Blogger Book Study - Axiom [ak-see-uhm]

Hellooooo leaders, and welcome back to the Blogger Book Study. We are in our final book, an a great one it is. Yesterday Pastor Matt "the man" Miller took us through some real god stuff.
So here we GO......

65. Lead With All Diligence
Diligent leaders communicate the vision for change.
They commit personally to paying the high price of leadership.
They roll up their sleeves, release their best energies, and pursue the vision with everything they have.
When leaders do this, they become a flicker of light in the expanse of blackness that we are surrounded in.
Progress hinges on diligent leaders, God's preferred method for transforming the world.

66. To The Core of My Being
I just have to quote what Hybels says here. Its gold.
"What do you believe in, to the very core of your being? If a particular issue elicits a passing opinion but not your most passionate activism, if it raises your curiosity but doesn't rile you up enough to do something about it, if it pricks your consciousness but wouldn't prompt you to take a bullet, then it's not a core-of-my-being issue. But if it sets off a seismic shift in your inner person that you can feel from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, then you've bot a core-of-my-being issue on your hands." (WHAT....? that's crazy good)
What are the values or convictions that you feel to your toes?

67. Always Take The High Road
Provrebs 22:1 states that a good name is more desirable than great riches and that to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. But the only way to get that good name is by taking the road that most honors God, that most blesses people, and that leads to healthy and functional relationships long into the future.
When Hybels was the leaving his former church in the position of a youth leader. He agreed to write a resignation letter and read it before the congregation on his last Sunday. It included his frustrations, disappointments, and not-so-humble perspective on the church staff being incompetent. A week before giving the speech, and elder took him to lunch and Hybels shared what he would talk about on the letter. The elder told him take the high road, "Bless what you can bless. Thank everyone you can thank. Cheer on what is appropriate to cheer on. and be done with it.

68. Read All You Can
(I highly recommend that you read this axiom on your own time.)
Hybels addresses the issue that far to many leaders in high positions of responsibility neglect their need to read.
Romans 12:8 states that we are to "lead Diligently". Leaders have a responsibility before God to constantly get better, and one of the most reliable ways to do so is to read. Great leaders read frequently, viraciously. they read new releases. Soak up Military lessons, academia,politics, nongovernmental organizations, and from church leader who are leading well.
When you read you invite new info in to your subconscious mind.
If your a serious-minded leader, you will read. all that you can, when you feel like it, and when you don't. Because it will make you better.

69. Lead Something
Best way for leaders to get better is to lead something besides their "main thing".
Find a leadership opportunity that is complex, diverse, and consistent with your passions.
Its a form of cross training. Like weight lifting and running. When you use different muscles, you force your body to flex and develop in new ways.
Lead something besides your main thing. You will become a far more effective leader.

70. Arrive Early or Not At All
Promptness is about character, and leaders are not beyond the rules that govern things like courtesy and character.
There is no excuse for being late to a meeting. Any one can give a valid reason why they're running a bit behind. But it takes grace and relational intelligence to keep that reason at bay until you've first let the group members know that their feelings rank higher than your justification.

71. I'd Never Do This For Money
During some hard times in Hybels travels he found himself asking himself: "Why do I sign up for this?". Hybels recommends keeping in mind, and saying: "One thing is for sure: I would never do this for money!" It reminds him that God has called him to live that life.
1 Corinthians 15 Paul tells says that if there is no resurrection and no eternal rewards, then why don't we all just eat, drink, and be merry?

72. We Need Us All
Ministry can be a lot harder than building a business.
Paul knew this all to well. 2 Timothy 4:17 "the Lord stood at (his) side." During Paul's hard times God came near. God stood beside him. God carried him. God empowered him.
"Lean into the empowering presence of God and realize that you're not alone. Reach out to God, and he will reach out to you. He will encourage you. He will heal you up and set your feet back on course. He will rally other leaders to your side who will pray for you and walk with you."

Tomorrow we continue with the H (Heredes) man himself.