LEADERSHIP

 

     During these last few months I have been reading a lot of leadership books for work, for church and on my own. My own meaning "by choice!" These leadership books are written by "leadership experts" such as John Maxwell and Mark Miller. The book I am reading "by choice" is written by a pastor, Craig Groeschel who pastors Life Church. His church is located in Oklahoma and has multiple campuses around the U.S. I have always been intrigued by leadership and various leadership styles. In my many years on this earth I have seen many different styles. I've seen the dictator leader, the passive leader, the "Hands on" leader, The O.C.D. leader and the unorganized leader. The loud leader and the quiet leader. I've seen leaders who want to see you fail so they can point out your mistakes and I've seen the leader who micromanages you to the point that you want to pull your hair out. I will have to say with every boss, pastor, manager and leader I have worked with, I have learned something from them. Some good things and some not so good things. What I have learned is very simple. I've learned I can't copy their style. Their leadership style is their leadership style. I had to experiment a lot in my youth to see what my style was.

     My very first time as a leader was my total accident, so I thought. As a sophomore in bible college in New Jersey I joined a new puppet ministry that was just formed and expected to just be a puppeteer that semester. I would go to rehearsals, travel with the team on outreaches, get my credit for the semester and move on. Not so fast! As it turned out God had other plans. I was asked to run rehearsals. I was asked to drive the van and take the team on outreaches all over New Jersey. I was asked to lead the ministry without really being asked! WHAT? WAIT! I didn't sign up for that! Just let me get my college credit. I am willing to serve but lead this? No thank you. God didn't call me to work with kids! I'm a missionary!! Kids are annoying!! God made a way for me to become the leader of this ministry. Our team members looked to me to "run things." Trust me when I say I knew nothing about puppet ministry, nothing about kids ministry and I was never ever asked to be a leader. I guess I did okay because I was asked to lead the ministry again the next semester! That was my beginning in leadership training. 3 years later I started a puppet ministry at my church. 4 years later I became the Children's Pastor. God knows what He's doing!

     I am not one of those people who believe everyone is a leader. I don't think we are all called to lead. Using a baseball analogy, not everyone can play catcher or pitch. Not everyone can be the first baseman or the center fielder. We all need to play our position. In reading all of these books I have noticed two things. Leadership takes hard work and a lot of effort. It is not easy. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly many times. There are many people who have agreed with leadership decisions I have made and there are some who have disagreed profusely at leadership decisions I have made. I have seasons in my life in my leadership where I feel like I won the Super Bowl and other seasons where I feel like the Detroit Lions (with my apologies to all Lions fans!) I have learned recently that I have a lot to learn. My best route is to do my best, learn from my mistakes and be comfortable with myself and who I am as a leader. I am not a loudmouthed leader who screams and yells. The kids I work with often ask me if I ever yell. No, not much. I am a quiet leader but I do like things organized and I do like to run a tight ship with a well oiled machine intact. People want a well balanced leader. Not someone who intimidates them. Most of all they want a leader who leads but who also cares. I want to work on this and I will continue to develop my leadership skills every day!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!!   

SCAMMERS

     Scammers are everywhere. I actually really hate writing about them and giving them exposure but this blog needs to be written and it's been eating at me for a long time!. I am embarrassed that here in America and around this world that we have scammers among us. It could even be our next door neighbor but we may never find that out until it's too late! When I refer to a scammer, I am not referring to the a guy coming into Chick Fil-A telling me we forgot his fries when HE NEVER ORDERED THEM!! No, I am referring to the constant telemarketing calls we get, the phony emails and those horrible Infomercials we see on TV that are on at 4 a.m. (Thank goodness!) I don't know how these people sleep at night but they are scamming many and making a lot of money doing it. Money they do not deserve. Money that gullible people give to them!

     

     I often joke with family and friends about a certain televangelist who does have an Infomercial at 4 a.m. I am not at liberty to say his name but he tries to entice people to get "for free" Miracle Spring Water that if we drink it "God will do miracles in your life. Financial AND physical healing miracles! SURE!! This same gentleman was caught with an earpiece in his ear back in the 1980's during one of his "crusades" claiming God spoke to him about a lady in the back row who needed healing when actually it was his wife relaying information to him using a microphone in a back room. He was caught and a few years later he went bankrupt. But guess what? He returned years later doing the same thing! Today he is still at it and making millions scamming innocent people! Unbelievable!!

     I have gotten phone calls from people claiming they are reaching out to me because they say the warranty on my car will expire soon. I love telling them "Well there's a problem. I don't have a warranty on my car!" The phone suddenly disconnects! I now only answer my phone if I recognize the number! I recently received and email that went like this 

I am ___________. An Attorney to a deceased member of your family who passed away and has named you as his next of kin. Hence, I am contacting you for the claim of his abandoned estate and financial assets as you are the sole beneficiary!

    This email was asking me for my signature. First of all I don't know anyone who passed away in my family and secondly I am NOT going to sign anything whatsoever that is on an email OR on the internet. I Googled the lawyers name that I did not write in this blog and found out, you guessed it..A SCAM! However, there are many of us in our nation and around the world who are gullible and who do send our hard earned money to money hungry televangelists, telemarketers who claim they work for the IRS and emails sent by phony lawyers who want you to believe they have money they can send you..."just sign here, please?" NO THANKS! 

     I will end with a verse in the Bible! 

 

Matthew 7:15 - Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

     Let's watch out for those wolves in sheep's clothing! Those scammers! They don't care about you. They care about your money! Recognize them and you will be fine! I promise!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!   

 

WHY CAN'T IT BE JUST LIKE 1970 AGAIN?

     I know I have been accused by many including my children that "all I do is think about the past." That is somewhat true. I believe we can learn a lot from the past, but I also believe we need to let go of the past and anything that may have occurred in our lives that could be a major stumbling block. I have learned to move on knowing that God has better things in store for me. The past is the past and you can't change anything that has happened. We certainly can't jump in a DeLorean Time Machine and travel back 30 years ago with Doc Brown or Marty McFly. Correct?

     I recently watched a documentary on one of those steaming channels on "Jesus Music." If you know me you know that I absolutely love Christian Rock. I started listening around 1979/1980 or so. The majority of music on my iPod is Christian Rock or worship music. What interested me more about the documentary was the events that took place in order for "Jesus Music" to be created. It was affectionately known as the Jesus Movement. It began in Southern California in the late 1960's and spread through our country a few years later around 1970. In 1970 I was only 6 years old so I don't remember the movement at all. I was more interested in riding my bike and hanging out with other kids in my neighborhood. I was probably swimming in "The Park Pool" and watching cartoons as well. That fall I entered the first grade. I was raised in the Catholic Church and we went to mass every Sunday. 1970 was the beginning of a new decade but unbeknownst to me there was a huge revival spreading across America. The Jesus Movement! Young people were turning away from drugs, alcohol and sex and instead were turning to Jesus Christ. Churches were being planted by young "hippies" and God was moving in amazing ways. Many older "church folks" had a very hard time accepting these young people who were not only very excited, but they introduced a new music style that did not go over well with the veteran church members. It was called "Jesus Music." The Spirit of God was truly on the move! Many new ministries were being birthed as well. Teens and young adults were accepting Jesus as their savior and Lord. Churches were being planted clear across the country. Many of them still remain to this day. One such church was Calvary Chapel located in Costa Mesa, California. Chuck Smith was the Pastor of that church. He was instrumental in opening his church to that "Hippie Crowd" while others rejected them. 

     After watching this documentary one thought came to my mind. Why can't the same thing happen today? Why can't we have an amazing "Jesus Movement in 2022?" I am not saying God is not moving in our young people but I need to be honest. One thing bothers me. Too many churches today try so hard to entertain our youth and young adults. Churches today look like movie theaters and not churches. There are flashing lights, disco balls and smoke billowing behind a huge set. Walls are painted black. Pastor's wearing a 3 piece suit? What's that? They dress casual. In my opinion too casual. I am not slinging my "spiritual mud" at these pastors. I know many of them and I respect them. They are all anointed preachers and lead their churches well. What I am saying is we try so hard to entertain our church folks instead of allowing God's Holy Spirit to work in our church. The thought of a Café in a church in 1982 would have been laughed at. "We have a Fellowship Hall for that!" many would say. I would love to see a fresh new movement take place in America where young people come to know Jesus! The world we live in is a mess! Young people today don't even know if they are male or female. Many are getting sex changes. Depression and suicide are on the rise! Drug addiction is getting worse. Legalizing marijuana was a mistake. You drive on the LIE and you smell it (even at 5:30 a.m.). Why can't it be like 1970? Maybe in the year 2055 someone will write a blog "Why can't it be like 2023?" That would be so cool and amazing! Maybe we will have a Jesus Movement in 2023!! Let's start praying now!!