I Don’t Like Reality!
Hey Friends,
I have to tell you, I really don’t like reality. I’m an optimist and have the gift of faith. I always see things as easier, quicker, and cheaper than they really are. This helps in my vision casting and trusting the Lord to move in power, but this is not so good as I look at a project. I’m just not realistic.
In my leadership this is a serious problem. I want to walk by faith and trust it will be miraculous. The other side is, we live in a cursed fallen world and things are hard. That is enough, but add spiritual warfare to it and it just gets harder.
Our job as leaders is to define reality for the followers and for the organization. It’s hard for me to do, but I’m learning! After telling the church how easy and cheap we can…(you name it), I have quit that!
Jack Welch gave us his six rules for leadership:
1. Control your destiny, or someone else will.
2. Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it were.
3. Be candid with everyone.
4. Don’t manage, lead.
5. Change before you have to.
6. If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete.
For us leaders this is great advice. I know he is not a pastor or leader in the Kingdom, but leadership is leadership. It is our job to face and define reality. Most pastors are as horrible at this as I am. Blindness to the current state of affairs in our organizations will not make them better. As a matter of fact, blindness to where we really are can kill the church.
Wake up leaders and look around. Church growing? People growing? Excitement and momentum in the air? If the answer is no, you have a problem. God can help if we see it and call on Him! Don’t blame the culture for no growth. As leaders we must assume the fault. If you accept excuses you will never excel for the King.
Love ya,
Pastor Chris
5 Comments
It can be hard to keep our focus on Jesus Christ and remember that our only faith is in Him.
I, too, tend to lean toward vision versus reality, and that has definitely caused me some problems in “real life.” I feel that if we have faith in our God whose plans are greater than anything we can ever imagine and whose power is miraculous and HUGE, then it’s only natural to have an optimistic attitude that is far from reality
When I am around people that are “reality-based,” I often tend to feel reigned in and feel “brought down”…almost as if it’s negativity they’re spreading, when maybe it’s only reality?! This is a constant battle for me; I want to have faith in the vision of God almighty who promises us hope and a future, but it’s a good thing he created a balance of his people—some grounded in the vision and others in the reality
The Video Blog is a great idea and tool to get the word out. You keep amazing me with the inspirational ideas. You are correct about the current message series. I continue to learn every day.
Glad you are using technology almost to the fullest now.
Don’t forget to setup a public figure page on facebook that allows unlimited fans, you are almost to your 5,000 friend limit with your current account.
I think I am the same way a lot of the time…but I think what’s really great about looking at an “impossible” project with unrealistic goals from a human perspective gives God a chance to really shine. It seems like anytime I am doing a show for the kids I plan the show not having people or have the people but do not have the show…but God has taught me to take the vision of the project and move forward, and He will fill in the gaps, no matter what they are. We have dubbed this “Giving God Shining moments” making us well aware that He shines through, regardless of our potential poor planning, or unrealistic goals…so it’s not a bad thing…God uses us unrealistic goal setters in amazing ways…as you well know;o)