A Moment in Time

As we mark the end of this year and the beginning of another may we discover God's continued active involvement in our hearts and in this world. The Gospel of Mark describes the beginning of such a "new time" in an inaugural, abbreviated sermon of Jesus in his first chapter (1:15): "The time has come," He said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Ancient Greek has two words for time, "chronos" and "kairos". "Chronos" refers to chronological or sequential time and "kairos" signifies a "moment in time", a special occasion when chronological time is interrupted when something momentous, special takes place. In certain Orthodox Churches, before the liturgy begins, the deacon proclaims to the minister, "It is time (kairos) for the Lord to act", indicating that the time of the worship is an intersection with God and thus Eternity. The Lutheran theologian, Paul Tillich described "kairos" as the Greek category of history and therefore time that marks significant turning points, "occasions of depth rather than events continuing the normal chronometric measure of time." The coming of Jesus into our world, leadership and communities is such a "kairos" moment. May this new year be a "kairos" event that in the words of Paul Tillich becomes a: "moment at which history has matured to the point of being able to receive the breakthrough of the manifestation of God." Have a blessed and God-filled New Year!

Joy in work

"There can be no joy in living without joy in work." - Thomas Aquinas

We live in a generation where work is considered a "necessary evil", a means to an end, and an avenue to secure wealth and provision for the "real life" that occurs outside of work time. The wisdom from the wealth of Christian thought on this speak of another reality: Work as a way to imitate God, as a kind of occupational therapy and a God-given blessing. The Desert Fathers and Mothers in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries understood something of this therapeutic nature of God-given work. It is said in the Philokalia (the collection fo writings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, literally called "The Beautiful Writings") that one of the Fathers, called Abba Paul "proved that without working with his hands a monk cannot endure to abide in his place, nor can he climb any nearer the summit of holiness." This perspective finally gave place later to Benedict's monastic maxim of "Ora et Labora" (work and prayer) that reminds all of us that these two activities work together and are complimentary dimensions of a "whole and holy life".

Christmas Greetings

Have wonderful Christ-filled Christmas! I look forward with great anticipation to our continued interaction and the beginning of a new year and the promise it holds of God's leading and blessing.

First Edition of JBPL and Date of Research Roundtable

It is with great joy that I can announce that the first edition of the Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership is online today. I am very grateful for all the hard work by the production staff to get this first edition ready.

Here is a link to it:

http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/jbpl/

I am also including the text of the invitation to the first Research Roundtable on Biblical Perspectives in Leadership:

The School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship of Regent University will host the inaugural Biblical Perspectives in Leadership Research Roundtable on May 8, 2007 at the Founders Inn and Conference Center located on the campus of Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA.

The Biblical Perspectives in Leadership Research Roundtable is an attempt to create a platform of discussion and exploration where scholars, researchers, ministers and practitioners who are interested in research and exploration of leadership studies focused on the Hebrew and Christian scriptures can present and test their research. The roundtable invites papers and discussion forums covering topics such as:

• The use of exegetical methods to explore leadership


• The relationship between scripture, faith, theology and leadership


• Models of biblical spirituality and leadership


• Models of tribal and other forms of leadership in the Pentateuch


• Models of ruling, leadership, governing and organizational structures in the history of early Israel


• Leadership values in the wisdom writings of the Hebrew scriptures


• The relationship between prophecy and contextual leadership in the prophetic material of the Hebrew scriptures


• Comparative studies of leaders and leadership models across the Hebrew and Christian scriptures


• Historical studies of leaders in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures
  Group dynamics in the Gospels


• Historical Jesus and leadership research


• Pauline perspectives in leadership


• Organizational design and dynamics in the early faith communities of the Christian scriptures


• Follower-leader relationships in the Christian scriptures


• Organizational and leadership values in the Christian scriptures


• Models of spiritual and leadership formation in the Christian scriptures


• Models of future studies and strategic foresight in the apocalyptic material of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures

Please contact Dr. Corné Bekker, the editor of the Journal for Biblical Perspectives in Leadership (JBPL) for further details regarding the registration costs, program and submission guidelines. He can be reached at clbekker@regent.edu

Christmas Message from Dr. Bruce Winston

Here is a link to a wonderful Christmas audio message from Dr. Bruce E. Winston, the Dean of the School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship at Regent University. In this message Dr. Winston illustrates God 's use of organizations and leaders in accomplishing His work as seen in the Gospel story of the birth of Jesus.

For your convenience, the audio message is provided in two audio formats below.

Real Media: http://real.regent.edu:8080/ramgen/schgle/misc/2006_christmas.rm

Microsoft Windows Media: http://media.regent.edu/schgle/misc/2006_christmas.wma

Advent Season: Towards Incarnational Leadership - Reflection 4

My family loves Christmas. My wife, being Italian, always decorates our house with beautiful ornaments for Christmas - the focus of all the decorations a simple wooden creche (French for manger) depicting the birth of Jesus. My son played the part of a shepherd in a re-enactment of the nativity story, this last Sunday in church. Both these practices, the display of a creche and a "live" nativity play, go back to the life of the Christian leader, Francis of Assisi. Francis was deeply taken by the miracle of the incarnation and in an attempt to bring his audience back to the simplicity and humility of the birth of Jesus, created the first living nativity play in a small cave in Umbria, Italy in 1223. On Christmas eve of that year, he gathered with other believers to act out the birth of Jesus in all it's impoverished glory. Francis even included two animals: an ox and a donkey. He chose these animals in a materful attempt to reference Isaiah 1:3 which states:

"The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand."

Bonaventure, the biographer of Francis (died in 1274) tells this story in his "Life of St. Francis" and reports the miracles that came from this "performing of the Gospel":

"It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvellously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For the example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles."

Bonaventure's story contains an important lesson for those interested in Christian Leadership. Francis desired to "perform the Gospel" instead of merely preaching it and thus miracles ensued from this simple event. "Manifest prodigies and miracles" will follow us when we allow the values of Jesus to be "incarnated" in our leadership behavior and practices.

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

A Long View of History

I found two interesting interactive maps this morning that track the world-wide growth of religion and the imperial history of the middle-east. These interactive maps from a website called "Maps of War (www.mapsofwar.com)" can be found at the following links:

Imperial History of the Middle East:

http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf

History of Religion:

http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/Religion.swf

I wonder how much of the "Christian conquests" in history actually served the message of the Gospel. What is the message of the Gospel? How do we go about ministering/preaching/teaching the message of Jesus with integrity in this divided world of ours? What kind of Christian Leadership will bring about authentic transformation?

It remains my conviction that a long view of history coupled with a clear understanding of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures hold the promise of a resurgence of the kind of Christian Leadership that will change the world.

The Joys of Zero

I am re-reading Dallas Willard's great book on the Gospel of Jesus, "The Divine Conspiracy" this week and kept going back to the centrality of the "secrecy motif" in the service that Jesus asks for in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. It seems that this call to secret service remains an important, if not central, element in the recovery of authentic Christian Leadership.

Willard's great contribution in this book is that he links the Gospel call to secret service (or service in obscurity) with freedom from dependency on reputation and material wealth - precisely the "stuff" contemporary leadership studies are so enthralled by.

As I am re-reading this provocative book I could not help but to hear Sam Phillips singing in the background. The inherent falseness of the promises of power and prestige is a common theme that runs through the lyrics of her songs. One example is the lyrics of the song "Zero, Zero, Zero" from her very experimental disk: "Omnipop: It is only a fleshwound Lampchop":

Big numbers go by

I close my eyes

I never count a large amount

My lucky number is below one

You never know when you might need a zero

The zero in my hand

is nothing to lose

It's hard to confuse power with love

love with power

Everything that I'm not is all that I've got

Shane Helmer reviews Phillips' Omnipop and picks up on this central theme of power/powerlessness in her music:
"Pop culture seems obsessed with its own definition of success. Money and power equate with popularity and position. Those who do not fit neatly into the equation are continuously reminded by pop culture icons, who ironically have achieved such success, that they are zeros in society. Admittedly, 'regular folk' feel powerless sometimes. But to have this perception so intricately woven into our culture's consciousness robs us of our enthusiasm for living and crushes our dreams beneath the cynical wreckage of society. There seems to be far too much whining and not enough constructive criticism. It is into this tension, this world of zero-speak, that singer-songwriter Sam Phillips wedges a truly alternative perspective."

The question of what to do with power remains an important element in our search for authentic, Biblical Leadership.

Further Reading:
"Sam Phillips' sardonic look at popular culture" by Shane Helmer. Music Review: Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop) by Sam Phillips. (Virgin Records: 1996).
"The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard. HarperSanFrancisco (1998).

Leadership Talks: The Values of Incarnational Leadership

I did a recording last week for Leadership Talks entitled "The Values of Incarnational Leadership". Here is a synopsis of the talk:

"The celebration of the birth of Jesus during this advent season is an opportunity to revisit the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation and the implication this biblical belief has on the quest for authentic Christian leadership. Incarnational leadership is an attempt to imitate the self-emptying act of Jesus as the Word made flesh that came to dwell among us. Incarnational leadership promotes a leadership approach that values embracing the humanity of others and active humility. This leadership approach asks for Christologically grounded, humble courage where followers are redefined in terms of praxis and not propinquity. This leadership praxis is one of charity, identification of those being led and of authentic love."

Here is a link to Leadership Talks:

http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/leadershiptalks/home.htm

John Calvin on the role of Scripture in the formation of Ethical Conduct

I have been re-reading Calvin this week and especially his understanding of the role of Scripture in the formation of ethical conduct. Calvin comments that when we devote ourselves to the study of Scripture that this devotional discipline aids in the values conversion the Gospel demands:

"This is also evidence of great progress: that, almost forgetful of ourselves, surely subordinating our self-concern, we try faithfully to devote our zeal to God and his Commandments. For when scripture bids us leave off self-concern, it not only erases from our minds the yearning to possess, the desire for power, and the favor of men, but it also uproots ambition and all craving for human glory and other more secret plagues. Accordingly, the Christian must surely be so disposed and minded that he feels within himself it is with God he has to deal throughout his life. In this way, as he will refer all he does to God's decision and judgment, so will he refer his whole intention of mind scrupulously to Him... “
We seem to have lost something today of the formative power of reading and studying God's Word.

For more on this see Luder G. Witlock’s excellent article, “Spiritual direction in the Reformed tradition.” in the Journal of Psychology and Theology. December, 2002.

Advent Season: Towards Incarnational Leadership - Reflection 3

A good friend of mine directed me to an advent sermon by Thomas Merton that I have not seen before. Merton makes use of the Lukan observation that there was no room for Joseph, Mary and Jesus to eplore the message of values reversal present in the Gospel birth narratives. The implications for Christian leadership is obvious:

"Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it - because he is out of place in it, and yet must be in it - his place is with those others who do not belong, who are rejected because they are regarded as weak; and with those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons, and are tortured, exterminated. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world. He is mysteriously present in those for whom there seems to be nothing but the world at its worst. For them, there is no escape even in imagination. They cannot identify with the power structure of a crowded humanity which seeks to project itself outward, anywhere, in a centrifugal flight into the void, to get out there where there is no God, no man, no name, no identity, no weight, no self, nothing but the bright, self-directed, perfectly obedient and infinitely expensive machine.

For those who are stubborn enough, devoted enough to power, there remains this last apocalyptic myth of machinery propagating its own kind in the eschatological wilderness of space - while on earth the bombs make room!

But the others: they remain imprisoned in other hopes, and in more pedestrian despairs, despairs and hopes which are held down to earth, down to street level, and to the pavement only: desire to be at least half-human, to taste a little human joy, to do a fairly decent job of productive work, to come home to the family...desires for which there is no room. It is in these that He hides himself, for whom there is no room."

Link to the full text of the sermon:

http://www.lo.redjupiter.com/gems/hartfordstreet/TimeofNoRoom.html

The Birth of Jesus in the New Testament

I wrote a short introduction to the birth narratives of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament for cbn.com this week. The following is the conclusion of the article and a call for a rediscovery, appreciation and application of these powerful narratives:

The four Gospels in the New Testament present four unique and yet complimentary pictures of Jesus -- and this is evident in the way they record the birth of Jesus: Matthew presents Jesus as the King of the Jews worthy of obedience and worship; Luke shows a humane Savior that brings good tidings and liberation to the poor, neglected and marginalized; Mark present Jesus as Lord that serves in secret and thus shows a new way, free from the fight for supremacy and status; and finally, John presents Jesus as God, who comes as the Word become flesh and this shines in the darkness to bring a new beginning in this world. May we use this advent season and time of celebration to rediscover the powerful birth narratives in the Gospels of the New Testament.

Here is a link to the full article:

http://www.cbn.com/special/TheNativityMovie/articles/Bekker_Birth_of_Jesus.aspx

Advent Season: Towards Incarnational Leadership - Reflection 2

I read an interesting comparison between institutional and incarnational leaders a few days back on a leadership blog. I am not sure that they are competing or even differing models (things are never as simple as this) - but is well worth the read and does help to refine our thoughts in our on-going quest to recover an incarnational approach in leadership. The blog includes the following comparison:

* Institutional leaders lead because the institution has passed them as fit to lead.
* Incarnational leaders lead because they emerge from being rooted in a community into recognised leadership.

* Institutional leaders carry their own style into the church and shape it to their preference.
* Incarnational leaders only get to lead because their style fits with the culture of the community they lead

* Institutional leaders are vested with power and authority by the institution.
* Incarnational leaders are granted their power and authority by the community they lead.

* Institutional leaders can still hold leadership positions whether or not they practice what they preach.
* Incarnational leaders can not assume that same luxury (or indulgence?).

* Institutional leaders can live off the admiration and adulation of the congregation.
* Incarnational leaders must continually re-earn their place as leaders. Their power and respect rises and falls with the perceived level of their integrity, authenticity, and deep commitment to the life of the community.

Here is a link to the original blog:
http://craftycurate.blogs.com/pilgrims_progress/2004/10/leadership_inst.html

New Book on the Spirituality of Henri Nouwen

There is a new book out on the Spirituality of Imperfection of Henri Nouwen by Wil Hernandez. Nouwen remains an important source and for the on-going quest in the recovery of authentic Christian Leadership. The following is a link to this new book at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Henri-Nouwen-Spirituality-Imperfection-Hernandez/dp/0809144344/sr=1-1/qid=1165288616/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2415131-3367037?ie=UTF8&s=books

Nouwen's great contribution to our understanding of Christian Leadership is best summarized in his book: "In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership." Nouwen wrote this book shortly after he left a position of great status and privilege at Harvard University to go and live amongst mentally handicapped people in the L'Arche Community. The following excerpt from this book show Nouwen's theology of voluntary self-limitation as the first step in the recovery of authentic Christian Leadership:

"The first thing that struck me when I came to live in a house with mentally handicapped people was that their liking or disliking of me had absolutely nothing to do with any of the many useful things I had done until then. Since nobody could read my books, my books could not impress anyone, and since most of them never went to school, my twenty years at Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard did not provide a significant introduction.… Not being able to use any of the skills that had proved so practical in the past was a real source of anxiety. I was suddenly faced with my naked self, open for affirmations and rejections, hugs and punches, smiles and tears, all dependent on how I was perceived at the moment. In a way, it seemed as though I was starting my life all over again. Relationships, connections, reputations could no longer be counted upon. This experience was and, in many ways, is the most important experience of my new life because it forced me to rediscover my true identity. These broken, wounded and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self—the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things—and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.”

Advent Season: Towards Incarnational Leadership - Reflection 1

I recorded a short audio recording today on the call to incarnational leadership found in the birth narratives of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament. The following quote from Bill Robinson, the president of Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington goes a long way to define the call to incarnational leadership:

"If God Incarnate pitched his tent right in the middle of those whom he led–those whom he called his friends–what should we as leaders do? I have become convinced that the best place from which to lead is not above our people, not in front of our people, not under our people, and not on our cell phones with our people. The most powerful position of leadership is dwelling among those God calls us to lead. As Jesus emptied himself to take on the form of a bond-servant (Philippians 2:5, 6), we must empty ourselves of the pretenses and privileges that create distance between us and our people. Pedestal leadership is perpetuated by those who enjoy sitting on the pedestal. I’m still waiting to hear an hourly employee complain that our leaders need to be more aloof. Until that happens, our best bet for inspiring those we lead is to follow the example of Jesus."

May the Word become Flesh in our Leadership.

Link fo Full Article:

http://www.bcwinstitute.com/press/CEOsFEB06.pdf

Leadership that embraces Humanity

Discussions on the interpretation of Christ “being found in appearance as a man” (σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος) in the Philippians hymn has been traditionally riddled with controversy and rigorous debate (Howard 1978, 368). Re-reading the hymn as an ethical exemplum has opened a new and promising avenue for a discussion on the social values that the hymn proposes in a society riddled with social inequalities and thus holds many practical applications for Christian leadership. Albert Nolan (1977, 135), in his response to apartheid in South Africa, used the Philippians hymn to construct a new perspective in ontological Christology that demands a new appreciation of the humanity of Christ and thus of others:

“Whatever humanity and divinity may mean in terms of a static philosophy of
metaphysical natures, in religious terms for the man who recognizes Jesus as
his God, the human and the divine has been brought together in such a way
that they now represent one and the same religious value. In this sense
Jesus’ divinity is not something totally different from His humanity. Jesus’
divinity is the transcendent depth of His humanity. Jesus was immeasurably
more human than other men…”

Regardless of some of the obvious theological difficulties of some of Nolan’s arguments, his Christology does open exciting possibilities in ethical discussions in leadership and service.

In embracing the His own humanity and thus the humanity of others, Jesus “redefined neighbor in terms of praxis, not propinquity” (Sorenson 2004, 461). This “praxis” is one of charity, identification with the one being served and of authentic love. Vanstone (1978) has developed a phenomenology of love in which he characterizes three characteristics of authentic love (Gregerson 2003, 371-372). Authentic love is limitless, precarious and vulnerable (Vanstone 1978, 44-51).

• Authentic love therefore does not impose boundaries on others (limitless) but “accepts without limit the discipline of the circumstances” (Vanstone 1978, 44),


• is precarious in that it avoids the “the distortion of possessive control” (Gregerson 2003, 372)


• and finally true love revels in being vulnerable in that it gives the one loved a “power that could not otherwise be there” (Vanstone 1978, 51).

Christian Leadership that takes the call to Christological mimesis seriously will exhibit this embracing of humanity in love that is limitless, precarious and vulnerable.

Further Reading:

Howard, G. 1978. Phil. 2:6-11 and the Human Christ. Catholic Biblical Quarterly 40(3): 368-387.

Nolan, A. 1977. Jesus before Christianity. Cape Town: David Phillips.

Sorenson, R. L. 2004. Kenosis and Alterity in Christian Spirituality. Psychoanalytic Psychology. Vol. 21, No. 3, 458-462.

Vanstone, W. H. 1978. The Risk of Love. New York: Oxford University Press.