Many months ago I send a survey out. A few commented that I had become too personal by inserting too much of my own life experiences. One seemed so adamant that the person unsubscribed shortly thereafter. There were, of course, those who enjoyed the transparency and learned from it. I must admit that I need to be personal in order to teach on leadership. There is a false belief that to be a leader you must not do anything that makes others think you are weak or imperfect. That includes writing about it.
That is why I need to be blunt and say I cannot do what I do without being personal. For if I am to try to satisfy those who want information only and nothing personal, I will quit writing now. Over the last 15 years I have been told several times that I am a strong leader, and a good teacher who should have considered being a pastor. However, no one really knows how weak I really am. There is no doubt that I can relate to two Biblical characters. Peter for his boldness including his weaknesses, and Jeremiah for his lamenting and seemingly ineffectiveness as he warned God's people over and over again.
The Bible says you can recognize a good tree by its fruit. Good fruit, good tree, bad fruit, bad tree. This verse has caused me to think that God wants me to do what I do that bears fruit. For the last two years the company I own and lead (www.portersnetwork.com) has increasing been bearing good fruit. Praise God for that. I feel my leadership in that has been effective. So when I ponder where to spend my time, this verse overpowers the Jeremiah in me and pushes my emphasis into business and to consider going "all in" to corporate life.
During the last two months of this journey, I came across 2 Peter 1: 4-8. I cannot escape my total devotion to this chapter. Its context is about "our calling".
Think of it in terms of the fuel mileage of your car. Sometimes in winter, we do not notice our miles per gallon diminish until the tires lose so much air pressure, we realize they are going to go flat if we do not inflate them. Once inflated, we notice that our mileage increases and then actually realize the reason for it. On the one hand I am trying to choose the right seat on the right bus while checking my "tire pressure of godliness". On the other, I wonder if Jeremiah just needed to check his godliness, or whether he simply needed to persevere because of his calling. As one might imagine, it is an intense mental exercise.
I suspect many of you will agree that our flesh does not drive us into scripture when we get discouraged. On the contrary, our flesh drives us away. Fortunately, I have overcome my flesh enough to be challenged, somewhat sustained and somewhat comforted by this chapter. It contains a promise that I can have faith in. Right now, I am just trying to add to my life goodness and kindness. I will try to love those who are hard to love and continue to control my desire to throw in the towel.
Whether this is the last chapter in my "book" or whether it is simply a "crisis of belief" that every Christian leader goes through, I do not know yet. Yet I know I must write this to move on, wherever that leads.
There is an old saying. Misery loves company. Please know that I write this not to inflame the misery within you or to invite you to a pity party. I write this because ultimately I have confidence that there are many like me, who are not sure about what to do next. For now, I will focus on finding increasing measurements of godliness.
That party I do invite you to.
That is why I need to be blunt and say I cannot do what I do without being personal. For if I am to try to satisfy those who want information only and nothing personal, I will quit writing now. Over the last 15 years I have been told several times that I am a strong leader, and a good teacher who should have considered being a pastor. However, no one really knows how weak I really am. There is no doubt that I can relate to two Biblical characters. Peter for his boldness including his weaknesses, and Jeremiah for his lamenting and seemingly ineffectiveness as he warned God's people over and over again.
During the last two months of this journey, I came across 2 Peter 1: 4-8. I cannot escape my total devotion to this chapter. Its context is about "our calling".
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV
These verses are not about the effectiveness of unbelievers, or their organizations. Many unbelievers have effective products and businesses. This is talking about the 'effectiveness IN our knowledge of Christ'. That assumes we have Christ in our lives already and have a certain level of knowledge of him. As a businessman and ministerial, I see the application in both areas of my life. Since God has given me these gifts, I am "called to be effective" as my life demonstrates growth adding goodness to my faith, self-control to my knowledge ... and so on. Preceding effectiveness is this requirement ... "if you possess these qualities in increasing measure". That means ... leaders cannot stay where they are ... we must keep growing.Think of it in terms of the fuel mileage of your car. Sometimes in winter, we do not notice our miles per gallon diminish until the tires lose so much air pressure, we realize they are going to go flat if we do not inflate them. Once inflated, we notice that our mileage increases and then actually realize the reason for it. On the one hand I am trying to choose the right seat on the right bus while checking my "tire pressure of godliness". On the other, I wonder if Jeremiah just needed to check his godliness, or whether he simply needed to persevere because of his calling. As one might imagine, it is an intense mental exercise.
I suspect many of you will agree that our flesh does not drive us into scripture when we get discouraged. On the contrary, our flesh drives us away. Fortunately, I have overcome my flesh enough to be challenged, somewhat sustained and somewhat comforted by this chapter. It contains a promise that I can have faith in. Right now, I am just trying to add to my life goodness and kindness. I will try to love those who are hard to love and continue to control my desire to throw in the towel.
Whether this is the last chapter in my "book" or whether it is simply a "crisis of belief" that every Christian leader goes through, I do not know yet. Yet I know I must write this to move on, wherever that leads.
There is an old saying. Misery loves company. Please know that I write this not to inflame the misery within you or to invite you to a pity party. I write this because ultimately I have confidence that there are many like me, who are not sure about what to do next. For now, I will focus on finding increasing measurements of godliness.
That party I do invite you to.
Speaking personally, the CL Personal Assessment and Coaching came along in my Leadership ministry at a crucial time and proved a massive help in a micromanaging employer - employee situation. It was 'personal' for sure and needed to be so that I could continue developing leaders. As it turned out it was younger leaders and that's all good. God's gifts and callings are irrevocable... so press on.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good work that you do Ron!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your message Jerry, these two messages along with several lengthy but private emails certainly do help one deal with what appears to be fruitless times. There are dozens of articles and blog posts about paid ministry staff's journey through the lows of ministry. However, there are as many or more lay people who walk away from ministry or work in the church during those lows and nobody cares to write or talk about that. I hope I can give that a voice.
DeleteRon,
ReplyDeleteI thank God for your ministry. As a Christian and Leadership Development Specialist in a fortune 100 company, I have been able to apply the principles and skills you have shared in the training room as well as the one-on-one coaching that occurs beyond the training room. I too have often wondered about throwing in the towel. My role requires extensive traveling, resulting in time away from my family.
In addition, many leaders do not see a need to grow and develop themselves or their direct reports. As you well know, this leads to periods of great frustration and worst, second guessing one's calliing. During this "season" of frustration and doubt, God has taught me-through the study of the life of Paul, that the greatest fruits I can produce is simply staying faithful to my calling.
His Very Best,
Juan Ramirez
Thanks Juan for your message. I have been away from writing for awhile and I know not why I missed your note until today. The future of the "training room" as you call it (I like that term), is still unclear. However, notes like yours help balance, and maybe tip, the scale that at one time seemed too heavy to ever overcome.
Delete