Leadership Lessons from Brett Favre

I heard this story this morning and could not help making the connection to real world leadership and discipleship. Early in the first quarter of Saturday's playoff game, Green Bay running back Ryan Grant (a ND alum) fumbled the ball not once, but twice in the first 3 times he touched the ball; leading to a 14-0 Seattle lead. Quarterback Brett Favre approached Grant on the bench and told him; "if anybody knows about making mistakes in a big game it is me. Forget about it". How did Grant respond? By rushing for an amazing 201 yards and 3 touchdowns!!

What comes to mind is just how often we become angry or discouraged with people (our kids, co-workers, friends, etc.) who make mistakes around us. We then have a tendency to disregard and effectively "bench" them.

What of we took the position of Favre and head coach McCarthy and let people continue to play? Do we too easily forget they we also had to learn and probably made some mistakes along the way that were AT LEAST as bad as the ones we condemn. How would they perform if we encouraged and coached them along in their next attempt(s)? We may just be surprised by a performance of a lifetime.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

Nouwen -- Part 2

In this installment I will be covering the Prologue and Introduction. Nouwen begins with a brief history of who he is, his background in ministry and why the book was written. After many years working as a professor at Notre Dame, Yale , and Harvard he moved to a ministry in Toronto for the handicapped. This experience gave him a new perspective on what being a leader within the Church is really about. Here are some key quotes:

· God is a God of the present and reveals to those who are willing to listen carefully to the moment in which they live the steps they are to take toward the future
· Jesus did not send his disciples out alone to preach the word. He sent them two by two.
· I came face to face with the simple question, “Did becoming older bring me closer to Jesus?”
· Everyone was saying that I was doing really well, but something inside was telling me that my success was putting my soul in danger

I realized throughout this book that in many cases this is not “new” or “groundbreaking” information. Just a pure way of looking at the truth, which is what all good leaders and communicators are able to do. Takeaways are the need to listen and respond to the voice of God. He is not silent. We need to recapture the essence of team in ministry. We are not designed or asked to carry the load alone. Two by two is God’s design not only for the animals on the ark but also for those who are to engage the world with His message. This is a fundamental truth that we have lost somewhere in the process. The plan of the enemy has always been to separate us from one another. Alone is a bad thing.

Book #18 - In The Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen -- Part 1

I am in a stage of personal frustration with my reading habits. Not that I am not reading mind you; blogs, Bible (not nearly enough), SEVERAL books started and more joining the "to read" pile are part of my daily routine. Unfortunately I have been in a rut of finishing books that are started. I am hoping to jump start my focus with a series of posts on my most recent book.

I picked this book up just yesterday in fact. At right about 100 pages it was an easy read and accomplished several things.

1. It gave me a book that I could FINISH


2. it was an easy read


3. it filled in one of my areas of balance in reading; the classics. We too often run after the newest/ hottest titles.


4. It spoke deeply to me

Over the next several days I will be providing insights from the book and my responses to them; many will simply stand on their own. The subtitle of the book, Reflections on Christian Leadership, speaks of the heart of the text. The book is divided in to three sections of three short chapters each.

From Relevance to Prayer

From Popularity to Ministry

From Leading to Being Led

The book was written in 1989 as a look to the future of leadership in the church. It challenges many of the thoughts and processes that are prevalent in today's Church. The book is focused around two main passages: Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4 and Jesus' commission of Peter in John 21. A challenge and a call to leaders in the church; I look forward to writing more about this inspiring little book.