Grace Investment Leadership
Bosses Day: Not an Opportunity to Celebrate God
Today is National Boss Day. The corporate world, also the various organizations, may do okay to celebrate bosses, but the concept of a power person in authority over others is not fitting for relationships in the home and church. That’s because
1. The dynamics of life and leadership in an organization is not the same as in an organism. When it is imposed, the result is tension, pain, and unhappiness.
2. God does not relate to us as our boss. Rather, he is a loving, supportive, investing Father, and also in Christ, a loving, supportive, investing Husband.
3. Military and law enforcement officers and prison guards are bosses. Parents, husbands, pastors, teachers, mentors, and other investment leaders are not. They are servant-vessels through whom God’s provisions flow to meet the redemptive needs of a broken world.
Don Loy Whisnant/The Grace Perspective 10J15
Grace Leadership Guided by Concepts Not Held in Today’s Culture
We husbands sometimes think we need to make our wives happy and attempt to do so at the expense of their health - and sometimes our own. In time, we also lose their respect.
There was a time, you know, when women did not vote in America. At that time, men were more influential in the home. Also, it was thought that men made better principled decisions, not emotional ones as women tend to do. Men are no longer principled in that way and have lost that influence, so do not have the confidence of women to vote in their behalf.
Grace leadership in the home is supported by concepts not understood or held by the world. It provides leadership that focuses on the health of those we serve - even if it does not accommodate their carnal desires or addictions. This means, the husband/dad does not punish to the one extreme, or placate to the other. Rather, he determines for himself what is best, stays on that course, and trusts that his flock will follow.
Don Loy Whisnant/The Grace Perspective 10J08
The Grace Option: Speaking the Truth in Love
Legalism cares little for health, but only for conformity to the rules, and will verbally pound on others to get it. The pounding is criticism to condemn and intimidate.
But the other extreme is to say nothing. At the root of wimping out to not speak the truth is the fear of offending others and losing their favor – which means our relationship to others is about us after all.
Speaking the truth in love is the grace option. It takes care not to offend but is motivated by the heart of Christ to support the health needs of others - which means, the relationship is not about us, whether we are liked, but about others, whether they are supported for health.
“We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.” - Ephesians 4:15
Don Loy Whisnant/The Grace Perspective 10I22
Plan B: The Blind Leading the Blind
Carole and I enjoy day trips into rural areas just for sightseeing. When she is driving, I will sometimes say, “Wow, look over there, Honey!” and I will put my hand on the steering wheel to guide the vehicle while she looks. But I have caught myself on occasions also looking in the direction I asked her to look. This meant, of course, that although my hand was on the steering wheel, no one was really driving. It gives new meaning to the blind leading the blind.
I remember this when I sometimes hear about the plans carnal parents have for rearing their children. Recently, a mother insisted her children needed to be exposed to the world so they would know how to deal with life when they got away from home. It was the same as suggesting they would know better how to deal with drugs by taking them. Once a wife expressed her hope to work out of the home so that she could support her husband to stay home and care for the children and duties of the house.
God has a perfect plan for our lives and our homes. If we embrace the vine principle to guide our understanding, God’s perfect plan is for the husband/dad to provide and protect and for the wife/mom to minister to the children and care for the house. I understand that other scenarios exist that are acceptable to our American culture, but I believe they are mostly Plan B, wilderness experiences, not God’s perfect plan which has the best outcome.
Don Loy Whisnant/The Grace Perspective 10I21
The Willing Savior, Waiting to Serve
My frustrated friend suggested that he should react to be unkind to his neighbor in the way he had experienced his behavior to him. This, he thought, to teach him a lesson. I told him that was the reason thugs pounded on those they don’t like. I reminded him also that it was the way of terrorists.
But the Father of compassion never reacts to fight with us. Although we reject and ignore him, he remains faithful, patiently waiting at the door of our hearts.
“And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved.” – 2 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
Don Loy Whisnant/The Grace Perspective 10I02
Remembering 9/11: Revealing the Worst of Religion
Legalistic religion demands outright compliance to rules. It is motivated, not by compassion for our health, but by its lust for power and control. Its chief strategy for imposing its will is fear and intimidation. When its expectations are not met, it reacts in anger to punish.
The events of 9/11/01 revealed the worst of religion to pound on a way of life (freedom) that does not accommodate its need to control. Contrasting religion, God calls us to health through his faithful love and care for us. He is very kind to put up with us and to deal patiently with us in order to lead us to him and to change the way we think and act.
“The purpose of God’s goodness is to lead you to repentance (a change of thinking leading to a change of behavior).” – Romans 2:4
See GOD
Don Loy Whisnant/The Grace Perspective 10I13
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