The personal blog of Anderson T. Graves II. Education, Religion, Politics, Family, and TRUTH------ but not necessarily the truth you want to hear.
I still love ya' though.
This is the meditation I delivered at
Hunter’s Chapel AME Zion for their 2019 church anniversary and pastor
appreciation for my Rev. Dr. Thaddeus Steele.
The title of the message is: THE PROMISE, THE POSSESSION, & THE
PASTOR.
---Anderson
T. Graves II is a pastor, writer, community organizer, and
consultant
Rev.
Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Bailey Tabernacle CME Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
He writes the popular blog: A Word to the Wise at
www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com
If you're really
good at something, whatever it is: art, sports, ministry, organizing, . . .
whatever; if you're really good at it, a moment comes when you have to choose
between CELEBRITY & SERVICE.
If you’re an artist
or entertainer, you’ll face a moment when you have a platform from which you
can speak truth. From there you can
direct people to community-changing action.
Or, you can use the aftermath to promote your
album.
SERVICE or
CELEBRITY?
If you’re a servant-leader
who leads and serves well, you’ll get noticed and you’ll get access to
resources, opportunities, and people you’d never imagined. You can use your new access to resolve the
most stubborn problems in the community you serve and empower masses of people
to help their neighbors. Or, you can
become a brand and build your brand while ignoring the people and places you supposedly
serve.
CELEBRITY or
SERVICE?
Acts 8 tells the
story of a celebrity magician named Simon.
Simon got saved and served faithfully as a member in good standing of
the 1st Church of Samaria.
But then, as recorded in Acts 8:14-19, Simon realized that if he could
make folks catch the Holy Ghost, it would be worth a lot of money.
And when Simon saw
that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he
offered them money,saying, “Give me this power also, that
anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” --- Acts 8:18 - 19
The moment came and
Simon chose CELEBRITY over service.
That was the wrong
choice.
Peter said to him,
“Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be
purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in
this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. ---- Acts 8:20 -
21
Simon, the
celebrity, issued a public apology. He
said he’d learned the error of his ways.
Then Simon answered
and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have
spoken may come upon me.” --- Acts 8:24
I don’t know. That’s the end of Simon’s story in the Bible.
Jesus served 5,000
hungry men with accompanying women and children by miraculously multiplying 2
fish and 5 loaves of bread. It made him
famous.
Then those men, when
they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is
to come into the world.” --- John 6: 14
Jesus didn’t just
have disciples. Now He also had
fans.
His public demanded
that he take a bigger contract, launch a national platform, become the face of
the people.
. . . Jesus
perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king.
. . --- John 6:15a
But Jesus understood
history and human nature. Jesus
understood that when the adoring public didn’t want a king like Jesus; they
wanted Jesus to be a king like the kings they saw online and on tv (or the 1st
century equivalent of online an on tv).
Remember 1 Samuel 8: 4-20.
Jesus declined to be
made their celebrity.
Therefore when Jesus
perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself
alone. ---- John 6:15, emphasis
added.
Jesus didn’t stop
working miracles. He walked on water
that very night (John 6:15 – 21).
He didn’t stop
helping people. The next day, Jesus
healed a bunch of people (Matthew 14:34 – 36).
Jesus chose SERVICE
over celebrity.
Now think about
this: Jesus is the most
famous person in history, BECAUSE
he chose to be a servant instead of a celebrity.
Take a second and
process that. It’s a paradox. Take a sec.
By doing what He had to do to serve the people, Jesus built a platform,
amplified His voice, and expanded His audience.
But He still spent the bulk of his time on the ground, in the trenches,
getting dirty, being genuinely vulnerable and present with the least of these,
His brothers.
In conclusion,
Simon saw the
purpose of God for his life but left his purpose to follow the cameras. Jesus followed his purpose and the cameras
followed Him.
You and I get to
decide: service or celebrity. You may get both, but you can’t pursue
both. Yeah, they say you can. You can’t.
No one can serve two
masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be
loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. ----
Jesus, Matthew 6:24
Oh, wait! There’s
one more thing.
The Bible doesn’t
say what happened to Simon, but we know what happened to Jesus.
When the Servant who
was not seeking celebrity got famous and his fame started shining real bright,
the reigning political celebrities killed Him.
But, as the song
goes, that’s not where the story ends.
The Servant rose and reigns.
Choosing service over celebrity will bring pain. There’ll be seasons where you’ll feel broken
and utterly destroyed. But, that’s not
where your story will end.
Don’t grow weary of
doing well. You will eventually reap
your reward.
So?
What’ll it be?
---Anderson T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and
consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T.
Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in
Fairfield, Alabama; executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth
Networking Organization (SAYNO); and director of rural leadership
development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
A leader’s work doesn’t end when someone new takes over
their title.
In Genesis chapter 13, Lot, Abram’s young nephew took over leadership of their prime pasture
land. In Genesis chapter 14, Lot
encountered more trouble in that position than he was prepared to handle. Cause that is how the world works.
The Devil targets new leaders.
There had been 12 years of peace in the Jordan valley, but
as soon as Lot started implementing his
vision for their people, trouble came
from 9 different directions. Nine
kingdoms go to war with each other and
Lot is in the middle of it all.
Everything Lot owns, all of his employees, his entire family, and he are
all taken by the 4 invading kings. The
other 5 kings, the ones who were supposed to protect Lot and his
interests? Those guys ran away. (Genesis
14:1-10)
Warn your proteges.
Tell your successors that the prophetic pattern is clear. The
devil comes for the new guy.
A leader isn’t
successful until their successor succeeds.
Now, when Abram heard that his nephew had been kidnapped, he
went full on Liam Nelson. Abram rounded
up his boys and called his Amorite allies Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner because some
situation require you to call on your heathen friends (Luke 16:9). They locked and they loaded and they went
after the people who had taken Lot.
We make sons so we
can have brothers.
Now when Abram heard
that his brother was taken captive,
he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his
own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 13:14)
The rescue mission succeeded but that’s not our main point
right now.
In Genesis 14,
Scripture refers to Lot as his brother not “his nephew.” In their time together, Lot had been like a
son to Abram, his student, his protégé; but Lot had grown up. The shift in language affirms that Abram
hadn’t “let” Lot lead in the south to shut the kid up. Abram truly saw Lot as an EQUAL.
Too often, older church folk only see younger adults as
baby, son, and so-and-so’s child.
Abraham’s example teaches veteran leaders to progress to a new level of
relationship to young adults in which they are your equals. Don’t postpone that relationship until you’re
too tired to hold on to the primacy.
While Abraham was in his prime, while he was still leading
and fighting effectively, while he still had the power and influence to shut
Lot out --- Abraham stopped calling Lot “my brother’s baby,”
and started
calling him “my brother.”
When enemies overwhelmed his brother, the old man had to
come to his rescue. He didn’t ride in
singing, “I told you so.” Abram didn’t
say, “I knew you weren’t ready to chair this auxiliary.” Abram mobilized his contacts and risked his
standing to rescue Lot without losing any respect for Lot as a man or a
leader.
Because that’s what you do when YOUR BROTHER is in trouble.
Watch out for the
wish-you-were-stills
The mission was a success, but then the wish-you-were-stills
came back. You know the wish-you-were-stills? Say you led an organization for several years
but you’ve stepped down and a new leader is in charge. When that new leader encounters a major problem you stop by to
consult. When you arrive, there will
be people who pull you aside and say, “We
wish-you-were-still in charge.”
Some of them will wish-you-were-still out of sincere
love. They supported you while you were
in charge.
But some wish-you-were-stills will be the very people who’d opposed
you at every turn, sabotaged your efforts, and made your time in charge a
living HELL-O.
In Genesis 14, the 5 kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their
allies were Abram’s wish-you-were-stills.
Remember these were the guys who ran away, abandoning Lot and his family
to be robbed and kidnapped (Genesis 14:10-12).
After the rescue (in which the 5 kings did not participate), the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me
the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” (Genesis 4:21)
He said, “Look, Abram.
This nephew of yours doesn’t deserve the wealth he’s acquired. You made him what he is. We wish-you-were-still in charge. Let us come in after the crisis and remove
him from power, and you can take it back. “
Abram recognized the manipulation and his response in verses
22-24 left wisdom for every leader tempted to take out the new guy.
·Don’t be led by ego.Be led by God.
·Stay on mission.You came tohelp not to take
over.
·If you let the wish-you-were-stills give you the
kingdom, they will own you.Besides, if they’ll betray the new guy, they’ll
betray you.
·You have (or should have) new work to do.
Be the former leader you wish your former leader had
been.
---Anderson T. Graves II is a
writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural
leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in
Fairfield, Alabama; executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth
Networking Organization (SAYNO);
and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for
Human Development (NIHD).
Nothing just happens. Everything
has a cause. In the opening chapters of
Isaiah, God delivers a prophetic warning about what is causing the chronic brokenness
in our communities, and offers a way to correct the decline.
This is part one of an urgently relevant and necessary message. The sermon is titled: CAUSE & EFFECT, part 1 .
---Anderson T. Graves
II is a
writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural
leadership development.
Rev.
Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;
executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO); and director of rural leadership
development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
Proverbs 31: 15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.
Proverbs 31: 15.The manager of a hotel or restaurant is up and on duty hours before breakfast begins.He/she makes sure that the staff are all in place, equipped, and on task to provide food and hospitality for the guests.The manager probably never flips a single pancake or takes a single order, but he/she takes care of everybody ---- all of the guests and all of the staff.
Why would “a boss” get up so early and work so hard when he/she has employees to do that stuff?Because that’s what it takes to be a boss.
First up.First in.Last to leave. Last to bed.
That’s how King David lived (Psalm 119: 147). That’s how Moses operated (Exodus 8: 20; 34: 4).Joshua got up first and got it started (Joshua 3:1).And Jesus was always up and rolling before his disciples (Mark 1: 35), even if He’d ended the night before literally dead (Matthew 28: 1, 2).
First up.First in.Last to leave. Last to bed.
I remember the many cold mornings that my father woke me to do some early morning chore.I remember that he was already fully dressed and he’d already been up and outside working before he came to get me.I remember carefully stepping over the freshly shined shoes that Daddy changed into for the day job he sandwiched between early morning and late evening working on the farm.
I remember my mom flicking on the light switch and hollering for me to get up and get ready.I remember that she had the housecoat on over her workclothes, her makeup was already done, and the house already smelled of biscuits (homemade from scratch), and grits, and bacon that were almost done.
First up.First in.Last to leave. Last to bed.
That’s what it takes to be a leader.That’s what it takes to be “a boss.”
And ladies (as Proverbs 31 states), that’s what it takes to be a queen.
---Anderson T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Churchin Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order. Mail all contributions to : Hall Memorial CME Church 541 Seibles Road Montgomery, AL 36116
Proverbs 31: 15 She also
rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.
Proverbs
31: 15.The manager of a hotel or restaurant is up and on duty hours before
breakfast begins.He/she makes sure that
the staff are all in place, equipped, and on task to provide food and
hospitality for the guests.The manager
probably never flips a single pancake or takes a single order, but he/she takes
care of everybody ---- all of the guests and all of the staff.
Why would “a boss” get up so early and work so hard
when he/she has employees to do that stuff?Because that’s what it takes to be a boss.
First up.First in.Last to leave. Last to bed.
That’s how King David lived (Psalm
119: 147). That’s how Moses operated
(Exodus
8: 20; 34:
4).Joshua got up first and got it
started (Joshua
3:1).And Jesus was always up and
rolling before his disciples (Mark
1: 35), even if He’d ended the night before literally dead (Matthew
28: 1, 2).
First up.First in.Last to leave. Last to bed.
I remember the many cold mornings that my father woke me to do some early morning chore.I
remember that he was already fully dressed and he’d already been up and outside
working before he came to get me.I remember
carefully stepping over the freshly shined shoes that Daddy changed into for the
day job he sandwiched between early morning and late evening working on the farm.
I remember my mom flicking on the light switch and hollering
for me to get up and get ready.I
remember that she had the housecoat on over her workclothes, her makeup was
already done, and the house already
smelled of biscuits (homemade from scratch), and grits, and bacon that were
almost done.
First up.First in.Last to leave. Last to bed.
That’s what it takes to be a leader.That’s what it takes to be “a boss.”
And ladies that’s
what it takes to be a queen.
---Anderson
T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and
consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Churchin Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth
Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership
development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
If this message helps or touches you, please help
support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
Proverbs 29: 21 He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end.
Proverbs 29:21.Solomon was fair and just.He was that rare leader who could negotiate with monarchs or arbitrate between two hookers with the equal attentiveness and respect.But, Solomon was also the elite of the elite.He was the top of the top 1%.
Solomon had been born in the palace, the son of the king. But Solomon’s father, David, had been a a working class shepherd and soldier who’d risen from carrying other soldiers’ armor to leading the entire army.Solomon appreciated the importance of upward mobility.
Solomon enjoyed the lifestyle of the rich and famous.Yet, he also understood that he had not earned his position as king.It had been given to him by God, and if not for the grace of God, he would not have been able to hold onto it, let alone prosper in it.
Solomon understood money, and he valued labor.He was an elite class leader with working class sensibilities.
So, when Solomon talks about a servant rising to the status of a son, you have to wonder:Was this a warning, or was it encouragement?
As a warning, the message to bosses and leaders is to not “baby” their workers/followers.If you excuse them when they’re irresponsible, if you reward them without merit, if you fail to enforce accountability then they will come to depend on you----- for everything.They become your dependents--- your sons.
You end up with a committee/ board on which no one works but the chairperson.You end up with an office where everyone gets paid while the supervisor handles all the actual business.You end up with a church where if the pastor goes away, so does all the ministry.
The proverb could be a warning.
But……
In Solomon’s day, a son was also a guarantee of security and continuity of the family’s legacy.In that context, the proverb encourages leaders and bosses to treat their workers like family.A leader should be so good to her team that as they grow personally and professionally they come to love their leader.A good leader should treat his people so well that they remain loyal to him and his vision even after he has handed over the reins of power and title.Thus, the “father’s” mission passes to the “sons,” and the VISION becomes a LEGACY.
The Apostle Paul did this with young pastors Timothy and Apollos (1 Corinthians 4: 6, 14-17).The Prophet Moses did this with a lay warrior named Joshua (Deuteronomy 34: 9; Joshua 1: 1,2). Jesus did this with a group of little children whom we call “the disciples” (John 13:33).
So.Is Proverbs 29:21 a warning against pampering your servant or a word of encouragement to do just that?
Without contradiction, the answer is: BOTH.
Hold your people accountable.Don’t treat them like babies.At the same time, treat them well, like a loving, fair, and strong father should.If you practice the right balance then your organization, your people, and you will profit from your relationship in the short term and far into the future.
---Anderson T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
If you enjoy our work, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order. Mail all contributions to : Hall Memorial CME Church 541 Seibles Road Montgomery, AL 36116
