An Every-Day Prayer for Every Leader

"O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don't let those who trust in you stumble because of me, O sovereign Lord Almighty. Don't le me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel."

(Psalm 69:5-6)

Leadership is tough enough without considering the fact that every leader is a human being with the full potential of being human...prone to sin and sin big. If you are in a position of influence or leadership, you should be able to identify with King David's prayer.

Husbands, if you love your wife, this is a good prayer for you everyday.

Fathers, if you love your children, this is a good prayer for you to pray every day.

Pastors, if you love your congregation, this is an good prayer for you to pray every day.

Leaders of all kinds, if you love and care about the people who follow you, this is a good prayer for you to pray every day.

Let's pray...

Fetterisms (4 of 5)

"The Fun Is in The Planning."
(Guest Blogger: Paul "Papa" Fetters)

I have discovered that if you want support in a project, be sure to include others in the planning. The fun is in the planning. Individuals who help in the planning of a project psychologically buy into the plan and they take ownership of the plan and will participate in its completion.

It is always more fun to plan than to do the task. How many good and excellent projects have you started that are still half finished and waiting in the basement? How about the wooden chess board you started 20 years ago? It has probably been three years since you planned to clean and paint the work room. It is still a mess. It is not because of the excitement of the planning, but the frustration of the work.

The Bible is filled with events such as the rebuilding of the wall at the half-way-point in Nehemiah’s day. There was no lack of interest in the planning. There was frustration in the middle of the project but there was satisfaction in the completion. Why? Because the people who made the plans had a mind to work.

Fetterisms (3 of 5)

"I’m your Father. I am not going to quit. I am not going to retire. And, you can’t fire me."
(Guest Blogger: Paul "Papa" Fetters)

At times I have felt, " I don’t like this aspect of being a father."

On one occasion, I was told by my oldest son, "Pop you are blowing it as a father." On that particular day, he probably had good reasons for the way he felt about my parenting skills.

That little confrontation was a chin stroker, a real head scratcher, or as the "King of Siam" mused, "a puzzlement."

After reflecting, I realized that it was my first time around raising three teenage sons. But they were also on their first time around as teenagers. Boy were they blowing it.

We concluded that in a few years they would have opportunity for blowing it as first-time fathers. Their children would be blowing it as teens. I would again be blowing it as my first time grandfathering. But until then, "I am the adult around here. I am the one called, ‘Father.’ I am not going to retire, I am not going to quit, and they could not fire me."

Fetterisms (2 of 5)

"Pretty Is As Pretty Does"
(Guest Blogger: Paul "Papa" Fetters)

Over the years, I have learned to be cautious in employing, assigning, selecting, or recommending potential.

Often, when I have bought into one’s "potential" at 20, they still were showing "potential" at 40...and still waiting for performance.

The recommendations of leaders are often based on one’s potential or what one hopes the person will some day become. Those who are some day “gonna be” when this happens or that happens will remain a “gonna be.”

Potential and promise of an elite thorough bred hound will look pretty on paper and sound great in speech, but the performance of a ordinary beagle, whose mother comes from good stock and whose father is unknown, will get the job done.

A Leader's Prayer-"Lord, Disturb Us"

Came across this prayer:

"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore."

How are you sailing too close to the shore in your life, ministry, etc? Are you taking risks that will increase your faith and trust and reliance upon God?

A Leadership Pep Talk from Rocky Balboa

Look, I'm not afraid to admit it...I love Rocky! I love Rock's common-man wisdom and draw strenght from it.

In the past year, I've drawn strength from one scene in Rocky Balboa (a.k.a. Rocky VI). Rocky challenges his son to get some courage and quit being rapt in what others think about him or his dad's desire to fight at 60 years of age. With a father's perception, Rocky understands his son's heart--he's insecure. You've got to check it out!



God also understands how insecurity paralyzes leaders. Knowing that Joshua needed a boost of courage after the death of Moses, his mentor, God spoke into his young, inexperienced heart. "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to teh right or to the left, that you may be successful whereever you go" (Joshua 1:6-8).

If you are fighting some insecurities, draw some strength from God...and, if necessary, from Rocky too.

Thoughts on Leadership

I found this excellent post from Perry Noble dot com. He asks the question: Are you an initiator or a reponder? As a recovering "responder," I thought his insights were right on. Enjoy.

-An initiator spends their time trying to think big and extinguish the fires of hell…a responder spends their time trying to figure out how to keep people happy and tries to extinguish the fires of small minded people.

-An initiator spends their time asking God to lead them to take huge risks…a responder spends their time asking God to keep them safe.

-An initiator takes God led risks…a responder will call a business meeting.

-An initiator spends all of their time trying to please God…a responder spends all of their time trying to please people.

-An initiator will preach what he feels that God has told him to preach and not fear the consequences…a responder will preach what makes people happy so he can receive a paycheck.

-An initiator spends all of their time trying to figure out what’s next…and a responder spends all their time trying to figure out how to guard the past and the present.

-An initiator prays huge prayers and asks God for impossible things…a responder doesn’t really think God is in the miracle business anymore & will pray prayers that doesn’t require God’s help to accomplish so that “God doesn’t look bad!”

-An initiator will surround himself with leaders who will speak their minds…a responder want people around him who will say, “Your poop doesn’t stink!”

-An initiator wants to meet with people who do not think like him…a responder is threatened by people who aren’t just like him.