What will God ask me when I get to heaven?

The purpose of my blog this afternoon, is to express my journey as a leader in developing how I express my belief that when I get to heaven, God will ask how good a husband and father I was (as well as Son, Son in Law, Brother) before what kind of Salvation Army Officer I was. I want my leadership to be defined by the quality of my relationship with Lizzy, Katherine and Benjamin rather than them being defined by my Officership. As a result, I hope that in another ten years, Lizzy and I are still enjoying our marriage and our children love hanging out with their parents.

This year, Lizzy and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. We can honestly say that they have been “good years” if not always easy. We both have demanding and fulfilling vocations that requires time and energy to enable us to succeed. The biggest tension that exists is between these vocations and the quality time we desire for us as a couple and as a family with Katherine and Benjamin. Over these past 10 years, I feel confident that throughout these years I have developed a weekly rhythm that is a blessing to God first and foremost and then to me, my family and the people I lead.

However, I would like to be clear that there have been moments when my diary did not reflect the priority that my family should have taken. On occasions, my time was spent in church, doing many church activities. My main motivation being: fear of failure, people thinking I didn’t do any work (apart from Sunday’s) and a belief that my value as a leader was measured by what I did rather than who I am. It would be fair to say that I proclaimed the importance of prioritising family but did not always projected it through how I choose to use my time. Even though we never argued about it, I know there were moments I let down Lizzy because of the time I spent doing Church stuff rather than investing in our relationship. There were days I chose church over her, often for the reasons already outlined.

So what’s changed!

As mentioned, I have discovered that my leadership is not judged simply by what I do but what by the kind of leader I am. Over the past few years especially, I have become increasing aware of my desire to not please people or to get their approval for what I do but develop a passion to being a leader whose character, even when making tough decisions, stands up to questioning. I have been a lot more intentional about what choices I make regarding my time. For example, I am very protective about my day off (Usually Saturday) so that we can focus on doing family stuff (days out, extended family up to stay and generally having fun). Of course this is not also possible, so I make sure that I take time out at another point. I try, as much as possible, to be at home between the hours of 5 and 7. Obviously, with 2 little ones this is the stress point of the day. By being around in these moments I can ensure I do the tricky and tense bits of parenting that Lizzy has to do more often than I.

Overall, it has been my attitude that has changed most of all. What I believe must be born out in the choices I make. I still have much to improve and hope I will be brave enough to do so, so that I can answer God with integrity that my wife, children, extended family and friends have been valued and loved by the choices I made.

Matt

I don't do any work!

Over the past few weeks I have been considering how to explain and communicate to Katherine what I do when I leave the house in the morning. The obvious thing is to tell her is that I am going to work. Yet , I don't consider being a Salvation Army Officer (Church Leader) as a job or work. It is very much the vehicle for a calling and vocation rather than the thing I do to pay the bills, support my family, using my qualifications or pass the time of day. I consider it a joy that I am free to serve God in this way and never take it for granted. It is not so much a job but a way of life, seeking to help, support and lead others deepen thier faith and then sharing it so people may discover a loving God for themselves.

So how can I communicate all that to my family and other people without having to make a long drawn out statement or explanation. The reality is that I have to do tasks (admin, accounts, risk assessments, supervisions, meetings etc) within my week which would be considered as "work" in other organisations. The question is: How can I concisely express my calling in a way that can reflect what I do with my time but also the reason why I do it? 

In doing so, I want to express the sense of calling upon my life to serve God through the Salvation Army. The idea of call is possibly alien to some but is at the heart of anyone who proclaims faith. What I do should always be a reflection of my faith and relationship with God. As a result, my role as an Officer is because I am called to do so not because I think its a good idea or will make me a better Christian/follower. Jesus called people well before they were caperble of fulfiling the tasks at hand. His call was not founded on what the various people could bring to his team but because they were willing to follow regardless of the cost. In the same way I am called not because of what I can (or can't) do but because of who I am and so as a result my role as an SA Officer is not something I chose to do but where my obedience has taken me. I want to share the seriousness I take in ensureing that my calling isn't simply wrapped up in what I do but why I do it. Having been called I need to maintain a clear appreciation for what should motivated me as I serve in this way.

One of the barriers to communicating this clearly is that of the languge used. I mentioned the words "work" and "Job" at the top of the blog, are open to interuptation and not effective in describing the heart of the role I have or caling I a commtted too. But, I am also aware that I need to find somehing that people, espically those without an undersatnding of calling, can quicky connect with. I have to tried to change the empashsis by saying to Katherine "I am going to the Office at church." However, this then also restricts my undersatnding that Church is never about buildings. 

Essentially, I feel no nearer to discovering a good word or way to express my role in conversations but I am certainly more concious of the signals and messages its sends to my family and friends as to where I invest my time.

Matt

P.S Next blog is on "My desrie to maintain and develop a healthy experinece of my caliing for my family"

Questions

‘If I had an hour to solve a problem, and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes’ (Albert Einstein).

My observation is that we are conditioned to talk first and think second. How many leaders have you witnessed, when asked a question, say nothing or reply by saying "let me go away and think about it!" As a leader there is a great pressure to come up with an instant answer regardless of whether it is right or wrong. We assume that by giving a response quickly we are a better or more effective  leader. As someone that likes talking and the sound of his own voice, it's comes as no problem for me to want to answer all questions quickly and with accuracy.

However, recently I have been trying to reverse my instinct and challenge how I communicate with those under my leadership. Maybe they have noticed, maybe not, but what has become apparent is that I say to much and not enough time thinking, praying and discerning answers that may lie beyond my initial reaction. For example in my mentoring sessions, I am very conscious that I have become less scared of silence. Just because nothing is being spoken doesn't mean nothing is being thought through. I still struggle to refrain from filling the silent void with another question because I don't want my mentee to feel I have disengaged or not a good enough mentor that can come up with another question. I am learning the importance of asking good questions that get to the heart of the matter rather than average questions that simple skim the surface. One question should be all that is required to allow others to process their inner thoughts and feelings.

Einstein's quote has also challenged me to think again about something I need to develop. Preparation. By nature, I love improvising (making it up as I go along) and have the spiritual gift of "blagging."  I can confess that my preparation has not always been sufficient or effective but just about good enough to get me by. However, this is not good enough for God and the people I lead. In recent months, I have made an effort and choice to use my time more wisely in preparing for worship, team meetings and other events. For example, I am doing a speaking engagement tomorrow (Wednesday) and all my prep was done by last Friday. This now gives me the flexibility to edit and refine my thoughts, powerpoint and take time to pray for those who will be its recipients. Also, in recent weeks have I have tried to prepare worship by Wednesday or Thursday so that I can ensure I have time to make changes and be more confident in my message and hope for it. This has also meant that I am thinking about the coming Sunday from the commencement of the week which means I have come up with more creative, fun and helpful illustrations that if I had left my preparation to Friday which has often increased the pressure to come up with the ideas. Often these have not been adequate but not brilliant or possible even that helpful.

Doing the preparation doesn't restrict my nature for spontaneity or flexibility but provides a firm foundation to work from that can only provide a better outcome or impact for those I lead.

How do you spend your hour?

Matt

Will the real Benjamin Mark please stand up!

Our little boy Ben has had a difficult start to his life. He had bronchiolitis at 10 days old, awful Colic until he was 12/13 weeks and then contracted Chicken Pox from his sister at 14 weeks. To say its been hard work is an understatement. He has been terribly unsettled, not sleeping, no visible routine and often very unhappy. Until 2 weeks ago, when he decide that it was time to reveal his real character to us. His Colic has gone, spots fading and he has discovered that sleeping in the evening is good for him and his mum and dad. Although, I am delighted with a peaceful evening and 5 hours undisturbed sleep, I am even more excited to finally see what Benjamin is really like. It has felt to us like we haven't really seen the best of his fledging character and personality because of the issues I described earlier. Now we have a much more contented, happy and smiley little boy (and more awake parents).

The reason for this post is to remind me that I need to be the real me, I need to be the person God wants me to be and has created me to be. It is often easy to be burdened by the external pressures of life such as money, illness, family circricumstance, failure or dissatisfaction with our jobs. These, and other issues, can begin to define who we are, which is not a helpful or joyful road to travel down. But how do we define the me God has created us to be? How do we cultivate a character that reflects the deepest unseen reality within the creation God has made. I believe that God never makes mistakes and as a result there is no such thing as normal. We are all unique beings, created for unique purposes with individual skills and gifts. It wasn't luck that we were created this way but by a creative a god with the greatest imagination ever.

Who are you?

You are unique! No one is like you!

You are just the way God created you. The difficult bit is accepting and realising that it is us that mucks it up through the choices we make, attitudes we harbour and situations we deal with poorly. This is one of the great struggles humanity faces. Knowing who we are and who we are not will define how we act, how we live and what we value. This is a long process and requires honesty and courage. Often we have to acknowledge who we have become before we accept who God made us to be. One of the lies that has had a hold on me, for what ever reason, is that I am not intelligent. Academically, I have little to show to disprove this but I have begun to realise that I am brighter than I had thought and maybe others had given me credit for. I remember my school report saying "if Matt engaged brain instead of mouth would be a very bright student!" Although I did talk to much, maybe that phrase made me believe that talking was the only thing I excelled at and achieved during my school years? It is only now that I have discovered some confidence in academic study and even considering doing a degree or such like.

I don't believe I am called to be a professor but I am called to make the most of the person God has created. Only I can hold that back and only God, through his forgiveness and Holy Spirit, can release it.

I want to be the "me" God created me to be.

Matt

Hope.

Having seen the miserable and disgusting actions of Luis Suarez we can be left feeling a bit frustrated and disillusioned with the world. But here are some thoughts to revive your hope in our amazing world with some great people!

 

This time last year, I witnessed something incredible. Lizzy (my lovely wife) running and completing the London Marathon. She is a self confessed non-runner but was determined to accomplish this race in memory of our best friend Mark Versey, who died in 2011. Despite her uneventful sporting history, I was in little doubt that she would finish because she is very determined and, because of the cause, highly motivated to run and finish 26.3 miles. It was one of the most emotional things she has done and I have witnessed. She gave everything to her training (even when she twisted her ankle) and ran whilst 4 weeks pregnant with Benjamin Mark. Her achievement is even more amazing because of the £3500 she raise for the British Heart foundation. I am so proud of her achievement and her determination to raise money even though it is probably the last thing she would ever want to do. Out of sorrow came hope.

 

Having watched, and followed other friends running it this year, I am moved and filled with hope. With the sadness of the Boston Marathon as the backdrop, runners of all abilities and motivation set out on one of the greatest sporting events in front of 700,000 committed and defiant supporters. Having run the race in 2010 I know the feeling at the start when you realise that you are not alone in what you are about to embark upon. There is no great feeling of a stranger shouting out you name and cheering "keep going, you can do it." Even though the sorrow of Boston and  the emotional reasons people enter and run the London Marathon, it is an example of humanity at it's finest, its most communal and its most hopeful.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22236946 - London Marathon Silence

 

Well done to all who ran and finished the Marathon this year. However, you don't have to run the London Marathon to bring hope into the world. In fact, our everyday provide opportunities to bring a little bit of hope. The link below is a bit about a great example of giving Hope. Charlotte Staunton is a 5 Handicap Golfer and University who volunteers to teach Golf in Schools.

 

http://www1.skysports.com/golf/news/12040/8649078/Get-Involved-meets-golfing-local-hero-Charlotte-Staunton-on-Saturday

 

Here is a link to Ambassadors in Sport's Hope FC.

http://www.ais-uk.org/hope_fc.htm

 

Hope is here. Let others know it is!

Matt

Question Time.

I mentioned in a previous blog about how in leadership you need to ask good questions to get the best out of yourself and the people around you. In this blog I want to explore a little more about the purpose and potential this attitude (it is all about wanting to learn rather than simply finding a solution) of asking good questions can impact a leaders effectiveness. This is an area I still find difficult but have developed more in the last few years. I constantly have to ask myself "have I asked enough good questions today."

The first thing to set straight is to dispel the myth that everyone hates having to answer difficult questions! This was how I once thought but now realise that people can handle difficult questions and consequently change, if the right questions are asked in the right way. Many people think that if you question someone about their effectiveness you are telling them they are not very good at their job despite your motives being honourable. So what how can we achieve the best outcomes when tackling difficult issues with people.

For example: You want to find out why a task has not been consistently being fulfilled by a staff member. The most effective way to challenge as to "why" a job or task hasn't been done is to try and discover what factors are hindering them in achieving there goal. Just by simply wanting finding out why something hasn't been done may not mean that it doesn't happen again in the future. You need to ask questions that help people discover answers and solutions. Questions such as: What 3 things hinder you carrying out your role? What changes do you need to make to improve your effectiveness?

In the church we seem to want to avoid difficult questions and conflict at all cost so that we don't have to deal with the stuff that may result. This however is not honour to the church, the members or indeed God. Jesus is often found to be asking question of his closest friends not to catch them out or to embarrass them but to draw out there own believes and characters. This is the job of a leader and one Jesus does brilliantly in order to prepare the disciples for there challenge. Develop the church for the mission of God.

The second thing to be reminded of is that question nothing is not an option. In my experience asking the wrong questions or doing it in the wrong way is far better than just going with the norm. Apathy is one of the most dangerous places a church can find itself. For it is an apathetic church that will die slowly but surely. It is through questioning, especially good questions, where God can reveal and revive a otherwise stationary congregation. From the prospective of the leader by asking questions you give others the opportunity to answer (from their prospective) and opinions shared. Once you begin to ask good questions, there is not going back and change is already afoot.

Go on, ask the questions but be ready to hear the answers.

Matt

I need some ideas!

Being a dad has its blessing but Children's TV is not one of them. However, whilst watching Bob the Builder I found myself pondering a issue which I think is at the heart of successful leadership and in my context, Church Growth.

"It's not about who has the ideas, it's about working in a team that is what's important." Bob the Builder.

It is easy as a leader to assume that you know best or have all the answers to all problems that may occur. Often this is manifested that if your team, church or people you line manage who may have a problem. They always come to you for help. This of course is a reality in leadership and management that should not be taken lightly or responsibility neglected. But there are reasons not to resolve all the problems yourself or be the one who has all the ideas. Not matter how good the leader, team work is and will always be the key component in success.

Essential, I have grown to understand and hopefully put into practice that leadership is best exercised in community. In the past I have often felt the pressure to come up with all the ideas or have all the solutions. If I am honest, I have quiet enjoyed it. But the more I discover about leadership, the more I realise I can't do it alone, and neither do I want to.

Despite the clear purpose and benefits to leading in community there will be some tensions that raise their head. Here are a few to watch out for:

Not pulling our weight - if you lead with more people, there maybe some that as the Leader you are doing less or simply delegating the Jobs you hate on to others. It is important that you evaluate the jobs/roles people play in your team to ensure this doesn't happen. The questions we need to ask are; Am I the best person for this task/role? Then ask; Am I the right person?

Loss of Authority - It can appear that as you lead more with others you lose your authority as the leader. It is my observation that spiritual authority is developed in relationship with others rather than simply using your position as your authority. This can be highlight in autocratic organisations where often people are appointed because of the length of service, rank or title, or career pathway rather than gift, skills, character or passions.

Out of control - It can often happen that when you lead with others, you don't always know what is going on or what is about to happen. For any leaders this is a scary place to be but I have seen that when you keep out the way people produce their best because they know that you trust them. On Good Friday, Luke and Abi arrange a prayer room for our church to reflect on. The only thing they asked me to do a Bible reflection. Funnily enough, I don't think anyone used it as there were so many excellent resources they had prepared.

Ephesians 4 v 16 - As each part does it's own special work, it helps the other parts to grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

My desire is to see a church where the leaders are brave enough to not always lead and wise enough to know who should.

Matt