Leaders, Take the Lead...

I had the privilege of hearing someone speak on the different aspects of being a leader a few days ago and it brought me to a point of thinking this simple thought:

 

"What makes me a leader?"

  

Think about this: You go see a movie and you admit that it was one of the best you've seen in a long time. You're so hyped, you call your friend and almost tell them the movie. Instead, you tell them, "Listen, you just got to see it for yourself. I promise you, you won't be disappointed!" Your friend goes and sees the movie 

that weekend.

 

Perhaps you were the friend that received the phone call and you went to see the movie, or bought a video game, or moved to a neighborhood, or even bought a sandwich! Why did you do it?

 

...because of the passion... 

 

A leader is able to influence others to be passionate thru their own passion. A leader is able to motivate others thru and to that same vision. 

 

A leader leads by example, not position.While we are leaders in our right, we cannot lead people from the back, but from the front.  Most people don't want to be leaders because of the responsibility associated with it, the strain and frustration of making sure people follow, and the different personalities, attitudes, and character traits that one has to deal with. 

I'm here to tell you that you're built for this. 

As a leader, your sight needs to be set on the vision, the goal. Then your responsibility needs to be on becoming it so that people are drawn to the vision, to assist in the completion and attaining the vision.  As a result of their attachment to the vision, they grow personally - their attachment to the vision becomes whole - covering spirit, soul, and body.

Here's the key: In order to be a great leader, you must be a great follower. When you follow, you follow an example which molds you into the great leader you were designed to be.

The great leader is Jesus. He's the pattern.

The greatest account of this is the story of the centurion in Matthew 8:1-13. The centurion understood the authority of Jesus - the leadership of Jesus - because he himself was a man leader who was under (aka followed) authority.  Because he understood the leadership of Jesus and submitted to it, his servant was healed.

Let's lead by example in 2012 so that folks can see the vision, be drawn to the vision, attach themselves to the vision, and sell out to it.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: Christian , leadership , life , movement

The Post-Shift

Okay, so here goes everything...

This morning, I woke up thinking about the previous weekend in Miami, at our Shift Conference. Still reeling over how powerful it was and how many people were affected by it, I sat down for some quiet time with The Father and I heard Him say this:

"I didn't send you to Miami to see my presence but to experience what happens when you purpose in your heart to make a shift to embrace My Grace. All the limits and the constraints are off. Now is your time to move forward in your assignment."

It's been a strong morning for me, filled with crying and just accepting what He has told me and continues to show me in His Word.  I couldn't help but to write this post because, as with all my posts, I speak my heart. And this, yeah, this, is in my heart.

The Shift Conference was more than event. More than just a great get-together. More than just FNFLive.com showing that it can put together an awe inspiring event.  It was an event that I believe prompted the most important decision ever in my life...

...that is, to truly shift.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , motivation , shift

In The Midst...

"Wow!" is all I can say...

I've NEVER written a blog in the midst of an event, but this is and will be the first.

It's all about a shift....

Several months ago, my partner, Jblaze (you can check out his blogs here) and I were talking and in the midst of our normal convo, a monumental statement came from his mouth that I'll never forget.

"Dre, I'm making a shift."

When he said it, I knew with all my heart, mind, and soul that my partner had experienced a sincere and powerful God moment that had changed his life completely and forever.  Never had I heard him make a statement in all of the three years that I've known him. Never had I heard him speak so few words and it be so pivotal and so life changing all at once.  Little did he know that I too, had made the shift as well.  But that's what happens when two people of like precious faith are joined together in business: they are of one spirit.

Here we are...several months later at our first Shift conference. A conference birthed out the heart of God in the spirit and manifested thru two guys from two different geographic locations, two different ethnicities, two different backgrounds, two different cultures, BUT from the same Father.

There has been a sweet sweet fragrance of worship here - an atmosphere that can only be described as "liberating". No big names artists or leaders. Just simply people who have a sincere heart for God, desiring His best to be expressed in their lives. With artists who aren't nationally known, but with a heart for Him (@ryanhortonmusic, @Dunamis305, @AshaalaShanae), the conference displays what happens when people who have a heart for Him - He meets us where we are.

I believe that this conference is just the beginning. Not only for my partner and I, but for everyone here. I just pray that everyone here embraces their shift as well.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , motivation , shift

How Is His Death A Bigger Deal?

I turned on my iMac this morning, opened up Safari, and was "welcomed" to this picture of former CEO and Chairman of Apple, Steve Jobs. I had heard last night about his death and eerily enough, I was talking about to a friend of mine just a few hours before about how he was going to become an "Apple believer" from his Blackberry.

So, as the researcher I am, I wanted to know what REALLY made Steve Jobs tick. What did he bring to the world that made it a better place to live? I went to CNN and read the article. I then went to Fortune to read the 10 ways in which he changed the world and I stopped.  Immediately I said to myself, "Wow, Steve Jobs is heralded at changing the world with a device that doesn't bring anyone closer to knowing God than the invention of sliced bread."

Okay, let me say this. For the record, please understand that I'm not intending to desecrate, demean, desensitize, or downplay what Steve Jobs did or who he was and is as a man.  I agree with the general consensus that he created the greatest product of our time - hands down.

Lemme paint this picture: Suppose three men were in plane that was going to crash into a mountain and there was only two parachutes. One of the men (we'll call him "Bill") was a brilliant scientist - a doctor - on the verge of discovering a cure for cancer. The other man (we'll call him "Ed") was a construction worker with a wife and three children.  The last man (we'll call him "Phil") was retired.  All three men know that there is only two parachutes. Bill says, "I really need to get off this plane. I'm so close in my research to saving the world. I should get a chute." Ed says, "I have a family at home waiting for me. I know my wife wouldn't want me to die. I love my children dearly. My oldest is going to graduate high school and got accepted to an ivy league school on full scholarship. I need to get home to them." Both Bill and Ed look at Phil and Phil says, "You know what? I'm going to give you two the chutes because I lived my life like I should've and I see that you two have much to live for and I want the best for the both of you. So you two take the chutes."

And so the Bill and Ed jump off the plane with the parachutes and watch the plane smash into the sea. They're rescued and true to form, Bill finds the cure to cancer and Ed grows old with his family.

However, the question remains, who was the greatest of the three men? The one who found the cure for cancer? The one who grew old with his family? Or the man who sacrificed himself for both of them to accomplish what they believed they were called to?

That's what Jesus did for Steve Jobs. However, we are focused on the man who was the creator of the innovation rather than on the Creator who created the man with the innovation that He intended for the world in the first place.

My condolences go out to the Jobs family at this time. Death isn't an easy thing and mourning is a part of life. I am praying for them during this time and I do hope that everyone else is.

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , death , innovation , inspiration

Why Am I a Hater?

Okay, so a previous conversation with a friend of mine a few months back came back to remembrance this morning. We were having this huge debate about music (FYI: For those of you that don't know me, the subject of music and the business of music is very controversial for me because of my years of experience) and my friend came out and said, "These artists are doing what they are paid to do and people are buying their records. So what? Dre, you're a hater!"

Now, once again, if you know me, I don't get offended easily so I just proceeded to maintain my stance.

That conversation came to remembrance today because I find that I am a hater who has graduated to being so across the board. Yep, I said it, I am now a bonafide OVERALL HATER. Let me list the very things that make me a hater:

1. I HATE anything that is "dummied down" and insults the intelligence level of a person.
2. I HATE anything that is deliberately set up to manipulate and ultimately abuse someone.
3. I HATE anything that is hypocritical in nature.
4. I HATE anything that is pro-division, pro-strife, and pro-rebellion.
5. I HATE anything that is designed to slowly or quickly bring about death.
6. I HATE anything that truly is against God.
7. I HATE anything that you know from the beginning is doomed to fail.
8. I HATE when people hurt because they CHOOSE to and ALLOW OTHERS to hurt them.
9. I HATE ignorance, guilt, condemnation, and sin.
10. I HATE that people reading what I hate would make them think that I'm self-righteous and arrogant.
11. I HATE that people think that the only way to get ahead and appreciate life is to suffer grief, anger, disappointments, failed relationships, heartache, pain, sickness, death, betrayal, abuse, and confusion.
12. I HATE that people are okay with being ignorant - even going so far as to say that it's blissful.
13. I HATE that people are so skeptical, they cannot ever see the good.
14. I HATE that people are unhappy based off of selfish desires instead of being unhappy based off of being complacent.
15. I HATE that people settle for the imitation and never know Christ who is the REAL thing.
16. I HATE that when I speak about Christ, the first thing people think of is the HORROR of religion, being in church EVERYDAY, and last but not least, BEING A HYPOCRITE!
17. I HATE that there aren't enough of the right people doing the right things and representing Christ THE RIGHT WAY!
18. I HATE that people think that because I consider myself Christian, that my mindset is "I've arrived!"
19. I HATE that people let their own dark past dim and extinguish a beautiful present and future they could have in God.
20. I HATE that those of us who serve God continue to give Him THE REST while everyone and everything else gets OUR BEST.
21. I HATE that we complicate "God is love" to the point where we have people saying "God, where is the love?"
22. DESPITE BEING FORGIVEN, I HATE that my past faults, falls, and flaws try to remind me of the people I've hurt.
23. I HATE that people only trust God ONCE, but will trust themselves and each other COUNTLESS times.
24. I HATE that people think that God made experience the best teacher.
25. I HATE that this list is too long already and I have MUCH more to add to it.

Yeah, I'm a hater...

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: change , Christian , hate , life , motivation

I AM Second

Wow. What a day...

This morning I woke up with a few things on my heart. I'm in a very interesting season of my life of believing for some great things and watching The Father move in my life. After a conversation with a dear friend about positioning, I thought about my place and where I am.

I got a tweet about this series, I Am Second. Now, I don't know if you're familiar with it, but the tweet I received featured Reach Records artist Lecrae (I suggest you check it out...in fact, check them all out if you have the time). I watched his and was literally compelled to watch ALL of them on the site. I watched and listened, crying, snotting, and some points even weeping, at how transparent and open each person was. Each of them sharing how they came to the end of themselves and the beginning of God.

One testimony in particular that moved me so much, was one by Pete Briscoe (check it out below).  Most of these people I had never heard of and I certainly hadn't heard of him. He is a pastor and as he shared his testimony, he said something that was so powerful and resonated with me: "Its exhausting having to succeed. What I didn't realize is that that was my drive for so long and I had just worn myself out."

This was me...

...as I listened, sitting in my chair in front of my computer, I simply wept...and wept....and wept...

I then wondered why God would have me to watch these videos. I asked why and He simply said, "I want you to see just how simple I am and how simple My Love is for you and everyone else that would accept it."

God desires for all of us to experience His Love through the person of His Son, Jesus. I know so many people that won't accept it because they've allowed religion to contaminate and distract them from who God really is.  Watching these videos, hearing these accounts, crying with these people as they cried, made me realize that He is indeed REAL and makes Himself REAL to those who truly desire to change.  Just because you haven't gone through hard times doesn't mean that He is any less real.

I made a decision again today.  He's first. And me...

...I am second...

Unconditionally,

Andre

Categories: Christian , decision , life , love , motivation

Walk...It's That Simple

This morning was very powerful for me. I have recently came in contact with an old childhood friend. We re-established contact after more than a decade a few years ago and lost contact again. This morning I was thinking about her and reached back out to her. Here is a portion of her email to me:

"...my family has grown with the addition of our identical twin boys. I had a very difficult pregnancy with multiple health issues and needed 3months of bedrest. Thank god our boys were born healthy. I had complications though and although our boys will be a yr on the 15th, i am still not myself. I do apologize for not keeping in touch, but things were and r still difficult..."

After reading the email, I got angry. Not at her, of course, but at the devil. I find it so interesting that people believe that the devil is real, but they don't realize that they empower him to do what he does in their life. However, that sentiment isn't what I'm focused on.

I prayed for her and I responded and I said, "Even as I write this email, I want you to know that your healing is around the corner. All you have to do is believe it." When I finished the email, I went to John 5:5-10 and read the account of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus asked him straight out if he wanted to be made whole. Instead, the man complains to Jesus that there isn't anyone to put him in the pool and that people are stepping over him. Jesus simply tells him to get up and walk (my rendition...read the account).

The man was SO use to his condition that he didn't see past it, nor addressed seeing past it. How many times have we looked at our situation and spoke more about the situation more than the solution or what we want to see happen for the situation to change? I know I'm guilty of it.

Jesus wanted this man to see past his situation because he knew the man didn't want to be there. Who wants to be stepped on, overlooked, and looked at as a sad, pitiful case? Let's take it a step further: Who wants to look like and feel like that on inside while outside you busy faking the funk?

You must BELIEVE that you can walk. It's that simple. You must BELIEVE that you can walk out of that situation you're in. You must BELIEVE that you're bigger than what they say you are. You must BELIEVE that you don't have to accept the abuse any longer because you're better than that. You must BELIEVE that being sick, afflicted, hurt, in poor health IS NOT His Best for you!

I know what abuse is like. I've been abused emotionally and mentally and all of it out of choice. No one held a gun to my head. However, I made a decision to "walk" - to believe that I'm bigger than the situation and that there is more for me.

If you're reading this blog, I want you to know that you don't have to deal with that. It is high time that you and I stop accepting things and made a decision...

...a decision to walk...it's that simple...


Unconditionally,


Andre

Categories: belief , encourage , health , motivation , walk