I don't like broken stuff. I want it either fixed or thrown out. But God loves broken stuff. King David knew this when he wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." And the way we get "broken" usually hurts.

Applying this concept to leadership in Leading with a Limp, Dan Allender says,

"For most leaders, humility comes only by wounds suffered from foolish falls... We achieve brokenness by falling off of our throne. To be broken is not a choice; it is a gift."

I suppose it is only when I am conscious of my brokenness as a leader that I am genuinely equipped to lead as an ambassador of Jesus. I have some stories of epic failure in my life and ministry. Not until later could I see them as gifts. But now I am so grateful that the Father let me fall as I learned to walk as a leader.

You know, Paul led as the chief repenter in his day—as a big sinner who had an even bigger Savior. He refused to be the hero, because that role was reserved for Jesus. So that's what I want today: a consciousness of my cracks that, although I would not have chosen them, are present as gifts. Wounds through which humility and wisdom are created and through which grace can now flow.

Good leaders listen. This applies to husbands, fathers, coaches, managers, teachers, politicians, pastors, etc. Since I'm on that list several times, I need to make a confession: one of the biggest mistakes I've made in ministry and marriage is not listening well. 

As someone who likes to be right, I find it hard (really hard) to listen to the opinions, recommendations, critiques and advice of others. If I am a leader, I am supposed to have the answers, the wisdom and the vision to see the right path, right? Have you ever tried following someone who was never wrong? Tried living with him/her? Okay, now we get it!

The good leader is humble, knowing that wisdom is not found in one person, but in the collective perspective of many. Yes, as a leader, I must make the decision and take responsibility for the outcome. But I am to lead by listening—to others in my family and on my staff team, and most importantly to the one who is Omni-wise.

As Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  

In case you were providentially hindered from attending today, here it today's Creekstone message from 1 Peter 2:13-25, "Practical Humility." 

Practical_Humility_•_1_Peter_2.13-25.mp3

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Practical_Humility_•_1_Peter_2.13-25.mp3 (10.2 MB)

In his classic, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis talks about The Great Sin. Concerning this sin, he says, "the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others." What is this great, ultimate, most devastating of all sins? Pride, or self-conceit. Lewis goes on:

Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind... Pride is essentially competitive... [It] gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better looking than others... It is the comparison that makes you proud... It is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery of every nation and every family since the world began...

How is it that pepople who are quite obviously eaten up with Pride can say they believe in God and appear to themselves very [spiritual]? I am afraid it means they are worshipping an imaginary God. They theoretically admit themselves to be nothing in the presence of this phantom God, but are really all the time imagining how He approves of them and thinks them far better than ordinary people...

We have a test. Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good—above all, better than someone else—I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil... It is a terrible thing that the worst of all vices can smuggle itself into the very centre of our [spiritual] life.

If you meet a really humble man... Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily.

So what are we to do?  The first step, Lewis says, "is to realize that one is proud... If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed." The good news is that the gospel invites us to confess our prideful passion for self-glory, cast it upon the cross, and receive the gift-righteousness of Jesus as our real, genuine glory. Gospel faith is the only antidote for the disease. It fosters true humility and illuminates the wonder of God's grace. So let your great sin lead you to the great Savior!

This just in from my friend, Dave McCarty:

Grace Flows Downhill • Luke 18:9 - 14 by Mckay Caston

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Grace Flows Downhill • Luke 18_9-14.mp3 (12.3 MB)

This is last night's message at Creekstone's Sunday night gathering. Thanks to everyone who helped set up, and to our worship team– wow. Also, please remember to pray for Kira as she awaits her biopsy results following last week's surgery. I love our community, and am grateful to be part of your lives.
- McKay

Here is a quote from my friend Dave McCarty that gives hope to the Failure in me.

“If it's not humbling to follow Jesus, if you don't constantly feel like a failure at it, something is wrong in your understanding of the Bible, or yourself.   The Pharisees and Sadducees didn't feel like failures, and Jesus had the harshest things to say to them, of all people.  I remember some years ago, a new Christian in our home group, said one Wednesday night, after reading her Bible all week, 'This is impossible.'  I replied, 'Good, now you are beginning to understand.'"

Justin Holcomb is the Academic Dean of Re:Train, and posted this helpful article on the Resurgence blog recently:

Paul refers to himself numerous times as worth "imitating" when it comes to spiritual growth and maturity (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1; Phil. 3:17, 4:19; 1 Thess. 1:6; and 2 Thess. 3:7, 9).

What do we see when we look to Paul as an example? He makes three significant statements about himself throughout his years in ministry that are helpful insights into his view of spiritual growth.

The Least of the Apostles

Early in Paul's ministry, during his three missionary journeys, he wrote six major epistles: Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans. In one of them, Paul makes a very humble statement about himself—"I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9).

Paul does not put himself on par with the other apostles, as if he were equal to them. Rather, he calls himself "the least of the apostles." That's a decent dose of humility worth noticing.

The Least of all the Saints

Toward the middle of his ministry, during his first Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote Philippians, Colossian, Philemon, and Ephesians. In Ephesians 3:8, his humility deepens—"I am the very least of all the saints."

Paul goes from "least of the apostles" to "least of all the saints." What's happening here?

The Foremost Sinner

At the end of his ministry and during his second Roman imprisonment, Paul writes Titus and 1 and 2 Timothy. Early in his first letter to Timothy, Paul writes: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Tim 1:15). Some translations say "chief of sinners."

Paul sounds like a spiritual failure, like he is regressing spiritually, not making spiritual progress.

Paul's Downward Mobility

Do you see the trajectory as Paul matures in faith? This is what happens when you boast in Christ alone. Your weakness becomes more evident. You can't help but make much of Christ and little of self. That is maturity according to Paul—boasting in nothing but Christ's grace and our weakness.

True Spiritual Growth

Paul isn't just using self-deprecating hyperbole as a teaching device. Each of the three statements about himself is surrounded by references to the cross (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph. 3:7-8; and 1 Tim. 1:15) and grace or mercy (1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 3:2, 7; and 1 Tim. 1:13-14, 16). For him, spiritual growth is realizing how utterly dependent he is on Jesus' cross and mercy, not arriving at some point where he somehow needs the cross and mercy less.

Paul's view of himself diminishes and his dependence on Jesus' cross and grace increases. How do you talk about spiritual maturity? Imitating Paul's example, there should be more talk of the depth and scope of God's mercy, less talk of self-reliance, and an abiding fixation on Jesus' cross that secured God's grace for you.