Leadership Style in Action

            Today we talked about the four different leadership styles, namely, Doer, Thinker, Relater, and Mover.  Doers want to get the job done, thinkers want to generate ideas and solutions, relaters want to get along, and movers want to win.  We were first asked to take a ten question quiz to determine our style, of which I scored four Doer, three each Thinker and Mover.  Before the quiz, I thought I was a thinker.

            So then we have this large list of experiences that relate to the various styles, and when I checked them all in, that is, the ones that I have liked the best in the past.  This yielded nine for Thinker, four for Mover, and three each for Doer and Relater.  This in my opinion is more accurate for me.  The purpose of our blog today is to explain one of the listed experiences that we have particularly enjoyed and explain how it was successful.

            As to what I shall write about, whether studying or preaching, it is hard to decide.  I thrive on studying and do it far more often than the latter, but truly preaching is the most enjoyable task under the sun for me to do.  To explain the truth of God’s Word to a group of people, to share what my studying has revealed about the character of our God, this is where I thrive.  The most recent occasion of this was at youth group a week ago, when I shared my testimony with both Jr. and Sr. High.  I began my testimony with Leviticus 19:27, then prayed, then began with my upbringing and ended with an excited praise of God’s abundant grace in Jesus Christ.  Of course, I have no idea how effective it was, but I know that God’s word does not return to Him void, so I trust that my faithful preaching of His Law and Gospel changes the hearers’ hearts, in His power, His way, and His timing.    

Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp

            Yesterday we visited Riverside, my home camp, over by Story City.  We also got to drive by my house on the way because there was plenty of time and it was more or less on the way.  It was strange to be in a familiar place with people that I was not used to being with there.  Since I was a camper at Riverside for six years, I knew most of what I normally ask camps, so it took some effort to come up with questions to ask.

1.  How does the board work in relation to the member-Churches?

I knew that Riverside was basically owned by the member-Churches, but I didn’t know how the Board came out of that, or how much power they had.  Apparently, the members of the board are picked by the Director, among those in the churches who care about the camp and its mission, “To know Jesus Christ, and to make Christ known to all.”  The board members are to be proportional by synod with the member-churches.  Right now, that means about half ELCA and half LCMC, because that is the representation of the member-churches in those synods.  Formerly, the ELCA had more, but in recent years the ELCA has shrunk considerably because of its ungodly decisions.  The camp, however, has not followed in those steps, but remains focused on the Gospel and on personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

2.  Was the barn here originally?

My sister has stayed in the barn before, but I had never been in it, as it was a Ranch camp thing, and only girls stayed there.  Apparently, it was indeed original, having been on the farm spot with the house and the old shop.  The upstairs of the barn now has basketball hoops.

Some other things that I got to see that I never had before were the costume room in the chapel, which is absolutely loaded with costumes, the barn, the staff lounge in the basement of the dining hall, and the back of the kitchen.  They had also moved the old banners from the chapel ceiling into the rec hall on the wall, which was really neat.  So many memories for me with the various banners, from Christ in Action in 2005 to Sent in 2010, I was glad to recall them all and remember what God had done for me and so many others in that place.  It was there that my attempt at Judaism was majorly challenged in 2009, and I spent my week at camp wrestling with God and my salvation, eventually repenting and believing the Gospel upon my return home.  And my Eagle Scout project, I could see the picnic tables scattered throughout camp, and remembered with fondness my first real experience with leadership in the shop, directing twenty-two people to build seven picnic tables in three hours.  It was a blast.  And so many times God working through the mime, and the counselors I met and still know and respect, and whose example I now hope to imitate at Hidden Acres.  It is a good place with a rich history and I was glad to visit it and see that God is still at work and doing His mighty purposes there, within the context of the Lutheran church, which is sadly becoming a more and more hostile environment to Him.

Experiencing God

            The way that folks today talk about experiencing God is an interesting thing.  It is far different in practice, but very similar in principle to what people have talked about through the ages.  Some say that God only uses His word, others say that He has new things to say to His people today.  Some people think that only Psalms, being Scripture, are effective for singing, others use hymns or praise choruses or even songs that give no mention to God.  The five ways that we discussed the “being” side of leadership today included: experiencing (through nature), feeling, listening, reflecting, and waiting.  These are interesting concepts and when viewed in totality they do not include Word or sacraments specifically, nor do they demand influence from the Church institutionally.  This makes for an interesting argument between the Catholic and orthodox Lutheran camp on one side and the Evangelicals and Pentecostals on the other.  In this unfortunate way, what began as a simple question for a blog assignment has raised a very old controversy which I am now obligated to explain.

            The Catholic church has long held that God is primarily available to His people through the institutional Church.  To draw nearer to God, they say, one must participate in the ceremonies and practices and sacraments of the church.  Baptism and communion are the sacraments they share with Lutherans, to which they add five more, which are the primary means that God deals with His people, and all through the Church institution.  The Lutheran church instead states that God deals primarily through His word, not primarily through the Church, and through the sacraments, which have their efficacy because of the Word.  Thus, orthodox (or old line) Lutherans teach that what one needs to grow in grace is the Word, baptism, and communion.  These are called means of grace, and apart from these three, they claim, no grace is available from God. 

            An interesting challenge to this type of thinking came after the Reformation in the form of a school of thought called Pietism.  This type of thinking is what drives most of American Christianity, evangelicalism, and especially holiness teaching.  The idea is that one needs a personal relationship with the Savior, Jesus, in order to be saved, and not necessarily the “means of grace,” through which their predecessors claimed the grace of God was channeled. Thus, they spoke of God’s grace as a purely spiritual thing, and not needing any sort of physical means to be imparted.  The controversy involved far more than merely a quarrel about the nature of the sacraments.  The whole of the Christian life, and thus according to some, the substance of the Gospel rested upon this argument.  And so we come to today, at which time the Launch class is presented with a very Pietistic list of things which are, in effect,  a new list of “means” by which God grants grace and growing in Him.  The question is a very difficult one to answer, and indeed requires a deep look at what the Gospel is, the Old Testament system, and the example of Jesus.  These things, of course, I have neither the time, nor the space, nor the knowledge to dive into at present, so let it suffice for me to answer the question as stated with such arguments suspended for the time being.

            Of the five things listed above, I have certainly made use of reflecting the most.  I have kept a journal at the very least inconsistently since I was eight years old, and for the past four years I have kept one also for my spiritual life particularly.  I write down what the Lord Jesus has done for me, both so that it may be in words what my mind is thinking, and so that it may be remembered in the future.  When I go back in my journal and read of what God has done for me in the past, I am encouraged that He shall never forsake me in the future, but shall love and provide for me in all my circumstances.

            This week, to work on one (which incidentally sounds very much like doing) I need to wait.  I have submitted several things to Him this week and I must needs be patient to wait for His answer.  As to how I may become stronger, it will be by the grace of God.  In the area of being, I am at best a very passive agent.  This too is an extreme controversy, but I shall not enter that now.  Bother with all the nonsense people come up with when they forget about the simplicity and mystery of the Scriptures and try to make controversies out of everything.  Jesus preached, and He ministered, but His focus is not on preaching or on ministry.  His focus is on the Father, now and forever.  May ours be likewise.

Leaders Are

            Yesterday was doing, today was being.  We discussed various character qualities that leaders possess.  The top ten follow:  humility, commitment, integrity, faith, obedience, courage, wisdom, compassion, perseverance, and vision.  So our task today is to figure out which we are strongest in and which we are weakest in. 

            I believe I am strongest in integrity.  For some reason unknown to me, I simply cannot stand in my conscience anything that is not one hundred percent honest.  Deviating in any way from the truth of the matter drives me insane.  Sarcasm, jokes, games, pretending even, all drive me nuts while others don’t really care.  So in everything I do I want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.  If I don’t, it bugs me big time.

            The area I am weakest in is wisdom.  On the occasion that God gives me a glimpse of wisdom, I realize how little I have.  And God doesn’t have a “Wisdom Accelerator” program so I can speed up the process, either.  It takes years to grow in wisdom, and I shall have to wait and be open to the teaching of the Spirit through the Word.  I trust that He shall teach me.  So help me God, Amen.

Leaders Do

            Upon examining the ten leadership principles in our book today, I must pick which I think I am best at.  These ten are:

1.  Focus Precedes Success

2.  Burden + Passion + Vision = Mission

3.  Risk-Taking

4.  Planning and Follow-Through

5.  Navigating Obstacles

6.  Intentional Communication

7.  Conflict Resolution

8.  Never Underestimate a Champion

9.  Finish Strong

10.  Leading Other Leaders

Thinking about these I believe that I am naturally the best at Focus.  In little things, I often lack focus, but in the big things my focus is immovable.  I know that I belong to Jesus and that He will guide me.  I know that I want someday to be a pastor.  These things refuse to change, even through years of bombardment.  In the dishroom, I know what needs to be done, and I am focused on the dishroom until it is complete.

            Secondly we were asked to discern which area we are weakest in.  I think that Risk-Taking is likely my worst.  I don’t like to take risks, nor do I desire to do something until I am totally sure it will work.  Thus I make plans slowly, I make decisions slowly, because I desire to insure that they remain, that they work.  When I decide to do something and it fails, that drives me nuts.  I beat myself over the head and try to frantically learn every possible lesson from that failure so that I can avoid making the same mistake again.  The more I fail, the slower I make decisions because the more things I want to consider before making a potentially failed decision.  Temporary things drive me insane, and I seek permanent order, consistency, and success.  Risk-taking is very difficult for me.

            As to how I may improve in this area, I have no idea.  Slow decisions and careful calculation preceding all decisions is ingrained in who I am and it will be very difficult to uproot.  If it is the will of God, may He do it in His way and timing, and grant me grace when I fail, as He has so many times in the past.  Truly He is longsuffering through my many sins and limitations. 

            Seriously, as I sit here and think, ‘How can I risk more, developing that skill and principle,’ my very being revolts at the idea.  I can barely fathom taking a risk of any kind unless I can carefully calculate it.  Although I suppose I do take some risks.  Many things I do will have consequences that I don’t want or that could be very bad for me.  I do them anyway because I think that this is the will of God.  But when it comes to acting under His will, in my ignorance I am cautious and slow, and indeed only the grace of God could ever make me take a hasty risk. 

Leading Work and Men

            Today we discussed the difference between Task and Relational leaders, as well as those who are inactive, balanced, and adaptable.  According to our self-assessment, I scored in the balanced section, while inclining Task leadership.  In response to this, we are to develop three goals for leadership improvement with three action steps for the accomplishment of each.

            First, as a leader of Beyond Help or of lessons in general, I want to be more organized in the planning and presentation of devotional lessons.  One way to do this is to begin planning sooner, that is, to plan and pray for the devotion and study the text intensely a full week in advance.  This would give time to become familiar with the text.              I could also practice my lesson in advance, instead of just picking a text and a format and winging it.  Furthermore, I could begin praying for the lesson and its hearers a full week in advance.

            Second, as a Task-leaning leader, I will pay more attention to the people I am directing.  For one thing, I must consider how my presentation of orders is perceived.  I often steamroll over people when I think something needs to get done, and become bossy.  I must remember that the way I say things does not always portray a pure heart, and not only do I have wrong motives sometimes, but sometimes my right motives are perceived as negative because of my presentation.  Also, I need to remember that the people I am leading are, in fact, people, and care about them personally and not just their work performance.  Finally, I can ask for their input in decision making.

            Finally, I lean a little too relationally in regards to quality of work.  May I be unafraid to confront people when they are not doing a good job.  I can do this first by articulating that my rebuke concerning the quality of their work is not a personal attack on them.  Then I can clarify that the work they have done is not acceptable, and finally demonstrate to them by example how to do it right.  Add to this also the positive affirmation which follows a job well done.