Discipleship Archives - Page 144 of 167

I’ve been invited to co-author a story with one of the best selling novelists ever! He’s sold more books than Tim LaHaye! It is quite an honor. I can hardly believe it!

I have already seen an outline for about the first half of the story, and from what I can tell, it’s going to be amazing. It’s basically the true life story of someone who is very similar to me, which I suppose is why I was chosen. It ultimately is a story about a man who constantly searches for truth, and he spends all his time and money in this search. Yet every time the end of his search seems near, and truth seems within his grasp, something happens which makes him realize he has been asking the wrong questions all along.

There are twists and tragedies in the plot that seem almost excessive. Just when it seems that the author has developed a pattern for the main character, everything changes. I talked to the main author about this, and he assures me that this is the way it happened in real life, and that all these turns must happen because they are preparing the man for something that will occur later in the story. I don’t know what that is, since I’ve only seen about half of the story so far. The author tells me that though he’s written the first half, he wants me to help author the second half. I’m not sure I’m up to it, but if he thinks I am, I’ll give it a shot.

Who is this author? It’s God. He is the best-selling author of all time.

And what’s the story we’re writing together? It’s my life.

I’m reading a book right now called To Be Told by Dan Allender and it has really helped me view my life as a coherent whole that is going someplace (I don’t exactly know where) rather than just a string of events while I’m in a holding pattern for heaven.

Furthermore, it helps me see that I can help God write my future. I can make choices and decisions that make my life more of an adventure romance full of tragedy, risk, and triumph than a mind-numbingly dull home video of a dog playing in the grass.

Such a perspective also helps me view the frustrations of life with a little more significance. The frustrations are not just bad and annoying things that happen, but are actually twists and turns in the plot of my life story which build the conflict and will eventually lead to the climax of wherever this story is headed.

And where is my story headed? Well, God hasn’t let me see the end of the story yet, but He is letting me make decisions about how the main character of my story responds to the trials and frustrations of life in the story. These decisions will help determine where the rest of the story goes.

It is true what someone once told me: First we make our decisions, and then our decisions make us.

So sometimes I purposefully make decisions that will make for “a better story.” I don’t want my story to be about how I watched thousands of hours of TV and lived to tell about it…

Oh, and by the way, this co-authorship opportunity isn’t a special privilege reserved for me only. You are writing the story of your life along with God. So how are you doing in writing the screenplay of your life? Is it going to be a blockbuster?

6 Things NOT to Look for in a Church Leader

By Jeremy Myers

14 Comments

Are you looking for a leader for your church, ministry, or organization? Make sure that along with things you do look for in a leader, you do not pick a leader based on the following six characteristics.

Oh, and I learned all of the following the hard way. At one point or another, I allowed people to be leaders based on one or more of the following characteristics, and lived to regret it.

How to Pick a Leader You’ll Live to Regret

Pick a leader based on how much money they give to the church.
Pick someone who has lots of influence in the city or in the church. (Note: Though leadership is influence, Godly leadership requires Godly influence.)
Pick a leader simply based on who wants to be one. (Note: Yes, it’s okay to desire leadership (1 Tim 3:1), but it seems that most who desire it are power hungry.)
Pick leaders based on who is initially very supportive of you. (Note: If they show up in church one day, and are supportive and encouraging…and want to be a leader, watch out!)
Pick a leader based on how talented they are at something you desperately need in church (like music, or children’s ministry).
Pick a leader because they talk a lot about their leadership skills. (Note: Leaders listen more than they talk, and are not proud or boastful.)

Now, after weeding out leaders with these six “disqualifiers” if there is anybody left in our “potential leadership pool” … Congratulations! You’ve found your leader!

And always remember … it’s okay to be “leaderless.”

After all, if we have no leaders, it forces us to look to Jesus as our leader. And He does okay…

Still need a bit more help looking for leaders? Here is my main suggestion: If you are looking for leaders, the best place to look is in the silent servants of the church. Who shows up and just serves, not looking for recognition or glory? These may make you best leaders.

We have “Servant Leadership” backwards. We think that “servant leadership” means that leaders should serve. Actually, when we look at what Jesus teaches about “servant leadership” He is saying that servants should lead and that leaders should be taken from the servants. So you want to find leaders? Look to the servants.

Don’t ask your leaders to serve. Instead, ask your servants to become leaders.

6 Ways Good Leaders are Like Marshmallows

By Jeremy Myers

4 Comments

If you want to find good leaders in your church, you need to look for marshmallows.

No, not people who are puffed up and white. We have enough of those already…

Instead, look for six other good leadership qualities which leaders have in common with marshmallows.

First, good leaders, like marshmallows, are tasty.

Marshmallows can make bad things taste good (Marshmallow Yams) and good things better (Ever eat a Fluffer Nutter?).

Similarly, good leaders are enjoyable to be around. They will be people of grace, kindness, tenderness, and compassion.

Second, good leaders bind together and are sticky.

Rice Crispy Treats would be just a bowl of cereal without the marshmallows. And have you ever tried to get melted marshmallow out of your hair?

Good leaders bring people together and bind them around a common purpose or goal.

Third, good leaders always rise to the top.

Ever try to sink a marshmallow? It can’t be done.

People naturally follow good leaders and good leaders naturally lead. In your church, who do people look to for solutions? Who do they go to for answers and advice? Who do they turn to for comfort and safety?

Fourth, good leaders are multifunctional.

Marshmallows are not only good for eating, they can also be used to generate laughs (Chubby Bunny anyone?) and for endless holiday crafts.

Similarly, good leaders are flexible enough to work in a variety of situations and flow effortlessly from one role to another.

Fifth, good leaders are often singed because they’re frequently near fire.

A good church leader storms the gates of hell. They make friends at the fringes and take risks where they might get burned or come home smelling like smoke.

Sixth, when good leaders get in the fire, they actually get bigger.

Good leaders learn best in the forge. If they can stand the heat, they will increase their leadership skills, expand their sphere of influence, and become great leaders.

I love my new job

By Jeremy Myers

4 Comments

I love my new job. It pays me beans, but I basically get paid to read while I work. Last week, I read three books. So far (it’s Tuesday), I’ve read two more.

I’m realizing that while I’ve been in seminary, my mind went into reverse. There is something about my rebellious flesh that cannot enjoy a book if I am required to read it. Though, if truth be told, most of the assigned reading at seminary is mind-numbingly boring. Not all, but most.

Anyway, since I got this new job, I’ve been reading about two books a week, and I can feel my mind starting to reawaken with creativity and life. I love it. I don’t want to sleep or eat. I just want to read, think, and write. My mind is on fire with ideas. It’s my resurrection from the land of the dead.

I’m not sure what job I will get next (this job ends in mid May), but whatever it is, I need to keep reading (even if it’s not at work). I also don’t think I’ll go on for a Ph.D. I’d get Permanent Head Damage, and I’m not sure I’d pull out of that kind of tailspin.

I Like Lance a Lot

By Jeremy Myers

5 Comments

I had a good long talk with Lance again on Saturday, and he may be one of the most refreshing people I have ever met. I want to know more people like him. He is open, honest, and genuine. He says what he thinks, but in a way that is unoffensive.

And wow, does he know his stuff! I’m not sure exactly how he would classify himself religiously, but he knows the Bible better than most of us at Seminary, myself included. He told me that he learned under Col. R.B. Thieme in Houston (for those of you who are “Thiemers”). As I talked with Lance, he was using Greek, talking about the Bema, and quoting Scripture, all while performing amazing tricks with his devil sticks.

At one point, Wendy invited him and his family over for dinner. He declined, and the reason was one I have never heard before in my entire life, and probably will never hear again. He thought we would be offended, but Wendy and I both laughed out loud when he explained why he didn’t want to come to dinner. I’m not going to repeat what he said here on a public blog, but let me just say that it was genuine, honest, kind, and authentic.

The bottom line is that I like Lance. He is someone I would love to hang out with, and someone we Christians could learn a lot from. However, most of the time, when we interact with people like Lance, we either get offensive or defensive, and simply try to win arguments. That wasn’t my goal. Though Lance and I disagree on many things right now, I didn’t want to argue, let alone win an argument. I simply wanted to win the opportunity for another conversation.

I’m a Co-Author

6 Things NOT to Look for in a Church Leader

How to Pick a Leader You’ll Live to Regret

6 Ways Good Leaders are Like Marshmallows

First, good leaders, like marshmallows, are tasty.

Second, good leaders bind together and are sticky.

Third, good leaders always rise to the top.

Fourth, good leaders are multifunctional.

Fifth, good leaders are often singed because they’re frequently near fire.

Sixth, when good leaders get in the fire, they actually get bigger.

I love my new job

I Like Lance a Lot

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