inspirations: akus.

This post is dedicated to one of my favorite music groups, Alison Krauss and Union Station (AKUS, as I will call them).

Here's the thing--I am not a huge bluegrass fan. I find a lot of the songs depressing and the themes redundant. However, bluegrass music often showcases some of the most incredible musical talent I have ever witnessed. And five of those unbelievably talented musicians make up AKUS.

If you're unfamiliar with AKUS, this isn't just a backup band for Alison Krauss. While she is one AMAZING vocalist, she's just one piece of the puzzle. The four guys are all very successful individually, and they are all experts in their particular instruments.

But somehow, these five distinct musical personalities come together to form one distinct sound. Each member plays a significant part in that sound, and without one of the other players, you would know something is missing.

It's the unity that inspires me. Always has, since I started ministry. And musical unity touches me in a deep way, especially when it comes to vocals. I went to their concert in Charleston recently, and toward the end, Alison and guitarist Dan Tyminski sang "Your Long Journey." From the first note, they were in perfect harmony together. Crystal clear, confident, exact...awesome. I got choked up instantly. Both Alison and Dan have such unique voices that it's hard to mistake them for anyone else, and yet they are able to take their distinctive tones and blend them into this perfect, unified sound. It really is incredible.

So how do you take several unique personalities and unify them into one cohesive sound? Isn't this the goal of teamwork? It's figuring out what each person is capable of, expecting the best from each other, and helping each one find his place in the big picture. It's committing to take the time necessary to build that kind of unity, chemistry, and support. It's opening our hearts to each other and finding out how we all fit together. And if AKUS is any proof, the effort is more than worth it.

(Just in case you think I'm exaggerating, here's an example of Dan, Alison and bassist Barry Bales singing, "Maybe." The kind of dissonance they achieve in their harmonies, while blending perfectly, could be an example to all singing groups...)

for His renown.

I know from experience.

When God says in His Word that He is mighty to save, I can honestly say, "I know."

My God has rescued me from despair. He has delivered me from harmful patterns of thought. He has saved (and is saving) me from a long struggle with panic and anxiety. He has delivered me from all my fears over, and over, and over again. So when you hear me sing, "our God is the God Who saves," this weekend, know that I am singing from personal experience of that truth.

It is not for my deliverance alone that He rescued me. It is for others, too. Our stories spread His renown, so that all men can know, and choose to experience, that our God saves.

Today, I add to His renown. He is mighty to save, He is worthy of all my praise, and He is good. Amen.

inspirations: robert irvine.

Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places sometimes. I have currently been inspired in my leadership journey by a show on the Food Network called "Restaurant: Impossible."

The premise of the show is a world-renown chef named Robert Irvine finds a restaurant that is about to go under and totally revamps it in two days with only $10,000. The whole 2-day/$10k thing is just to add drama to a one-hour show. But it's what this guy does in those two days with the people involved that inspires me so much. This guy knows how to empower people.

A major part of good leadership is the ability to look a problematic situation, figure out what's out of place, and put all the pieces where they need to be. Irvine takes a quick look at the failing restaurant's issues and makes changes--not just in the layout of the kitchen and dining room, but in the layout of the actual staff. He is able to identify people's strengths (or lack thereof) in a very short period of time and move them into the positions in which they, and the restaurant, will succeed.

Irvine does come in a bit like a caffeinated T-Rex at first and delivers some hard truths in a not-so-tactful way. In just about every episode, someone is crying from the way he's delivered the necessary information. But instead of telling them to get over it, he pulls them aside and listens. He sympathizes with how they're feeling, reaffirms them, and lets them know he's doing this for their benefit. He really is trying to save these families and their failing restaurants by giving them a fighting chance. Sometimes the process is painful, but the result is a real shot at success.

I don't condone the way he talks to people sometimes, certainly, but his ability to assess a situation and find "diamonds in the rough" is extraordinary. In one episode, he identified a woman who was actually gifted to be the head of the kitchen, but she had been working as one of the cooks for years. He affirmed her abilities and empowered her to do what she was gifted to do, and by the end of the episode, she was already blossoming in the role for which she was clearly best fit. It's the same in almost every episode, too. Irvine leaves the restaurant staff and owners feeling legitimately hopeful and optimistic about the future, when things had been so bleak two days before.

I love this show because I get to see principles of good leadership in action: assessment, delivering hard truths without fear, loving on people, and true empowerment.

Let's apply it this assessment thing. Are you in leadership? Are you frustrated because something is just not working, either with your role or with someone in your flow? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify the kinks. Be willing to delegate. Be willing to find that diamond in the rough. You may be the very person to empower someone else and help usher them into the role for which God has prepared them. This guy Irvine is doing it every week...imagine if we kept our eyes open the same way in our spheres of influence!

So, TV isn't ALL bad...

(And no, I'm not getting royalties from Food Network for promoting this show. I really do like the show this much. :) )