Also known as a champion, upholder, backer, supporter, everyone needs an advocate. From a Biblical perspective, Jesus is our Advocate. The idea behind the Biblical definition involves someone to come alongside and stand in the place of someone else.

The intent is not to make this post solely about Jesus and His role as our Advocate. The intent of this post is to consider our position as leaders.

When people are struggling with their faith, do they know they have an advocate?

When we see people dealing with the challenges of daily life, are we there as an advocate?

When others are stepping out to accept responsibility, will we be an advocate for them?

Everyone needs to know someone will be there by their side to be a champion for them. Whether it is during a time of temptation, personal trial, or spiritual growth, leaders must be an advocate for those who follow.

The necessity of such is vital to the development of the Lord’s church. Christians need to know the Advocate we have in Jesus and they need to know the advocate they have in leadership.

When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he instructed Christians to “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification…” (Ep. 4:29).

The challenge of any generation is living in a culture that gives little thought to the impact of words. The old acronym GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) identifies far more about the heart than we might want to acknowledge.

For developing a strong spiritual health, how can we fulfill this passage? Numerous answers could be suggested, but consider one simple approach: One particular family set up a coin jar where each time they yelled, it cost money. Imagine the impact if inappropriate language, words spoken in anger/frustration, or spoken in haste took money out of our wallet that we could not get back. Maybe we would learn to “think before we speak.”

This is the true root of the problem. We too often allow our mouth to run ahead of our brain, when simply taking a moment to think first, could resolve a lot of issues that hinder us from following Paul’s instruction.

“Positive thinking is not about expecting the best to happen every time but accepting that whatever happens is the best for this moment.” Author Unknown

The eternal optimist is a beautiful sound when describing of leadership character. We often associate the eternal optimist with the first part of today’s thought. Expecting the best to happen every time is an encouraging consideration, but not as realistic as we would like. One reason is because who and how the word “best” is defined determines the direction of our optimism.

The latter half of the thought helps direct the magic of positive thinking. As Christians, when we trust that whatever happens in our life is best for this moment, then we begin to look at each situation as an opportunity to learn and grow in relationship to God. This is where positive thinking is born and the results create a far better approach to a life well-lived.

Reflecting on the first week of 2016, may all our resolutions, goals, plans, or whatever we work to achieve be bathed in positive thinking in the truest nature of the characteristic.

At one time or another, we all feel a little less than our best. Perhaps we had a poor night’s sleep or we experienced “one of those days.”

During times like these we can become susceptible to a virus, our energy levels are lower, we feel achy, and we may suffer with a fever. Generally speaking, we do not feel well.

This post is not advocating that we show up to work when contagious and risk infecting everyone. However, Jerry West made an interesting statement, “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.”

We need to learn how to work through the times when we do not feel as good as other days.

Remember our purpose. Do not lose sight of why we are leading.

Put one foot in front of the other. At times, just getting started helps.

Focus on the goal. The result promises to be worth the effort.

Remain dedicated to finish. It is not how we start, but how we finish that makes a difference.

Leadership motivates us to show up everyday!

It’s not about changing them, it’s about changing us.

Give this principle thought. The general mindset of leadership is about changing others. After all, spiritually speaking, we are leading, right? The purpose of our leadership is changing others, right? Are we not supposed to change others?

However, before we can change others we must first change ourselves. It is far too easy to ask others to do what we are either unwilling to do or have not done yet.

The power of change begins with us. When we make changes in our own lives first, then we are setting an example for others to see why they should change also.

When leadership provides the example of change, then consistency is the model. Perhaps this is why God requires repentance of all.

A change of mind motivates the change of will, which in turn changes the direction of our action.

As leaders in our homes, communities, schools, jobs, and the church, let us first work on changing ourselves and then seek opportunity to help others change.

This week’s word means “to give an incentive for action.” We know motivation carries a similar thought within specific contexts. For example, “we need to determine the type of motivation that enable us to reach the goal.” Or, “motivation for the group is needed.”

Leaders encounter numerous challenges, and one of the most challenging is motivating people who appear to be unmotivated. Appealing to the unmotivated may take different forms, but we can start by asking a few simple questions.

Do the people involved know they are supposed to do a specific task?

Do they know how to perform the actions required?

When was the last time they were reminded?

Are the reasons these actions are important clearly stated?

Are there clear guidelines of the consequences?

Are regular evaluations of progress in place?

Once these questions are answered, appealing to the self-interests of others can assist in the motivation needed. Learning these interests lays a strong foundation for how motivate others.

Remember, as leaders we strive to lead someone from point A to point B. Determining how to motivate others in this journey is critical to goal achievement.

Perhaps the most difficult area to measure in Christianity is spiritual growth. The most common approach for spiritual growth is an increase in our Bible knowledge. This is why the push from the pulpit invites us to spend more time studying our Bibles.

Without a doubt, we need to grow in our knowledge of God’s word. However, knowledge of God’s word does not equate to spiritual growth, and we all know this is true.

Measuring spiritual growth, i.e. determining our spiritual health, occurs on the battle field of application. How many times have we heard or said that someone “knows better?” Their knowledge may be fine, but the problem is implementing that knowledge into action.

Far too often, the problem we face is not knowing how to do what scripture teaches. We need to find ways to bridge the gap from the first century writing of God’s word into the twenty-first century life. The task is easier said than done.

Over the next few weeks we will examine a few ways to make application of specific teaching in order to improve our spiritual health development.

From the Turner family to all of you – Happy New Year.

Make this day the first of many that influence others for the greatest cause on earth.

We pray God’s richest blessings and all the best of the new year for you and your family.

Everyone knows the value of good planning. Leaders especially appreciate the need to make the proper plans to reach established goals.

Tonight we say goodbye to a year through which we will never walk again. We cannot relive it. We cannot change it. All we can do is examine it and make plans to create a difference for the future.

Plans are not New Year’s resolutions.

Plans are not goals.

Plans involve the activities necessary to keep our resolutions and reach our goals.

How vital is it we have plans? There is an old adage used by several that says, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

We all need personal short and long-term goals. The same is true at every corporate level. How we plan to reach our goals makes a difference.

Before we commit to our New Year’s resolutions; before we set up goals for the year ahead; let us sit down and establish the details of a proper plan to ensure success for 2016.

Train as a team!

Understanding teamwork and training as a team is obviously significant to the overall success of the group. However, there are some “do’s and don’ts” to fully comprehend training as a team.

Training and working as a team does not place everyone in an equal position. There are specific roles each member must fulfill in order for the unit to function properly. Problems will arise when anyone in a leadership position begins to navigate on their own and no longer follows the proper organizational flow of communication and authority.

Training and working as a team does place everyone on the same page. When a unit works as a team the goals are communicated and understood. Every individual understands their specific tasks to reach the goals. Also, each person is diligent to fulfill their responsibilities without casting blame on someone else for not carrying their weight.

Training as a team has great advantages for the development of any organization. This is especially true within the area of spiritual leadership. When we work together, each fulfilling our necessary roles, the group wins.