kingdom of God. He then has two additional categories of “Sacred” and “Secular.” He then shows how these four categories intersect. He discusses what a “Kingdom Seeker” is (118). He also claims that the church needs both “orthodoxy” as well as “orthopraxy” (124-125). I also naturally appreciated his references to my father, Jack Conner, and Experiencing God (150-151). Jeff witnessed Henry Blackaby and Jack Conner freely giving themselves and their resources away, and dramatically impacting God’s kingdom in the process!

Jeff tells some great stories throughout the book. His story of his church giving its last $5,000 to another church, even though they could not make their own payroll, will challenge readers to consider how “radical” they are about giving themselves away (158). He argues: “Individualism is much too self-centered of an aspiration to be fanned by a Kingdom Source” (193).

Once Christopherson has presented a better way, he notes: “Like emaciated prisoners of war, our churches too often lack spiritual fortitude to be a healing agent to its own constituency let alone a preserving force to the communities it claims to serve” (230-231). But then he concludes: “How can we experience the Power of this Truth?” (231). He offers several suggestions including: “We must toss our plans in order to know God’s plan” (231). “We must resist the dark temptation of Good Stewardship” (231). “We must cooperate with the spiritual reality of death ushering life” (232).

Jeff offers a number of suggestions on healthy, kingdom focused, churches. He notes that there are four marks of a “Kingdomcentric church” (264). These are: New believers, new disciple-makers, new communities of faith, and transforming communities.”

This is a great read. If you have grown up in the traditional “church culture” of the Bible belt, you will feel pushed and pulled throughout the book. You might even be offended by this Yankee meddling in your church affairs! If you have been functioning in a more post-church culture, then you will find that his comments resonate with your experience and you will be grateful that someone has stated what you have experienced so clearly and compellingly. But for every Christian who is legitimately concerned with the expansion of God’s kingdom, this is a book you need to read!

by Richard Blackaby

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Electoral Leadership

by Dr. Richard Blackaby

Many evangelical Christians have not been happy with the state of the nation over the last few years. There is a plethora of indicators that conservative Christians, and their values, are being marginalized. Moral standards appear to be in free fall. Whenever a presidential election looms, numerous Christians pull out their long list of complaints about how the country is in deplorable condition.

There is a troubling problem, however. Estimates suggest there are roughly 60 million Evangelical Christians in America. In the last presidential election, only about half of those were registered to vote. Of those registered, roughly half showed up at a ballot box. In America, Evangelicals represent a sizable bloc of conservative, morals-based citizens. Their vote certainly could exert an impact on society. Yet many choose to forego that fundamental right, and obligation.

There are various reasons why Christians choose not to exercise their franchise. Some do the math. They look at the millions of voters and assume their lone vote won’t make enough difference to justify waiting in a long line on election day. Others believe voting is nothing more than choosing your poison. The public approval rating of members of Congress is at a historic low. One popular bumper sticker encapsulates this sentiment by saying: “Don’t vote. It only encourages them.” A third reason some Christians don’t vote is that they perceive participation in the election process as attempting to accomplish spiritual ends with secular means. Such people assume that they should focus on building the kingdom of God, not getting politicians elected. They realize that in the long run, the focus of the Democrats and Republicans is not to populate heaven but to gain and hold on to temporal power. As a result, these individuals leave the electoral process to the “secular” minded while they focus their attention on eternal matters.

Of course there is some truth to these concerns. If you live in a strongly “red” or “blue” state, your vote for president might not tip the scales one way or another. Likewise, the political process has certainly provided ample fodder for cynicism. And, the truth of the matter is that despite the billions of dollars spent on election campaigns, very little of eternal consequence results.

Nevertheless, the key to any healthy democracy is active participation by its grass roots. Apathy can be more deadly to a free people than anarchy. But there is a further matter that is vividly highlighted during national elections. That is the desire by ordinary people to make a difference. Apathy essentially shrugs its shoulders and proclaims, “Why vote? My vote won’t make a difference anyway.” When large numbers of Christians choose not to vote, they are declaring that their life cannot make a difference. So why bother?

This attitude ought to be deeply troubling to Christian leaders. Jesus commanded His followers to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16). He was saying that the preservation of moral society and the dispelling of evil hinged on His people doing everything within their power to make a difference.

I like salt too much. It seems to bring out the flavor in my food. I especially like to grind my salt and pepper so it’s fresh. But I have never looked at the individual granules of salt to see if each one was doing its job. I just trust that, when each particle does what it can, the cumulative effect is delicious! There are some individuals who seem to single-handedly change the course of history. I have a large biography section in my library devoted to such people. But there are far more people we will never know and for whom no biographical sketch will ever be written, who have changed our world for good. It might not have been spectacular, but over time, doing what they could, they made a difference.

As I was growing up, my father would challenge his children with the famous mantra of the 60s, “If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.” He urged us to not sit on the sidelines complaining about what others were doing. He also admonished us that we had no right to criticize any elected leader for whom we had not voted (for or against) and for whom we were not praying. Even then, I don’t recall my father spending his time criticizing what others were doing. He was generally too busy making a difference himself.

As spiritual leaders, we must convey to our people the critical importance of striving to make a positive difference in whatever forum they find themselves. If they work on a shop floor, they must strive to be positive and to produce the best product possible. If they belong to a church, they should make every effort to produce a positive contribution. One thing is certain, those who assume their life won’t make a difference are usually correct!

Leaders today must work against apathy in their people. But, as with most things, you cannot produce in others what you do not have yourself. If you want your people to be passionate about making a difference, however small, then you must have that same passion burning within you. If your people care so little about the state of their nation that they cannot be bothered to head down to the nearby polling booth to cast their vote, you may want to encourage them to grasp a larger vision for their life, and their country.

Scripture teaches that if you cannot be faithful in a little thing, you cannot be trusted with anything great. Becoming an informed, intentional citizen may seem like only a small thing, but it reflects our attitude about the difference one person can make.

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Leadership Matters: The CEO Survival Manual. What It Takes to Reach the C-Suite and Stay There by Mike Myatt

[rating:2.0]

( Denver: Outskirts Press, 2008)

199 pgs

First of all, I had difficulty keeping this author separate in my mind from Michael Hyatt! But that aside, this book is primarily about business leadership. Mike Myatt runs his own consulting company and previously served as an officer in the military as well as an executive in corporate America. He writes, not as an academic (whom he critiques), but as a practitioner. He directs this book to CEOs and those who aspire to one day become one. He seeks to offer practical advice he has learned from years of successful leadership himself.

This book is not an exhaustive treatise on business leadership, but key truths Myatt has found to be crucial for executive leadership. As a result, the book does not always flow systematically from one topic to the next, but rather it highlights issues the author considers most important. Perhaps as a result, there is some repetition. The author also writes as a practitioner rather than a detached observer. As a result, there are plenty of personal observations and opinions. Perhaps because of the nature of the book, there are not as many business examples as you might expect. There are some, but often Myatt defaults to his own experience. At times when he does cite another example, it is imprecise. In one case he attributes to Peter Drucker a quote by Warren Bennis (Though when in doubt on a leadership quote, it is never a bad move to guess Drucker). There are times when Myatt “guesses” at the author of a quote, such as Shakespeare, rather than having done the research to make sure.

That said, Myatt does have some helpful observations. Myatt notes that there is no tougher job than that of CEO, yet there are surprisingly few resources for them (8). I am not sure of the veracity of this statement but it certainly is convenient for someone writing a helpful book for CEOs! Myatt does note that every action by a CEO is a “cultural statement” (11). He challenges leaders to strive to devote at least 50% of their time in areas of their greatest productivity (18). He contends that if you do, you will be in the top 10% of CEOs.

Myatt gives a list of 15 characteristics that define top CEOs (25ff). These could generally describe any effective leader. He does make a strong point that “There is no perfect leader only the right leader for a given situation” (34). He argues that leaders must “think contextually” (39). In this regard, he takes on Jim Collins and his book Good to Great where Collins describes the “Level 5 Leader.” Myatt argues that there is no complete profile of what an effective leader is like. He argues that leadership is always done in context. It is impossible to garner an exhaustive list of leadership traits and then insist that CEOs must have them.

Myatt also dislikes the term “try.” He argues that using “try” simply reflects an avoidance of doing what is necessary to accomplish your goal (47). Myatt also wades into the strengths versus weakness debate. He notes that while it is important for leaders to be constantly working on personal growth and development, often leaders find themselves focusing on the wrong things at the wrong time (51). He does note, as so many leadership authors do that “Great leaders are almost always great story tellers” (55). He also repeatedly emphasizes that leaders have a “bias” toward action. He notes that speed is crucial (71). Often great opportunities are lost due to an inability to respond quickly to fleeting opportunities. He quotes Will Rogers who observed: ‘Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction” (64).

Myatt also discusses the importance of passion in a leader. He suggests, “Passion is the essence of being a great leader” (94). He notes that no great leader lacked passion. He also offers practical advice such as: “Hire slow, fire fast” (98). He also takes on several popular practices such as team building. He believes that team building is not about equality, but about every member clearly understanding his or her role (108). Myatt also has a helpful discussion on branding, a subject that is becoming increasingly prominent these days (117). He argues that developing the brand is one of the crucial roles of a CEO.

Myatt also has some good advice on conducting meetings. He recommends never holding them in “prime time” but in off hours so you do not pull your key people away from their work at the most productive time of the day (179). He also recommends not inviting people to meetings who do not have something specific to contribute. Warm bodies are unnecessary. He also suggests rescheduling meetings so key contributors can be present.

Myatt is not afraid to tackle sacred cows such as “Best Practices” which he believes are a fallacy (183). Because leadership is contextual, it is ludicrous to assume that a behavior that worked for one company can be copied, wholesale by another. He therefore warns against following after trends (188). He also has some very politically incorrect opinions about striving to be politically correct! (193).

There were moments when Myatt’s experience-based advice rang true and would be helpful, particularly for business leaders. However, at other times he seemed to be self-promoting. At one point he claimed that he gets more accomplished in a day than some get done in a month (175). There were times when it seemed his primary objective was to promote his company’s services more than to enlighten his readers. His writing style at times is also a little weak. He repeats his points at times. He uses himself and his company as an example a little too often. At times his writing style seems just a little too “homespun.” As a result I would only rate this book at a 2. While this book has some good things to say, there are probably other books you should read first.

by Richard Blackaby

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Prophets or Leaders?

by Dr. Richard Blackaby

I love history. I can’t help myself. Whenever I see something old and dusty my heart starts to race! My daughter claims this fact makes me about as exciting as asparagus. But for me, history is not primarily about meaningless dates and boring documents. It involves people and the struggles that perennially plague them. There truly is nothing new under the sun. There is merely this year’s model. So when I examine society’s present condition, I naturally look to history (especially that found in Scripture) to find answers.

What history reveals is that in every generation, society has tended to drift away from God and toward moral and spiritual relativism. If left unchecked, society can descend to shockingly low levels of depravity and irreverence. Even the godliest of generations produced prodigal children in the next. And, when this inevitably happened, God would generally respond in one of two ways: He would send a prophet or a spiritual leader.

We live in an age that desperately requires prophets and spiritual leaders. Both are crucial, but they are far from being the same thing. Many people are called to be leaders, at least at some level. Far fewer seem to be commissioned to speak prophetically. We need both. But we also must understand the significant differences between the two divinely appointed roles.

The Role of the Prophet

Despite popular misconceptions, prophets are not simply long-bearded, bombastic preachers who predict the future. (Otherwise people like Elijah would have won the company football pool every year!) Rather, biblical prophets were people who delivered a word from God to the people. Usually a prophet would show up in Scripture after God’s people had seriously departed from His standards and commandments. Many Christians today are praying for God to anoint a prophet for our day. But as my father always points out, don’t be too quick to pray for a prophet. They are God’s last line of defense before He metes out judgment. Generally by the time a prophet came on the scene it was too late. The people’s apostasy was already too advanced for them to be restored without more drastic measures being applied.

Typically a biblical prophet was someone who spoke an unpopular message to a morally and spiritually bankrupt people. When King Ahab and his wicked queen Jezebel infested the land with idol worship, Elijah appeared on the scene and declared that God was sending a drought. He later came to Mount Carmel and called fire down from heaven before he had the popular priests of Baal slaughtered. The public at large didn’t generally enjoy having Elijah show up because he usually came with unwelcome news.

When you read the biblical prophets such as Amos and Hosea, you see the heart and holiness of God. Through His spokespeople, God condemned the exploitation of the poor, unethical business practices, and extravagant, selfish lifestyles. He also challenged behaviors and attitudes that contravened His righteous standards. Most importantly, God used prophets to alert people to how far they have drifted in their relationship with Him. While society tends to be blind to its shortcomings and sins, prophets shine a bright light on society so its transgressions cannot be hidden.

It takes courage to be a prophet. Just look at the manner in which many of them met their end! Kings and powerful leaders were constantly angry with them and trying to silence them. Religious leaders often mocked and imprisoned them (There is a reason Jeremiah is called the ”Weeping Prophet”). It is generally much easier to turn a blind eye to societal sins or loose morals than to stand out as the only one who has a problem with the behavior. Ironically, it is even more difficult to challenge the complacency, secular creep, and sinful attitudes that permeate God’s people. Jesus did so and it infuriated the religious leaders of His day.

In recent days it has become increasingly evident that we live in a society desperate for a prophetic word. The suffocating pressure of “political correctness” has muted many a Christian voice. When Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A commented that God’s standard for marriage was being abused and redefined by society, the cacophony of angry voices denouncing him was deafening. When people speak up about abortion or biblical compromise, they are angrily shouted down. At the same time people can go on television and chronicle any number of graphic, depraved experiences and be praised for their authenticity. It would seem the only politically correct, approved target these days to assault with impunity is the Christian church. To point out discrepancies or inaccuracies in anyone else is to commit the unforgivable sin of intolerance.

It is in fact, a documented strategy of the homosexual agenda to loudly attack and intimidate anyone who questions their lifestyle or moral views. When they can’t win a debate with reason and facts, they simply shout louder. As Dan Cathy discovered, in our morally charged society, even when you affirm a traditionally held value such as heterosexual marriage, you are castigated as a bigot and hatemonger. We live in a day when there are plenty of job vacancies for prophets.

Is a Prophet Enough?

The problem is that by the time a prophetic voice is required, society is already in deplorable condition. And, generally speaking, while prophets condemned people’s moral and spiritual condition, they rarely led people to where they needed to be. Elijah preached a thundering denunciation of Baal worship on Mount Carmel. Then he ran for his life! Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and others spoke magnificently on behalf of God, but they were largely limited by what the reigning king did with their message. Jeremiah was one of the greatest of biblical prophets. When he served under the righteous King Josiah, his message was largely heeded. After Josiah was gone, the prophet found himself in prison. Even a spectacular fireworks display could not bring about changes under Elijah if the queen was determined to have his head.

That is why a prophet is never enough. Prophets are great at pointing out what is wrong. They are not necessarily hardwired to move people to where they need to be. Don’t get me wrong. I think it takes great courage to be a prophet. It can be a lonely, and even dangerous calling. But it is never enough. I spoke with someone recently who told me about his frustrating years of ministry as a pastor. While the man gave evidence of a prophetic calling, the only paying jobs available had been pastorates. In every church this man came to lead, he would inevitably find himself condemning sin and challenging ungodly leadership. And, just as inevitably, the cleric would find himself unemployed. I don’t doubt the man’s courage or integrity, but over the course of his ministry, he had never been able to successfully lead people. He had only denounced them. And that is the problem for many prophets. There aren’t many paying jobs these days for those with the prophetic gift. That’s why many assume the role of pastor (Which calls for shepherding skills rather than prophetic ones).

It is never enough to merely denounce what is wrong. Someone must stand up and lead the people to where people ought to be. With the proliferation of blogs and Twitter these days, it is easy to issue public condemnations. The church does not lack analysts or critics! Condemning what is, while often necessary, is only half the job. At times it is easier to wax eloquent in the pulpit, or in a blog, than it is to take people by the hand and draw them to their divinely appointed destination.

Perhaps that is also why prophets are primarily for God’s people, and not unbelievers. While no one particularly enjoys a thundering denouncement, at least believers have the Holy Spirit convicting them that what is being said is true. But unbelievers have no such Spirit dwelling within them. When Christians denounce unbelievers, it does not generally draw them to faith (Jonah is an obvious exception). Unfortunately modern society often views Christians in terms of what they denounce rather than what they affirm. To exert a significant impact on society today, someone in addition to a prophet, is required.

Spiritual Leaders

There is an intriguing story in Judges Chapter Six. We all know the account of the Midianites who swept into Israel like a plague of locusts, devouring everything in sight. But what is less known is that before God called Gideon, He sent a prophet. In Judges 6:7-10 we are told:

And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God: do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’”

This incident is unusual because Samuel is generally viewed as the bridge between the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. But in this chapter a prophet appears and draws a direct connection between the people’s difficult circumstances and their sin (Never a popular sermon topic). The prophet arrives. He delivers his message. Then he is gone, lost in the annals of time. The prophet may well have accomplished some good, but none is recorded.

What happened next? God raised up a leader. Gideon. At first, he’s anything but a sterling example of statesmanship. But God chose him anyway. Through a God-appointed leader, God’s people are liberated from their oppressors. As long as Gideon lived, there was peace. What a prophet had been unable to do, a youngest son, in an insignificant family, who was divinely appointed to lead, accomplished. Unfortunately, immediately after Gideon’s death, it became clear that the people’s hearts were not wholly committed to God. Perhaps events might have ended differently had that prophet preached more during Gideon’s rule. It would seem that the best combination for keeping a society walking with God is a partnership between prophets and leaders.

In our book, Spiritual Leadership, my father and I describe the task of spiritual leaders as “moving people on to God’s agenda.” If people have not moved, you have not led. You may have pointed out what is wrong; you may have castigated transgressors, but if people remain where they are, you have failed to lead.

What we need today is not only to condemn moral laxness and biblical apostasy. We also require leaders who will rise up and show their people the way. I greatly appreciate pastors who not only refuse to compromise biblical truth, but also lead their congregations to make a positive difference in their community. I enjoy working with Christian business leaders who realize that God has gifted them to lead, not to preach. These men and women are using their business skills to be salt and light in society just as Jesus instructed them to (Matt. 5:13-16). Christian parents are taking their leadership role in the home seriously and consequently are rearing a superb generation of bright, articulate, accomplished defenders of the faith for the next generation. While today’s spiritual leaders may never mount the pulpit with a fire and brimstone message, they are quietly going about their workweeks making a profoundly positive difference on everything they touch.

Where are you? Have you been cowed by liberal and secular society to tone down your convictions and to focus on less controversial subjects? Or, have you found it easy to condemn, but not to lead? The Church is crying out for positive, effective, godly leadership. And, though it is not calling for them, the Church desperately needs prophets too. If you are a leader or a prophet, be certain you highly value your counterpart’s gift. Perhaps you may even collaborate with others to ensure that your people receive everything God has for them.

Where are the prophets and spiritual leaders for our day?

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Character: The Pulse of a Disciple’s Heart by Norman Blackaby and Gene Wilkes

[rating:4.0]

( Birmingham, AL: New Hope Publishers, 2012)

237 pgs

Norman Blackaby and Gene Wilkes are experienced Bible teachers. Norman is a professor at Dallas Baptist University and Gene Wilkes is the pastor of Legacy Church in Texas. Norman has previously written several books including: Experiencing Prayer with Jesus and Called and Accountable. Wilkes has also been prolific, writing books such as Jesus on Leadership.

In their book, the authors address a critical issue both for leaders as well as Christians in general: character. They note that even secular media has recognized the crucial need for character in leaders. Blackaby and Wilkes note that for Christians, character is more than just a collection of admirable qualities. Rather, “character is defined by the quality of our intimate fellowship with God” (19). It is also seen as “an ongoing process of relating to our Lord, walking with Him and honoring Him in our daily lives” (19).

The book is divided into three sections. Part One discusses “How God Develops Character. Part Two examines the difference character makes. The final concluding chapters offer a challenge to the reader to allow God to work on their character so they experience the maximum usefulness to God.

These are good Bible teachers and they use their skills to great advantage. In the first section, the authors conduct biblical case studies of Moses, Joshua, Nicodemus, Jonah, Mary, John Mark, Jesus’s disciples, and Mary and Martha to see how God developed peoples’ character. In part two, the authors look at the servant girl and Naaman, Hannah, Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father), Barnabas, Stephen, Paul and Timothy, Philemon, and Ruth.

I found this study refreshing. While the issue of character is certainly a basic one, it often goes assumed without carefully addressing it in detail. When it is written about, the discussion is generally driven from a psychological perspective rather than from solid Bible study. These men have taught the Bible for years, and it shows. They offer numerous “nuggets” of insight into the Bible characters they examine. For anyone who teaches the Bible or who is studying leadership, I think you’ll find this book stimulating to your thinking.

I generally thought the biblical presentation was very solid. There are only one or two places I might have worded things slightly differently. For example, the authors suggest that asking God questions is a part authentic faith (83). I wholeheartedly agree. But Moses is cited as an example (Ex. 3-4). However, the text seems to indicate that Moses’ questions were driven as much by reluctance to embrace God’s assignment as it was by his desire to know God’s mind on the matter. God eventually became angry with Moses (Ex. 4:14), which doesn’t indicate God appreciated Moses’ line of questions! This book does not have many extra-biblical illustrations. However, I found this to generally be a plus. It invites you to do in-depth Bible study on an important subject, and so too many illustrations not drawn from Scripture might have been distracting.

Overall I enjoyed this book and believe it makes a good contribution to the field of discipleship.

by Richard Blackaby

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Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt

[rating:4.0]

( Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012)

261 pgs

This is a helpful book for people trying to do their best in a complex, technology-driven world. Whether you are tech savvy and comfortable with Tweeting and posting on Facebook, or whether the thought of an Online “friend request” gives you a fright, this book can provide some helpful counsel!

Michael Hyatt has worked most of his professional career in the literary, publishing world. He was the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and is currently the chairman of its board. What has made Hyatt an authority is the way he has successfully leveraged social media to build a platform from which to share his thoughts and ideas. According to his own calculations, he presently has over 400,000 people view his blog site each month, 100,000 followers on Twitter, and over 15,000 friends on Facebook. He has also written a New York Times bestseller (This book will probably find its way there too). What makes his book so intriguing is that Michael Hyatt is an ordinary person. Of course he’s bright and entrepreneurial, but he never made a famous movie, or played professional sports, or held government office. He simply decided to purposefully build his own audience by effectively utilizing social media. His point is that we can do that too.

Why should we bother to build a following? Hyatt notes: “It’s not about ego or being the center of attention. It is about having something of value to others and finding the most powerful way of getting that message to others who can benefit from it” (xv). He suggests that just as a physical platform enabled people to be visible and heard as they spoke to an audience, so today, a platform is “built of people. Contacts. Connections. Followers” (xvi). He argues that it is not enough merely to have a good product. Many good products languish in obscurity. He argues that today, with the ubiquitous nature of media, there has never been so much competition for people’s attention, nor have people ever been as distracted. The answer is to build a loyal tribe of followers who can provide you the basis to promote your ideas and products.

Hyatt has a great chapter on “Bake in the Wow.” He says in light of the intense competition for people’s attention today, we have to develop messages and products that catch people’s attention and impress them with their quality. He notes: “The truth is, mediocrity is natural” (21). He also posits that we must ultimately be our own Chief Marketing Officer” (35). We have to take control of our image, or brand, and we must leverage the tools available to do it the most effectively.

I won’t provide a summary here of all the helpful advice Hyatt provides the reader. Hyatt earns his bread and butter by writing blogs Monday through Friday. He offers plentiful tips on how to get started blogging and how to build a following. He shares the various software and Internet programs he utilizes himself and also relates ways he has learned to make money by marketing on the Internet. He also provides counsel on how to build a Twitter following and also has comments about Facebook. Being a novice myself, I found some of the technical information beyond my experience. Nevertheless, I found much material I intend to make use of, soon. Hyatt also has insightful advice on promoting yourself as a speaker and making it as easy as possible for organizations to find you and to request you as a speaker at one of their events.

Hyatt uses a classic example from his days as a book publisher. He notes that many publishers as well as literary agents won’t even touch an author unless they already have thousands of followers in social media outlets. Some authors assume that if they just come up with a “killer idea” that they just need to write their book and then let it go viral. But that is rarely the case any more. Now, if something goes viral, it may well be because the author was well connected on the Internet.

I have experienced first hand much of what Hyatt is talking about. That is why this year I jumped in to Twitter @richardblackaby as well as Facebook drrichardblackaby. Some purists may feel like it somehow adulterates the Gospel if we make use of modern technologies to let people know we, and our message, exist. The truth is, that just as a preacher would rehearse his sermon or review it to polish it and make it more appealing, so today communicators must become well versed in social media.

This book is crammed with helpful suggestions and insights on a crucial subject for anyone who wants to spread ideas. I will strongly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about doing ministry in today’s social media driven world.

by Richard Blackaby

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The Power of Focus

by Dr. Richard Blackaby

I am addicted to multitasking. After all, how can you experience leadership success in these complicated times if you are not juggling a dozen different tasks at any given moment? Many organizations have downsized and are attempting to “do more with less.” With so many job-seekers hungrily standing in the wings looking for work, overworked leaders dare not complain about their heavy workload. The consequence is that many leaders today are being buried in good projects so they have no time to effectively accomplish what is crucial.

Compounding this problem is that many leaders are multi-talented. How is this a problem, you ask? It causes difficulty because possessing diverse talents tempts leaders to invest themselves in many different directions. The assumption is: “Because I am good at this” or “because I can . . . I should.” The result is leaders attempting to do many things poorly rather than a few things well.

Leaders are used to being in high demand. Everyone wants to meet with them and to get them involved in their project. Could they just: serve on this committee . . . be the chairman one more year . . . attend this fundraiser . . . look over this manuscript . . . take a quick phone call . . . Before long another day is spent engaged in a wide array of activities while nothing of major consequence has been accomplished.

Here are some suggestions that could help you to achieve greater accomplishments as a leader in the future.

  1. Keep your focus on Christ and His calling. People are always going to be clamoring for your attention. If the “squeaky wheel gets the grease,” you will find yourself inundated with squeaky wheels! But you were not called to be a leader so you could keep all of your people happy. God called you to your post because there were certain things He intended to accomplish in your organization through you. You must keep you eyes on Him or you will miss your divine calling. I am reminded of Stephen. Even as his enemies were mercilessly hurling lethal stones at him, he kept his eyes on his risen Lord (Acts 7:56). Don’t let your friends, or your enemies cause you to take your eyes off of your Lord and what He called you to do.
  2. Consider what only you can do. People have a tendency to want the leader to do their work for them. If you, as the leader, will make the decision for your associate, or attend and direct the meeting, or be on the crucial phone call, or find money for his project, then you can carry the weight of the responsibility instead of them. But, as kindhearted and as willing to help others as you may be, you cannot do others’ work, and yours, at the same time. By investing yourself in what someone else should be doing, you are neglecting the work only you can do. The irony is that the same people who clamor for you to help them, rarely help you accomplish your leadership work.Wise leaders will refrain from involving themselves in other peoples’ jobs. They will delegate any of their tasks that can be reassigned. The fact is: if one of your leadership tasks can be delegated to someone else, it should be delegated! Identify those tasks that only you can do; then embrace them with vigor!
  3. Guard yourself from distractions. Many well-meaning leaders cannot resist seeing who it is that just sent them an e-mail or text. When their cell phone or computer alerts them to an incoming message, they immediately turn their focus from what they were doing to satisfy their curiosity. The problem is that much of a leader’s work requires focused concentration. You cannot do quality work in a distracted way. Nicholas Carr in his book, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, offers a devastating indictment to those who are letting their brains and mode of thinking be “re-wired” by the Internet. He argues that we no longer can think deeply or read material more than a blog’s length. There is a battle for the mind currently taking place that leaders must win.
  4. Don’t put off the tough stuff. I can’t tell you how many people have recently told me that they have a book they want to write. They’ll share their idea with me, and generally, these people have some marvelous insights. However, to get a book published, you must first write one! In the long run, a book you write may have far more lasting and widespread effect than certain e-mails you answer or web sites you surf. Yet it takes far more discipline and effort to write a book. So we check one more website instead. If you are going to accomplish significant tasks, you cannot put them off. Only after having weeded your schedule of non-essentials, however, will you have the time, or energy to tackle the big jobs.
  5. Stop making excuses. I have leaders explain to me all the time why they have not yet accomplished what they need to do. The truth is: great leaders don’t make excuses. They make adjustments. They do whatever is necessary to overcome their obstacles and get the job done. As long as you allow people or circumstances to prevent you from accomplishing your important tasks, they will continue to do so.

Take a moment and make a list of the important accomplishments you have achieved so far this year. How long is the list? If it is paltry, you may well be the victim of a lack of focus. Don’t squander your valuable time investing in the unnecessary. Jettison anything from your commitments and schedule that is preventing you from doing what must be done. Take charge of your schedule and hence your life. There is too much at stake for you not to!

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Executive Presence: The Art of Commanding Respect Like a CEO by Harrison Monarth

[rating:2.0]

( New York: McGraw Hill, 2010)

251 pgs

Harrison Monarth is the Founder and President of Guru Maker – School of Professional Speaking. He provides executive coaching for Fortune 500 CEOs, high-level professionals, and political candidates across the United States and in Europe. His first book, The Confident Speaker, became a New York Times best-seller.

Monarth addresses two particular issues in his book that are becoming extremely popular in current discussions of leadership. The first is the process of leadership coaching. In the past, we tended to assume that if you were a leader, you didn’t need anyone to help you know what you should do. If you needed a coach, you weren’t a leader! However, it is becoming clear that in our increasingly complex and challenging world, even the best leaders need help in staying at the top of their game. Our ministry, BMI, has developed executive coaching so we can help people attain their maximum, God-given potential.

The second issue is branding. In the past, we assumed only narcissists were concerned with their public image. But today, with so many ways for people to view your life and organization through social media outlets, it is crucial that leaders manage their own image as well as the image of their organization.

To begin with, it must be clear that this book addresses these issues from a thoroughly secular perspective. The greatest means for spiritual leaders to experience success is when God’s hand is upon them (something secular leadership coaches can’t orchestrate!). The motives for self-promotion in this book can also appear quite secular and, essentially, self-promoting. It is basically presenting the world’s way of becoming successful at what you do. Nevertheless, it does offer some practical advice for anyone who depends on a good reputation to get their work done.

Monarth’s thesis is straightforward: “It’s not that people lack intelligence or skill or even ambition, but they haven’t learned how to leverage their assets by effectively representing themselves or communicating with others to the best of their abilities’ (1). He goes on to argue: “. . . the reality is that being skilled at one’s chosen profession isn’t enough. Toiling away in obscurity and hoping the world will notice has never been a sound strategy” (2). Of course, this leaves God and HIS marketing of us out of the picture, but the truth is that there are many talented Christians and Christian organizations that do quality work but are languishing in obscurity.

Monarth suggests that “We are at our core a society of pitchers” (7). “We are pitching when we sell, when we lobby, when we complain, and when we seek to be heard and understood, which for most of us happens each and every day” (7). He argues that wise leaders will be intentional about influencing how people perceive them. He argues “Even if we are simply commiserating or analyzing, there is an agenda in play, at the heart of which is the desire to be understood and taken seriously by those who can help us along our career path” (8). We have probably all known people who desperately wanted to be taken seriously but they were their own worst press agents. These are the people who often do the most talking in meetings, yet no one heeds their counsel or embraces their ideas. This is fundamentally because people do not take them seriously.

This book is all about doing what you can so people take you seriously. Monarth argues that wise leaders understand that people are viewing them and their ideas through their own lenses. These perspectives may not be accurate or fair, but it is the way people are seeing you (12). While you cannot necessarily change peoples’ values or perspectives, you can take them into account when presenting yourself and your ideas to them. Monarth discusses the laws of “deletion, distortion, and generalization (16).

Monarth also presents a discussion of emotional versus social intelligence (22). He argues that emotional intelligence is more inward focused while social intelligence is more outward. I am not sure Daniel Goleman would agree with his presentation. I have always understood emotional intelligence to be related to having empathy for other people’s feelings. Nevertheless, he offers “Seven Keys to Social Intelligence” (27). He even provides exercises where you can enhance your social intelligence in only seven days (28).

Monarth has an interesting chapter entitled, “How to Read People and Predict Behavior.” He notes that we cannot necessarily change peoples’ viewpoints, but if we understand them, we can better work with people to obtain the results we desire. He notes: “The whole point is to optimize an outcome rather than to judge others” (39). He identifies four key steps in understanding people which are: establishing a baseline, recognizing patterns, refining your assumptions, and drawing a conclusion” (42). He cautions that a common trap is to notice and over-weigh negative observations about others (43).

He also has an interesting chapter on “How to master the art of storytelling for personal and professional success.” He notes that people generally aren’t good at remembering facts. They need context. And “story is context, all the time” (65). He also notes: “When listeners have a difficult time comprehending your message, they will not blame themselves for not getting it; they’ll blame you” (78). Monarth gives a number of ways in which to build credibility with listeners. These can at times sound manipulative, but in reality they are simply recognizing how people perceive information and the messengers who relate it to them. Wise communicators always take these factors into account.

The author also has an interesting section in his book entitled, “A brand is a promise: what does your personal brand say? (125). Much of this material is presented in an effort to help the reader “”separate yourself from the crowd” (133). Again, this is taken strictly from a secular perspective. Personal branding, however, is a huge issue in modern times. People are wise to consider what they have purposefully or inadvertently led their personal “brand” to become. Monarth also gives much advice on how to improve your image if it has been tarnished either in reality by your own actions, of through the malicious efforts of others. With Google and the universality of the Internet, people can post a negative blog about you that remains at the top of peoples’ searches when they investigate you. Monarth gives practical tips on how to make your Internet image more positive. I found the final chapters a bit tedious. Monarth provides a lot of technical suggestions on improving your image and damage control wen you collect bad press. I suppose if you NEED his suggestions, however, you might find his material quite compelling!

Overall I found this book to be average. It does provide some practical suggestions that can be helpful. It offers some stories that create some interest. Overall the book just didn’t really grip me. Perhaps it contained a few too may lists, which always tend to lose my interest. Nevertheless, it does address some pressing issues for today’s leader. It wouldn’t be the first book I would send you to next, but if you are trying to think through developing your personal brand or you want to “make over” your current image, this book could provide you some great thoughts to get you going.

by Richard Blackaby

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Reviewing Leadership: A Christian Evaluation of Current Approaches by Robert Banks and Bernice M. Ledbetter

[rating:1.0]

(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic Publishers 2004)

171 pgs

Reviewing Leadership is an interesting concept, surveying current approaches from a Christian perspective. The two authors, Robert Banks (Ph.D., Cambridge, director a d dean of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute) and Bernice Ledbetter (Ed.D, Pepperdine, former director of the De Pree Leadership Center at Fuller Seminary), present a reasoned and thoughtful approach to their understanding of leadership.

Chapters include:

1. The Growing Interest in Leadership Today: Definitions, Causes, and Issues

2. Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Perspectives on Leadership

3. The Emerging Spiritual and Religious Dimensions of Leadership

4. Popular and More Substantial Faith-based Approaches to Leadership

5. Practicing Leadership Through Integrity, Faithfulness, and Service

6. Christian Leadership in Action: Some Exemplary Case Studies

This book takes a very traditional approach in discussing the differences between managers and leaders, various definitions and characteristics of leadership, role of women in leadership, role of faith in business, distinctions between denominational leadership models, and offers a few historical examples of various types of leadership in the Christian arena. Sadly, most of the examples are seriously dated, and much of the discussion about leadership comes from the past rather than the present or even what the future may require of leaders. Many of the leadership models cited are from denominations in serious decline who are in search of better models than they are currently using.

Not being a particularly academic person (yes I will admit it), I found the book reading like a dissertation, or an anthology of leadership issues rather than an engaging discussion of current leadership styles and issues that we face today (just look at the chapter titles). This book may be appealing to those who enjoy research and traditional approaches to discussions on leadership, but I found reading it to be not much different from trying to get a car to run with a bad starter: the key was turned, the gas pedal pressed and engine kept trying to turn over, but it just never got going.

Much deference was given to their mentor Max Du Pree throughout the book (who also wrote a fairly non-committal forward). I have no doubt of the author’s credentials, nor of their intentions for writing the book. However, in a fast-paced, technologically advanced, and ever—changing world, tired illustrations (geese flying in a V formation) and a discussion about the Apostle Pau’s various leadership styles in the newly developing church just does not seem very helpful to the contemporary mind. I certainly welcome looking at biblical models, but these principles need clear and present application to our culture and current challenges face. It would be far more helpful to read the leadership books the authors cite rather than this summary book, and to look at contemporary leadership books that demonstrate actual real life events and situations than to read this review. I feel like a good editor could have done much to help this book relate to people and issues of this decade, but that step was not taken. I feel bad to give this book a less than stellar review, and I am sure that there are many people who would enjoy reading this, but in terms of helpfulness to current leadership issues, and to holding my attention, I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.

by Tom Blackaby