LeadershipConneXtions

Departing for Puebla, Mexico

I'll be making my second visit to Puebla, Mexico to teach a graduate course on leadership. The course I am teaching is Emerging Paradigms of Leadership. I am teaching this course at three different locations this year (Mexico, Argentina and then Chile).

There is a wonderful group of graudate students enrolled at the Puebla location. I am looking forward to seeing them again. Pastors, missionaries, several "layleaders" of churches, educators as well as a few businessmen are part of the course.

The participants come from all over Mexico and from a few other countries as well.

Plus I'll be staying with my friends Roger and Marcy Oliver. Roger is the president of Puebla Seminary, a great guy and just a lot of fun to be with. Marcy has an incredible gift of hospitality.

So pray for my flights from BWI to Houston to Puebla.

Pray for the teaching and that I'll be able to speak in a clear and contextualized way for the course participants (a great group by the way).

I'll seek to give some daily updates while I am there.

Here is a picture of the skyline of Puebla (a city of over one million people).

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Aquinas: What Kind of Leader Do You Want to Be?

Thomas Aquinas was a theologian, a scholar, a teacher, an author, and through all those roles, a leader who shaped the thinking and practicing of all those around.

I just finished reading G.K. Chesterton's little biography on Aquinas. In that book, Chesterton describes Aquinas in a very attractive way.

Aquinas was:

• A brilliant intellect who also had a devout life of prayer.
• A scholar who had mystical experiences of the God whom he loved.
• He wrote carefully reasoned theology and beautiful poetry.
• He was immensely learned (perhaps the greatest of his day) and yet authentically humble.
• A man of great activity and yet rich in contemplation.
• He possessed a faith that sought after understanding and an intellect that practiced what it knew.

His entire ministry as a teacher and preacher was a matter of giving away to others what he had received and learned to live according to.

His entire life was that of life-long study of God for the purpose of drawing near to God.

For those who are called to teach and to preach, to think and to write, and to lead thoughtfully, Aquinas shows us the way.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

In Conflict With Who I Am (Tim Adour)

A few months ago, Tim Adour mentioned to me that he had been very moved by a book on conflict and peace-making. It has occupied his thinking since then and he just sent a brief summary of four different responses to conflict.

I've attached it as a PDF.

Download In_conflict_who_am_I

The book that has been important for Tim is: Making Peace: A Guide to Overcoming Church Conflict by Jim Van Yperen.

You may want to check this book out.

This is some of the important work of leadership.

Thanks Tim.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Ephesians 2:11-22 (A New Community)

This was the most recent passage we studied in the Monday Morning Bible Study group I lead. In light of the "lessons of love" I have been processing, this fit right in.

If you have a minute, get out your Bible and read that passage.

A Warning:  It is densely packed with ideas.

Here is what you will find. It is a powerful description of the divisions of humanity and an even more powerful description of THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST to make a new body, a new people, a new community... that is one.

Through the cross, Christ has not only reconciled individual people to God, but He has reconciled individuals to one another and therefore, also reconciled an entire community to God.

So, above all, the church is characterized by the presence of Peace, of Love, of Reconciliation, of the Spirit of "togetherness through Christ."

Jesus said:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  (John 13:34-35)

And yet . . . we are a still much divided body of Christ. Republican and Democratic Christians don't like each other very much.  Black and White Christians have historically, not liked each other very much. Christians who lean more toward socialism in their political/economic views and those who lean more toward democratic capitalism - have not liked each other very much.

Heck, for that matter, fundamentalists and pentecostals haven't liked each other very much. Calvinists and Arminians haven't liked each other. And no one has liked the Anabaptists very much!

I believe the work of leadership must involve the work of reconciliation, not just to Christ, but to one another. 

I believe the work of leadership must involved the work of peacemaking between opposing factions.

I believe the work of leadership must involve the creation of a new community of love and peace who therefore, have great credibility as they proclaim truth.

Do you remember the old movie, Jerry Maguire, with Tom  Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr.  Cuba's character kept saying to his agent -- show me the money.

I wonder if the world is saying -- show us the love.  Show us the way.  Show us the reason not to hate one another, not to kill one another.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Yes They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Like (Peter Schultes)

Well, change one word and you have the right title. Yes They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love!

Maybe that is part of the problem! We aren't loving one another deeply enough, strongly enough, consistently enough, unconditionally enough . . .

David Naugle says of love:

It is the mark of the Christian.

If Christians sported a tattoo, then love would be it.

It is the distinguishing mark of our faith.

It is the final apologetic that is needed.

It is the validity of the Gospel.

Naugle used a long quote describing the early Christian church in the 2nd century.  These words were not written by a Christian author, but by a secular authority about the Christians   [The Apology of Aristides.]

They walk in all humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them, and they love one another. They despise not the widow and grieve not the orphan.

He that has distributes liberally to him who has not. If they see a stranger, they bring him under their roof and rejoice over him, as [if he] were their own brother, for they call themselves brethern, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit and in God; but when one of their poor passes away from the world, and any one of them see him, then he provides for his burial according to his ability, and if they hear that any of their number is imprisoned or oppressed for the name of their Messiah, all of them provide for his needs, and if it is possible that he may be delivered, they deliver him.

And if there is among them a man that is poor and needy, and they have not an abundance of necessaries, they fast two or three days that they may supply the needy with their necessary food.  

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

A Bible Study on Love

This post is a little different. I want to provide you with some suggestions for doing a personal study of a few key Scriptures on loving others. So, I'll tell you the passage and make a brief comment about why you should look at it.  (And thanks to  David Naugle for pointing these texts out in his book: Reordered Love, Reordered Lives.

Matthew 7:12.  The Golden rule text. This is the starting point. Love others the way we want to be loved.

1 Peter 1:22-23.  Peter tells us the degree to which we should love others. If you have a few different translations, look at all of them and notice the core phrase about degree.

John 13:34-35.  Love others the way Jesus loved us. If you thought the Golden Rule was pretty demanding, "you aint' seen nothin' yet" until you have worked through this one.

Luke 6:32-36.  Loving those you already like is no big deal. But loving your enemies . . . now that is a different story. Dr. Luke takes us to the deep teaching of Christ.  And for a bonus, check out  Romans 5:6-10.

1 Corinthians 13.  Here is an outline of the chapter.

vs. 1-3   the pre-eminence and priority of love

vs. 4-6   the properties and actions of love

vs. 7-13    the permanence and superiority of love

Romans 12:9-21.  Some very practical expressions of what "love in action" looks like.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Here is an amazing rendition of Amazing Grace on an acoustic guitar.

Enjoy the energy and the joy of this song.

Thanks to my friend Gordon Carpenter for sending me this link.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

On Your Reputation

A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.  Joseph Hall

This thought from Joseph Hall hit me the other day.

Reputation is crucial. Especially for the leader. This hit me as I watching some of the recent interviews with Ted Haggard. Those interviews are worthy of many posts, (generally I was moved by the apparent sincerity and humility displayed) but for now, the concern is on reputation.

It is so much easier to keep it than it is to regain it. And if it is broken, while it MAY be repaired, people are always going to be more cautious, a little more cynical, a tad more suspicious about that reputation.

And in our age when the Internet is omni-present, brutal in its content and unforgiving with its memory . . . reputation, once tarnished will be almost impossible to shine. Google Ted Haggard Images and you'll see what I mean.

This is an area where we want to be HIGHLY PROACTIVE. Avoiding even the appearance of evil . . . practicing meaningful accountability . . . having pre-emptive honesty when we are in trouble instead of covering it up . . . learning the ways of self-awareness and integrity ahead of the time when they are to be tested.

It is not impossible for a fallen leader to be restored. It is not beyond the pale of redemption for a shattered mirror of one's reputation to be repaired. I think of Gordon MacDonald for an example of this.

A man, a leader, a Christian for whom I have the highest respect and admiration. But I'll also say, Gordon is probably the unusual exception and not the inevitable rule when it comes to a restored reputation.

Here are a few Questions for you: 

What do the people closest to you think of you?

What is your current reputation?

What's your name like to them?

What are people saying about you when you are not around?

A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.  Proverbs 22:1

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

I've Learned My Lesson! (Really?)

In the past several weeks, I've had a number of conversations with leaders who are in a fiery furnace of some sort and of varying degrees of temperature.

God is turning up the heat of transformation in their lives through times of testing, trial and tribulation. It is the Proverbs 17:3 experience:

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

A longer explanation of this process is described by James:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  (James 1:2-4)

I was struck by a common thread weaving through these conversations. From each leader, I heard a repeated refrain.

"I've learned my lesson.

I'm ready for this to be over.

I'm ready to move on."

In each case, my response is - Really? Why do you think you've learned the lesson?  I asked this, because in my assessment, none of them had yet learned the lesson God was teaching them.

Usually,when we say, "I've learned the lesson God wants to teach me," we mean that we now understand the issue. We now know what God has to say about the issue. And we may even be in agreement that what God says about the issue is right. But . . . THAT'S ALL WE MEAN. Just that and no more.

This is just another example of the prevailing mentality in many Christian circles of the conservative variety. That mentality thinks that knowledge of an idea is the destination point. Understanding the idea is the litmus test of maturity. And I want to say.  IT IS NOT!

Transformation of life is the terminal toward which we travel (and hopefully arrive). It is only when we reach that destination that we can truly say, "I've learned my lesson . . . I am ready to move on." Before that, we have not yet learned the lesson.

So, of the aforementioned conversations, these individuals could say, about their issues, I have learned my lesson when . . .

I now have peace and patience about a relationship that was causing me a great deal of frustration and anger.

I now have faith to take that really big step on an opportunity that I was afraid of.

I now have become a grateful person who lives in a difficult situation in my life that is on going, whereas before I use to be an unhappy complainer about my life.

When these leaders are able to say something like this, then I'll be the first one to say, WOW, you have definitely learned that lesson!

But until they (we) come to this place, God is a patient teacher. He is willing to keep on repeating tests and trials as long as they are needed. Because the end result is for the growing up, maturing, and perfecting of our lives.

I'll say this one more time, just so I'm clear on it. Understanding an idea is not the goal. Having clarity about your issues is not the goal. Faithfully living out of a changed life on those matters is the goal. All lessons in the School of Christ are only said to be learned when the result is transformation.

So, as I try to do in many of these posts, let's make it personal . . .

What are your "current lessons" and how is your learning/transformation moving along?

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Praying Through the Pews on the Road to Finishing Well (Jack Hayford)

Miriam Philipps writes about her encounter with a leader who has been around for a long time. I think you'll enjoy her moving tribute to a truly great leader.  Thanks Miriam.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

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Last week I was in the position to see behind the scenes of Jack Hayford  and a room full of people he has influenced. Pastor Jack, at the age of 75, had just flown in from China where he had preached for 10 hours per day.  A few of us knew that he was in continual pain due to a needed surgery that was scheduled for after his return to the States; we kept serving him Sprite and crackers for his queasy stomach. 

 

Now, I’m not easily impressed by people in positions of authority just because of their title. (My journey as aging ex-flowerchild quasi-postmodern European has left its stamp.) But as a Jesus-follower, I’m willing to honor, serve and cooperate with all servants of the King, whatever their position.

 

As a leadership developer intent on helping people "finish well," I was doing my practical acts of service for Pastor Jack and the people in his organization, feeling a bit like a spy.  Guess what? I’ve added a new hero to my list!  I only got to hear snippets of his sermons, but I witnessed almost all of his other interactions and informal sharing.  And this is what I conclude:

1. I’ve never seen anyone more fully engaged with each person and each audience – a lifetime of listening had honed his skill of being able to instantly tune in when he converses with each person—from the young man bringing him water to the denominational leader asking his advice.

2. Pastor Jack never rushed, no matter what the schedule.

3. He expressed genuine thankfulness for each act of kindness.

4. He empowered those around him at every opportunity by commending the unique added value of each to the wider audience.

5. He didn’t assume that his perspectives on the world would necessarily be shared by an international audience. (Humility in an American leader is experienced as particularly endearing.)

6. He shared his personal practices as a spiritual leader freely, but with a focus on blessing the hearer, not on impressing.

7. These attributes were characteristic of all of the leaders high in his organization, numbers of whom were present.

My favourite story from Pastor Jack was told to an audience of about 30 leaders from about a dozen different countries.  He told us that, from the time when he was young and just beginning in ministry, it was his custom to enter the sanctuary of the church he pastored and to walk through the aisles, praying over each empty seat, for the person who would occupy it during the Sunday service.

Now, he says, he is still a pastor, but in his role as international leader, he still feels a pastoral responsibility, but for the world. Much as he prayed through the empty chairs each Saturday, he now prays almost every Saturday evening, wherever he is in the world, for each country by name (admitting that he sometimes has to peek at his list to make sure not to miss any).  So he could tell each one present that he had being praying for them every week in their place of ministry. A rare holy moment of intense spiritual connection.

 

Jack Hayford -- it was a great refreshment to see him finishing so well.  I pray for him (not just rhetorically) that the possible future challenge of releasing formal organizational control will be met with the same Spirit-filled graciousness we’ve glimpsed thus far.

 

Miriam Phillips

Amsterdam, Holland

Woe is Me . . . Wow is Me!

For by the grace of God given to me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of truth God has given you.  (Romans 12:3)

For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.  (Romans 12:3 in the Amplified Bible)

This is a great passage that I return to from time to time.

Self-awareness, self-assessment, self-esteem that is all the result of sober judgment. Not thinking too highly of yourself or too lowly about yourself.

In other words, we don't walk around saying,"WOE IS ME." Who am I? I'm a nobody. I have nothing to offer. I'm not as good as __________ (fill in the blank). I'm not as significant as __________ (fill in the blank).

But neither do we walk around thinking "WOW IS ME." I'm somebody. I'm special. I'm vital. I'm not replaceable. I'm better than __________ (fill in the blank). I have more to offer then __________ (fill in the blank).

Neither of these mindsets -- woe is me and wow is me -- are biblical.

They are not a sane or proper estimation of one's self.

They are not in accordance with God's truth.

I know it is hard work, but leaders have to do that hard work of self-awareness, self-estimation and do it in a biblical way that leads to healthy self-esteem.

So how is your self-image doing these days?

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Sleep-Leading

Sleep-walking!

As far as I know, I have never done this. I talk in my sleep (so I've been told). I may thrash about from time to time and snoring is not uncommon (or so I've been told), but sleep-walking. I've never done that.

I have friends who sleep-walk. In some cases, it can be dangerous. Think about it for a moment. It can be dangerous sleep-walking. You are moving about without the full use of your consciousness. You are going through the motions, guided by your sub-conscious. I have a friend who was sleep-walking and opened a 2nd floor window to climb out. He thought there was a fire in the house. He jumped and broke his back. (True story.)

Like I said, when we are sleep-walking, it can be dangerous.

If sleep-walking is dangerous, what about sleep-driving. Has anyone ever dozed off or sort of gone on this automatic pilot / day-dreaming / kind of state and then suddenly you come back to full alertness and you realize you are miles down the road! I have.

What about sleep-living? The person is living, going through the motions, but doing so on autopilot. Not really engaged, not fully alive. Maybe sleep-living isn't dangerous (maybe) but it certainly is a duller way of life. A drowsy spirit, a sluggish soul, a somnolent heart, a foggy mind. Going through the motions. Numb. Disconnected.  Checked out. On cruise control.

Part of the work of leadership is to arouse the sleepy-walkers around us. Paul says in  Ephesians 5:14:

Wake up O sleeper

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.

The soul needs stirred, the spirit quickened, the heart roused. Leaders do this for sleepy-walkers.

But what happens when a leader, as the years go by, as the monotony sets in, as the dreams remain distant, herself becomes sleepy? What happens when the leaders falls into sleep-leading. Going through the motions, mouthing the words, performing the functions in a drowsy sort of way? What happens when the leader is on auto-pilot?

What will rouse the sleepy leader? Who will rouse the sleepy leader?

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Washington's "Rules of Civility"

John Hilliard enjoys reading history and leadership biographies. Here is a reflection by John on the ways in which the military commander conducted his work, especially in the treatment of his enemies.

Brian Rice,  LCI

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As we approach Presidents Day, the impact of our nations leaders is recognized and honored.  Their character, wisdom and restraint in times of great trials set the foundation for a new nation.  One example profound example is a leadership decision that General George Washington made. 

At one point in the war, the young revolutionaries encountered British and Hessian troops at Drakes Farm in New Jersey.  Seven of them were abandoned on the field and their leader Lieutenant William Kelly volunteered to surrender.  The British however, brutally killed the seven prisoners.  When the word got back to Washington’s army, the raw impulse of the young nations soldiers was to act in revenge with an “eye for eye – tooth for tooth” response.

 

When Washington learned that they had been killed without provocation, he declared that whatever the American soldiers may feel about the British and Hessians, “we will not respond in kind, we must treat them with humanity. They have the right to life.”  Washington issued an order “We will not kill them, we will feed them, house them, and protect them.  They will not be harmed. Our cause requires that we behave with honor."  Washington appealed to the honor of the men throughout the war.  They had behaved with honor and glory and they must not diminish that honor.

 

That is apparently what happened as we have numerous reports from the Hessians that they were treated well.  As an example, the Americans captured 900 in Trenton and 500 in Princeton who were taken as prisoners.  They moved them to Virginia. The Hessians feared the worst upon their capture.  They were however, surprised to find that they were treated well.  So well that they were escorted thru Pennsylvania and from there to Virginia they marched on their own without escort.  Twenty-five percent of them turned from combatants against America to allies and they actually married and permanently settled into the new land.

 

 

What an amazing example of leadership courage and counterintuitive military wisdom.  Another key to Washington’s character comes from his “Rules of Civility” which are made up of 110 maxims he used to guide his life.  More information about Washington can be found in Robert Bookhiser’s Rules of Civility. 

John Hilliard

Leadership ConneXtions International

Catherine de Hueck Doherty: Where Do You Go to Find Courage?

Courage is a theme I return to from time to time. I think leaders need a great deal of courage. I know I need courage. I also believe that courage is not something you "get" once and for all. Even though our courage level can grow, we still to to gain courage, gather courage, be "en" couraged or "re" couraged from time to time. And when those times are risky and failure is real and opposition is hard and there is a personal cost to be paid - then I need courage.

I read about a woman named Catherine de Hueck Doherty recently in the book Leadership From Unlikely Voices by Dave Fleming.

Catherine de Hueck Doherty was born in 1900 in to a wealthy Russian family. At 15 she married a baron and moved to Canada. Catherine was deeply moved by Jesus' words to sell all, give to the poor and come follow Him. After her husband died, she did that. Catherine dedicated her life to working in the slums with the urban poor. She did this in Ontario, in Harlem and then back in Ontario again.

As you can imagine, this was a difficult and demanding calling. To sustain her, Catherine borrowed an idea (or better, a way) from Russian Orthodoxy. In that spiritual tradition, monks were common and the way of a monk was a religious way of devotion, solitude and prayer. The Russian monk usually lived together with others and each monk had their "cell". The Russian word is Poustinia. the Poustinia was the place of prayer, repentance, self-denial, death to self, solitude, silence, love, devotion and intimacy with God. It was through these things that Catherine would find courage to sustain her in her work with the urban poor.

Catherine said: Poustiniais the place where we can go in order to gather the courage to speak the words of truth, remembering that truth is God, and we proclaim the Word of God. The Poustinia will cleanse us and prepare us . . .

Courage is gained when we engage with God in a transformative way. To engage with God in this way, we need uninterrupted time.  During that time we pray, we listen, we discern, we argue, we wrestle, we repent, we ask, we receive, we draw near, we are filled, we are loved and we come forth from those times "en"couraged.

Catherine's statement raises some questions for me.

Where is my Poustinia?

Where do I go to find courage?

Am I going there often enough?

Do i need to go there once again?

How about you?

For more on Catherine who was a leader, author, contemplative, activist, here is a link for some biography. For woman leaders, you may want to take a deeper look at the life of this pretty amazing woman. She has a number of books on the spiritual life.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

The Leader as "Dealer of Hope"

I jotted down a few reflections on Inauguration night as Barack Obama took the office of President of the United States of America. In one sense, I hesitate to write this post, but I'll put it out there anyway. I am not making a case one way or the other for President Obama. I am making a case for a theme that is central to his life and presidency.  And a theme which should be central to the life of any leader.

And it is captured in one word:  Hope!

President Obama is a symbol of hope for so many people. He is the fulfillment of a long awaited hope. He is the harbinger of hope for those who are seeking it in a troubled age. He is the sower of seeds of hope that will bear fruit (maybe or maybe not) in the future.

President Obama exemplified one of the most important leadership themes there is. Leaders must be and become:

Dealers of Hope.

It is one of the greatest tasks of the leader. Especially when hope is in such short supply, when hope has disappeared, when hope is lost . . . then this leadership task becomes even more crucial.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick.  (Proverbs 13:12

There was Geroge Washington for the weary troops he commanded. There was Abraham Lincoln for a divided nation. I think of Winston Churchill for the beleagured British in World War II. Gandhi for the masses of impoverished India. These are obviously "big time" examples.

I recently watched, The Pursuit of Happyness and Will Smith's character was a dealer in hope for his little boy.

It is not easy being a dealer of hope, nor is it easy to carry the hopes of others on your shoulders. Yet, this is the leadership task. So - where does the leader find hope? Is it self-generated? Is it through single-minded clinging to an ideology and a way and ignoring reality? Is it just wistful, wishful thinking? Is it nothing more than an optimistic point of view?

The Christian leader has a source of Hope that is unique. That Hope is the Hope of the world, who is Christ. Jesus Christ and his promises for our future. Therefore, the true leader is only the Symbol and never the Source of Hope.  I'll say that again.

The leader is never the Source of hope, only its Symbol.

And as a Symbol, the leader is an icon/window through which the true Source shines. The leader is the messenger, the ambassador, the conduit of the Hope of Christ.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from Him.  (Psalm 62:5)

. . . Christ in you, the hope of glory.  (Colossians 1:27)

As a Source, the leader becomes an idol for others and the burden of leadersihp becomes unbearable, intolerable, doomed to failure.

Of course, that means those of us who are called to leadership are deeply and intimately connected to that Source. As we are thus connected, we live and travel hopefully and imprint that hope on to those around us.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

What Do You Love?

I have been thinking a lot about this theme in recent weeks, mainly because of Naugle's book, Reordered Love, Reordered Lives and Feel by Matthew Elliott.

Here is a profound insight from a 17th century Puritan Pastor, Henry Scougal thatt was in Feel (pp. 241).

The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love (Scougal).

And now one from Augustine (4th century).

Such is each one as is his love.

Our emotions are always attached to an object. Our love is always attached to something or someone and whatever our love is attached to, that is what shapes our love.

How do you know what you love? How do you know what your love is attached to? This is especially important for those leaders who would describe themselves as more "null" or "even" when it comes to their emotions. Here are a few questions that may help you identify what you love.

• What do you spend your time doing?

• What do you spend your free time doing?

• What do you spend your "discretionary income" on?

• What do you use our credit card on to go in debt?

• What do you dream about?

• What irritates you?

• What do you complain about?

The things that occupy and preoccupy our time and attention and money, are the things to which we are attached. I heard (a very long time ago) a speaker say, show me your credit card statement and your daytimer and I'll know most of what I need to know about you!

So much of the time we are not aware of what we truly love, to what we are attached. We know what we should love and we have spiritual answers for that. I know i should love God, I know I should love people, I know I should love the life of spiritual formation, I know I should love the Scriptures . . .

 But - what do I really love?

Jesus, the Bible, my wife, my son, friends, my church, my leadership development ministry, guitar, really good virtuoso guitar music, gardening, food, reading, books (whether I read them or not), a good cup of coffee, my self, my Self, my SELF... the list can go on with much more specific detail.

If you spend some time writing down some answers to the above questions - you may come to some interesting answers.

How you and I lead and live will be fundamentally shaped by our loves. Those loves will remake us in their own image. It is vital that we move into discernment on this. There are some things we love, of which we need to ask - should I love that? And hear the answer, no. Or, not in that way and not in that degree.

And this is what Naugle's (pictured) book is about, the reordering of our loves so that our lives can be reordered as well.

It is a theme we are spending several weeks exploring in our Ancient-Future Faith community.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Aquinas and the Love of God

Two days before his death (1274), one of the greatest theologians of all time, Thomas Aquinas prayed this prayer to Christ (whom he called Price of my soul's consolation):

"All my studies, my vigils and my labors have been for the love of Thee."

And like Aquinas, we labor and serve, we study and learn, we are vigilant in our calling to bless the world in the name of Christ. To do that, we need a sustaining motivation. And so, like Aquinas, everything we do must flow out of the motivation he had.

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

All for the glory of His Name.

All for the service of His Purposes.

All for the love of the people He died for.

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

This is the sustaining motivation that will carry us to the end.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,

do it all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31

It is truly a great way to live.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Spiritual Leadership: A Fresh Vision and a Renewed Motivation

Spiritual leadership.

What exactly is it?

How does one become a spiritual leader?

What does it look like in practice?

Books have been and will continue to be written on this. Here are a few brief reflections that have their origin in some comments by theologian Karl Rahner, which I recently read.

Spiritual leaders are those who are captured by a new vision of holiness and godliness and figure out how to live and model that vision in creative ways in their culture.  Similar words from Dallas Willard have seized my imagination in the last number of months.

Spiritual leaders are those who create new styles of living, serving and loving God and others . . . and they do this in forms that demonstrate that such a life is a genuine possibility and not an unreachable ideal.  Ellsberg and Martin's stories of saints, leaders, prophets, martyrs, theologians, pastors and, above all, ordinary people who became extraordinary are inspiring me to do this.

Spiritual leaders "incarnate" and "embody" the Christian Ideal in attractive and compelling ways that cause others to "want to do the same."  At the core of the Gospel is the Word made flesh who moved into the neighborhood (John 1:14, The Message).

Spiritual leaders show that a life of following Christ can actually be done and done well.

Spiritual leaders are pathmakers for others to follow. We imprint . . .  we leak . . .  we spill over into others . . .  we radiate . . .  the life of Christ. I appreciate, admire and respect so many of my friends and colleagues who are doing this with diligence and enthusiasm.

If we fail to do this, then, most likely, little else that we may do, even though we call it spiritual leadership, will have much substance of fruit.

So, we are always going back to that very basic question. What does it mean to follow Christ in authentic and compelling ways?

I am wrestling through this quite a bit these days. What kind of person and what kind of leader do I long to become? What vision of life itself has grabbed hold of my heart? I am reading quite a bit of biography lately and finding myself moved by the lives of holiness, of love, of passionate commitment to Christ.

How do I do this in my corner of planet earth?

Worth thinking about today... I know I will continue to think and dream and to lead in the way of  Christ.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions international

Here is a great video worth watching (20 minutes long) about a stroke. I am fascinated with the brain and how it works. This was sent to me from my friend Michelle Seitz. It is also found on that great site TED ideas worth spreading which I have listed under websites (left hand column).

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International 

Ephesians and Some Substantial Theology

Waaaaayyyyyy lllloooonnnngggg aaagggoooo and in a galaxy far, far away (i.e. I was a college sophmore at Clarion State College) I fell in love with Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I'm not sure that I remember fully why this letter grabbed me so much. Maybe I couldn't have articulated it at the time. But I was drawn to this letter as the moth is the flame.

I remember two early resources that came my way and both introduced me to the depths that are in Ephesians.

First was a little commentary on Ephesians by Bible teacher, Ray Steadman which was deeply moving. It was titled, Our Riches in Christ.

Second was a tape series of parts of Ephesians that were messages of one of the Intervarsity Urbana Conferences.  I don't remember who the speaker was, but this was expository and passionate teaching like I had never heard before.  I listened to it over and over again.

I would return to this letter over and over. I have a host of favorite phrases out of this letter:

to the praise of his glory

the eyes of your heart enlightened

God's workmanship

the dwelling of God

the mystery of Christ

immeasureably more

live a life worthy of the calling

one Lord, one faith, one baptism

preparing God's people for works of service

growing up into him

futile thinking, darkened understanding

do not grieve the Holy Spirit

be imitators of God

be very careful then how you live

making the most of your time (opportunity)

submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

love their wives as Christ loved the church

fathers, do not exasperate your children

be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power

pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers

And on it goes, I could list many others.

Bobby Clinton talks about leaders having "core books." By this he meant books of the Bible that we return to over and over. We read them, pour over them, wrestle with them, glean from them, and as we do this, we are shaped by them.

Ephesians is one of my core books.  (One of my favorite little commentaries is the one in the Bible Speaks Today series, by John Stott.)

And I am currently in a Bible study with about eight men and we are working through Ephesians. I have not done serious reading/study/meditation in Ephesians for a long time. And IT IS FUN to be back in this letter. Old friends (the verses and ideas) are right there again.

I just spent about an hour looking at three verses (2:1-3) and when I was done I remembered why I love this book so much. And those verses are the really bad news about life!

I hope you are right now deeply engaged with the reading, the study, the wrestling with and the mediation on Scripture. God's Words to us.

So - what are you currently reading in the Bible?

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

p.s.  if you want to read a biography on Steadman, check it out.

Leading In Pain

Here is a powerful and intimate story from my friend Tim. I greatly admire him for sharing it and the lessons God taught him through it. I had the privilge of being one of those friends to whom Tim "screamed."  This is the kind of stuff that Christ uses to shape those who become Level Five leaders. (Brian)

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Leading in Pain

Anyone who has accidently grabbed or bumped into anything hot resulting in a burn will understand what I say next.  The other day I accidently poured boiling water on my hand.  Although it was not a severe burn, it hurt.  Even though the boiling water splashed only on my hand, it affected my entire body.  That horrible sting that doesn’t seem to ever stop radiating through my whole body.  I am distracted from everything else around me.  Pain is a major distraction.

Several years ago, this principle hit my family hard.  Here are some things that happened in a three year period.  First: My wife almost died in Ethiopia. That story is so complex and painful I can’t begin to tell you the details. She is thousands of miles away and I can do nothing!  By God’s grace and miraculous intervention she lived. But the side effects of that event lasted two more years. 

Then:  My mother and niece were in a car accident resulting in my niece being permanently paralyzed from the waist down. 

Next:  My son faced such a traumatic event in his life, it required quitting college for a period of time.  I do not remember ever crying as much as I did during those years.  I sit here today and cringe as I remember the pain.  But, I am also very grateful to God.  His grace was and is sufficient. 

During this time I was the pastor of a strong, thriving church.  There were all sorts of wonderful things happening in those years.   On one hand, these good things gave me something to look forward to. However, all these things required my leadership attention.  I certainly had quality people around me, who kept things going, but I was the senior leader and hundreds of people were looking to me to lead them where God was taking us. 

The problem:  I was severely distracted.  My heart was crushed with pain.  I cried for and with my wife.  I cried for and with my niece and her family.  I cried for and with my son.  I never knew the human body and soul had so many tears in it.  In the midst of all this crying the phone never stopped ringing, the appointments never came to an end, the church problems continued to come across my desk, and the staff continued to want input and counsel.  The pain was so intense I was distracted from all else, and yet, there was no choice.  I had to continue to lead. 

The Shack and its Lasting Power

Way back in May of last year, I did a review of The Shack.

You can read that review here.

I still get comments from time to time about that review. Well, the comments are not so much about the review as they are about the Shack.

And I still hear personal stories from people who are reading it for the first time.

I am going to re-read it sometime this summer.

I just find it interesting that this book has some staying power for people. It is because of the relational Christianity it presents.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Did You Know? (Get ready to be overwhelmed . . .)

This is a video about the MASSIVE change that is taking place in our world!

This goes beyond amazing and perhaps into the frightening (for those who are not keeping up!).

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

A Week of Training

For the past week, a friend who is working in a restricted country was visiting us for a week of leadership training. Leadership ConneXtions was in that country several times to do leadership training, but is is always at the approval of the authorities. There are other times we have not been able to get in.

We made a great contact on one of our trips and met a leader who is passionate about developing and resourcing leaders in that country. Talk about a match made in heaven. Plus we really liked one another... just had great conversations.  It turned out that he was due to be in the USA for a visit and we arranged for him to come to York for the week and the week is over.

We had a great time working through the Spiritual Leadeship module. My friend will be able to teach this course for REG/Londrina when he is back home (plus use the material in lots of other settings as well).

Several of the LCI ministry partners who live here in York were involved in this week of training. Debra Bell, Mike Johnson, and John Hilliard all did sessions throughout the week.  Plus he had the opportunity to have some spiritual direction sessions with LWCC's spiritual directior Deb Turnow.  Tim had mutiple conversations with other LWCC staff who were generous in their resources for him. And he had very wonderful hosts, Glenn and Cheryl, who took care of him for the week.

Thanks to everyone who was involved in investing into our friend this week.  Your commitment to missions and leadership development is deeply appreciated.

One of the strategies of LCI is to invite key leaders to come to York for intensive training. We have other visits scheduled for later this year.

Blessings to all of you.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International

Pockets of Greatness Within Arms Reach of the Gates of Hell

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's  remarkable classic, The Cost of Discipleship, was written on the theme of taking up one's cross, denying self and following Christ. Bonhoeffer lived out those words in his life. He spent his final days on earth in a Nazi concentration camp where he was a profound witness for Christ and the camp became his parish as he ministered to the prisoners. He was executed only a few days before the Allies liberated the camp.

I have wondered, from time to time, what it must be like to risk all and make the ultimate sacrifice, pay the final cost for following Christ . . .

I recently read the story of another, who like Bonhoeffer, did the same thing in similar World War II  circumstances. The person was Pere Jacques Bunol, a French Carmelite priest. (Sorry, I couldn't find a picture of Bunol on the internet.)

Because he protected the Jews from the Nazis, he was thrown into a concentration camp(s). In a letter to his brother, he said:

If I am shot, rejoice, for I shall have realized my ideal - to give my life for those who suffer.

I recently preached on the idea of creating Pockets of Greatness in our little corners of planet earth. For Bunol, his pocket of greatness was a series of Nazi prison camps.

ELlsberg says of Bunol: "His aim was to build a Christian society within the gates of hell; even if his success extended little further than himself, it was a continuous defiance of the spirit of Nazism."

Wow!  Bunol created a pocket of greatness, a Christian society within his own life which then radiated out to the camp around him.

As he neared the end of his life, Bunol said: "At this time we must rejoice in accomplishing God's will to the very end, to give our lives if He demands it;  perhaps it is our vocation."

Perhaps God is inviting (to say it politely) or more accurately, summoning and sending us out to create pockets of greatness, goodness, and glory in arms reach of the gates of hell. Perhaps Christ followers are meant to go to some of the scariest, most dangerous, most needy places in our world and be among those living in great darkness. Perhaps our lives are to be a defiance against the powers of this age.

Perhaps our very vocation is to give the years of our life toward this end.

Brian Rice

Leadership ConneXtions International