The LionLog - Lionshare Leadership Group

Ponderings

2009-02-03T23:30:00Z

“What really gives the leader his authority—his right to lead—does at the end of the day come down
to him, or her, as a person—the nature of their character and the degree of their integrity.”

~ General Sir Richard Dannatt – Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army

Have you noticed that often leaders are promoted due to their knowledge, experience and relational connectedness? That has often been the case with many of us – and, of course, there is nothing wrong with this approach and in fact has much wisdom attached to it. However, per our quote above from a fine godly British Military leader, ultimately, a leader leads out of who they really are and what they have become – what is embedded deep within them, who they are away from the crowd, and what they have become due to the chiseling challenges that have allowed character to emerge as fine gold.

Where are you in this process? Is God at work within you building a character that can later contain the weight of broad leadership in daring times? Is He growing your trust in Him as seemingly everyone around you gets promoted and well positioned now for success? As one who is leading – are you giving time to the building of godly leaders around you who will in-turn do the same within their generation?

In light of the days we are living in we need leaders who unconditionally love and uncompromisingly live and lead out of truth, leaders who lead out of relationship and accomplish their mission with excellence. We need leaders in every societal domain who are tried and tested, who have failed and know how to rightly respond to it (I tend to trust those most who walk with a limp), and those who have learned to surround themselves with godly counsel and listen to it.

To emerge as a leader who leads out of who they are, one must willingly subject themselves to the deep and often painful dealings of God over an extended period of time. If there is any question of its ultimate value for the individual or the world around them, consider the lives offered up to us by God in Hebrews 11 – those of whom ‘the world was not worthy’.

~DB

Beginning the New Year

2009-01-17T02:32:00Z

A new year is upon us and with it comes all kinds of resolutions and promises for personal change and growth (or shrinkage if the Christmas treats have had their way with us). All of us are feeling the financial squeeze in one way or another so we are banging out new budgets and looking to trim or add where we can. We are also on the verge of an historic moment in our country with the swearing in of our new President – someone we will need to diligently stand with in prayer and intercession (1Tim. 2:1-4) as he addresses huge challenges regarding our nation and the world.

As a follower of Jesus are you looking at your life and the events of the world around you through ‘eternal eyes’ – or do you have a tendency to react only to what you see with your senses? ‘Eternal eyes’ seek to understand God’s perspective and heart on things and recognize the greatness of His person and power. They also tend to respond as Henry Blackaby puts it, ‘looking for where God is working and joining Him in it’. No matter what happens they live with the perpetual belief that God’s heart is always to intervene to redeem – and therefore position themselves to be agents of redemptive activity.

As you begin this year, are you looking at who you relate to, what you do, and what has come your way through ‘eternal eyes’? If not, and you find yourself a bit stuck here, ask Jesus for fresh perspective from His vantage point and then watch what He will do!

~DB

The Pacing of Jesus – Part 6 (Close)

2008-08-15T16:55:00Z

We have touched in this brief blog series on The Pacing of Jesus – how He lived and led out of a place of inner security, that He only gave Himself to where the Father was working, that He was motivated by obedience and not driven by needs, and that He rested awhile in the context of meaningful friendships. As I wrap this up, I want to share one final observation that I believe is crucial to the godly pacing of our lives.

Jesus knew that His vision could only be fulfilled by multiplying His life within others – Mt.28:18-20

It is interesting to note that while Jesus was going from village-to-village loving, preaching and teaching, healing, etc., that He seemed to always have a dozen guys with Him that He was investing in. There was a constant ‘teach – demonstrate – replicate’ feel to everything Jesus did. He knew that part of healthy pacing was finding others that He could pour His life in to – allowing the ‘seeds’ of His life to multiply fruit within others.

Often, multiplying ourselves within others is the first thing to go when we get busy. Our eyes more naturally focus on leading our group, building our company and/or ‘doing our thing’. Jesus, however, built in to the ‘flow of His being’ pouring His life in to others. He viewed this as a valuable piece of His life – look how much time He gave to it! In His unhurriedness, He made people, their growth and finding their place a priority. It was never an ‘add on’ or ‘got to’ – He understood that this is the primary way that the Kingdom gets passed on and advanced.

If it was a part of the pacing and ‘life flow’ of Jesus and a priority to Him, should it not also be for me? Looking through this set of lenses provides me with a reference point on how I spend my time and energy, and also offers me a scriptural window through which I can measure the fruitfulness of my life.

~DB

The Pacing of Jesus - Part 5

2008-08-07T12:37:00Z

The Pacing of Jesus - Part 5

In this series we have been reflecting on Jesus’ pace in life and posing thoughts on how it may align with our pacing or contrast with it. Here in this fifth piece of six, I want to touch on something I believe is crucial to our pacing - rest and relationships.

Jesus rested with His friends for awhile - Mark 6:31

I don’t know about you but this is a dynamic combination for me in my refueling. Rest keeps me energized physically (and emotionally) and relationships keep me encouraged spiritually, mentally and emotionally. While walking the planet Jesus recognized a need for both. He took the time to rest - even in the midst of a storm (Mk.4:35-40) - and invited His disciples to actually live their lives out of a place of rest (Mt.11:28, 29).

I wonder if too often we think of Jesus leading his disciples around the rugged Israel countryside going from place-to-place - with them "supporting" His preaching/teaching/healing ministry. We need to also consider that these were men that connected deeply on a relational level as well. How can than not happen when you are with each other daily for three years?! Jesus seemed to gain strength from their friendships while at the same time investing in them. I have always found it interesting that he stopped in Bethany to hang out with Lazarus, Mary and Martha on his way to Jerusalem where He knew He would be crucified (Jn. 12:1-3).

Does rest and restorative relationships sound too easy or not spiritual enough to you? Consider the consequences of a life lived without these two key contributors to our pacing. Are they lacking in your life - if so what can you begin to do today to turn that around? Take a nap or plan an extended getaway or vacation. And on the friend front, consider who it is that you receive something from when you are in their presence and look for ways to be more intentional about time with them. Remember, Jesus rested with his friends for awhile - so can you.

~DB

The Pacing of Jesus - Part 4

2008-07-18T19:25:00Z

We have been on a journey of exploring The Pacing of Jesus – how He lived and lead in such a way that He enjoyed His walk with the Father, reveled in his relationships, and yet fully glorified God by accomplishing everything that the Father had given Him to do (Jn.17:4).

We have been briefly unpacking the five components from the original blog for the purpose of heart reflection and life application. So, let’s take a peek at the third one:

Jesus was motivated by obedience, not driven by needs –Jn.11:1-44

Awhile back, I heard a godly leader that I love and respect say something that didn’t quite land right inside of me. Since then, I have heard a couple of other leaders say the same thing – ‘If you see it, you are called to it.’ Now, I don’t know about you, but I ‘see’ a lot of things – individuals hurting, needy, and powerless; systems and structures that need reforming; locations on the planet that are in turmoil; natural disasters ravaging huge populations of people – and just because I ‘see’ these things I am ‘called’ to them?!

Now, I get it that I can pray as I am ‘seeing,’ but, until I grow further in the three big O’s – Omniscience, Omnipresence and Omnipotence (and that isn’t going to happen in my life time) – there is no way I can be called to all these things while living within this little finite tent I inhabit for seven to ten decades.

When I look at Jesus, I see Him motivated by obedience to the Father and not by the needs of the people around Him. Does this mean He doesn’t care – of course not – He had compassion on every need and on every person! It simply means that He trusted the Father – the only One who can meet all needs everywhere – to lead and guide Him to the piece that He was to carry and serve.

Being motivated to meet people’s needs is a good one – but not the highest one. If one is not careful, it can lead to a lot of busyness (is that always a Kingdom sign of good things?) – not necessarily fruitfulness. What are you motivated by – by your ‘closet times’ with Jesus and those He has called you to walk with or the loud noise of neediness that surrounds all of us every day? I think Jesus’ words to us today would be simple: listen – pray – obey.

~DB

The Pacing of Jesus - Part 3

2008-06-06T21:34:00Z

My reflections recently have been on the Pacing of Jesus – how he paced his life so that He enjoyed the people around Him and accomplished the mission for which He had come. This time I want to look at the second of the five ‘compass points’ that seemed to govern the way He paced His life. If you missed the original blog or Part 1, take a peek at the previous two LionLogs.

Jesus did only what the Father was doing

In John 5:19, 20, Jesus lets us know several important things that apply to the way we pace our lives:

• v.19 – ‘…the Son can do nothing of His own accord…’

- It raises the question – who is the initiator of what you do in life? What God initiates He permeates with His Presence, what you initiate you have to sustain. Talk about wearing yourself out! This might serve you well as a diagnostic tool to determine how much of what you are doing really is God-breathed vs. what you are trying to ‘make happen’.

• v. 19, 20 ‘…but only what He sees the Father doing. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing.’

- Whether a ministry or market place leader, are you spending the kind of time alone with God in the Scriptures, prayer, waiting on Him –just being in His Presence – so that you can actually ‘see what He is doing’ and join in on it? Or, are you doing ‘your thing for God’ asking Him to bless it? Remember, He blesses what He births – not what we launch for ‘His Name’s sake’.

I don’t know about you, but I have done enough ‘launching’ of my own – out of my own needs, wants and desires. In these days it is essential that we prioritize spending time in His Presence so that we know His heart and can follow His lead. That is what truly allows us to be like Jesus – doing ‘only what the Father is doing.’

~DB

The Pacing of Jesus – Part 2

2008-04-30T23:58:00Z

Recently, I introduced you to five ‘compass points’ that I observed in the Gospels that seemed to be ingredients that helped to dictate how Jesus paced His life. Now, I would like to throw out a few thoughts on these various ‘compass points.' The first of the five is:

Jesus was secure in who He was/where He came from/where he was going – so He could serve.

I think John 13:1-5 provides tremendous insights into what was ‘behind’ the serving of Jesus. Consider:

vs.1 – “Jesus knew that his hour had come”

• Understanding one’s ‘season’ allows one to simply serve where they are at

vs.1 – “having loved His own…He loved them to the end”

• Sincerely loving those God gives us provides us with the focus of our service

vs.3 – “knowing the Father had given all things into His hands”

• Knowing the will of God and how we fit within it allows us to serve with effectiveness

vs.3 – “He had come from God and was going back to God”

• It is essential that our identities be rooted in who we are related to (God) – and not in what we do

Often we ‘serve God’ for a variety of reasons – from trying to gain His favor (or that of another person), because it makes us ‘feel fulfilled,' or because we want to ‘make an impact,' etc. A little reflection on this passage, however, gives us a glimpse of what was ‘behind’ Jesus’ serving. Ultimately this affected His pace. Note that there is no sense of an ‘internal proving or pushing’ within Jesus but rather a ‘sense of security and peace’.

So upon further review, is your pacing dictated more by ‘a push’ or by ‘a peace?'

~DB

The Pacing of Jesus ... Part I

2008-04-23T19:45:00Z

Over the last few weeks I have noticed again how ragged many leaders are. They seem to be ‘sucking air’ while diligently serving where they have been placed by God to serve. As many of you already know the ‘finishing well’ and ‘ways of God’ themes are ones I have been associated with now for many years, and I have to say when I look at some leaders through these sets of lenses I find myself really concerned.

I am reminded of a journey through the Gospels that I embarked on a number of years ago as I sought to understand the ‘pacing of Jesus.’ Maybe what I discovered will be an encouragement or offer some mid-course correction for you as it has for me. I found that Jesus’ compass as it related to dictating ‘His pace’ included the following:

• He was secure in who He was/where He came from/where he was going so He could serve – Jn.13:1-5
• He did only what the Father was doing – Jn.5:19-20
• He was motivated by obedience, not driven by needs –Jn.11:1-44 (note that He did not go right away)
• He rested with his friends for awhile – Mk.6:31
• He knew that His vision could only be fulfilled by discipling and multiplying within others – Mt.28:18-20

When you have an opportunity to ‘break your stride’ for a few moments, take a peek at these truths by reflecting on the Scriptures that accompany them and see if you are aligned to the pacing of Jesus.

~DB

Let's Talk Discipleship ... part II

2007-07-22T19:42:00Z

'...go and make disciples…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…I am with you always’. Matthew 28:18-20

It appears in Scripture that God’s primary means of passing on the truths of the Kingdom is through discipleship – one person investing in another, or in a group of people. Along with Jesus and the disciples, we see the mentoring relationships of Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jonathan and David, Barnabas and Paul, Paul and Timothy, to mention a few. As leaders/pastors, we often give much of our time and energy to well-planned services and sermons, establishing community in small groups, and reaching out to the needy locally and globally – as well we should – but do we do so at the expense of neglecting the core mandate of Jesus to “make disciples”?

Jesus taught the multitudes, and He invested in twelve. With Jesus knowing that He only had about three years to disciple these twelve into church pioneers He must have felt the weight of His followers really "getting it." As we know from the book of Acts, His disciples certainly "got it!" Think of it – Jesus did such an awesome job of discipling that His life and message have been passed on from generation togeneration right up to today!

This truth has brought me to the conviction that the primary function of godly leadership, from Jesus’ perspective, seems to be more about deliberate discipleship of those we shepherd and lead then being trumpeters of vision or even executing well-planned missions.

Where does this value and priority ofJesus fit practically in your everyday life?

~DB

Let's Talk Discipleship ... part I

2007-07-03T19:31:00Z

Let me share a story with you that ‘ruined me for the ordinary’ on an airplane some twenty-seven years ago somewhere between Los Angeles and Washington D.C. When I was with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), I had the privilege for a short season of doing some travel with Loren Cunningham, its Founder and President. On this particular flight Loren asked me what I thought my spiritual gifts were. At twenty years of age, I kind of gave him my best guess. He used that time to affirm me in my gifts of leadership and communication/teaching, but really got my attention when he said to me, “You know, Dave, it really doesn’t matter how many you lead or teach that counts. From God’s perspective, your life and ministry will be regarded as fruitful only to the degree you invest the ways of God into the third-and-fourth generations.” Loren went on to explain to me that he did not mean ‘forty-year generations,’ but rather the kind of ‘generations’ that Paul spoke about to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2:

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (NIV)

In this passage you can clearly see the ‘four generations’ of discipleship that Loren was talking about: Paul - Timothy - Reliable Men - Others.

So the question becomes have we deliberately invested the ways of God within those He has brought our way –‘teaching them to obey what I have commanded you’ (Mt.28:18-20)? In other words, have (1) you passed on things you have gleaned from your walk with Jesus into (2) someone else, who then deposited them in (3) another, who, in turn,(4) pours their life into someone else?

Through the last three decades this has become the lens through which I view my life and ministry. As you probably already know, the meaning of that initial phrase in Matthew 28 is ‘as you are going, make disciples.’ So, as I have gone about living life I try to intentionally invest what God has deposited in me in those He has led me to mentor – young believers, mature saints, and leaders who need to replicate their lives within others.

Your thoughts?

~DB

More Compassion

2007-05-22T19:28:00Z

Over the last year, the Lord has been providing me with a fresh glimpse of His heart -especially on the compassion front. He seems to be working it in to my own heart at deeper levels. The last twelve months have provided me with a multitude of opportunities to go way beyond traditional responses and 'trite right answers'. I have found myself getting one heck of a 'heart workout' this last year: a dear friend dies of cancer at 48, good friends on the verge of a very public divorce, one of my best buddies contemplating the gay lifestyle, numerous people in my life struggling with various 'stuck places' that hinder them from living their lives to the full, not to mention recent encounters on airplanes with people who simply can't worship God because they have a completely sabotaged view of Him due to their up-bringing/church experiences, etc.

Can you relate to this?

Now, here is the good part: our God - my God - absolutely loves people! His heart abounds with grace and goodness towards them and I have discovered that His desire is to 'always intervene to redeem.' Jesus laid down His life so that people might experience the reality of His life, love and power reaching out to where they are. I think that God actually likes to take me with Him into these real life journeys with precious people so that in the process I get to know Him and His heart much better -thus expanding the capacity of my own heart to receive and better express His deep well of compassion to those in my life.

Even though this really hurts and is very hard, I have decided I want a greater capacity for God's compassion. Anyone out there want to join me?

Behind Closed Doors

2007-04-12T19:25:00Z

Last Friday evening, 'Good Friday,' Cheryl and I read through each of the four gospel accounts of the crucifixion sharing various thoughts and insights with each other. My big 'light bulb moment,' however, was Easter morning when I read the four accounts again - except this time reflecting on the resurrection and the events that soon followed.

In John's account, in chapter 20, we find that on the evening of resurrection day the disciples are hunkered down - seized with fear - and behind closed doors. Then, Jesus comes and stands in their midst. Imagine the minds and emotions of those disciples trying to catch up with the reality of what is in front of them - the risen living Son of God with nailed pierced hands and feet! Obviously, those present in that room are reeling and rejoicing, dumb founded and delirious with joy all at the same time! You can tell from the passage that things must have been pretty intense in that place as Jesus twice said to them, "peace be with you."

As you probably know, all the disciples were there that night - minus one - Thomas, the twin, or as some call him, 'doubting Thomas.' The text states that one week after Jesus' resurrection we have a bit of an instant reply: all the disciples together - Thomas, too, this time - behind closed doors - and Jesus comes and stands among them, again speaking "peace be with you." This time, Jesus personally addresses Thomas showing him His hands and side - inviting him to place his hands there - to touch Him to see that He was real. Thomas responds like how I would if it had been me instead of him - no need to touch -just let me fall on my face and declare, "My Lord and my God!"

My big 'light bulb moment' arrives with Jesus' words to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

As I read this familiar verse on Easter morning, it exploded right off the page likenever before. I realized that I was included right here in this very passage - for I have not seen and yet I have believed! I did not journey with Jesus when He walked this planet, nor was I there at His crucifixion or when the stone was rolled away from the tomb, and I was certainly not there behind closed doors when He appeared to His newly stunned and energized followers - yet I have believed with my whole heart for 35 years!

I am moved by this. I have believed and because of that I am blessed. Which means no matter what else has happened or will happen in my life - whether with people, alone, or even behind closed doors struggling with unbelief itself - I am blessed because I have believed!

I declareagain this day as I did on Easter, "I am a disciple of Jesus and I am blessed because I have and do believe even tho I have not yet seen."

And, so are you, if you have believed. Take the time today to celebrate this truth and enjoy the reality that one day we too shall see Him face-to-face.

~DB

"David...will you come do my funeral?"

2007-03-27T18:11:00Z

March now marks one year since I heard these words uttered through my cell phone from a very dear friend. You see, Lorna - or Anuhea (her beautiful Hawaiian name) -who had been on our ministry team when we were a part of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Hawaii years ago, was dealing with the reality of the return of breast cancer. It reappeared very suddenly and arrived with a vengeance, catching both family and friends off guard, and forcing her into a face-to-face stare down with eternity.   Over the next six weeks, this fun-loving, intense, passionate worshipper and pray-er, wife and mother of five, said her goodbyes, worked on legacy projects for those precious to her, and began to set her gaze on her soon coming heavenly home. We chatted four or five times on the phone during thesedays - sometimes there was great laughter as we recalled good times and friends, and other times there were waves of tears as she knew her days werenumbered with those whom she loved so very much - beginning with her husband, Steve, and their children, aged 8-22. I noted, however, throughout these last pages of the final chapter of her life that there seemed to be a real longing for eternity - and with that came a fresh perspective and focus that she owned right up until the time that she breathed her last breath.   Sometimes it takes a reality-check like this - the death of someone you care about - to cause us to pause and reflecton how we are actually living our lives. As I reflected for several months on Anuhea's homegoing and the way she 'lived her death,' here were my takeaways:

1) Live daily with an eternal perspective

- What is really important to me - and what am I doing about it? What am I really living for - things temporal or eternal? Unimportant matters fall bythe wayside when measured with eternity.

- Am I walking in obedience in such a way on a daily basis that I will 'fulfill the purposes of God in my generation' (reminds me of Acts 13:36).

- Am I living my life in such a way that I am readying myself 'to join the company of saints who have gone on ahead of us.'

2) Live daily in the Fear of the Lord - which is reverencing and referencing God in all that we do

- Knowing that she was about to cross the threshold into eternity, Lorna was determined to make sure that she was 'right before God and man' (Acts24:16), which included writing several letters of restitution.

- It caused me to do some internal inventory as well to make sure that Iwas not allowing 'stuck places' in my heart and life to hinder me from being everything I can be before God and in life with those I love.

- This experience also drew me afresh to the wonderful 'ways of God' - as I walk in them I enjoy His presence and peace no matter what comes my way.

3) Live daily with a sense of focus

- Lorna became extremely focused in the last few weeks of her life -saying her goodbyes, then pressing more in to family and bringing to completion special projects for them. As a matter of fact she slipped into eternity theday after finishing her last project.

- My life is meant to make a mark on this world for God's glory – whether on one or many – that is up to God. Are my eyes set and heart focused in such away that I am attentive to His working in and through me?

- Those of you who know me well would also know that my heart drifted during this time to the question, "Am I on pace to finish well?"

Six weeks after our initial phone conversation, Anuhea was ushered into the Presence of the Lord while there in her home near Hilo, Hawaii, with her husband, Steve, by her side. She finished her life well - living out of an eternal perspective, with a very real sense of the Fear of the Lord, and with tremendous focus.

I did travel to Hawaii to help host Lorna's funeral, as I committed to do on the night that she initially called me. Although some 365 days have passed since then, I still find myself referencing to these moments and life lessons, asking the Lord Jesus to provide me with the grace and power to live my life as Anuhea finished hers.

I pray that this will be true for you as well.

~DB

(archive from TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007)