9
December

Next Generation Leader

“Progress requires change. If an organization, ministry, business, or a relationship is gong to make progress, it must change. That is, over time it must evolve into something different. It must become better, more relevant, more disciplined, better aligned, more strategic.

But organizations, like people, resist change…..Organizations seek equilibrium. People in organizations seek stability. Both can be deterrents to progress because progress requires change and change is viewed as the antithesis of stability.”

- Andy Stanley Next Generation Leader.

Amen, Amen, Amen….thats a threefold Amen Old School style to say, wow. In a chapter dedicated to courage, and leadership willing to rock the boat to force some change, It is good for me to be reading this.

“Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage assumes fear. If we had waited for our fear to subside before we took that first plunge off the high-dive, we would all still be standing there waiting. We jumped anyway. Courage is the willingness to strap on your fear and move ahead.”

- Andy Stanley…same freaking book, awesome!

Bold people have courage and make the tough decisions in the face of harsh criticism because they see that change breed progress, and have the vision to see ahead. God calls us not to have fear and trust in him. Often we have the same short-sightedness and seek equilibrium and God rocks the boat, forcing us to get out, and trust him.

“Do Not Fear, for I am with you; do not be anxious look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:10)

Tags Posted under Previous Posts by duncan
  • georgefarrell
    Two philosophers were discussing the matter of change one day. One said "For everything you do, there is a growth period, then there is stability for a time. Eventually, though, there is decay. Everything, every idea, everyone decays, it is the natural progression of life."

    The second philosopher said, "I disagree with your assumption. I believe for every idea, for everyone, and for everything, you are either in a state of growth or you are in a state of decay. I believe that you cannot achieve stability because in this life, in your relationships, in your beliefs, and in the things you accomplish, it is either growing when you are actively working on it, or it is decaying which is the natural progression of this world we live in since Adam and Eve sinned.

    "There is a builder, he has a plan to build a magnificent building, so he draws it out on paper. Then he gets the finances together, he breaks ground and starts building. Out of the ground springs this magnificent building that was once just a dream of his. He is done! He goes around and admires what he has done, but little does he know that the decay of his building has already started.

    "He is no longer actively working on it, growing it, building it, so by my definition, it has started to decay, which IS the natural progression of this world we live in. So unless he continues to patch the imperfections that will show up it will decay to dust. It is a very slow decay, but it was never stable.

    "In my mind, there is no such thing as stability in life."

    I, too, choose not to believe there is such a thing as stability. I am always striving to grow, and if I am not growing, then I am in a state of decay.

    Genesis 3:19  
    By the sweat of your brow
    will you have food to eat
    until you return to the ground
    from which you were made.
    For you were made from dust,
    and to dust you will return.”
  • pastorduncan
    I like you idea George of not Growing and being in a state of Decay as a result. Thanks for your insights man!
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