Leading When You Don't Feel Like You're A Leader

Recently our church, Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, had its leadership conference with great speakers like Mark Driscoll and Bishop T.D. Jakes. This got me thinking since I mentioned in previous posts that I felt led by Jesus recently to "preach the gospel" and was further led to understand that at this time that meant via this blog. As I told Jesus at the time, I'm no preacher, I've never been to seminary, my Bible knowledge is rudimentary at best, and I've only been back in church for about 2 years after a 20 or 30 year lapse. What in the world do I possibly have to teach or share with anybody? But Jesus just said do it anyway and don't be afraid because I'll help you. So watching and listening to the aforementioned speakers, who do have all of the credentials I don't have, really helped to comfort me when they reminded that EVERYONE has a sphere of influence. Whether it be family members, co-workers, staff, friends or a church congregation, we all have people in our lives for which we have the potential to be influential. Since my own kids don't listen to me, I'm not entirely sure who those people are in my life, but I'm sure there are some somewhere.

The point is that it is not all about how great your knowledge base is or how extensive your memory of Bible verses is, but more about the example you provide in your day-to-day life. I believe that simply being closely connected to God and having a very personal relationship with Him on a daily basis will by its very nature make you a person to whom others are drawn. This is because God's pure and perfect love will shine through you so brilliantly and so strongly that it will envelop everyone you come into contact with. They will want what you have and begin to follow you just to be close to the essence you project. ALL OF THIS WITHOUT HAVING SAID A SINGLE WORD!!!!!!! When Jesus first begain gathering disciples, the Bible says that all He had to do with most of them was walk up to them and say "Follow me" and they went because they were drawn to Him in a way that I'm sure they could not understand. This shows me that all of us can be leaders for Christ simply by leading with the power of our example and our convictions.

Recently, in thinking about my "sphere of influence", I started thinking about all of the people I have come to know and who know me in the amateur poker league I belong to. The league has free tournaments where people come together and play poker, usually in local sports bars. Like any bar, one is likely to find individuals who are heavily drinking, smoking, cursing, acting out sexually, etc.. What better place could there be for a ministry?!!! So, I've begun to just try to be an example of loving one's neighbors, being kind and courteous, not using foul language, being a gracious loser and winner and offering when possible to serve others. I hand out invitations to my church to the people playing at my table, but I don't "preach" in the conventional sense and I don't think I have to. I think many times all we have to do are those things listed above and Jesus will handle the rest. They may not choose to go to me to talk about their problems and about wanting to come to Jesus. That's ok. I play poker with them every week so I may be too close for them to do that, but possibly my behavior and my invitation to church and the magnetic attraction of God shining through me is enough to push them in the right direction. Of course, if they ask me directly for help I will definitely tell them about Jesus.

So don't worry about the question of "how in the world can I preach the gospel". Start with "preaching" through your example and let God talk in His way. I think God's way of communicating is much more efficient and much more clear than any fumbling preaching I could try to do out of my mouth using conventional human methods. Remember, many people followed Jesus because of his example and his Presence as much as they did because of His words. A good leader does not lead by force, fear or threats. Jesus didn't have to threaten people with hellfire and damnation; they simply followed Him because of what they saw in Him. He couldn't hide his glory and didn't try to, neither did he flaunt it. Even a recent Ft. Worth Star-Telegram article talking about networking said that the best way to network is to simply serve others. Find out what others want/need and help get it for them. Jesus was our best example of the perfect servant. By serving others, he glorified His Father and by serving others and loving others so we too bring honor to our God and to ourselves. Serving others engenders trust and trust is necessary to lead people. This is how those of us who don't feel like we're a leader lead.

Why Are We So Afraid?

I've been thinking about this alot because it appears to be the basis for alot of our "sinful" behavior. I've been fearful about the fact that I sent this blog to alot of people that I know and not all of them know that I am a Christian ( I also feel a little ashamed about that). Even the ones that know I am a Christian have never seen me "turn it on" this much and I have fears that people will think I'm a little freaky. I've even had some fears that my talks with Jesus were really just talks with myself. When I asked Jesus about this ("Am I just talking to and answering myself?"), His response was "Of course you are talking to yourself in one way, as I am in you and part of you and ultimately you are in Me and we are one in the same". I don't like to argue with Jesus but I don't feel I am in any way remotely similar to Him. He assures me that it is impossible for me not to be like Him. He is Creator, Father, Brother, Friend, all in one!!! My role is to believe that, truly believe it, share it with others, and by extension know that everyone around me should be treated by me the same way that Christ treats me, which is with absolute love, courtesy and caring.

But back to fear. Jesus tells me there is absolutely nothing for me to fear because the only thing that is real and that matters is our relationship with each other (Jesus with me and me with everyone around me). What about hell and satan? Shouldn't we fear them? Jesus says again, "fear nothing". However, as long as we live in this world, there will be satan and hell. Satan, for me, is just the lie that the world tells me that I am separate from God, that God is not real in any tangible sense, and that there are many real things that can make my life here (which is hell if separate from God) good and worthwhile. The world (satan) is loud in this respect and very deceptive and titillating. What's wrong with indulging in a few "harmless" things of the world if it makes our time here a little easier? Maybe nothing, but ultimately anything that is not about our relationship with Jesus is just another barrier. We do these things primarily out of fear. Fear of boredom, fear of loss, fear of death, fear of life, fear of failure, fear of success, fear that we are really nothing and our lives are meaningless. Living in close constant communion with Jesus (I'm not there yet) releases you from all of these "needs" and fears. There is no drug, no caffe latte, no vacation, no mate, no sex, no amount of money, no job that even comes close to the high you feel while in close communion with Jesus.

So don't fear Jesus and don't fear that talking to Jesus will make you crazy and don't fear what people will think of you when they find out you talk to Jesus (I'm telling myself all of these things). DON'T FEAR!!! Give yourself permission to believe the truth, to love yourself and others fully and know that no matter what you are doing now or did then, Jesus CANNOT STOP LOVING YOU! It's impossible! Stop trying to pray the right prayer and simply TALK to Jesus. When Jesus tells me to stop on my way to a meeting to pick up a salad at Jack-in-the Box, that I have time, and I need the nourishment because I haven't eaten, I am amazed and practically driven to tears that my CREATOR cares that much about me to guide me on that personal of a basis (by the way, I've never gotten a salad at Jack-in-the-Box in my life, but I was guided to eat healthier; He even told me to slow down and chew when I got the salad and was wolfing it down before my meeting).

Ok, do you think I'm crazy? I DON'T CARE!!! :-) Because I'm not afraid of what you think of me at this moment and I'm going to try my best to convince you to put away your fears and join me in the only sane activity you will ever do, talk to your friend Jesus and let Him help you out. Give it a try.

Does Jesus Talk To Us?

I've sometimes wondered about this and yet I'm starting this blog (something I've never done) because I believe Jesus spoke to me and asked me to do this. Funny I used the word "asked" in relation to Jesus, one who many might think doesn't "ask" us to do things, but commands us. I don't know why but I don't think Jesus has to command us to do anything. When Jesus asks you to do something, somehow you want to do it. Are we free to say no? I think we certainly are free to do so and that many do that very thing.

But back to the original question of this post; I believe Jesus (some people might rather say the Holy Spirit) talks to us ALL all the time, both believers and non-believers. I think some will take exception to this as the common belief is that one has to ask Jesus to come into one's heart in order for him to be there. If I believe that Jesus talks to me and I believe He does, then He has told me that he lives ALREADY in all of our hearts but that most of us simply deny that He is there. Asking Him into our hearts is really about coming to a true belief that He exists there already. I did that many years ago as a teenager, but then "forgot" again for most of my life thereafter that not only was Jesus there, but I NEED him everyday to help me with my life. I've always been very intellectual and analytical and made a bunch of questions for myself that don't matter at all. All that matters is that Jesus exists in me as He exists in all of us and that He will guide me if I let Him. He will guide us and WANTS to guide us in everything going on in our life, not just the "big" stuff. There, of course, really is no big stuff aside from letting Jesus be in our life everyday.

How does one who doesn't believe come to a belief in something that he cannot see, touch, smell or feel? The easy answer is through faith, but why should I have faith? Most people are not going to take a step of faith like this until they are so down that they feel they will try anything to not be so down. Some will take this step out of fear. Jesus is not about fear though and I think one's fear can actually keep him from knowing Jesus as the friend He is. Did I just say "friend" in relation to the Divine Almighty Creator of all that exists? Yes, that is the miracle for me. Jesus doesn't need my praise. He needs me to accept His love and guidance. Does a child's parents need the child's praise? Of course not. As a parent, I only want my child to accept my love and guidance. So it is with Jesus.

So, Jesus does talk to us. He told me to "preach the Word". What?!!! I said. Most people who know me know that I don't even talk that much, much less preach about Jesus. I wouldn't even know how to start I said to Him. He said, "write a blog". Writing I can do and so I've started on this journey and I don't know where it will take me. But I encourage anyone who is reading this to not fear Jesus and don't feel like you have to spend all your time telling Jesus how great He is. He just wants you to know that He loves you very much and He wants to spend time with you. How can you refuse that when the rewards are so great. Jesus doesn't command it; He humbly asks you to do this. I personally recommend you give it a try.