Run to Win

Photo by Juan-Carlos Lagares

Last week, I wrote about running the Virginia 10-Miler road race and shared some observations. I'd like to continue that stream of thought in today's blog. 

One of my favorite PhD seminars was the Life and Letters of Paul taught by Professor Jack MacGorman. Besides giving great attention to exegeting the Pauline literature, we also gave attention to the incredibly complex cultural context in which Paul penned his epistles. Paul, no doubt was a sports fan and as such alluded to athletic contests for illustrative purposes. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, he alludes to running and boxing specifically, and sports in general. He refers to the competition and uses it as a metaphor and analogy for the Christian life and ministry.

Paul opens this passage by noting the obvious, "Do you not know that all who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?" Then, he begins to make application: "run that you may win... exercise self-control...run with an aim (with intentionality)... box without beating the air (make your punches count)...discipline your body (make it your slave)...." All this Paul says is for the dual purpose of receiving the imperishable wreath (God's reward for faithful service) at God's judgment in the future, and remaining qualified to serve in the present. Even as great as Paul was, he was constantly concerned that he might live in such a way that he would not be disqualified for ministry. 

So what does that say to you and me? Here are three insights.

1. Because life is like a race, we need to run (live) in such a way that we are winners.  We can strive for the things that pass away or the things that matter for eternity. Paul says opt for the latter. By the way, Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you."

2.  If we are going to be winners, we must exercise self-control. Embracing self-   discipline, having an attitude of deferred gratification, learning how to resist and run from temptation, and refusing to let human desires get out of control are all important components.

3.  Being intentional in our lives, working to accomplish things that benefit people and honor God are all important. By the way, from my perspective, Christians in general and ministers particularly have only two assignments: we prepare people for death, and we equip people for life. We should be intentional with both. So, what do you intend to do?

Here is the bottom line. Don't waste your life. Run to win!

3 Stages to Redeeming Your Time: Solve problems, Make Decisions, Plan Effectively.

Work consists of three primary activities: problem solving, decision making, and planning. In his book 30 Days to Confident Leadership Bob Biehl shares a method of time management built around these three aspects of work. I use Biehls' method when I teach my PhD students how to more effectively manage their time. Today I'm sharing with you the important steps to take and questions to ask to ensure that you are making the most of your time at all three stages.

1. Problem solving. This is past oriented. What went wrong? A problem is something that went contrary to expectations. It is often manifested in what I like to call "the law of unintended consequences." Dr. Phil often puts it this way, "how's that working for you?" Point: it's not.

When Solving Problems:

• Learn to ask questions.
• Ask, in one sentence, "what is the problem?"
• What are the facts related to this problem?
• Why does the problem exist?
• Who can help me solve this problem?
• What resources can I bring to bear on this problem?
• Of all the potential solutions, which has the greatest potential to be right?
• What policy would keep this problem from recurring?

2. Decision making. This is oriented toward the present. It determines what we do right now. I think of this in terms of forms. Moral decisions are between right and wrong. Wisdom decisions are between wise and foolish actions or words. Priority decisions are choices between that which is good, better, or best. Of course decisions are all predicated on what you want to be, accomplish, or avoid.

When Making Decisions:

• Pray for wisdom.
• Gather your facts.
• Ask, "what are my alternative decisions?"
• Ask, "what are the consequences of each decision?"
• Ask, "who will be affected?"
• Ask objective third parties for feedback.
• Ask, "am I setting a precedent?" or "am I following a precedent?"
• Ask the "what, why, who, where, when and how much" questions.
• Ask, "what if no decision is made?"

3. Planning. This is future oriented. It determines what you want to accomplish. It is a predetermined course of action directed toward a desired result. It manifests itself in goals. We see this often in "to do" lists.

When Planning:

• Pray and ask God, "What do you want me to accomplish?
•  Write out what you would like to see accomplished.
• Be specific.
• Write the goal so that results can be measured.
• Seek appropriate help.
• Ask, "am I willing to pay the price?"
• Ask yourself, "why do I want to reach these goals?"
• Ask, "what will happen if I do not achieve these goals?" What is at stake?

Which aspect of time management is the most challenging for you? Do you ever skip one of these steps? 

6 Critical Steps To Take In the First 90 Days As Pastor

by Michael Watkins

A couple of years ago I read the book the First 90 Days. Michael Watkins unpacked the important considerations for a manager moving into a new leadership position. Today I'd like to offer my own suggestions for a new pastor.

With over 20 years of experience as a senior pastor and almost a decade in ministry-equipping academia, I have often reflected on the most important first considerations for a new pastor. The first great task of the Church is to fulfill God's command to take the Gospel to the world. Coupled with that is the mandate to bring those who come to faith into Christian maturity. In light of these two priorities, what are the most important first steps for a pastor to take when he begins work with a new congregation? 

1. Clarify expectations. A new pastor needs the church to be clear about what he expects from them, and clear on what they expect from him. The lack of understanding and clarity on the front end has created unnecessary difficulties for way too many churches and pastors.  

2. Encourage the church family to embrace their responsibility to invite lost and unchurched people in their spheres of influence to join them for worship. The most effective outreach for any church is the satisfied member who cares about the people inside their circle of influence.

3. Study the church and seek the Lord to know what messages need to be preached. Even as Jesus had a specific word to and for each congregation addressed in Revelation 2 and 3, He has a special Word to each congregation today.

4. Challenge each member to take seriously their role in the church. This would include encouragement to be faithful in their daily devotions, witness, character development, stewardship, and consistency. Each member is either building up or tearing down the Body of Christ (the Church) by their attitudes, actions, behaviors, participation, and words. Personal responsibility must be taken seriously!

5. Be diligent to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to effectively support the ministries of the congregation. Without the supporting team, any organization can collapse under its own weight.

6. Ask yourself and the church tough questions. For each congregation, the questions must be asked: 

• What does God want us to be and to do? 

• How are we gifted to fulfill the will of God in our locale?

• In what areas does God want us to minister and serve?

• What does God want to accomplish through us in this time and place?

• What potential does God want to birth into reality here and now?

• How can we effectively cooperate in fulfilling the Great Commission in our generation? 

• What does God want to do in our midst that will help the watching world know that God is real?

These are the six steps I think are critical for the first 90 days in the pastorate. What do you think? Do you have anything to add to the list? 

Top 5 Posts In the Past 12 Months

Today I’d like to revisit my most popular posts over the past year. The following posts resonated the most with my readers so I’d like to share them with you once again in case you missed them the first time. Please feel free to pass these along to a friend or co-worker who may need some encouragement today. 

7 Lessons On Conquering Adversity 

The Turtle On the Fence post

God’s Perspective on Newtown 

Tragedies to Transitions: 4 Take-aways from David 

7 Lessons I Learned from Watching the BCS Championship

This blog is a way for me to offer encouragement to those I’ve encountered over the years. What topics would you like to see addressed here in the future? I’d love to hear from you. 

7 Lessons I Learned from Watching the BCS Championship

Spurgeon, the great Baptist pulpiteer, often told his students that illustrations are everywhere if they would simply stay alert. In watching the BCS Championship game Monday night, I noticed seven lessons that can be applied to families, ministry, academia, the business world, teams, and individuals. 

1. The past is no guarantee of the future. All the hype of how good Notre Dame was, all the accolades about their All-American nose guard and Heisman candidate line-backer, coupled with their stellar offense was just that, hype. Any investment firm will offer the disclaimer that "past performance is no guarantee of future success." That was, no doubt, the case here.

2. What you do when everything is on the line is what really matters. The only thing that matters is what happens between the goalposts and the sidelines in the 60-minute contest. All the talk, all the pundit predilections, all the hoopla was irrelevant. And where it mattered, Alabama performed and Notre Dame did not.

3. There is no substitute for great coaching and great preparation. From start to finish, no question existed as to who was executing a superior game plan. Coach Sabin and his team did a masterful job of preparation.

4. Great teams depend on great individual performances. Across the board, Alabama players, both on offense and defense executed their responsibilities with surgical precision. Turns out that all the chatter about "Alabama does not have the dominant players as in the past" was just chatter. And it was clear that man for man, "the match-ups," favored Alabama from start to finish.

5. Great teams with great players must still play as a team or unit. The Championship game was a tremendous example of great individuals playing as a team! Teamwork wins!

6. Preparation does precede performance--but it must be superior preparation. Alabama clawed its way through the rugged Southeastern Conference schedule. By playing and beating (mostly) the premier football teams in the country (5 teams in the top 10 final standings and 7 teams in the top 25 nationally), they were prepared for the final showdown called the National Championship. Fact is, any of the top 5 SEC teams would probably have won that game. Not every team or everyone who makes it to the perceived top (Notre Dame) has actually earned it through superior preparation.

7. Champions are made in the off-season. According to Coach Sabin, this team started preparing for this season and this game two days after last year's championship win. 

I am proud to be numbered among those who scream out "Roll Tide!" every fall. Congratulations to Coach Sabin and the Alabama Crimson Tide for another great season.

Do you have a favorite lesson you learned through playing a sport or watching an athlete? Please share in the comments.