Leadership and the Ryder Cup

The recent flap over USA's loss of the Ryder Cup matches has brought a spotlight on the philosophy of leading professional golfers to victory. What works, and what does not, seem to point at how the well the captain leads his team. The captain has many duties in the period leading up to the matches including; selecting wardrobes, arranging travel, and picking players who have not otherwise qualified by the point system. All of these activities are management issues which take a lot of time and are open to microscopic analysis by the press, the players and the players' wives.

Once the week of the matches arrives and the players are all assembled it is time for leadership to take its place. The leaders role now becomes that of motivating and empowering the players to do their very best.
Professional golfers today are different than their ancestors. Most own their own jets, run their own business, and hire their own team of couches, fitness gurus, caddies and psychologist. They are used to making their own decisions about where and when to play.

Rent studies on motivation demonstrate that traditional extrinsic motivational techniques do not motivate, but often demotivate.
There are three powerful motivator for persons of this caliber: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose.

Autonomy

Traditional leadership is based upon a hierarchal model which works well with routine, mechanical performance. The leader has authority by his position or title. This is not the model of God’s creation. Creation is based upon an orbital or relationship model. The universe consists of galaxies of stars, stars each containing orbiting planets, and planets have orbiting moons. All matter is made up of molecules of atoms with electrons orbiting their nuclei. An orbital or relational model of leadership does not rely on positional authority but recognized authority. While this sounds radical to some traditionalists, it will yield a healthier following. When members of a team feel that they have a degree of autonomy and are able to provide input, they are more willing to participate and contribute.

Mastery

Mastery is the urge to improve ourselves. It does not matter whether it is playing golf, a musical instrument, teaching a class, or digging a ditch. We have this deep-seated desire to master something. Motivation to work harder comes from the desire to improve our skills. In Abraham Maslow’s “Theory of Needs,”  the author believes that humans strive for an upper level of capabilities. Humans seek the frontiers of creativity, the highest reaches of consciousness and wisdom. This has been labeled "fully functioning person", "healthy personality", or as Maslow calls this level, "self-actualizing person."  The leader’s task is to help the followers to become great. 

Purpose.

The purpose is to be clear, focused, and significant. It is the leaders responsibility to communicate the significance of winning the Cup as opposed to just be selected for the team. He must clearly keep this in focus throughout the matches.

The Future 

Future captains must not only be good managers of the PGA's assets but understand how to motivate the players to give beyond their very best. European captains have understood this. Likewise the captains of recent President Cup matches.That is why they won the cup. The Euros even beat the US team when we had three of the top five golfers in world rankings.

Where have all the leaders gone?

Where have all the leaders gone, long time passing?

Where have all the leaders gone, long time ago?
Where have all the leaders gone?
Young folks pick them, every one
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

[apologies to Pete Seeger]

Leadership is a lost art today. Where did it go? Our leaders have morphed into managers. Rather than defeat terrorists, we manage them. Rather than lead a nation we manage a nation. Rather than Generals leading their troops, they manage a war.

In ancient days, kings went out in front of their armies as the battle was joined.  In front of their men they got a clear view of the goal and a feel for the cost of victory. In that position, they would be vulnerable to the slings and arrows of the opposing forces. The soldiers loved it because their hero and leader was by their side. They readily followed their leader. Of course there was a huge risk to the king, but a triumphant victory was worth taking the risk. For the leader, the material rewards of gold and land were valuable, but the intrinsic reward of personal achievement was even more important.

As time passed, kings began to believe survival was more important than material rewards and personal satisfaction. So they became managers and sent others in their place. Generals now led the troops into battle and gained self actualization. But soon the generals decided it would be safer to manage and survive. And so it went.

Leadership, throughout history, has been a risky business. Leaders stand out. They have a big target on their back. You do not have to guess who are leaders, they are the ones others are following. You can repeatedly say you are a leader, but if you look behind you and there is no one to be seen, you are not leading. Leading from behind is not leading, it is at best managing, or just following.

While living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we went crabbing on the local pier. A smelly chicken wing in an old crab pot would trap a few crabs in about ten minutes. The catch was put into a bucket as we dropped the baited pot for another load. A lid on the crab bucket was not necessary. When you have more than one crab in the bucket, the crabs won’t escape. If one tries to crawl out of the bucket, the others reach up with their claws and pull him back into the bucket. Crabs will always pull others down to their level. Eventually the brave crabs will forget their desire to climb above the other crabs and settle down and “just get along,” and be ordinary.

Most people give up after the crabs keep pulling them down to their level and we learn to live with mediocrity. We play it safe and try to manage instead of leading. Leadership becomes a bad thing.

The transition from leading to managing has impacted our entire society. In business managers today's bottom line becomes an idol, reducing long term planning and research and development. As a result our nations creativity has fallen victim to the managers. Quality has been replaced by quantity and shoddy products. Just do enough to get by. In our schools grades become less important because someone might try to lead and get a higher rank over another. In kids sports, everyone gets a trophy whether they were deserving or not. 

Mediocrity has taken over and is greatly over-rated. In giving everyone extrinsic rewards, we have done away with the intrinsic motivators of autonomy, mastering a skill, and/or getting a hard earned  victory. 

In the political arena the emphasis is no longer on individual leadership but on keeping the party in power. Leaders are pulled down to the common level by the rest of the crabs in the bucket. We become Borglike and as we are assimilated.

Presidents and kings today, sitting in their war rooms push a button and a drone attacks. How can the highest official do anything but manage. He cannot feel the heat of battle, he no longer knows his troops, he no longer takes personal risks. And at the end of the battle, he can not take any pride at personal accomplishment.

I do not propose that presidents pick up rifles and lead the troops into battle. What I do propose is that we begin to encourage individual initiative, creative leadership, and a purpose beyond ourselves. Encourage people to take risks. The rewards are still out there.

What will be your legacy?

          In the political world we often hear the term legacy overused. As Obama's term moves to its end, everyone is speculating about his legacy. Each of us leaves something behind after we are gone. It may be good or otherwise. Have you considered what your legacy will be. I have to admit, I have been too busy trying to keep up with God's plans for me to even consider what my legacy would be. But a member of a former church left a great legacy 

Bessie, at age seventy five, was one of the happiest people alive. Each Sunday morning she would stand up in front of the church and gives thanks to God for all He is doing in her life. Each morning she opened her eyes and praised God for another day. When you met her on the street she seemed to bubble with joy and excitement. It seemed totally out of place for someone dying of an incurable cancer. She had accepted her condition and knew it was only a matter of time when her eyes would be closed forever and she would greet Jesus in heaven.

Bessie was regularly taking Chemo-Therapy which left her tired and it was difficult for her to get about. On a morning after her treatment at the local hospital, Bessie came into my office and literally flopped into the visitor’s chair. There was something different today. This was the first time I had ever seen her sad. She seemed almost depressed. My mind began to race with thoughts of bad news from her doctor, “Would we be planning a funeral in the next few days?”

Heaving a deep sigh of resignation, Bessie spoke very subdued, “I have just come from the cancer ward. There are so many patients and their families who are confused, worried, and desperate. It is so sad. My heart is breaking for them and I don’t know what I can do about it. I feel the Lord is calling me to pray for them, to cheer them up and to minister to them. But I don’t know how or what to do.”

“It sounds as if the Lord is calling you to your life purpose. And who knows, maybe you have come to this position for a time such as this.[Esther 4:14] Maybe I can help. The chaplain at the hospital is a friend. Let me make a few calls.”

The chaplain was very helpful but told me we would have to get further permission.

“Bessie, the first thing you need is the permission of the hospital. The hospital has strict rules about who can approach patients in treatment rooms. They have had some bad experiences with well-meaning people. You need to go see the chaplain and he will take you to see the Director of Patient Services who is the only one with the authority to give permission.”

A couple of days later Bessie burst into my office with a big grin on her face. “They told me I could do it.” She paused and looked confused, “But, what do I do now? Where do I start?”

I had not given it a lot of thought but the Spirit gave me the plan. “Here is the plan. You want to follow God’s lead. Go and sit in the chemo room. Just relax and look around. Soon the Holy Spirit will point out the one to whom you are to minister first. When you approach them He will give you words to say or maybe your presence will be enough. Continue to do this as long as you feel strong.”

Bessie began to see God work through her as she ministered to hundreds of people over the next couple of years. The patients and their families would look forward to seeing her. After two years of powerful, spirit-led ministry Bessie succumbed to her own cancer leaving behind a legacy of, cancer survivors, thankful families, amazed doctors and nurses, and a treatment room that had been transformed from a deathly cell into a place of hope, joy and thanksgiving even in the midst of sorrow and uncertainty.

8 Steps to a Joyful Ministry.

• 1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
• 50% of pastors' marriages will end in divorce. 
• 80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastor.
• 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. 

Ministry is not for the faint of heart, but it is satisfying to lead people to physical, spiritual, and relational wholeness. There are 8 specific things pastors can do to keep from being a statistic.

1.  Maintain Your Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8-10a (NKJV) ⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work:

Highly driven people try to make every minute count. For them there is no Sabbath rest. Ministers, healthcare workers and our first responders are not able to take off on their normal Sabbath day. As a result many forego a day of rest. God created us to be cyclical in our work. It is important that we rest one day for every six that we work. If we forego out weekly day of rest, we become vulnerable to all types of physical relational and spiritual issues.  When we take on more than what God has called us to we loose our sense of balance and with it our ability to think, reason, and take care of ourselves.

People will call and say "I will die if you can't see me today."

You need to ask them "How long have you had this problem?"

2.  Stick to God’s Call.

We often will try to take on more responsibilities than God has assigned to us. We do this for many reasons; we want to be accommodating, we want others to like us, we want to feel important, or we feel that if we do not do them they will not be done. There are always many good things that need to be done that do not have our name on them. If we take on someone else’s task we run the risk of overloading ourselves and robbing them of the blessing they would receive in serving.

3.  Get Physical Exercise

Physically exercise is one of the greatest relievers of stress we have available to us. According to the famous Mayo Clinic,

“Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.”[i]

We all know that exercise is good for our bodies, but we are often too busy and stressed to fit it into your routine. Virtually any form of exercise can act as a stress reliever. If you're not an athlete or if you are out of shape, you can still make a little exercise go a long way toward stress management. Physical activity helps to increase the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Regular exercise can increase your self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise also can improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression, and anxiety.

4.  Take Time to Laugh

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”[ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.][ii]

One thing that will be important to all who are in ministry is to take time to laugh. Go see a funny movie. Do not be afraid to laugh at yourself. Be among people who have a good sense of humor.

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your spirit, soul, and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. 
• Laughter boosts the immune system.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.
• Laughter protects the heart. It improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow.

5.  Take Time for Yourself.

My wife Rita tells me that painting gives her such satisfaction. "I can move the paint around and if it doesn't look quite right I can scrape it off.  Knowing it's going to be there.    

Whatever it is that satisfies you, let God bless you through it. The Lord is equipping you that will be a part of your protection.

6.  Maintain Healthy Relationships. 

Broken or damaged relationships suck the very heart out of you. Some relationships may not be restorable and in those cases we need to forgive. Sometimes forgiveness has to be a regular thing.

Peter asked Jesus, “How many times are we to forgive?” Jesus responded with a number far beyond what anyone could have imagined. Our relationships with those we encounter on a regular basis must be kept healthy. As mentioned in an earlier chapter, “If you do not have it together at home, you should seriously consider getting out of the ministry until you get it together.” Our relationships with fellow workers and other staff must be kept healthy our ministry and our personal life will suffer.

7.  Maintain Your Devotional Life,

Our relationship with God must be intimate and healthy. How else will we be able to respond to His direction and call on our lives? How else will we know our assignment? We need to stop and listen and wait upon the Lord. He will speak to us and guide our life.

We must also be honest with Him about our desires and our feelings. Our prayers may not always terribly courteously to God. But they should be honest.  Tell Him exactly how you feel. He knows your heart anyway.   

Jeremiah 20:7 (NKJV) ⁷  O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me.

When I graduated from seminary, they gave me a gift of a little red book with Psalms and Proverbs. The book is arranged for a daily devotion covering an entire month. On the first day of the month you are to read Psalms, 1, 31, 61, 91, 121, and Proverbs 1. Then day 2 you read Psalms 2, 32, 62, 92, 122, and Proverbs 2. It continues in that way through the month.

8. Thank God

Thank God for all He has given you. Doctors say the healthiest emotion you can have is gratitude. In fact the more you work on this attitude of being grateful, the healthier you will be. Be thankful for everything you receive. Each day find five things you that you are thankful for and express your gratitude to God.

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[i] http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469

[ii] http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

Do you really want to get well?

[Excerpt from new Bill Johnson's soon to be released book, "Physician, Heal Thyself"]

John 5:6 (NKJV)  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

Neil was the pastor of a small church back in the mountains east of San Diego. Recently divorced, Neil had a long series of physical, emotional, and spiritual problems for several years. He was seeing professionals for his condition, but Rita and I had been providing prayer, counsel, and emotional support through much of this time. With all this, Neil was not getting any better and in fact it appeared he was falling deeper into depression and failing physically.

On a Friday evening in late fall we were joined by another couple as we drove up to Neil’s for another ministry session. His house was in a densely wooded area behind his church. Our meeting went like all other meetings with Neil; a few small breakthroughs, prayers for forgiveness, healing, and deliverance prayer. We sensed no real change until I stopped and asked Neil a question we had never before considered. “Neil, do you want to be healed?” The question was not asked in desperation or anger, but it was simply put, 

“Do you really want to be healed?” 

The question caught us all, including me, by surprise. We could tell that Neil was giving it serious thought. After what seemed like ten minutes, but was probably only one or two, Neil gave us his answer.

“I am not sure that I do want to be well. If I was well, then people would expect more out of me. If I was not sick I would have nothing to hide behind. If I was well, there would be more that I would be required to do.”

As a result, Neil decided that it would be better for him to be healed of all his infirmities and return to an effective life and ministry than to continue on the downward spiral. We all agreed that we would help him follow up on his decision. Neil is now remarried, living a healthy life, with a flourishing ministry. He has been healed of all those infirmities.   

As we walked out Neil's front door that evening many years ago, we walked down the three wooden steps to the pathway, I heard something crunch under my foot. The single light bulb above the door gave me enough light to see what I had stepped on. A now dead scorpion had been lying in wait for us as we left the house.

Luke 10:19 (NKJV) ¹⁹  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The question we asked Neil is one to ask ourselves. Do I really want to be well? 

The Oxygen Mask Principle

 (Excerpted from Bill Johnson's soon to be released Book

Physician, Heal Thyself)

On every airline flight throughout the world attendants welcome the passengers aboard with a flurry of announcements. The most important is the safety announcements which mostly ignored by frequent fliers. No matter how creative the life jacket and oxygen mask demonstrations, they are generally met with apathy. But, if you will listen very carefully you will discover the single most important principle which may save your ministry and your wellbeing. The demonstration of proper oxygen mask attachment is followed by this instruction,

“If you are traveling with someone who needs your assistance, put your mask on first before you help them.”  

This statement should be placed on the mirror every care giver; nurse, doctor, pastor, parent or anyone responsible for the physical or spiritual care of others. You will not be able to help others if you are dying or impaired by oxygen depletion.

 Luke 4:23(KJV) And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself:

We can safely say that there are many throughout the world who ignore this principle to the detriment of themselves and also the people they are called to serve. This is a major reason why ministers of all types find their calling so difficult. My first few years of ministry were overwhelming. There were so many calls on my time and needs for compassion that I became burned out and discouraged. I was recently introduced to the term “Compassion Fatigue.” Compassion fatigue can result from internal and external factors. 

Internal Factors

Theologian and Christian author Don Williams writes, 

“Most churches are dysfunctional and most pastors are co-dependent”[1]

There are many who go into ministry because of their own needs, rather than an altruistic desire to serve others. They may have a great need to be loved. They believe that people will love them if they minister to their needs. They think to themselves, “If I take care of people, they will love me.  I will be loved and accepted.” Ministers with this deep need to be loved are very susceptible to burn out. They are driven to give but do not put boundaries on their giving.

Another factor is the attraction to ministry of people who have a strong desire for control. While spiritually deadly to both the pastor and the church, there seems to be a great number of control freaks in ministry today. This is often the result of an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Cable television viewers were treated to the ultimate OCD in the character of Adrian Monk portrayed so well by Tony Shalhoub. Needless to say most OCD's don't get that far out, but many of us will pat our pocket to see if the wallet is still there or the wife who calls her husband three times to remind him to stop at the store.

The Bible contains many OCD’s. Mary and Martha were friends and followers of Jesus. Martha, (the OCD)[2], considered the project of having the Savior for dinner more important than acknowledging the Person of Jesus Christ. She labored far too hard over the project and criticized her sister Mary who was sitting at Jesus’ feet. Martha felt motivated to control Mary as well as Jesus.Moses, another OCD, experienced a miracle[3] as God produced water from a rock. Later God told Moses to speak to the rock to receive the water.[4] But Moses decided he would strike the rock with his staff as he had done previously. This is a prime example of an OCD in action.

Another internal factors that affect pastors is; the very people to which they are ministering can be very hurtful. Hurting people hurt people. The old adage,”Sheep bite.” is very common. Ministers, by definition, provide care for individuals who often do not receive that care graciously. Anyone who has been in ministry for more than a few years knows what it feels like to be hurt by someone you are trying to help.

A hurting minister will begin to set up defensive walls. Over a period of time this may result in what John Sandford[5] refers to as a “Heart of Stone.”[6] There are two kinds of hearts of stone. The first kind is very obvious; it is the hard hearted person who does not care about anyone or anything except themselves. We say, “His heart is so hard he will never help.” Secular counselors and medical personal are taught to not become personally involved in their client or patient’s issues. But those in Christian ministry we need to care deeply for the people we serve. As a result the minister cannot always maintain a objective attitude.

The second kind of heart of stone is less obvious. It is the hidden heart of stone. People with the hidden heart of stone will act loving, will minister to others, and will always be ready to help others. But they will never let anyone minister to them. They are extremely loving and outgoing but will never let anyone know what is in their own heart. Those with this hidden heart of stone fear real intimacy.  They will not let anyone get close enough to hurt them.  When a relationship begins to grow intimate, they will deliberately do something mean to drive the other person away. Those with the hidden heart of stone are prone to fall into sexual sin because they are often covering up feelings that they are afraid to express.

External Factors

There are also external factors which rob pastors and church leaders of their joy in ministry. First, there is so much demand upon them. The number of people in the church, in the city, and in his family that need ministry can be over-whelming.  You then expand this to your area, region, nation, and the world. Jesus said; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.[7] If someone is at all conscientious about this call, he carries a heavy load. Ministers must come to realize their specific call and do only what God calls them to accomplish.

Another external issue which faces ministers is contentious parishioners. If a leader wants to make changes, he must realize that where ever there is movement there will also be friction. Friction plus movement equals heat. A Boy Scout with two sticks can create a bonfire. A disgruntled member, with two allies can create a lot of heat for the pastor.

Then there are those people who a pastor or minister can never satisfy. They may have been wounded by a previous pastor or a previous church and they are still angry and bitter. They will spill out their hurt on the current pastor who wonders where he went wrong. While it may seem to be personal with the current minister, it is not. They were hurt by a former pastor or church member. They are only taking their hurt or frustration out on the current leader. Ministers cannot take these actions personally.

All pastors should learn how to handle conflict.

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[1] Jesus and Addiction, A Prescription to Transform the Dysfunctional Church and Recover Authentic Christianity, 1993 by Recovery Publications

[2] Matthew 10:40

[3] Exodus 17:6

[4] Numbers 20:7-11

[5] Sandford, John, Elijah House Ministries, http://www.elijahhouse.org/

[6] Ezekiel 36:26

[7] Acts 1:8

Maybe its time to Live on the edge

Everyone has something to do and somewhere to go. It’s what God created us for. We humans seem always to be on the go with no time to spend relaxing. He placed within each one a drive to exceed our limitations. Man cannot fly so he invents an airplane. We get tired running so we invent an automobile, we can’t swim long distances so we invent a boat. We are always trying to exceed our  limitations. We want to live outside the box.

Is this need to escape our bounds only a human thing? I think not. Why does the chicken have a need to cross the road? Why are our highways littered with road kill? Deer, polecats, armadillos, and even family pets can be found daily in the middle of the road. They went somewhere they had not been. They left their comfort zone.

A while back I hit a little squirrel. It was racing across Highway 18 in the Bienville National Forest. He, or maybe she, jumped out of the security of the forest to cross the road heading for another forest on opposite side. I saw him as he saw me, half way across. He didn’t stop or slow down. He actually sped up. I hit my brakes and swerved. “Faster little squirrel, faster, you can do it, you’re almost there, oops, too slow.”

It bothers me to see any living thing die, especially when I am involved. But, I wondered, "Why was the squirrel trying to cross the road?" There were large, acorn bearing, oaks on both sides of the road. If he was hunting food, he could have stayed on his side. Why this morning did he run across the road, risking his life or more accurately sacrificing his life for what? Inside that squirrel’s head there must have been a reason. Was it really a instinctual thing, searching for food? Or was it something deeper, a need to exceed his limitations? Could it be the need for adventure? 

Abraham Maslow's proposed a hierarchy of needs beginning with physiological needs, continuing on with safety, love/belonging, esteem and ending with self actualization.
Maybe the squirrel was fulfilling his need for self actualization. Maybe he would have been the first of his family to cross over and return. Maybe it wasn’t about success or failure, maybe it was about playing the game. 

A few miles beyond the squirrel was a six inch black turtle, inching his way across the road. I swerved and avoided sending him to turtle heaven while he nonchalantly kept crawling to the safety on the other side. A couple of years ago the government’s stimulus program set aside several millions of dollars to dig a tunnel underneath a highway in Florida so that turtles could use that because it was too dangerous for them to cross the highway. I am betting that when the tunnel is completed the turtles will still cross on the highway. What self respecting turtle would wimp out and crawl through  the tunnel when he can have the adventure of plodding across the busy highway dodging semis and SUV’s. That is something he can tell his children about.

All life on this planet has been instilled by our creator with a sense of adventure, curiosity and a desire to live on the edge. Unfortunately our system of education and governmental regulation wants to take the thrill out of everyday life. We are all to be wimps cowering in our basements, living in fear of; the next swine flu epidemic, the next bank failure, the next, automotive bankruptcy, the next … next ….next.

We are created by God for a purpose, to reach our destiny. As long as we are too afraid to leave our comfort zone and to reach out and do something we have never done before, to risk failure or ridicule, we will be considerably worse than the turtle or the squirrel.

The turtle lived, the squirrel died, but both broke free of their limitations, taking a chance.


 Maslow describes self actualization as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be. This has been labeled  a "fully functioning person", "healthy personality", or a "self-actualizing person."

What is keeping you from crossing the road, fear, apathy, or are you too comfortable? Maybe it is time to do something drastic. 

You may get run over, you may make it across. It is time to take a chance.