The Monday Memo from John Stanko

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?

510: The Real Leader

Have you ever noticed that the real leader in any group is not necessarily the one who has the title or highest rank?  Often it is the one who exerts the greatest influence, for influence is always a better motivator of others than coercion or bribes, usually called financial rewards, bonuses or gifts.

We have been discussing servant-leadership the last few weeks and we want to continue this week by looking at a story from David's life before he was king.  You will see that, while Saul was the leader in title, David was the leader in reality, but his service and leadership were not appreciated.

"WILL THEY STAND WITH ME?"

While King Saul was using his army to chase innocent David instead of fighting the Philistines, one of Israel's towns was in danger. David went to save this town, named Keilah, even though he put himself in danger of being attacked by Saul while he did so (You can read this story in its entirety in 1 Samuel 23).  David saved the day and the town, but then Saul heard where David was and decided to pursue and defeat David even though David had served him and Israel well.

If that wasn't bad enough, the residents of Keilah whom David has just saved, decided to side with Saul:

Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will.” Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will" (1 Samuel 23:7-12).

You may be a servant-leader in your situation but you do not receive the credit or rewards due your efforts.  If that is the case, you understand what David experienced at this moment of betrayal and humiliation.

THE REAL LEADER

Now I ask you, who was the real leader of Israel?  Was it David or Saul?  Of course, it was David, but the army and the people sided with Saul because he had the title and power.  All David had was the desire to serve his people, and of course the attention and favor of God. Servant-leaders do the right things whether or not they are rewarded.  They exercise influence because they are humble and dedicated to serving others.  Authoritarian leaders serve their own interests, which often include those interests of their family and friends. 

What kind of leader do you want to be?  Do you want the title and all the "perks" that go with it, or are you content to serve the interests of others, using your power to empower them?  Are you prepared to continue doing that even if those you serve do not recognize or appreciate your efforts?  The goods in 1 Samuel 23 was that God was watching and that is still the good news - God is mindful of your situation.  I urge you to continue to do good, to serve and lead, even if no one notices.  In so doing, you will follow in the footsteps of many great leaders who have trusted God for their rewards while they did the best they could to serve others in their time of need.  Have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE:  $1,285 has come in this week for Kenya, and that makes a total of $1,835 for the last three weeks. I depart on July 28 and have determined that $5,000 is what we need.  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 two week's ago here.

LATEST BOOK:  My latest book was released three 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?

509: The One and Only One

Have you discovered yet that servant-leadership isn't just inconvenient but a death process that requires you die to self and live for others. I prayed as a young believer that I would someday be like Timothy, who was the Apostle Paul's right hand man. I didn't want to be a right hand man, however, but was really praying that God would join me to a significant man and leader who would promote my ministry and stature. It was a selfish prayer but it sounded so spiritual.

Then one day I read a few verses about Timothy that changed my life.  I have to warn you, however, that your life will be changed too once you see and embrace these verses. So don't read on if you don't want to be challenged or stretched. If you do, then these next few paragraphs will change your leadership style forever.

THE ONE AND ONLY ONE

The passage is found in Philippians 2:19-22:

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

What did I learn from those verse that changed my life?

1. Timothy was of use to others. Paul could send Timothy because he would encourage both the Philippians when he arrived and Paul when he returned. I determined to be more encouraging to my leaders and my peers.
2. Timothy was the one and only. Paul had no one else like Timothy. Paul worked with many great men, yet Timothy was unique. I made up my mind I would not follow the crowd where leadership was involved, but set myself apart, with God's help, to be like Timothy in heart and behavior.
3. Timothy was unique because he was genuinely concerned. Timothy was concerned for the interests of others and the interests of Jesus Christ. At one point in my life, I was only interested in others and to some extent Jesus for what they could do for me, and not wha I could do for them.
4. Timothy had proven his worth. Timothy added value to the team of which he was a member. He didn't just show off or preach flashy sermons, but rather served Paul and the people. I determined that service was what God wanted me to emphasize as I led, and I have endeavored not just to serve the leader or those who would benefit me, but everyone as if I was serving Jesus directly.

TWO QUESTIONS

Paul only had one Timothy, which is remarkable. Paul worked with Silas, Titus, Luke, and Barnabas, but he didn't consider them in the same category as Timothy. That fact led me to ask two questions. If Paul only had one Timothy, how many will I ever see? There are only a few who can overcome self interests to come to a place of being genuinely interested in others. I lowered my expectations of others, trying to better understand human nature so that I could work with people more effectively.

The second and more important question was: Could I be like Timothy? I have put my own interests aside, but it is a hard process. Self-interest clings to me like cat hair to dark fabric, and putting others' interests ahead of my own is a death process. I have to die daily to my own will as I identify and serve the interests of others.

What do you see in those verses about Timothy and how can you apply them to you life? I would suggest you reflect on this passage in the coming week and then share your insights with my readers on the site where this entry is posted. Let's see how many Timothys we can raise up in this generation, who are genuine and who serve the interests of others. If there are no others, then I am still committed to be a Timothy myself. Have a great week!

    Feel free to leave your comments on the site where this entry is posted.

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KENYA UPDATE: $550 came in last week to help with the needs in Kenya that I explained here. That's great, but we (and they) need more. I am returning to Kenya on July 28 and I ask you to pray and then act. 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 last week here.

LATEST BOOK:  My latest book was released two 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 buidling 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?

508: Jesus Was a Servant-Leader

If you are going to be a servant-leader, you need models and examples of how to lead, for most of the models available pay lip service to servant-leadership or are just flat out autocrats.  Fortunately, we have someone who served as an example who can also empower and enable you to serve as you lead, and also lead as you serve.  His name is Jesus.

JESUS WAS A SERVANT-LEADER.

Almost fifteen years ago, I read Robert Greenleaf’s famous book, The Power of Servant Leadership.  When I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.  Quite frankly, that book took my breath away (and still does).  I have tried to read everything and anything on servant leadership since that time, and all of it has served to sharpen my leadership focus and teaching. I was surprised to find that most of the books on servant leadership were not written by church leaders, but rather business leaders.  This surprised me, since I knew that Jesus initiated the servant leadership message. Yet somehow the servant-leadership message has escaped or circumvented the church for the most part.  I determined at that point to introduce or reintroduce the message wherever and whenever possible.

To do this, I first reflected on what the Bible and Jesus had to say about servant leadership.  More importantly, I studied what Jesus did as a servant leader.  Here are some of my findings:

1. Jesus had no official title or position.  He was called rabbi, which means teacher, yet he had no synagogue that he used as a base.  He was an itinerate teacher in His three years of ministry work. Judas had to kiss Him in the Garden when he betrayed Jesus, otherwise the Romans would not have recognized who Jesus was, since he had no clothes or other signs of being the leader.
2. Jesus did not build an organization.  Jesus had followers, but He never tried to formalize His network.  He was content to teach, travel, heal and train leaders.
3. Jesus did not recruit followers to a paid position.  Jesus recruited people to fulfill their purpose.  He never promised a salary or benefits, and did not use money or perks as a means to maintain loyalty or demand compliance. Jesus never recruited anyone through guilt or manipulation, but through love.
4. Jesus was content to teach.  Jesus influenced people by what He taught and how He lived.  He did everything He could to deflect attention from Himself to God the Father, and never put pressure on anyone to follow Him.  In fact, He discouraged some who wanted to do so.  He sent them home to live their lives and share their testimony of He had helped them.
5. Jesus never clarified who He was.  When people asked Jesus who He was, He asked them, “Who do you think I am?”  He never took time to defend Himself from false accusations, but stayed focused on His purpose. He never said, "I am in charge here." He allowed people to figure that out for themselves.

Then I determined that I wanted to be a servant leader and lead like Jesus. I’ve seldom had a high position in any organization. As a pastor, I don't demand special privileges and don't require anyone to use a title when talking to me. I use my power to empower and serve others. I have an organization that allows me to teach through my books, personal appearances and website. No one is forced to follow my teaching; it is there for them to take or leave. The purpose message has influenced many because they have chosen to listen and apply the truth. I never imposed it on anyone and still don't.

I’M A SERVANT LEADER, TOO.

I’ve said all this to remind you of what my purpose statement is: To create order out of chaos without control.  My job is to influence as many people as I can with the message of purpose, productivity and servant-leadership.  I must do that without expecting anything in return, except the joy of seeing lives changed and organizations impacted.  Servant-leadership is the next great emphasis for leaders all over the world, especially those who call on the name of the Lord because Jesus is our model for leadership.   I urge you to join me as together we fulfill our purpose, trusting in the Lord that how Jesus led will still work today.  Let’s form a powerful network of men and women who are committed to fulfill our purpose the way Jesus fulfilled His. 

I have a great deal of material on my website that talks about servant leadership. I urge you in the weeks to come to study and then apply the servant-leadership principles in your family, life, work and ministry.  Have a great week filled with purposeful service and I will have more for you next week on this critical topic!

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CRISIS IN KENYA:  I have posted two urgent emails I received this past week from ministries with whom I work in Kenya.  Please take the time to read my post and then respond as the Lord leads!  Thank you! 

LATEST BOOK:  My latest book was released last week, entitled Faith Files, Increasing Your Faith for Daily Living; Volume Two.  This book focuses on every verse that refers to faith in one of Paul's epistles; Volume One focuses on 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!

507: God is Secure

Last week we started a series on servant-leadership, which will continue for the next few weeks. This week I was reading a book and came across a stunning revelation that is pertinent to our discussion and, of course, could not wait to share it with you.

JOHN PIPER SAYS . . .   

    

In John Piper's book, Let the Nations Be Glad, he writes about Isaiah 64:4: "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him."  Piper went on to explain:

In other words, Isaiah is stunned that the greatness of God has the paradoxical effect that he does not need people to work for him but rather magnifies himself by working for them, if they will renounce self-reliance and "wait for him."

Isaiah anticipated the word of Paul in Acts 17:25, "God is not] served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." The uniqueness at the heart of Christianity is the glory of God manifest in the freedom of grace. God is glorious because he does not need the nations to work for him. He is free to work for them. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Missions is not a recruitment project for God's labor force. It is a liberation project from the heavy burdens and hard yokes of other gods (see Matthew 11:28-30).

Isaiah says that such a God has not been seen or heard of anywhere in the world. What Isaiah sees everywhere he looks are gods who have to be served rather than serve. For example, the Babylonian gods Bel and Nebo: "Bel bows down; Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.  Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from he womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you.  I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save" (Isaiah 46:1-4, cf. Jeremiah 10:5).

The difference between the true God and the gods of the nations is that the true God carries and the other gods must be carried. God serves; they must be served. God glorifies his might by showing mercy. They glorify theirs by gathering slaves. So the vision of God as one whose passion for his glory moves him to mercy impels missions because he is utterly unique among all the gods" (pages 55-56).

GOD IS SECURE    

 In other words, God is secure in who He is, so He is free to serve others.  That is how He wants you and me to be.  He does not want us to exercise our leadership by "gathering slaves" to our vision and way of thinking, but by serving the needs of others, empowering them to succeed as they carry out God's purpose for their lives.  In other words, you must be a servant leader because that is the model our God provides, for He is a servant-leader extraordinaire. 

Next week, we will look at servant-leadership as it was expressed in Jesus' life and ministry. In the meantime, you can read more of what I have written about servant-leadership on my website. This study is not just for you to learn new concepts, but to apply them to your life and leadership. Are you a servant-leader?  Do you want to be? If so, it will require that you are secure in Him and in who He made you to be.  You will have to learn that your leadership is not for your benefit but the benefit of others. That, my friend, is not just a journey, it is a death process as you learn to pick up your cross, deny youself daily and follow Him.  Have a great week!

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LATEST BOOK:  My latest book was released last week, entitled Faith Files, Increasing Your Faith for Daily Living; Volume Two.  This book focuses on every verse that refers to faith in one of Paul's epistles; Volume One focuses on 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 4, get both Volume One and Two for only $20!

506: The Drum Major Instinct

It's been more than three years since I wrote anything about leadership and longer than that since I wrote about servant-leadership. That's way too long, so the next four weeks will be devoted to that topic.

I am going to Atlanta in a few weeks and I want to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Center while I am there. I was looking at the Center's site the other day and the introduction included a portion of Dr. King's sermon entitled The Drum Major's Instinct from 1968. I quoted Dr. King last week and I was not intentionally doing research to include him again this week, but it happened. You can read the sermon here or read on and see only the portion that grabbed my attention.

THE QUOTE

The sermon was about our need to be out front, noticed and great. In his sermon, Dr. King said this concerning Mark 10:39-45:

But that isn't what Jesus did; he did something altogether different. He said in substance, "Oh, I see, you want to be first. You want to be great. You want to be important. You want to be significant. Well, you ought to be. If you're going to be my disciple, you must be." But he reordered priorities. And he said, "Yes, don't give up this instinct. It's a good instinct if you use it right. It's a good instinct if you don't distort it and pervert it. Don't give it up. Keep feeling the need for being important. Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be first in love. I want you to be first in moral excellence. I want you to be first in generosity. That is what I want you to do."

And he transformed the situation by giving a new definition of greatness. And you know how he said it? He said, "Now brethren, I can't give you greatness. And really, I can't make you first." This is what Jesus said to James and John. "You must earn it. True greatness comes not by favoritism, but by fitness. And the right hand and the left are not mine to give, they belong to those who are prepared."

And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.

THE CURE

Dr. King did not say this instinct to be out front was evil in and of itself.  The problem is our tendency to believe that we somehow deserve to be out front or that we are better than others. The only antidote I know for the drum major instinct is the concept of servant-leadership.  You and I are as susceptible as anyone to the arrogance and pride that comes from the human condition and especially from leadership power.

Join me in these next few weeks as we focus on how to be effective servant-leaders so that we do not use the power of purpose and goals for self-serving ends, but rather to serve others as Jesus would have us do.  Until next week, meditate on this dilemma and commit yourself to be the kind of leader that reverses the ugly trend in self-serving leadership that has been with us since the Garden of Eden. Then be ready to learn and grow into a drum major that leads people with integrity on paths of righteousness. Have a great week!