| STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF KINGDOM LEADERS Part 1 Kingdom Leaders are High Energy People By Reverend Don Boucher |
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It has been rightly said that, "everything comes back to leadership." The tone, mood,
vision, direction of families, churches, organizations, and competencies of the leader
affect everyone who serves in that enterprise. In the following essays I would like to
consider the attributes of modern and biblical leaders. The questions that are to be
asked are what are we doing well? What did they do well? What are we struggling
with? What did they struggle with? What are the strengths and weaknesses of
Kingdom leaders? Are there patterns that we see in the lives of our brothers in Christ
in the first century that we should emulate or avoid? We believe that there are but
first let us define further what we are talking about.
What is a Kingdom Leader? A Kingdom Leader is defined as an individual who
understands their call in Christ and is passionate about accomplishing it. No week
willed, lazy, apathetic, wanderers need apply. The office of Kingdom leader is not
limited nor can it be by the confines of church walls. Kingdom leaders by definition
have violated the walls of church and state, church and business, church and education,
church an any enterprise they have been called to. They understand that ministry is
done in the market place and they are bold enough to be lights that shine brightly in a
dark world. They are Christ men not churchmen.
Kingdom Leaders are High Energy People. "If you want something done give it
to the busiest person in the room." This quote is not driven by one obsessing to get
activity done for activity sake, but by one who knows how to prioritize issues in a
manner that the important things get done. They are like Mosses who said in Psalm
90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."
Kingdom leaders know that life is a one shot deal and they want to get the most out
of it. They want to hear the Lord say, "well done, good and faithful servant." So they
get out of bed in the morning in order to be involved in the process of living and in the
process of building the Kingdom where they are and they stay at it.
"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom.
Intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure." Dwight Eisenhower.
Joyce Brothers said, "If your energy is as boundless as your ambition,
total commitment may be a way of life you should seriously consider."
It is also important to state that Kingdom Building business is not just about work.
Bruce Williamson, in his 1987 work It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood,
encourages us to enjoy the energy God has given us by living in the following manner.
Walk in the rain, jump in mud puddles, collect rocks, rainbows and roses, smell flowers,
blow bubbles, stop along the way, build sand castles, say hello to everyone, go barefoot,
go on adventures, act silly, fly kites, have a merry heart, talk with animals, sing in the
shower, read children's books, take bubble baths, get new sneakers, hold hands and
hug and kiss, dance, laugh and cry for the health of it, wonder and wander around, feel
happy and precious and innocent, feel scared, feel sad, feel mad, give up worry and guilt
and shame, say yes, say no, say the magic words, ask lots of questions, ride bicycles,
draw
and paint, see things differently, fall down and get up again, look at the sky, watch the sun
rise and sun set, watch clouds and name their shapes, watch the moon and stars
come out, trust the universe, stay up late, be excited about everything, be a clown,
enjoy having a body, listen to music, find out how things work, make up new rules, tell
stories, save the world, make friends with the other kids on the block, and do anything
else that brings more happiness, celebration, health, love, joy, creativity, pleasure,
abundance, grace, self-esteem, courage, balance, spontaneity, passion, beauty, peace,
relaxation, communication and life energy to...all living beings on this planet.
Last summer I was at my In-Laws 50th wedding anniversary, Rodney and Hazel
Sawowlski. It was a total surprise to Rodney and a figured out surprise to Hazel. All
ten children were there, their spouses and my grandchildren. All of my in laws family,
of course. It was very emotional for me. I said to my sister-in-law Lisa "drink deeply
from this moment, this will never happen again." Kingdom leaders have the energy
and the wisdom to enjoy the moments of life that the Lord sets before them. Like
Paul to have learned to "be content in all things." They are, "careful for nothing" but
have prayed with supplication and thanksgiving, and made their request known to
God." They have thought on the things that are true, honest, just pure, lovely, good
and virtuous. Philippians 4:5-8.
I work for a company called Riverwood Metal Health. It has adopted an approach to
management called the FISH philosophy. The precepts are listed below. Their
revolutionary approach to leadership is largely about bringing energy to the work
place. It is the combining the play of the Kingdom with the work of the Kingdom
and making them one.
The day I saw fish flying, I found a better way to live and learn at school.
"The fishmongers were firing large, slippery fish at each other, making spectacular
catches and inviting delighted customers to try their luck. The market was crowded
and noisy, but when one of the fishmongers focused on a customer, it was like they
were the only two people in the place. Everyone was smiling. And the cash registers
were ringing like crazy.
I was amazed. Why couldn't classrooms and schools pulse with this kind of energy
and passion and wholeheartedness, I asked?
The answer is that they could if we practiced the four simple tenets of the Fish!
Philosophy!"
1.) Play - Have a little fun at work.
2.) Make their day - Go M.A.D. [Make a Difference], engage others. Make them
part of the fun.
3.) Be there - actually pay attention, to make sure you take care of the person in
front of you right now!
4.) Choose your attitude - Before you go to work in the morning, pick out an
attitude, just like you choose your underwear.
When Mother Theresa spoke with individuals on the street they describe the
experience as if feeling that they were the only person in the world that she
was concerned about. Mother Theresa certainly had a to do list but the list
never superseded people. She was a Kingdom Leader changing one life at a
time. Her energy wellspring was Love. "The art of love ... is largely the art
of persistence." said Albert Ellis. Next time we will turn our attention to the
subject of persistence.
vision, direction of families, churches, organizations, and competencies of the leader
affect everyone who serves in that enterprise. In the following essays I would like to
consider the attributes of modern and biblical leaders. The questions that are to be
asked are what are we doing well? What did they do well? What are we struggling
with? What did they struggle with? What are the strengths and weaknesses of
Kingdom leaders? Are there patterns that we see in the lives of our brothers in Christ
in the first century that we should emulate or avoid? We believe that there are but
first let us define further what we are talking about.
What is a Kingdom Leader? A Kingdom Leader is defined as an individual who
understands their call in Christ and is passionate about accomplishing it. No week
willed, lazy, apathetic, wanderers need apply. The office of Kingdom leader is not
limited nor can it be by the confines of church walls. Kingdom leaders by definition
have violated the walls of church and state, church and business, church and education,
church an any enterprise they have been called to. They understand that ministry is
done in the market place and they are bold enough to be lights that shine brightly in a
dark world. They are Christ men not churchmen.
Kingdom Leaders are High Energy People. "If you want something done give it
to the busiest person in the room." This quote is not driven by one obsessing to get
activity done for activity sake, but by one who knows how to prioritize issues in a
manner that the important things get done. They are like Mosses who said in Psalm
90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."
Kingdom leaders know that life is a one shot deal and they want to get the most out
of it. They want to hear the Lord say, "well done, good and faithful servant." So they
get out of bed in the morning in order to be involved in the process of living and in the
process of building the Kingdom where they are and they stay at it.
"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom.
Intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure." Dwight Eisenhower.
Joyce Brothers said, "If your energy is as boundless as your ambition,
total commitment may be a way of life you should seriously consider."
It is also important to state that Kingdom Building business is not just about work.
Bruce Williamson, in his 1987 work It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood,
encourages us to enjoy the energy God has given us by living in the following manner.
Walk in the rain, jump in mud puddles, collect rocks, rainbows and roses, smell flowers,
blow bubbles, stop along the way, build sand castles, say hello to everyone, go barefoot,
go on adventures, act silly, fly kites, have a merry heart, talk with animals, sing in the
shower, read children's books, take bubble baths, get new sneakers, hold hands and
hug and kiss, dance, laugh and cry for the health of it, wonder and wander around, feel
happy and precious and innocent, feel scared, feel sad, feel mad, give up worry and guilt
and shame, say yes, say no, say the magic words, ask lots of questions, ride bicycles,
draw
and paint, see things differently, fall down and get up again, look at the sky, watch the sun
rise and sun set, watch clouds and name their shapes, watch the moon and stars
come out, trust the universe, stay up late, be excited about everything, be a clown,
enjoy having a body, listen to music, find out how things work, make up new rules, tell
stories, save the world, make friends with the other kids on the block, and do anything
else that brings more happiness, celebration, health, love, joy, creativity, pleasure,
abundance, grace, self-esteem, courage, balance, spontaneity, passion, beauty, peace,
relaxation, communication and life energy to...all living beings on this planet.
Last summer I was at my In-Laws 50th wedding anniversary, Rodney and Hazel
Sawowlski. It was a total surprise to Rodney and a figured out surprise to Hazel. All
ten children were there, their spouses and my grandchildren. All of my in laws family,
of course. It was very emotional for me. I said to my sister-in-law Lisa "drink deeply
from this moment, this will never happen again." Kingdom leaders have the energy
and the wisdom to enjoy the moments of life that the Lord sets before them. Like
Paul to have learned to "be content in all things." They are, "careful for nothing" but
have prayed with supplication and thanksgiving, and made their request known to
God." They have thought on the things that are true, honest, just pure, lovely, good
and virtuous. Philippians 4:5-8.
I work for a company called Riverwood Metal Health. It has adopted an approach to
management called the FISH philosophy. The precepts are listed below. Their
revolutionary approach to leadership is largely about bringing energy to the work
place. It is the combining the play of the Kingdom with the work of the Kingdom
and making them one.
The day I saw fish flying, I found a better way to live and learn at school.
"The fishmongers were firing large, slippery fish at each other, making spectacular
catches and inviting delighted customers to try their luck. The market was crowded
and noisy, but when one of the fishmongers focused on a customer, it was like they
were the only two people in the place. Everyone was smiling. And the cash registers
were ringing like crazy.
I was amazed. Why couldn't classrooms and schools pulse with this kind of energy
and passion and wholeheartedness, I asked?
The answer is that they could if we practiced the four simple tenets of the Fish!
Philosophy!"
1.) Play - Have a little fun at work.
2.) Make their day - Go M.A.D. [Make a Difference], engage others. Make them
part of the fun.
3.) Be there - actually pay attention, to make sure you take care of the person in
front of you right now!
4.) Choose your attitude - Before you go to work in the morning, pick out an
attitude, just like you choose your underwear.
When Mother Theresa spoke with individuals on the street they describe the
experience as if feeling that they were the only person in the world that she
was concerned about. Mother Theresa certainly had a to do list but the list
never superseded people. She was a Kingdom Leader changing one life at a
time. Her energy wellspring was Love. "The art of love ... is largely the art
of persistence." said Albert Ellis. Next time we will turn our attention to the
subject of persistence.
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2006