Influence

What does it mean to influence someone? I picked up TIME's "The 100 Most Influential People in the World" issue last week as I was curious to see this list. I was shocked by how few names I recognized or knew anything about, but maybe that says more about me. (If you still can, I suggest you pick it up and flip through this list.) It's funny to have a list that includes Barack Obama and Rhianna; or Warren Buffet and Jeremy Lin. John Maxwell always says that "leadership is influence", but what is influence? What qualities does a person have that we allow them to influence- or do we even allow them, or does it just happen? Some people on that list have impacted me indirectly because of their product or invention, but no one on that lists influences me in a personal way. But it does have me thinking about what "truly" influences me. As a Christian the default answer people jump to is "God" or maybe the bible. But really? Is that reality- or is there something else. Image? Friends? Media? Guilt? Results? What influences you? Have you thought about it, or have you just coasted letting the loudest voice speak into your life? Not everything should influence us, we should be very selective in what we allow, or invite in, to influence us. Make a list of 5 or 6 things or people that influence you. Any changes need to be made? What should the list include going forward? Who should be on there? Who should come off? Who or what are you going to let speak into your life? "Before microphones and television were invented, a leader had to stand in front of a crowd and bellow. Now she can tweet a phrase that reaches millions ni a flash. Influence was never easier- or more ephemeral." (Richard Stengal, managing ed. TIME)

Paying Attention to Details

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23-24

As a leader it is an essential that we pay attention to the details. As a pastor we are watching over our people, planning events, numerical goals, pushing budgets, dreaming about visions and plans to get there- and the list goes on. Leaders in business do this in their field as well.

But "good leaders" learn how to watch for the details. Watch for positive trends or negative trends and react accordingly. We leverage the positive for gains and wins and we try to stop the negative before too much loss or damage ensues.

But I have been wondering if I do a better job with that at the corporate level than the personal level. I can analyze my church to death, but pay little attention to my own heart. We have plans, visions, and dreams for our church/business, but what about our personal life? What kind of people do we want to be in 5 years?

I talked with our staff this week about taking some time to evaluate, not our ministry, but what is going on in our own heart! Sometimes we are so busy taking care of the "business" that we neglect the eternal stuff- who we are becoming.

The great thing is that we all have built in warning signs or indicators. For me when I am negelecting the condition of my heart I get cynical, critical, and negative. For you it might be something else. Maybe it's your mouth and language- starts to digress when things are slipping. Maybe it's sleep or diet. Maybe it's your thought life.

I encourage you- learn to listen, let God do some searching, and then if you need to course correct, do it now. Many leaders will say "if only" after it was too late. By God's grace, don't let it get that far. Pay attention to the details.

Don't Quit so Easily!

"To be a good leader you have to be a romantic. Because then you not only want to make a difference, you imagine that you can." Richard North Patterson

I am a classic optimist trapped in the body of a realist. This is not always fun. It can create some real "highs" and "lows". I have a very strong critical eye (some close to me might say too strong...haha) but I can't always help it or turn it off. But then in the midst of this I am an extreme optimist. Not the day dreaming type who stares off in space and imagines "what if..." but like Patterson said, I imagine I can truly make a difference. So much so, that I can look at a situation, see the very real flaws, assess what it will cost to change- and then plow forward to see that change become a reality- because I truly believe that it will change- the thought that it "cannot" change is extremely difficult for me to swallow. I honestly believe this is a God given gift.

The point: I believe there are people out there who have a vision/dream of what they want to accomplish, it may be buried down deep or almost forgotten about, but if you dig around it's there. Almost everyone has a picture in their mind of a "preferred future" that they often think about, but rarely pursue after for a variety of reasons. My least favorite reason is "I already tried once" or it's cousin "it's already been tried". As Andy Stanley says that we often mistake our failure as the result of a bad vision, but often it was just a bad plan- nothing wrong with the vision.

What is it that you wish you could accomplish? What is it that you think "can't" change? Your marriage? Your church? Your relationship with Christ? Your relationship with a co-worker?

Maybe you gave up too easily! Maybe you need a little bit of that romantic spirit in your that stirs the emotion to believe that it really can change.

I do not believe the the power of positive thinking!

I believe if God is burdening something on your heart (that honors Him and is true to scripture- gotta qualify!!) that He also has the power to see it through. This does not have to do with your own ability, but your dependance on the Holy Spirit's power!

One of my favorite Pauline benedictions is "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21)

My favorite part is that God "...is able to do immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine..." When I dream big for my church- God dreams bigger! When I desire a great marriage- God desires a greater one! When I think I have big dreams- God's are bigger! And it is clear, He is able to do it!

I think we have enough realists, who are all to quick to point out the flaws, what we need are some more optimists, some more romantics, people who will make a true difference. Maybe it's time to start dreaming again and (for all the baseball fans) swing for the fence!