Ninja Leadership

Yesterday I finished reading the book "Deadly Viper: Character Assassins"  by Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite.   They were giving them out at Catalyst and just happened to snag one... It is a great book that speaks hard truth in a way that's incredibly fun to read.  It was more like having a conversation with Jud and Mike.  It deals with protecting yourself from the things that will corrupt and even cripple a person's character.  (yes, I'm a preacher that can't get rid of the illiteration thing!  sorry!)  It deals with everything... sex, lust, workaholism, materialism...all the stuff that can bring us down as leaders.  At the end of the book, there is a quote from Rabbi David Wolpe that I think should go on every leader's desk... no... every leader's heart. He says:

"Every leader has burdens and difficulties and complaints, but nobody forces you into leadership.  It's your choice and if you are given it--it's a privilege and a gift.  And if you don't feel that way you should step down."

WOW!  That hit me square between the eyes!  There are times I want to complain... there are days I feel overwhelmed by the burden of being a pastor... There are days I wished someone else would make the hard calls... but ultimately, God's called me to lead.  I can do like the old saying goes-- "Lead, follow, or get out of the way". Every day as a leader, we have that choice.  If God has called us to lead,  whether that's leading a church, a business, a family, or yourself... realize it's a privilege and an honor to shoulder the burdens and deal with the complaints because it's in those difficult times that our leadership is being tested and stretched and strengthened to bear even greater burdens and face greater challenges.