Audacious Goal

John Haggai in his book THE INFLUENTIAL LEADER wrote – “create a vision so great that if God is not it, then it is doomed to fail.”

Bravo!

I believed in it the first time I laid my eyes on the pages of his book. This passage catapulted my yet again dreary week to a new level.

Consider last week’s ‘challenge’:

1. At church, I attended our coordinators dinner/fellowship after my call last wednesday. Soon after, on a sunday, I led our leaders to the monthly meeting where service

2. Inside my family, I had to join my son’s training last friday. On top of this, I had to prepare for the gruelling duathlon to be held this weekend!

3. At work, I had conference calls every night starting monday, stretching to 12 midnight. The thing about calls is that you have to be there to get a good feel what’s going on in the realms of the whole world!

Now, for this week, I am bound to do the same process, all over again:
1. Church – make a monthly report, follow up preaching schedule and upload 1Q 2011 programs.
2. Family – continue with my training for duathlon. Fetch my wife while she’s going for real estate training.
3. Work – nightly calls, except friday night!

Everyone “aspires” to be a leader, but most back out when they realize you need to “perspire” during the process.

My Week

I made an audacious goal to chronicle my weekly thoughts on ministry using this platform for 2011. Here’s how my week has unravelled thus far.

We had a pastors forum held last week. This is the 2nd time this was held to learn and listen from the experiences, challenges and excitement that our pastor has gone thru in Europe and the US. I came away from the session with mixed emotions.

1. Relevance. Somehow the reinforced my impression that being a pastor (full time) is this day and age seems to be passe. Especially in the countries which have financial challenges supporting a full time minister.

2. Uncertainty thoughts fill the air. With the economic downturn impacting people’s livelihood in these regions, the challenge remain

I attended the music team session and played my first love instrument.

The sunday service went impressively well too. The congregation continues to evolve and mature.

There are nostalgic thoughts that filled my heart as I chance across these two musical artists –

1. Queen band.
2. Izzy (what a wonderful world).

Over the weekend, I had the great time spending time with my sons on meet the parents and watch the bastketball game, albeit shortlived.

We had lunch. Watched movie with my wife. Fulfilling saturday and sunday!

Time travel for 2010

1Q 2010 – Inspiring the next. Anniversary preparation.(february/march)
2Q 2010 – Full fledged SPIC. Workers retreat. Ministry fair kick off, (april/may/june/july)
3Q 2010 – Continuation of ministry fair, WINK, Media, Equipping. (aug/sept/oct)
4Q 2010 – Asia summit. Christmas and new year preparation. (nov/dec)

WWJD

What would Jesus do???

Powerful phrase. And my key take home message coming from our lesson on christian counseling. To dig deeper, I’m now studying the ministry pattern on Jesus in Mark’s gospel.

My intent is to draw important lessons from Jesus’s practical ministry days. Likewise to discover  how Jesus responded, and most importantly handled, sticky matters with the goal of mirroring how I should do the same.

I pray that the LORD will guide me and humbly ask for his infinite wisdom to dwell on HIS humble servant.

Hiatus

Five weeks! This is the time elapsed since I last updated by blog. And what happened during this time? Well here goes -

1. Preached on topic of Resurrection on Mid April.

2. Attended a general retreat.

3. Attended a child dedication.

4. Awarded a certificate for completing biblical preaching.

5. Trained and led the congregation communion service.

6. And lately, administered the water baptism of my son!!

The best part is the last! Its a rare occasion for a minister to facilitate and be an instrument of God in baptizing one’s own child to follow the Lord! And for that I thank GOD once more.

Change and Status Quo

One world renowned  guru said. “In this world, there are only 2 types of people. One is set to change status quo. And the other is tasked to maintain the status quo. ” (Joseph Juran) 

I remember this quote as I reflect on this week’s work.

Somehow, the pace is one of breakneck speed. And often, Im changing the status quo. Along the way, resistance fly all over. I refuse to bulge knowing that if I gave in, there will never be any improvement in the process.

The best part?  Jesus, my savior, came to earth to change the status quo.  In the process, HE got Himself into trouble which led to HIS death.  And I personally believe that changing the status quo makes one’s life satisfying, fulfilling and more challenging.

I like the Obama slogan when he said ” CHANGE is coming to AMERICA”.

Count

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Thus said once passage. Very true!

This week, some of our leaders seem exhausted. And I noticed it could be because of the jampacked events that litter our calendar as we prepare for a grand  celebration. Can a simple coffee talk settle things through? Perhaps.

But often, people that are demoralized may tend to shy away. The worst part. They find reasons,and excuses not to be available anymore. Cure? Of course more prayers and relationship building. Is leadership to be blame? Partly. That is the accountability of leadership. Can it be ignored?  Big no. Nip it in the bud before it grows.

Holy Spirit, I ask for your wisdom and strength to deal with this once more.

PS>I observed every major event seem to elicit people’s grumble…Biblical? Of course!!  Just read Exodus and every scenario is painted clearly for us by our Lord.

My Way

My way of Life - Leadership and Management Philosophy

1.  Love people, and use things.

2. We are in the people program, using the ministry. Not in the ministry program using people.

3. People come to you to solve their problems.

4.  Solutions are different way of seeing things.

5.  We see things based on our frame of reference.

6. All problems have rootcause. Pin down rootcause. And problem will never come back.

7.  Be A solution, not the problem

8.   Problems are to be solved, not shunned.

9 .  Process is important. But people managing the process is even more important

10.  Go for peoplework, not paperwork.

11.  Stamp of excellence onto every task.

12.  Be strict to yourself and kind to others.

13.  Love your work as if you work for GOD.

14. Inject passion and love for job completion.

15.  Look at the big picture, but the devil is in the details.

16.  Have fun. Make sure you have a private life.

17 . It’s good to learn from your mistakes. Its better to learn from others mistakes.

18.  Admit mistakes and move on.

19.   Praise in public, punish in private.

20.  Find out what motivates tom, dick and harry.

21.   Different strokes for different folks.

22.   Walk on others shoes.

23.  Think outside the box.

24.  Think, see and feel like how others think, see and feel.

25.  Win your audience.

26.  Walk your talk.

27.  Leadership is action and perspiration. Its good to aspire, but be ready to perspire when you go into leadership position.

28.  Delegate but supervise.

29.  Reflect. Ponder. Stop and smell the roses. Unwind. Work hard, play hard.

30.   Mind your manners.

31.   Being precedes doing.

32.  Its important to believe (in a faith) and it is equally important to behave (demonstration of faith).

33.  What you believe determines how you behave.

34.   Faith is not a leap in the dark. It is a leap in the light. Faith takes over when reason no longer applies. 

35.   You cannot Not communicate

36.   Don’t let your people do what you yourself won’t do.

37.   People are evaluating you-all the time. 

38.    Body language is 70% communicating, all the time.

39.   We do what we do because of who we are or we are who we are because of what we do.

40.  Are you defined by your work. Or your work defines you?

41.  Pastoring has a beginning. But no ending.