Mike Henderson

Don't Just Be Busy, Be Productive

I'm sure you have heard of people running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.  I have no picture of that, but I have killed chickens, and it is hilarious to watch them run around after their head is cut off. Eventually, they flop over. That's how many of us live our lives on a daily basis.  We run around all day, and then flop over exhausted in the evening.  

Think about it. Out of the eighty three things I did yesterday only five are absolutely necessary. Yes, it is true too often. We are busy, but often busy doing things that don't matter.  And it leaves us exhausted at day's end.

Jesus was never busy, never in a hurrry.  Right.  You and I are not Jesus.  But I bet each of know and can identify the things that really matter.

Here are my big five.  Number 21 or 37 on my list of things probably doesn't matter.  These five do.

1. Prayer.  I cannot expect to survive and thrive apart from prayer.  We kid ourselves if we think we can do life apart from God and His divine help.  Also under prayer I would include any of the spiritual disciplines like fasting, giving, Bible reading, solitude, etc.

2. Preparation. For me this is the time I spend preparing messages.  This includes reading, listening to other speakers, and searching the Bible for timeless principles to share.

3. Preaching.  The actual delivery of the message is huge.  I learned a long time ago that a great delivery void of good content is well received, and a bad delivery with good content is not well received. I try to have good content, but I know I cannot overlook the delivery.

4. People.  Ministry is about people, so I carve time out for people.  I may meet two days one week and six days the following week with people.  The point is people are important.

5. Personal.  This is somewhat of a catch all.  This category includes things like time with Carol.  If my marriage is suffering then my life and ministry are going to suffer as well.  There is no way I can afford to overlook this. Also, I connect with my kids regularly.  I may text Heather, talk with Rachel, text and talk with Savannah, have a long discussion with Adam, and play golf with Gabe.  And I must get regular exercise. For me this includes playing full court basketball with younger guys, push mowing part of the lawn, hiking with Carol, and lifting weights.

Go ahead, identify and list your five or six things.  Get those done and when you lay your head down tonight you will be more satisfied and feel more productive.

 

Doesn't God Care?

When I was about three or four years old my mother took all four (four at the time) of the kids with her to the store.  The only problem was that when she left, she left me standing on the sidewalk.

Now that was in the day when you could leave your child alone and he would be perfectly safe.  At any rate, she soon realized that she had left one. Hey, remembering three out of four is not bad, unless it is you who is left behind.

When she arrived back on the crime scene, there I was crying.  I was so young I do not recall the incident, however I am sure it accounts for some of my behavorial idosyncrasies today.

Let's fast forward to adulthood.  We still don't want to be left behind or left out.  There was a time in Israel's history when they thought God had forgotten about them.  

In fact, the pain was so great that in the 80th Psalm the Psalmist repeated himself three times (verse 3 is repeated times).

Psalm 80:1-3 

¹ Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock.
O God, enthroned above the cherubim,
    display your radiant glory
²     to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Show us your mighty power.
    Come to rescue us!

³ Turn us again to yourself, O God.
    Make your face shine down upon us.
    Only then will we be saved.

The historical context in not certain.

Perhaps Israel is about to be invaded by the Assyrian army, or it may be in the past. Either way Israel was in trouble.  And as human nature is they felt forgotten and abandoned by God.  

Well, that is exactly what Israel is praying.  In fact, verse 3 is repeated three times in the Psalm.  Three times!  This is an impassioned plea for God's attention.

As I stood crying on the sidewalk, I suppose that was my way of saying, "Mom, please turn around and rescue me.  And when you are in trouble you will repeatedly ask God to turn around, smile with favor upon you, and rescue you from your trouble.

Yes, you will feel abandoned at times.  But just because you cannot see God does not mean He does not care.  He'll show up.  Just keep looking.

Don't Miss God's Power and Presence

 

Things Go Better 'Without' God

Actually that's not true, but we act like it is true.  When I was a kid I used to always take the onions off of a McDonald's cheeseburger.  In my mind, it was better without the onions.  

Even today, when Carol makes an incredible fresh salad, she loves to put lots of fresh onion slices on top. Lots. I have nothing against onions today, but I do have a problem with lots at one time.  Actually I prefer to reduce the amount so that I can avoid the strong taste of onions.

Sometimes that's the way we treat God.  We either take Him totally out of the picture or reduce Him so much that He can't make a difference.

Let me list two ways we do this.

1. We fail to search the Scriptures and see what God has to say.  Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

2. We seek the wisdom of others and neglect going to the Lord in prayer when our life spins out of control.  King Asa did this very thing.  2 Chronicles 16:12 (NASV), "In the thirty-nineth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet.  His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians."  Amazing.  There is nothing wrong with going to the doctor, but why ignore God during a time of incredible pain, any kind of personal, physical, or emotional pain?

In both instances, reducing or ignoring God clearly does not lead to a better outcome. As for lots of fresh onions on a salad, Carol thinks the onions make it.  On the spiritual side, the Bible is clear, things go better when God is not reduced or completely left out.     

Go through life with God.  You'll be glad you did.  

Peyton Manning: How to Leave an Organization with Grace

Wow!  The day many thought would never come, came to pass today.  Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever in the NFL, is leaving the Colts.

Manning changed the football culture in the state of Indiana and particularly in Indianapolis.  His influence goes way beyond the football team itself.

Here are some thoughts from the press conference.  They are exemplary for anyone who is leaving an organization.

1. Loyalty-Peyton said he will always be a Colt.

2. Gratitude-he said Thank you several times.

3. Smiled-no sign of any anger.  Sad, but many times anger accompanies a departure.

4. Friendship-this event will not change the friendships that Peyton has developed.  Why is it, that firings, separations, and departures  are almost always taken personally?  Just a thought.

5. Respect-it goes both ways.  Both Peyton and the owner deeply respect each other.

6. Memories-neither are going to forget all the good times.

7. Appreciation-beyond a thank you, Peyton was incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to him by the Colts.

8. Humility-"you don't always get what you want." Peyton

9. Unselfishness-The fact is Manning was great.  He could have been selfish and many would have backed him up.  What a class act.

10. Passion-his passion is so great that he can't imagine retiring.  He wants to still be a quarterback.

11. Grace-without a doubt Peyton Manning is leaving the Colts with grace.  There is not even a hint of malice, anger, backbiting, or regret.

12. Legend-Peyton's actions, attitude, words, and time in a Colt uniform will leave forever positive memories for all Colt fans. 

As you can see, there is a right way to leave an organization.  With GRACE.

 

Encouragement: Antidote to a Quitter Culture

One of the inevitabilities of life and the ministry is that people will abandon you.  Not everyone will go the distance with you.

The fact is, we live in a quitter culture.  People walk away from their jobs, their spouses, their new year's resolutions, and their churches.

Near the end of the apostle Paul's ministry some of his coworkers abandoned him.  That absolutely amazes me.  Just the thought of being able to serve alongside Paul fires me up.  But people left him.  My guess is, based on typical human reasoning, they had "good reasons" for leaving Paul high and dry.  After all, they had "justifiable concerns" of Paul. 

Over the years I have followed some pastors with incredible ministries.  Men like Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, and Perry Noble.  Their stories are similar.  They have all had good friends and coworkers abandon them, and of course, all left for "good reasons."  In every case it was the pastor's fault.

So I'm sure it was the same for the apostle Paul.  

Perhaps those who abandoned Paul were concerned that his prison sentence showed that God was not in his minstry.

Whatever their reasoning they left.  But under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul in 2 Timothy 1:16 is asking God to greatly reward Onesiphorus who stood with him and encouraged him while he was lanquishing in prison.  "May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains..."

My guess is you will cross paths with someone this week who has been abandoned by someone.  They are feeling incredible loneliness.

Stay alert and take the time to step in and encourage.  You will be glad you did.  And God may just happen to shine on you, and even your family. 

 

Promoting From Within

One of the most common pitfalls in a church or any organization is elevating someone too soon.  As soon as a gap opens, we in leadership tend to grab the closest body.

However, Paul advised Timothy to "test people first"; that is, to give promising people a less-prominent task to start with.  Allow people to produce and demonstrate a great attitude and solid work ethic.

Naturally, some will balk at "washing feet"; that is, those who will not do well in leadership prefer to take the elevator straight to the top.  Taking the stairs is lonely.  Go to any multistory building, take the stairs, and you will likely not see anyone.  The crowds tend to take the elevator.

Oswald Sanders in his book "Spiritual Leadership" says, "The story of the church and its mission is filled with examples of failed leaders who were elevated too soon."

While many despise starting at a lower rung on the ladder, often that is the very thing that propels someone to the top.

Two final thoughts:

1. To the leader, help avoid the derailment of a young leader by not promoting too soon.

2. To the employee, relish the first step on the ladder.  Be thankful for the opportunity that has been given.

Why Worry?

Recently I received a phone call from a friend out of town regarding a job opportunity.  He had gone through an interview and really wanted this particular job.

Following the interview, guess what?  He had to wait.  Waiting turned into anxiety and worrying.

Now his question:

All I'm doing is sitting around worrying.  What do I do about that?

No doubt we all have our questions, our unanswerable questions.

What if I don't get the job?

Will my kids ever get on track?

Can my marriage survive?

Now let me be candid.  I would love to have the answers at my fingertips.  But if I did, I would most likely simply be blowing smoke.

I'm not sure why Moses had to herd sheep for forty years.

Why did God allow Daniel to be thrown into the lion's den because he faithfully prayed three times a day?

Life is filled with uncertainty and we don't always get the phone call we wanted.  Wouldn't we all like to have everything work out all the time?

Here is what we can do. This comes from one of Jesus' talks on worry.  Actually it seems like He is having a case of ADD.  In Matthew 6 verse 25 Jesus essentially tells us that we must trust in the providence of God.

And in the middle of His talk, He says, "Look at the birds..."  Sounds like something we would say when we get distracted.  But Jesus was not distracted.  He simply wants us to realize that if God is concerned about these small creatures how much more does He love and care for us.

The birds don't just fly around and expect food to magically appear in their nests.  They do their part.  But they are not worrying about their sustenance.

So how do we overcome our anxiety?  Simple, but not easy.

Accept that you have done all you can do.  You have gone through the interview.  You have prayed about the situation.  You took the necessary steps.

Believe that God has your best interests in mind.  Our desires are not always the best.

Commit it all to the Lord. 

With that said, does that mean the anxiety will leave?  Sometimes no, because we allow uncertainty to make us anxious.

Perhaps the best way to sum it up is like Jesus did.  "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)  Devotion to God is a prerequisite for the peace that we long for in the midst of uncertainty.

Put God first and you will have no reason to worry. 

Why worry when you can trust God?

 

 

 

 

Never Let Failure Be Your Undertaker

One final lesson from this week's Super Bowl.  The lesson comes from a favorite quote of mine from Zig Ziglar.  "Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker."

It seems unreasonable that some would consider the Patriot's season a failure simply because they lost the Super Bowl. 

But let's go along with that thinking.  So what?  Does that mean that Tom Brady will pack it in and give up on football?  Absolutely not!

The legendary coach, Vince Lombardy, after whom the Super Bowl trophy is named was an assistant coach at Fordham University at age 35.  After that he went to West Point where his coaching career endured two seasons where 43 out of 45 players were discharged by adminstrative order.  Finally, in his 40's he made it to the NFL.  Was he a failure up to that point?

In baseball, Hank Aaron, the home run king who beat Babe Ruth's record, struck out more than 99% of all other baseball players.

Now most would consider being a line coach at a small, unknown school somewhat of a failure.  Then at Army the circumstances certainly would not qualify for success in today's world. Even though the players were the ones out of line, typically the coach takes the rap at some point.  Neither would the strike out king be up for an award either.  Unless perhaps our definitions of success and failure begin with the wrong presuppositions.

People who succeed also fail, and fail often.  So how do they become a success? 

They persevere.  They stay in the game.  They get ready for the next season, the next game.  They keep practicing and keep learning from their mistakes.

But above all...

They never let failure become their undertaker!

 

Win or Lose; It's Rarely Just One Thing

The sports pundits will be out in full force all week.  Many, including Tome Brady's wife, will point to one thing.  Inability to count.  A dropped pass in the fourth quarter.  A safety on the Patriot's first play from scrimmage.

But did the Patriots lose because of one thing?

Here's the fascinating thing.  One more play in the Patriot's favor and all the talk would be the other way around.  What if someone had caught the hail mary in the end zone at the end of the game?  What if there had been no safety early in the game.  What if twelve men were not on the field on a critical play?

Go back even farther.  What if San Francisco's punt returner had not muffed a punt?  The Giants would not have even been in the Super Bowl.  Everyone is going to overanalyze to where it gets ridculous.

If it helps with the ratings so be it.

We could even step back and say, "Why didn't the Patriots have another receiver who could step in and help fill the gap with Gronkowski injured?"  Then we could say the coaches were at fault.

How many of you noticed the one misspelling at the beginning of this post?  Bothers you doesn't it?  Wow, he can't even spell Tom right!  In fact, for some of you that's all you can think about.  I guess it is just human nature to focus and obsess on a mistake.

I like what Belechick said.  He praised his team and admitted they came up short on winning the Super Bowl.  In a nutshell that's about it.  In any game you could have executed better.  It's not like the Giants played flawless.

In fact, think about this.  Which player made what could be called two bonehead plays?  I can't think of anyone except Bradshaw.  He fumbled early in the game and scored prematurely at the end of the game.  But who cares?  No one, because the Giants won.  Had the Giants lost that fumble would be the talk of the town and Bradshaw may not be able able to show his face in New York.

Bottom Line:  The Patriots did not lose because Wes Welker dropped a pass late in the fourth quarter. The guy was phenomenal all season with over 120 catches.  But he's not perfect and even the best will drop a ball at some point in the season.  Sure, you would rather not do it in front of the largest TV audience of all time, but no one and no game is flawless.

Let's just admit that it was a great game.  And do we really need a scapegoat?  The Giants did not win because of one thing, and the Patriots did not lose because of one thing.  Win or lose; it's rarely just one thing.