Leader

Loftiness Doesn’t Equal Leadership

“Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.” – 1 Kings 16:33 No conversation about Jezebel (who we looked at yesterday) would be complete without an examination of Ahab, her husband, who turned out to be one of Israel’s most wicked kings. Though he ascended to power in the land that the Lord gave to His people as a sign of covenant love, his pride and arrogance led him down a path of corruption that ultimately impacted everyone under his rule. In spite of being given the title of “king,” his foolishness in allowing his wife to influence an entire nation by willfully promoting the worship of Baal proved that he was not suited for the job. He had a place of position but a total lack of wisdom.

February 27, 2022 No Comments

A Blessing in the Desert

“Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” – 1 Samuel 24:14,15 We discussed King David’s wilderness experience between the time he was called and the fulfillment of his anointing yesterday. Today, I want to share with you another significant life lesson gained by this young leader as he observed a great man collapse during the winter season. King Saul used to be a perfect model of a leader. He was Israel’s and Judah’s first king, and he witnessed the Hebrew nation grow from a tribe to a state. Yet, from a clever, noble, and fearless ruler, he deteriorated into a jealous, spiteful, and insane commander who spent years following a shepherd

January 20, 2022 No Comments

Walking in Truth’s Freedom

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 Have you ever been caught in the act of telling a lie? I believe that most of us have been caught in the trap of dishonesty at some point in our lives, if not as adults, then certainly as children. Perhaps we lied about something minor (what has been dubbed “the little white lie”), or perhaps it was something more serious and had a bad influence on someone we care about. Whatever the case may be, I don’t believe there’s anything worse than being caught in the web of deception. I just heard a story about a social media video that went viral. On a plane, a 28-year-old man got into an argument with other passengers and the flight crew. He began boasting that he owned six residences, made

November 2, 2021 1 Comment

Honesty is Everything

“The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.” – Proverbs 10:32 Integrity is the most vital characteristic of a genuine leader. In fact, I don’t believe there is a trait more prized or cherished in today’s environment than being genuinely authentic. Being honest, both with ourselves and with others cultivate heart and mind serenity. Truthfulness is a long-term benefit that much overcomes the discomfort of having to speak truthfully in difficult or embarrassing situations. Have you ever worked for a boss who was not straightforward? I’m afraid I have, and it was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. Nobody wants to follow someone who is evasive and untrustworthy. When you’re not sure if the person who’s leading you is being honest about how you’re doing or where you’re headed, it might be frustrating. When you work

November 1, 2021 No Comments

Radical Respect

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:10 Daryl Davis is a person I’d like to tell you about. Daryl endured many injustices as a child growing up in the south, including being the only black boy in a white Boy Scout troop and being thrown items (mainly horrible insults). Daryl went on to be a pianist and a member of a rhythm and blues band when he grew older. However, a friend asked him to fill in for him in his country band one day, so he went to a completely other location and sang a bunch of country tunes. After the show, a man came him and complemented him, saying he’d never seen a black man play like Jerry Lee Lewis. “Well, where do you think he learned to play?” Daryl joked back. Following that, the two began up a long

October 31, 2021 No Comments

What Makes a Leader?

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12 I was pastoring a church in Orange a few years ago, and we were meeting in an old two-story American Legion Hall structure. On Sunday mornings, we’d bring in seats and set up the auditorium like a sanctuary. Except for the fact that there was a bar just below us, it was a fantastic layout overall. We were accustomed to a bit of noise and riff-raff since a bunch of guys would occasionally be drinking and clinking early in the morning. As the group increased, I invited Dallas Willard, a friend, and mentor, to speak during a Sunday morning service. When the day arrived, we were all looking forward to his leadership talk, and as I was

October 27, 2021 No Comments

What Does it Mean to be a Leader?

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 Do you consider yourself to be a leader? If you replied no, I urge you to reconsider your answer. It’s common to think of leaders as people who have been granted a job or a title that gives them control in a specific region or over a specific group. However, the truth is that all Christians are supposed to be leaders. How? In the same way that Jesus did, by serving others. Simply put, leadership is influence, and our objective as we plant ideas and deeds into the world is to make the Lord apparent to others so that they want to learn more about Him and receive His life into theirs. Our innate human drive to control is in direct opposition to servant

October 26, 2021 No Comments

Vision Crystalizes in Crisis

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 When it comes to assessing how we’re doing as we lead ourselves and others, one of the most important things to consider is how we respond to a crisis. When we’ve built a personal and organizational culture of safety and stability, unexpected circumstances can actually serve to make us stronger. I remember hearing an older gentleman say years ago that the reason he retired from the Navy after the war is because there wasn’t a whole lot to do in peacetime. So tightly and cohesively did the sailors work together in conflict that when there were no daily struggles, the pace grew to a crawl. Likewise, though not a physical war, some might say that the uncertain waters of the COVID-19 crisis created an uphill battle for individuals,

May 17, 2021 1 Comment

A People-First Culture

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:25 Yesterday, we talked about how having a big vision for our lives and leadership has the potential to empower others. We also looked at how being more devoted to rules and standards than human beings creates a “quack quack” model in our corporate or personal culture and how such a mentality deflates and discourages people. Today, to solidify these concepts, I want to share a story with you. Years ago, pre 9/11, Ken Blanchard, one of the authors of the “Lead Like Jesus” series that we’ve been learning from, was traveling on a Southwest Airlines flight. After unloading his luggage at the curb, he realized he had forgotten his wallet. He figured he would be turning around at that point, but instead,

May 13, 2021 No Comments

Leadership Transcends Title

“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.’” – Matthew 20:25,26 As people immersed in a celebrity and success-oriented culture, we tend to give a lot of weight to titles. However, such distinctions are not always what they seem. Last Christmas, my sister gave me a really unique gift. She found out that in Scotland, there’s a movement to save natural resources, so they’re parcelling out pieces of land that are about eight feet square and selling them. Because Scottish law says that anyone who owns property in their country is entitled to bear the designation of “lord” or “lady,” it’s an enticement to purchase the parcels, which is why she gifted one to us. That

April 26, 2021 No Comments

Loftiness Doesn’t Equal Leadership

A Blessing in the Desert

Walking in Truth’s Freedom

Honesty is Everything

Radical Respect

What Makes a Leader?

What Does it Mean to be a Leader?

Vision Crystalizes in Crisis

A People-First Culture

Leadership Transcends Title

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