Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Spiritual Leadership

"Spiritual leadership is moving people on to God's agenda."

There are some distinctive elements that bring clarity between the difference of a leader and a spiritual leader. While spiritual leadership involves many of the same principles as general leadership, spiritual leadership has certain distinctive qualities that must understood and practiced if spiritual leaders are to be successful.

Traits of a Spiritual Leader

1. Influence: The spiritual leader's task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be.

2. Discernment: Spiritual leaders depend on the Holy Spirit.

3. Accountable: Spiritual leaders are accountable to God and operate with acute sense of accountability; and place people around them to exercise transparency.

4. Kingdom Builders: Spiritual leaders work from God's agenda. It's so easy to slip into pursuing our own agenda rather than seeking God's will.


God does not ask leaders to dream big dreams for him or to solve the problems that confront them. He asks leaders to walk with Him so intimately that, when he reveals what is on his agenda, they will immediately adjust their lives to his will and the results will bring glory to God.









These thoughts were taken from the book, "Spiritual Leadership" by Henry & Richard Blackaby

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Props to Brad

So here I am looking at my blog thinking of what to type when my friend, Brad Post, just posted his blog thoughts.

Several weeks ago I wrote about the difference between "membership and partnership"; Brad's post particularly caught my attention because it reflects some great thoughts concerning the heart of honor.

I met Brad online through blogging and got to meet him and his family in person a couple of months ago when they were traveling from Atlanta to Oklahoma. They were kind enough to make a pit stop in Alma, AR so we could connect.
Check him out on Facebook, his blog, or follow him on Twitter.
Below is his post. I hope you enjoy his blog as much as I do.

Welcome VS Honor
I shared this with our Welcome Team this morning from Turning Point Church at our VIP meeting which was inspired from a conversation I had earlier this week with Larry Brey from Elevation Church from a blog he posted. It covers the difference between welcoming someone and honoring them. This would relate to anyone in church, in business and at the house.

There is a huge difference when we welcome someone into our house, church or business and honor them. Welcoming is great and people feel a sense of security but honoring someone is totally different.

The difference in our Welcome Team:

For our Greeters: is not just handing them a bulletin and saying welcome but if it is their first time and they have children walk them to the children’s check in, talk with them during the process.

For our Parking Team: it is a difference from just waving at them and actually opening the door with them.

For our Ushers and Sanctuary Greeters: it is a difference in saying showing them where the coffee is and making it for them or showing them an open seat and actually taking them to it.

Try this phrase when you see a client, friend or co-worker this week, “It is an honor to see you today.” There is such a greater impact than saying anything else. I used this a few times this Sunday and had a few people look at me like “wow” or they were just looking at me like I was crazy..one of the two.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Is it Voice mail or Voice jail?

It's been well said, "make sure your voice mail doesn't become a jail."

We live in a time where communication is easier than it's ever been. Cell phones, internet, blogs, Skype, video conferencing, text, email, social networks, the list goes on and on.
With so many ways to get in contact with people, it also means so many ways not to hear from people as well.

Phone calls still reign supreme as the best way to communicate; not only because so many methods can be linked to the cell phone, but because it's more personal hearing the persons voice. There's a level of intimacy that goes with connection on the phone.

Make sure your voice mail doesn't become a jail to those trying to get a hold of you.
As leaders we must be sharp on this issue. It doesn't mean we call back the very second we miss a call; but it does mean we don't let responding to peoples messages go days without returning them.
We're all busy. No one argues that.
But you'd be surprised what reputation you can gain by being quick to respond; or lose by keeping someone waiting in "voice jail."