Tag: Christian

Kindness

The value of speaking with kindness benefits every level of a leader’s influence. When a word is spoken with kindness, notice what occurs.

Providing benefit to another person becomes a priority.

An individual’s value is raised to a higher level.

Unity is exemplified through our efforts to serve one another.

Outreach to the world reflects the nature of God’s love.

Kindness requires us to get our personal agendas, preconceived ideas, desires, and motivations out of the way so we can display our Christian light and glorify God.

Values

Leadership is built upon values. Write them down. Review them daily. Keep them timeless.

The benefit comes through evaluating our actions with our values. We ensure a consistency of life when we align the conduct of our life with our values.

When one becomes a Christian, worldly values change to godly ones. Thoughts, words, and actions become more consistent with these new values.

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

Virtuous Leaders

N.T. Wright’s book, subtitled Why Christian Character Matters, focuses on the need for virtue becoming “second nature.” Virtue must be a natural or automatic response for leaders.

The book develops three major thoughts. The first examines the virtuous purpose of Christian character.

The second discusses the need for character transformation. Character transformation must occur within, creating a change of actions demonstrated in our conduct.

The third considers the virtues of faith, hope, and love. These virtues are developed within the context of community.

We must implement these virtues, but we need each other to do so. We cannot develop as spiritual leaders in isolation.

Honest Leadership

Honesty is critical to leadership, but not all leaders are honest. At times, they tend to tell “half-truths.”

Biblically, we know the necessity of honesty as a Christian virtue. Therefore, the application of honesty in biblical leadership is a natural reflection of what is expected by God and others.

Honesty is characterized in the words of David, describing the the power of biblical leadership in the one who “walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” (Ps. 15:2).

The emphasis of David provides a platform for leaders, describing both who they are and what they do.

A Successful Definition

Success is often defined by popularity or profit, and a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity.

Perhaps our definition should not be about “what” determines success, but “who”.

Jesus said if someone gains the whole world and loses their soul, the level of success is not worth it.

When God determines success, then we are on the right path. Can we measure success by a strong Christian family, leading others to Christ, helping someone in need, giving hope to the hopeless, lending a hand to a friend, growing in our knowledge of God’s word, and developing a close relationship with Him through prayer?

Best Day Ever

What is the “best day ever?”

From a spiritual leadership perspective, the idea has a whole new meaning. The best day ever occurred at the resurrection of Jesus.

Here is where Jesus defeated Satan. Here is where the fear of death was removed. Here is where hope of something better beyond this life was given.

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

The resurrection changes everything in how we lead others.

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

Your Last Day…

What would you do if you knew today was your last day on earth? Spend time with family? Express your love for someone?

Would you give away your possessions to someone less fortunate?

Would you settle a disagreement with an estranged friend?

Would you help someone reach their potential?

From a Christian perspective, the value of one day makes leadership much more vital. Nothing would be more important than making sure others knew about Jesus.

The reality is neither you or I are guaranteed tomorrow. Today may be our last day. Make this day valuable and seek a way to lead someone to Christ.

Grateful and Blessed…

I am blessed when it comes to leading my family, blessed in more ways than I can express in one post. Let me share my greatest blessing.

Today, my wife celebrates a special day.

It is a day that reminds me how thankful I am she was born, how thankful I am God orchestrated our union, how thankful I am for the family we’ve made together, and how thankful I am to walk alongside someone as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside.


I am blessed to lead such an amazing woman, Christian example, and my best friend on this journey through life. Happy Birthday my love.

SHMILY

Redirecting Our Focus…

We are all molded by the events of the past, whether teaching, experience, or influence. Each of these take on both a positive and negative trait.

Paul’s family heritage, academic credentials, knowledge of scripture, and zealous attack against the church left a mark he did not forget from his past.

However, he did not allow the past to dictate the direction of his future. Paul had a new spiritual focus.

Leaders must learn from the past in order to prevent repeating areas that hinder our Christian influence.

The challenges of yesterday are past. We need to redirect our attention toward a spiritual future.

Love…

Cultivating love is one of the greatest challenges to our Christian walk and leadership.

Considering the loose way we use love is borderline blasphemous. Kenneson says, “…some may justifiably doubt whether a word that can be applied with ease to both God and pizza can illuminate the character of the Christian life” (37).

Love is unmerited, steadfast, suffering, and knows no bounds. God’s very essence is love.

Consider the “other-directedness” nature of God’s love toward you and me in the death of Jesus.

In an environment based on self-interest, one that puts a price on everything (and everyone), cultivating love will require our devotion to building relationships.