Becoming a Climber!
By Stovall Weems
How do we fulfill our God-given destiny? How we live & lead today, tomorrow, next week, next month and over the long haul determines whether we become climbers. Why? Because leadership is an uphill journey!
Matthew 5:1-2 (MSG)
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat and taught his climbing companions.
There are essentially three kinds of leaders:
- Quitters – short-term leaders (we can hardly call them leaders at all)
- Campers – Mid-range leaders
- Climbers – Long Haul leaders
QUITTERS: They are the ones that pick up their toys and go home just at the realization that there is a mountain!
- Opt Out – Cop Out – Back Out – Drop Out
- If leadership is an ascent up a mountain, quitters abandon the climb.
- They DESERT their inner drive to move forward.
- They abandon their DREAMS.
- They are often BITTER, DEPRESSED, EMOTIONALLY NUMB and a REAL DRAG TO BE AROUND!
- They may be MAD and FRUSTRATED at the world around them – RESENTFUL and offended at those who continue to climb.
CAMPERS: They are the ones that go only so far and say, “That is as far as I can (or want) to go.”
- If leadership is an uphill trek, weary of the climb, campers terminate their ascent and find a smooth, comfortable plateau on which to hide from adversity.
- They’ve taken on some challenges of life.
- They’ve reached the campground & now focus on furnishing their tents with material goods to make them as comfortable as possible – instead of focusing on the peak.
- They say, “It’s not best, but it’s good enough.”
- They are the “play-it-safes.”
- They hang out with other campers, roast marshmallows, compare Rolexes and sing “Kumbaya.”
- They don’t associate with quitters because they’re LOSERS.
- They don’t associate with climbers because they’re MAVERICKS & LOOSE CANONS.
- Campers have chosen predictability over fulfillment.
CLIMBERS: They are dedicated to the life-long journey. Only climbers live life to its fullest!
- If leadership is an ascent, climbers continue onward and upward regardless of background, advantages, misfortune or past achievements.
- They are possibility thinkers.
- They embrace challenges and change.
- They get knocked down, but they get up again!
- They understand that setbacks happen – but they are willing to sometimes take a step back if it will result in two steps forward in the end.
- They may stop at the campground to get refueled, rejuvenated and re-energized – but they DON’T hook up a satellite dish, a leather sectional sofa and a cappuccino machine to that tent!
- To the climber, the campground is a base camp. To the camper, it’s a permanent address!
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
Paul, like Jesus, wasn’t a quitter or a camper but dedicated to the climb. It’s what it takes to finish strong in what God has called you to. In your pray today, ask God to help you to become a tenacious climber who makes it to the end – to your God-given destiny!
Leadership Edge – Becoming a Go-To Player
By Stovall Weems
Every team has a go-to player. When you pass the ball, you know this person will always deliver, score a touchdown or take it to the basket.
Go-to players produce when the pressure is on. Even if they are outside of their comfort zone or the situation is tough, these players always produce results. They deliver when resources are few. Forget having enough money or people – the go-to players never see resources as an obstacle to success. Even when there’s not much, go-to players take what they have and make even more out of it.
Ever experienced poor energy or momentum? Go-to players will deliver even when the momentum is low. The go-to guys/gals are momentum makers – they see the big picture and will trigger movement to help others around them move forward. At Celebration, we thrive on energy and momentum, so we love those who can add more energy and move others along.
In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul encourages Timothy to be prepared to preach the Word whether the time is favorable or not. I believe that great leaders see themselves as the go-to person in their organization, group or church. They love winning. At Celebration Church, our leaders live so that Jesus wins at every turn, no matter the circumstances.
What type of player are you? Can you overcome low energy, resources or time and “deliver the goods?” Ask God to help you to be His “go-to” person in whatever area of ministry you are involved with
