Leadership

"Action is the antidote to despair." -- Joan Baez, singer-songwriter Desperation can have a paralyzing effect on us.  We might feel surrounded by our circumstances, unable to find the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel."  Sensing no hope, we become immobilized -- thinking there is nothing we can do. We look at the high numbers of children in foster care and wonder, "What can one person or family do?" We see the faces of poverty and feel poor in our ability to do something. It might be our own financial situation or a difficult season with a child. When a problem moves from an annoyance to a nuisance to an albatross ... we're closer to despair. Joan Baez is right: action is the antidote to despair. Often when we take action, even a small action, we begin to feel better.  We might not be able to feed the…

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been asked to speak at Valley View Christian Church on July 3.  My text for the morning is this one: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16 Rather than debate the ins and outs of predestination (see verse 16!), I'd like to focus more on this aspect of God's call on your life and mine. I grew up in a church fellowship that didn't…

"Execution is not a one-time event."  To grow a business (or a church), leaders must develop organizational habits that promote execution at all levels.  Do you send the message that execution counts?

"Realism is the ally of execution."  Since denial comes easy to people and organizations, successful enterprises know they must understand reality in order to effectively operate.