What are people looking for in a leader?

Kouzes and Posner's (K&P) The Leadership Challenge (in it's 4th printing) has time tested this very question. It actually is written like this: "What values, personal traits, or characteristics do you look for or admire in a leader you would willingly follow?" In response people identified several hundred traits, values, etc. which the authors trimmed down to 20. They then administered a survey asking the same question to 75,000 people around the globe and have continued to update the findings regularly. Four qualities have surfaced through the years head and shoulders above the rest. Here they are.
1. Honest
2. Forward-looking
3. Inspiring
4. Competent
K&P say that when leaders are performing at their peak, they are doing more than getting results. They're also responding to the expectations of their constituents.
What are your thoughts on this matter? What are the qualities you look for in a leader you would willingly follow?

Time to Pray!

Join me and our staff in the sanctuary at 7pm each Wednesday night in February for prayer. We are sensing a call to gather and pray. We will give instruction and allow for various expressions. Please join us starting next Wednesday night.

Don't Be that Guy.

The bearer of bad news. The one with the first and loudest complaint. The guy who lives his life 'under the circumstances.' I mean isn't there enough bad news in the news these days. Listen I know things really do get tough at times and we have to be realistic, but we are citizens of a kingdom that is designed to withhold the pressures of life. Concerning our weaknesses and sufferings we see this written in Romans 8: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Don't be that guy who acts like the sky is falling when we have all we need living right within us. Be the guy who puts his trust in the Lord and refuses to lean solely on his own, limited understanding. Put your heart into it today.

Another sports movie, blah, blah, blah.

That's why I had not taken the time to watch the movie "We are Marshall." Now I love sports movies but the cheese factor is usually too much for me to handle. I loved "Remember the Titans" but the action scenes were just bad home video, in my opinion. I am NOT a Matthew McConaughey fan, but he was outstanding as the coach that takes a broken football program and nurtures it back to the early stages of health after a tragic event stuns Marshall University's football community. The performance of the team captain (not sure of his name) was also deeply touching. I loved it start to finish. Oh, and the football scenes were outstanding. Just a bonus.

Reconnecting in Arizona

I am just wrapping up a 2-day 'retreat' with some really special people who formed the 3Text group I am part of. Even though we (10 of us) wrestled with how to describe the 3Text experience I would explain by saying the books we read, the conversations that were had, the authors and scholars we engaged and the IRL ("In Real Life" our 2-day retreat) experience have collectively served to transform me and help me get more light for my life and calling. I met some really cool people who I plan to spend time with in the future. Our times of meditation/silent prayer were amazing. I have been way to noisy and distracted by my thoughts, worries and random stuff that uncontrollably rushes my awareness. I definitely found God and new strength in a very, focused quiet place. "Be still and know that I am God." That means so much more to me today as a result of our interaction. I am grateful for Ron Martoia's leadership and his passion to see transformation in the church. I share that passion and love for the church, its leaders and its future.

Working Out...

Does anyone else hate the thought of working out? I actually don't hate the act of working out, but the thought of working out is tough to overcome. Once again the right thing to do is definitely not the easiest. You will feel better if you just go, you'll be glad you did.

Boston Public

I have a DVR ( digital video recorder) like TiVo, you know? Great invention! Now I can find really obscure, interesting things that are off the beaten path of network or popular cable channels. I managed to search and find one of my favorite all time TV dramas called Boston Public about a group of teachers and administrators handling the day to day trials of working with high school students in the inner city. It is very realistic according to the numerous teacher reviews I have read and certainly seems that way to me based on my limited experience in high schools and with teens. You can find the show on a network called TV One (Direct TV). My humble opinion is that each show offers some real life challenge you could very well find in a public school setting. I'm a sucker for dramas where some kid is getting rescued from a bad relationship or bad habit by someone who goes out of their way to get involved. That's typically what 'getting involved' requires anyway....going out of our way. The last one (episode 61) I saw, the principal (played by Chi McBride, I love this guy in this role) is talking to a young man who has been beating up his girlfriend. It's very confrontational but very caring at the same time. He then says to the young guy about changing his ways, "Whenever you don't know what do to, choose the hardest thing. Because 9 times out of 10, that's the right thing." Great quote and how true it is, I have discovered. Two nights ago my son, Austin brought home three 5th graders from the youth center he works at in Goshen. He is always telling me about these kids. They spent the night playing video games, shooting pool and in the morning eating waffles before heading back to Goshen. I love that my son loves these children. As a college student he is demonstrating the love of Jesus by getting involved in their lives beyond the job. That's doing the right thing.