Leaders, Don’t Create New Cereal 1

If I am not having a bowl of oatmeal (with brown sugar and raisins) for breakfast, then I am eating a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats.  This has been my pattern for several years.

While I will eat almost anything, I am picky when it comes to cereal. Corn Flakes gets too soggy. Grape Nuts or plain granola doesn’t work either. Though I used to enjoy the Oreo cereal, I felt like I needed something that was a better source of whole grain, low in fat, and sweet (and be a good example to my children, too).

Vernon J. Herzing made breakfast special for me. He also did it in a way that I do not get burned out on it either (imaging eating the same thing for lunch or dinner for years).

Herzing worked for Post Foods. He wanted to create something new from what already existed.  While in his kitchen with his daughter, he weighed and mixed different Post cereals together to get what they liked.  He took the product to one or two others in the company who contributed to it as well.  Now, I have Honey Bunches of Oats.

The creation of something new rarely comes ex nihilo.  However, we often think novelty always happens this way.  As wise Kingdom stewards, we need to see necessary possibilities for on-going church health and mission.  Great leaders take what is and move toward something new as the Spirit leads. They mix this with that.  They pray and fast.  They collaborate with others in thought and action.  They pray and fast some more.  They do not operate alone.  They do not create something from nothing.

Nehemiah was a man moved by a report of a contemporary reality.  He saw the vision, sought God, brought together many people, and built a wall.  The good hand of God was upon him to work out His salvation-history (Neh 2:8).

What needs to change in your life and ministry?  With whom are you discussing this matter?  Are you praying and fasting?  What are you combining to lead others into the new and necessary direction?

Don’t create a new cereal. Bring together your present blessings.