Uncertainty

UNCERTAINTY

by Erwin McManus

Know That You Don’t Know

“I’m afraid,” he confessed, as Maven stood with him in the place where his quest would begin.

“Of what?” Maven asked in his calming voice.

“For this journey, have I learned all I need to know?”

“Ayden,” he replied, “you know all you need to learn.”

“What should I take with me?” Ayden continued.

“Leave all you have and take all you are.”

Ayden persisted, “And the path, is it safe to travel?”

Maven looked at him sternly for the first time he could remember and scolded him, “It is not safe to remain!”

“It is not the place but the Presence that upholds you! This is your only certainty.”

“Go! Walk where no man has walked yet you find footprints.”

Obama's leadership style

An interesting article (read it all here) suggests that Obama (who it has been suggested, is an ENFP) 's Cabinet picks reveal this about his leadership style:

• He is an intellectual, who is more impressed by academic and governing credentials than familiarity and loyalty.

• He is willing to take big risks.

• He is very focused on governing—and prefers persuasion to force.

• He isn’t so disdainful of the “Washington insiders” after all

• He is willing to jettison campaign promises to suit the political landscape

At the risk of discussing politics(: ...
implications for church leadership?

immigration

Some tips, if your research and/or passions are touching on the "immigration issue"

• Isaac Canales, longtime president of LABI itself, has a great article here:"Alien Nation: One pastor’s perspective on the immigration debate—and immigration opportunity"
• Mark Griffin has written an amazing book: "Living on the Borders: What the Church Can Learn from Ethnic Immigrant Cultures" ...currently on Amazon for a steal: 94 cents!
• A Theological Statement on Immigration
  

See you tonight!

Abraham, rabbis and steering cats

This next session will be especially interesting.

Rabbi Adam Bernay of Beit Tefillah Messianic Fellowship will be with us to to talk about leadership from a Messianic Jewish (believer in Jesus) perspective. I think he will be basing his conversation of Abraham.

Uh, to clarify...that's Rabbi Adam on the right, and Father Abraham on the left...though I doubt it's a real photo of Abraham (:

I don't know what Adam say, but it will be good.



Feel free to bring a few friends...and enemies.

When I think of Abraham, I often link to
Hebrews 11:8:

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went..
even though he did not know where he was going."

Wow, if the very father of faith didn't know where he was going...

There's hope for us.

Thank God he knew WHY he was going!

Two related quotes..the first from the Len Sweet textbook...about the primacy of preparing over planning:

"It could be you're spending too much time planning and not enough time preparing. The planning mode leads to dissonance. The modulation mode leads to consonance....There is no evidence that 'planning' leads to a brighter tomorrow. Never has. Never will. Ask any gardener... Modulation means replacing 'plans' with metaphors and songlines of preparedness. M odulation means replacing a philiosophy of 'results:' (production, sales, cash flow, net profit, membership gains...) with a philosophy of "resonance' where power and success reside not in rank or position but in relation and being.. What organism plans its life? What person can plan his or her future? Can you plan your love? Life is false to formula.. In our world, planning is worse than a mistake-it's an evil.. Ever try to steer a cat or a puppy? No one steers a living thing, it moves forward one step at a time. No living enterprise moves forward by 'planning'.. When you come to a pothole, you don't need a strategic plan to get by. You improvise. After a brief pause, you ad lib your zig zags until you regain your bearings." :-Leonard Sweet , Summoned to Lead 76-77

And this:

"New Reality Number Five is the shift from planning to preparation.. Much of what has ultimate effect on the church happens outside it it and its control...Typical approaches to the future involve prediction and planning. This works OK in a world that expreiences significant continuity. It doesn' t work in the current environment. Planning tends to be invcemenmtal, pushing what we currently are doing into a world that we imagine wil be the same as today. Incrementalism as an anticipatory strategy is dead,, The Bible sounds a recurrring theme : Go0d wants his people to pray and prepare for his intervention ...It is God who declares 'I know the plans I have for you ', in Jer 29.11. He does not say 'I am waiting for you to develop plans I can bless." I am not against planning. I am just suggesting,.the North American church has settled for (its imaginations, plans and dreams).. The future belongs to those who prepare for it, not plan for it. If the North American church is going to make the leap off the sigmoid curve and avoid the sure death guaranteed by incrementalism, it will have to shift its beginning point from present to future. -Reggie McNeal, The Present Future, 92ff

Leadership Prayers

This book (Leadership Prayers),as we have talked about, is composed of actual prayers centering around different facets of leadership.

Full disclosure: My father-in-law wrote the book; some of you will be aware of him. You may beg me for an autographed copy...for a price (:

"Leadership enables people to risk the safe and comfortable present to gain a significantly different future."

"Leaders pray to maintain the right relationship with God. From that relationship between the human spirit and the Spirit of God come the divine perspective, insight, direction, and courage the leader must have to serve well."

-Richard Kriegbaum, in
Leadership Prayers

audio:"Hearing God's Voice" and "Joyfully Accept Confiscation"

Two sermons for those who like to IPOD it/listen online that touch on recent themes of our class:

!)For all the reading from Sweet, with his emphasis on finding our leadership voice and soundtrack, and hearing God's voice, some may want to hear a message called
"Hearing God's Voice When Shift Happens"
which touches on some amazing scriptures dealing with hearing/seeing God's voice in tough times such as these:
Listen HERE

2)Here's another mesage, spoken to the Fresno Rescue Mission breakfast (volunteers, friends and clients of the mission), about

"joyfully accepting the confiscation of my property."

Ever heard a sermon on that? It's in the Book: Hebrews 10:25.
Listen HERE

Oh, to be more like Jesus...who

• heard/saw God's voice

and

• radically humbled himself

That's a leader..

alternative assignment: take the Sweet-Tickle plunge

After a couple class sessions and becoming familiar with the basic teachings of Leonard Sweet and Phyllis Tickle regarding the unique time we live in, some of you may be ready to take the challenge"

I will let (allow/dare/bless) anyone who wants to,

as an alternative to ALL THREE PAPERS ...and the mid-term (!)....

substitute ONE paper (6-8 pages) :

Paper:Summarize the views of Leonard Sweet regarding what he calls the "EPIC" days we are living in, and the argument of Phyllis Tickle that we are in a "once-in-500-years" juncture in church history. Draw out implications for what church leadership should/can look like in our day if we talke seriously both our biblical foundations and the times we live in. Suggest implications that may especially apply to Hispanic leaders or churches; and suggest implications that may be especially relevant for those in the Pentecostal/charismatic stream of the church.

Sources: Two books: "Postmodern Pilgrims" (or "Aqua Church" or "Aqua Church 2.0") by Sweet and "The Great Emergence" by Phyllis Tickle. Of course, your best bet is to read both books; but with the many articles, podcasts and excerpts we have already posted (and will post) on the "Helpful Websites" section of this blog; I will accept a paper that shows a serious engagement with the views of both authors , whether or not the entire books have been read.

Note: books can be very cheap on Amazon.com if you check "new and used" ;I see the Sweet "Aqua Church" book is 37 cents right now).

HELP:I would not be surprised if you could score an interview with one or both authors(Sweet's website is here, Tickle's is here) for an interview about these questions...they are both delightful and accessible "real"people; and I can help with contact. Just be sure you have done your homework and have a basic grasp of their overall arguments before the interview.

Videos of the Shackelton Saga

"Shackelton was a man clearly of his time, but a man also clearly living before his time.
He combined the prophetic and priestly functions of leadership. He reached out to where his crew was (priest) and reached out to where his crew was not but needed to go (prophetic).
He could 'tell it like it is,' but was willing to tell it like it was not but ought to be. Reaching people where they are is how leaders form relationships. But reaching people where they are not is how leaders form hope for 'what you can be' and help construct an imaginary toward which people can direct their steps. If 'what is' is not seen in light of 'what ought to be,' if the priestly isn't built on the prophetic, what comes forth is the therapeutic."
-Sweet, p, 22

Since Leonard Sweet draws from the story of Ernest Shackelton (some call him "the greatest leader") 's Antarctic expedition in our textbook,

here below are some video clips to complement your reading/experience of that story. I have also posted links to several Shackelton articles under "Helpful Websites" on the left hand column of this site. Enjoy!

A young man's school report on Shackelton:


Trailer for "The Endurance," movie about Shackelton:


Actual pictures of Shackelton and the expedition:



Basic story of Shackelton and the Endurance:

Leadership Lessons From Peru

I count it a privilege to travel to Peru (come with me in November..I know it's right in the middle of our class...so, make it a field trip!!). Often I learn valuable lessons about leadership and culture that I thought I knew...

A couple videos:

1)In 2004, after a dramatic trip to the top of the Andes with some leaders and intercessors (watch that clip here); we observed out our van window someone who exhibited the biblical leadership principle of "leading from behind and among the people":
an amazing shepherd(ette):



2) In 2005, when we returned, we found that our friend Pastor Ovidio and his whole family had life-threatening typhoid. They had not yet told their church, as they didn't want them to worry. This is my video of the moving and tearful Sunday morning when our missionary Ken Metz announced the news to the congregation and called them to fervent prayer.

Often we leaders/pastors don't let people in on our lives/reality/prayer requests..even when it's life and death.

Much of this moving video is in Spanish, but anyone will be moved. The scene I captured at 2:05 needs no translation, and will remember it the rest of my life:

Syllabus/Assignments

EFFECTIVE BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS (3)
Latin American Bible Institute-Sanger Extension …..Fall 2008

Course website: labileadership.blogspot.com
Instructor: Dave Wainscott, (559) 974-2508 davewainscott@sbcglobal.net

Course Intent: Students will be challenged to develop a working biblical theology/practice of leadership character and skills that is both soundly scriptural and consistent with the student's personality, style, culture, giftedness and calling.

Topics include:
The course will center on cultivating a biblical worldview regarding leadership;
especially through:

• Getting in touch with self, story and style
• Getting in tune with spiritual disciplines and formation
• Getting a taste of the leadership literature, both classic and contemporary
• Getting in time with church and culture shifts

We will also give special attention to various leadership disciplines “modulations” (ex. optimism, integrity, team building, etc. ) that Sweet discusses in the text as a framework for discussion.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS (REQUIRED):
➢ The Bible
➢ Sweet, Leonard. “Summoned to Lead.” Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
Note: Chapters 1 and 2 are a free online read here.

RECOMMENDED (NOT REQUIRED):
-Barna, George, editor. “Leaders on Leadership: Wisdom, Advice, and Encouragement on the Art of Leading God's People.” (Leading Edge Series)
-Creps, Earl. “Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders” (J-B Leadership Network Series) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006


ASSIGNMENTS/GRADING:

PERSONAL RESPONSE 1: Complete reading of Introduction through Chapter 4 of Sweet by the third session. Turn in at that session a 1-2 page personal response to the reading. It need not be a summary; but interact with sections that were helpful or challenging to you. (5 POINTS)
PERSONAL RESPONSE 2: Complete reading of Chapters 5 through 8 of Sweet by the sixth session. Turn in at that session a 1-2 page personal response to the reading. It need not be a summary; but interact with sections that were helpful or challenging to you. (5 POINTS)

TERM PAPER AND PRAYER: Write a 4-6 page paper on your personal theology and practice of leadership. Interact with the Scriptures, textbook, class notes, and at least three articles distributed in class. Be sure to discuss possible personal “red flags” and weaknesses; include a summary of your Myers-Briggs and Collage results, noting implications for leadership. How will you build in accountability to live all this out? Conclude with a one page (in addition to the main 4-6 pages of the paper) prayer expressing your desires related to your future as a leader (20 POINTS)

*Note: Read here about a 50-point paper you can write as alternative to the three listed above (and which will excuse you from the mid-term)

**Note: I am open to alternative assignments (especially creative options like internships,
writing a novel, oral presentations, creating artwork or websites...as long as they can in a significant sense measure the objectives of the paper assignment above.

ORAL CASE STUDY: Present to the class a ten minute discussion of a true “case study” from your past experience, work or ministry where you were not happy with your leadership skill, reaction or choice. In light of what you have learned in the course, propose what you could have done differently. (15 POINTS)

MID-TERM EXAM/FINAL EXAM: Both will include questions from assignments and class topics, but also a practical “lab” component where the student (or class as a whole) works through/acts out a tough leadership scenario and creates a best possible response. (40 POINTS)

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION-including completion of Myers-Briggs Profile and Collage in class) (15 POINTS)

Witherington on hierarchy

Ben Witherington--a very helpful writer, blogger and professor--makes some interesting observations (in the middle of a book review of Viola's "Reimagining Church") about hierarchical vs. servant leadership:

Jesus was later to say to these same persons that they would at the eschaton sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. This most certainly is a model of leadership from above that is hierarchial. What happens though when this model of leadership is faithfully carried out is that the pyramid is inverted—Christian leaders lead from below, they lift others up by getting beneath them in the pecking order of things and serving them. Like a weight lifter who, instead of trying to stand and clean and jerk the weight over his head, instead lies down and pushes the weight up from underneath, this is the way Christian leadership is supposed to work. The leader becomes like a servant, but this explains his model of leadership, his modus operandi, not whether he is leading by example or not. There is a difference between leading by the example of humble service and lording it over a group of people. This is the contrast Jesus makes in these sorts of passages. You will notice that this did not prevent Jesus from teaching, preaching, healing and sending out the 12 two by two to do the same, as leaders in training. Jesus did not train all of his disciples to be leaders, because all were not called by him to do so. And lest we think that power does not somehow work in a top down mode in the Kingdom, look at a text like John 20. Jesus breathes on his 12 and says receive the Spirit, in preparation for their doing what Jesus has called and now gifted them to do. They receive their power and authority from on high, not from a vote of a congregation, or a suggestion of a fellow church member or the like. The kingdom of God is indeed a hierarchial notion. It not only has a king, Jesus, it also has his agents, shaliach as they are called in Hebrew, apostles, prophets, teachers etc. So lets be clear—modern business or military models of leadership are not the source of the hierarchial models the church uses when it comes to leadership--- the Bible, including the NT is. Authority is not just based on godly character, meekness and a willingness to serve, though all those things are necessary. It is based on whom God has called, gifted, empowered to serve in a particular manner perhaps specific roles and functions. Function does not merely follow character. There are plenty of Christians of good character who are simply not called to leadership, or as Paul calls is, ‘steering’, administration, oversight. It is certainly true that Jesus strongly interjects some checks and balances so that arrogance and pride and self-serving behavior will not be allowed to be the impetus in Christian leadership. For one thing, he stresses that we should avoid encouraging people to call us by fancy titles. We need to take a more humble approach to leadership. Self-exaltation rather than self-sacrifice is not to be the manner in which we lead (see Mt. 23.8-12). But leadership by gifted and called persons we still need and require, not merely the leadership of Christ in heaven, but the leadership which he exercises through his anointed and appoint agents, both male and female, on earth.
(link, see discussion on chapter 8)