Law #6 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law Solid Ground: Trust Is The Foundation Of Leadership
This law notes that trust is the most important characteristic of leadership. “Leaders cannot lose trust and continue to influence other.” Maxwell compares trust to having change in your pocket. Whenever you make good leadership decisions, you get more change in your pocket. When you make a mistake, you give some change up. But, if you deal with that mistake appropriately [admit your mistakes, apologize, etc], you can get additional change as well. Thus, if you have enough change stored, you can even survive a big mistake. However, if your change is spent, even if you make a small mistake, that may be it for you as the leader.
“Character makes trust possible. And trust makes leadership possible. That is the Law of Solid Ground.”
Maxwell lists 3 important things our character communicates to others:
1. Character Communicates Consistency: “If your people don’t know what to expect from you as a leader, at some point they won’t look to you for leadership.”
2. Character Communicates Potential: Despite enormous talent, weak character limits you. Would you attribute more potential to someone who is hard-working, disciplined and honest or to someone who is lazy, deceitful and compromising?
3. Character Communicates Respect: “How do leaders earn respect? By making sound decisions, by admitting their mistakes, and by putting what’s best for their followers and their organization ahead of their personal agendas.”
Applying the Law of Addition to Your Life
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 6- The Law of Solid Ground. Thomas Nelson,
How do I get more participation out of my group members? How can I make my group study more interesting? How can I identify and train a Co-Leader or apprentice? How do I motivate my group to multiply?
Attention all Connection Ministry and RUSH Leaders..... iLEAD Leadership Training is this Saturday at our Cooper City campus from 8:30am till noon. One place, three separate training events!Law #5 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law Addition: Leaders Add Value By Serving Others
This law embraces the idea that “if you treat the employees and the customers right, profits will follow.” Often, we are so concerned with the end goal, which in and of itself may be a selfish one, that we don’t even value [or show that we value] those helping us get there. But, in fact, Maxwell is telling us not just to value them…but to add value to them and their lives. That is what will make them want to follow you. A leader’s motives matter.
“The bottom line in leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves, but how far we advance others.” Maxwell estimates that 90% of people who subtract from others do so unintentionally. But 90% of those who add value to others do so intentionally. Of course, the message here is that, if you want to add value to others, it has to be on purpose.
“When you add value to people, you lift them up, help them advance, make them a part of something bigger than themselves, and assist them in becoming who they were made to be.” In other words:
Adding value to people helps them to reach their GOD POTENTIAL!
Maxwell describes 4 guidelines that have helped him add value to others.
1. We add value to others when we truly value others: In a nutshell, let those who follow you know you care. “Leaders who add value by serving believe in their people before their people believe in them and serve others before they are served.”
2. We add value to others when we make ourselves more valuable to others: “The whole idea of adding value to other people depends on the idea that you have something of value to add.” Thus, the more you grow personally [which is also something that needs to be intentional], the more value you will have to add to others.
3. We add value to others when we know and relate to what others value: This is like good ‘customer service’ to those who follow you. It is not about what we want/value. It’s about pouring into them along the lines of what they care about. And, we know what they value by listening. “Inexperienced leaders are quick to lead before knowing anything about the people they intend to lead. But mature leaders listen, learn and then lead.”
4. We add value to others when we do things that God values: Maxwell states, “I believe that God desires us not only to treat people with respect, but also to actively reach out to them and serve them.” He retells the Bible passage when Jesus will separate us, as sheep from goats, based on what we did for the ‘least of these.’ [Matthew 25:31-46]
Applying the Law of Addition to Your Life
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 5- The Law of Addition. Thomas Nelson,
Although what we translate as ‘prayer’ comes from many Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek words that mean a range of things, the most common is intercession.
To incercede- to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences; to mediate; to interpose. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intercede
By definition, intercession means you are intervening on behalf of someone else.
There are so many examples in the Bible of praying for others…
intercession for salvation:
§ Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them [Isreal] is that they may be saved- Romans 10:1
§ ...who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit- Acts 8:15
intercession for peace:
§ Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
intercession for our enemies:
§ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you- Matthew 5:44
intercession for forgiveness/restoration:
§ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep- Acts 7:60
§ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death- 1 John 5:16
intercession for love of God and spread of the Gospel:
§ May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ- 2 Thessalonians 3:5
§ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you- 2 Thessalonians 3:1
intercession for righteousness:
§ To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power- 2 Thessalonians 1:11
§ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
intercession for our health and healing:
§ And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them- Matthew 15:30
§ And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6:56
Should we pray for others similarly to how we pray for ourselves? You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31
Intercede.
Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. ~Søren Kierkegaard
-In Christ
References:
-Strong, James. The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words. Thomas Nelson,
What we translate as ‘prayer’ comes from many Hebrew/Aramaic and Greek words. Although the broader sense of these can include being afflicted, pondering and uttering contemplations, the most prevalent of these definitions are intercession, petition, request.
There are clearly times to pray for ourselves. A few examples include:
· praying to not fall into temptation: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
· praying for peace: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
· praying for wisdom: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
However, IF we want to actually receive these things, when we pray for them we need to have FAITH, BELIEVE and KNOW that God WILL bless us with them [as Pastor Chris noted last weekend].
· But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8
Of course, there is the Model Prayer Matthew 6:9-13, in which we-
- Give PRAISE
- Submit to HIS will and acknowledge HIS power
- Ask for daily sustenance [literal and spiritual- He supplies ALL our needs]
- Ask for FORGIVENESS
- Ask not to fall into temptation
- AGAIN- Submit to HIS will and acknowledge HIS power
Let us consider the few examples presented here. The point is not that we can never pray for material things. [God addresses ALL our needs, including physical.] The point is that we pray according to HIS will 1 John 5:14-15 and that our primary focus is seeking HIM and those things that will lay up treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 In fact, Jesus teaches us that God knows what we need-and if we seek HIM and HIS righteousness, all that we need will be given to us. Matthew 6:31-34
Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. ~Søren Kierkegaard
-In Christ
Reference:
Strong, James. The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words. Thomas Nelson,
From Pastor Lili-
CONNECT TEAM,
Thank you for an amazzzzzzing & HIStoric Easter! We are still blown away by what God did through you guys! Thanks for your leadership & heart in connecting so many lives! I know we’ve been running hard…but in just a few weeks we have an opportunity to help people reach their God-potential by attending iLead!
iLead is our way of training, equipping, inspiring folks to lead & connect others. Lets encourage ALL leaders to attend the next iLead, happening, Saturday, April 24th from 9am – noon (with continental breakfast at 8:30am), at the Cooper City Campus.
iLead will train & equip existing Connect Group Leaders, as well as, train new ones. So invite, invite, invite! We strongly encourage EVERY leader to bring potential new leaders as we CHOOSE. LEAD. CONNECT. We encourage all campus participation in this event.
This iLead will have a track to train NEW Leaders, a track & separate session to further equip existing leaders, & a track to train THE RUSH Connect Leaders. We are so excited to partner with people & help them reach their God-potential.
Email me or one your Connect Director with any questions. We are here to serve you!
Lilibeth Vilella [lilibeth.vilella@flamingoroad.org]
-In Christ
Law #4 of John Maxwell's The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is:
The Law Navigation: Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course.
This law represents that fact that in order to effectively lead others, the leader has to know, not just WHERE they are going, but HOW they will get there. Anyone can follow the map; the leader needs to draw the map out. And, “the larger the organization, the more clearly the leader has to be able to see ahead… since sheer size makes midcourse corrections more difficult.” Good leaders will always have this in mind- that “others are depending on them and their ability to chart the course.”
Maxwell notes that before embarking on a journey, good leaders will go through a process to try to maximize the success of that journey:
· Navigators Draw On Past Experience: Looking Inward: It is key to understand what we did right to achieve our successes and what we did wrong to reach our failures. Many of us want to brush failures under the rug and move past and forget them. But, “if you fail to learn from your mistakes, you’re going to fail again and again.” Maxwell notes the importance of developing the discipline of reflective thinking [explored further in his book Thinking for a Change], which:
-gives us true perspective
-gives emotional integrity to our thought life
-increases our confidence in decision making
-clarifies the big picture, and
-takes a good experience and makes it a valuable experience.
· Navigators Examine The Conditions Before Making A Commitment: Looking Outward: It is essential to examine current conditions, as well, that may affect your course…not just measurable factors [finances, resources, talent], but also intangible factors [timing, morale, momentum, culture]. “No matter how much you learn from the past, it will never tell you all you need to know for the present.”
· Navigators Listen To What Others Have To Say: Good navigators will seek input and advice and gather information from many sources to be better able to plot the course. Sources can range from more experienced experts in the field, who are already where you want to go, to other members of the current team, who can give insight to the pulse of the grassroots level of the business. “No matter how good a leader you are, you yourself will not have all the answers.”
· Navigators Make Sure Their Conclusions Represent Both Faith And Fact: While a good leader must have faith that s/he can take the organization ‘all the way,’ s/he must also be able to consider the facts realistically. “Balancing optimism and realism, intuition and planning, faith and fact can be very difficult. But that’s what it takes to be effective as a navigation leader.”
“If the leader can’t navigate the people through the tough waters, he’s liable to sink the ship.”
Maxwell offers a blueprint of a navigation process he has used repeatedly: PLAN AHEAD:
Predetermine a course of action.
Lay out your goals.
Adjust your priorities.
Notify key personnel.
Allow time for acceptance.
Head into action.
Expect problems.
Always point to the successes.
Daily review of your plan.
“The secret to the Law of Navigation is preparation.”
Applying the Law of Navigation to Your Life
1. Make it a regular practice to review your positive and negative experiences. Either set aside time each week to examine your calendar or journal to jog your memory, or set reflection time after each success or failure. In either case, write down your thoughts and what you learn.
2. Navigating leaders do their homework. For a project or major task you are currently responsible for, draw on your past experiences, speak with experts [national/international] and team members to gather information and examine current conditions that could impact the project. THEN [AFTER that preparation] make your action plan.
3. Rarely is a leader exceptionally gifted at leading by BOTH facts and faith. Toward which do you lean? You MUST know. If you don’t, ask friends, relatives, coworkers, etc. Then make sure you have someone who leans toward the other on your team so you can work together.
Reference:
Maxwell, John. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Chapter 3- The Law of Process. Thomas Nelson,
Leadership is the courage to put oneself at risk.
Leadership is the passion to make a difference with others.
Leadership is being dissatisfied with the current reality.
Leadership is taking responsibility while others are making excuses.
Leadership is seeing the possibilities in a situation while others are seeing the limitations.
Leadership is the willingness to stand out in a crowd.
Leadership is an open mind and an open heart.
Leadership is the ability to submerge your ego for the sake of what is best.
Leadership is evoking in others the capacity to dream.
Leadership is inspiring others with a vision of what they can contribute.
Leadership is the power of the one made many and the many made one.
Leadership is your heart speaking to the hearts of others.
Leadership is the integration of heart, head, and soul.
Leadership is the capacity to care, and in caring, to liberate the ideas, energy, and capacities of others.
Leadership is the dream made reality.
-In Christ
Some TRULY AWESOME words from Pastor Lili...
After His scourging, Jesus’ condition must have been grave. By now, He had not slept, He had been abandoned by His disciples, He had been tried several times, being beaten along the way. And then, He was scourged. He was surely very weak from fatigue, pain and blood loss. Typically, the crucifixion victim was made to carry the horizontal cross-post [patibulum] from the city to the outskirts where the vertical post was usually in the ground. But, the soldiers had to make someone else do that for Him. Luke 23:26 Once at the crucifixion site [Golgatha, Place of a Skull], the soldiers removed His clothes and likely laid Him down so that they could nail him to the patibulum. This would now expose his open wounds to the dirt on the ground, contaminating them and causing pain.
Driving iron spikes through His wrists undoubtedly pierced the median nerves, which run down the middle aspect of the forearm and wrist and into the hand. This would cause EXTREMELY severe, electric, shooting pain in the fingers, hands, wrists and forearms.
Then, once He was lifted, nailed to the patibulum, onto the vertical post [stipes] and was actually hanging, He surely had another surge of back pain as His wounds rubbed along the rough wood. Next, His feet would have been secured to the stipes, again likely piercing another set of nerves called the common peroneal nerves [that run along the fronto of the legs and feet]. While these nerves are not as large as the ones in the wrists, piercing them with an iron spike would also cause similar, severe pain.
While up to this point, Jesus likely had bled significantly, the actual crucifixion would not have caused much more bleeding. At this point, His biggest challenges were to deal with the pain and to breathe.
Normally, breathing is a passive event, meaning a person does not have to think about doing it or making it happen…it happens automatically. This is partly because of how the breathing muscles in the chest cavity function. When hanging, suspended from the wrists, it becomes increasingly difficult to perform passive exhalation [breathing out]. Thus, inhalation [breathing in] still happens on it’s own, but exhalation becomes shallow. The only way to overcome it is to make it happen by forcefully breathing out. In order to do this, Jesus would have to lift up on His nailed wrists [painful] and push up on His nailed feet [painful], which would also grind the wounded back on the post [painful]. … You can see how EXHAUSTING and DRAINING and PAINFUL it would be just to take ONE BREATH. …How many breaths have you taken without even thinking about it while reading this description? Now, imagine going through all that He must have just to take ONE.
Although the final cause of Jesus’ death was surely multifactorial, the primary causes were most likely shock [from losing too much blood during the pre-crucifixion events] and asphyxia [lack of breathing] from the physical constraints of the crucifixion itself.
Bittersweet it is, to think about these things. The excruciation that resulted in such triumph, glory, victory. [excruciating- comes from Latin excruciatus- ‘out of the cross’]
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Hallelujah! Praise HIM. Thank You, Lord!
Reference:
Edwards, WD. On the Physical Death of Jesus. Journal of the American Medical Association. Vol 256. March, 1986.
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