be quick to hear
James 1:19
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;..."
Do you really listen to people?
I think one of the ways we can love people best is by truly listening to them, being quick to hear and slow to speak. Focusing on their words, not our own thoughts, and listening for their heart.
seriously, lets all decide to never pull the phone out during a date again...
These days inboxes, cell phones, tweets, notifications and multitasking make it easy to be very distracted, all the time. Not to mention the selfish nature of the human race that would like to turn every conversation into one about ourselves.
I believe the discipline of listening is key to personal and business relationships as well as consumer and social media marketing.
Not to mention... prayer.
With friends, co-workers, my wife and with God - I find myself being quick to speak and slow to listen. Forgive me.
This is something I'm working on, and I challenge you to do the same.
Remember that the person standing or sitting in front of you is always the most important in the world at that moment. Make them feel that way.
timing is everything
They say it can take years for a blogger to settle into their "voice" and I realize that I am certainly still searching for mine.
Last week I posted a motivational type post about leadership and breaking rules in my leaders are heretical post.
This Tuesday I posted a more spiritual, very different, poetic post titled Spirit rhythm.
And now, today's post includes a funny YouTube video.
timing is everything
Please bear with me as I attempt to find my "voice" here on kingdom commerce. And any feedback to help me know what resonates with you, is greatly appreciated. Now, back to the post at hand...
Timing is everything.
Results can vary dramatically due to timing.
If your manager has just finished a conversation with someone about simplifying, cutting costs, and focus, and you approach her about a new project that you've been dreaming up for months, you'll likely leave heartbroken.
An announcement of a new product, device, or technology will elicit a very different response the day before your competition releases their version, opposed to the day following their announcement.
A message spoken at church is received entirely differently by the man who just watched his wife walk out on him or by the woman who lost her job the day before.
Crossing a busy street can be two very different experiences only seconds apart from each other depending on which stoplights are red and which are green.
And finally, a flash mobber in-sync is a part of something fantastic, but even a few seconds too early and well... watch and see...
A well timed flash mob, word of encouragement, email, presentation, product, or conversation can be powerful. But unfortunately, poor timing can single handedly ruin an otherwise brilliant act. And as you can see from the video, the results can be humiliating.
So, what's the solution? As a Christian, it's discernment and staying in Spirit rhythm.
Through prayer we can be aligned with God's timing, who not only knows the future but has already been there. By waiting on the Lord and trusting his timing, we can elevate ourselves above our own personal circumstances and worldview and have a broader perspective.
Be aware of your tendencies and balance them. I have a tendency to want to get there first and always like to run out ahead of myself; my thoughts are focused on the future and dreaming about what could be.
Others have the opposite instinct - they keep their head down, set on the work at hand and neglect to plan or prepare for the future at all.
Neither is better than the other, both types of people must learn to wait on God's timing and then confidently step out in obedience and faith when the light turns from red to green.
Spirit rhythm
Spirit rhythm is God's cadence.
It's a beat we can choose to listen for; a pattern we can choose to follow.
It's a consistent, subtle, whispered, pulse... easy to ignore.
...
Spirit rhythm is Christ's song.
It's the voice that led him to a cross; a melody he chose to obey.
It was a painful, loving, dying, hymn. A song that tore the veil.
Spirit rhythm is the Holy Spirit's timing in our lives...
A never-ceasing, always listening, prayer; a surrendered dependance on Him.
It's an in-step, tuned-in, fruit-filled, life, led by the Spirit.
In daily decisions, in business, in leadership, in marriage, in everything - stop and listen for the rhythm.
It's God's good, pleasing, and perfect will for your life.
Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
16 Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
leaders are heretical
This picture reminds me to break the rules. Although I'm almost certain its been through Photoshop...
Leaders are heretical. But no one ever changed the world by following the rules.
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs that conflicts with established dogma.
By definition, there is nothing wrong with heresy. But, it's certainly a dirty word to many people.
Maybe it shouldn't be.
Jesus was "controversial" and represented "novel change to a system of beliefs". He shocked the pharisees on a regular basis.
Looking back on history, most leaders and change makers could also be called heretics.
Todays leaders must not be afraid to break the rules or they may not be leaders at all. In fact, to lead today, you must become comfortable with challenging the status quo. This is especially true because of the fast paced change we experience around us.
If we fail to change we get stuck in the past and what worked in the past will likely fail in the future.
It's easy to "go with the flow" and nod your head when everyone else does. But, I challenge you; don't settle. If you believe something can be better, different, new, then say something about it. Do something about it.
In a world or ruts, routines and robots, step out of the system of normal, toward your vision for the future, and by doing so, you'll be stepping into leadership.
You may be a heretic, but if you are bringing needed change to the world around you... thank you for your heresy.
The world needs more heretics, contrast, change, and people that take risks because they believe in something that's worth the risk.
No one ever changed the world by doing the same thing everyone else was doing.
Seth Godin does a fantastic job talking about heretical leadership in one of my favorite books, Tribes.
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