Jesus' Leadership #15 Right Ones come from the 'Wrong Side'

Jesus of Nazareth was not exactly what the people had in mind for a leader. Nathanael, a potential apostle, said, “Examine the Scriptures yourself and see. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (see John 1:45-46). Jesus neither a warrior nor royalty. He wasn’t exactly handsome, either, according to some writings. He not only came from the wrong side of town, he came from the wrong town. The man nobody would have considered wore the crown. Nothing that the learned ones could decipher from their libraries called for a carpenter king. Once again, God played surprise.

Few people consider themselves perfectly qualified to lead. We are influenced by the media as to what everyone and everything should look like. We know what Miss Malaysia should look like, just as we know what YBs and ministers should look like. It is easy to disqualify ourselves as leaders based on external characteristics alone. Yet we also live in times of great upheaval and surprise. Blasphemers are becoming worship leaders, minority-indigenous people are becoming Wakil Rakyats, criminals become Christian ministers. Leaders are coming out of the ‘wrong side’… with a fresh perspective.

The call to leadership can come from many directions and in many ways. The Old Testament indicates (at least) three ways that we are called to leadership: the burning heart, the burning bush, and the burning house.

The burning heart is the kind of call that David had. He said, “I’ll go fight the giant! It isn’t right that our people should tremble in their tents at his insults” (read 1 Samuel 17:33-37). The burning bush is the kind of call that Moses had. It is a surprise approach to getting someone’s attention. As you recall, Moses was called to leadership by seeing a miraculous burning bush (read Exodus 3:2-10). The burning house is the kind of call to leadership that Queen Esther had. Esther risking her life and certainly her social standing when she (and her uncle) try to stopped the enemies from killing all the Jews. She revealed her identity to the king, her husband, who in an embarrassed fury hanged Haman, the man who plotted the Jew’s destruction. Esther became a legendary leader among the Jews. She became a leader when her house was burning down.

Nearly every leader in the Scriptures had doubts at one time or another. They often felt underqualified, forsaken or abandoned. Yet those who were called were given the strength to carry out their missions. Then as now.

Jesus was another one of God’s surprises.

He came from the ‘wrong side.’

Which type of call to leadership have you experienced?

The burning heart?

The burning bush?

The burning house?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annabel: Become Serious about the Pursuit of Wisdom

Dear sweetheart Annabel,

            Daddy left this letter with a book for you to read while I’m gone these few days. How’s your school? I promise that we will spent time together for dinner this weekend, okay? Chocolate vanilla or green tea ice-cream for dessert? Both? It’s going to be fun!

            Oh ya, about the book Eugene Peterson’s The Message: Proverbs that I want you to read and meditate… I love this translation because it’s fresh and I have been reading it many times now. If you are looking for wisdom, the Book of Proverbs is a wonderful place to start. It has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month if you like. If you read and meditate on its wisdom regularly, and if you take its teachings to heart, you’ll gain timeless wisdom from God’s unchanging Word.

            School can teach you knowledge and skills, but only God’s Word can give you true wisdom and understanding (go for both of course). “Knowledge is horizontal,” writes Billy Graham, “Wisdom is vertical; it comes down from above.” Wisdom, however, will not come instantly, you must seek it day by day. Be passionate, my daughter, in your pursuit of God’s wisdom; sincerely seek to live a life of righteousness. Proverbs 4:6 says: “Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.” The Bible describes wisdom as “she” not because it means that wisdom have gender, but it is personal. Take this advice personally.

            When daddy was young and your grandpa is not there to be a Christian father-figure for me, I seek for myself worthy mentors – men and women of God –  and listen carefully to their advice and exemplified their lives. Find yours (I’ll suggest to you when we meet okay). You must associate day in and out with people who behave wisely and responsibly. And, you must act in accordance with your beliefs. Be wise and be a blessing to our family, your friends and to the world. I already proud of you.

Annabel, you have grown wiser, yet you’re always be my baby girl.

Daddy loves you,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Leadership #14 Break Ranks (Dare to Be Different)

Jesus did not follow the crowd. He led it. He did not report news, he made it happen. In the Old Testament, David had to break ranks to take on the giant Goliath because his brothers and fellow Israelites were back in their tents, trembling in fear. Finding the situation counter to all he believed about God, himself and his people, David volunteered to go forth to fight the giant (read 1 Samuel 17). Astonishingly, it was his brothers who tried to keep him from doing the right and courageous thing.

It was the same situation with Joseph in the Old Testament. His jealous brothers threw him in a well because they were tired of listening to how he stood apart from them. Families have very strong “corporate cultures” of their own, and anyone who dares to be different is bound to encounter resistance. To Jesus the Lord, his family was not necessarily his earthly mother and brothers, but anyone who did the will of God. In other words, his true family was anyone with similar goals, plans, and visions who was willing to act on them, no matter what the cost.

There are so many dysfunctional families and groups in our society today that a person must have uncommon courage to break free. Sometimes breaking free may require drastic measures and cause conflict. Churches can be dysfunctional. Companies can be dysfunctional. Laws can be dysfunctional. And a leader who is not willing to break ranks is not a leader at all, but merely puppet set up to maintain status quo.

The Pharisees were dysfunctional religious leaders whom Jesus felt so strongly about that he called them “whited sepulchres, broods of vipers” and other choice words. He had such strong words for them because they were supposed to help set people free, yet instead they enslaved people for their own selfish gain. Jesus knew he had to step out of that crowd in order to set people free. He broke ranks.

[Reference: Jesus, CEO (1995) by Laurie Beth Jones]

If you did what was really in your heart,

With whom or what would you come into conflict?
What keeping you from truly being a leader?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annabel: Learn from Your Mistakes

My daughter Annabel,

            Since the day your mom passed away, both you and dad are greatly affected. I know you love your mom so much, I do too, but she’s gone now. Anna, daddy loves you. Please do not let this tragedy cause you to rebel against God (we already talk about this), and stop making mistake by channelling your anger externally. Instead, I encourage you to express your feeling toward God your Father – and when I’m home soon, I’ll be by your side and listen and talk with you personally. Deal?

            About the mistakes that you wrote to me the other day, well darling, nobody likes ‘em but everybody makes ‘em. Sometimes, even if you’re a very good person, you’re going to mess things up. And when you do (I do too), God is always ready to forgive you. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God will do His part, but you should be willing to do your part too. Here is what you need to do:

1)    If you’ve been engaging in behaviour that is against the will of God, cease and desist (that means stop)

2)    If you made a mistake, learn from it and don’t repeat it (that’s called getting smarter)

3)    If you’ve hurt somebody, apologize and ask for forgiveness (that’s called doing the right thing)

4)    Ask for God’s forgiveness, too (He’ll give it whenever you ask, but you do need to ask)

My baby girl, today is the perfect day to make things right with everybody (and the word everybody includes yourself, your family, your teachers, your friends and Jesus the Lord). Your mom once told me, “Mistakes are the price you pay for being human; repeated mistakes are the price you pay for being stubborn. So don’t be hard-hearted: learn from your experiences – the first time!” Your mom knows that daddy is a stubborn man. Like I told you, be stubborn in your faith, but not in your heart :)

I’m coming home soon.

Daddy love you,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Keep a Clear Conscience

Dear Annie,

            Sorry for this late reply to your previous letter. Life has been hard for me these few days. I was discouraged by my own sinful thoughts that lead to guilty conscious. But don’t worry… I’m okay now, Christ in His Word have encouraged me greatly.

            It has been said that character is what we are when nobody is watching. How true. When we do things that we know aren’t right, we try to hide them from our families, friends and loved ones. But even then, God is watching. I was tormented by my own guilty conscious. Oh how glad, joy and content I am now when I obey God’s commandments of repentance and seek for His grace and forgiveness upon me. What a joy!

            A clear conscience is one of the rewards we earn when we obey God’s Word and follow His will. “God has revealed Himself in man’s conscience,” writes Billy Graham, “Conscience has been described as the light of the soul.” I wants to be able to say like Paul: “Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbours in everything I do” (Acts 24:16). I learned now – relearned, in fact – if I sincerely wish to walk with Christ, I should follow His commandments. Love express in obedience. When I do, my character will take care of itself… and I won’t need to look over my shoulder to see who, besides God, is watching.

Thank you dear for praying for me.

Long to be with you again, sharing our lives in Christ together.

Love,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Make the Most of Your Talent(s), Dance!

Dear Annie,

            I remember how much you like to dance. When I asked you the other day, what brings you joy? Your answer is: “Dancing before the Lord.” That was your ministry. How your movements and the rhythm of the music become one when you dance; how you used your hands and feet to worship the Lord; your heart soar to the heaven with praise and thanksgiving – I remember all. You’re beautiful then, you’re beautiful now.

            But since you’re no more student but working adult already, I would like to encourage you to keep using your God-given talents, especially your dancing gift. Like what Paul said to Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4:14). God has given you talents, keep using it my dear. “In the great orchestra we call life,” writes Max Lucado, “you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely.” Or do you remember the old adage: What we are is God’s gift to us, what we become is our gift to God.

            I understand that sometime our society and the pressure of lifestyle today, they may encourage us to do otherwise. We face countless temptations to squander our time, resources and talents. I’m struggle with all of these too. I think we should be keenly aware of the inevitable distractions that can waste our time, our energy and our opportunities. You and I know that every day of our lives, we have a choice to make: to nurture our talents or to neglect them. My dear Annie, let us nurture our talents and gifts! God will reward us and expand our opportunities to serve Him. As we serve Him, we receive His infinite joy, peace and grace even in the midst of our troubles and busyness.

Would you dance again? Oh, value the talent that God has given you, nourish it, make it grow, and share it with the world. The best way to say “Thank You” for God’s gifts is to use them.

Long to see you dance,

Rich

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' Leadership #13 Call the Question

“Call the question” means it is time to stop talking about the issue and take an action. We love to discuss more than we like to decide. Jesus throughout the Gospel stories was constantly saying, “Call the question please.”

I once read: A woman dreamed that she was being chased by a bear. When the bear finally cornered her, she asked in terror, “Are you going to kill me?” The bear calmly replied, “I don’t know, lady. You tell me. This is your dream.” This is a frustrating story for some because she was required to come up with the answer, rather than it being imposed upon her.

Jesus empowered people because he was willing to call the question: “Who do people say that I am? Who do you think I am? What do you want? Where is your faith?” He asked question after question. Perhaps he asked so many questions because one of his mottos was, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth is not always easily available. Sometimes it is hidden by our own delusions and is wrapped by worries and fears. Calling the question sometime means taking the time to look into our own heart and let the Holy Spirit examines us. By ‘forcing’ ourselves – and others – to tell the truth, we can know our true inner selves. Then what happen? We’ll be free. The truth will set us free, this is what Jesus believed.

Jesus called the question.

What obvious situation have you been afraid to bring to light?

When the truth is unbound, can you see the positive results from this freedom?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.