by Don and Merril on June 22, 2011
In a recent issue of Forbes magazine Geoff Colvin wrote an opinion article entitled “A New American Exceptionalism - That’s Not Just About Money.” He asked the question, “What makes America great?” In it Colvin said that “The conventional case for U.S. greatness has long rested on economic success…” This has been true since the economic prosperity coming after WWII, as Andrew L. Yarrow, pointed out in Measuring America: How Economic Growth Came to Define American Greatness in the Late Twentieth Century.
The problem today is that America is loosing its place as the economic superpower. Colvin wrote, “In a December poll, 80% of Americans agreed that the “U.S. has a unique character that makes it the greatest country in the world,” but a large majority of them also believed “we’re at risk of losing it.”"
Colvin concludes, “For the most of our history we saw our unique character arising from the ideals of freedom, democracy, and openness…Shifting to an economically driven concept was seductively easy. Shifting back will be harder.”
The answer to shifting back to a sense of “exceptionalism” can only be found if leaders recapture the source of the freedom and the applications in the many social economic spheres of our society that made America “exceptional.” The source of freedom and its benefits is Jesus Christ who sets us free from the guilt, power, deceptive thinking and emotions of sin as set forth in the Judeo-Christian Scripture.
Christ came to set a people free so that they might live free in society by His power for His glory and His agenda which is in the end for their good. Many of the founders of America recognized the biblical realities as they applied to the spheres of a civil society. The case has been made often that America’s freedoms and greatness have a root in the Judeo-Christian biblical world-view. This is abundantly clear from the many quotes and mottos inscribed in various places throughout our land, to include ironically on every piece of U.S. currency - “In God We Trust.”
The Psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen as His inheritance…(Ps 33:12).” The Christian Church is the nation God has chosen and blessed with freedom and its benefits through Christ. Apostle Peter states the point, “You [Christians] are a chosen race, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Pet 2:9).”
God has chosen His people and made them “exceptional,” to be salt and light, a witness to the nations, that is, to lead others to see the blessing that come by serving the LORD in faith. In the truest sense it is only the Church that is “exceptional.” But the Church, as a multitude of individual citizens interacting within a society, influences the political nations and can bring to it blessing by its exceptional leadership. It is the Church, “the pillar and buttress of truth (I Tim 3:15)” that must lead America and all other nations to the source of greatness and a new identity.
May the LORD enable you to go be an exceptional leader today.
by Don and Merril on May 25, 2011
I recall, as a young US Army officer, the feeling of security that came with putting on my uniform with its attached rank insignias. I recall the feeling of security that came with putting on the flack jacket ans steel helmet the days i was officer of the guard. As a church pastor, I noticed that when I spoke from behind my pulpit I felt more secure. But, was I more secure?
My uniform with its silver bars did not provide security when I was attacked by one of my own troops with a knife. First Sargent Nishakuni provided my security with his pool cue swagger stick. Truth be told, any number of weapons could overcome the flak jacket. A carpenter’s skill and a few oak boards did not protect me when it was “time for a change of leadership.” A leader’s security is not to be found in the outward adornments, symbols or tools of his or her position.
I am reminded that real security is from the LORD. David, God’s leader and Christ type, reminds us in Psalm 139 that the LORD knows us intimately and completely. He knows us when we sit down or rise up. He knows every word on our tongues even before we speak. He knows us even if we try to run away and hide, no matter how far, whether it is in the light or dark. He knows exactly how we are made inasmuch as He took the creative part in shaping us and made us wonderfully. He knows our days inasmuch as He formed our days for us before there were any days or nights. He knows us intimately and completely and leads us throughout our days. Every morning we wake up we are still with Him.
I am reminded of Paul’s comments to the Ephesians, For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). I am reminded of his remarks to the Romans as he reflected upon the sovereign and gracious outworking of our redemption through Jesus Christ, What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:31,32).
Leadership brings with it inherent risks - all manner of risk. Leaders must operate through and beyond the risky zones and do so in a manner to inspire confidence in those they lead. To do this they need a deep personal security that transcends the many categories of risks and enables them to work through the lesser risks. Deep personal security is not to be found in who we are or what we have done, but real security is found in who the LORD and His Christ are and what they have done, are doing and will do for and through those set apart in Christ from before the foundation of the world.
If you not done so recently, I encourage you to take 15 minutes today, maybe even now, to read Psalm 139, Eph. 1:3-14 and Romans 8. Consider the LORD’S long term commitment and investment in you who have received His salvation through faith in Christ. It began before time, continues through time and extends until after time as we know it - to the praise of His grace.
by Don and Merril on May 19, 2011
I was challenged this morning when I read and meditated upon Psalm 137, especially verses 4-6:
How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill?
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem above all my joys!”
The Psalm reflects the deep depression of the oppressed who are separated form their homeland, and in particular from Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the pride and pleasure of Israel. Jerusalem was the city in which was located the Temple and “Throne” of God and therefore in some sense His Presence, Power, Provision, Protection and Pleasures of the Covenant relationship He had with Israel. Jerusalem was the place where the heart of Israel could be stirred to song, worship.
But Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians and the Israelites had been carried into captivity, almost 1,000 miles from Jerusalem. Their captors, as if to rub their faces in defeat, taunted them, Sing us one of the songs of Zion! But Israel could not sing; they sat down and wept, they hung their instruments on the trees (vss.1,2). They did not know how to sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land - How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land? (vs.4). They felt the risk of forgetting Jerusalem, the very essence of the reason for singing the LORD’S song. They looked forward to the day when Babylon itself would be destroyed and blessed the one who would destroy her and her little ones (vss. 8,9).
I was challenged to consider how this Psalm relates to me in the 21st AD century, historically on the other side of the Cross of Christ from Israel in Babylon in the 6th century BC. In some respects I am like Israel - dwelling in a foreign land, a land in which there is little regard for the God of Israel, a land where the God’s Covenant People are often taunted. But in other respects I am not like Israel and I do know how and can sing in a foreign land because of Christ.
As a result of the atoning work of Christ, His resurrection and ascension, He and the Father sent forth His Holy Spirit so that God’s Presence, Power, Provision, Protection and Pleasures of the Covenant relationship finds a residence in effect in those who believe the Gospel. Jesus foretold the day when the worship [song of the LORD] then limited to Jerusalem would no longer be limited to that physical place; Women, believe Me, the hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. He told of the day when true worshipers will worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:21-24)- possible any where.
I am different from another perspective; I am no longer under captivity. Christ has overcome the world and bid me to take heart in His victory (John 16:33). Christ has set me free for me to enjoy my freedom; For freedom Christ has set us free (Gal 5:1). The Apostle John reminds me For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith (1 John 54).
A very practical expression and illustration of the freedom and joy to sing the LORD’S song is Paul. He records his joy in the letter to the Philippians. It is a letter full of exhortation to rejoice and again I say rejoice notwithstanding Paul is actually in a Roman prison. His heart is stirred not because he is in Jerusalem, but because of Christ, before whom every knee will bow, and the advance of the Gospel in the “foreign” land - the land of his captors.
Paul was a leader who helped shape the world. He was able to lead with great effect and impact because he knew how to sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land, the lands of those who opposed his God. He did not hang up his instruments when he was captured or taunted, but rather he sang the LORD”S song - preached the Gospel and God changed the world of his captors.
How about you? Do you know how to sing the LORD’S song in a foreign land? Are you singing it?
by Don and Merril on May 3, 2011
The formula for Coca-Cola has long been considered the ultimate trade secret. The trade secret act allows owners of trade secrets to receive injunctions against disclosure or use of their trade secrets and potentially to receive treble damages for infringement. According to legend, Coca-Cola’s formula is only known (revealed) to a handful of top executives who are all bound by various confidentiality and non-compete agreements. The recipe has been kept under lock and key. Any information that would be helpful to someone trying to reverse engineer the formula has also been subject to protection. Top leaders in Coca Cola are duty bound to not reveal the secret to the Coca Cola Kingdom’s success. (adapted from charlotteinjurylawyerblog.com; Hull and Chandler, Feb. 11, 2011)
Quite to the contrary, top leaders, actually all leaders, in God’s Kingdom are duty bound to reveal in public the secrets to the Kingdom’s success, which were reveled to them in private.
Addressing the issue of why He teaches in parables, Jesus says -To you [His Apostles] has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables... (Mark 4:11). He next explains the Parable of the Sower, the essence of which is the range of responses to the Word of God as it is sown, i.e. taught or preached. This is followed by a question and a purpose statement, Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light (Mk 4:21-23).
The take away is that Jesus is telling His Apostles - His Kingdom’s leaders and the trainers of future Kingdom leaders - that they are to reveal the trade secret He has given to them. They are to reveal what makes the Kingdom a success.
The secret is simply that we are to accept (trust and obey) the person, works and words of Jesus in repentance and faith. The measure to which we do is the measure to which we will bear fruit (experience success) in the Kingdom - 30, 60, 100 fold (Mk. 4:20, 24). We pray, Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven in faith that the LORD would bless the work of our hands so that His reign will be evident in everything we do on earth, whether it is to build a family, a church, a business, a nation, and a culture. To see that happen we must reveal the secret He has revealed to us.
As leaders who seek to bear fruit in God’s Kingdom, whether it is in the influence spheres of family, church, education, business, arts or governance, the measure of our leadership success will be determined by our own repentance, faith and obedience to Christ, which includes revealing the trade secret to those we lead. This is to be intentionally pro-active to explain the application of God’s word in the light of the Gospel of Christ to whatever the situation.
Prayer: O LORD, grant us to understand the application of the trade secret of Your Kingdom today, enable us to trust and obey your person, work and words. Grant us to understand how to revel this to those we lead today in the many places we have influence.
by Don and Merril on April 20, 2011
Many years ago, Bob, a man about 30 years my senior, I am sure a 1000+ books more read than me, more “worldly” wise and financially secure, gave me a very gracious compliment. I don’t remember the exact words, but it was a compliment to my boldness, wisdom and understanding as we periodically discussed a variety of some of the deeper issues in life and society and I challenged his positions. I recall responding to him that the wisdom and understanding that he witnessed was not mine, but it came from the Word of God. Bob was not a believer at the time. I recall telling this voracious reader and thinker, if you had but one book to read, it should be the Bible. The Word is a valuable source of wisdom, understanding, and confidence for leaders.
I was reminded of this truth while reading Psalm 119 this morning. The Psalmist celebrates God’s words, His testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, rules and commandments. He reminds his readers: Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies…I have more understanding than all my teachers…I understand more than the aged… (vss. 98-100).
The LORD graciously blesses, provides for, dwells with and protects from enemies those who keep His Law, which is our guardian/school teacher to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24), who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1Cor 1:30). The LORD delivers us from our enemies, often by the shear power of His wisdom, His Word applied, brought to bear in a situation.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD (Isa 55:8). As a consequence, many of our teachers, although quite learned and degreed in the world system, are limited in their understanding - limited to man’s library of rationalizations. God’s valuable Word reveals a higher understanding. Jesus told Peter, …flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven (Mat 16:17). Jesus gave us words the Father gave Him, as a consequence we have come to know the truth (Joh 17:8), and often find ourselves wiser than our teachers.
While we often venerate the aged, presuming they have gained the wisdom born of experience, age by itself does not make a man or women wise. The Psalmist describes the wisdom that is greater than the “aged” - ...I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep your word (vs.100). After the wise Solomon investigated every avenue to wisdom and meaning, he concluded, The end of the matter…Fear God and keep His commandments…for God will bring every deed into judgment...(Eccl 12:13,14)
The judgment of our sin as a result of our lack of wisdom, understanding and obedience has been satisfied in Christ’s death on our behalf. As a result, we who believe in Him, have been reconciled to God and He has given to us His Holy Spirit that guides us into the Truth of God’s Word, making us wiser than our enemies, of greater understanding than our teachers and the aged sages through His valuable Word.
The Word of God is the most valuable tool in a leader’s toolbox. Read it, meditate on it from its Christ-centered perspective, pray it and apply it.
Bob became a believer in Christ, by the power of His word and grace
I would be delighted to read your comments on this issue?
by Don and Merril on April 12, 2011
This morning as I awoke two passages of Scripture came to mind. Both were statements made by Jesus and recorded by Matthew. One was midway in Jesus’ earthly ministry, the other after His resurrection shortly before His ascension.
Come to Me, all who are are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;and you shall find rest for your souls (Matt 11:28,29)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all I have commanded you; and low I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:19,20).
What came to my attention from the two passages was that leaders “Come” and “Go.” They come to Jesus in their weariness with their heavily burdened hearts, take on His yoke, learn from Him, then they go make disciples, i.e. they lead the nations through teaching them what Christ has taught them in their weariness of soul.
Leadership has its wearisome burdens. They may be the heavy chains of his or her own true guilt before God or the false guilt of Pharisaical traditions. They may be from shame brought on by failing to live up to one’s own standard of performance, or from a lack of wisdom to know how to be effective, or from a sense of lack of power to accomplish a desired end, or frustration related to external obstacles to success, whether they be physical, financial, or relational. The burden might be fear of others, fear of loss or fear of success, with which comes greater responsibilities. The reality is, leadership comes with problems that are heavy, weary and burdensome.
The question is, “How is the weariness, the heaviness, the heart felt burden to be released?” It is important to know the answer if we are to lead, make disciples, of the nations. It is important because every person in every nation struggles with the same and similar burdens? They are all looking for the answer - many from you.
The answer is “Come;” come to Jesus who is your burden barrier; learn from Him. He the gentle, humble teacher who has not only given Himself as the atoning sacrifice for your sin, but who is alive and well and indwells all who come to Him in faith by His Spirit to be with always. His Spirit guides us into truth, cleanses our conscience, gives us peace before God, gives us wisdom, power, righteousness, love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He gives us gifts, empowers and stands behind us as the authority to do all He calls us to do as leaders.
When a leader daily “Comes” to Jesus, lays his burden down in faith, he or she will be much more convincing, by their experienced example of a soul set free, as they “Go” to make disciples.
by Don and Merril on March 29, 2011
This morning in our small group of men that meet at McDonald’s on Tuesdays, we read from Psalm 12. David, God’s anointed leader, writes the lyrics:
Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
I thought it interesting how David describes the situation he is experiencing - “the godly one is gone…Everyone utters lies…with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” He discerns a duplicity of heart and its consequent speech in what he hears daily. David discerns an autonomous arrogance in the speech he hears, “great boasts” on the lips of those who say “With our tongue we will prevail…Who is master over us?”
In contrast David recognizes “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace… purified seven times.”
Godly leaders pay attention to the words they hear and are aware of the hearts from which the words come forth. You may recall Jesus words, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Mat 12:34).” Biblical Christ-enabled leaders are able to discern the duplicity, the flattery, the great boasts, the autonomy assumed by an unrepentant heart. Godly leaders reflect Christ in them as they listen carefully to the heart that is speaking.
With such discernment a godly leader is able to navigate through the fog of lying lips. He or she will not be taken in by the flattery, will not be deceived by the little white or big black lies, will not believe in the great boasts nor adopt the autonomy assumed. They will discern the great need for the grace of God to change cold, dead hearts of stone to living, loving hearts of flesh so as to enable them to speak humbly in accordance with the living God’s pure words. They will also be reminded to preach the Gospel to themselves.
With such discernment godly leaders can speak the truth in love, in such as a way as to minister grace according to the need of the moment (Eph 4:15,29).” Sometimes the “truth in love” may be a gentle teaching, thought provoking, encouraging word. Or, sometimes it may be a hard confrontational word of discipline.
Christ-enabled leaders are able to speak truth into the the need of the moment because they are secure, even as David was, in the knowledge, “pure words,” that “You, O LORD, will keep…guard us from this generation forever (Ps. 12:7).” Paul expresses it, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:39).”
by Don and Merril on March 2, 2011
Give thanks for the several leaders with whom we are privileged to work in Africa and India and ask the LORD to guide and guard them as they serve Him, e.g. our key leaders are Gideon Umukoro (Nigeria), Sam Oppong (Ghana), Barasa Philemon (Uganda), Vjay Raju (India). Under their influence are several hundreds of other leaders.
Ask for wisdom for Don as he leads ELI to isolate and articulate the strategic initiatives for 2011-12 in a way that will be excite involvement and investment in equipping leaders.
Ask for LORD’S supply of funding of our development project and Don’s trip to Ghana to set up bible college and teach the first course.
by Don and Merril on February 17, 2011
2010 yielded 30 teaching events, 19 topics, in 21 cities in 8 countries teaching nearly 3000 leaders with potential to impact over 300,000, servicing 2 bible colleges with 63 students and training 80 nationals as Certified Course Instructors, all with the help of 13 volunteer instructors and 338 praying and giving partners.
With these words I started my report to the ELI Board of Trustees at our annual meeting in Atlanta. It was an encouraging and prosperous year for us on the field. Behind the words were the memories and testimonies I experienced in the field or reported by other staff, many of which I have shared in newsletters throughout the year. School teacher, Samuel Errat said, “I’m not the same person anymore,” having discovered the true reason for Christian education. Pastor Godfrey (far right) said, “I have trained several leaders, learned to prepare better sermons, lead cell groups and how to share power.”
Give thanks with us for the LORD’S enablement
by Don and Merril on April 8, 2010
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Recently I heard retired Attorney General John Ashcroft quote these lines from Emma Lazarus’ poem, “The New Colossus” as he spoke about the value of liberty central to American culture. The words are found on the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Ashcroft linked these words to Jesus’ words, “I have come to give life and that more abundantly.” Ashcroft noted that wherever there is liberty there is hope for the tired, poor, homeless and tempest-tost to raise up, to enjoy an abundant life, to excel. He pointed out that an abundant life is not just about material possessions. It is the freedom to act with the God-given nobility of an image bearer to do the best and greatest things for God and man through our Christian faith.
Biblical Christ-centered leadership fosters a culture of liberty; it fosters a culture that demonstrates the liberty we have in Christ, i.e. freedom from guilt, freedom from the power of sin and freedom to live, to love, by the supernatural power of the indwelling Christ. “Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17). “You were called to freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Gal 5:13).”
As leaders, are we fostering a culture of biblical Christ-centered liberty in which others can excel? Are we molding a culture in our sphere of influence that excites and allows individuals to use their god-given gifts, talents and resources to do the best, the most noble, most loving things for God and mankind?
