“Catch fire today! Make today the day you stop complaining and do something!” Steve Harvey

This quote is a personal favorite because it speaks to the need for leaders to stop looking at the negative, discouraging, and depressing areas of life and step up with the kind of enthusiasm that takes action.

Nothing is more significant to the development of solid leadership than “catching fire.” The idea also addresses the type of passion that knows what is worth giving our lives for as it relates to the good of others, both physical and spiritual.

Somehow, it must begin with leaders to present an example of moving away from the individualistic / humanistic philosophy that characterizes much of our world.

The opportunity we have in this life is to live for others. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone spent their time focused on dedicating themselves for the development of others and helping them reach their greatest potential.

This is the nature of what God desired for His creation, what Jesus gave His life to achieve, and His disciples are commissioned to fulfill.

May it be so!

Winston Churchill is credited with saying “success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

How is it possible for failure to provide benefit or value in the development of leaders?

According to several Internet sources there is a difference between bad and good failures. Determining what makes Google tick, Fast Company discussed a number of rules learned from their research and identified two characteristics common with good failures: 1) determining why failure occurred and making an application for future work; and 2) speed: “fail fast and early before investing more than necessary or damaging your brand.”

Failure is never something desired, yet it is necessary in helping grow our leadership in ways that will benefit the good of God’s kingdom.

While we do not desire to fail, nor do we look for failure in order to benefit from it, knowing that failure can and will occur will help prepare us with an expectation that when it happens we can approach it from the position of learning the value of failure.

At times, it is extremely difficult to make a decision that involves taking steps in a direction that may go against the grain, challenge tradition, or ruffle the feathers of others.

When this happens, it is critical to have the confidence of knowing the proper homework has been done to insure the decision is the right one to direct the future development of the work.

This is true at every level, from an organizational point of view to the family to the church. Leaders need to focus on the best way(s) to reach the goals and take whatever critical steps are necessary to achieve success.

When we think of being critical, we tend to think in negative and condemning terms, yet the idea has a positive bent that can help develop our leadership.

To be critical also involves the evaluative and and analytical approach to various situations. Leaders who evaluate with a critical eye will analyze the situation in ways that provide possible solutions for overcoming challenges or leading through difficulties.

The next step could be a critical one. Let us take the step in the right way.

One of the most significant words in the leadership vocabulary is “possibility.” Words such as potential, feasibility, and probability are involved in guiding our understanding of possibilities.

Possibilities are directly linked to the application of opportunities. Opportunities are circumstances presenting possibilities. If we are unable to see the possibilities we never take advantage of the opportunities.

Couple this with the idea that God has the power to do far beyond all we ask or think according to the power that works within us (Ep. 3:20).

God’s power, presence, and knowledge should help us recognize that He will provide numerous opportunities, but we need to look for the possibilities.

Consider the goals we have set: are they feasible, what are the probabilities, and do we know the potential that exists?

The answer to these questions can make the difference in not only seeing the possibilities, but also taking advantage of the opportunities.

This ties directly to the vision needed by leaders for the direction of the work and the involvement of those who follow.

Lead with the possibilities in view.

A new class of students began their studies this morning at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. The look in their eyes of anticipation, excitement, apprehension, and perhaps a little fear, never gets old.

Most of the staff remember well the time when they also sat in the same chairs with the same feelings.

There is something unique about entering a program of study where the material learned prepares someone to change the world with the message of Jesus.

The teachers in the program are fully aware of the responsibility given by God when it comes to leading these precious souls to become great learners of God’s word and leaders of others.

Developing the foundation upon which these students build for future leadership is critical and we all seek your prayers as we approach this God given responsibility.

Please pray for the students and the challenges they will face in the years ahead.

Please pray for the instructors to have wisdom in developing courses for these students.

Please pray for God’s blessing in providing the needed support.

Please pray God will use these families to His glory.

“When obstacles arise you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.” Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar’s play on words in this thought expresses a powerful truth everyone needs to learn.

There is no doubt that we all face obstacles in the course of life. The difference is made in how we choose to deal with those obstacles.

At times, obstacles can arise that create situations causing us to feel as though we have no choice but to quit, and many do.

The greatest challenge, however, is realizing that the direction can be changed and still reach the goal without changing the decision to get there.

When we understand the nature of our goals, along with the ultimate goal of heaven, we also know that obstacles help strengthen our faith in the One who placed the goal before us and will help us reach it.

The task before us is to face these obstacles with the determination and tenacity needed to keep our focus on achieving the ultimate success.

The concept of vision is an area of leadership addressed from many angles.

Amazingly, when we look at something from one angle it may appear one way, but looking at it from another angle may appear completely different. The internet is filled with various forms of optical illusions that illustrate this point.

The same is true in the way we see our God and plan for our service in His kingdom.

Jesus reshaped the way the Samaritan woman at the well saw Him. She began by seeing Jesus as a Jew, but before the conversation was over, she recognized Him as the Messiah.

Jesus helped the apostles see the multitude of Samaritans coming to meet Him from a different perspective, a harvest needing to be harvested.

There is an interesting lesson here in that how we see Jesus influences the way we see others. As leaders we desperately need to see Jesus from a biblical perspective and recognize that all people, who are made in the image of God, deserve to be seen in need of His grace.

This vision is needed by godly leaders.

After a recent visit to the Magic Kingdom, an interesting thought was discovered in a quote by Walt Disney.

Disney said, “I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they’re in the Park (Disneyland). I want them to feel they’re in another world.”

How many times have we thought about the problems of the “real” world? We often want to escape the real world for another world. The idea of removing ourselves from the reality of the events or situations encountered sounds appealing.

The world we live in seems to have an insatiable desire to avoid reality. The real world brings challenges to our families: financial problems, health difficulties, and the list goes on. Getting away from this “realness” is tempting, but is it possible?

Everyone needs time to rejuvenate or “recharge the batteries,” but checking out of reality introduces psychological issues that need more attention than any post can address.

The world of leadership is not one that exists in the “virtual” realm, but one that requires an understanding of reality to address the various challenges presented in life.

While the most common concept of a sanctuary is related to a holy place or church building, the idea behind this week’s word is a place of refuge or safety.

Leaders should approach the concept of sanctuary from at least two perspectives: 1) the need for sanctuary themselves, and 2) providing the type of leadership where others find sanctuary.

Regardless of how long someone has been involved in leadership, there will always be times when leaders need to retreat to a place of refuge, a place of solitude where they find peace.

Also, leaders need a style of leadership that allows others who follow the opportunity to find that place of safety, a place where they can trust in their leadership to provide security.

The beauty of this word is that it applies to what God has done for us through Jesus. The writer of the book of Hebrews mentions this truth in several ways, as Jesus is superior, better, and sovereign because of who He is, what He did, and where He is now.

Let us focus on these truths as the foundation for our own leadership.

What would we consider to be the “best day ever?”

This line, from the movie Tangled, is basically quoted by people everywhere and modified to fit whatever the situation or thought.

From a spiritual leadership perspective, the idea behind the best day ever takes on a whole new meaning. The “best day ever” occurred at the resurrection of Jesus.

Yes, there is significance and application to the blood that poured forth from the side of Jesus at the crucifixion. Without the shedding of His blood, there is no forgiveness.

The best day, however, is connected to His resurrection. Here is where Jesus defeated Satan. Here is where the fear of death was removed. Here is where Jesus gave us hope of something better beyond this life.

Christianity is based on this fact! Without the resurrection, Paul describes the tragedy that exists in following Christ (1 Co. 15:12-19).

When we consider the resurrection of Jesus with this hope in view everything changes in the way we lead others.

There is something worth living and dying for…because He lives!

There is something worth leading others for…because He lives!