The Monday Memo from John Stanko

602: Wake Up With Deborah

It's been years since I wrote about Deborah, but as I was reviewing my Memo archives, I was impressed to republish this Memo this week. You may want to read Judges 5 also before we go on from here. 

INACTIVITY

When I read Judges 5, I get the idea that Deborah's main role was to encourage and influence the people of God to act. She urged God's people to do something about a bad situation and they did it.  Without Deborah's influence, they could have remained in bondage much longer.  Here are some of the verses that give me the sense that Deborah stirred people to action:

• "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves—praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:2).

• "Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7).

• "My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:9).

• "'Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, O Barak! Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam" (Judges 5:12). 

•  "Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart" (Judges 5:16).

• "Curse Meroz," said the angel of the Lord. "Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty'" (Judges 5:23).

Deborah caused the people to wake up and act. They were tolerating a bad situation and had even become accustomed to it. It was time to put a stop to it and Deborah saw that it happened.  Those who did not help or act were "cursed of the Lord." 

WAKE UP!

So maybe it's time for you to "wake up"?  What situation have you accepted as normal that you have the power to change?  Where has inactivity led to complacency?  Where do you need the Spirit of Deborah to call you to action?  Then again, it may be time for you to wake someone else up, to stimulate the people around you to action through your action.  If you have ever said, "Someone needs to do something," have you considered that the someone may be you? 

Deborah called the people to arms and then she accompanied them to see that the victory was secured.  You can do the same and, when you do, you will follow in the footsteps of a "mother" in Israel who knew that the situation was unacceptable and needed to change. Why not impact your world this week the way Deborah did hers?  As you do, I know you will have a great week!

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HELP! Pastor Peter wrote a great report of the ongoing impact of the community library in Kenya, but he also wrote requesting help as you can read here. Please read his plea and then give as the Lord leads through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

526: Collaboration

We are almost finished with our discussion of the five c's in succcccess.  To date, we have covered Curiosity, Creativity, and Competence. This week we will take a look at collaboration.  Without further ado, let's get into it.

YAY TEAM!

God did not create you to do everything, just certain things.  If you could do it all, you would not have need of anyone else.  The same is true for organizations. Even large corporations need to collaborate with others or else build an organization big enough so that everything they need is under one corporate umbrella.  In a sense, they are then collaborating within their organization, but still must at times build partnerships with other entities.

Here are a few examples of teams working together in the Bible:

1. Joseph and Pharaoh made a great team in Egypt, with Joseph providing the administration and Pharaoh the leadership.
2. Moses and Aaron led the Israelites out of Egypt.
3. Saul and David enjoyed success early in their partnership as they defeated the Philistines again and again.
4. Nehemiah partnered with the king her served to secure permission and resources to rebuild Jerusalem.
5. Daniel had his three friends serving with him in Babylon.
6. Jesus had twelve disciples with whom he collaborated and worked closely.
7. Barnabas and Saul, Paul and Silas, Paul and Luke, and a number of other combinations worked together to spread the gospel to the Gentiles in the early church.

I hope you get the idea that is you are going to be succcccessful, you are going to need to collaborate or partner with others, whether you are looking for individual or corporate succcccess.

SOME SUGGESTIONS    

Here are some quick suggestions to enable you to collaborate effectively:

1. Find those who share your values and ethics.  Don't collaborate with those whom you can't trust.
2. Partner with your opposite.  This assumes you know your strengths and are willing to collaborate with those who are strong where you aren't.
3. Know your purpose. If you know where you are headed, you can join up with people who are on the same road.
4. Network. Get out and meet people.  Build relationships before you even think of collaborating.  Don't just build a card file of acquaintances, but listen and learn what motivates other people.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive teaching on partnerships and collaborations.  Rather it is an attempt to help you get out your own little world and learn to "play well" with others. If you want to do great things and enjoy succcccess, then there is usually no such thing as a one man or woman act.  Succcccess usually comes through strategic collaboration.

Stop going it alone and playing it safe, and learn to partner with others so that you can enjoy the synergies of joint ventures that will allow you to reach your goals. Have a great week!

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GOOD NEWS!: I wrote last week that I had a $1,500 matching grant that expired on Monday, October 31 at midnight for the Kenya library project.  As of Sunday, October 30, I had $65 toward that match. By midnight, October 31, just one day later, $1,290 more had come in, for a grand total of $1,355!  This week, I will wire Pastor Peter $2,710.

But that's not all. The donor has extended the deadline a few more days, so that if the other $145 comes in by this Wednesday, November 9, the donor will match it and we will have our $3,000 needed to renovate the library space, pictured to the right.

Can you help with the $145 yet to be received from the matching grant?  If so, you can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882 (please let me know if you are sending a check, so I will know if we made our new deadline or not).  Thanks, and thank You, Lord, for coming through on this first phase of the money we need.

 

 

 

525: Competence

This week we continue our discussion of the five c's in succcccess with the third c - competence. (If you missed the previous two, you can access them here.)  I want to say at the start that God does not promote or use people with potential.  He does not promote holy people just because they are holy.  God promotes and uses people who have developed their potential and have coupled their holiness with competence and fruitfulness.  Don't believe me?  Then read on and see if I can convince you.

PROOF PLEASE

How can I make statements about the importance of competence? Consider these examples:

1. Daniel - Daniel served with distinction in Babylon.  He was promoted because of his gifts that God gave him, but he developed them, as it was said of Daniel: "At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4).  Daniel was a good, perhaps even a great, skilled administrator.
2. David - David was a prolific songwriter and poet who honed his skills by regular use.  He was also a magnificent warrior and leader, of whom the people sang: "When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:6-7).
3. Esther - Esther was a beautiful woman, by God's design: "This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful" (Esther 2:7b). What did God do with her beauty?  He dispatched her to the king's servants, who bestowed beauty treatments on Esther for one year.  The result: She was even more beautiful than before! 
4. Paul - Paul knew four languages and was from one of the most cross-cultural city in the Roman Empire. He was a Jew of Jews, who was a stellar keeper of God's law by his own admission: ". . . as for righteousness based on the law, faultless" (Philippians 3:6). What did God do with this man who had excelled in Judaism?  He chose Paul to be His representative to the Gentiles.  God took Paul's skill, redirected and perfected it, and used it for His glory.

THE LESSON FOR YOU

The lesson for you should be clear.  God uses you to the extent that you have developed your skills and gifts.  If you are competent, He will use you.  If you are competent and have integrity, He will promote you to the highest levels that your gifts and foundation will allow you to attain. Your succcccess in any field or endeavor is a partnership between God, who provides the grace and opportunities, and you, who develop your competence. 

What is your plan for competence?  Do you even have one?  In what field or effort do you want to be competent, even world-class in skill and effect?  Mind you, I am not suggesting that competence is more important than holiness or integrity?  I am saying, however, that without competence your holiness alone will limit God's ability to use you to the fullest extent of your potential.  Give some thought this week to the importance of competence in succcccess and then go about a one-, five- or lifetime plan to achieve the greatest skill possible for you as you express your purpose and pursue your goals.  Have a great week!

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MATCHING GRANT:  Today is the last day for the $1,500 matching grant we had received for the library work in Kenya.  That means unless $1,500 comes in today, we lose the grant.  That's alright, for God has a plan, so I am not worried. There is still time today, so I have not given up until I check the mailbox this week to see if someone sent a check.  If this is the first you have heard about this grant, you can read about it here and then give through my website or by sending a check today to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  His will be done, so give as He leads and directs and if He doesn't do either, then I and we will trust Him for other sources.

I NEED FEEDBACK:  I am in the middle of revising my book, So Many Leaders, So Little Leadership and posted some definitions of leadership, team and purpose on my blog.  If you have a chance, take a look at them here and tell me what you think of how accurate they are and/or how they can be improved. 

517: Pharaoh Was a Servant-Leader, Part 3

It's time to wrap up our look at Joseph's Pharaoh, who was himself a great leader. I maintain that he was a servant-leader extraordinaire, for he served Joseph, his nation and the vision God gave him for the future.  Under Pharaoh's leadership, Joseph was promoted, the impact of the famine lessened, and God's plan for Israel furthered in the process.  All in all, I say that qualifies Pharaoh for special status in any study of leadership.

Let's wrap up by looking at the final five lessons we can learn from Pharaoh's leadership style.  (If you missed the first ten lessons, you can catch up with them here.)

THE LAST FIVE LESSONS

11. Pharaoh used his power to empower the right people. All leaders have power. What distinguishes a good from a great or bad leader is how that power is used. Pharaoh used his power to empower Joseph to do the job that God had gifted him to do. Peter Drucker, father of modern management studies, stated that the job of management is to find out what management is doing that prevents others from doing their job - and then to stop doing it. Pharaoh used his power correctly; he used it to help his team get the job done.

12. Pharaoh approved the plan and let Joseph carry it out. Pharaoh listened to Joseph’s strategy and then approved it. With his stamp of approval, he then let Joseph do it with a minimum of input or interference. Pharaoh did not micromanage or set up a bureaucracy that slowed things down.  He did not interrupt Joseph in his work.  I worked for a pastor once who interfered regularly in the work he hired me to do.  One day I told him, "You have great patience for people I have to oversee and work with."  In other words, I was telling him nicely to let me do my job and choose my team. Do you need to be told the same thing?  Do you need to tell that to someone over you?

13. Pharaoh gave Joseph an unlimited travel budget. The Bible states that Joseph traveled throughout Egypt; he had freedom of movement to get his job done (see Genesis 41:46). If you want to empower your team, let them travel. Give them freedom of movement to go see and learn what they need to get the job done. I am not referring to first class travel to exotic places, but instead trips with purpose to benchmark and observe best practices wherever they may be found. This may be onsite visits or conferences that feature world-class teaching and instruction. If you want the best, let them go and learn from the best.

14. Pharaoh was concerned for Joseph’s personal life. Pharaoh found a wife for Joseph and then helped him take care of Jacob and his brothers when they came to Egypt. Pharaoh made sure that Joseph shared in the wealth and blessing that was within Pharaoh’s power to bestow. Pharaoh also made sure that Joseph had a life outside his work position and gave him land and money to go with it.

15. Pharaoh stayed in touch with reality but let Joseph do his job. When the famine arrived, the people cried out to Pharaoh – but Pharaoh sent them to Joseph and told them to do whatever Joseph directed them to do. Wouldn’t everyone like to have a boss or supervisor like that?  Pharaoh was not enamored with the sound of his own name called out by his people. He stayed focused and let his team do the job, and his judgment was vindicated, over and over again.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharaoh was rewarded well for his exceptional leadership skills. His country was saved from oblivion and suffering. He actually increased his power and position during the famine, because Joseph successfully leveraged their supply of food and seed for land and a future return on their investment. Pharaoh secured a place in history as a good leader, in contrast to his counterpart who wielded heavy-handed, authoritarian control during the time of Moses.  Moses’ Pharaoh was such a bad leader that he allowed his personal pride and blindness to ruin his country for many centuries to come.

What kind of leader do you want to be? I hope you want to be one like Joseph’s Pharaoh. Take some time to reflect on your style as it relates to Pharaoh’s and see where you need to improve. Then set about building a more effective team than you have now so that you and your organization can be the fullest, best expression of who it is that God intended for you and them to be.  Have a great week!

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LABOR DAY:  Next weekend is our Labor Day holiday in the States and I think I will take a week off from writing the Memo, my first week off this year.  You will hear from me again for Monday, September 12. To all my American friends, I hope you enjoy the last weekend of the summer next week.

516: Pharaoh Was a Servant-Leader, Part 2

I would guess that you never considered a Pharaoh to be a servant-leader from whom you could learn leadership lessons?  That is exactly what I am proposing as we study the leadership style of Joseph's Pharaoh as described in Genesis 37-50.  If you missed Part One last week, you can catch up here.  After that, let's take a look at the next five lessons to learn from the life of this amazing leader.  Then, there will be five more lessons next week, so pay close attention (I know I originally said there were ten, but I was wrong - there are fifteen lessons.) There may be a quiz after that.

FIVE MORE LESSONS

6. Pharaoh recognized talent, gifting and “special ability.” In Genesis 47, Joseph brought five of his brothers to meet Pharaoh. When Pharaoh asked them what they did, they responded that they were shepherds. Pharaoh then made a revealing statement: “If any of them have special ability, put them over my own flocks” (Genesis 47:6). He didn’t give Joseph’s brothers a job because they needed one or because they were Joseph’s brothers. He only wanted those with “special ability” to serve on his leadership team.

Pharaoh knew that world-class results come from employing world-class leaders and managers. Pharaoh had the good sense to hire Joseph but he also restored the right man in his cupbearer, for he was the one who eventually led Pharaoh to Joseph. Hopefully someone on your team can recognize talent. It doesn’t have to be the lead person. When you find someone with that ability, listen to that person. They will save you much aggravation and the pain of a bad hire. And don’t ever hire anyone only because they need a job or are related to you or someone already on staff.

7. Pharaoh promoted youth. Joseph was only 30 years old when he entered Pharaoh’s court. Don’t be prejudiced against youth. If you find someone who is talented, hire that person, regardless of their age. Youth can lack experience, but they do have energy and they don’t know enough to prevent them from doing saying what everyone has said is impossible.

8. Pharaoh hired someone with a shady past and no previous experience. Up to this point, Joseph only had leadership experience in Potiphar’s house and the prison. He also had an accusation of sexual harassment hanging over him from Potiphar. Pharaoh looked past that, however, to the needs that only Joseph could address. Almost anyone with talent will have some negatives; you can’t find perfect hires. So stop trying and instead find and work with the best talent you can discover.

9. Pharaoh gave authority and established boundaries. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of everything except “the throne.” He put Joseph in charge of operations to store food for the famine and then to distribute food in the famine. Joseph’s job description and expectations were clear; there was no ambiguity. While Joseph’s hiring was a quick one, his job description was clear and well thought out.

10. Pharaoh was secure in his leadership and had Joseph with him “in the chariot.” Pharaoh had Joseph ride in the chariot as “second-in-command.” I have a picture in my mind that Pharaoh was in the same chariot or at least close by. When people honored Joseph, Pharaoh was secure enough that he wasn’t threatened by Joseph’s wisdom, power or position. Pharaoh was secure in his own leadership. He was taking a chance by putting this newcomer in charge, but Pharaoh still shared his power and prestige with this man recently released from prison. 

There you have it - the middle five lessons from Pharaoh's leadership style.  Tune in next week for the last five lessons.  More importantly, work to apply what you have read last week and this, for the need for servant-leaders who can lead and manage like this Pharaoh has never been greater.  Have a great week!

    Make comments to this entry on the site where it is posted.

    Read the last nine entries on servant-leadership here.

515: Pharaoh Was A Servant-Leader, Part 1

When I mention Pharaoh, who comes to mind? It’s probably the Pharaoh Moses encountered in the book of Exodus. That Pharaoh, however, isn’t the one I want to focus on, for there is one Pharaoh in the Bible who was a great example of a servant-leader. I am referring to the one who was Joseph’s contemporary in Genesis 37-50. It may surprise you, but this Pharaoh was one of the best leaders in the Bible and has something to teach us about servant-leadership! Here’s why.

EGYPT IN JOSEPH’S TIMES

Egypt in Joseph’s times was the most powerful nation in the world. Pharaoh had oversight over a large population and army. When Joseph first arrived, Egypt prospered and there was no end in sight. Yet, God was doing something that would shape history for centuries to come. He wanted to move His people, Abraham’s family, to Egypt from where they would make their exodus back to the Promised Land centuries later.

To accomplish that purpose, God sent Joseph ahead of his family to Egypt on a mission. While Egypt enjoyed their prosperity, Joseph was imprisoned – and then the drama played out that led to Pharaoh’s famous doubleheader dreams. If you remember, Pharaoh had two dreams, one where seven gaunt cows devoured seven fat cows, the other where seven lean heads of grain consumed seven healthy heads. Joseph helped Pharaoh understand that these dreams indicated seven years of famine would follow seven years of plenty.

The period leading up to the dream, the dream interpretation and the dream application all give us valuable lessons for servant-leadership that we would do well to emulate.

PHARAOH’S LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Take the time to read Genesis 40:1-5, 20-23; 41:1-4, 33-57; 47:1-4. What can we learn about Pharaoh from these passages? (We will look at five lessons this week and five the next two weeks after that. That will give you time to read the passages above and to reflect on what you read. Or you can go to my website and read all fifteen lessons at one time here.)

1. Pharaoh wasn’t afraid to lead his people. When Pharaoh had his dreams, there were no problems in Egypt. There was plenty of food and he learned from Joseph and his dream that there would be seven more years of plenty. The famine wasn’t even close to starting, but Pharaoh made firm decisions concerning the future. He began to prepare for the famine seven years in advance of its coming. What’s your seven-year plan for your organization? Your life? Do you even have one?

2. Pharaoh made quick decisions when he found the right person. There was no procrastination when Pharaoh decided to act. Too often, leaders hesitate to gather more information. Pharaoh knew he had found a “star” in Joseph and acted quickly to secure his services and wisdom. Good people are hard to find. When you find them, hire them! You will still have to manage them or else you will eventually have a mess on your hands. Delegation doesn’t mean abdication of responsibility. It means you hold your team accountable for results, but don’t micromanage the process.

3. Pharaoh understood personnel issues and effectively used probation, restoration and release. In Genesis 40, Pharaoh was angry with his cupbearer and his baker. Rather than “fire” them immediately, however, he took time to reflect on the situation. Too often, leaders can let personality conflicts or misunderstandings affect the relationships with the management team. Pharaoh could make quick decisions when needed, and I am sure he had a temper. In the case of these two “employees,” however, he waited one year. In some sense, he put them on probation. After a period of time, he “released” (all right, he executed) the baker and restored the cupbearer.

Don’t let your personal preferences regarding personnel issues rob your organization of its best talent. Learn to establish a “cooling off” period before making final decisions. Let the employees or team members know that they are on probation. Then when you’ve made your final decision about the future, don’t linger any longer. Make it known to everyone.It is significant that, using this process, Pharaoh made the best choice, for the restored cupbearer was the one who introduced Pharaoh to Joseph, the man with the plan.

4. Pharaoh spent time with his team. Pharaoh restored the cupbearer at his own birthday party that he held for his officials. The king of Egypt spent social time with his leadership team! It appears that they also talked some business while they met. It seems that Pharaoh never had his officials too far away from him at any point in time, so he could get their feedback and input. How close are you to your “team”? You don’t have to be their friend, but you do need to be their partner and associate.

5. Pharaoh partnered with his opposite. Pharaoh didn’t fill his staff with people like him. He brought in some “opposites.” Pharaoh was obviously a visionary; he therefore hired a good operations man in Joseph to carry out the day-to-day plans of the kingdom. Partnering with your opposite can be difficult, for they see reality and life in contrast to your viewpoint. They can, however, see what you can’t (and vice versa), however, thus strengthening the team through diversity and friendly dissent.Over the years,

I have worked at not just tolerating people who aren’t like me, but celebrating them! I need people who don’t think or look like me to build an effective team (that means women and persons of color). How diverse is your team? If your family member fits this need and has the skills, then employ them. If they don’t, spare your organization the pain of a bad hire by not employing them.

There you have the first five servant-leadership lessons from the story of Joseph's Pharaoh. Read and study the passages I mentioned this week and then tune in next week for the next five lessons from this outstanding leader, one who understood that servant-leadership was the best manner in which he could lead his people.

    Make comments to this entry on the site where it is posted.

    Read the last eight entries on servant-leadership here.

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KENYA UPDATE:  The final tally for the Crisis in Kenya appeal was $8,946!  What a fantastic response, for which I am grateful to you for your prayerful support.  You can read a series of thank you emails I received here, along with the latest thank you from Pastor Francis here, to whom I gave an additional $2,000 last Saturday.  Just so you know, I distributed $1,000 to Pastor Peter at WAPIS, $5,000 to Pastor Francis at Upako Centre, $1,800 to Alice at Each One Touch One Orphanage, and $1,150 to Edith at WEMA Widows. You can read a short synopsis of each one of these ministries here.

514: My Leadership Philosophy

Do you have a leadership philosophy?  Have you outlined a set of values that will guide your decisions as a leader?  We have been discussing servant-leadership the last eight weeks, and now it's time to ask yourself, "How will I apply what I have learned?"  To help you do that, let me share with you how servant-leadership has impacted my life and work.

MY LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

In 1999, I wrote down this leadership philosophy to guide my leadership role and duties:

I was born to lead, but I work hard to be the best leader that I can possibly be. I exercise a team approach to leadership that values the input and worth of every individual.  As a leader, I share finances, success and credit with all those who contribute. I also serve others so that they can become all that God wants them to be, using any power I have to empower them. I do this without concern for my title, remuneration or recognition.  I look for ways to influence and persuade others without resorting to power tactics or manipulative techniques.

Can you see the principles we have outlined the last two months in that statement?  That paragraph for me is not just something I put down on paper and forgot about. It is a living document that has directed all I do. 

There are two primary activities that emerged from my leadership philosophy and those are writing and teaching.  I found those two consistent with the kind of leader I want to be.  Both involve persuasion and empowering others.  When I write, the reader is free to read or not read, to agree or disagree.  They can obtain an insight from my writing that works on them over time without me standing over them, insisting that they agree with my insight. They may also take what I write and re-write it without giving me credit for the original idea. 

When I teach in a classroom, there is some power involved, for I ultimately assign a grade that signifies how well the student has grasped the material.  Yet even there, I have worked to be vulnerable, open to dialog and diagreement, and non-authoritarian in my approach to learning. I put time into making my presentations entertaining and informative, something that people look forward to attending.  

Of course, my seminars have been a different story, for there no grade is assigned. People can learn or not learn, approve or not approve of what I teach. I assume full responsibility to have seminar content that enriches those who attend. I always want to give people more than they expected they would receive.

AND NOW YOURS

Do you have a leadership philosophy, one that is written down that you can look at from time to time?  If you are a leader, don't assume you are applying what you know to be right and true.  Write it down and show it to others, asking them whether or not you are living up to your own standards.  If you aren't yet a leader, all the more reason to define what kind of leader you will be now, before you have money, power or fame.      

Don't get hung up on writing a philosophy that is in a correct format or has a certain number of points. Just jot down concepts that describe what kind of leader you will be.  It may be longer or shorter than mine, it may include some of my values or it may not.  The most important thing is that you spell out how the principles of servant-leadership will guide your path in the coming years.

There is a leadership crisis in the world today and there is only one thing you can do about it.  Become a better leader, a different leader, and then inspire others to do the same.  That is what I have done and you are reading this as a result.  Can you allow God to work these principles in you and then can you have the courage to apply them, when most others choose a different leadership path?  I hope you can, but all I know is that I am committed to this leadership style and will continue to perfect it as God gives me grace to do so.  Have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE:  You can read feedback from Alice after I took the team here with me in Kenya to visit her orphanage.  There is still time to give to help the orphans and widows while I am here. You will have to give through my site, but I promise to withdraw and distribute what you send while I am still here until next Monday.

Also, I am in Nairobi this week and if you would like to invest in yourself by having a profiling session, let me know.  The cost is 9,000KSH and that includes three profiles, a report and a 90-minute session with me.

513: Persuasive Power

Greetings from Kenya!  I am in the country for a few weeks, along with a team of ten from my church in the States.  I am leading the team but also serving them by using all my expertise and experience to make this trip a memorable one for them. In other words, I am a servant-leader on this trip. There is no question who is in charge, yet my leadership comes from a position of service and experience. not power.

We have looked at Jesus, David and Timothy as models of servant-leadership. This week, let's look at the Apostle Paul.

"I COULD ORDER YOU"

Paul wrote a short letter to a man named Philemon about a runaway slave named Onesimus.  It seems that Onesimus ran away from Philemon his owner and became a believer in the meantime.  Paul was writing because he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon, but he wanted Philemon to receive the former slave not as a slave but as a brother.  It is not clear why Paul was sending Onesimus back, but his wish was clear:  He wanted Onesimus to return a free man and not a slave.  Let's read what Paul wrote to understand how Paul acted as a servant-leader on this issue:

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask (Philemon 8-21).

PERSUASIVE POWER

Paul could have ordered Philemon to do what he was asking, but he preferred rather to appeal and persuade.  That is a key trait of servant-leaders. They have power but they use it sparingly. They are not reminding people who is in charge, but allowing people room to make their own decisions based on the facts.  This does not mean that servant-leaders are "soft," and that everyone gets to do what he or she wants in a particular situation.  It simply means that servant-leaders understand that their leadership power exists to empower others and not establish the leader's authority, position and legacy.  They use their position to persuade so that people grow and learn to make their own decisions rather than relying on what leaders command them to do.

Servant-leaders prefer to persuade people of the rightness of their decisions and allow time for people to arrive at their own conclusions, without coersion and force.  It may take longer, but the results are much better than the command-and-control methods employed by many.  This does require faith, however, for the servant-leader must believe in the rightness of his or her decision, but have faith that the God who convinced him or her can also convince the followers.

What is your style of leadership?  What style would you like to have?  I choose the path of the servant-leader because I have seen the results of leaders who do not serve and they are often detrimental to the growth of the followers.  I urge you today to consider developing a servant-leadership style, not just when it is convenient, but as a lifestyle and leadership philosophy.  Have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE:  We raised $7,070 for the Crisis in Kenya fund. All I can say is thank you for your generous response. When I arrived, I asked my travel agent "How are things in the country?" She responded, "There are a lot of hungry people here."  Your generosity will go a long way toward helping hungry widows and orphans.  There is still time to give, however, for I can withdraw the money over here before I leave if you missed the deadline to give before my departure.  You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882. If you send a check, please let me know so I can distribute the money here before I get home to deposit the check.

512: A Promise Kept, A Lesson Learned

Have you ever wondered why you endured such difficult lessons at the hands of poor leaders?  We discussed that last week when I showed how King David learned more about leadership from King Saul than from anyone else - he learned how not to lead.  Yet there is no guarantee that you won't be a tyrant even though you suffered at the hands of one. Let's look to see whether or not David learned his lesson and became a servant-leader after serving a dictator.

A PROMISE KEPT

When David became king, he inquired if there were any descendants of Saul still alive whom he could bless:  “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). This was a dangerous question, for most kings would seek out the relatives of the former king to kill them to avoid any rivals claiming the throne.  We don't have to read long to discover David's true motives when he found that there was a man named Mephibosheth who was Saul's grandson:

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet (2 Samuel 9:7-13).

David fulfilled his vow to Jonathan by being a blessing to Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who was lame in both feet.  David had all the power in the world, but he used that power not to build his own kingdom but to help others share in his kingdom. That is the difference between servant-leaders and dictators.  Even if you are a kinder, gentler dictator, you are still a command-and-control leader.  You cannot empower others if you keep your power to yourself or use it to build your own kindgom.

A LESSON LEARNED

David remembered what it was like to be persecuted at the hands of Saul, but he did not repeat the mistakes of the past.  He made a bold break with the common mindset of leadership in his day and forged a new path.  David did this in part because of his vow of frienship to Jonathan who lost his life being loyal to Saul, his father.  He did it also because he had learned a painful lesson at the hands of a poor leader and David determined that he was going to be a good one.

The choice is yours, but the time to decide is now.  If you are a leader, are you being true to the leadership lessons you learned from despots in your past?  If you are not a leader yet, don't wait until you have money and power to decide what kind of leader you will be. David made a promise when he had no power or position, and when he had both, he was true to his vow.  I implore you to follow his lead and decide right her and right now that you will be a servant-leader.  Like David, you need to break with the traditional mindset of modern leadership thinking and go a new way.  Have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE:  About $3,640 has come in so far for the Crisis in Kenya fund that I began collecting a few weeks ago. I depart this Thursday and I know the rest of the money will come in to meet our $5,000 goal.  What's more, one of our team members does not have all his support raised and needs help. If you can give to any of these needs, now is the time to do so.  You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882. I thank you and more importantly the children and orphans thank you, too (and so does our team member)!  You can also read Alice's latest update from Kenya here and once again you will realize why I love working with my contacts in Kenya.  They are fine people.

LATEST BOOK:  My latest book was released four weeks ago, entitled Faith Files, Increasing Your Faith for Daily Living; Volume Two. This book focuses on every verse that refers to faith in Paul's epistles; Volume One focuses on the same in the gospels. You guessed it, Volume Three will focus on faith verses outside of the Pauline epistles.  You can order this helpful devotional through Paypal for $15, or you can mail a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8881, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0881. Order today and be among the first to receive your autographed copy.  Until this Wednesday, July 27, get both Volume One and Two for only $20!

RADIO SHOW:  Did you know I have a weekly online radio show?  I broadcast live every Tuesday at 5 PM my local time. Or you can listen to any of the past shows by going to the archive and downloading to listen as a podcast (or just listen on your computer).

TWITTER: I am building up my Twitter following. If you subscribe, then you can follow me @johnstanko.

511: A Bad Leader Can Teach You to Be a Good One

Have you ever been in a bad situation, one from which you could not escape or see any reason for being there?  I have and so did King David.  We have been talking about servant-leadership these past few weeks, so let's continue with that theme as we discuss the answer to the question I raised.

A BAD LEADER

We can all agree that King Saul wasn't a good leader.  While he started strong, he ended miserably.  Saul quickly became David's nemesis after David had served under his command.  While David faithfully served Saul, the king was increasingly envious of David and actually tried to kill David on three separate occasions.  When that failed, Saul spent years using the armies that should have been devoted to fighting the Philistines to try and hunt down David.

Although David knew he was to be the next king, he had to endure persecution at the hands of the current king.  Many urged David to take matters into his own hands to remove Saul and some tried to act on David's behalf.  David resisted each temptation to do so, choosing rather to wait for God to put him on the throne rather than put himself there.

Why did God put David in such a position? Why did David suffer so long at the hands of a man whom God had rejected as king?  What was God doing during that time?

It's clear what God was doing.  God was teaching David how to lead from the firsthand example of a bad leader.  David learned more about leadership from Saul than from anyone else.  What did he learn?  He learned how not to lead!

Could this be the answer to your current dilemma, which finds you far away from the fulfillment of a purpose that you understand and think you are ready to embrace?

TALK IS CHEAP.

There are many who say, "If I was in charge, this would happen or that would not happen."  That kind of talk sounds good.  Even the leaders in Jesus' day said the same thing:

"And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets" (Matthew 23:30). 

The problem is that this talk is cheap. If you don't decide what kind of servant-leader you will be before you have money and power, you are doomed to replicate the same miserable leadership style that you had to endure to become a leader yourself. You don't believe me?  Read what Jesus said in response to those potential leaders:

"Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town." (Matthew 23:34).

God will eventually give you a chance to lead, just he did David.  David learned his lessons well and decided what kind of leader he was going to be while Saul was still pursuing him.  What's more important, David actually became that kind of leader.  He learned his lessons well. Jesus' contemporaries duplicated the same mistakes of the past because they didn't learn good leadership skills from their bad leaders. When they refused to learn, they were doomed to repeat history.

Why are you where you are right now?  Why is your situation so tough?  Part of the reason may be so that you will learn how not to lead when you finally get the chance. If people are being stingy with you, learn to be generous now. If no one expresses thanks to you now, remember how it feels and say thank you when you are in charge.

If that's what God is teaching you, then you can embrace your current situation more enthusiastically because it simply part of your servant-learning training. When you learn the lesson, God will move you on. Just don't be guilty of saying today that things will be different when you are in charge. Make it happen tomorrow when you have the chance. If and when you do that, the hard lessons of these days will be well worth the price you are paying to become the servant-leader that God wants you to be.  Have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE:  $2,630 has come in to date for the Crisis in Kenya fund that I began collecting a few weeks ago. I depart on July 28 with a team of 10 and have determined that $5,000 is what we need to meet the crisis.  Thank you for your help in this matter.  You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882. I thank you and more importantly the children and orphans thank you, too!  You can also read Alice's thank you for the money I wired three week's ago here.

LATEST BOOK:  My latest book was released four weeks ago, entitled Faith Files, Increasing Your Faith for Daily Living; Volume Two. This book focuses on every verse that refers to faith in Paul's epistles; Volume One focuses on the same in the gospels. You guessed it, Volume Three will focus on faith verses outside of the Pauline epistles.  You can order this helpful devotional through Paypal for $15, or you can mail a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8881, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0881. Order today and be among the first to receive your autographed copy.  Until July 27, get both Volume One and Two for only $20!

RADIO SHOW:  Did you know I have a weekly online radio show?  I broadcast live every Tuesday at 5 PM my local time. Or you can listen to any of the past shows by going to the archive and downloading to listen as a podcast (or just listen on your computer).

TWITTER: I am building up my Twitter following. If you subscribe, then you can follow me @johnstanko.

HOME PAGE:  I made a few adjustments and additions to my website home page, archives and what's new link.  Check them out when you have a chance here.  All my social media, websites and radio broadcast are now easily accessible with one click from my home page.

ASSESSMENT:  You can also take the free purpose assessment on my home page and receive a score that let's you know where you stand in your PurposeQuest.  Why not take (or retake) that free assessment today?