A Dash of Salt

Your Preacher Needs Prayer

This preacher sure needs prayer!  Here are some ideas of how you can pray for me and other preachers and teachers of the Scriptures, from Justin Childers.  The most valuable thing you could give a pastor is your prayers.  So in advance I say, "Thank You!" (HT: Justin Taylor)

Leadership according to the Best Shepherd

Funerals and hospital visits are usually the only occasions when Psalm 23 comes up in conversation.  These six verses bring great comfort in their message that "the Lord is my shepherd" even in our darkest of hours.  They also show how the Lord gives us both spiritual fuel and spiritual leadership, as one of my fellow elders at church describes the passage.  At our elders' retreat this past Saturday we reflected on Psalm 23 and what it says about how God shepherds us and the lessons we can learn from it concerning how we should lead others.  If David is saying, "I have the best Shepherd!," then we ought to pay attention and follow the Lord's example.

Psalm 23 teaches a lot about how leaders should lead.  It offers not only a message of comfort but also one of challenge for us to be shepherds of others who are like the Lord Jesus as He shepherds us.  Psalm 23 teaches us how to lead the church well by doing at least four things:

Present the "Word" -- David's shepherd made him lie down in green pastures and drink from still waters.  He restored and rejuvenated David's weary soul and guided him to apply the truth by leading him to walk down the paths of righteousness "for his namesake."  A shepherd of the church feeds his or her flock with God's Word.  They help them understand and act on it in their daily lives, and offer encouragement to keep on going.  The Lord's reputation is on the line; that's why they guide others to live rightly "for his namesake."

Be "With Them" -- The sheep need to sense the presence of God in the lives, and often the awareness of Him being with them comes through godly leaders being close at hand while they encounter hard times.  David did not fear whenever he was on the verge of dying because he knew the Lord was with him. When I was a newly minted youth pastor, my college president, George Miles, told me that the most important thing I could do was "be there" with my teens.  Leaders need to be with their people no matter how trying the situation.

"Watch Out" for them -- David recognized that his Shepherd carried both a "rod" and "staff" to comfort him.  The rod was a defensive weapon a shepherd would use to fight off predators.  A godly leader needs to vigilantly guard his or her flock from spiritual attack from false teachers and deceptive philosophies.  The shepherd's staff was more of a corrective tool used on the sheep to prod them in the right direction.  If a lamb was going astray, the shepherd would reach out his staff and pull the erring sheep back in line.  Whether your flock is a church, a small group, a Sunday school class, or your family, you as a leader must seek to restore the brother or sister who wonders away.

Remember their "Worth" -- The Shepherd "prepared a table" for David in the presence of his enemies.  No matter how dangerous the situation, David was confident of God's sustaining fellowship.  David's head was anointed with oil by the Shepherd.  Some Bible teachers insist that shepherd did this to keep irritating insects out of a sheep's face, but it may simply mean that God had chosen David, blessing with him spiritual gifts for significant service.  Every child of God has been anointed; they've been chosen and anointed with the Holy Spirit for God's service.  Leaders in the church need to help their people find and use their spiritual gifts in ministry. 

One more aspect of the "worth" of our sheep: Leaders need to bless their followers.  David boasted that the Lord's mercy and goodness chased him every day of his life.  Does my flock think of "goodness" and "mercy" when they think of me?  Does my leadership aid them in feeling at home in God's presence?  Am I leading them to commit to being in the "house of the Lord" and remaining in fellowship with Him day by day?  Our leadership should be of such a selfless and Christlike nature that those who follow us have cups that overflow with God's blessings.

In Christ we all have The Best Shepherd.  Do our people have the best shepherds they can?  May Jesus help us lead others with the same love, courage, and grace He uses as He leads us.

Secrets of Leaders Who Don't Quit (5)

Leaders who don’t quit have an accurate perspective of this world.  They focus now on their future glory, and not on their present suffering.  If this sounds a lot like yesterday’s post, you’re right.  But I think there's an important difference.  Enduring leaders endure because they know that the suffering they're encountering now has little significance compared to the greatness of the glory they will receive when they go to be with Christ in heaven.

Paul himself viewed the time and place of God’s work correctly.  In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, he repeats the confident assertion he made in v. 1, and explains why he doesn’t lose heart:

"Therefore, we do not get discouraged, but even if our outer man is being destroyed, so our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For our insignificant, momentary affliction brings about for us an all-surpassing, eternal weight of glory, because we are not paying attention to the things which are seen but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Paul recognized both that his physical body was decaying and that there was nothing he could do to permanently stop it since it is a “steady and irreversible process.” (Hughes)  But even as this decay was taking place, Paul knew that his interior self –- the inner man -– was undergoing a constant renewal (anakainō).  Like an old house being renovated, so was Paul’s soul.  The general contractor of this reclamation project was none other than God himself.  The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to transform our minds so that we are made into the likeness of Christ. (Romans 12:2)  A person who has not trusted Christ doesn’t recognize that his or her inner self is in shambles.

Awareness of the Christian’s present dichotomy –- outward physical decay vs. inward spiritual renewal –- put the sufferings of this world in proper perspective for Paul.  He considered the troubles he encountered “insignificant” (elaphros) and “momentary” (parautika).  On the eternal perspective scale, Paul’s ministry struggles had little weight and substance when he compared them to how heavy and solid his future glory would be.  He also knew they would last only for briefest of moments when compared to how long he would live in his eternal, glorified body.  The glory he anticipated with Christ in heaven was beyond all measure, weightier than anything he could imagine.

Paul concentrated his attention on the unseen world and not the visible one.  This doesn’t mean that he was reckless with his health, but he knew that his personal safety and comfort were not what was most important.  With the renovation of his inner man and the confidence of life in heaven with the Lord, he could take any risk of faith to obey God’s will as a leader.  This eternal perspective encouraged Paul to keep leading the church.  In spite of a dying body and great adversity in this life, he focused on the best –- God’s best -- which was yet to come, so why should he despair today when troubles came?  By his example, Paul teaches us that leaders who have staying power look past their present hassles and see the future glory.

As a leader, are you concentrating on today and its troubles, or do you have the long-range view in mind?  The only way for God’s leaders to be of earthly good is if they are heavenly-minded.  Check yourself: Are you more worried about what happens to you physically than what is taking place within you?  Do you care more about your schedule and plans and comfort than God's right to interrupt you?  Are you ready to go and be with the Lord?  If so, then don't let anything in this life stop you from leading yourself and others to do God's will.  Lead on, leader!

Secrets of Leaders Who Don't Quit (4)

The greatest threat to godly leadership is fear.  With its whispers and shouts it intimidates leaders and keeps them from obeying God.  Fear gnaws at them and keeps them awake at night.  Fear distorts their perspective and clouds their thinking so they cannot see the truth.  It chokes off bold initiatives.

Godly leaders fear losing their wealth or their health, their good reputation, their security, or even their life.  Yet fear doesn’t excuse the leader from shepherding God’s church.  Paul undoubtedly experienced fear, but he didn’t quit leading others because he hoped in his resurrection with Jesus.  No matter what danger they face, leaders who didn't quit confidently know that their life in God’s presence is secure.  Notice Paul's courageous assurance:

“Now because we have this same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised up the Lord Jesus also will raise up us with Jesus and will bring us (before Him) with you.  For all things are for you, in order that the grace -- which is multiplying (in others) with the gratitude of many (as a result) -- might overflow to the glory of God.”  (2 Corinthians 4:13-15)

Paul’s confidence was not placed in the government, his education, or his status in society.  Paul led the church fearlessly because his greatest enemy had been conquered by Christ’s resurrection!  Jesus has risen from the dead, and that fact guarantees Paul and every other believer’s future resurrection.  Like the Old Testament saints who believed centuries earlier, Paul also believed God’s promises and confidently professed his faith.  Because of this faith, Paul and his associates preached the gospel boldly.

But Paul hoped for something more than the resurrection; he anticipated life in the presence of Jesus for all eternity.  Everyone, including his readers who have believed, can have this confidence.  As far as Paul was concerned, every Christian can take courage knowing that his or her hope of eternal life with Jesus is a done deal.

Paul found courage to lead through adversity as he waited for his resurrection by remembering that his even while he suffered, God was using “all things” to pour out his grace on the Corinthians.  More and more people where trusting Christ and choosing to follow Him, which led to more and more praise for God.  This is another profound shift in perspective that a leader needs to make to lead with boldness.  He or she needs to trade fear for Christ’s hope.

As leaders, you and I cannot allow fear to stop us.  The stakes are too high for the kingdom of God for us to timidly slink back from doing God's will.  If God has called us to lead, then we need to look past our fears and put our trust in Christ Jesus, the one who has overcome our greatest fear, death!  What are you afraid of?  If Jesus has already conquered our greatest threat, what else is there to fear?  Lead on, leader, with all the confidence that your hope in Christ can give.

Secrets of Leaders Who Don't Quit (3)

What should a leader do with his or her weaknesses?  Most of the time I try to hide mine thinking that I can’t bear to let others see my incompetence.  Paul had a totally different perspective of his weaknesses.  He embraced them as opportunities to reveal the power of God through his life.  Leaders who endure find strength through their weaknesses, and not self-sufficiency.  Paul explains,

“But we have this treasure in vessels made of baked clay, in order that the extraordinary quality of the power might be of God and not from us; in everything being oppressed but not being distressed, being confused, but never being at a total loss, being persecuted but not being forsaken, being struck down but not being destroyed, always carrying here and there the putting to death of Jesus in the body, in order that also the life of Jesus might be revealed in our body.  For we who are living are always being handed over unto death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus might be revealed in our mortal flesh.  Therefore, death itself is working in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)

You can almost hear the amazement in Paul’s voice as he observes the irony of God placing his treasure – the glorious knowledge of Him available through Christ (v. 6) – inside human beings who are nothing more than cheap little clay lamps or pots, and cracked ones at that.  He has done this in order to display his splendid treasure by means of his glorious power.  Paul recognizes that if any is going to understand the gospel and come to know God personally, it’ll have to be through the work of God and not the frail efforts of human beings. We tend to admire strong men and women, but God uses those who are weak.  Paul gives a catalog of his personal weaknesses and how God revealed his power through him:

• He was constantly oppressed, yet he was not without a way out.
• He was bewildered, yet never at wits end.  (“sometimes at a loss, but never a loser.”  Bauer-Danker)
• He was persecuted, yet not abandoned to his enemies.
• He was struck down, yet not destroyed.
• He carried about the dying of Jesus in the midst of his sufferings, yet the life of Jesus was clearly revealed to lost people through him.  (They could vividly see that Christ was alive in Paul as he suffered.)

God graciously and faithfully sustains his servants!  Paul needed this assurance because it seemed like he was dying everyday (Romans 8:36).

I ask God to take away my troubles because I value comfort, but God values my weaknesses so that he can work in and through me to reveal his power.  My afflictions -– insignificant compared to Paul’s –- are God’s “strange ministers” that He uses make me like Christ and provide an avenue for his power to be displayed through me (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). 

Skill and charisma go a long way in helping God’s leaders lead well.  Yet if the man or woman who leads for God will embrace his or her weaknesses, that leader will lead with God’s power!  The life of Jesus will be revealed with stunning, high-definition clarity to all who follow.

Take a quick inventory of your weaknesses.  Are you trying to remove them?  Have you ever thought that God just might want to use them to reveal himself through you?  As Gideon had to break the pots to let the light of his torches shine out (Judges 7:15-21), in the same way God breaks the leader’s physical body so that his power and glory might be revealed. (Hughes)  God uses crack-pots...that’s how the light gets out.

Secrets of Leaders Who Don't Quit (2)

Leaders who don't give up measure success by faithfulness, not results.  Apparently, the apostle Paul understood first-hand the temptation leaders face to judge the success of their ministry by results.  While he preached the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and planted numerous churches across the Roman Empire, yet Paul still saw many people reject his message.  What was wrong?  Was he a failure as a leader?

In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 he explains that a spiritual war was being waged in the hearts and minds of his listeners:

“And even if our gospel has been concealed, it is concealed to the ones who are lost, in whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelieving in order that they not see the illumination of the gospel of the glory of the Christ, who is an image of God.  For we are not preaching ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves your slaves because of Jesus.  Because God is the one who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”(it is He) who has shined in our hearts the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Because of this conflict Paul didn’t expect a 100% positive response to his leadership since people who have not yet trusted Christ are naturally “blind” to the light that shines out of the gospel.  Satan and his demonic horde work overtime to keep sinners in the dark about their true condition and ignorant of God’s love.  They can’t see the beauty of Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior of humanity.  They miss out on recognizing that He reveals God in all of his splendor to us.  Tragically, the ones who reject the good news of Jesus Christ were “lost,” and are literally “being ruined” (apollumi) since they were still in the dark spiritually and separated from God.

Rather than being considered failures as leaders, Paul and his company focused on proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ, and sought to serve their followers for His sake.  They did not promote themselves.  They were seeking their own gain.  They surrendered to Jesus Christ their Lord and told as many people as possible about Him. 

Why was Paul so committed to preaching Christ and not worrying about the results?  He had “seen the light” himself when God shone the knowledge of his glory into Paul’s heart.  He had experienced for himself the illumination and spiritual clarity that comes from trusting Christ, and he couldn’t keep it to himself.  I’m sure that Paul cared that people believed the gospel. Why would he work so hard to disseminate it if it didn’t really matter?  Leaving the results with God doesn’t mean being apathetic or hands-off in leadership.  It does mean trusting God to bless your diligent efforts and prayers in his time and in his way. 

“Be faithful. Trust God to make you fruitful.”  This wise advice from evangelist Larry Moyer sums up what Paul believed in spite of the great spiritual opposition he faced.  God expects us to be faithful, to keep on trusting and obeying Him no matter what happens, and then leaving the results to Him.

Leaders who endure measure their success by their faithfulness, not their results.  Certainly they set goals and aim to achieve them, but they know that God is working behind the scenes to accomplish his will.  What would know you have been successful as a leader?  Do you compare yourself to other leaders?  Would God consider you faithful to Him as you've led others?  Have you concentrated on serving them for Christ's sake?

Secrets of Leaders Who Don't Quit (1)

The church needs don’t-quit leaders.  My posts this week will focus on gaining the courage to keep on leading in the face of difficult circumstances.  Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 4 has been a life-giving tonic for me during times of leadership discouragement. In this chapter, Paul reveals at least five truths that helped him see his leadership and ministry from God’s perspective.  Leadership is all about perspective –- the leader’s point of view and that of his or her followers.  The leaders that God works through view their service from his perspective.

Paul didn't quit because he saw his leadership as a privilege, not just a duty.  He writes in 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, “Therefore, because we have this ministry as we have received mercy, we do not get discouraged, but we ourselves have renounced the hidden things of shame, neither walking about in crafty cunning nor adulterating the Word of God, but by means of the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to the conscience of every man in the sight of God.”

Leadership sometimes feels burdensome, but Paul considers his leadership a gift of God’s mercy, a privilege that he could never merit.  He knew he wasn’t worthy to lead others in God’s kingdom because of his sinful past as a persecutor of Christ and His church.  “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16, NIV).  For Paul, leading the church wasn't just a job; it was an honor.
   

Since Paul views his apostolic leadership as a gift, he carefully exercises it, making sure that he honors God in his ministry.  For this reason, Paul and his associates once and for all disowned any and all leadership methods that were shamefully done in secret.  He clarifies by identifying two particularly evil methods of exercising influence.
 

“Crafty cunning” (panourgia) describes a person who is literally “ready to anything.”  P. E. Hughes calls it a “cunning readiness to adopt any device or trickery for the achievement of ends which are anything but altruistic.”  Such trickery and deception is Satan’s standard operating procedure, but not God’s! (2 Corinthians 11:3)  Followers need honest leaders they can trust, and God expects nothing less of those He calls to shepherd his people.  Leaders must renounce lies, half-truths, exaggerations, and manipulating tactics along with selfish ambitions when guiding the church.

The other evil leadership method, “adulterating (doloō) God’s Word,” refers to watering down the gospel so that its hearers won’t object.  Fear of losing their followers tempts many leaders to compromise their message by skipping over the passages and doctrines that are politically incorrect or offensive.  A leader in the church serves God, so he or she must fear Him!  This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t adapt our methods to fit the needs of our culture, but we cannot budge when it comes to the content of our message.

Paul chose to be true to the gospel in every way.  Because he viewed his leadership as a gift and privilege, he put God’s truth on display in his ministry.  He did not seek to offend others, but he was willing to if that’s what obeying God required.  Knowing that God watches us as we lead should challenge us to recheck our motives and methods.  Are we honest with our followers?  Have we told the truth in love?  Do we seek God’s will for our followers?  What are our motives for leading them?  Are we looking for approval or material gain?  Do we view our leadership as serving Christ by serving others?  How do you see your leadership responsibility: A weary burden or a privilege from God?

A lot of leadership stuff can be fun, as Jim Martin notes in his post, “What Energizes Me.”  I agree with his list.  But much of the time leadership is hard.  It helps me not quit when I remember that my calling is a gracious opportunity from God to make a difference for His eternal kingdom.

When Astronauts Fall Back to Earth

Why is it so hard to admit it when we're struggling? 

Last week's bizarre love-triangle-gone-awry involving Astronaut Lisa Nowak has got NASA and many other people scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong.  How could someone so intelligent, accomplished, and seemingly all-together crash and burn like she did?  Why did Capt. Nowak snap?  What would happen if something like this episode occurred on a long-duration space voyage, such as the 2.5 year-long trip to Mars and back?  A recent editorial in the New York Times observed,

"The charge of attempted murder lodged against Capt. Lisa Nowak is not just a tragedy for the astronaut and her family. It strikes at the cherished image of astronauts as superior individuals who can cope with stresses that might crumple the rest of us. However the criminal charges are ultimately resolved, there is already a clear lesson of this bizarre case: astronauts are human, subject to the same marital strains and mental aberrations that afflict more ordinary mortals."

How could a distinguished astronaut like Capt. Nowak all of a sudden act so irrationally?  Don't our astronauts represent the best of the best in our society?  TIME tries to answer the question with this article: "Why Astronauts Don't Like Shrinks."  In the highly competitive world of test pilots and astronauts, no one wants to admit weakness.  To admit physical -- or worse -- emotional instability would almost guarantee being grounded from space flight.  The truth is, people don't just suddenly snap.  Turmoil on the inside, whether it be spiritual or emotional, grows and festers until something triggers its release, and often with tragic results.  Fear keeps the hurting person silent and in denial until it's too late.

While I have never met an astronaut, I have seen the same prideful attitude in hurting people in the church.  Struggling married couples unwilling to seek counsel: "This our problem; we can solve it ourselves."  A man battling addictive behavior: "It's no big deal; I can handle it."  A dying grandfather who rebuffed his grandson's attempt to share the gospel with him: "I'm okay...You don't have to worry about me."  A mother under tremendous stress who worries, "I can't let up; I have to keep pushing; hopefully, it'll all work out."  A pastor who once thought to himself, "There's no way I'd ever admit at I'm struggling with this..."  (That pastor was me.) 

Friends, this isn't rocket science.  I'm convinced that all of us fear exposing ourselves and admitting our weaknesses, even though it's the only path to healing.  Our pride fuels this fear and drives us to resist asking for help.  The trouble is, unless we're willing to humble ourselves, our struggles will only magnify.  None of us can afford to live in isolation, alone and vulnerable.  We have to let others into our lives and allow them help us.  We're called to bear each other's burdens, but those who care about us can't help us lift ours if we don't let them!

Who can assist you with the struggle you're dealing with?  When will you ask them for help?

Marriage and the "S" Word

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the latest issue of Reader's Digest features an article with the front page, eye-grabbing title, "7 Secrets to A SEXY MARRIAGE."  You'll have to read the article yourself to learn what the secrets are and how they can help your marriage.  (They are actually quite practical, even biblical in their counsel.)

There's been a different "S" word on my mind when I've thought lately about my marriage.  It's the "S" word found in Ephesians 5:21, "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."  Bauer and Danker define "submission" here as meaning "voluntary yielding in love."  This verse stands at the head of a long exposition by Paul on Spirit-directed family life (Ephesians 5:22-6:4).  Traditionally, preachers told only wives that they had to submit to their husbands.  If I understand the relationship between verse 21 and those following, then all Christians must submit to one another -- not just the wives, but also husbands, children, and parents. 

Every believer is commanded to be continually filled with God's Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).  One of the results of the Spirit's control over Christians is that they choose to humbly serve their fellow believers, regardless of their gender, age, race, or social status.  So, according to the Bible, the secret to a happy marriage is not great sex but great submission by husbands and wives.  God's plan is voluntary yielding in love to each other and Christ.

This morning at Men's Fraternity, we heard Robert Lewis explain a definition of manhood by comparing the actions of the first Adam in the Garden of Eden with those of the Second Adam, Jesus Christ.  Through this contrast, I was reminded that true leadership is simply rejecting passivity and assuming responsibility.  How does a Christian husband submit to his wife and children?  By refusing to sit and watch passively, and by taking responsibility for their welfare both physically and spiritually.  Servant husbands are not necessarily the smartest, strongest, wisest, richest, or most courageous men, but they do choose to take responsibility for their families while depending on God's grace.  They voluntarily yield in love.

The Holy Spirit confronts our natural, sinful selfishness and enables us to give of ourselves in service to others rather than seek our own gain.  In Spirit-filled homes and churches, everyone submits to each other.  Husbands love like Jesus does the church, and wives honor like the church should Christ, while children obey and parents nurture.  All of a sudden family life gets an extreme home makeover...lust becomes love, getting becomes giving, selfishness becomes serving, and seeking rights becomes showing respect. 

Does your marriage need a submission makeover?  Don't wait for your spouse to start it; choose to voluntarily yield to her or him in love today and see what happens.

"Embrace the Ox" & Other Leadership Lessons

My leadership class at Columbia Biblical Seminary at CIU finished today at 5:00 p.m. and not a moment too soon.  My head was ready to explode...so much valuable information to process.  I'm grateful that I took the class as an older, experienced pastor because I could see the relevance of everything our professor taught us!  Dr. Roy King did a super job combining biblical concepts, the latest research, and his experience as a pastor and church consultant into a practical course on servant leadership.  I am especially grateful for his personal transparency as he shared the lessons he's learned through his own leadership struggles.  Here are a couple of key insights that stood out to me...

• Leadership is all about perspective.  The leader sees what his or her followers don't and therefore knows where the group needs to go and how to get there.  For a church leader, our perspective is shaped by Scripture.  God's Word offers leaders a vantage point to see life with a breadth and clarity that the world cannot give. 
• One of the best leadership sections in Scripture is 2 Corinthians.  While Paul defends his authority as one of Christ's apostles, he shows that God uses leaders to advance his kingdom who are humble men and women who depend on God's grace to do his work.  God uses "strange ministers" like suffering, persecution, and physical afflictions to teach them to trust Him.  These leaders don't have it all together, but they do learn to leverage their brokenness and weaknesses into opportunities for God's power and wisdom to be released through them.  Though my failures and weakness may bring me shame, I can have hope as I trust God to work through me in spite of my failings and frailties. I have a fresh appreciation for this important NT letter. 
• Growing in the Christian life is all about faith, hope, and love.  I can hardly believe that I hadn't see this connection before.  What does a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ look like?  He or she has a deepening faith toward God, an enduring hope in this world, and a growing love for others.  My job as a leader in the church is to guide myself and others to greater faith, hope, and love.
• The lack of margins in my life kills creativity and perspective.  This is probably the greatest take-away for me from this class.  How essential it is to plan for times of rest, prayer, physical exercise, and fun!  My life is definitely out of balance right now, and I need to practice some self-leadership soon to build time, financial, and energy margins back into my life.   
• "Embrace the ox!"  This is code language for the message of Proverbs 14:4, "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."  If you don't want any manure, get rid of the ox.  If you want an abundant harvest, keep the ox and shovel the manure.  A fruitful ministry harvest comes with messy stuff like loss of control, sacrifice of time, and challenging relationships.  All growth -- whether physical, emotional, or spiritual -- comes through a mess.  Leaders need to remember this and not be upset with the stinking muck that comes with guiding people to obey God.

Besides these valuable lessons, I gained a lot of other practical insights that will be helpful at home and church.  Lead on leader!