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Things I Want to Know About My Staff 4 (of 4)
When is the last time you failed?
This may sound like an unusual question, but it’s one of my favorites to ask. I want to know from our staff, “When is the last time you failed?”
When you’re not failing, you’re not growing. Some of the most valuable lessons the disciples learned from Jesus immediately followed failure. Jesus allowed them to fail.
I’m glad to say that I’ve tried a few things recently that didn’t go so well. The good news is:
- When I fail, it gives me the chance to learn.
- When I fail, I increase my tolerance for failure, helping me not to become complacent.
- When I fail, I continue to inspire others to take faith risks.
What about you? When is the last time you’ve failed?
Visit 
Today. I can’t go in detail for a few weeks but you can’t put new wine in old wine skins. Scripture is always right.
This question…ahhh…too early.
I fail constantly at letting myself fail.
Without this turning into a therapy session, let’s just say I have almost 28 years of “you can’t fail” adhered to my DNA. My first time getting busted with this that I can remember was first grade. I’d throw out any paper that had less than a grade of 96 on it. 93 was just not good enough! My teacher found them…P/T conferences ensued…but it’s a very real struggle for me.
Obviously I know this is something I have to continue to work on and something I really need to change in the way my mind processes failing.
Does anyone have any solid, Biblical Truth I can feed my head when it starts thinking too much? I know that’s a good place to start.
Last Week!
I can say I lean right there with daily. But in an overall picture I would say this past month. I had partnered with a person and launched a church. There were three of us on the board. He and the other had a secret meeting and elected himself Sr. Pastor. A failure but lesson learned on who and how I should partner. There are some other little lessons learned in it as well.
Failure is never final unless we don’t learn from it.
A couple weeks ago, I help launch a college ministry. It pretty much didn’t do to well. We had to shut it down because it wasn’t working to well.
Sorry, to post again.
But, I thought I would clarify my post.
We shut down the college ministry a couple weeks ago. We started a while back.
I am trying to transition a church with 35 years of baggage, it seems like I am failing every other day. I am beginning to wonder if I am crazy for trying to tackle this monster or maybe I just enjoy falling on my face. Either way I keep trying, It keep me humble and dependent. Thanks for asking.
Kevin, I know you are facing a lot of challenges. Praying for you this morning.
Anne, I relate to what you are saying. Those kind of challenges run deep.
Someone may want to respond to Anne’s request for scripture.
Jason, Sorry about the tough experience. Sounds like you are growing from it.
Boyd, I have that same one on my resume!
Clif, You are facing a huge challenge. It certainly won’t happen over night. Hang tough.
Oh, Anne! I hear ya! I was probably too naive and maybe took the safe path, but failure wasn’t an issue for me up until a little over a year ago. Now it occurs on a regular basis - probably more personally than anything. My biggest failure, though, is how I’ve handled those failures. God has definitely been showing me that I HAVE to depend on Him and that I grow with each failure. I would love some Biblical truths like Anne.
Anything about ‘trying’ too hard? 
Daily. Unfortunately, I am covered in flesh and therefore I constantly struggle and wrestle against it. The past few years I have walked through my personal biggest failure so far but the lessons and knowledge I have received from my malfunction have been the most valuable lessons I have ever learned. Never trust a man without a limp! (Makes a good fortune cookie)
The other night at a leadership meeting our senior pastor and another leader were involving our staff and leaders in the development of making our core values portable and I failed to offer help when I should have. I also failed to explain where I felt the Holy Spirit was leading me. Forgive me Mike and Dave.
Anne, Libby… Just read this…Very cool!
Galations 3
2 -4Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!
5 -6Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? (Msg)
Hi Anne
The two that come to mind are found in Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:6-7. The first is from the Sermon on the Mount. There Jesus says, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?â€? In Philippians 4:6 it’s Paul: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.â€?
I’m not a part of your staff but this is a question I will place on the index card I keep in my pocket for things to ponder when my mind goes blank. I also think I will start keeping a record of my failures for future purposes. Thanks for putting this question before me. GREAT QUESTION!
Anne and Libby,
I need constant reminders that as I attempt to failure-proof myself, I’m actually preventing God’s grace from working through me. All of 1 Cor 12 is good, but here’s verses 9-10:
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Great point. I failed by getting a D on my first seminary paper. I should have put more time and focus into it, even though I was really surprised with the grade. I just turned my second one in last Friday…hopefully the grader liked me more this time.
Libby, Jenn, Andrew, Kendra -
You all are lovely. Thank you for some scripture for me to meditate on. I know in my head that it’s okay not to be perfect, it’s just my heart that doesn’t get it yet. And it’s my heart that needs it the most.
Ps 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
I really appreciate your insight and encouragement.
Anne & Libby,
WOW, you’re getting the love on this one. I have failed in so many big ways at times and in tons of little ways every week. It still hurts when I fail. What helps me step into something where I know failure is possible if not probable is that I think we’re responsible more for giving it a shot than necessarily the outcomes. The outcomes aren’t guaranteed. What we can control is our willingness to give it a try. When we see failure as a success - ‘At least I tried’, then it’s easier to live with. Failure has been a discipleship process for God to use in my life. Psalm 62: 1-2 says, ‘My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.’ I have to constantly remind myself that whether my efforts succeed or fail, my identity and my worth are realized in God alone.
Two weeks ago, I had the task of doing a 10 minute video teaching about “How to avoid sin” and my target audience was 5th graders. I put more preparation time into this project than I normally do on similar tasks and I knew I was going to knock this one out of the park.
We’ll, I shot the video at a water treatment plant and I thought it turned out great. I was funny when I told a personal story, and some really solid Biblical teaching.
I turned it in to my boss for her approval and she called me at my house that night and told me, in all seriousness, that I would need to either re-shoot it or re-work it because “It just wasn’t very good” and she said that I’m usually great, but this one I seemed off.
I couldn’t believe it and to be honest, I was a little insulted. I mean, I did everything I knew to prepare. I do this all the time. Then the Holy Spirit gently pointed out the amount of “I” statements I was feeling and speaking out loud to my wife. God was pointing out to me that I hadn’t really asked His opinion about the project and that He would have done it a little differently.
I was very humbled and broken, in a good way. Well, I looked at the teaching video the next day with a pair of new glasses; something the Lord gave me that day. These “glasses” helped me to see that with all the preparation in the world, we can’t be as effective if we don’t first take things to God and seek His wisdom and vision.
We tweaked the video a bit and took out all my personal stories and it’s actually pretty good now. I failed when the “I’s” got in the way of something God was trying to do through me.
Since working at Lifechurch.tv this has been a mind shift for me. Like many of you, I’ve always had the mindset, “You shouldn’t fail!” But I’m learning that it’s okay, even healthy to fail. I would be careful, for my sake, to not fail for failure’s sake, but instead to have the mindset not to be afraid that something might fail, which means you’re ready and able to take risks easily.
Failure, I’ve found, is an integral part of being successful. I planted a church about two years ago (having been Lead Associate at a church of 14,000) with a launch team of almost 50 people and almost $300,000.00 in the bank.
We had a huge launch with about 375 people in attendance. I was convinced that I knew what it took to be successful until the church began to grow… in the wrong direction! By the beginning of the new year we were down to less than 20 people. I was so broken and felt like a complete failure. I was convinced that this was the end of what God was doing in and through me as far as the church plant. Then a good friend began to talk to me about the value of failing. It was the first time in my life that I had been asked that penetrating and unerving question, “Have you ever failed at anything?”
It was at once the hardest and the best season of my life because of the lessons learned along the way. My blog was birthed out of this experience and the scripture that sustained me through that season is John 12: 24 “I tell you the truth, a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed.” The powerful truth of this verse serves to remind me that the tree is in the seed. It always was and always will be. no matter how small the seed, the tree is in the seed.
Craig, do you think you could dedicate a week to this topic? I know we all wrestle with the failing and feeling like a failure, two totally different things.
What kind of failure is good and what kind of failure is bad? As a leader how do you differentiate between someone who is trying and someone who is incompetent?
I’ve heard it said that if you are not failing you are not trying, but when you fail too often people start to loose confidence in you, whether it is the leader above you, your peers around you, or the congregation you serve.
So maybe you can blog on this in the future?
Anne & Libby -
Try to process failures as temporary tests to prepare us for permanent triumphs. Failures do not define you; your value comes from who you are, not what you do. “…you are a chosen people…his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 We show others the goodness of God by showing His grace. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 Think of grace as a place where you can go and stand. There is a place of grace that always stands in us, but we don’t always stand in it. When your mind starts thinking too much: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.â€? 2 Corinthians 10:5. “…whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8. Learn from failure and take your place standing in grace giving praise to Him.
Thank you everyone for sharing such great thoughts. Clif, I agree with you that this would make a great topic for swerve at some point. Personally, I am looking forward to the “it’s okay to fail and learn from it” environment at LC. I’m in a pretty good environment now in Texas, but my position is pretty fail-safe (which has a lot to do with the reason I took it).
I am not sure if many other pastors can relate, but I have seen my father, my friends, and at one time myself in a position where expectations were not clearly communicated, therefore not met, resulting in pretty traumatic results for the person, family, and friends. Even knowing your worth is held in God’s hand, given through grace - it’s hard to think about that when you’re wondering how you’re going to keep the lights on or where your next meal is coming from because you’re out of a job.
Sadly, so much of our culture is driven by a “success=not failing” mindset that we’re constantly walking on eggshells, afraid to take risks because if we fail, our environments say we are punished (instead of asking, “what have we learned?” or “how can we do this better next time?” or just simply being shown grace for being human).
I feel extremely blessed to be headed to LC. I know it’s going to be a slow process of letting go and learning and being okay with not being perfect.
I was talking with my accountability partner this morning about two failures that I have had regarding investments and it is now time to pay the piper. I will just tell you this—[1] The housing market won’t always boom. [2] Pizza is not recession proof. Those two points may save you some scratch
Clif, In answer to your question about devoting a week to this topic… I just finished writing quite a bit on the subject for a future project. I could send you the work when it is ready if you want it. You can email Sarah@lifechurch.tv in a few weeks and ask her for my work on “failure.”
Awesome Craig, thanks you rock!
I fail DAILY! But lately I have been missing out on God’s Word and failed Him in meeting with Him daily. I have failed in honoring my calling as a student, missing class and letting the whispers of satan get to me. I have failed in my role and calling as a mother, not honoring what God as called me to teach my children the Way in which they should go. I am a failure who need the Savior, without which I can not even attempt to live.
My weak-stomached-big-hearted husband Josh has been changing the cat box for me since I’m 9mos. pregnant…
Long story short, I kept smelling cat-funk coming from the basement, and went to investigate…
It will have to suffice to say that it took 3 garbage bags to get the litter from AROUND the cat box all cleaned up. (Josh said that’s not in the definition of changing the cat’s BOX).
Poor Joshy failed at his cat litter cleaning gig. I just thought I’d tattle to all of you Swervies on this one!!
I still love my Joshy… And Craig, easy on the feline commentary…I’m hormonal and I know how to type!!
Anne, I try not to think…Just trust in God and His word.
When we think too much or compare to world standards, we can seem like we are performing at 100%, but when we compare to the standard of scripture, we know we cannot perform at all without Christ -it is because of Him - He is what makes us 100%. It’s not our own effort.
If I am not resting in this, I am failing!
My last failure 11/14…but I am grateful that Jesus makes it 100%! What a good GOD!
Ummm. How about the time when I lost it with my team members two weeks ago? I had my fill and pretty much griped them out. After walking out the of the room leaving them sitting there with their mouths wide open, I came back and apologized and all was well. And the very next day I lost it again. And apologized again. It was great. Yes, I do work for a church
However, I did learn some things. One, I learned not to be so defensive. Sometimes we can see things that are not there because of our own insecurities or worry that others may not like us. Two, give people grace. Three, the next time you are about lose it..run outside and scream REALLY loud and then come back. I’ve heard it helps.
Thanks for this series of blogs. Its been great learning from you.
The last time I’ve failed? About two hours ago…
In fact I fail far too often- in my reactions. Even though I may not actually speak or act outwardly, it’s my inward reactions that I cannot hide from God.
Working in a ministry where I am encouraged to take risks [free to fail] has gone against the grain of my perfectionist attitude.
A neat blog that gave me a good outlook on failure- http://www.philvischer.com/ (click on The Fall of Big Idea Productions) It is the story of how a focus on success ruined a business in kid’s video ministry, Veggie Tales. It showed me that if I am not listening to His spirit and following His path…that the slightest risk will fail. Even if I’m doing it in the name of ministry…
I fail like metamucel…regularly. My failures come in all shapes and sizes. Moral failures like last week when I looked at stuff on the internet I wasn’t supposed to. Character failures like the things I said to my class during a lecture a couple of weeks ago that were not appropriate. Leadership failures like the song that I was supposed to find to close out last weeks service as a time of reflection and prayer and just didn’t have enough hours in the day. Yeah I hate failure. But the biggest failure I struggle with is admitting them. I hate confessing weakness. I hate admitting to the less than. But here’s the funny part. Once I admit it, once I face up to it an recognize that I am not the reincarnation of Jesus Christ I pick up the pieces and start up again. My verse, the scripture that was written just for me, Kenyon Gerbrandt, sustains me through it all. Phillipians 2:13 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Just wish I could get more comfortable and familiar with this.
Woah! I’m overwhelmed! Thank you all for replying and giving your awesome insight to this topic. You continue to bless me! My blog post is about to be devoted to you all today!
[...] Posted in Thoughts at 7:09 pm by libbymyrin Today’s post of Swerve asked when was the last time we failed. I wanted to share that discussion and what those bloggers showed me through their comments . . . It was a blessing and awesome how that community supports and encourages each other! Cool example of blogging for those who are new to it! Please check it out! [...]
Hey Craig ~
I’m 38, been married 16 years and have 6 children myself. We homeschool as well. I’ve got to ask, dude! How do you do this? Pastoring, writing, family… at the level you are? Our church is much smaller and yet the demands are cr-azy! You are the only Senior Pastor I’ve heard of in a thriving church of any size who has more than 3 children. I’d love to buy you a cup of coffee…
I jumped into “Going All The Way” today and have posted my first blog entry on it. It’s perfect for a couple that I’m meeting with currently. Thanks!
Neil
Man… are we talking in minutes…? I think this post was for me…
Ministry-wise… I have failed a lot… a very lot…but it has humbled me… tried many new things that didn’t work so well…
I speak too much without thinking first how it is communicated…and have hurt people deeply… I hate that… and am constantly asking the Lord for grace and wisdom…
The hard part of trying new things is being afraid to fail for me… but I am learning and trying new things all the time… and some of them have been successful…mostly I am afraid of failing, and dishonoring Christ… He is so full of grace… that is the main thing I am learning from failure..
Neil, It is not easy at all. I think people give us more credit than we deserve in living a balanced lifestyle. I just came off an eight week schedule that was almost dangerous.
Some things we do:
Say “no” A LOT!
Decide ahead of time to work fewer hours. It is amazing what you can do in an hour if that’s all you have. You might even do less if you have two hours.
Delegate… not just tasks, but authority.
Tying into the topic of this post, we try to learn from our failures.
Let me repeat again, IT IS NOT EASY.
Excellent Topic
This(place)seem’s like holy ground…
When you love someone, you just want to do your best for him.
Fail? yes, quite regularly
[...] When You are Not Failing You are Not Growing I read that quote on this blog, and it really helped me. I have failed so many times that I am ashamed. I have struggled alot in my life with failure because I am a perfectionist and want people to think I am perfect. (I know, I know, you already knew that I am not perfect!) The problem is that when I am so afraid of failing I won’t take risks or attempt great things for God. [...]
Eight years ago I founded an organization called Nexlead dedicated to developing Christian young leaders. We’ve had a blast doing a lot of fun and remarkable things that impacted countless thousands of young leaders.
But in the last year, due to a combination of risks I took in an effort to grow and an unexpected loss of a funding source, our finances took a nosedive. A year ago we were poised to grow substantially. Today Nexlead is completely closed down. What a difference a year makes.
Though it’s heartbreaking to see something fail after pouring my soul into it, I would do it all over again. The lives changed, the lessons learned, and the great experiences far outweigh the failure. And I’m excited that Nexlead’s demise has led us to joining the team here at LifeChurch.tv!
Catching myself speaking self-righteously and sounding like a jackass. I have tried to apologize for it but I don’t know if that can be done successfully.