Dealing with the various emotions associated with the loss of a loved one can be very interesting and challenging.

One minute you feel perfectly fine; then, almost without warning, something happens and emotions are out of control.

I am told this is normal and I know emotional stability improves with each passing day.

Through this experience a number of leadership insights have been seen and learned.

Considering the emotional roller coaster each person faces in life, I realize leadership can be needed more on a “one minute at a time” basis, rather than “one day at a time.”

Changes often occur from one minute to the next and leaders need to be prepared to lead even when the changes are emotionally driven.

Stability results when leaders give themselves to resolve the various issues whenever they occur.

I am thankful for the examples of leaders around me whose leadership has provided stability through some of the greatest challenges I have experienced.

Leaders must strive daily to achieve greater stability in their own lives to help provide stability for others.

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” Jim Valvano

This quote expresses the thought behind my ministry. I am thankful for the fact my father believed in me and my ability to share in the ministry. In some ways, he spent his life preparing me for this work.

He laid the foundation in helping me memorize scripture at a very young age. He had me read to him from God’s word each morning before school.

When I decided to go to school to prepare myself to preach, my dad was the first in my corner and one who expressed his confidence in me to accomplish the intensity of the program.

He loved the fact I was following in his footsteps, not because he was involved in ministry, but because nothing is more satisfying than a life of ministry. He would know; he lived it.

Thank you for sharing the brief journey of the week in the relationship shared with my father. He was one great man and an incredible leader.

Thank you dad for helping me get here.

My admiration for the man who was a model for my life as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend continues to grow as I contemplate my life with him.

A model provides an example worth following or emulating. Considering the memories of a life shared with such a good man, I realize the model my father provided for me.

He served as a model of the Christian life. He was not perfect and he did not claim to be. He portrayed the life of a man who worked with his imperfections and made every effort to improve how he approached life.

He served as a model of a preacher. It thrills me to know how he loved to preach. I do not mean enjoyed it, but he lived to preach. He was always digging deeper and we often talked about what he was studying.

He served as a model of grace. The one word I remember hearing my dad speak about was grace. He believed, lived and trusted in God’s grace and demonstrated it to others. He held on to God’s promise.

I hope to provide the same model.

One week ago today, we laid my father to rest. The past week has given me much time to reflect on a life of memories shared as his son.

I am thankful for the godly man who was my father. His influence continues to shape who I am and who I am is the direct result of his leadership.

I never really understood the idea of wishing for one more opportunity to talk to him…until now. There are so many questions I would ask and so much appreciation I would express.

I am thankful that the last thing I said to him on the phone just a few days before he passed away was “I love you.”

I agree with the thought expressed numerous times over the last week concerning why we wait until someone we love is gone to tell them how we feel.

I have learned the value of preplanning for all that must be done after passing from this life.

One week later has increased my gratitude for the blessing I have been given in my father and the need to be a blessing to my children.

The idea of legacy involves what someone leaves behind. One of the great exercises in leadership training is writing our own eulogy and then live what we want others to say about us when we die.

Let me share a few ideas left behind by my father.

For more than 30 years he read the New Testament through every month, the Old Testament through twice each year.

He was a preacher of the gospel for over 50 years.

He was married to the same wonderful woman for 60 years, father to 4 children, grandfather to 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He developed a series of lessons to share the gospel in a simplistic way with others and led an untold number of people to know their Savior, Jesus Christ.

He lived in and by God’s Word; it flowed in and through his preaching. He knew THE book!

He lived with an eager anticipation of the reality he now enjoys.

He died with the Bible opened to the passage he had been studying for his next sermon. Take a moment to read Philippians 2:16.

This was a small part of the legacy he left behind for us.

Eight days ago my father passed away. His death was unexpected and it was not a phone call I anticipated receiving. As a tribute to him, this week I am going to share various ways my father filled the role of a great leader by the influence he had on many, especially me.

One area my father demonstrated great leadership was the kind of friendship he demonstrated. He was a great friend and leader because he pointed people to heaven. Nothing was more important.

He was one of the best personal workers I have ever known. His approach and style of studying the gospel with others was one of kindness. He was gentle and patient. He had an ability to make others not only feel special, but feel as if they were the most important person in his life and lead them to an understanding of what God’s word teaches.

He was a great leader because he knew how to lead others to Christ and provide an example in training others to do the same.

My prayer is that we will learn from his leadership and point others to heaven.

“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” Andrew Carnegie

One thing about leadership, everyone is watching. Children are watching. Our spouse is watching. Believe it or not, coworkers are watching. Neighbors, friends, extended family, the world; they are all watching.

Yes, they listen to what we say, but they watch what we do and then take a measurement. How does our leadership measure up?

Throughout the Old and New Testament, on various occasions, God was taking a measurement of the leaders of His people to show them how they were not measuring up to the standard He had given them. On one occasion they were not teaching truth to the people. On another occasion they were not living a life aligned with His word.

If God were to take a measurement of our leadership of His people today, how would we measure up?

Are we teaching truth? Are we living by the standard God has given us?

If not, while it is true others are watching us, remember God is also watching. Will we measure up?

For those who live in Colorado, you know exactly what I mean, and it may be the same wherever you live. The spring is always an interesting time of the year, one day we have sunshine and 75 – 80 degrees, and the next we have 25 degrees and 8 inches of snow.

As crazy as it may sound, this type of weather is fairly normal for the time of year. Inconsistency is about the only thing consistent. However, there is a comparison to our leadership.

Do people see us come in one day in perfect form, everything is excellent, and the next day cold and stormy, leaving everyone wondering how they should act, or what they should say?

Obviously, I cannot answer the question for you or anyone else. I mention this thought because it is not uncommon for there to be uncertainty among followers because of inconsistency among leaders.

Leadership involves a process by which we learn to demonstrate the consistent qualities of godliness so followers know exactly what to expect.

When we do, the strength of our leadership will shape the lives of others with the same standard.

A friend of mine in Arkansas used to tell me this every time I asked how he was doing; “Everyday’s a holiday.”

I do not pretend to know, nor do I intend to explore, all this statement means or could mean, but I do want to think about the attitude behind it.

Life is about how we approach it. If we make up our mind to approach life with a negative attitude, then all we see will be through the lens of negativity.

However, if we choose to approach life with the “everyday’s a holiday” attitude, then what we see will be through the lens of positivity.

Biblically, this is the idea behind the word “blessed.” The quality of being blessed is one that cannot be affected by outside circumstances. There is an inner quality that exists regardless of the storms of life that may be blowing.

Whether we are poor in spirit, mourning, hungry, thirsty, or persecuted for the cause of Christ, we are blessed.

If we really look closely, we will also find that being blessed is a choice. Maybe everyday really is a holiday.

Goals are one of the most needed areas of leadership, yet one of the most overlooked and misunderstood.

Our approach to goals and goal setting if often an exercise in wishful thinking and generalities.

We consider goals much like our New Year’s Resolutions (for whatever they are worth).

The point I am trying to make is to consider that our goals need to be specific in nature. What are we seeking to achieve, exactly?

Goals should be measurable. How can we evaluate the progress in reaching our goals if they are not measurable?

Goals should be action oriented. In other words, goals involve us doing something.

Goals must be realistic. Remember there is a fine line between what we can do on our own and what we need God to help us achieve.

Goals should also be time-bound. If there is not a time factor involved in reaching the goal, it is just a wish.

As leaders, we need goals on a personal and congregational level; long term and short term. Success comes to those who set smart goals.