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Please pray for me; I'll be in the US starting Oct.1, 12. 

Dear Friends 

I have been lost in Ethiopian jungle for a while. Currently, I am writing a curriculum for pastors that they use to equip believers. It amazes me how most pastors do not have a tool or a guide that they use to feed the people from the Bible. I believe leadership involves developing tools. Please do so if God has given you a responsibility to lead. Do you just talk or you also work, which involves developing tools that help ministry? 

I'm observing that most people like to be in a leadership position, but hardly contribute any thing. Please respond to this fact:"leadership is a function and servant hood is a position." 

Bearing much fruit is a proof of discipleship.  Jesus said in John 15:8  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." Then, the question comes naturally to our mind is regarding what he meant by bearing fruit.  James 3:12 asks, "Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?"  The answer obviously is no.  A fig tree produces figs, an olive tree olives, and a vine grapes.  In the same way, the true vine which is Christ produces his nature in the branches.  The branches who produce the nature of Christ in an increasing measure in their lives prove that they are the true disciples and the Father is glorified in them.

Though able we might consider ourselves, there is a high probability that we might experience some degree of disability. This is true for leaders as well. First is learning disability; we are created to be disciples, which also means learners. Ceasing learning is ceasing leading. We are as good as our leaning appetite. Sometimes, we tend to depend on our experience and credentials and stop acquiring more, which ultimately kills a leader in us. Organisms that survive are those that adapt to the changing environment. That is utterly impossible unless we remain vulnerable to the surrounding world. How do I know if I have learning disability? Are you learning new skills, new ways of doing things? Are you learning more about those things that you think you have already mastered? Are you updating yourself regarding your profession and the world? Life is a school and leadership is one of the subjects that life teaches.

Second, hearing disability; the role of leadership involves too much talking, telling, and instructing. The more we dwell on this roles, the more disable we become in listening to others. It takes genuine discipline to be a listening leader. If we don't listen, we should also stop telling others.Jesus inquires and listens, do you? How do I know, if I've this particular disability? Good question, well when you are around who does all or most of the speech?  Do you ask most or you answer most? Watch out.

Third is touching disability; can people access us, touch us, talk to us, ask us, interrupt us, challenge us? Do they feel comfortable to reach out to us if they want to? One danger that comes with leading is inaccessibility to the people that God called us to serve. An inaccessible leader is an idol; people may have to come up with a ladder of false religion to reach them. In other words, if a leader doesn't feel people's touch, he/she has 'spiritual leprosy'. Literally, any one had the right to interrupt, touch, and talk to Jesus during his ministry on earth. How do I know? Again, do you have many gate-keepers that protect visitors? have you talked to someone under your influence today or this week? What do you tell your assistant in the office if you have one; do you often say, 'tell people that I'm 'busy' OR 'I may have to meet at least few people each day, so let me know if people call'? Do you call people or you even refuse to answer when people call. By the way, have you checked your voice message box, may be it's full and no space to leave message for you, oops!

Seek His face

When you are seeking God’s face you are seeking His heart and His mind. The problem is most people that are "seeking God" are seeking His hands, not His heart. God is not coming to people who merely seek His benefits. He is coming to people who seek His face. I think at this moment in the church of Jesus Christ God is tired of screaming instructions; He wants to guide us with His eye. That means we have to be close enough to Him to see His face.

You don’t have revival by seeking revival, but by seeking God. God says if you will pray and seek my face, I will hear and forgive and heal. If God is going to come and be with His people, He is not going to come until his people ask him. God is waiting to hear His people pray and seek His face. And until some people get on their knees, humble themselves, seek God and ask Him to come, revival will not become a reality. The father’s heart is open to those who have an ongoing relationship with Him; His children who not only come to Him with their needs seeking His hand but who also seek His face to enjoy their relationship with Him. Are you seeking His face ?