When to Evaluate

Judging the value and quality of people, merchandise, experiences and many other things is a constant activity in our lives.  We continually make judgments.  "Our server was great, let's leave him a great tip."  "This NBA game is boring, let's switch to Netflix."  "Our neighbors new dog is loud and obnoxious."  Sound familiar (okay, maybe not the exact terminology or situations)?  Whether or not you realize it your life is a result of the choices you made based upon evaluations you made.  Who you work for, who you married (a big evaluation and guys I think most of us are lucky are wives weren't a bit more discerning and judgmental), where you live, how you spend your money, etc.

As a leader we are constantly forced to make evaluations.  We evaluate our followers, our group's experiences, our prospects for the future, our current goals and our progress.  Leading is all about evaluating.  We evaluate things on a life changing level.  As coaches we evaluate who to recruit (My assistant coach this year told me she went to see a recruit and after the game told her straight up that we didn't want her as part of our program because of attitude and work ethic).  That can change someones life.  Leaders have to decide who to hire, promote/demote, who to fire, who to retain.  All these things are life changing.  

Unfortunately, many times as leaders we react and make snap judgments that are costly.  I have a coach friend who has literally thrown at least 50% of his players off the team following a tough game or contentious exchange in the locker room.  Later he has to come back and spend valuable time undoing the damage he inflicted with that snap evaluation and reaction.  How can we make better evaluations as leaders?  Let me suggest 3 ways.

Be Restored - In all facets of life be restored before making a major evaluation.  Become whole again.  That means eat and get your body back in balance.  Get your blood sugar under control and your energy levels restored.  Go home and get back in your comfort zone before making decisions.  Very few problems need an immediate solution.  Before evaluating situations or people restore the balance in your life.  Hug your spouse, play with your kids or dog and spend some time in your favorite chair watching some TV or reading a book.

Be Rested - Similar to the item above but get some rest before evaluating people, ideas and opportunities.  Very few problems require an immediate solution and our initial reaction following an evaluation made in exhaustion will likely damage someone or some relationship.  Step back from the situation and get some sleep.  Even a few days or up to a week of rest can be very beneficial when making an important evaluation.  You can still address the situation when tired, but evaluate  it fully when rested.  For example, if one of your followers is openly insubordinate and disrespectful don't ignore it and address it in a week.  But, you can say "Tom, that behavior isn't going to fly.  We will need to talk tomorrow.  See me in my office."  In that case you have addressed the situation initially and also bought yourself time to really see what is going on.  You may make a better decision based on the rest or the same decision that you would have made immediately.  At least, by getting rested you have given yourself the confidence that it was the right decision and will save yourself much time in second guessing.

Be Removed - Get away from the person or situation.  I have seen way too many coaches leave games and yell at an opposing coach, player, AD or ref.  Too many leaders want to fix things in the moment.  Get yourself removed from the location of the situation or away from the person to be evaluated and then make some decisions.

These suggestions are all pretty similar.  They share the key component of allowing time to help us make wise decisions.  As leaders we will literally change someone's life on a regular basis.  We owe our followers the opportunity to have their leader make tough decisions after being restored, rested and removed.

How to Deal with Evil in the World

This is a dark and dying world.  Evil abounds, unchecked (it feels) at times.  Locally we had 3 young adults commit an armed robbery/murder to rob a man of $24.  We had the horrible mass shooting in Orlando over the weekend.

J.R.R. Tolkien says: "The world is indeed full of peril, and in it are many dark places; but there is still much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater."  Another Tolkien quote is "Some believe it is only great power that con hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found.  I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.   Small acts of kindness and love."

We are losing.  Christians lament the many cultural changes that have swept over our nation.  We are losing ground daily in our battle for the culture.  To paraphrase Russell Moore in his book Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel "So What?"  We were never called to win a culture war.  We were called to win souls.

What can we do to "Let our Light Shine" in this present age of darkness?  (General warning:  This post will contain many Bible Truths and references.  If that is a concern, please discontinue reading).

1.)  Overcome Evil with Good.  Check out this story coming out of the horrible murder rampage in Orlando. Chik-Fil-a story They got it right.  We need to overcome the darkness in the world with love.  Romans 12:21 says "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  Next time you are tempted to moan and groan about the state of the world, do something to make a difference.

2.) Understand our Enemy.  We are not at war with Radical Islam, Homosexuals, Liberals or anyone else.  Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

3.)  Protect and Prepare Yourself.  En empowering moment in anyone's life comes when we embrace the fact that we cannot change others, only ourselves.  In fighting against injustice, wickedness and evil in the world protect and prepare yourself.  One verse up (Ephesians 6:11) we read " Put on the whole armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."  Take care of your house, your life and your walk with Christ.  Getting yourself right is a big key to helping get the world right.

4.)  Stand Firm and Hold On.  Again quoting from Ephesians "Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist In the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."  I Thessalonians 5:21-22 tells us to "hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."

5.) Fear Not.  Hebrews 13:6 encourages us that "The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid.  What will man do to me?"  We (through Christ) win.  Don't be discouraged or fearful. 

Embrace your call to be Salt and Light to a dying world.  We were never called to be Salt and Light to a living and thriving world.  Go out and make a difference today.

Why?

Have you ever stopped to wonder "Why am I doing what I am doing?"  Take for example reading this post.  Why are you spending your time reading this post and not doing something else?  Why are you not reading another persons blog?  Likely the answer is you were scrolling through Facebook and saw the link and clicked on it.  Kinda random.  That's like driving down the street and turning randomly whenever something caught your attention.  We never would get anywhere in life if that is how we drove everywhere.  When we get in our car and start driving we are intentionally trying to get somewhere, to accomplish something.

Let's broaden out the idea of asking "Why am I doing what I am doing?"  Why do you work where you work?  Go to Church where you worship?  Why do you read what you read or watch what you watch?  Why do you volunteer certain places?  Why do you spend so much time with certain people and not as much with others?

If you are like me and honestly answering those questions you may be feeling like much of your life is happening due to coincidence, convenience or the result of just going with the flow.  Can we be more intentional in how we live our lives?

The "Why am I doing this thing?" question should flow from our priorities.  If we are living intentionally and making things happen instead of allowing things to happen to us we should be able to answer the "why" question.

I will go through a few examples from areas of my life.  Try the same exercise with your weekly schedule and ask "why am I doing this?" for each activity.

Why do I work where I work (The ministries of The Open Door Church):  I work/minister here because I overwhelmingly feel a sense of calling to be here.  I believe that the Lord has placed me here for this season to minister kids and teens.  I feel I am gifted in this area and I am honored to have the privilege of spending my life pouring into others.  More practically I work here to provide income and resources for my family.

Why do I Coach Basketball at PSU Mont Alto?:  I coach basketball because I love the game and enjoy being around the wonderful people I get to interact with daily.  I love the players I coach, the coaches I work alongside and coach against and the administrators at Mont Alto and opposing schools I can work with.  I love the opportunity to travel and see new campuses and go to new places.

Why do I spend time with my Family?:  I believe that God has given me my two boys to raise as a trust.  I have been entrusted with precious commodities and it is my job to raise them up to serve the Lord and His purposes on earth.  I spend time with my wife and family because they are my favorite people in the universe and there is no one I would rather be with.  Being a DAD is the most important job I will ever have and no earthly job will ever come before this job.

Hopefully as you read my explanations you were able to think through some of the roles and activities in your life.  Try to think and analyze why you do certain things and whether or not that the "Why" is aligned with your values and beliefs.