Now that we have all the hoopla of the New Year’s Eve celebrations behind us, it is time to get started.

Apart from the challenges of learning to write 2013 instead of 2012 (usually takes about a month for me), what areas do we need to get started on regarding our leadership?

We need to take the adequate time to evaluate what has been done over the past year. The only true picture for the year ahead is built upon understanding past failures and successes.

We need to implement the proper changes necessary to bring appropriate growth. Change is essential to growth, but understanding the proper changes is the key.

We need to provide our full support to the individuals who will contribute to the changes. Remember that any progress made by proposed changes will not be made alone.

We need to work according to available resources. Using and building upon our strengths will increase our strengths for greater stability and development.

Avoid procrastination and pursue dedication. Seek out and follow the counsel of those who are closest. Give your best to every endeavor.

Happy New Year!

Today is the first day of a new year and an opportunity for new beginnings.

I find it interesting how many need a day, like the first day of a new year, to work on changes in their life. Some resolve to work on new and better habits in life and others resolve to stop bad ones.

Regardless of the need for a first day of a new year, week, day, or moment, recognizing the need to improve our lives is a positive step in the right direction.

Leaders should always be thinking about how we are going to use these opportunities to lead in the cause of Christ. Is today a new beginning in leading…

A soul to the light of our Savior?

A straying brother or sister back to the family of God?

A deeper study into the truths of God’s word?

A more passionate approach in speaking to God in prayer?

Whatever the need may be for each of us, today is a new beginning. Let us reach forward in achieving spiritual leadership for our Lord in this new year.

This recent holiday movie featured Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and Jack Frost. My purpose in this post is not to promote the movie.

However, there is an interesting thought portrayed in the plot which lays the foundation for what we will focus on each Monday in the weeks ahead. The idea behind the movie is for the guardians (listed above) to rise up and work together to defeat Pitch (known as the Boogie man) who is working to rob children of their belief in these fictional characters.

I am not advocating a belief in these characters or how the movie portrays the idea. However, from a more relevant and essential spiritual perspective, we need leaders / guardians who will rise up and work together to defend the truth and faith of God’s word.

Satan is obviously working to rob people of their faith through many venues. Next Monday we will begin examining some of the ways Satan is working inside and outside the church to destroy faith and what we can do to guard the word of God and His church.

“Everything in life comes to you as a teacher. Pay attention. Learn quickly.” – Cherokee Saying

I am constantly amazed at the ability of life to serve as a teacher. Sadly, the lessons learned can be the hardest and most life changing.

The question of significance involves two thoughts expressed in the saying above. Are we paying attention and learning from what life is teaching?

I am sure you have heard, “If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.” The very idea expresses the need for us to pay attention and learn from life.

If we could only develop a method to help us remember the mistakes so we do not repeat them and use the success we experience to duplicate it.

Perhaps we find the answer in the thought for today. Every event, every person, every second of every day is a classroom to teach us and prepare us for greater leadership. Our job is to pay attention and learn quickly.

The better student we are in life, the more success we will see in leadership.

The world seems to be a different place when looking through the eyes of a child. Their perspective of life and the events that surround life have a beautiful hint of simplicity. Such an approach would do wonders for our leadership.

Here is a seven step plan that will certainly make a difference in the way we lead others.

First, worry not about tomorrow, it might not come anyway.

Second, it is okay to get angry, but make up quickly and play as if it never happened.

Third, stop thinking about the clock. We cannot really measure the value of time by it.

Fourth, live life with anticipation of what we get to do each day.

Fifth, value the security of knowing someone else is in charge. Thank you Father.

Sixth, remember, a good night’s rest depends on living with truth and honesty.

Seventh, nothing is better than cookies and milk to put a smile on someone’s face.

We can learn so much from children and their approach to life. Perhaps this is why Jesus said we must become like them if we are to enter the kingdom.

What is our center? I never thought about it this way until watching a movie recently. Finding our center is about discovering who we are at the core that affects every area of life.

When our center as a leader is spiritually motivated, our life becomes about demonstrating  the qualities of godliness toward others, rather than simply developing ourselves.

However, determining our center is not as easy as it may sound. Such an undertaking may involve years of searching. Learning to be honest about what we are seeking in life will help us on this journey. Here are a few questions to consider.

1) Do we feel inconvenienced by others?

2) Are we motivated by self preservation more than someone’s eternal destination?

3) Are times in prayer and study, as well as worship, more difficult to work into our schedule, and do we see them as having little or no benefit?

4) Where do we find the most pleasure?

5) Are our words and actions driven by a core that is self-centered or others-directed?

Answering a few questions helps develop a genuine understanding that will help us find our center.

I would imagine few, if any, will check the Leadership Fund today. I will not be writing it on Christmas Day either.

However, I want to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

I hope you enjoy a special day with family and I pray God will bless each of you with many years of leadership in His kingdom.

Thank you for reading the Leadership Fund each day.

Please share it with others.
Merry Christmas!

The obvious question is the night before what?

As with each of you, I have heard and read “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” From this poem a number of important thoughts stand out. The parallels to leadership can be quite interesting.

There is always hope of knowing that leadership will show up to provide the direction needed.

Vision is a key component to the success of any leader, and vision must be shared with others.

Leaders cannot afford to hesitate. They must always be ready to spring into action quickly.

Expecting the unexpected prepares leaders for any event, even if it is not what they expected.

No words can express the value and importance of remembering names.

Sometimes leaders need to get dirty to get the job done.

Never forget the importance of making a good first impression. Smile!

Life is too short. Enjoy the little things.

The reward comes at the end.

Take a few minutes to read the poem again and see the connections. Lessons in leadership can be learned just about everywhere, even in a Christmas poem.

When war broke out between Spain and the United States, it was very necessary to communicate quickly with the leader of the Insurgents. Garcia was somewhere in the mountain vastness of Cuba – no one knew where. No mail nor telegraph message could reach him. The President must secure his cooperation, and quickly.

What to do!

Someone said to the President, “There’s a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you, if anybody can.”

Rowan was sent for and given a letter to be delivered to Garcia. How “the fellow by the name of Rowan” took the letter, sealed it up in an oil-skin pouch, strapped it over his heart, in four days landed by night off the coast of Cuba from an open boat, disappeared into the jungle, and in three weeks came out on the other side of the Island, having traversed a hostile country on foot, and delivered his letter to Garcia, are things I have no special desire now to tell in detail.

The point I wish to make is this: McKinley gave Rowan a letter to be delivered to Garcia; Rowan took the letter and did not ask, “Where is he at?” By the Eternal! there is a man whose form should be cast in deathless bronze and the statue placed in every college of the land. It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this or that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, concentrate their energies: do the thing – “Carry a message to Garcia!”

Scripture often uses a figurative use of the word “walk” to describe a way or conduct of life. Interestingly enough, Paul uses this terminology most often to describe a Christian way of living. Perhaps this is why the Christian life is characterized by walking in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1), walking in love (Ephesians 5:2), or walking in the light (1 John 1:7).

One of the most powerful descriptions that characterizes the Christian way of life is walking by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Paul’s use of faith is connected to the word of God. We are to walk by “the” faith, not by sight.

Leaders set the example for others. No greater example can be found than a life that is characterized by continually walking in keeping with the qualities described above.

Consider the influence of a spiritual leader who lives each day by the word of God. They will be one who walks with God. They will put the needs of others above themselves. They will seek things above, not on this earth.

Leaders, we just need to keep on walking.