Talent Matters

I love sports.

I love playing sports, watching sports, talking about sports, reading about sports.

I love sports.

I have been going to all the home games for Lakes High School football team. I have been looking forward to these games because when we used to live in Federal Way, my girls went to Todd Beamer High School, and let's just say that they weren't very good.

So, I have really been looking forward to going to the Lakes football games because they have been so dominant for so long.

But this year's been tough. Their schedule has been BRUTAL!!!

At the Lakes game against Camas I learned some things.

You see, Lakes is coached by one of the most respected coaches in the state of Washington. Lakes has consistently produced great teams since Dave Miller's been the coach.

Typically, Lakes teams breeze through the regular season.

But not this year. The Lakes football team is 1-3.

In the last game, Lakes lost to Camas 53-14.

Ouch!

Here's the leadership lesson: Talent matters.

You see, it wasn't that Lakes didn't have a great coach. It's still Dave Miller coaching this team.

It wasn't that the Lakes kids didn't want to win as much as the Camas kids.

It wasn't that the Lakes kids didn't try as hard as the Camas kids.

The reason why Lakes has a losing record this year is because talent matters.

Lakes just isn't as good as they were in the past. The team is young. They graduated a bunch of seniors who were outstanding players. And there weren't enough young talent to take their place.

The result: Camas kids were bigger, stronger, faster, and more talented than the Lakes kids at almost every single position.

Talent matters.

Not just for football teams, but for organizations, businesses, and yes, even churches.

It's a given that you need, God-loving and faithful disciples. But you need more than that. You need talent.

We need to be able to attract and keep the best talent possible because when it comes to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in an effective way, talent absolutely matters.

Does your church and organization attract the most talented people? Does your church and organization encourage and enable your most talented people to contribute and thrive?