We Apologize for the lack of audio on this post, we experienced some difficulties in recording. I want to repeat an Iron Leadership I did four years ago that I believe is perfect for personal evaluation as you begin a New Year & New Decade. I love this story. In 1968 the country of Tanzania selected John Stephen Akhwari to represent them in the Mexico City Olympics. During the race Akhwari stumbled and fell, severely injuring his knee and ankle….
Rhythms & Routines I want to suggest that Rhythms & Routines are at the topic of our lives, very similar to a food chain. When the Wolves were taken out of Yellowstone National Park, chaos ensued. When they were re-introduced they effected everything. What happens in our Rhythm & Routines tumbles down into the rest of our lives. One thing Jesus wants to teach his followers is the necessity of healthy Rhythms and Routines. “Everyone ends up somewhere in life,…
Here we see a 40 year old man who was invited to his son’s 5th grade class to explain his job and give them a vision of what they could do. But Crystal doesn’t have a vision for his life, instead he feels stuck, stuck in a depressing, inevitable rut. It’s not a preferred future but he feels helpless to change it. William Wilberforce was a British politician best known for ending the slave trade. He had a vision for…
What we have in Mind “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13 The Apostle Paul uses all familiar military terms to close out his letter to those who live in a very pagan culture. Just knowing these are military terms helps you understand what Paul thinks of how you make progress in Spiritual Maturity. It will be a battle. Watchful – Like a Sentinel standing guard over your soul or others. Stay…
In my opinion, real, true friendship is one of the most beautiful, most valuable, and most powerful forces on earth. If you want to have a strong interior wall as a leader, a strong character which will help you in the various challenges you face, then you need thick friendships. There are some moments in the Bible so beautiful that you long to experience them. One of those for me is Jesus in the upper room with his disciples on…
This year we are focusing on building our Interior Wall. The goal is that no matter what external challenge you face, you will be internally prepared. The question is: how do you build interior walls? What character traits and habits can prepare you for the storms you face as a leader? Take this picture of Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael as a mental image. The surface winds of our culture are picking up for those who follow Jesus….
Last year, when we studied Nehemiah, we saw how he led a group of down and people to rebuild the exterior wall around Jerusalem. This year, I want to focus on building an Interior Wall so whatever the external challenge you face, you will be internally prepared. Remember our example of Icebergs from last session: You only see 10%….but what’s driving you…what’s driving the people you lead is the 90% below the surface. The underside of an iceberg is dark. Many people prefer not to…
We spent all of last year getting a PHD in Leadership from Nehemiah. If you recall, Nehemiah led a group of down and out people to rebuild the exterior wall around Jerusalem. There are no miracles in the book of Nehemiah, just excellent, obstacle-overcoming leadership. This year I want us to focus on building an interior wall – so that no matter what external challenge you race you will be prepared to internally to face that challenge. The Keeper of…
Spence Hackney did a great job once again. He taught us about Nehemiah’s generosity. View Spence’s lesson from last year: Daniel: Who’s On Top? Paul told me I could talk about whatever I wanted to. I didn’t have to talk about Nehemiah, but this next passage was something I just couldn’t get away from. The worlds view of leadership, and a view I fell into in the past if I wasn’t careful, is to lead for the sake…
During our last few meetings we looked at the three Kings who ruled over the undivided kingdom of Israel: Saul, David, and Solomon. In 930BC the kingdom split in two. As we saw 2 weeks ago, Jeroboam was the first leader in the Northern Kingdom. He exploded like a rocket on the launch pad and left a terrible Leadership Legacy. About 40 years after Jeroboam, one of the worst Kings comes to reign over the northern kingdom of Israel: King Ahab….