Who is the Leader? For Dads.

“In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.’””
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭11:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/1ch.11.2.nlt

Is leadership a title? Is leadership something you earn from followers? This is not a new question as evidenced by this observation of David and Saul. Basically what the author said was, Saul has the title of King, but David has earned the role of leader from his followers.

In EVERY case leadership given to a leader by the follower’s choice is greater than the leadership granted by title alone.

So let’s ask this question to Fathers. Would your children choose to follow you if you did not have the title of DAD? If not what is wrong with your family leadership? How can you change your leadership so that your children would choose to follow you title or not? Harder yet? Are you the kind of leader that your wife would want to follow even if she was not married to you?

I do not ask these questions as one that can answer, Yes. I write them as one that asks the questions daily and generally fears the reality of the answers. So I don’t invite you to fix your issues, as much as I invite you to join me in a really hard journey toward a great, great goal.

Lord, it wrenches me heart to think that my wife and kids may not want to follow me if they did not have to. Please, oh please, make me into the kind of leader that my family would follow, as I follow Jesus, to the ends of the earth by their own choice. 

Yummy Words

“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/pro.18.20.nlt

The other day I went out for dinner. It was actually our 16th wedding anniversary. We ate at Buddy's Crabs and Ribs, commemorating our first date. It had been years since I had raw oysters, and they were so good. They had magic cocktail sauce that added just the zing the oysters needed.

When I was a kid I ate oysters to show how manly I was because my Dad and Grandfather ate them. I wouldn't  chew them much; just swallow quick.  But, when I ate them the other day I chewed their magical yumminess completely, savoring every bit. Awesome. 

I think wise words are a bit like those oysters. There is a little bit of magic and an impactful memory. 

Just like I have food memories like eating oysters with my Dad, wise words can stick in our memories forever and satisfy us. A single phrase, single story, or single speech can alter the trajectory of our lives. What are those for you? What ones have you spoken to others?

I think I need to do two things. First I really need to eat more oysters. No that was the second thing. First I need to seek to give and receive wise words, for they are as satisfying as raw oysters. Secondly, I need to eat more raw oysters. 

Lord giving wise words is a beautiful thing. I want to do more giving and receiving. Please help me do this.  

Grace, Truth, and John the Baptizer

“For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.”

Mark 6:17-20 NLT

http://bible.com/116/mrk.6.17-20.nlt

This morning my wife and I read this scripture while still tucked in bed pretending the day's work was not peering into our bedroom calling us. I noticed something today that had escaped me before. It was Grace and Truth. I never considered John the Baptist and example of that, but he was.

John clearly spoke the truth, "It is against God's law for you to marry your brothers wife." Even, so "Herod respected John" and "liked to listen to him." So you have the both-and magic potion of John telling Herod the truth, but not repulsing him.

How did John do it? Unfortunately we don't have a lot of information about how John did this. What we do see are three goals we can hold to:

• Tell the truth clearly
• Strive to not repulse others with your words
• Strive for multiple conversations... (read build relationships)

I wish John gave us the three steps rather than three goals. Goals are fuzzy and require us to think and pray and seek God for the how to. But knowing what you are aiming for is actually more than half the battle. If we can grab hold of these three goals like a jedi knight holds onto his light saber, I believe we could:

• Improve our relationship with those outside the Christian faith
• Have opportunities to share truth in a way that people can begin receive it.

Lord, help me to speak Your truth in a winsome way which engages people and draws them to it in spite of any unbelief.