LeadershipConneXtions

Error is a Serious Matter

Jesus said it very simply. "You are in error not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). There are a lot of categories of errors that are described in the Bible. Here are some of them.

IGNORANCE:  Not knowing truth.

UNBELIEF:  When you know the truth but reject it.

DECEPTION: When you believe error, but think it is true when it is false.

DISOBEDIENCE:  When you know the truth, even believe it to be true, but fail to live by it. (Also known as INSANITY.)

IMMATURITY:  Have some understanding, partial and incompletel understanding.

DRY (or Dead) ORTHOSOXY: Knowing the truth and believing the truth, but having no passion for that truth in a way that it changes you.

DUALISMS:  Have alternative and usually contradictory truths for differnet situations. It is an endless way of double standards - one for your "church world, your spiritual life, your personal life" and the other for everything else in the world.

KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT WISDOM:  Knowing facts, ideas, pieces of information, but not having these facts integrated into your life so they become the "way you live."

INTELLECTUALISM/RATIONALISM: This is another way of talking about head knowledge without heart knowledge.

SKEPTICISM, CYNICISM, DOUBT, AGNOSTICISM: While these are each a little different, they have enough "cognitive" overlap that I'll include them together. For these errors, you are confused, uncertain, suspicious, questionning, it's possible but not likely that the item of faith is true...

Every item above is a real problem. Often there are several of them going on at the same time. Be attentive to the condition of your own heart and whether any of these "errors" are traps you may experience.

Christian maturity includes the process of moving deeper into belief, faith, understanding, enlightenment, truth and wisdom.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Assurance (or not) of God's Saving Love

We need to distinguish between two beliefs.

One theological belief is that of the persevering of the saints, who are kept by the power of God for eternity. This is sometimes known as "eternal security" or "once saved always saved." It means, because of God's unconditional grace/love, you CANNOT lose your salvation.

In the United States, this has been in the minority theological position, with more Christians subscribing to the belief that one can lose their salvation. By virtue of free will and sustained disobedience, one can turn their back on Christ, say no to his free gift, reject what had been given and walk away from grace. Hebrews 6:1-6 is often cited as one of the passages that support this.

I personally subscribe to the understanding of eternal security and do not believe one can lose their salvation.

But wait a minute before you start drawing conclusions that if you are eternally secure because God's love will be unconditional forever and ever, no matter what you do, even if you choose to live a very minimal life as a follower of Jesus - such a view IS NOT and HAS NOT BEEN the view of the great theologians who did indeed believe in the perseverance of the saints.

Here is where the second doctrine enters in and that is the theology of "assurance of one's salvation." These theologians (and I number myself among them) believe that while you MAY be saved, if you are continuing in sustained disobedience, if you do not love Christ, if you are lukewarm about Jesus (being spewed forth from his mouth according to Revelation 3:16), etc. you SHOULD HAVE NO assurance or confidence that you are saved. In fact - just the oppositve - you should conclude that you are not a follower of Jesus. 

You MIGHT be...
But you might NOT BE...
And you certainly have LITTLE or NO grounds to think you are...

Read Luke 14:25-35 on the "cost of discipleship" and see Jesus clearly say if you don't do certain things - than you CANNOT be His disciple. (Hey, these are His words, not mine.)

Read 2 Peter 1:5-10 about "making your calling and election sure. For if you do these things , you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior jesus Christ.

You see, forgiving grace is also and always a transforming grace. You are not just forgiven (getting eternal fire assurance to go to heaven), you are transformed, remade in the image of Christ, and are to be about the "imitation of Christ" (Ephesiand 5:1).

The evidence of forgiving grace is transforming grace. They are a package deal and if you don't have evidence of the latter, don't assume you have the former.

For some on the journey, their struggle is legalism and a works-righteousness.

For others on the journey, their struggle is cheap grace and a cross with no cost.

Both are equally dangerous.
Both are distortions of the true gospel.
Both fail to produce genuine followers of Christ who are his missional servants to the world. 

These theological matters are once again under heated discussion in the church. N. T. Wright is one who encourages us to revisit the idea of transforming grace and the essential linkage between justification and sanctification.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

 

Sometimes the Question is Not - Does God Love You? . . .

Today is the first of some "theological reflections."

One of the GRAND ideas of the reformation was that the church should always be reforming itself, and that included, ongoing theological reflection and reformulating the best way to be faithful to Scripture and contextually relevant to the culture.

I think a lot about theological themes, I usually don't use this blogsite to post those thoughts. As I have been involved in a rather large writing project (The Five Volumes of Spiritual Exercises) for the last three years, I have revisted quite a number of theological themes that shape the spiritual journey and life.

Since spirituality is essentially connected with sanctification, I have thought a lot about the nature of the Christian life and the "doctrines" involved with our salavation, which are some of the great (and debated) themes of our faith.

I've thought a lot about grace and works and of God's love and the cost of following Jesus. Today's thought arises out of that.

************

Can we take a minute and revisit the Great Commandment.

Jesus does not say, "The greatest commandment is that you allow God to love you with all His heart..."

But the way we talk about God's love, it sometimes seems that what I just stated must be the great commandment.

The Great Commandment is not about God loving you or even you believing God loves you. The Great Commandment is about YOU LOVING GOD!
 

God loves you...
God loves you...
God loves you...

Yes, He does.

With that affirmed - let's ask some other questions: 

Do you love God?

And . . . are you obeying God's commands (and not just the ones you like) as the testimony of your love for God.

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey me (i.e. my commands)." I guess we could assume the opposite: If you don't love Jesus you won't obey Him and if you don't obey Jesus then you don't love Him.

What are the implications if you don't love Jesus enough to obey Him?

And if you don't love Jesus enough to obey Him, then what message do you need to hear? Do you need me to say to you, "That's okay, God loves you no matter how little you love Him or how little you obey Him or how little motivation you have to love and obey Him?

Is that the appropriate message you need to hear?
Is that the message Jesus would give you.
I don't think so!

Jesus told the rich young ruler to love him enough to sell all he had and come follow Him. The man walked away, loving his money more than Jesus. Jesus DID NOT GO AFTER HIM.

In John 6, Jesus is giving a hard teaching and "many disciples" left Jesus and no longer followed Him. Jesus DID NOT GO AFTER THEM, but instead, looked at the 12 and asked if they were going to leave him as well?

Jesus said many will call him Lord, but He (Jesus) does not know them. He is not really their Lord. Jesus DOESN'T CHANGE HIS STANDARD when people find it unappealing.

So WHAT IF you don't love Jesus enough to obey Him? 

Well then, here is another question(s).

• Is Jesus pleased with you at that moment?
• Is Jesus pleased with you as you continue in disobedience?
• Is Jesus at all concerned that your disobedience is not glorifying to Him (which you are created to do and for which reason - you have been blessed with all the blessings of salvation - to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14)?

And - what are the implications of Jesus not being pleased with you?

Isn't it pretty safe to assume that while He may love you, Jesus is not going to bless you, reward you, pat you on the back, say well done good and faithful servant, point you out to others as a testimony to his transforming power, and so on.

And it is quite safe to say (for the author of Hebrews says this) that He is going to discipline you, because He loves you. The good news is you are loved... and the better news is that you are loved so much, there is a load of discipline (some call it chastisement) coming your way.

The problem is that for some (and maybe for many) is we just default to thinking, "No big deal, God loves me the same no matter what. He isn't concerned. No big deal to God." 

So we have very little concern to be obedient. 

And this heart is utterly removed from the teaching of the New Testament.

And tomorrow's post - is a person with such a heart attitude a genuine follower of Christ?
 

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

 

Who are you believing in?

Believing in people before they have proved themselves is the key to motivating people to reach their potential.    John C. Maxwell

Kouszes and Posner refer to this as "encouraging the heart."

Daniel Goleman would call it emotional intelligence.

So many people are insecure about themselves, they lack the necessary confidence to step out to accomplish something worthwhile, and they will live below their potential.

Certainly it is the work of leadership to inspire and provide hope... and it is can be done simply by believing in someone - do that and tell it to them.

Who believed in you before you had reached your potential?
Who helped you reach your potential? 
And who are you helping by believing in them when they are unsure of themselves? 

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

 

 

 

Unspectacular Preparation (Your Hard Private Work)

Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation. Robert H. Schuller

You rarely "wing" your way into spectacular achievement.

You never "drift" or "stroll" into it.

Instead, it is the hard, behind the scenes work of preparation... learning... experimenting... falling short... gaining perspectieve (and skill)... persevering...

And then, you wind up being prepared for wonderful things. Perhaps spectacular is too strong... but let's at least say significant.

Imagine the hard work that went into this incredible artwork (read story here).

In every area of life where I am enjoying some measure of "success" and fruitfulness, it is becasue I am working hard ahead of time... and wherever I fall short - inevitably, I have put little time there.

So, what are you preparing for right now?

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Speaking of the Basics - How About Love?

Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.
Mother Teresa

To serve the poorest of the poor
Mission for the Missionaries of Charity

Mother Teresa began the Missionaries of Charity in 1948, with twelve companions, in Calcutta, India.

Today they are working in over 100 countries.

They have 4000 full time workers.

They have over 1,000,000 volunteers involved in their mission.

They have raised billions of dollars for the sake of their mission to serve the poorest of the poor.

This is a mission of love.
To provide a safe place to sleep.
To give food to someone who is hungry.
To provide friendship for the one who is lonely.
To give peace to the fearful.
To make dignity possible for the one who is dying.

One person at a time.
One day at a time.
But when you have ONE MILLION people helping one person at a time . . . a lot of the poorest of the poor are on the receiving end of love.

This is a mission of ordinary, simple, service done with extraordinary love. 

And it is extraordinary love that fuels this simple, profound mission . . . 
That sustains it . . .
That invites others into it . . .

A mission born not out of ego and not for profit... but love. 

As you begin to string together, steadily accumulating and piling up days of ordinary things done with extraordinary love - you are a channel of God's grace to the world. And that means this last thought is possible.

"At the moment of death we will not be judged according to the number of good deeds we have done or by the diplomas we have received in our lifetime. We will be judged according to the love we have put into our work."     Mother Teresa

What ordinary things are you going to do today with extraordinary love? 

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Back to the Basics (on Vision)

Many times our greatest need is not to find a brand new idea, an avant gaarde strategy, a "hot off the presses" methodology.

Many times our greatest need is to get back to the basics, to the few essentials . . . and just turn the flywheel (Jim Colllins). That is, do the daily hard work/grind of paying attention to the basics. 

Vision is one of the basics.

You turn the flywheel of your vision when you take a few minutes at the beginng of the day and reflect on these questions:

What is my vision?

Can I tell it to another person simply?

Am I excited (passionate) about my vision today?

How deeply do I believe in this vision?

What am I and what will I sacrifice for this vision to become reality?

How am I living and embodying this vision for others?

As a leader, you are the wellspring of visionary motivation for those around you, for those who have joined in on the mission, who are a part of the team, who have combined their strengths and passions with you.

If you aren' daily asking these questions and teasing their answers into each day - I guarantee - no one else will.

So . . . take five or ten minutes and reflect.

Now, what are you going to do?

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

 

Today . . . Let us Begin

Yesterday has gone.
Tomorrow has not yet come.
We have only today.
Let us begin.
Mother Teresa

Isn't it striking, how often, the greatest wisdom is contained and revealed in such short, simple words?

Your YESTERDAY is gone. It is over. You don't get it back. Regrets and recriminations sap your energy, misdirect your focus and paralyze your will. The PAST is past. We cannot live there. We can only remember it, celebrate it, find forgiveness for it, learn from it and move forward.

Your TOMORROW is not yet come. It is looming, it is imminent . . . but it is not yet. And it is not yet set in stone. Right now it is potential, it is emerging, it is malleable, it is waiting. But it is not yet. Worrying about tomorrow is absolutely futile. Jesus says don't worry about tomorrow, today has its own stuff to attend to. You can anticipate it, have a vision about it, look forward to it, plan for it, build toward it and do all that is needed for its potential to become real. But, the FUTURE is not yet.

Your TODAY is all that you have. It is your NOW, your PRESENT. It is  God's gift to you. It is the immediate stage and theater of your being. It is the story that you are right now writing. It is the journey you are right now walking. It is what has been entrusted into your care. And your TOMORROW will emerge out of what you do TODAY.

So, LET US BEGIN. Seize this day. Live with full responsibility and integrity, passion and love . . . knowing that by doing this you will honor the past and prepare the way for the future. But only if you begin right here and right now with the day the Lord has made.

And be encouraged that this guidance was given to us by a young, unassuming, "nobody of the world" who rose every morning, saying,

"Let us begin . . ."
 

This is the passion and wisdom of true leadership . . .

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Courage (From the Great Things That Matter Most to You)

Courage is "the judgment that something else is more important than fear." (Ambrose Redmoon)

We all need courage, for life is hard, problems are daunting, challenges are painful, opposition is fierce and failure is real.

Redmoon shows us the way forward into these realities.

Courage comes about when you decide there are some things that are more important (far so) than what it is you fear. 

What you value is more important than what you fear.

Therefore, it is imperative that I have crystal clarity about what I value.

I need unshakeable conviction and belief about the great things that matter most.

Cherished convictions, compelling beliefs, chosen values . . .

And I think of these things often. I recall them to mind. I reflect and chew on them. I pray about them. I pull deep into me, their reality, so they become part of who I am and who I am is now shaped by what they are.

This does not eliminate any of the hardness, problems, challenges, opposition and failure that life WILL bring my way.

But it does provide perspective (judgment, assessment, conclusions) that something else is more important.

And so I choose to live according to what is more important.

One of the most helpful things you can do is pull out your journal or get a piece of paper and take some time. Reflect and write down - what are the great things that are most important to you. For your imbibing and living of these things is the way of finding courage to lead.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership  ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Learn to be yourself . . .

This one may seem a bit "obscure." I hope it is helpful for you. It launchs much reflection for me.

Learn to limit yourself,
to content yourself with
some definite thing
and some definite work;
dare to be what you are
and learn to resign with a good grace
all that you are not.

Henri Frederic Amiel
Amiel's Journal Intime 

 

Leaders have so much drive, so much energy, so many visions, a multitide of interests . . .

Leaders are absorbed in so many things, pulled in diverse directions, fueled by a legion of needs . . .

We are in danger of over-extending our grasp.
Of too many beginnngs, but not enough endings.

We need to be in too many places.
We have too much need to be needed by too many people.
To be in the center of too much attention. 

Some of the most important inner work you will do is to learn to limit yourself... to focus on the one best thing (okay - the few best things)... and to let go of the many things. Allow them to settle into the hands of others to be their thing.

We must discover who we are, the specific workmanship of God,

made like this and not like that,

and made for this and not that.

When we know who we are and who we are not
and what we are to do and not to do, then we must,
by God's help, resign ourselves with a good grace
and let go of all that we are not.
 

 This is a journey of many long years . . .

But today is a good day to answer in fresh ways, the question . . .

 

. . . and start to let go, with good grace, what you are not!

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

 

Learning Humility (the Hard Way)

Humility!

If pride is the original sin, perhaps humility is the original virtue?

Humlity is the by-product of other experiences. 

My failures (and they have been many) have been the guides for this experience.

My struggles with sin (and its persistence) reminds me of daily, necessary grace.

The absurdity of sin management techniques reveal how little I am truly in control... humbling to say the least.

The glimpses of God's greatness, his grandeur, his glory - create a fear and trembling and humility. What is this particular man that Thou art mindful of me? Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord... Passages like Isaiah 6 and Isaiah 40 (holiness and sovereignty) foster invaluable perspective.

I only need one reason to long for the grace of humility. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. When it comes to turf wars with God... I have yet to win a single one.

 

Brian K. Rice  Leadership ConneXtions International  www.lci.typeapd.com

Your Spiritual Center (Thoughts from Gordon MacDonald)

Here is a paragraph from Gordon's new book, Building Below the Water Line.

I'm convinced from my reading of the mystics that our perception of reality revolves around a spiritual center. That center quickly becomes almost inoperative if it's not maintained through constant spiritual discipline. Almost all Christian leaders believe that doctrinally, but few believe it experientially enough to carve out one or two hours a day to maintain their spiritual center.

What results is an accumulation of knowledege wihtout wisdom. You get leaders who operate on charisma instead of spiritual power.

Aptly spoken words.

I don't know if Gordon was the first one who clued me in to the language of "below the water line" but he was among the first who did this. And this metaphor is the way he addresses the theme of attending to all that is interior in the life of a leader.

The mystics are those who do not merely know ideas about God.

They are the ones who have encountered and experienced the living God... and not just once, but in ongoing, sustained ways.

I have found that not only is it important to practice the spiritual disciplines, but . . .

It is important to practice the right spiritual disciplines, and . . .

It is important to practice them in the right way.

But all that is for other posts.

For now, reflect a bit on how strong is your spiritual center... how much time are you devoting daily to search after the heart of God... are you operating on talent, gift, skill and charisma - or with unction, the spiritual power of the heart that has encountered Christ?

Missional leaders and missional mystics --- we need this kind of leadership today!

Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

 

 

Start Something That Matters Video

 

 

Be inspired by the poetry of vision, mission, passion and purpose...

And find your box...

 

 

Thanks to my friend Keith M. for sharing this with me.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Making Decisions

I am borrowing these great ideas right out of Guy Kawaski's wonderful book - Enchantment. If you are looking for a motivational and empowering book to read - try this one.

Here are some of Guy's guidelines for when he has to make a decision. I have done just a little morphing here and there.

If I wait a week will I make the same decision? 

A year from now, will this decision still be a good one?

Have I done my homework and can I really support this decision with facts?

Do I fully know the cost of this decision (both the up front and the ongoing costs)?

Will this decision harm anyone? If it will affect some people negatively, do I have full justification for making it?

Is this decision in any way illegal immoral or unethical? And is it skirting close to the edge or steering well away from that realm? If it is even close - why am I considering making it?

************

And two that I'll add:

Have I prayed about this decision and sense strongly that I should continue on in the way I am going?

Have I received counsel and affirmation from people I trust?

***********

I know this sounds like some work... but for important decisions, make sure you have done your work and you make the best decision you can.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

 

 

Steadfast

Standing firm.

Fixed and fast

Not shaken and not moved.

Enduring, persevering, resolute and determined.

The word is used about 25 times in the King James Version of the Bible.

The newer translations use a variety of words in its place.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

When the hard winds blow...
when the difficult times linger...
when the risk is high...
when the temptation is painful...

leaders are steadfast.

Gordon MacDonald says then we need: 

"a ceaseless embrace of certain purposes and commitments
from which one will never retreat." 

Of course it matters a great deal that you have awesome clarity and conviction about your purposes and commitments... and that they be worthy and high ideals...

For a short and inspiring story of one leader who exemplified this, click here to be inspired by William Borden.

So - what are you certain purposes and commitments from which you will never retreat. Take a few minutes and make your short list.

And then - are you steadfast on those things.

Brian K, Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Who is Your Devil's Advocate?

A devil's advocate was a practice developed by the Roman Catholic church in 1587 and that was in practice up to 1983.

It was a "canon lawyer" established to argue against a case being made for one presented for Sainthood. The devil's advocate would seek to find the best arguments against sainthood for that person.

Examine the evidence thoroughly, make sure the reputed miracles were not hoaxes...

Today the word is used to refer to someone who is going to take the "opposing side" of an argument. Even if they are supportive of your own position, they play the role of arguing against it and for the other side.

We can expand this a bit and say a devil's advocate:

*  challenges you

*  exposes faulty or weak thinking and assumptions you have

*  take the role of the skeptic from Missouri, "prove it to me"

*  are not impressed nor intimidated by you (but they do respect and appreciate you)

*  want to help you be the best you can be and spare you from the real critics and mistakes.

I've been fortunate to have different people in this role for me. One person in particular was a huge supporter, a key leader for my work . . . and yet when he needed to, he pushed hard on my ideas. He pushed hard because he was for me and wanted me to be successful in what I was doing. If he had not pushed as hard as he did on some issues, my thinking would have been weaker and my actions questionable.

So - who is your devil's advocate?

Are you utilizing them meaningfully?

If not - why not?

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com
 

YouTube Video Watching Habits

It is almost impossible to know how many videos are on YouTube.

Five hundred million?

One billion?

Whatever the number - it is a lot.

A study done in 2010 looked at YouTube watching habits. The study was a large one.

They assessed 40 million short videos (under five minutes) and how long they were watched.

Those 40 million videos had 7 billion views.

20% of the viewers abandoned the video in 10 seconds or less!

44% of the viewers stopped watching by 60 seconds.

Video attention spans for internet watchers is short!

So - when making videos.

Keep it SHORT.

Grab their attention FAST.

And make it really, really INTERESTING.

This information came from Enchantment, by Guy Kawaski

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Taking a Few Days Off From Blogging Back After Labor Day

Those of you in the U.S.A., enjoy the summer ending holiday.

With the economy the way it is and with so many unemployed or underemployed, it is a time for gratitude for the work we have and prayers for those who don't have jobs now.

brian