The culture we live in has a great ability to act one way, yet at the core be something completely different.

We often refer to this as hypocrisy. While this is true, we also need to understand that our culture has worked on this long enough it is now accepted and normal.

A number of tragedies over the years have occurred where individuals walked into a movie theater, high school, restaurant, or mall and began a killing rampage. One of the most common thoughts expressed by those who knew the individual is how they never expected this kind of activity.

On the surface they seemed “normal.” However, at the core they were someone quite different.

There is also a connection to spiritual leadership. How many times throughout the past century has the core of a religious leader been exposed in sinful activity?

Our leadership needs to be characterized by a core that walks with integrity, works righteousness, and speaks truth in the heart.

Here is where we begin to develop the opportunity for our greatest influence.

We’ve all heard the adage “those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

Success in any area does not usually happen by accident. Quality is not the result of happenstance.

Success and quality are the results of high intention and planning with a dedication to persevere to the end.

Far too often people tend to wander through life with the day in and day out routine of addressing whatever happens to come their way. When difficulty is faced or tragedy occurs questions are raised: How and why did this happen, as well as, what should be done next?

However, when a plan is in place from the beginning, once these challenges occur, foresight has already formulated direction if there is the proverbial bump in the road.

This does not mean we will never have to deal with the unexpected, but if we negotiate the curve before we are in it, then we know how to handle those times.

Leading requires a plan. This is more significant when the spiritual application is connected. Whatever time is given to develop a good plan, it will always produce success and quality.

After two weeks of nonstop coverage of the Olympic games in Rio, the events ended yesterday and closing ceremonies were completed.

Olympians and fans alike began the journey back to their native homelands. People around the world celebrated the elation of victory and endured the agony of defeat. We witnessed the best and worst of athletes’ abilities and character. We cheered the selfless demonstration of sportsmanship by those who understood what the games are all about.

Perhaps the most thrilling part of the games was demonstrated in the leadership roles among the team events. The impressive way leaders stepped up and motivated their teammates to give more than they imagined could be given challenges all of us to take note.

Leadership in the spiritual realm can learn from these examples. We need to step up and motivate others to run a race far more significant than one to win a gold medal that eventual fades away.

Take time to read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Values keep us in check, but what are they?

They cannot be defined in the moment. To allow the situation to alter our values becomes descriptive of an individual “driven and tossed by the wind” (Jas. 1:6).

Leadership is built upon the foundation of our values. A good friend and colleague emphasizes the need to write them down, review them daily, and keep them timeless.

The benefit of this process comes through evaluating our actions with our values. We ensure the consistency of life as we align the conduct of our life with our values.

These values should not ever change, unless we personally change. When someone becomes a Christian, their worldly values should change to godly ones. Our thoughts, words, and actions must always be consistent with the individual God wants us to be.

Is it easy? No! However, the effort makes all the difference in our leadership influence.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Life’s most urgent question is what are you doing for others?” It is worth the time to contemplate this thought when establishing our values.

Leadership introduces a number of new dynamics and challenges. When we consider what’s on the line with the future as it relates to leadership, we begin to understand the urgency.

The fulfillment of God’s plan. Throughout the Old and New Testaments we find God’s provisions for His people. He always placed individuals in positions to lead.

The development of the church. God designed His church to function with leaders. Paul specifically addressed leadership and their function as he wrote the church at Ephesus (Ep. 4:11-13).

The influence needed in the world. People need someone to follow. Christians should provide the example of leading in the family, work place, and neighborhoods where we live.

The demands of the family. The breakdown of the family indicates Satan’s powerful attack to destroy the divine design. The role of husbands and wives and the responsibility of parents require a biblical focus.

These four areas only represent the tip of the iceberg when we consider what’s on the line with leadership. May God bless us with the courage and boldness to fulfill our responsibilities.

A little travel in another country increases the awareness of flexibility. Cultures vary from one country to the next. At the same time, each culture establishes their own practices and finds a rhythm that flows through the people who participate in the daily activities of life.

Most of us face the challenge of flexibility when we experience cultures other than our own. This is true for everyone no matter where they live.

If we dig deeply enough we begin to recognize that culture is not just the difference from one country to the next. Culture plays a factor between various organizations, one part of the country to another, and even from one generation to the next.

While leadership is complicated enough, add the cultural factors among the various backgrounds and relationships of people who make up the church, and complexity reaches a new level.

Therefore, leaders need to demonstrate a level of flexibility. We do not mean a compromise of truth, but a focus on the needs of those who follow. Flexibility becomes critical to the twists and turns that factor into leading a multi-cultural people.

“One tree can start a forest. One smile can begin a friendship. One hand can lift a soul. One word can frame the goal. One candle can wipe out darkness. One laugh can conquer gloom. One touch can show you care. One life can make the difference, be that one today.” Unknown

Leadership tends to be overplayed in the lives of most. We often think about leadership from the frontal point of view. We see a leader as the one out front, the one who gives instruction, orders, or makes the decisions.

At its core, leadership involves a type of influence that makes a difference in the lives of others. As we go through our day, can we be that one? Can we be the one who influences others with a smile, a hand, a word, or touch?

The answer is yes! This is what Jesus asks us to do as His disciples. Lead this way!

Both contain an element of subjectivity depending on the individual. On one hand, an older generation recalls the simplicity of life without technology, dirt roads, no cell-phones, and growing what was eaten.

When we add technology, a black-top/concrete way of life, cell-phones, and eliminate the garden, life can become a bit more complex.

On the other hand, a younger generation recognizes these advances as a means to simplify life and increase health and wealth.

Imagine the challenges of leading God’s people with both mindsets. One side sees these advances as changes that move us away from biblical teaching and tradition while the other side sees opportunity to advance the cause of Christ to more people.

Regardless of where we stand, we all desire a simpler life. The less complicated our lives the better. We should remember that both mindsets exist in the world and the church. We do well to consider the feelings of both and work to lead to a mutual understanding that motivates every part of the body in the cause of our Lord.

An ever present danger exists in our world today: extremism. Balance is a commodity difficult to find in any arena.

Our country is polarized politically between liberalism and conservatism. Party politics divides people second only to religion.

Within religious circles we find the same extremism. Sadly, within the churches of Christ we find the same influence of extremism from ultra-conservative to liberal. Division exists in areas of what we are willing to do versus what we are unwilling to do.

The challenge of leading within these extremes weighs on the mind of every individual who finds themselves in leadership. There are no easy or exhaustive answers.

How can leaders actively approach the task before them when these extremes exist?

The primary resolution involves the standard God gave. Extremes creep in when we get away from the guidelines provided in God’s word. When opinions, agendas, emotions, and preconceived ideas rule the direction of decisions, extremes result.

To avoid these challenges, let us lead with the divine standard that was intended to provide balance.