What's My Name?

I am a student of leadership.  The study of leadership and bettering myself so that I can in turn better others around me is a passion of mine.  One thing that is HAMMERED into your head in almost any basic leadership class is to use a person's name as much as possible.  Why?  Because people feel special when their name is used.  They recognize that to the one calling them by name, they are more than a number, a demographic, or an employee.  Names matter.

Any company that has survived years of building a brand around a name will tell you, names matter.  There is a lot riding on a name.  Reputations, lawsuits, promotions, guilt, and innocence can ride on a name.  One of the first responsibilities ever given to man by God after creation was naming the animals.  God gave Adam and Eve their names.  Your parents probably named most of you!  Names count.  They matter.  People, organizations, countries all respond to a name.

As I look through and read scripture, I see this fact drilled home as I see those whose names were changed after significant events in their lives.  Here's a short non-exhaustive list:
Jacob - Genesis 32:27-28
Paul - Acts 13:9
Abraham - Genesis 17:1-5
Gideon - Judges 6:31-32

Each of these men had something significant happen in their lives and their names were changed as a result.  And their new names reflected the events for which they would be known.

As a leader, when I'm coaching someone else, I've started doing something that I've seen a mentor of mine do with those whom he is helping to develop a God-centered vision for their lives.  I now have people write out their own obituary and their own epitaph.  Macabre?  Maybe a little.  But see, these two things are how those who come behind you who may not have known you or anything about your life will remember you.  They will look you up on the Internet, or they'll pass by your headstone in a graveyard somewhere, and there engraved in marble will be the one phrase summation of what you meant to the world while you were here.

Take a moment.  Try it.  Your obituary can be a little longer - a paragraph maybe.  Your epitaph, what will be written on your headstone, must be much shorter.  How do you want those who follow you to remember you?  What do you want said about your life in one simple phrase?  What difference do you want to have made when you breathe your last?

Gideon was the last name I listed above.  I recently did a study on the few chapters in Judges that record for us the life of Gideon.  There's not much there.  But what is, is powerful!  He was raised in a society that worshipped an idol named Baal.  There was an altar to Baal in Gideon's parents' home where he had grown up.  As a matter of fact, Gideon's first act of obedience to Jehovah God was to go to the home of his father and tear down the altar of Baal!  The verses above pick up right after this event.  We see the people calling for Gideon's life!  Yet the name that he ended up getting was one that meant "let Baal contend for himself."  Basically, "Baal Fighter."

In Revelation 2, we see the letter to the Church in Pergamum.  At the end of this brief letter, click on the reference link that follows and read what is written.  Revelation 2:17

Does this mean that all of us who claim the name of Christ, who have placed our faith and trust in Him as Savior, who devote our lives in the pursuit of holiness have received a "new name" that only we will understand?  I think it just might.

Those of you who know me personally call me, Kevin.  It is how I am known and the name to which I respond.  But I believe with all my heart that there is another name.  I believe it may even be the name referenced in Isaiah 43 (and surrounding chapters) when the scriptures continually remind us that God has "called you by name."  (Isaiah 43:1)  "I have called you by name and you are mine."  It tells of how when we are overcome by waters, we won't drown.  Or when we find ourselves in the fire, we won't be burned up.  We are HIS and He has a name for every one of us!

So if our names represent who we were while here on this earth, what great things we did for the cause of Christ, what do you want your name to be?  When you walk through the gates of heaven and you look your Savior in the face for the very first time, and He says, "Welcome home, _________."  FILL IN THE BLANK!  I'm afraid for so many of us, we may be trying to leave Jesus at a loss for words because we're not doing anything to earn a name greater than "Warmer of Many Seats!"  As a matter of fact, when I'm coaching people in the future, I may add this to the list of assignments.  Write out the name for which you want to be known by your Heavenly Father.

For me?  Messenger of Hope, or Hope Bringer.  That's not a very pretty name in English, but it really is how I want to be remembered!  Whatever my name is that is waiting for me, aside from seeing Jesus, it'll be the best moment of the beginning of my eternity... when I get to hear my name for the first time.  What's your name?

Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly.  I welcome your comments!  PLEASE leave one!!!  Here's how:
1.  Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2.  Write your comment in the box provided.
3.  You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list.  If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that.  Most of you should choose the  NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided.  You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4.  Click the PUBLISH button.  THAT'S IT!!!

THANK YOU for stopping by!  Till next time...

"They will act religious..."

As we were closing tonight, I was talking with a coworker about today's church.  We were speaking about the authenticity of the average modern day Christian.  Understand, we weren't passing judgement and stating that anyone wouldn't deserve heaven or anything of the sort!  It was simply a discussion on whether most of today's church-going Christians "get it."

I can already hear someone from the back row stating piously in his best religious tone, "Son, we're not going to 'get it' till we get to heaven one day and see God for all that He is in all His glory."  You know, you're right.  We won't.  But see, Jesus didn't come to tell us what we had to wait for so much as He came to redeem us to Himself and bring His kingdom to us so and establish His kingdom NOW!  I don't mean the environment of the place called heaven that we will occupy for eternity, but I speak of the relationship with/to the God of heaven, Jehovah.  In relationship TO God, means to be children OF God and therefore be WITH God in His kingdom.

Take a moment to read John 14:9-14 (NLT) (click on the scripture reference to the left and you will be directed to the passage).  Jesus says that if we have seen and know Him, we have seen and know the Father.  He also says that we will do "greater works" that what HE did!!!  He even ends that paragraph by telling us that we can ask for things in His name, and it will be granted to us!  Now please note that I don't believe that means asking for a Mercedes, unless somehow that car would glorify God and not YOU!  The "yes" to these asks come with a expectation that the affirmative answers bring glory to the Father.  How do we know what brings glory to Him?  We know Him.  How do we know Him?  According to John14, we get to know His Son, Jesus.  We get to know Jesus by surrendering our lives to Him, believing in His work on the cross to take our place for our sin.  When we do that, we are adopted into the family (kingdom) now, and immediately become heirs to the throne of, and friends with God, and brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ.  Jesus said that all that His Father has given Him, He gives to us.  God's kingdom - here and now.

Let's read one more passage (you can click on this reference too to be taken directly to it) and then we will get straight to the point.  Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5.  Pay close attention to verse 5.  All through this passage, Paul is talking about church-going people!  He's not talking about the crowds that we're needing to tell about Jesus, he's talking about the ones who should know better!  Me and you!!!  Look around you.  Close your eyes and imagine you are where you normally sit on Sunday (yes, I know you have "your seat" in church).  See those people around you in your mind.  You think they "get it?" Do YOU?!?  Are we living lives of authenticity?

Let's look at some of the works that Jesus did: healed the sick, made the lame to walk, made the blind to see, brought back Lazarus from the dead, fed 5,000 men and their families from a few fish and a couple loaves of bread, calmed stormy seas, walked on water, and the list goes on.  Now Jesus said that we would do even greater works than HE!  What have you done?  Made the toast without burning it?  Got the kids to soccer only ten minutes late this time rather than the normal fifteen?  Fixed the broken windshield wiper on your own?  NOW go back and read 2 Timothy 3:5.  What if we were so busy with verses 2-4, that we ended up like verse 5?  The great toast, the lack of tardiness, the working wiper while all good, mean nothing to eternity!  God takes more care of us than just providing a close parking space at Walmart!!!  There is POWER given to us!!!

I don't believe that it will be long till Jesus returns.  And when He does, I think there are going to be many of us Christians who look at Him and say, "Whoa! Preacher wasn't kiddin'!"  We will be caught off guard at the fact that being godly is more than a good idea or a mantra by which to live.  The Bible, Jesus, our Heavenly Father - are all more than a good idea!!!  They are REAL!  Yet we treat it like we've joined a fraternity or a sorority, learned the secret handshake, the code words, the key gestures, and now we're part of the club!  All that religious hokey pokey stuff will work it's way out, we just want to go to heaven and be a part of something and this is an easy one to join!  We use the stuff we've learned when appropriate, but never tap into the full power that lives inside of us.  We are living 2 Timothy 3:5!!!

Then on top of all that, we spend so much effort every four years trying to push for the "right man" in the White House.  BTW, if you're just joining us, "right man" means Christian man.  It's Christianese.  But can I actually get someone out there to agree that the Christian one isn't always the best LEADER?!?  We need BOTH.  We need a Christian who is also a good leader.  Not one or the other!  Yet seemingly we need that person (President) to blame when things don't go as they should.  "Well, if the 'right man' had been elected, it wouldn't have been like this!"  Can I just throw the BS flag right there?!?  I firmly believe that Jesus isn't as concerned with having a Godly leader in the White House as he is having a Godly leader in YOUR house!!!  Let's stop blaming others for our lack of faith and courage!!!  If it's not the President, it's someBODY or someTHING else!  The real reason that things are the way they are looks back at you with a haunting stare every time you face a mirror.  The church hasn't been the Church for years now!

I believe God is looking for His children to RISE UP!  We wear HIS name!  We are HIS people!  We carry HIS power, HIS love, HIS salvation, HIS hope to a hopeless world.  Let's quit GOING to church and let's BE the church.  Let's no longer deny the power of the God whom we declare we believe in and worship.  Our enemy is playing for keeps!  It's real!!!  Let's get real ourselves.

I'm going to pray here.  Feel free to make this prayer your own.

Jesus, I'm sorry for making Christianity more of a good idea than a reality.  I'm sorry for not acting like the child you chose to make a part of Your eternity by sending your Son to die in my place.  Prompt me with the Holy Spirit to act when I should act, listen when I should listen, and fill me with wisdom for every decision I make every day I live, starting right now.  Empower me and help me to act in that power with FULL FAITH!!!  Knowing that Your promises are true and that whatever I ask in Your name, if I am in line with Your will, it will be given to me so that You alone may receive glory!  Thank you for Your forgiveness and Your promises.  In Jesus' name, amen.

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Who's the Leader?

The loudest voice, or even the one with the title, isn't always the leader in the room. But look around. The one around whom everyone else is gathered IS!!!

See, leaders are influencers. REAL ones!!! Some SAY they are an influencer, but unless there are those who have been influenced by them, they are disillusioned. John Maxwell says, "Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less."

People are drawn to influencers. They are magnetic in some way. Most of them make you feel better about yourself. They have a way of motivating you to do better, be better, perform better.

People are drawn to them because morale is raised when the influencer walks in the room. There is a sense of "everything is going to be ok now that he/she is here." Situations seem more in control. And when things seem to be spinning out of control, the influencer is the one that others go to for advice.

Now that we have a picture of an influencer, what do teams look to their leaders to provide? Vision? Solutions? Control? Motivation? Instruction? Encouragement? What if the one with the leadership title isn't the influencer? Who do you think the team will turn to for guidance? The "leader," or the influencer?

There's an old proverb that says, "He who thinks he is leading when nobody is following is but taking a long walk!" If the "leader" and the influencer are not the same person, the "leader" falls into the category of this proverb! They are merely fooling themselves. Just as water seeks it's own level, your team will seek the influencer. And if you have the title, but not the influence, you've just lost your job whether or not you admit it. You will need other influencers on your team, but YOU had better be the influencer that your influencers seek. If this is true about you, you are the leader.