Aug
12
2010
No time to really reflect, but in a few moments I will put the last items on a 22 foot truck and head back to Cleveland, TN. The only thing about the moving process I like is when it is finally over-which will take weeks. It’s like the crazy guy who when asked about why he kept hitting his head against the wall was to reply “cuz it feels so good when I stop.” You can bet I will work to try to stop this moving process. Sometimes it serves a good purpose but often is sheer nonsense.
Jul
9
2010
(I wrote the following paragraphs in my journal while on a missions trip in the Philippines in April 2010. Only this evening decided to publish them.)
When is it time to realize you are defeated or you are needlessly fighting against an unbeatable foe? Is it not wise sometimes to stop hammering on a giant rock with a rubber mallet or move a mountain with only a teaspoon? Clearly there are times when this is the prudent course to take. On the other hand, how many times have enormous efforts been brought to a halt only inches or hours from a total victory.
Throughout history armies and organizations wisely saw that they were impossibly overwhelmed and retreated or surrendered in order to save lives and fight another day. Macarthur fled the Philippines in WWII with the famous “I shall return” and returned three years later as a conquering hero. Conversely, Churchill rallied the citizens of Great Britain with his stirring words; “…we’ll fight them on the beaches…on the streets…etc. and was known by his attitude of “never, never, never give up.”
While I think there is a time to retreat and regroup, I am more inclined to side with the sentiments of Churchill than I am with those expressed by Macarthur. More often than not those who win big are those who stay longest at the battle—even if they face seemingly impossible odds.
I was reminded of one of those occasions occurring not far from here. The ministries of the Clarkview Christian Center and their sister church, the Humphrey Center are doing a phenomenal job serving folks in Angeles City. Today I witnessed them serve over 500 indigent children a lot of love, a hot, nutritious meal AND the Gospel. Together they monthly serve over 2000 people in English and Tagalog—and they do it with passion and excellence. From the ranks of their membership have been hundreds of folks who not only found Christ but went on to productive lives in Christian ministry, education and public service.
In the decade after the devastation of Mt. Pinotubo we almost closed or abandoned this ministry several times. Fortunately God always had someone who would not give up on these people and on this ministry. Early on it was Dr. John Ray. He had been after me for 2 years telling me that God wanted him to go the Philippines and he was willing to go under the MTTM “flag.” When I relented he retired from his DODDs career as a teacher & administrator and shipped all of his personal goods in preparation for his life in the P.I. Before he arrived Clark airbase was evacuated, Pinutobo exploded and Clark with the surrounding areas were devasted. When I asked John if he still wanted to go to the P.I. he told me: “…it scares me to think about it but when I pray in the Spirit I KNOW I still must go.” He went and did much of our earliest relief work.
After my initial post-Pinatubo visit I was deeply touched by the suffering there but was convinced that the involvement of the MTTM was to be a short-lived one. We were to help with immediate humanitarian needs but then turn things over to the local national Church of God leadership that I reasoned would be better equipped to serve these people. Roy Humphrey, normally a military focused missionary, confronted me with a different perspective. Roy felt deeply that God had planted us in the P.I. and that we must stay there until God released us. He pointed out the plight of the thousands of Amerasian and street children that had no advocate. He also made clear that many of the people who were in our feeding lines were pastors and church members of the national church. How could they be expected to take over our humanitarian work-they needed help themselves? He became the tireless champion of the ministry to this area and still is to this day.
While in the midst of trying to extricate ourselves from this non-military ministry God used some retired military men who approached me after an MTTM retreat in NC. They had just heard the story of what was happening around the former Clarkview AFB and the Clark Center. They approached me with tears in their eyes and pleaded. “we can’t turn this ministry over to anyone else…this is our responsibility. We (the MTTM) must lead the effort to fund and restore this work until it can stand on it’s own.”
When I reflect on the fabulous ministry here today in Angeles City, I shudder to think what would have happened if we gave up. Can you make it just one more day?
May
20
2010
Leadership has long been an interest of mine. Now that I’ve been involved in group leadership at various levels for more than 40 years, I’ve gained a fairly broad perspective-though I’m no expert. Unlike many of my peers I never aspired to be called a “leader” or to seek any position that knowingly put me in a position to influence the actions of others. I’ve just been a student. I’m not an expert but I’m always watching and usually recognize good leadership when I see it. Good leadership always inspires me, even when I’m not part of the group being led. It often puts a lump in my throat and makes me want to stand and cheer or to join the cause of that leader.
In it’s simplest form leadership provides three things:
1.direction (sometimes this can be called vision), 2. protection and 3. order.
I’ve heard John Maxwell say for years. “leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing else.” I certainly am in no position to question the great John Maxwell–he is one of my favorite inspirational speakers on the subject of leadership–but I just can’t fully buy his definiation. Leadership certainly CONTAINS influence but in my working world influence alone just does not quite describe what I see as my complete role.
Any members of a group/organization must have the elements I described above in order to keep the group intact and effectively functioning. A leader must certainly have and exercise influence to fulfill this role but he must have somthing else. An organization must have direction, i.e.; they must know their purpose, the “why” of their existance. No matter how inspiring or elequent the leader, his followers want him to make clear why they should hang together–especially if their hanging together causes or is in the midst of sacrifice.
Protection. A leader must also be able to make the members feel safe. In the animal kingdom the biggest, toughest lion have the confidance of the Pride because they think he can protect them or guide them away from outside dangers. In the church or corporate world the leader will empower group members to fulfill the tasks they undertake for the group while he/she protect their flank. If they meet unexpected obstacles they beleive the leader will provide or lead them to resources that will help them to be successful. She will also protect group members from being distracted or hindered by activities that take them off task. The leader will never, never, ever abandon them when they are fulfilling their duty for the group.
Order. A healthy, purposeful, effective group involes it’s members in utilizing their gifts in tandem to provide the most effective fulfillment of group function and direction. The leader will not only facilitate the organization of group activity but will do what is needed to see they work in harmony and get the training and resources they need to work together productively toward group goals. This, of necessity involves influence and the use of it. Oftentimes group members lose motivation for their role and may see themselves as better suited to fulfill someone else’s role…maybe even the role of the current leader. When this happens the leader will help them to return to task and if necessary provide discipline dessigned to win compliance with group goals.
I realize that this may seem simplistic but trust me-it isn’t nearly as simplistic as the truism; “leadership is influence.”
There are probably thousands of metaphors that accurately describe some or even most aspects of leadership. The one above, for now, works for me. Maybe I’ll write more about this later. Don’t want to read it you say? It’s okay, if I write it, it’s because it helps me to sort it out.
Mar
27
2010
It’s been more than 2 months since my last blog. I’ve started journaling again but otherwise not writing outside of email and regular correspondance. I find that blogging helps me on at least two fronts; First, it helps me flesh out and clarify some things I’m learning or thinking about. Next, it puts my ideas out there where anyone can read them and challenge me as to their veracity and relevance. They also can remind me of what I said.
The writer of Proverbs said life and death are in the power of the tongue. Could this be true about the keyboard as well?
Jan
14
2010
Just saw these words used by former White House staffer, Karl Rove in an article in the Wall Street Jnl. He was calling for the exercise of these principles from the Obama administration and from all members of congress. His view is that we are woefully lacking in these attributes required for the healthy functioning of our federal government.
My observation is that these factors are equally vital to any public organization to include schools, churches and denominational leadership.
Just some thoughts.
No organization can go far or accomplish much without the general belief of it’s members that their purpose is on track and that their leadership is trustworthy. One of the best ways to accomplish this is for leadership to promote structures that encourage transparency of process and communication. As the organization gets larger this becomes a real challenge for at least two reasons;
1. The sheer size & complexity of the organization makes true transparency of executive leadership difficult to communicate.
2. The perceived need of leadership to “look good” so they can keep their job or remain ‘upwardly mobile’ in the organization.
Before we write these reasons off as petty or irrelevant we should recall that these persons have a responsibility to all of the people that placed them in their positions to produce results; weather in company profit, or in organizational change viewed as ‘good’ by organizational members.
So what is the solution?
First, though it should go without saying, an unwavering commitment to honesty in all of our dealings and communication–this is by leaders as well as rank & file in the organization.
Second; I like what Heifetz, Grashow & Linskly suggest in their book, Adaptive Leadership (Harvard Business Press-2009). They advocate the organization, led by executive leadership, “protect & enourage the voices of dissent.”
I’m encouraged to see signs of this latter type of activity in my own organization though we have a long way to go. Some dissenters are going to be bitter people that have been chewed up by the system. Hearing them is always painful. Most of them, however, are folks who have valid observations that could be useful in helping the leadership and the organization to move forward. The dissenters do not have the whole answer, in some cases they may be ‘off the wall’. Leadership still must process and assimulate what they hear. However, if we create an atmosphere where all can be heard without fear of condemnation or reprisal then the atmosphere changes. We have a chance to create true transparency, accountability and bipartisanship.
No leader, no matter how gifted, has 360 degree perception of the battlefield. Gaining the perspective and the support of all stakeholders in the organization is invaluable. Only when we listen & engage all perspectives do members begin to feel they truly have leadership that is both transparent and accountable and therefore worthy of their full support.