Posted on Sunday, December 30th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
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Church Leader’s Top 5 Weaknesses
Being a preacher at Coral Ridge and following Dr. Kennedy is a difficult position. I feel that I am never good enough, prepared enough, organized enough, or even spiritual enough. I stumbled across a recent list of the top five problems that most pastor’s feel in their work. One thing that helps me is the realization that I am not a senior pastor, but simply a cricket chirping while the Swanlike voice of Dr. D. James Kennedy remains silent. I am a fill in, and like most fill ins just do the best that I can under difficult circumstances. Every Sunday I walk out of the service thinking that no-one could have understood what I was trying to say. To my surprise, God in his graciousness uses even the voice of Baalam’s donkey,so perhaps I still have a chance.
The top five pastoral problems were these. I hate to say it but I find some of myself in each one of these problem areas. I appreciate your prayers and kind notes more than you all could ever know. I envy the new pastor because of the wonderful love that he will feel from such a wonderful congregation. I would appreciate any comments that you might have about these problems and any suggestions that might help me be more effective. Info Somewhat to their surprise, Thom Rainer and his research team found effective church leaders not only recognize and admit their mistakes, but they were happy to share those weaknesses. The top five weaknesses revealed are:
1. Pastoral Ministry - 3 out of 4 admit their number one leadership weakness is providing personal pastoral ministry. Pastoral ministry is defined as counseling, doing hospital visitation and performing weddings and funerals, to name a few of the responsibilities.
2. Lack of Patience - Another top weakness among effective church leaders is that they are task driven. More than 7 out of 10 indicate they are impatient to see objectives accomplished. Contributing to this dilemma is the fact that most American churches are notoriously resistant to change.
3. Dealing with Staff - 7 out of 10 considered their staff leadership skills to be weak.
4. Dealing with Criticism - Nearly 7 out of 10 effective church leaders struggle with handling or avoiding criticism.
5. Always Task-Driven - The dominant leadership style noted was “task-oriented.” Task-driven or oriented is defined as “high interest in production and getting things “done.” When a leader is always task-driven, sometimes to the exclusion of relational issues, there is a tendency to fail to take people’s feelings into consideration. It’s good to be task-driven, but it’s not good to be so driven that you forget about people.
Adapted from Lessons on Integrity:A Tribute to James Draper by Tom Rainer, Christian Post 8/13/07
Thanks for the suggestions to follow. I appreciate them greatly.
Onward . . .
DrSamLam 12/30/07
Posted on Monday, December 17th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
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Sermon 1 The War Baby- Simeon War Baby-Simeon.mp3
Sermon 2 The War Baby- The Angels Luke 2-Angels.mp3
Sermon 3 The War Baby- Mary Christmas 01 Mary Christmas.mp3
Sermon 4 The War Baby- Joseph son of David 03 Joseph.mp3
Posted on Monday, December 17th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
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A couple of weeks ago I read a book on preaching in which one of the chapter titles was: “If your sermon is a dog, walk it proudly.” Well I had a chance to do that yesterday. I was preaching the second of a four sermon Christmas series called “The War Baby.” The series has to do with military imagery in the birth narratives. The sermons are (or soon will be) posted under the heading “The War Baby.”
I spend a good bit of time working on my sermons, though I don’t write them out and usually carry only a one page outline with me into the pulpit (sometimes I take nothing). I suffer from a malady known to many public speakers and entertainers; I am very critical of my own work.
A person sleeping can send me into mental hysterics. What have I done and how can I undo it? How can I wake this person and the rest of the congregation up? It may only be one person, but it begins to take on epic proportions for me. I recently listened to Steve Martin’s autobiography BORN STANDING UP and he suffers from the same sort of phobia.
I sensed, in the sermon yesterday, that there were some wandering attention spans. Because of that I ran to my office between services to see if I could perform some sort of healing on the sermon. Alas, the expected thunderbolt did not arrive and I preached the sermon pretty much the same way in the second service, though I was very aware of trying to keep everyone’s attention.
As God’s providence would have it (and that is true of everything isn’t it?), many people came to me after the sermon and told me how much the Lord had spoken to them through it.
It all goes to remind me that I am just the messenger and I can’t take credit when good things happen in a sermon. Our gracious God uses imperfect tools to accomplish perfect work and for that we can all be thankful. I cannot keep everyone awake, but I can study hard, pray earnestly, and do the best I can, and know that the results are not because of my work.
My father used to tell me “don’t put a lot of stock in what people tell you after a sermon, they will have another opinion next week.” We all are prone to believe our supporters and ignore our critics. But ultimately we must ask at the end of the day, was God pleased with what I did? Isn’t that what really matters?
Onward . . .
SamLam
Posted on Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
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This was our Christmas letter from December of 1996. It seems incredible to me that ten years have passed since we wrote this, but that just shows that I am getting old. At any rate, take this time to think back to what you were doing at Christmas ten years ago. Look at how many difficulties the Lord has lead you through. Remembering what God has done for us in the past is a great reminder that he will be faithful in the future.
Sam
Sam’s second year at Trinity has been a very productive one. He is working very hard getting all his required course-work completed while at the same time getting everything set-up to begin writing his dissertation. He finished his fourth language this summer taking care of all his language requirements (French, German, Greek and Hebrew). Sam hopes to pursue a teaching job part time while he works on writing his dissertation. We are waiting on God to open the doors and show us where He wants him to be.
Cindy
Cindy is busy, as usual. She finished her Medical Transcription Course and works for a psychologist transcribing psychological reports. She is also typing papers for students on campus as well as working at our local hardware store three days a week! She has been very involved in the children=s school=s and has enjoyed her time in Lake Forest.
Charity
Charity, our social butterfly, has been moving in every direction. She played soccer this season and did quite well for her first time. She is also involved in Awana at a local church, plays the violin, is a Junior Girl Scout, and has her own club (called the “Animal Club") (they babysit other people’s pets). She has grown several inches and is getting more beautiful every day.
Josiah
Josiah turns a whopping 7-years-old on December 27th! We can hardly believe it ourselves. He has adapted to a full day of school well, and is reading up a storm. (Every day I notice some of Sam’s traits in this boy -Cindy) Josiah played soccer this year too, ( if you can call it that, it was more like wander around on the field and kick the ball if it happens to roll near you) he did have a great time there was only that one time he and his friend were having a good chat and the team was at the other end of the field! Josiah waits for the snow, he loves to go out and play in it . . . for a few minutes.
Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a Christ-Centered New Year!
This is truly the hardest time of the year for us being away from friends and family, although we have made some wonderful traditions in the two Christmas= we have been here. We want to thank all those people who keep in touch with us and send us little bits of encouragement. Your love and support means a lot to us. It is looking as if we will be back in sunny Florida in June. Our plans are not set yet but we are listening for the Lord’s leading.
Stay well and Merry Christmas!
Posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
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I have been thinking a great deal of late about the Christian method for dealing with criticism. Preaching at Coral Ridge has taught me that no matter how hard you work, the critics will come out when you least expect them. I don’t mean those people who are really trying to help by giving suggestions; I thank the Lord for those people. I mean those who simply cannot be satisfied. Here are a few quotations that I have found helpful:
“If I tried to read, much less answer, all the criticisms made of me, and all the attacks leveled against me, this office would have to be closed for all other business. I do the best I know how, the very best I can. And I mean to keep on doing this, down to the very end. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten angels swearing I had been right would make no difference. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me now will not amount to anything.”
—Abraham Lincoln
When Anaximander was told that even little boys were laughing at his singing, “Ah!” he said, “then I must learn to sing better.” Plato, being told that he had many enemies who slander him, said, “It is no matter; I shall live so that none will believe them.” Epictetus said, “If any one speaks ill of thee, consider whether he hath truth on his side, and, if so, reform thyself, that his censures may not affect thee.”
I have no more right to object to a man holding a different opinion from mine, than I have to differ from a man because he wears a wig and I wear my own hair. But if he takes his wig off, and shakes the powder in my eyes, I shall consider it my duty to get rid of him as soon as possible.
—John Wesley
This story was told of General Robert E. Lee: Hearing General Lee speak in the highest terms to President Davis about a certain officer, another officer, greatly astonished, said to him, “General, do you know that the man of whom you speak so highly to the President is one of your bitterest enemies, and misses no opportunity to malign you?”
“Yes,” replied General Lee, “but the President asked my opinion of him; he did not ask for his opinion of me.”
Onward . . .
DrSamLam
Posted on Saturday, December 8th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
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On the Road Again: Matthew 10:1 02 Matth10-1.mp3
Sheep and Wolves: 02 Matt 10-sheep and wolves.mp3
Matthew 10:23 Matt10-23.mp3
Matthew 10:34 “How many hairs are on your head?” Matthew10-34.mp3
Matthew 11:1-15 “Waiting for God? Oh!” Matthew11-1.mp3
Matthew 11:16-end of the chapter “Oversized Loads” Matt 11_16.mp3
Matthew 12:1-14 “ Never on a Sunday” Matthew 12-1-14.mp3
Matthew 12:15-21 “Can I Give Them Your Name?” Matthew 12-15.mp3
Matthew 12:22-37 “The Unpardonable Sin” Matthew 12-22.mp3
Matthew 12: 38-end of chapter 12 “Who’s Your Mama? (Mother’s day sermon) Matthew 12-38.mp3
Matthew 13:1-9 That’s No Way to Run a Farm Matthew 13-1.mp3
Matthew 13:10-23 “Why Do You Talk Like That?” 01 Matthew 13-10.mp3
Matthew 13:24-30 “Don’t Use the Weed Eater” Matthew 13-24-30.mp3
Matthew 13:31-35 “Why My Father Told Stories” (Father’s Day) Matt 13-31 Dad told stories.mp3
Matthew 13:36-43 “The What, Why, and When of Hell” Matthew 13-36.mp3
Matthew 13:44-52 “Parable of the Dragnet: Just the Facts” Matt13-45 (not my best work I’m afraid)
Matthew 13:53-58 “Disrespecting Jesus” 01 Matthew 13-53-58.mp3
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