THE ONE THING AS A PARENT…

Parents have many job descriptions – from driving to disciplining, providing to preparing, teaching to training, changing diapers to changing flat tires of their teen’s car.

But of all the different things a parent has to do, the most important thing is to make sure that they point their kids to Jesus.

All the education, food on the table, discipline, travels around the world, and every provision a parent can admirably give to their kids are in vain if they don’t meet Christ.

And I say that unapologetically.

Nothing else will compare to see your kids walk with God.

Our kids can get athletic gold medals, make it to the dean’s list, get academic scholarships, land a good job, generate millions in income but if Christ is no where in the radar, all of it is useless.

Paul says to live is Christ but to die is gain. (Phil. 1:21)

To live for anything else is in vain because to die will be a major loss for we cannot bring any of it to the next life.

I brought my 12 year old to the Ignite Youth conference hoping she can encounter Christ in an amazing way. Hope she did.

What then is my goal? To point my kids to Jesus so they can encounter Him and have a living and loving relationship with Him.

Worship Time during IGNITE 2011

STEPPING ASIDE

I spoke to a guy this week who told me he wanted to lead. Though his heart was not in the wrong place, I warned him that a lot of leadership is not found in a title or position.

While I appreciate how John Maxwell defined leadership as ‘influence’, Jesus defined it differently.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. (Mark 10:42-44)

Leadership is serving.

This I saw yesterday during our Metro Manila Staff Meeting.  Jam, who is a phenomenal worship leader led us into the presence of God.  He’s the one in the middle of the picture in a white shirt.  While this was happening, I was watching Pastor Joel Barrios (on the far right in red).  He used to be in the frontlines and the one in the middle.  Yet as he has raised so many worship leaders, he has deliberately stepped aside to let others take the lead.

We’ve seen too many insecure leaders today try to stay in the ‘spotlight’ as long as they can.  This is not the case with Joel Barrios – a man who knows how to lead… He leads by serving.

God help me to be like him – a secure leader who loves serve and knows when to step aside.