Reasons You Shouldn't Lead

Navigating new spiritual paths is messy, painful, and exhausting.  Here's 12 reasons you should stick to copying other people's highway to success:

If you haven't been there, don't try to lead people there.

If you're not willing to stay, build, and invest in it, don't lead people there.

If it isn't costing you anything, don't lead people there.

If you have to mislead or manipulate along the way, don't lead people there.

If it doesn't scare you to death, don't lead people there.

If you're doing it because you're scared, don't lead people there.

If you can do it on your own, don't lead people there.

If someone else told you to do it, don't lead people there.

If everyone is telling you it's a great idea, don't lead people there.

If everyone is telling you it's a bad idea, don't lead people there.

If your spouse is not with you, don't lead people there.

If God is not with you, don't lead people there.

But if none of the above apply then it's time to gather the team, share the dream, and blaze that new path.  Don't know who said this but they sure said it well:  "To reach people no one else is reaching you have to do things that no one else is doing." 

Imitation may be the best form of flattery but it's also the best form of laziness.

Endangered Species?

Just finished reading Ben Arment's latest blog (subtle hint that you should too), a "The End is Near" prophecy about blogging.  He says that it's becoming more difficult to follow leaders, innovators, and your weird cousin because people are twittering (more for humor than insight) and not blogging.  

Even Carlos, grandpapa to many social networkers, has shut down his blog indefinently.  That's the equivalent of Paris Hilton declaring a moratorium on shopping, Carrot Top walking away from steroids (Seriously, have you seen recent pictures of this guy?), and Mickey Rourke not having a bad hair day. (Just got the latest issue of Relevant and he made the back cover.  Mickey, career advice: congrats on the Oscar nom but you're still one haircut away from a legit comeback.)

Ben's warnings have me a little worried.  I've become addicted to following leaders to glean (I should have thesaurussed a better word) insights from their daily struggles and successes and also learn how they've turned their craft into an art form.  As soon as I turn my mac on, (That sounds suggestive doesn't it?) I let the blog roll begin.  In recent months I've become a better leader, more compassionate minister, and greater pursuer of authenticity.  These bloggers have helped me see that we all have great dreams, we all have great weaknesses, and we all need a great God.  Sure, I'm tempted to steal Noble's insights and share them as my own but that's the great thing about blogging:  It's a giant think-tank.  Tim's transparent leadership reminds me to shut-up and be real, Batterson's insights remind me to speak up and be honest, and Furtick's faith reminds me to grow up and be a leader.  Sure I'll continue to twitter, even it makes blogging an endangered species, but I'm still more interested in hearing how you're connecting with your community than what type of coffee you got from Starbucks.

There's room in my heart for both and still a big vacuum of knowledge that I'm after.  So I'll continue to check out your twitpic of you goofing off in your office, as long as you continue to paint a picture of what it means to be a passionate follower of Christ.