Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Yes, I am a leader and I have the scars to prove it. If you are in leadership, then you obviously know what I mean. To put yourself out in front often means taking the bullet and flak first. If you are not out in front, then you are not really leading.
Scars are the authenticating marks of faithful discipleship and true spiritual leadership–Oswald Sanders
Sanders states here a reality that our leader-entitlement culture is hard pressed to embrace. In an age of golden parachutes during economic crisis, are we as spiritual leaders whining about the pain and scars of our leadership or are we willing to sacrifice for the good of those we lead our legitimate desires?
The first and only point here is that leading will scar you. Leading will be painful, lonely and cost even those closest to you. If you and I are not willing to pay a higher price than the pack, we are not a leader of the pack. We may have the title, salary and position but a leader we are not!
So, I think we can choose to wear our scars and be content that the price of seeing people come to faith in Jesus and grow more like Him is worth it.
Discuss: should we accept the pain and scars, or isolate and protect ourselves and those closest to us from the cost of leading? Is NO PAIN NO GAIN really for me as a leader?
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Mark Driscoll at Resurgence Blog is posting chapter by chapter a new e-book entitled Porn-Again Christian: a frank discussion about pornography & masturbation. Chapter 1 is A Tall Glass of Toilet Water. Driscoll, appropriately so is warning that he targets the guys.
…the effeminate nature of pastors and churches causes many masculine men to feel unwelcome in what they perceive as an organization solely for women, children, and weaker men.
Are we ready for this type of frankness? Is this appropriate, or over the top? Your thoughts, please.
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
I have enjoyed wrestling with friends–not exactly the kind pictured here, however. I respect the tenacity of wrestlers since I grew up with a wrestling brother. He trained and trained and stretched himself to the limits of his abilities and strength. The Greeks knew this so wrestling was used to condition and train as well as competition.
As Christians, do we wrestle enough? Are we too safe with each other that we never ask the hard questions of each other or never challenge each other? Sure, some of us are just mean and tear down others, but I am talking about wrestling. In wrestling you have to agree to a certain set of ethics and rules of engagement.
I have two groups meeting right now that are stretching me and the guys meeting with me. The idea is that we wrestle–not bashing and on the other hand not placating each other. We need community–even us guys–to learn and grow. Jesus wrestled with his disciples this way. He shaped their thinking and prepared them to begin a movement that changed the world and the eternal trajectory for billions of people.
How are you wrestling fellow brothers (and sisters) with your thinking and spirituality these days?
Tony on 
jason on 
Rick on 
