Tim Ross has written an amazing blog leading into his time here in Australia. We are honored to have this amazing leader speak at “Momentum” this Wenesday night. check out the details and order your tickets online at http://youthaliveqld.com/momentum if you are already coming let us know on the Facebook event & invite friends.

You can follow Tim Ross on Twitter @timrossorg or check out his full blog at http://timross.org

Tim Ross – I am here to serve

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to serve God’s people with the gift that He has given me. My life continues to unfold like that of a master origamist who has decided to reveal how a work of art can come from something as plain as paper. God has given me a gift to teach and preach His word in a way that people truly get it. That gift doesn’t belong to me, that gift belongs to us.

In just a few days time I will be back in Australia serving that great continent with this gift. Before I start the bulk of my ministry in Perth, Western Australia, I will have a couple of days in Brisbane, Queensland to speak to leaders on the subject of leadership. I am incredibly excited about it! There are so many great things that have been said about leadership and so many great books that have been written that I am amazed by the number of poor leaders that we continue to have in ministry, business, politics (the list could go on….).

At the core every leader has to deal with his or her pride. Let’s face it, commanding the attention of hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions of people can be what my father calls, “Pretty heady stuff”. There are all kinds of traps that feed that pride and condition that leaders mind to inhale the toxic fumes of narcissism. Consider this:

*Leaders are always asked to talk about themselves and to let us know what they are thinking. Therefore the leader becomes conditioned to talk about themselves and can begin to think their thoughts are superior to others.

*Leaders are always catered to and everyone wants to do things for them just right. Therefore the leader begins to believe they should always be catered to and everyone should do things just right for them.

*Leaders are considered the best at what they do. Therefore the leader can become intimidated if someone else starts being considered the best at what they do.

I could create a whole list of things, but these are just a few examples. How can we as leaders identify and navigate these danger zones without becoming another victim of notoriety? I’m glad you asked. CHANGE YOUR MIND! Yep, that’s the groundbreaking revelation for today, CHANGE YOUR MIND!!!!!!

The Gospel According to Luke gives us incredible insight to the mindset of the greatest leader of all time, Jesus Christ. In Chapter 22 after Jesus drops a hint that someone at the table (Judas) would betray Him, the disciples started to argue about who would be the greatest among them (vs. 24-27). Jesus’ response reveals His mind on the matter, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves”.

The problem amongst prideful leadership is that along the way they somehow forget that they are merely waiters. Every revelation, every creative idea, every innovative concept is nothing more than an entree that God the Chef placed on the “plate” of your mind and gave you the privilege to SERVE. Not lord, not manipulate, not pervert, not distort, SERVE!

The best leaders are nothing more than servants who KNOW they are servants. I won’t let anyone off the hook here. You may be saying to yourself, “I know I am here to serve, your not talking to me”. Do your actions show that? Would your staff say the same? Heck, would your wife/husband and kids be able to endorse you as such? We have a responsibility to serve with our gifting and talents. We also must humble ourselves. That is not God’s assignment, that is ours. He will take care of you going up if you take care of bringing yourself down.

One Chef. Millions of waiters. 5 words: I am here to serve.