Five (5) Lessons I Learned from William Carey: Pioneer Missionary (this edition 2000) by E.A. Annett, Book Review

 

William Carey: Pioneer Missionary (this edition 2000) by E.A. Annett

Reading biographies of heroes of the faith like William Carey never fails to inspire me to continue to serve the Lord and stop complaining. As much I admire his accomplishments, I'm encouraged the most by his passion and perseverance amidst difficulties. If only young* people nowadays are exposed to great men and women of God of old (not perfect, of course) like Carey, William Tyndale, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Sung, Corrie Ten Boom, Catherine Booth, etc. and not to be soo obsessed with K-Pop idols, they will grow stronger in the faith and maturity in the mind. When today's depression causes many youngsters to self-destructive behavior, Charles H. Spurgeon, who was battling with depression until the end of his life, by the grace of God, was able to change the world of Christianity during his time and beyond. How do I know it's possible? Read Christian biographies.

Now, there are lots of things I can say about Mr. Carey and so many lessons I have learned. Let me briefly just share five (5) of them:

1) Evangelism: Winning Lost Souls for Christ. After his conversion, he grows rapidly. He studies the Scripture diligently and has a great interest ("fierce energy of love for the heathen") to reach the lost. One of his first book or booklet that he wrote to share his conviction for reaching the world outside England was entitled, An Enquiry Into the Obligation of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathen ("heathen" is an old word for the ungodly or pagans or unbelievers). The local church wasn't ready for this, but he was very persuasive about it and see to it that God's given-dream be done.

2) Calvinism: Theology on Fire. Now, to be clear, the book doesn't mention his Calvinistic view but simply said that he was a Baptist preacher in England before he went to India. Other biographers, however, stated that he was a devout Calvinist in the matters of a systematic approach to Biblical hermeneutics. And because of his high view of God's sovereignty, he sparked the people's consciousness about their responsibility to share the Gospel to the lost, when he preached a sermon from Isaiah 54:2-3. Two great principles were recorded from this sermon: "Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God." God alone can do it; God will enable us to do it.

3) Vision: Don't Give Up. From England to India; from a fairly good European life to poverty-stricken missionary life; from suspicious and reluctant support by the Baptist Missionary Society at home to doubtful locals of India; from unreliable partners at first to most faithful brothers (thank God!) like Joshua Marshman and William Ward. In all of these challenges and more, Carey doesn't give up. Only after 6-7 years of ministering tirelessly, then he and his friends saw the first fruits of conversion. Then, as they gain momentum, they started Serampore Mission school, college, and literature classes. When God gave the vision, don't give up... "attempt great things for God" (P.s: The cost of the vision also very heavy for Carey, especially for the family).

4) Bible: People Must Know God's Written Word. E.A. Annett writes: "In early days, while still engaged at his shoemaking, Carey hammered out his system of evangelization. With sanctified genius, he had recognized that the main instrument in the great work must be the Bible translated into the vernaculars of the peoples." With no formal education or any language-grammar training, Carey and his friends - the trio - learned the Indian languages through self-taught and by practice. They, together with Indian pundits, have translated the entire Bible and/or in part into 29+ languages and dialects. One time their printing house was on fire but the next day they started all over again. Just like Martin Luther and William Tyndale, when the people understand the Bible in their languages, reformation - spiritually and intellectually - will unavoidably happen. Such is the power of God's Word unleashed!

5) Humility: In the End, to God Be the Glory. Mr. Carey was the most industrious man. He teaches in the university, he translates the Bible daily, he preaches in the public, he trains new preachers, he studies always, he leading prayer meetings, he wrote letters, he wrote books and pamphlets, he devours every morning to reading and meditating, he defends and protects the Mission from the enemies (both from within and without), he loves to examine insects, birds, and plants, he takes care of his garden and more. Of course, as he gets older, he can't do most of these things. And yet, with all that he has done for God, he never takes off his eyes from the Lord, the One who has done everything through him. One day he responded to his guest, "Mr. Duff, you have been speaking about Dr. Carey, Dr. Carey; when I am gone say nothing about Dr. Carey - speak about Dr. Carey's Savior." Wow! In the little cemetery where he was buried, there is a simple inscription (chosen by himself) that say:

WILLIAM CAREY
Born August 17, 1761
Died June 9, 1834

"A wretched, poor and helpless worm,
On Thy kind arms I fall."

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The Power of Positive Leadership (2017) by Jon Gordon, Book Review

The Power of Positive Leadership: How and Why Positive Leaders Transform Teams and Organizations and Change the World (2017) by Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon is famous for his bestseller, The Energy Bus, his first book about a man whose life and career are in trouble until he learns great lessons from a unique bus driver and colorful passengers how to overcome adversity and be positive in his outlooks, leadership, relationship, and teamwork. The Energy Bus’s main character is based on Jon’s own life, and if you already read that book, you’ll appreciate this one because The Power of Positive Leadership is a book about how to turn from a negative zombie to a positive leader. As a leader, we will surely face obstacles, failures, and test daily and there are times when it seems as if everything in the world is turning against us. But take heart, we don’t have to be bitter and become losers. We can choose to be positive. “We are not positive because life is easy,” writes Jon Gordon, “We are positive because life can be hard.”

I love this one: “Positive leadership is not about fake positivity. It is the real stuff that makes great leaders great. Pessimists don’t change the world. Critics write words but they don’t write the future. Naysayers talk about problems but they don’t solve them. Throughout history, we see that it’s the optimists, the believers, the dreamers, the doers, and the positive leaders who change the world.” So true! I read lots of leadership books and dozens of biographies of the great (and worst) leaders and I never read about negative leaders who make the world a better place. There is no need for me to share what the research says about how positivity affects leadership, relationships, business, workplace, teamwork, emotional health, and productivity. The question is not WHY positive leadership is important, but HOW to be a positive leader. And so, with compelling stories (there are many good stories here), practical ideas and practices, Jon Gordon shares 9 Frameworks on how we can utilize and implement his positive leadership principles into action:

#1 Positive Leaders Drive Positive Cultures. “Culture is not just one thing. It’s everything” (Jon Gordon)

#2 Positive Leaders Create and Share a Positive Vision. “It is important to have a compelling vision and a comprehensive plan. Positive leadership – conveying the idea that there is always a way forward – is so important because that is what you are here for – to figure out how to move the organization forward” (Alan Mulally)

#3 Positive Leaders Lead with Optimism, Positivity and Belief. “The most important characteristic of a leader is optimism” (Bob Iger)

#4 Positive Leaders Confront, Transform and Remove Negativity. “Being positive won’t guarantee you’ll succeed but being negative will guarantee you won’t” (Jon Gordon)

#5 Positive Leaders Create United and Connected Teams. “It’s the leader’s ability to unite and connect people that truly creates great teams and organizations” (Jon Gordon)

#6 Positive Leaders Built Great Relationships and Teams. “Leadership comes down to taking care of the people in your organization and making them the best they can be, not giving up on them and never failing to be there for them” (Pete Carroll)

#7 Positive Leaders Pursue Excellence. “People think you have to choose between positivity and winning. You don’t have to choose. Positivity leads to winning” (Jon Gordon)

#8 Positive Leaders Lead with Purpose. “We don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it” (Jon Gordon). This is my favorite quote!

#9 Positive Leaders Have Grit. “The number one predictor and factor of success is not talent, title, wealth or appearance. It is grit!” (Jon Gordon)

When I first read the title of this book, I think of Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. While positive thinking will help me in my personal life, positive leadership will not only impact my own but also others’ lives such as my family, friends, Bible Study group, team and organization. As Jon Gordon ends this book, he writes, “When you become a positive leader, you will not only make yourself better, but you will also make everyone around you better – and that’s a great place to start!” I fully recommend this book not only to professionals and business leaders but to anyone who wants to be 1% more better every day. I also recommend that you subscribe to Jon Gordon’s Positive University Podcast too.  

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

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You Can, You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner (2014) by Joel Osteen, Book Review

You Can, You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner (2014) by Joel Osteen

"There is a winner in you. You were created to be successful, to accomplish your goals, to leave your mark on this generation. You have greatness in you. The key is to get it out," writes Joel Osteen, a beloved smiling pastor and also a controversial preacher of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. I first encounter with Joel Osteen while listening to his sermons through Podcast a few years ago. I like it because his messages are very uplifting and encouraging. They are great to listen to during my walking exercise. With his southern slang, I can hear his sincerity, positivity and love for the people. Joel is very consistent in his speaking and writing. Because I listened to Joel on YouTube too for a couple of times, I can hear his intonations and imagine his movements when I read this book. I enjoy reading it.

Long-Note: Let me share with you what I think about Joel Osteen because there are people – both well-meaning people and pure haters alike – warned about him and labelled him as preaching the health and wealth gospel or simply known as the prosperity gospel. Is it true? YES. As Christians, we all should be alert and guard ourselves against false teachers and false teachings. I'm not in ignorance, I fully aware of it. But I have this principle in my reading: Read widely and apply critical thinking (I've read half a dozen of books on atheism, but I'm still a Christ-follower today. I learned a great deal from those books). When I read and listen to Joel Osteen, I'm not coming to him for Biblical teachings and the Word expositions. I consider him as motivational speaker, period (the Lakewood Church might call him ‘pastor' and ‘preacher' but I don't call him with these titles). Not everyone can do it, I admit, but I'm very good with compartmentalizing each book/author into categories. Joel Osteen, to me, is in the same category as Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Les Brown, etc. In short: Joel Osteen is a good Christian motivational speaker but a bad gospel preacher. His message is more like Napoleon Hill rather than like Andrew Murray. If you're a Christian, I would like to suggest that you treat this book as an inspirational or motivational or self-help book and I can assure you that you can learn some valuable lessons from it.

Okay, about the book, You Can You Will, Joel Osteen believes that we are all a winner. "Winning is in your DNA," he writes, "and it's about to come out in a greater way. You may have had some victories in the past, but you haven't seen anything yet." To reach your potential and achieve new levels of success in your life, he outlines Eight (8) Qualities that Every Winner Must Have, namely:

#1 Keep Your Vision in Front of You. Dare to dream big dreams. This might trigger theological alert, fairly so, but I share this quote anyway: "If you keep the vision in front of you and don't get talked out of it, but just keep honouring God, being your best, thanking Him that it's on the way, God will supersize whatever you're believing for. He'll do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond." If you keep your vision in front of you, you'll move forward.

#2 Run Your Race. Focus on your unique course and goals. "The scripture talks about those who loved the praise of people more than the praise of God. One of the tests we all have to pass is when someone in our lives that we respect and look up to – a boss, a friend, a colleague, a relative – wants us to go to one direction when we know in our hearts that we should take another path." Be secure enough in who you are that you don't live to please people says Osteen. Run your race.

#3 Expect Good Things. Anticipate great opportunities. Read this motivational quote: "Our expectations set the limits for our lives. If you expect little, you're going to receive little. If you don't anticipate things to get better, then they won't. But if you expect more favour, more good breaks, a promotion, and an increase, then you will see new levels of favour and success."

#4 Have a Positive Mindset. Take control of your thoughts and attitudes. "Daniel and Joseph were good people, but they had bad circumstances," explains Osteen. "Unfair things happened to them. They were mistreated and faced huge obstacles. If you study their lives, you'll find one common denominator: They were always positive. They had this attitude of faith… they started each day with their minds going in the right direction, knowing that our God is well able."

#5 Commit to Excellence. Do your best and maintain high standards. "When you have a spirit of excellence, you do your best whether anyone is watching or not. You go the extra mile. You do more than you have to." I love the story when Joel struggled to either pick up trash that flew about 15 feet away due to the wind or left it there. He chooses to pick it up and little that he knows that there were people watching the whole thing. "When you are excellent, your life gives praise to God. That's one of the best witnesses you can have. Some people will never go to church. They never listen to a sermon. They're not reading the Bible. Instead, they're reading your life. They are watching how you live… You're representing almighty God." 

#6 Keep Growing. Be proactive, be intentional, build on your gifts, and continually improve. This is powerful: "Young people often get caught up in trying to be popular instead of trying to be their best." Decide to grow in some way every day.

#7 Serve Others. This is one of my favourite chapters! Invest yourself in others. "Jesus pulled out His towel, bowed down and washed [the disciple's] feet one by one. He gave us His example of service to others so we would know you're never too important to be good to people. You're never too successful. You're never too high to bow down low and serve another person." Love this phrase: You're never too important to be good to people.

#8 Stay Passionate. Light the fire within and approach life with enthusiasm. "If you want to stay passionate, you have to stay productive. You have to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. When you're not producing, you're not growing. You may retire from your job, but don't ever retire from life. Stay busy." The word passionate is similar to the word enthusiasm which comes from the Greek word ‘entheos.' ‘Theos' is a term for ‘God.' So, when you're enthusiastic, you are full of God!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

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Angelus' Quote: Leaders Turn a Vision Into Reality

Leaders turn a vision into reality. Currently, I'm reading a book The Leader In You and I find that this short story is fascinating. Mother Teresa was a young Catholic nun, teaching high school in an upper-middle-class section of Calcutta, India. But she kept looking out the window and seeing the lepers on the street.

"I saw fear in their eyes,” she said. "The fear they would never be loved, the fear they would never get adequate medical attention." She could not shake that fear out of her mind. She knew she had to leave the comfort and security of the convent, go out into the streets and set up homes for the lepers and the poor of the poorest. Over the years, Mother Teresa and the people of Missionaries of Charity have cared for more than 149,000 (as 1993) people with leprosy, depending on medical attention and unconditional love.

Mother Teresa as an example of a leader? Why not? She makes things happen, she turns a vision into reality and leads thousands of volunteers to love the unloved. That's leadership! 😇😉❤ #ServeToLead

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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6 Attributes of a Followable Leader from Erika Andersen's Leading So People Will Follow (BOOK REVIEW)

Leading So People Will Follow (2012) by Erika Andersen

"We want good leaders. We crave good leaders. We're hungry for good, worthy, followable leaders in every part of our lives," writes Erika Andersen, a leadership coach and founder of Proteus International and popular Forbes blogger. "We have a deeply wired-in need for leaders who will guide us well and safely; who care more about the success of the enterprise than about their comfort; who call out our best and take full advantage of who we are. And we long to be that kind of leader as well – to evoke that ‘I'm with you – let's go!' response from those who work with and for us." In short, this book is about how to be a truly "followable" leader, one who can build, sustain and grow strong teams and companies in the ever-changing environment today.

I thanks Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, state library, for making this book available for me to borrow. This book is simple, easy to read, very instructive and although no new core lessons that I learned, I find that Erika's examples and the applications part are very helpful and valuable (there are Try It section in most chapters). I also love how Erika used the examples of not-so-well-known leaders in this book. I can connect with them as oppose to larger-than-life-kind of leaders. Erika is very creative because she links how humans are so fascinated with folktales and "what to look for and accept in those who lead our day-to-day." She writes her own short folktale story, studies hundreds of leader stories and shows to the readers how The Six (6) Leadership Key Attributes can make one be the kind of leader whom others would follow. A followable leader is:

#1 FARSIGHTED. To be a far-sight leader is to "envision a possible future that responds to and resonates with people's aspirations for their individual and collective success." Leaders who are farsighted see possible futures that are good for the team and company; able to articulate the vision in a compelling and inclusive way ("we" instead of "I" and with confidence); model their vision by live it; see past obstacles by being realistic but don't allow those obstacles to overwhelm them; and have the power of persuasion to invite others to participate in the vision. If everyone knows their missions, everyone is committed.

#2 PASSIONATE. Why do we want to follow a passionate leader? Because we want to feel that he or she will stick with us. It inspires loyalty. That's why I think passion is very important for a leader. Leaders who are passionate commit honestly; make a clear case without being dogmatic; invite real dialogue about their passion with openness; act in support of their passion, they walk the talk; and stay committed despite adversity and setbacks. "When difficulties arise, passionate leaders hold to their principles and find a way forward," write Erika.

#3 COURAGEOUS. Erika observes, "People need courageous leaders to know that someone will make the tough calls and take responsibility for them." If not, "people feel as though they need to protect themselves." That's not good. courageous leaders make necessary, tough choices; put themselves at risk for the good of the team and company even when it may threaten their success; do things that are personally difficult, uncomfortable or frightening; take responsibility for their actions (this is a must!); and admit mistakes and apologize when they are in the wrong.

#4 WISE. The quality of wisdom balances the forward motion of farsightedness, passion and courage. Erika mentions, "When leaders are wise, we see that they're considering our welfare and that they'll do their best to make sure that the enterprise succeeds in a way that supports the success of the greatest possible number of us, their followers." Wise leaders are deeply curious, they listen not just to understand but to empathize; they assess situations objectively and as accurate as possible (in Erika's term "fair witness"); they reflect on and learn from their experiences especially their failures; see patterns and share their insights with others; and act based on what they believe is morally right (on morality, Erika points that leaders "are clear about their moral code, and they live by it." Mostly refers to ethics and common sense morality).

#5 GENEROUS. To be a generous leader, Erika points out that it is more than just being generous in the general term but also, especially "with power." This is a much-needed attribute for leaders today. Thank you, Erika, for emphasized on this side of leadership! Leaders who display this attribute assume positive intent in others, think good of others unless can be proven otherwise; they share power and authority by giving more autonomy, influence, responsibility and support; they share what they know – the information, knowledge and resources – needed for the job and for others to succeed; and they are generous in giving credit, praise and reward.

#6 TRUSTWORTHY. Trust is the bottom line. Period. I would like to recommend a book by Stephen M. R. Covey, The Speed of Trust on this subject, why character and competence are very important for leaders to gain trust from others. Erika sees the crucial importance of trust when she writes, "We may follow a leader who lacks farsightedness or wisdom if we sense that he or she is working to develop that attribute, but we hesitate to commit to any leader we can't trust." True. Trustworthy leaders tell the truth as they understand it; do what they say they will do; keep confidences and very vigorous about discretion; speak and act for the greater good with integrity; and are capable to get results because of their skills and experience to do the job, competent.

For the last two chapters, Erika suggests that we should get help from others or to use her chapter title, get "Friends for the Journey." Why? Because leadership is about the survival of the whole, it's about people. Being an effective leader not only requires the support OF others; it requires support FROM others. Wow, thanks, Erika Andersen!

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5 Teamwork Lessons from the Penguins of Madagascar (Angelus Leadership Video)

I love these Penguins of Madagascar! When I watched movies of them, I see great examples of leadership and teamwork: 1) Skipper, the leader of the penguins always devises tactics and gives orders; 2) Rico, the team's weapons and explosives specialist; 3) Kowalski, acts as the group strategist and gadgeteer; 4) Private, the youngest and most emotionally sensitive member. He tends to take things simpler. As you watch the video, here are 5 lessons of teamwork that I learned:

#1 Learn to Communicate Well with Each Other’s

#2 Set Clear Vision, Mission and Goals

#3 Clarify Roles and Responsibilities

#4 Celebrate Success as a Team

#5 Overcome or Eliminate Negativity!

_______________

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Great Leaders Use the Power of Dreams (Angelus Leadership Video)

I love to read biographies of leaders and leadership books. I have found that great leaders use the power of dreams! As Martin Luther King Jr's said so famously in his speech, “Dreams are at the center of any effort to make things better.”

And so I share my dream with you: "I have a dream that you will be inspired to THINK BIG, START SMALL and GO DEEP in your life through Leadership, Readership and Creativity."

Btw, listen to Martin Luther Jr's famous speech in this video (3.30 minutes).

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Angelus' Quote: The Ability to LEAD Others

Roy B. Zuck, the author of The Speaker's Quote Book (2009), writes about studies of people in business and industry who have achieved success show that four (4) factors are almost always present. They are:

1) The ability to think

2) An inner drive and love of work

3) The capacity to assume responsibility

4) The ability to LEAD

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Play the Man: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be (2017) by Mark Batterson, Book Review

Play the Man: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be (2017)
by Mark Batterson

Before I read it, when I first saw the title of this book, it reminds me of many Bible verses such as 2 Samuel 10:12 where Joab told Abishai, “Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people…”; 1 Kings 2:2 when David encouraged Solomon to “be strong and act like a man…”; and 1 Corinthians 16:13 as Paul reminded the Christian men at Corinth to “be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men…” It also reminds me of the Church fathers such as Polycarp when he was about to be executed a voice from heaven said to him, “Be strong, Polycarp. Play the man.” When Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer were also persecuted for their faith, Cranmer said to Ridley for the last time, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man.” Play the man, act like a man, being a man. I’m so pumped up by the title of this book that I bought it without first browsing it through. To buy the book (and desire to read it), I thought, is already a manly act!

Play the man. Somewhere along the way, our culture – even our churches – has lost its definition of manhood, leaving generations of men and men-to-be confused about their roles, responsibilities, relationships, and the reason God made us men. “The white noise of cultural confusion coupled with the deafening silence of the church has left us insecure and unsure of our manhood,” observes Mark Batterson. “So we settle for something far less than what God originally intended.” It’s in this much-needed message that Batterson declares his mantra for manhood, one that we all men must aspire to act: Play the man! “When you play the man,” he writes, “you are lighting a candle for the next generation – a candle that shall never be put out.” Oh, where are men of God today?

Batterson from the beginning mention that Jesus Christ is the archetype of manhood (or manliness), “He is the Lamb of God and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He is a gentle Jesus, meek and mild. But meek isn’t weak, and Jesus definitely had a wild side! He was tough as nails, seven-inch nails that pierced His hands and feet. But He was also man enough to cry.” He continues, “Jesus is an enigma, the Enigma, and that is because He was fully God, fully man. Yes, He is the omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent Son of God. But for 33 years, Jesus played the man… Like us, He had to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. And He had to discover His destiny, His identity, and His masculinity. Of course, after discovering it, He defined it.” Once that is established, Batterson then lists down Seven (7) Virtues of Manhood where he creatively unveiled it one by one through Biblical, personal and historical perspectives and stories. What I like about Mark is that he writes with such scholarly-passionate, humorously-serious, practically-doable, and theologically-clear. Right after I finished reading this book, I prayed:

Lord, by Your grace, I want to play the man!

This 200 pages book is divided into 2 parts and 10 chapters:

Part 1 Play the Man: The Seven Virtues

1 Tough as Nails: Virtue #1 Tough Love

2 A Gentleman and a Scholar: Virtue #2 Childlike Wander

3 Unbroken: Virtue #3 Will Power

4 The Three-Headed Dragon: Virtue #4 Raw Passion

5 Sockdolager: Virtue #5 True Grit

6 Born for the Storm: Virtue #6 Clear Vision

7 Call of Duty: Virtue #7 Moral Courage

Part 2 Make the Man: The Rite of Passage

8 No Man’s Land

9 The Discipleship Covenant

10 The Rite of Passage

I wish every man to read this book or at least this kind of book on manhood – books that are written by men for men. But that in itself is very challenging. Why? Because most men didn’t like to read books… Maybe the first virtue should be #1 Teachable or Learner.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Other books on Manhood that I’ve review and recommend:

#1 Finishing Strong: Going the Distance for Your Family (1995) by Steve Farrar (http://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2018/07/finishing-strong-going-distance-for.html)

#2 Tender Warrior: God's Intention For a Man (1993) by Stu Weber (http://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2018/07/tender-warrior-gods-intention-for-man.html)

#3 Tough and Tender: What Every Woman Wants In a Man (1981) by Joyce Landorf (https://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2018/06/tough-and-tender-what-every-woman-wants.html)

#4 Healing the Masculine Soul: How God Restores Men to Real Manhood (1988, 2003) by Gordon Dalbey (https://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2018/04/healing-masculine-soul-how-god-restores.html)

#5 Book Review: Wild at Heart, Discovering the Secret of A Man's Soul (2001) by John Eldredge (https://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-wild-at-heart-discovering.html)

#6 The Hidden Value of a Man: The Incredible Impact of a Man on His Family (1992) by Gary Smalley and John Trent (https://richardangelus.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-hidden-value-of-man-1992-by.html) 

Self-Leadership #15 The Power of Mission Statement

What is your organization or business or group about? Why is your product or service worth buying? Who cares about your organization, and why? What do your group believe in? What's indispensable? Where are your team going?

To answer these kinds of core questions, you need to look at your mission. A mission is your organization's reason to exit. It's who you are, what you do, and why you do it. It's what makes you unique. It's why you've all agreed to work together in a common cause. Without a mission, you have no basis upon which to formulate your vision. “A mission statement is not something you write overnight,” write Stephen R. Covey, “but fundamentally, your mission statement becomes your constitution, the solid expression of your vision and values. It becomes the criterion by which you measure everything else in your life [or organization, business or group]”

All of your organization's practices and decisions should correspond to the mission. If a proposed tactic or strategy (or in the case of Bible Study group, which is in my mind now, if the activity and teaching) is not in keeping with the mission, you don't do it – period. The mission is the standard against which everyone's actions are or should be measured. Therefore, the mission must be clearly stated and that everyone in the organization must be prepared and willing to live by the mission. Ryuho Okawa observed, “The bigger your mission becomes, the greater inspiration you will be given." Here are some examples of mission-statement from FES Malaysia, a non-profit Christian organization that I work in; DUG DOWN DEEP, my weekly Bible Study group; and Richard Angelus' Thought, my blog:

Organization/Group	Mission
FES Malaysia	Changing Students for Life that they will impact society, church, family, and campuses
DUG DOWN DEEP	To read and study the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation – and to apply the truths in our lives
Richard Angelus' Thought	To inspired readers to THINK BIG, START SMALL, and GO DEEP

Sometimes the mission can be threatening to a leader. Total commitment to the mission means that there are real limits on the leader's authority. If the leader issues orders or planned a project that bypasses or conflicted with the mission, the members of the organization or group are obligated to protect the mission against the leader (of course, this is easier said than done…).

Don't underestimate the power of mission statement. Mahatma Gandhi eloquently puts it this way: "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of human history." So, what is your mission?

Here are three (3) ways to use your mission:

#1 Create a Shared Vision: Good leaders share the vision-creating task to broaden the base of ownership, to generate commitment, and to reduce the level of threat inherent in the planned change.

#2 Link Goals to Purpose: In a healthy organization, all key decisions are put through the screen of the mission. If a proposed goal doesn't support the mission, change course.

#3 Align Your Values: The leader's challenge is to bring stated and practiced values into alignment. The failure to do so leads to organizational cynicism “We say it, but we sure don't do it!” and undercuts the leader's moral authority and credibility.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Book Review: Spurgeon on Leadership (2010) by Larry J. Michael

Spurgeon on Leadership: Key Insights for Christian Leaders from the Prince of Preachers
(2003, 2010) by Larry J. Michael

Reading biographies – Christian biographies, especially – is one of the best decision I ever made and habit that I will keep for a lifetime. Philip Brooks, preacher, and author, said, "A biography is, indeed, a book; but far more than a book, it is a man… Never lay the biography down until the man is a living, breathing, acting person to you." We who are in the ministry – of all people – ought to read biographies. We minister to real people, and the better we understand great men and their times, the better we can minister to our people in our times. A truly good biography of a great person "has a universal quality about it that makes it touch life at many points," observed Warren W. Wiersbe.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), well-known British’s 19th-century preacher, though I never met him, is my spiritual mentor. Since I read two of his awesome biographies Spurgeon: A New Biography (1984) by Arnold Dallimore and Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preacher (1997) edited by Dan Harmon, my respect, and admiration for him ever increases. It was intensified by my reading of Spurgeon Gold (2005) collection of quotes compiled by Ray Comfort and a huge volume of The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon: Selected Books, Sermons and Other Writings (2009) edited by Daniel Partner which is over 1,391 pages! Many great preachers today also admire Spurgeon, men like John MacArthur [in his book Ashamed of the Gospel, MacArthur warned the church today not to be like the world. He uses the life of Spurgeon as an example of a faithful preacher of Christ] and John Piper for examples [he preached and wrote a book entitled Charles Spurgeon: Preaching Through Adversity]. Spurgeon is my spiritual mentor and his life is an inspiration for me. I never dream of becoming like him – far from it – because as Philip Brooks advice, "The object of reading biography… is not imitation but inspiration." Oh yes, an inspiration indeed!

Because of this, I rejoice gladly and read with great interest this book by Larry J. Michael. You can't separate Charles Spurgeon, pastor of the first megachurch in church history, from his excellent leadership. Beside pastored a megachurch, he also began a college to train pastors, founded an orphanage, instituted countless charitable organizations, sending missionaries, and bless other churches through his preaching, publishing books and book ministry for not-well-to-do pastors. No doubt among churches today this type of leader is in high demand, and Spurgeon's leadership style and innovations provide a challenging model. Rich Warren writes, "Spurgeon's model of leadership has profoundly influenced my life and ministry." Tom. S. Rainer agrees, "In every generation as few leaders emerge to set the pace and established the standards for leadership. [C.H. Spurgeon] was definitely one of these great leaders." John C. Maxwell simply says, "I highly recommend this book to all serious students of leadership!"

Here Michael points out not merely the insights of what it means to be an influential leader but also important fundamentals such as Christian commitment and moral character. Moreover, he shows how Spurgeon demonstrated extreme courage and conviction for those principles and how, in the various controversies that surrounded his ministry, he rose to meet them with a genuine sense of Christian maturity and Biblical constancy. Michael also stresses important characteristics such as grasping a vision for the task and prioritizing one's ministry in both the setting and the context of pastoral compassion and leadership. He also highlights Spurgeon as Christian model for both his staff, church members, and – especially for his family. Here too Michael does not exclude the fact that leadership often entails suffering and that was where Spurgeon truly ascended to the heights of leadership (besides physical illnesses, he also suffered depression). This book officially becomes my favorite leadership book!

It is divided into 3 parts and each cover leadership insights that are both historical in its context and practical for today's applications:

Part 1: The Leader for All Seasons

#1 Competence: Developing and Demonstrating Leadership

#2 Confidence: Balancing Faith, Attitude, Initiative, and Humility

#3 Context: Spurgeon in Victorian England

#4 Calling: Conversion and Growth

#5 Character: An Example of Integrity

Part 2: Leading Through the Seasons

#6 Casting Vision: Spurgeon's Goals and Planning

#7 Courage: Standing for Righteousness, Scripture, and Sound Teaching

#8 Commitment: Teaching and Modelling Devotion to Family

#9 Creativity: Preaching, Methods, and Ministry Innovations

#10 Compassion: Personal Toughness and Pastoral Tenderness

#11 Compass: Leading Despite Criticism and Conflict

#12 Coping: Dealing with Illness and Depression

Part 3: Applying the Lessons of a Leader

#13 A Leader for the World in Crisis

#14 A Leader for the Daily Challenge

Do you know why Spurgeon was such a great leader? For your information, he didn't go to any theological school (huh, I’m glad). Humanly speaking, he was self-taught. This is his theology and how he became a great man of God: "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is my Lord!" he exclaimed. With Lord Jesus Christ as his Master, only Master, everyone including Spurgeon is nothing but the humble servant of God. He first a follower of Jesus, then only he is a leader of men. Keep this in mind.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

John C. Maxwell on Leadership #19 Listen to The Voices of Vision

Where does vision come from? To find the vision that is indispensable to leadership, you have to become a good listener. You must listen to several voices.

The Inner Voice: Vision starts within. Do you know your life’s mission? What stirs your heart? What do you dream about? If what you’re pursuing in life doesn’t come from a desire within – from the very depths of who you are and what you believe – you will not be able to accomplish it.

The Unhappy Voice: Where does inspiration for great ideas come from? From noticing what doesn’t work. Discontent with the status quo is a great catalyst for vision. Are you on complacent cruise control? Or do you find yourself itching to change your world? No great leader in history has fought to prevent change.

The Successful Voice: Nobody can accomplish great things alone. To fulfill a big vision, you need a good team. But you also need good advice from someone who is ahead of you on the leadership journey. If you want to lead others to greatness, find a mentor. Do you have an advisor who can help you sharpen your vision?

The Higher Voice: Although it’s true that your vision must come from within, you shouldn’t let it be confined by your limited capabilities. A truly valuable vision must have God in it. Only He knows your full capabilities. Have you looked beyond yourself, even beyond your own lifetime, as you’ve sought your vision? If not, you may be missing your true potential and life’s best for you.

[Taken from The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow (1999) by John C. Maxwell. Published by Thomas Nelson]

As a leader, are you listening not only to people but

Also to these other important voices?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Leadership #25 Give Others Vision of Something Larger Than Themselves

Jesus walked up to the fishermen and said, “Come follow me and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19, NIV). They dropped their nets and followed Him. He met a woman at a well and said follow Me and you “will never thirst” again. She dropped her water jar and ran to get all of her neighbors (see John 4). History repeatedly has shown that people are hunger for something larger than themselves. Leaders who offer that will have no shortages of followers. In fact, higher purpose is such a vital ingredient to the human needs that the Scripture says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV).

Studies show that people will work harder and longer on projects when they understand the overall significance of their individual contribution. There was one experiment done to airplane workers. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 simply did what they were told to do, while group 2 were taken to the engineering lab and shown how their particular pieces were part of a magnificent jet that would fly higher and faster than any jet had ever flown before. Without any additional incentive, group 2 members’ productivity soared. They knew how important their contribution was to a larger plan.

When I was a teenager, I always wanted to climb a high wall in the neighborhood to steal some fruits. It wasn’t that high but not short either. One day, an angry dog chasing me and with a jolt of power, miraculously I climbed the wall effortlessly! I’ve read about a skinny mother in the newspaper who suddenly have a superhuman strength to lift a big motorbike off a fallen child during an accident. And about a young man who leaps into flames to save a kid. These events may seem extraordinary and dramatic but they demonstrate an important fact: When we are called to do something beyond our known capabilities when we’re forced to do our best – a sudden energy comes to our aids. Leaders can tap into this potential by showing others the long-lasting significance of what they are doing.

Jesus clearly and consistently conveyed to His disciples the significance of what they were doing. He spoke long and often about the calling, mission, and vision of God’s Kingdom and they could feel and know the long-lasting benefits of their work with and for Him. They were making an eternal difference in the lives of many people. They were serving God for something beyond themselves. Every one of us has this deep human need in us that requires purpose and vision of something larger than ourselves. Jesus – and as leaders, we should – gave His followers God-kingdom’s vision.

As a Leader, What is Your Higher Vision?

How Can You Communicate this Vision to Your Followers?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Self-Leadership #5 Think Big Picture

Once you’ve begun to know yourself, the next step is to make sure that everything you do is directed to the successful completion of your goals.

Vince Lombardi, a celebrated football coach, was completely devoted to making his teams successful. He didn’t tolerate outside interests interfering with his players’ dedication to their game and certainly wouldn’t have put himself in that situation. As the Packers’ general manager, he ran a tight ship and he ran it conservatively. He dominated the Packers’ executive board.

Lombardi found ways to compensate in areas where he didn’t have much experience especially at the outset of his professional coaching career. He was an effective delegator and he didn’t hesitate to ask questions when he didn’t understand something – one sign of a confident leader – and he didn’t tolerate answers that he considered half-baked. He ran tight agenda-driven meetings which began and ended on schedule (I need more discipline to do that!).

All of these effective strategies allowed him to focus on the one overarching mission – winning football games. Victory on the field - or any field of leadership – is in part the outgrowth of a complete understanding of the leader’s vision and strengths. And every part of the organization must be focused on this big picture.

This doesn’t mean that the big picture doesn’t change as the competitive environment changes. In fact, the ongoing viability of an organization or group depends on the adaptation of its mission to the current climate. But the big picture must not be affected by minor setbacks or problems.

Consider the following to keep the big picture in the forefront of your consciousness for you and your organization/team:

Link Goal to Vision: Goals must be anchored in conviction. Make sure that your goals are closely linked to your mission; if they aren’t, it will be too easy to throw them overboard at the first sign of adversity.

Change with the Competitive Environment: The long-term viability of an organization/team depends on its ability to adapt to a changing environment. Sooner or later, your product will become obsolete. If you’re not ready to take advantage of that moment, somebody will.

Don’t Be Swayed by Minor Setbacks: Don’t confuse minor shifts with major changes. A bump in the road can – and should – be navigated without major rerouting.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.