A Good Leader

What Makes a Good Leader?

As a father, I think a lot about the command given to fathers in Ephesians 6:4.  This is a command that God did not give to mothers, although mothers also are to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Prov. 31:26-28, 30).  The command in Ephesians 6:4 is given to fathers, which tells me that God wants fathers and husbands to be leaders in the home (1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22-23).  This notion is not a popular one in our society these days, mainly due to so many men NOT being leaders in their homes.  Our homes, our nation, and the church are in decline as a result of this lack of leadership, and God is not pleased.

Are you fulfilling your role as a leader?

Are you fulfilling your role as a leader?

Men, God wants us to take leadership in the home.  He wants us to take the helm, to be a man, a leader…especially when it comes to making the home a godly, spiritual sanctuary for your wife and children.  When we do this, that’s when WE…not our wives, not our parents, but WE…will be bringing our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Our marriages will grow stronger, our families will be more godly, and over time our nation will begin to rise from her declining morality.  The church also will grow stronger.  After all, one of the scriptural qualifications of a leader in the church is that he “must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”  (1 Tim. 3:4-5)  Do we want stronger leaders in the church?  It starts with being a strong leader in the home.  It starts with husbands and fathers.

As a husband and father, I want to be the type of leader in the home that God wants me to be, and I want all of my fellow fathers and husbands to be the same.  I want wives and mothers to also be good leaders for your children, setting the proper example for them and for their husbands.  I want those who are in leadership positions in the workplace and who are leaders in the church to be the type of leaders God wants you to be.

When I think of biblical leadership, I think of Joshua, a man who had great influence over those in his generation (Josh. 24:29-31) because he was faithfully obedient to God’s Word (Josh. 1:7-8).  He was also a very humble man, shown by the fact the was willing to serve others both before and after he became a leader.  He served as Moses’ assistant for forty years (Ex. 24:13; 33:11), which tells me that great leaders are people who have no problem serving others.  In fact, serving others helps them to lead.  When Joshua took the helm after Moses’ death, God himself magnified the man (Josh. 3:7)…but Joshua didn’t let that go to his head.  He was still willing to serve One greater than himself (Josh. 5:13-15).  This tells me that I as a husband and father need to be humble if I want to be a great leader, because great leaders do not let praise go to their head.  Great leaders are humble enough to know when it is time to serve once again.  They are humble servants as well as leaders.

Joshua’s humility is shown even more when we see that he was a man of faith and trust in God.  When ten of his fellow spies had no faith in God (Num. 13:25-28), he and Caleb remained steadfast in spite of the peer pressure they felt to join the majority in their lack of faith (Num. 14:6-9).  Later, God would give this military commander with lots of military experience directions to take Jericho which would make no sense from a militarily strategic point of view…and Joshua obeyed them to the letter due to his strong faith and trust in God (Josh. 6:1-5; Heb. 11:30).  This tells me that great leaders realize that they cannot place their faith in men, or in themselves.  They must look to God and completely trust in him!

Closely related to this is another quality of Joshua that made him a great leader, the fact that he was a man of God’s Word (Josh. 1:7-8).  His success as a leader was directly related to his adherence to Scripture.  He would tell others to stay true to God’s Word (Josh. 1:12-15), and would read the entire law of Moses to the whole nation and commit them to obey it (Josh. 8:30-35).  Even at the end of his life, he was encouraging the nation to obey God’s Word (Josh. 23:6, 14-16).  The following passage sums it up best:  “Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did.  He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.”  (Josh. 11:15)

We know that faith comes from God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).  This means that I as a husband and father cannot expect to be a godly, faithful leader in the home without being a man who knows and follows all of God’s Word to the best of my ability.  None of us can be faithful leaders in the home, in the church, or in the workplace without being men and women of the Book.  God is telling us the same thing he told Joshua (Josh. 1:8; 1 Tim. 4:13-16).  Fathers and mothers, do you want to lead your children to heaven?  Husbands, do you want to lead your wife to heaven?  Bosses, do you want to show your employees the way to heaven?  Elders in the church, do you want every single member of your flock to go to heaven?  The way is simple.  Know God’s Word, and obey it.  All of it.

Additionally, we must follow Joshua’s example by being devoted to prayer.  When hard times came, Joshua and the elders of Israel prayed to God (Josh. 7:6-9).  Joshua would even take time to pray in the middle of waging a great battle (Josh. 10:12-14).  This tells me that he didn’t trust in his own strength; rather, he looked to the Lord for help.  Fathers, mothers, husbands, bosses, elders, deacons…when leaders need all the help they can get, they need to be people of prayer!

Basically, Joshua was a man who put God first.  We know this because he took the time IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE MILITARY CAMPAIGN to read the entirety of the Bible as it was at the time to the whole nation (Josh. 8:30-35), even when doing so would give his enemies time to regroup (Josh. 9:1-2).  Nevertheless, he still put God first.  He didn’t care what others did or thought.  As for him and his family, they would serve the Lord (Josh. 24:14-16).  That is my goal for my family.  Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives…is that your goal?  Employers, is that your goal for your company and business?  Pastors, deacons, is that your goal for the church?  Are all of us actively pursuing that goal?

Israel served God while Joshua was alive (Josh. 24:31).  Why did they do this?  Because Joshua was the type of leader that we need to be if we hope to lead our loved ones, our fellow Christians, and those who are lost to heaven.  Do you want your family, your church, and your employees to serve God?  Be a leader like Joshua.  It is my prayer that we can all be people of humility, men and women of faith and trust in God, men and women of the Word, men and women of prayer, men and women who put God first in all areas.

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Leaving the Church?

It’s Never O.K. to Leave the Church

In the past decade parents have shared countless stories of their children leaving the faith—so many that they have begun to blur together in my mind. There is the woman whose daughter dated a young man who took her away from the church, and then having accomplished removing her from the church, he left her. There is the man who literally had to sit down for several minutes and catch his breath he was crying so hard revealing that two of his children were now lost.

Leaving the Church will not make your life whole.

Leaving the Church will not make your life whole.

There are so many… (I wish I had written them down and kept a journal). There were children who never really engaged in the first place, and then there were those who were active in everything the church offered, but the ending of the story is the same. They are now lost. It’s the elephant in the room that we don’t talk about. In every congregation I visit there are couples who know the pain of a lost child (or children). Oh, we all know the elephant exists, but maybe if we don’t mention its presence, it will go away.

While many leaders and preachers in the church refuse to admit there is a problem, the evidence is right before our noses each week. In fact, in many congregations there is a complete missing generation of Christians in their 20s. The elephant is not going away. Instead, our lack of addressing the situation and looking for real solutions is only making the elephant grow bigger. We continue to do the same exact thing, expecting a different result. Because after all, if we talk about it then some might feel we are “judging” their past parenting choices. Or worse, they may leave the church building feeling sad.

It is time we wake up, church! It is time we admit the old system is broken. And it is time we as a body of believers roll up our sleeves and look for realistic solutions.

Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding leaving the church.

I can assure you that on at least a few occasions there will be times when you question whether you want to be associated with the church.

For instance:

It may be when the preacher forgets to visit you when you are in the hospital.

It may be when no flowers are sent when one of your relatives dies.

It may be when someone says something very hurtful in the foyer.

It may be when someone pushes you out of their “area” like the audio/visual booth because that is “their domain.”

It may be when a youth minister talks condescendingly to you as a parent.

It may be when your preacher begins repeating sermons because of lack of preparation.

It may be when an elder begins to “lord” his position over the flock.

It may be when the congregation splits over personalities and emotions.

It may be when a new preacher arrives who for whatever reason doesn’t warm up to your family.

It may be when a deacon dismisses your ideas and suggestions.

It may be when you feel like the congregation has grown cold and sterile.

It may be when you feel like every one is in a clique and you are always on the outside looking in.

It may be when a song leader refuses to sing songs you love to sing.

It may be when a Christian borrows something and never returns it.

It may be when the eldership gives in to the desires of some of the members rather than standing up for what is right.

It may be when your children are hurt because of the actions of others.

But whatever the reason, never ever leave the church! God had a perfect plan before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20; Ephesians 1:4; see also 2 Timothy 1:8-9). Here is the reality—God designed a perfect church and Jesus Christ founded it. However, that church is comprised of imperfect people. Some of those people will hurt you. Some may let you down. Others may stir up feelings of anger. But never forget that you too are imperfect. You will, on occasion, let others down. You will also hurt people and may cause feelings of anger.

You have witnessed first-hand the sadness and hurt that your mom and I feel each time we hear about someone we know who has children who have left the church. The very thought of it rocks us to our core, and reminds us once again what our job on this earth truly is. Understand that should you ever make the decision to leave, I will not just watch you go.

I will be by your side teaching, crying, admonishing, and when necessary, rebuking you, in an effort to bring you back. I will encourage your siblings to reach out to you in love and help bring you back as well. I will not rest until you are back in the fold. When I finally lay down to take my last breath, the only thing I really want to think about in that moment is that my children (and grandchildren) are all faithful—and thus I will see them again one day soon.

As you seek to find your place in the body, you need to do all you can to get along with those around you. Paul admonished, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). Find your place in the body and get busy serving Him rather than focusing on all the imperfections around you.

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David and the Psalms

David and the Psalms

My appreciation for the book of Psalms is far greater than I had as a younger Christian. It may be because of a better grasp of the Bible, or perhaps, I have a greater understanding of the purpose of life. Most of the psalms were written by David, the man whose heart was like God’s heart. It is in the historical books we read about the thrilling events which happened in his life. However, it is in the psalms where David opens the depths of his soul so we can learn about his heart. Look at Psalm 131 to see this.

In the psalms of David, we find hope.

In the psalms of David, we find hope.

David, himself, and the world. “Lord, my heart is not haughty (marginal reading is “proud”), nor my eyes lofty (marginal reading is “arrogant”). Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me” (v. 1). Our world is so amazingly complex, and all that happens in it can so easily distract us as we try to figure it all out. Wars, rumors of wars, pestilences, earthquakes, revolution among the nations, political unrest in our own land and the struggles created by ungodly men can so easily overwhelm us. There are those things which are, to use the words of David, “great matters” and “too profound for me.” David’s solution was not to become haughty or to focus his eyes on such matters. David understood there were greater matters and more lofty matters on which to focus. What are these greater matters? Look at the next verse.

David, himself, and God. How did David react with the complexity of life around him? “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul. Like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (v. 2). A newborn baby is helpless, for he understands nothing about his new world. One thing he does know is that his midnight cries bring his mother to hold him, to embrace him and to nurture him. There is no place more comforting on this earth for that infant. The same is true of a child who is weaned. He no longer needs his mother to feed him, but, oh how much comfort his mother’s kisses, hugs and loving words bring to him—even as an adult. David had found the way and the perfect place to have that same peace in his life.

David, himself, and the future. Where was that place? “O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever” (v. 3). David, how do you handle the “great matters” and the “things to profound for me”? How do you handle the profound complexities of life? His answer—hope. One word sums it up. God is in charge, and He promises He will handle our future (Heb. 13:5-6; Rom. 8:28). How did David instruct the Jews to deal with “great matters and profound things?” One word—hope! How does David’s psalm show us how to deal with things we cannot understand or control? One word—hope! If a young child finds comfort when held by his mother, how much more should we find comfort in His arms? Remember David’s one word—hope!

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DOMINIO PROPIO

DOMINIO PROPIO

El dominio Propio

El dominio Propio

El dominio Propio es un concepto totalmente Bíblico, y es aquello en el cual el ser humano puede refrenar y controlar sus deseos y sus emociones. Existen únicamente 3 textos en el Nuevo Testamento donde son mencionados con exactitud estos son: Hechos 24:25,  2Timoteo 1:7,  2 Pedro 1:6. En el caso de Hechos 24 el Apóstol Pablo se encontraba frente al Gobernador Felix cuando es usada esta palabra. Dios ha querido que el ser humano controle sus emociones y sentimientos y que más bien al expresarlos pueda hacerlo de una manera correcta donde pueda glorificar a Dios. El mismo Señor Jesús fue muy cuidadoso en cuanto a sus palabras y cada uno de sus actos, hubieron momentos claros donde la parte humana pudo haberse manifestado y dar rienda suelta ella, Mateo 4:1 -10, es uno de estos ejemplos cuando él mismo fue tentado por el diablo. Satanás nunca intentó tentar su parte divina sino que se fue a la humana, obviamente conocemos el final de la historia, pero el Señor utilizó el dominio propio y las escrituras para superar el asunto. El apóstol Pablo también fue tentado el en diferentes maneras, una de ellas está muy bien señalada en 1Corintios 9:5 donde él reclama sus derechos de apóstol. El podía tomar una hermana por mujer como también Pedro lo hizo pero obviamente el dominio propio que él tenia le sujetaba a trabajar primeramente para Cristo. Este mismo gran hombre de Dios tuvo la oportunidad única  en el mundo, el fue trasladado por Dios mismo hasta el tercer cielo donde vio cosas inefables que no le es dado conocer al hombre. 2Corintios 12 :1-13  narra de su experiencia de una manera  muy peculiar procurando controlarse  para dar la gloria a Dios. Sucede que cuando no se tiene Dominio propio es lo que pasa; la gloria termina siendo dada al hombre antes que a Dios tal como lo hizo Herodes en Hechos 12. Es trascendental tener  dominio al igual que es fundamental fomentarlo en nuestras vidas y en la de los demás, de esta manera las relaciones entre familia mejorarán en gran manera y sobre todo la relación con los hermanos también será mucho mejor.

Siempre que el hombre decide no usar el dominio propio se ve envuelto en grandes problemas, tan solo imaginece amado lector, que usted no dominara sus pensamientos, que pensara siempre en voz alta o que simplemente se expresará abiertamente frente a sus amigos lo que siente o frente al vecino. Es realmente lo que le sucede a algunas personas quienes no dominan sus impulsos naturales, y luego se justifican diciendo que así son ellos por naturaleza y que no puden hacer ningún cambio al respecto. En el plano espiritual quienes profesan la religión del Nuevo Testamento necesitan aferrarse a las santas escrituras diciendo la verdad pero en amor. Usando dominio propio tal como lo disertaba Pablo, animar a otros a obedecer el evangelio (1 Pedro 3:15) y no solo a eso sino a ser mejores personas, a llevar mejor calidad de vida frente a los demás y ser esa lumbrera en el mundo (Mateo 5:16). Necesitamos sin duda alguna necesita enseñar a los miembros del cuerpo de Cristo a conducirse como es digno del evangelio (Col 1:10)  a mostrar integridad y seriedad a las almas perdidas(Tito 2:7). Un famoso dicho popular no se equivoca al citar la siguiente frase: “El sabio no dice todo lo que piensa, pero piensa todo lo que dice”. ¡Dios nos ayude a poder vivir sabiamente y nos ayude a construir del dominio propio.

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Measuring Growth

Measuring Growth

Attendance. Baptisms. Contributions. The “ABC method” of measuring congregational growth. Man’s methodology to be sure – but not necessarily God’s.

Now we all know that divisiveness, division and denominationalism are all dead wrong; they all run completely contrary to the Savior’s prayer for unity (Jn. 17:20-23), and are therefore thoroughly condemned throughout the entirety of the Scriptures (Prov. 6:12-19; 1 Cor. 1:10-13, 3:1-4; Phil. 1:27-2:4; and etc)… for the most part that is…

You see, as the females in my family are often so prone to remind me when it comes to their hair, “In order for it to grow out and be more healthy, you have to cut it back” – or, “trim off the split ends” as it were. The same thing is true in gardening, as sometimes certain plants have to be pruned in order to be more productive. It was to this truth that Jesus alluded, and then went on to apply to the spiritual world as well (Jn. 15:2).

Sometimes in order for a congregation to truly grow spiritually, and to grow more healthy – and healthfully – in the eyes of God, it must first be pruned and/or cut back. Division must, in some cases occur first – as mandated by Scripture! “For there must also be factions {divisions} among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you” (1 Cor. 11:19). In other words, the aforementioned “ABC method” of measuring congregational growth must be set aside in certain cases wherein sin is seeking entrance into the camp. When attendance, baptisms, and contributions are the one and only exclusive standard by which congregational growth is measured, then we are headed for certain disaster (Matt. 7:13-14; 1 Ptr. 3:18-21).

Keeping up the count at all cost, will eventually cost us everything. Some of the key considerations concerning God’s kingdom congregations, are the “righteousness and peace and joy” they are to enjoy, as well as the edification and encouragement that identifies them (See Rom. 14:16-19).

Attendance at the expense of righteousness is not only not healthy growth, but actually instead, quite deadly in both its influence and its outcome. There are times when we must divide from those who would bring certain, sinful, seductive and satanic elements into our congregations. And we must do so quickly; long before and lest their evil and ungodly influence has a chance to spread like leaven in a loaf, or gangrene in an otherwise thriving body. For if we do not, then the evil we’ve allowed to gain a foothold will eventually extend to epidemic proportions, infecting and infesting the entire congregation. And so, we must divide from those people who would spread these spores of sin and unrighteousness – no matter how much money they might place in the plate; how many people they may help put in the pews; or how much power and influence they might wield in the community. And the fact of the matter is, that God demands we do no less!

God’s list of those we must divide from, would include: those who would try to teach us to do things today that are contrary to, that deviate from, and/or that are not contained in, the doctrine of Jesus through His hand-picked apostles, as taught to the Lord’s churches (congregations) in the first century (See: Jn. 16:12-15; Acts 2:42; Rom. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 14:33-37; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Ptr. 2:1-3 and 3:1-3); those who are divisive, malicious, and factious (Titus 2:9-11); as well as those who are sexually immoral or deviant according to God’s definition (1 Cor. 5:1-6:11; Eph. 5:3-11; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Rev. 21:8).

These are a few of the most prominent, promiscuous practices that simply cannot be allowed or tolerated in our congregations today, if they are to be considered as righteous and growing healthily for the Lord – even if it means our “attendance, baptisms, and collections” measurement must meander backward for a while in order to divide from such folks. Only such faithful and purposeful congregational and spiritual pruning will eventually bear much righteous growth and fruit for the Master. Let us never sacrifice holiness and righteousness as the people of God, for such man-made markers of success as such sins may masquerade as providing!

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