IQ?

My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 (ESV)

Recently, my brother made a post about IQ.  I haven’t read it yet, but it got me thinking.

I, too, have an IQ.  I’m sure of it.  But I’m getting older and I can’t always remember where I put things.  So, if you see my IQ lying around somewhere, please let me know.

I always wonder about the way we measure our smartness.  Is smartness the ability to make good decisions?  Then, in that case, I know I have that ability because I have done so on at least two occasions in my life:

1. The decision to follow Jesus.
2. The decision to marry Ingrid.

After that, I’m not always so sure.

Is smartness measured by the facts we know?  In that case I know all the important facts I need to know:

1. I know my wife’s birthday.
2. I know our anniversary date.

Facts beyond that may or may not be worth remembering.

Once we went to a church where we met this really awesome woman.  She was not in any position of leadership.  She was not highly educated.  She did not have a high paying job.  She was perhaps not, by some measures, one of the brightest persons in the church. BUT (and this is REALLY important)—she led more people into a relationship with Jesus than anyone else in the church.  She was active in reaching out to the disenfranchised people of the city.  When the crowns are passed out, I’m sure she will get a much nicer one than I do.

My IQ might be higher than hers, but she is far smarter than me.

In the internet era, but long before the days of facebook, I once took an online IQ test.

I passed.

Meaning that after I answered a bunch of silly questions, I did NOT click on the link that would have given me the opportunity to forfeit some of my hard-earned money in return for which someone would tell me what an awesome person I am.  Anyone who would do that must not be very smart.

I know I’m an awesome person.  I don’t need to take a test to tell me that.

You are an awesome person, too.  I tell you that for free, and without your having to take a test.

By the way, the number I got in return for answering the silly questions was 135.  This is a really cool number:

     1+3+5=9
     1x3x5=15

     9x15=135

(My wife got a higher number and she can’t do that with her number.)

I’m not sure what the number means beyond that. I can't even get a small blended mocha in Starbucks in Thailand for 135 baht.  But I can get 3 large ones at our local coffee shop for 120 baht.  That's right--40 baht each.  And it tastes better.  And it's locally grown.  40 vs. 145, your choice.

40

Now that's smart.

What type of herder are you?

Recently, some events in our lives got me to thinking about leadership styles.

Some people are goatherds.  They drag their team with them, usually with a lot of effort because the team is so reluctant.



Some people are cowherds.  They let the cows go and come back and get them—sometimes months later—when it is time for them to move again.



Some people are shepherds.  They lead their sheep to where the food is and then hang out with them to make sure they’re okay.



God expected His kings to be shepherds. 
Regarding David we read: “And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” (2 Samuel 5:2)

Jesus called Himself the good shepherd.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(John 10:11)

Church leaders are to be shepherds.
It’s not surprising that we call the leaders of our churches pastors. Our English word pastor comes from the Latin pastorem, meaning shepherd.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11, 12)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Sometimes I would rather be a goatherd.  If I drag the flock with me, I can make sure the flock does the job right.

Probably more often, as an introvert, I would rather be a cowherd.  Unengaged with the herd most of the time.  Just letting it do its own thing while I do my own thing.

It takes a lot more effort to be a shepherd.  Building a relationship and trust with the team so that it wants to go with you.  Continually checking in on the team to make sure they have everything they need.

As a leader more by chance than by choice, I need to be reminded occasionally (often?) that I am a shepherd and not a cowherd.  People won’t use those terms, but that is more or less what they are saying.

What kind of herder are you?