Leading with a Limp

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Leading with a Limp is a book that was recommended to me at a time when I was going through an incredibly difficult season of ministry, and has quickly become one of my top 5 reads on leadership of all time. 

 Leading with a Limp is the reality for all of us who desire to spend our lives in leadership roles. In the introduction, the author states "if you're a leader, you're in the battle of your life. Nothing comes easily, enemies outnumber allies, and the terrain keeps shifting under your feet. If you've already tried the 'easy' solutions, you have found that they come up empty. I know unvarnished truth like this is never easy to hear, but it's the only truth that will help you lead with inner confidence. And you need confidence because nothing is more difficult than leading." (p.1)

 In my opinion, this book should be turned into a required course for every Seminary on the planet. This book spotlights the one area of pastoral ministry that is for the most part overlooked in seminary, at least in my seminary experience. I am not saying that I didn't have the realities of what leaders have to deal with in ministry given to me on the surface level in Seminary, because I did. But until you actually find yourself in the trenches of a hellish war, where your closest confidants and key team members are the ones who turn on you, attempt to thrash your reputation, influence others to leave your ministry, and ultimately like Herod, hand your head on a platter over to Herodias, leaving you and your family left emotionally and spiritually beaten, battered, bruised, and broken in the name of Jesus, the realities of what God has called us all to face is simply theory at best. 

 This is what awaits all of us who entered seminary with high hopes of becoming world changers for Jesus. This is the reality you have to look forward to upon graduating into the battle. Leading with a Limp is a powerful reminder that every leader for God must first count the cost, because we will definitely pay it. And this is why Leading with a Limp is such a valuable tool in the hands of every pastor and ministry leader. It reminds all of us that we are not alone in the battle, and no matter what delusions we have in our minds about what our ministry will look like, the bottom line is we either have to put on the whole armor of God, cling to Jesus with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, or we need to get out of ministry and become milk men.

 In this book the author creates a list of 6 leadership challenges we all have to navigate through as leaders. From this list of leadership challenges he creates two more lists that are the antithesis of one another. One addresses the unhealthy (and highly popular) responses to each challenge on the list, while the other list addresses the healthy responses we should all be striving for.

 This book is sure to be a blessing to your life and ministry for years to come, assuming you are in the midst of, or have already experienced Herod handing your head over on a platter to Herodias. If you are in leadership and haven't experienced that yet, don't worry you will. This book will mean much more to you at that time.
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