Jon Stolpe (Stretched Blog) and I have been blogging each week on a chapter from Love Works by Joel Manby. This is the next to last week. It is actually the last chapter in the book. Next week will be a “What are some lessons I learned from the book” post. 🙂 It has been a fun ride and I hope our foray into this marvelous leadership book has piqued your interest to buy the book and read it for yourself. Okay…with that out of the way, let’s get to Chapter 10. Chapter 10 opens with a powerful and oft-quoted statement by Ghandhi:
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.
If there is one word that sends shockwaves through people, especially churches, it is the word C-H-A-N-G-E. I’m sure you have heard it all before, with perhaps the biggest excuse being:
The famous seven last words of the church: “We’ve never done it that way before.”
Been there, heard that. But, in all honesty, to the credit of many churches today, that dog doesn’t hunt anymore. Many churches are willing to change. I serve a church where it is often said in the leadership meetings, “One thing we have always said is ‘never be afraid to change.’ ” I cannot even begin to tell you how refreshing that is.
But you see, and this is the point I got out of this chapter, everyone faced with the possibility of change is also faced with another fact:
C. H. O. I. C. E.
What I mean by that is Change is a matter of choice. You either choose to change, or you choose to remain stuck. I can’t say it much simpler than that. Look at the landscape, for example, of businesses that have ceased operation. How many of them refused to change? Or to adjust to the changing times? Here is one. I recently read an article on some of the old standbys that are heading out the door. (Don’t want to mention names of current operating companies).
Change is a choice by management. It is hard to lead by love. In the corporate world, it is hard for many to see beyond the bottom line. I can attest it is the same in the church from time to time. In some churches I have pastored, the bottom line was the underlying current. Fortunately, I have come to a church where programs are not the bottom line…people are.
THAT IS A CHOICE WE HAVE MADE. PEOPLE MATTER FIRST. That is love in action. While programs may bring people to the table, it is love, and how they are treated, that will keep them coming.
How are you doing? What sort of choice is your company/church making? Make sure you check out Jon’s post as well.
Bill, I’m real excited about this week’s Love Works link-up. I just finished writing my post which will go live tomorrow morning (3/13) at 5AM EST. I’ll stop back with a link to the actual post.
Thanks again for the opportunity to discuss this great book with you and our readers.
Here’s the link to my post for this week: http://www.jonstolpe.com/2013/03/13/love-works-wednesday-linkup-week-9/
It is a good one and hope people will read it Jon.
Great attitude and spirit on display here. Good for you.
Thanks Daniel. These folks are fantastic to work with.
I believe my church is making the choice to love people as they need to be loved. Of course, I KNOW we need His help on that! Good thoughts bro’!
Love that your church is making a conscious effort to do that Jay. And also glad you know it is not done on your own.
Love the principles from this book. I’ve skimmed it at a B & N and have been meaning to read it in its entirety.
I would go buy it. Today.
The choice my church is making is to not give in to the culture (and change…for the worse).
We choose to keep Christ and His gospel the focus…and not ‘what we do’…which is merely another expression of the law.
Hard to do, these days. But we are still doing it.
Change can be good or bad depending on its direction and motive. As you expressed, love is not law.
While I can’t really answer for a company or church .. I am asking God to show me where I’m stuck, afraid to change and need to make the choice to do so! Thank you so much for discussing this book with us.
God bless you and yours!
That is a good prayer Deb. so glad you are willing to pray that way.
Last week I had my performance review. What came out of it, rather quickly, was that another manager and I will be swapping positions. I will leave my team that I had led for 4 1/2 years. She will leave hers, which she has lead for six or seven. It shocked both teams. There is going to be a ton of change coming up. It’s a great opportunity for both of us.
That is fantastic Larry! Love that God is challenging you with good stuff.
It’s amazing to me how we can so overlook the power and miracle of free will. All things in this life come down to choice. We choose our perspective. I’ve been writing a lot about that lately. It’s on my heart… If I didn’t know better, I’d be tempted to use the line, “Great minds think alike!”
The book by John Burke I referred to in yesterday’s post is really “pushing” free will. He is doing a marvelous job of bringing it to the front. however, I will say it if you won’t: “Great minds do think alike” (and they are us). 😛
I never knew that quote was by Ghandhi- learn something new everyday!
Our church is embracing change and open to God moving and doing knew things! It’s exciting to part of, yet frustrating when some dig their heels in.
I learned that also TC. Glad to hear about your church being open to God’s work. Please make sure you encourage your pastor not to give up.
Great word. Hope and faith see the possibilities, but we have to choose to embrace them. Once we get locked into one scenario, we are just stuck. God opens us to possibilities and change, but you are so right, we still have to choose. He offers what’s best for us and those around us. We have to trust. Thanks Bill.
Thanks for your comment jason. I like your thought of hope and faith see the possibilities, but we have to choose to embrace them.
I hate to say it, but the company I work for tends to specialize in “fire-fighting”. What I mean is, we tend to react, put out “fires” so to speak. It seems like we react to emergencies versus making significant “front end” changes to prevent, or at least reduce them. I do what I can, but my circle of influence is on the outbound side not the front end.
On a personal level however, I really like your point about change being a matter of choice. With the onset of 2013, I’ve been “choosing” to work on some changes I’d like to see in my life. As a result, I think I’m starting to actually make a little progress. Joel’s book is on my “medium range” to-do list.
A company that is reactive rather than proactive can be frustrating to work for. You always wonder where and when the next fire will be. Good for you about consciously working on making changes. Thanks David.
I think one of the hinderances to necessary change is our fear of it. This causes many, especially in the church, to hang-on tightly to comforting tradition. In a world where change is happening at lightening speed all around us, simplicity and tradition can help us feel grounded, which isn’t a bad thing. Balance is key.
No doubt fear plays a big part in change. We even hang on to tradition because of the comfort level it brings us. Making things worse can be the “movement” around us. Thanks for a good comment Tammy.
It gets tricky, in my opinion. Because you also don’t want to change just for change’s sake. Some people want to be so cutting edge and relevant just so that they can feel good about themselves. It takes a lot of judgment.