Idols and Leading

Proverbs 8:4 (NCV) Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting; understanding raises her voice.


I got ‘em. Trying to get rid of them as they become evident. But love them, anyway. After all, they are my idols.

As leaders, we often hang onto old stuff – stuff of our making. Wisdom - the capital “W” Wisdom, which has been around before creation, and is found only in God – and that Wisdom must drive my worship.

I’m reminded of God speaking in the major prophets about those foolish people who find wood, use part of it for a fire, and part of it to carve an idol. Melt some gold to wrap the wood: it’s still wooden. Then they worship it. I used to laugh. “How stupid. How silly. Why did the Israelites, who saw miracles, worship those things?”

I missed the point. I’m just like them. Wisdom was shouting at me. I was transfixed by my idol.

Leading – without the disciplines of knowing yourself, controlling yourself, giving yourself – easily can lead to hubris, not humility. Business publication, journals, papers contain good stuff, but not truth. God is Truth. Learning to listen to Wisdom only happens if we are in the Word.

Wisdom’s calling. Are you listening?


Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Richness. No Sorrow. That's the Leadership Promise

Proverbs 10:22 (AMP) The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].

Quite a promise when you think about it: riches with no sorrow; wealth without anxiety.

And why does not work (toiling) increase it? Seems counter- intuitive. Could it be about riches that have eternal value - not temporal value? Richness that are paid in the coin of the Kingdom?

No worrying about who might take it away; or how you might loose it; or the tax burden because of it; or the misunderstandings about you because you have it in you care.

Clean the "temple." Get rid of the idols. Burn those high places. Chop down those Asherah poles. Get rid of ANYTHING that enslaves you. Blessings from the Lord are freeing, not enslaving.

So, just whom does the Lord bless? Those that worship him at work, at life, each in holiness that glorifies God and builds truth into your character.

Those who are diligent to know Him so as to be like Him; to bless others as He did; and, to obey Him - do so knowing that they will enjoy Him forever.

They do this without a hint of "ownership" or self-centeredness; rather, those folks are committed to stewardship - investing well for the owner those things that have given to their care.

• Are you building His kingdom by leading from an attitude of humility?

• Do we lead so our strategics focus upon the Creator - not the creations? {what glorify God with this transaction}?

• How will other see Christ in us, the hope of glory if we take this or that course of action?

• Are we making decisions to make us look good, or God look good? Hopefully, our answer is congruent.

I’m challenged. Are you?


Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leadership Foundation

Proverbs 5:1-2 (NIV) My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Successful businesses serve well the needs of their customers in an environment where employees thrive and are rewarded in words and deeds.

Employee and customer needs fulfilled in such a way that the investor’s financial needs, and the community that surrounds the business, profits from the enterprise.

Biblical wisdom supports each of these activities of a business. To name just a few:

• Meet the needs of other first.
• Treat employees with honor and fairly.
• Pay your debts.
• Your actions impact the world.

Your source of wisdom when leading determines – well, everything.

Business ethics adheres to the underlying principle that there is bedrock truth upon which you must build your thought life and behavior. Solomon of old never assumed that truth was relative and that morality was a function of personal choice: his worldview drove his wise proverbs.

Do you pay more attention to what God teaches or the situational, shifting ethics of man?

Are you grounded in Wisdom? If not, wise up!


Copyright © 2010 P. Griffith Lindell

Purity of Purpose

Proverbs 20:9 (NLT) Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

Integrity. A word much used by leaders. Means wholeness. Purity. God is holy – whole - pure.
The power of positive leadership is found purity. Purity is a constant struggle - especially in the little things that are woven in the fabric of the life of any of us who would lead.

Leadership involves getting along with many people. Some you want to get along. And then there are the “others.” You want your employees and customers to forgive you when you make a mistake – and you will make mistakes - you will be forgiven in the same measure you forgive those around you.

You want good relationships with your business peers – your business “neighbors?” Those relationships flow from a pure heart toward them, even (maybe especially) those who don’t treat you well - those who make promises to the market they never keep and you are painted with the brush of their hypocrisy because of your friendship. It angers you; however, you cannot hate your business brother and say you love God.

I’m reminded of the story of da Vinci who, when painting The Last Supper, had a bitter argument with a friend that ended in angry words. Later that day, da Vinci went to add paint to the face of Jesus and could not. He realized his painting was not being produced by pureness of heart. He put down his brush and searched until he found his friend and asked forgiveness for his anger. Only then was he able to paint.

Purity of heart demands of us leaders a daily dedication to allowing our Creator to cleanse us and thereby reaffirm our purpose to be stewards of the time, talents and treasure He has given us. Effective leaders are good stewards.

“Create in me a clean heart O God…” is not just a prayer for the so-called “big” sins – it is the daily prayer of a leader for every sin.

Leadership is a daily thing. Are you committed – each and every day?

Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Our 234th National Birthday

We are a nation that was built on principles of opportunity that are equal to all. We had some things to work out on that principle, and we did. We may not have arrived, but socialism is not the answer.

We were a nation built on rewards for individual effort to those who take risks (both principles of capitalism). As friend, Bob Shank, points out, "Your kids, your employees, even your well-to-do neighbors are "under the influence" of voices who are singing the virtues of Socialism, in four-part harmony. If you don't draw the line in the economic sand and begin reeducating the gullible within the sound of your voice, who will?"

On this 2010 Independence Day celebrations, where does that leave us? Wandering a bit, it think.

Economic Capitalism, which derives power to build because of the principles of freedom, had it roots in Biblical Christianity. As a nation, we have lost our way in a short span of 200 years.

John Quincy Adams, himself a President and son of John Adams or 2nd President, in 1837 when he was 69 yrs old, delivered a 4th July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

In it, he asked some powerful questions of those gathered, the answers to which would be far different than from today's audience:

“Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the Fourth of July]?"

[comment] Our culture scoffs less than 200 years later. The birthday of the Savior has become the Holiday Season - the 4th is more about platitudes than principles of individual responsibility to govern and be governed.

“Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?"

[comment - I bet this is not taught in public schools! We have become a nation that would quickly listen to the Michael Moore's, Sean Penn's and the Hugo Chavez’s than to the thinkers and doers of our early national fathers.]

National freedom is important. Eternal freedom is vital; therefore, my prayer for this holiday:

"We acknowledge Heavenly Father, that there is no greater feeling of liberation than to experience freedom from sin and death that you have provided to all who would believe through Jesus Christ.

And because of this liberation, my heart and soul are free to praise you. For this I am very thankful.

Let us not take our freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that our national freedom was purchased with a very high price and today, Lord, we are reminded that our nation’s continuing freedom cost others their very lives. Bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for the cause of freedom both physical and spiritual. For those who spread the Gospel both at home and abroad, and for those who are willing to die so that freedom reigns, we ask, that with heavenly favor and bounty, you meet their needs and watch over their families.

May each of us make the choice to be a blessing in someone's life and grant us the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can only be found in knowing Christ.

May our freedom be evidenced by our stewardship of the time you have given each of use, by the treasure you have given us, by the talents you have granted each.

We give these back to you.

Grant to each of us Father a keen awareness of our role as stewards, not owners of our time, talent and treasure.

May the gifts of each that we give back to you be multiplied by a heavenly arithmetic to the glory of your Name and your Kingdom on Earth.

In the name of the One who is the granter of true freedom, in the name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN."

Are you investing in the Kingdom?

Son-light

Proverbs 18:2 Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.


A small break in the clouds
And the morning light paints the sky with reds, yellows and bright.
Just a quick peek,
Then gone.
Clouds - high, quiet blankets of gray now rule.

It colors my life - isolated under this blanket of gray
Focused not on the sun, that is not seen,
but on the monotone color of an overcast morning -
seen, felt, believed and quiet.
It colors my opinion of morning information.

High winds aloft begin to scrub the sky
stirring up the blanket of gray into soft cotton-balls of white
And the sun is again revealed.
It never moved. Always there. Now shining.
The day feels better.

Colors more brilliant. Shadows dance with the morning dew.
The air looses its chill and my life is once again colored by the sun.
Then the thought hits me:
my life should always be colored by the Son - seen or unseen.

Focus on the Son that I know is there - not on the clouds that chill the air.

###

Where's your focus?


Copyright 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Going to the Well

Proverbs 10:11 (MSG) The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

The picture is striking: a working well or a dark cave.

Keeping the metaphor simple, only one source refreshes the body, mind and spirit. I'm not talking about "church." May well be a well - a well around which we gather on Sunday.

How do you make the “Sunday refreshment” last the whole week? You don't. One drink of water on Sunday won't last the week in life. You know that. Why would you think it would be any different in the spiritual realm?

Some folks have found a way to make the Sunday glass of water multiply Monday through Saturday. They are getting hydrated with an eternal source of water that sustains their personal and business lives. Hydration coming from others who have walked in their shoes - making payroll, growing a business, trying to be profitable, dealing the capital gobbling monsters of market forces beyond personal control - all the while living a life that is clearly hydrated with energy and business excellence.

How does that happen? Is it real? You bet it is.

Most often, this kind of refreshment is found during the week with a group of men and woman committed to growing the Kingdom of God and being an attractive example of business excellence that is pleasing both to God and all people.

One such group comes out of Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI) - you may know them as Christ@Work. To find a Christ@Work Group in your area, call (770) 685-6000 or email them at csr@fcci.org - their new FaceBook Fan page can be found at http://tiny.cc/sy7us.

Find a “well” near you. Join them. Find the refreshment from folks who are committed to finding business, personal and spiritual life from the One who said that "if anyone believes in [Him], rivers of living water will flow out from that person's heart..."

Refreshing well or dark cave: where are you going to get refreshed?


Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell