Jesus' Leadership #5 Willingness to Look Foolish

What does each of these characters have in common?

§  A deluded engineer

§  A magician

§  A waiter

§  A nudist

§  A beggar

§  A lunatic

§  A harem girl

§  An improper woman

§  A blasphemer

[Think about it for 15 seconds without scrolling down]

These were roles assumed or assigned to the following:

§  Noah (designed and built the ark in the middles of a desert)

§  Moses (turned water into blood)

§  Nehemiah (was cupbearer to a king)

§  Isaiah (went naked for three years)

§  Elijah (had to ask a widow for food)

§  King David (acted insane to escape his captors)

§  Queen Esther (made her way to the top of the king’s list)

§  Mary (conceived a child before proper marriage)

§  Jesus (claimed to be equal to God)

God had little use for people whose main concern is “What will the neighbors think?” Leaders must willing to sacrifice and take risks with their public image.

Jesus was willing to look foolish. And this was the key to his success as the leader. Coming into town on a donkey, having to fish to pay your taxes, and forgetting to bring extra wine during (probably one of his family’s) wedding party. Crying like a rejected lover, passing out invitations to a feast that largely go unanswered, having to stand on front porches and knock hardly sounds like a job description for a king. Before and at the Cross, Jesus being laughed and mocked at.

Godly leaders cannot be afraid to look foolish. We must keep to the plan that we vaguely sense but that only God can see.

Are you willing to look foolish as a leader?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Leadership #4 Don't Waste Time Judge Others

Jesus saw judging others as a major energy leak. He stated many times that he did not come to judge but that he came to help. He did not spend one minute on the demolition crew. He spent his energy on creation and restoration. Judging others was not his job. He said, “I do not judge you. Your own words judge you” (John 5:45). He knew our accountability. He trusted each of us with our choices [Jesus will come as the Judge. Yes, Jesus doesn’t say absolutely don’t judge, but to judge rightly. He rightly judged the teachers of the Law and Pharisees. Most of our judgement, however, is wrong judgment: destructive and self-centered. Here we are talking about the negative, wrong judgment].

Judgment halts progress. When we as leaders judge others, we inhibit our own forward motion. Also, when we judge others, we are not doing our job because we are not in sync with the purpose that moves us forward. Sometimes we judge others in ways we are unaware of, such as looking to see where they are in the race.

Jesus said to Peter, “What business is it of yours what I say to John?” (see John 21:21-22). Keep your eyes on your own forward motion.

He judged no one because he knew the final count was not in yet. Even the thief nailed on the cross beside him made it into Paradise because, with his dying breath, he acknowledged and saw the truth. Jesus said, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (see Luke 23:40-43). Jesus did not waste his time or energy judging others.

What kinds of things can you do to support instead of a judge?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Leadership #3 Sense of Ownership

Ownership is an interesting and elusive concept because it implies a permanent state of possession. Yet all things, even life itself, are only on loan to us. Author and management consultant Ken Blanchard says that visionary leaders are those who view life’s resources as being on loan to them, while more limited thinkers are still in an acquisition mode.

I wonder if God whispered, “The entire world is yours” to Jesus as he sent him into the world. Jesus clearly demonstrated a sense of ownership of all things. Whether the need was a donkey to carry him into town, an upper room to pray in, wine for a wedding, or even coins to pay Caesar’s tax, Jesus did not consider himself as a beggar king. He used his divine sense of ownership to create the goods he needed when he needed them. And many times what he needed was delivered through the generosity and willingness of those he served.

In the Garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve, “I give you all this. Take care of it” (Genesis 1:26). He told Abraham the same thing, “All of this land is yours” (Genesis 13:17). Jesus described himself in one parable as the ‘Husbandman’ who had been sent to take care of the vineyard. He looked at the world and the people in it as his responsibility, his inheritance, and his heritage. The whole universe was his and he knew it. Perhaps that is one reason why the people called him “King” (besides he deserved it). It was the way he looked at the world and carried himself in it.

Jesus said, “All that the Father has is mine” (John 17:10). Every galaxy, every new born sheep, every fish leaping into the net, all that the Father had was his, and he knew it. He “owned it.”

If only each of us – Christ’s disciples – could get a good look at the heavenly “deed” written in our name. If only we could study it and know our inheritance by heart, we would walk on this planet a different way. With more gentleness, perhaps, and more certainty and power. In order to own a gift you must first receive it. Jesus had power because he “owned” it.

Do you have the mind-set and attitude of ownership?

In Christ, how can you use it for the greater good? With authority and humility?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' leadership #2 Always In A State of Celebrations

Perhaps Jesus loved celebrations so much because he was born at a party. I believe any event that has heavenly light show, people bearing gifts from distant places, and a host of angels singing and giving directions is a celebration of major proportions. It must have made an impact on him.

One of his first miracles was to turn water into wine (not vinegar). As his fame and popularity grew, he was constantly invited to dinner at Nicodemus’s or Peter’s or rich young people’s houses. The night before he was arrested, he gathered his disciples together to sing songs and dine.

When crowds came, Jesus was adamant that nobody leave with an empty stomach. He always managed to locate food for them. He turned one boy’s lunch into food for thousands. He told stories of a king who arranged a banquet and then got angry and disappointed when nobody came. He spoke of a father throwing a lavish party to celebrate a wayward son’s return. When Jesus returned from the dead, he prepared a fish barbecue on the shore – sort of a “team picnic.”

He came from a very happy place, and he knew he was returning to a very happy place. When he said, “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20), perhaps he saw a party coming on. Indeed, his invitations read “I go prepare a place [setting] for you” (John 14:2). I think he is telling us to lighten up. “Why do you worry so?” he would ask. “Don’t you see the flowers… how beautiful they are? Do you think your Father is going to let you wear less than these?”

A 10 years old once asked Beth Jones if she knew what Jesus’ first words were after he came out of the tomb. “No,” she replied. “What were they?” He spread his arms, jumped forward with a grin, and said, “Ta-dah!” Jesus was constantly in a state of celebration.

Do you celebrate only the big things?

What are some small things to celebrate?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

*Taken from Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership (1995) by Laurie Beth Jones without permission. I have added Bible verses, cut and modified some material for smooth, short and comprehensive reading.

Jesus' Leadership #1 Do the Difficult Things

One definition of a professional is a person who does things even when she or he does not feel like doing them (probably similar to ‘integrity’). In other words, a professional is not blown about the winds of the moment. Professionals stay focused on the successful accomplishment of their mission and do difficult things.

Many charismatic and popular leaders get into trouble when they cease doing the difficult things in order to win approval or be liked. Politicians who depend on opinion polls to determine their actions do not last very long as leaders. Unfortunately, if you run your management program based on opinion polls or popularity contests, you will not last long as a leader. “The tendency of the masses is toward mediocrity,” said Aldous Huxley, and opinion polls are very poor sources of vision. Failing to do the difficult thing eventually will get you in trouble… Doing the difficult things means not letting public opinion sway you from what your heart, gut, instinct or the Spirit is telling you.

Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem. He sensed danger there, and he was right. However, Jesus knew it was part of a larger Plan. So, he “set his face towards Jerusalem” (Isaiah 50:7) even knowing the consequences.

Perhaps the true mark of a leader is that she or he is willing to stand alone. It must have been difficult for Jesus to say no to people. the whole essence of his being seemed to say yes. But he did say no. he said no to the ambitious young man who wanted to follow him. He said no to his mother when she was trying to interrupt his teaching. He said no to Judas about turning to politics. He said no to temptation in the wilderness. He said no, at times, to himself: “No, I will not run from this, I will drink the cup that is placed before me” (see John 18:11).

Leaders must have not only vision and communication skills but also tremendous personal resolve. While leaders attract followers, at any moment they must be able to walk away from them, lest they become followers themselves. Jesus did difficult things.

Are you willing to do them,

even if it means standing alone?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Simple Book Review: "Sherlock: Permainan Agung" (2010)

Sherlock: Permainan Agung (2010)
diterbitkan oleh Kadokawa Gempak Starz Sdn Bhd

Ini ialah komik Sherlock dalam bahasa Malaysia (mereka tulis 'Bahasa Melayu', salah tu) yang diadaptasi dari manga Jepun. Semuanya ada tiga buku yang saya lihat dijual di kedai-kedai buku tempatan setakat ini. Kalau kamu pernah menonton BBC Sherlock Series, kamu pasti pernah melihat "The Great Games" season 1 episode 3. Jadi, bila saya membaca komik ini, saya dapat membanyakkan cabaran, emosi dan konflik. Best! Sherlock Holmes, John Watson dan... Jim Moriarty

Banyak dialog yang saya suka dalam komik ini, tapi yang paling saya suka ialah bila Dr. Watson hairan kenapa Sherlock tidak tahu tentang hal heliosentrik:

Sherlock: Itu lagilah. Langsung tak penting pun.

Watson: Tak penting? Itu ilmu sekolah rendah. Macam manalah kau boleh tak tau?

Sherlock: Kalau tau pun otak aku dah hampuskan data itu.

Watson: Hampuskan?

Sherlock: Dengar baik-baik. Otak ni cakera keras aku. Aku cuma simpan maklumat berguna je dalam ni. Korang selalu simpan benda tak berguna dalam kepala. Sebab tulah tak dapat fikirkan perkara penting.

Wow!

Beli ja buku ni, harga Rm11.00 lebih murah dari rokok Dunhill :p

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Simple Book Review: "Select Sermons of George Whitefield" (1958)

Select Sermons of George Whitefield (first published 1958) 

by The Banner of Truth Trust

I borrowed this book after church last week, and I finished reading it in one sitting (maybe not all, I skipped two sermon chapters). Today’s sermon at Methodist Trinity Church Kuching and Whitefield’s sermon texts complimenting one another. It was about why and how Jesus died for us and changed people’s lives, including George Whitefield’s life, an English Anglican cleric who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. I loves this book because the foreword is written by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, short account of Whitefield’s life by J. C. Ryle, and summary of Whitefield’s doctrine by R. Elliot.

Lloyd-Jones writes, “Of all the men of the 18^th century who God raised up to do that marvellous work called ‘the Evangelical Awakening,’ none was more remarkable than George Whitefield… [He] was not only the greatest preacher and orator of the 18^th century, he was also one of its most saintly characters, if not the saintliest of all.” I personally think Charles Spurgeon is the greatest among all the preachers after the apostles’ era. But nevertheless, George Whitefield is also great in his time [I suggests you listen to John Piper’s 2009 sermon on the life and ministry of Whitefield entitled I Will Not Be a Velvet-Mouthed Preacher! at www.desiringgod.org if you cannot find this book]

I like how Ryle describes Whitefield’s success in ministry: “He wrote no book for the million, of world-wide fame, like Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. He headed no crusade against an apostate Church with a nation at his back, and princes on his side, like Martin Luther. He founded no religious denomination, which pinned its faith on his writings and carefully embalmed his best acts and words, like John Wesley. There are Lutherans and Wesleyans in the present day, but there are no Whitefieldites. No! The great evangelist of last century was a simple, guileless man, who lived for one thing only, and that was to preach Christ.” Wow!

As for his doctrines, R. Elliot, listed out 5 George’s most crucial doctrines, namely:
#1 Original Sin,
#2 The New Birth;

#3 Justification by Faith in Christ;

#4 The Final Perseverance of the Saints;

#5 Eternal and Unconditional Election.

If you like Martyn Lloyn-Jones or even Charles H. Spurgeon, this book will make you happy, dear theological geek! After you hear many modern-day sermons with shallow theological stuffs, if you read Whitefield’s sermons, I bet you will breathe fresh air!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.