Whenever I post about my introversion, the introverts come out from behind their computer

I re-posted 7 Pitfalls of Being an Introverted Pastor and received numerous Twitter messages from like-wired pastors.

I also received the following email:

Ron I read you article about the pitfalls of Being an Introverted Pastor. I can so see every point in myself and it is compounded by being the pastor of a small country church who thrives on personal relationships. The aloof title has been attributed to me more than once since coming here. it is so bad I am questioning my calling as a senior pastor and wondering if I would not be better working as an associate behind the scenes. Do you have any advice for a struggling fellow introvert?

Pastor ________

(I asked permission to share the email, but obviously withheld the name.)

Here is my reply:

You might read this post: 7 Ways I Work with Introversion to Protect My Ministry. Basically, I think you have to pray, suck it up, and put your extrovert on each Sunday. I know that’s hard advice, but it was given to me by a dear, wise deacon early in my ministry and I’ve been using it ever since.

I wouldn’t negate your calling because of your wiring. God didn’t let Gideon or Moses have that excuse. That one would be too easy!

By the way, I may use your email (without your name) as another blog post on this topic, since it’s such a popular theme. We don’t struggle alone.

Ron

Dear Introverted pastor! (Or dear whatever your personal struggle that keeps you from feeling completely qualified to be a pastor pastor),

Don’t allow your personality or any other weakness to keep you from doing what God has called you to do. Where you are weakest, God’s glory can shine brightest in your life.

Be honest. What’s one weakness that keeps you knowing you need God’s strength to overcome?

We launched a new series at Grace Community Church this week called “All In“. This year, we want to give God access to every part of our life. In this message, I addressed the issue of our minds.

Are you worried about many things?

How can you stop worrying?

Maybe Paul has an answer for us.

Think About These Things from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo.

How effective are the friendships in your life?

One measure of an effective friendship, in my opinion, is that the people in your life are becoming more like Jesus, partly because of their friendship with you.

“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 Do you have friendships that sharpen your relationship with Christ?

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Follow me, as I follow the example of Christ“. Could you say that to your friends? Could they say that to you?

Here’s one measure of an effective friendship: At the end of a year together as friends, could either of you say your life is more like Christ than before the year began, because of that friendship?

I know. Hard question, right? The encouragement in this post is to:

• Consider your friendships closely
• Examine the purpose of those friendships
• Bring some intentionality into your friendships
• Together, encourage each other to be more like Christ

Let’s make better friendships.

• You could do a Bible study together
• You could change the focus of your conversations
• You could hold each other accountable
• You could pray for and with one another

Do you have friendships in your life that help you in your walk with Christ?

I don’t write many strictly business posts these days, even though I spent more than 20 years in that world. This article caught my attention though:

Bonds outperform stocks

(Click on the title to read the article. Basically, bonds are now outpacing stocks on a 30-year average return.)

I can’t help but believe this isn’t great news for a capitalistic economy. In a very simplistic view, stocks are based more on the assumption of risk. Bonds are based more on the assumption of security. When a capitalistic economy stops taking risks, it’s ceasing to live up to what it was designed to do. (I realize many times investors are looking for options other than stocks, but it doesn’t negate my point about a capitalistic society.)

What difference does all this make in terms of my calling now…as a pastor?

Well, I think the same is true for me (and those with similar callings). I see too many people in positions of leadership in the church who become comfortable and resist walking by faith.

When we stop taking the risks involved in fully surrendering to God’s will…when we become complacent or satisfied…we cease to live up to what we’ve been designed to do.

Is God placing something on your heart?

God calls us to things which require personal risk. Following God requires great faith, even more so the longer we follow Him. People don’t always agree when you step into “God-following” territory. It may even appear at times we are going to fail, at least in the short run. God callings often take years to see returns from the investment. Don’t settle for what appears secure at the time. It never really is!

If God says “Go”, do so in spite of your fears!

Be honest pastor,have you been settling for what’s comfortable these days?

Also, do you have an interest in business or politics, in addition to your God-calling? (Please don’t leave me alone here.)

In school, you may not have been too happy with the grade of D. There was that one time in a college marketing class when I was proud of an earned D (that’s a long story), but most of the time, we want to do better.

Maybe we’ve given D a bad name sometimes…especially when it comes to leadership.

Here are 8 D’s of good leadership:

Demand – There should be some non-negotiables when we talk in terms of good leadership. Leaders need to excel in issues of such as moral excellence, responsiveness and character. (Read 7 Non-Negotiable Traits to Work on My Team)

Deliver – You need to show up as a leader. Good leaders follow through on their commitments and can be depended upon to do what they say they will do. Leaders lead so others can follow by example. (Read: The Leader Sets the Bar)

Direct – Good leaders guide and shape the path of the organization. Leaders need to clearly communicate expectations and continually follow up to ensure the organization stays on track. (Read 4 Tasks of the Senior Pastor/CEO)

Divert – Good leaders aren’t in a position to seek all the admiration for themselves. Good leaders consistently point to the successes of others on the team, and ultimately give all the recognition for any success to God. (Read Sign of a Great Leader, The Humility to Say “I’m Not the One”)

Discuss – Good leaders keep an open dialogue with the people they lead. A leader who wants to be valued by a team allows his or her leadership to be vulnerable, questioned and challenged. (Read 7 Ways to Hear “I Have a Problem with You Leader”)

Develop – Good leaders empower others and are always recruiting and developing new leaders. (Read 4 Benefits of Empowering Leaders.)

Drive – Leaders push the organization to succeed. Good leaders are strategic. They push people and the organization to greater heights taking them places others wanted to go, but didn’t know how to get there. (Read Leaders Encourage Their Team to Victory)

Decided – Regardless of what comes, good leaders stick to the God-given vision until He calls them elsewhere. (Read My Best Advice for Leaders When Things are Going Wrong)

Leader, earn your grade! Get a D in good leadership!

Be honest, which of these 8 do you most need to improve upon? (I’ll go first. My biggest weakness on the list is “Direct”. I need to better communicate expectations to my team.)

What did I miss? What words (starting with the letter D) should be on my list for good leadership? 

I’m not working the first week of the new year.

Well, actually I am working. I’m writing a message for Sunday, I’m replying to dozens of emails, texts and phone calls, I’m thinking, processing, and dreaming about the new year.

I’m not in the office. Normally on this week there would be dozens of meetings. I’d begin implementing the plans I dreamed of over the month of December. I am a “hit the ground running” kind of guy.

But, instead, I’m on a “retreat” with my youngest son Nate. And, I’ll admit, it’s fun!

I’m at Passion Conference, a gathering of 44,000 mostly 18 to 25 year olds whose primary purpose is worshipping Jesus!

And, I’m not disappointed. I actually hope this is representative of my year.

I realize some would need no encouragement to do something like this to start the year, but you see, I don’t sit still very well. I’m more of a doer than a be…er. (Couldn’t find a way to write that word without you thinking it was an alcoholic beverage.) I struggle to rest in Christ. I’m more like Martha than I am like Mary. (Luke 10:38-42) I’d rather be doing something for Christ. Worship, as much as I want my life defined by it, is often pushed to the side for other, more “tangible” projects. (Sorry, just being honest.)

This year:

• I want my life defined more by devotion than by duty.
• I want to meditate on God’s Word as much as I study or even teach God’s Word.
• I want to praise more than I produce.

So, while this may seem like an unproductive start to the new year, I hope it’s the beginning of my most productive year ever. Hopefully, the older I get, the better I’m defining productivity.

How about you? Are you more like Martha or Mary?

Leadership is defined more by what you lead through than what you lead around.

One thing I’ve observed with many pastors and ministry leaders is that they allow their God-given vision to be controlled by the negative voices of others. They may know where God wants them to lead the people He has entrusted to their care, but as soon as negativity or push back comes, instead of plowing through by faith, they retreat, they settle, or they compromise.

Should this ever be the case? I’m not suggesting we don’t get wise counsel or that we act flippantly to others when they have something to share (I’ve posted numerous times how and why I listen to criticism), but when in Scriptures did it turn out well when men and women acted contrary to the call of God upon their life?

Be assured, when you step out in faith, you’ll hear voices rise against you. People, usually a minority, will try to dissuade you. Everything you’ve ever done worthwhile caused someone to complain. You can bet on some dissension if it’s truly of God.

Here’s my personal counsel:

• Make sure you know what God has called you to do.
• Surround yourself with a few people who believe in you and your calling.
• Don’t define a win in your ministry by how many negative voices you can avoid.
• Move forward.

Be honest, have you ever wavered in your God-given calling because of negative pressure?

You may want to read: 7 Ways to Tell if Something is a God-Thing

My 2 favorite poems by Ann Weems:

Yesterday’s Pain

In the godforsaken, obscene quicksand of life,
there is a deafening alleluia
rising from the souls of those who weep,
and of those who weep with those who weep.
If you watch, you will see
the hand of God
putting the stars back in their skies
one by one
Yesterday’s Pain
Some of us walk in Advent
tethered to our unresolved yesterdays
the pain still stabbing
the hurt still throbbing.
It’s not that we don’t know better;
it’s just that we can’t stand up anymore by ourselves.
On the way of Bethlehem, will you give us a hand?

Not celebrate?

Your burden is too great to bear?
Your loneliness is intensified during this Christmas season?
Your tears have no end?

Not celebrate?

You should lead the celebration!
You should run through the streets
to ring the bells and sing the loudest!
You should fling the tinsel on the tree,
and open your house to your neighbors, and call them in to dance!
For it is you above all others who know the joy of Advent.
It is unto you that a Savior is born this day,
One who comes to lift your burden from your shoulders,
One who comes to wipe the tears from your eyes.
You are not alone,
for He is born this day to you.

Here’s is the final verse in a year of Scripture memorization.

This is a verse appropriate for this time of year…and worthy of placing in your memory.

Week 52 verse:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:14