The Secret of Leadership: SERVE

As a question guy, I love it when I run across practical questions that help you get going in a good direction. I thought you'd enjoy this post from Leadership Freak.

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Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller capture, “The Secret,” of leadership in five letters, SERVE. The beauty of SERVE is inescapable simplicity and actionable clarity.

Serve

See the future: envision and communicate a compelling picture of a preferred future.

• What do I want to be true of the future?
• Why should anyone care?
• How will progress be measured?

sErve

Engage and develop others: recruit and align people for the right job. Create environments where people bring vision to life.

• What invited my engagement in the past?
• Which of these factors are missing in those I lead?
• How can I help teams and individuals grow?

seRve

Reinvent continuously: continuously focus on improvement.

• How do I need to change?
• Where do I want different outcomes?
• What organizational changes will accelerate progress?

serVe

Value results and relationships: generate measurable results andcultivate great relationships.

• Which is my personal bias as a leader – results or relationships?
• How can I compensate for the area that’s not my personal strength?
• What happens if I don’t broaden my definition of success?

servE

Embody values: live fully aligned with stated values.

• What values do I want to drive behaviors in my organization?
• How can I communicate these values?
• What are my actions communicating?

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Which question do you find most helpful in your leadership?

Welcome to Different

This morning another poem came to me as I was deep in thought and preparation for the upcoming academic year. My mind went to trying to describe the Kats for Christ ministry to a new student for the first time. We certainly approach the beginning of the year differently than many other ministries on campus...at least it seems that way.

To briefly explain, we refuse to act like a ministry we will never be. In my mind, that would be a form bait and switch where a new student comes in getting the impression that we do this all the time and at some point realizing our (even innocent) ruse!

Therefore, we intentionally try to reflect in the first week, the kind of ministry we are. We do have fun! We do talk about Jesus in normal conversation! We do serve! We do dig in God's word! We do serve again! We do hang out! And we do give academic advice as spiritual advice! It is...different! Here is a glimpse of my thoughts captured in this poem:

Welcome to Different

It's Same at first

Upon the surface

Explosion, burst!

Then a peculiar

Happening occurs

The depth of love

Erupts in blurs

It confuses

It taunts

It reaches

It flaunts

It rises upon

Our hearts until

Suddenly Different

There revealed

It teaches

Matures

It grow

Endures

Then service erupts

The other is clear

A towel to wash

Salvation is near

Welcome to Different

You can never go back

Embrace the call

And life never lack!

Outstanding Religious Organization

Last night the Kats for Christ won "Outstanding Religious Organization" at SHSU's 18th Annual Sammys, an awards ceremony that recognizes SHSU's outstanding student leaders and organizations.

In order to be nominated for a Sammy Award required us to receive nominations from members of the University community at large. Those nominated answered questions that were sent before a committee who determined the winners in each category.

We praise God for this award and certainly lay it before the Cross of Jesus!

Here is what was read as our representatives made their way to the front to receive this award:

"The Kats for Christ organization focuses on training and maturing disciples of Jesus. As a student-led ministry they accomplish their purpose by creating many opportunities for SHSU students to learn God’s word, experience faith community, live out Jesus’ life on earth right now, follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, and train other disciples.

"They work hard to provide a safe place for students to learn and grow in more than just academic studies while in college. Experiencing the fullness of life as they serve others, the students with Kats for Christ continue to make a big impact on campus, in Huntsville, and around the world right now.

"Whether it is transforming their building into a full-fledged, pizza restaurant called 'Café Italiano' (complete with Chicago-style pizza ovens, greeters, waiters and waitresses, head chef, crazy-fun DJs, and over 10 different kinds of homemade-from-scratch pizza), or whether it is responding to calls from widows who need young, strong backs to help move them across town, or whether it is sacrificing a summer to help people in Malaysia, Germany, Brazil, and Thailand improve their English, the Kats for Christ organization exemplifies the depth and maturity of Jesus Christ that lies behind Sam Houston State University’s motto: 'The measure of a life is its service.'"

It is so cool to be a part of the Kats for Christ!

Spiritual Discernment

"As I become aware of your presence this morning, Lord,

may I promptly respond to your movements with complete trust.

Losing my natural inhibitions that may keep me stagnant in kingdom service,

may your Spirit compel my heart forward with immediacy and sensitivity.

When I am confronted today with a situation needing prompt action,

teach me how to discern well the difference between

my own sound judgment and your own providential desire.

Lead me in the way, Lord. Amen!"

Assisted Living Singing

Tonight our SHARE group went to the Town Creek Facility to sing songs. We put our kids out there to sing various children's songs. The B-I-B-L-E, Jesus Loves Me (the clapping version), I'm All Wrapped Up, Blue Skies and Rainbows, and a few more. The kids had also colored some pictures to give to the people watching us from their wheel chairs. After putting our kids on display we felt compelled to sing a few classic hymns that opened a few eyes and perked up our audience. I saw one lady just close her eyes and mouth the words with a huge smile on her face.

This small (and for some awkward) offering had Jesus written all over it. Our little 30 minutes of time meant the world to these people whose routine consists of mainly hanging out in a common area waiting for someone to come talk to them.

I had a thought as I was wheeling one lady (ninety something years old...she couldn't remember) back to the common area. If the Lord blesses me with as many years, I pray that people come to see me to sing praises to God. What a blessing it was tonight.

Christ's Sacrifice

It is good to relax with family. Historically, I have really gone into relax mode doing practically nothing, even getting upset when Tanya asks me to do something for her. That is not what Christ's sacrifice has called me to. This season I am going to go out of my way to help get things done. I am going to help with the cooking, cleaning, keeping up with kids, etc. Whatever needs to get done I am going to work at it as if working for Christ. Let's all remember that we still follow Jesus during the holidays. This is our calling...this is what we need to do.

Elder Teaching Class

Last night was a great class! It was the second of two classes that Mark Waldron (one of our elders) taught in our series on "Great Faiths." He and I met on Tuesday to discuss a few things that have been on my heart about our college students' lack of willingness to serve others.

In last night's class Mark was able to speak as one who had the authority to speak. He challenged our students to find their purpose in Christ by serving others. Mark even went as far as to say something like, "You are growing up in a world that just gives you everything. You are an audience generation! College age people now-a-days want what their parents' have right now. You are not willing to wait like your parents or work like your parents." His challenge was to not be the spectators, but the participants. God is wanting to accomplish something through everyone; we just have to be there while we can willing to be used.

I must admit that I wish I could say something like that and have the same effect. But it sounds so much different coming from Mark. He was born in 1955 and has many years of experience and wisdom in working with students in ministry. He was truly an elder leading our college students into a deeper relationship with our Lord. I loved it!

Lord, show me that you were active last night in class. Bring students to our group with a willing heart to serve you even when they are not asked specifically. May it be a joy for them to serve others here. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Feeling Down Spiritually?

We have all had those times in our life when we don't really feel connected with God. There are a ton of reasons why this happens, but mostly it seems to be connected with me focusing on myself. All of my energy is fixed on me. It could be sin that I am consumed with; it could be my selfish endeavor's that ignore others. Whatever it is, "me" is definitely involved.

How do we begin to get ourselves connected with God again? I am convinced that it is by pouring our life into other people. I can't wait to do this for the first time with a student. Read on.

Say a student walks into my office telling me about how bad things are in her or his life. "This part of my life is bad, this is worse, don't ask me about that, and school is crushing all of it." For this past year I have spent a lot of time talking through these things with students in an effort of help them get connected with God. I think God has done some good things for students in these conversations. But, I'm not going to do that as much from now on. It is not that I am not going to talk with students at all. No way! I'm just not going to do it as much. This is what I will do instead. I will ask her or him: "Do you have 20 minutes?" "Yeah" "Okay, come with me." Then we will travel to a nearby nursing home or hospital. I will tell this student to spend about 15 minutes just talking to people, maybe praying with them. These students will then begin to re-connect with God.

When we pour our lives into other people we begin to do exactly what God wants us to do. He is a God who serves others. He washes feet like a servant. He will use us. All we have to do is put ourselves in situations to be used. We can hardly do that when we are consumed with ourselves.