Leadership Gifts -Teaching

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…if it is teaching, let him teach.” Romans 12:6, 7

For those who lead by teaching, words are incredibly important. And those words are not just the spoken word, but the words of explanation, analysis, and research. A leader with the gift of teaching is greatly concerned that information and direction is understood by all and that everyone comprehends the rationale for the decisions that are made. The accuracy of the communication is as important as the content of the message.

Often the leader who has this gift firmly believes that teaching is the best way to lead. Collaboration is critical, but research must support that collegiality. The leader loves research and thrives upon organized inquiry. This kind of leader is driven to test all theories with the sounding board of facts. He/she has a special need and desire to validate all new information. Policies, laws, expert opinion, and proven best practice hold heavy weights on the scales of decision making.

When it comes to presentations, this leader is impressed with a systematic sequence of factual data. Impulsivity rarely reigns in the mind of a teacher/leader. Rather, careful decision making (often to the point of procrastination) takes time. What can appear to be indecision is, in the mind of the teacher/leader, really a demonstration of a great sense of responsibility.

Two aspects of leadership that hold great value to the teacher/leader are diligence and endurance. He/she expects both of these characteristics in his/her life as well as the activity of those who work for him/her. Diligence produces the best possible option; diligence captures a depth of creativity that others miss; and diligence creates a uniqueness that sets an organization apart from the competitors. Endurance turns failure into innovation; endurance shapes opposition into opportunities; endurance transforms vision into reality.

Three areas of concern should be recognized by the leader who possesses this powerful gift of teaching. First, the teacher/learner loves words and knowledge, but he/she must be careful not to allow this knowledge to turn into a pride of learning. This type of leader may so value information received from research that he/she easily discounts the practical wisdom of experience. There can be a tendency to appear skeptical if an idea does not come with factual data and the teacher/leader may come across lacking warmth and failing to express openness to new ideas.

Second, the teacher’s/leader’s need for research is not shared by all the members of the team (unless you have a team of teachers/leaders, in which case the team may never get past analysis toward an action plan). To delay a decision for additional data may not always be a good strategy. Those with the gift of prophecy already have discerned the best course of action and those with the gift of service just want to get started. Slow, careful decision making can be essential in some situations, but can be motivational wet blankets on others. The teacher/leader must exercise great discernment in knowing the difference.

Third, the teacher/leader must beware of the dependency on man. Research and factual analysis often rely on human insight and intellect. He who debates the best and yells the loudest might win the vote in the board room, but might miss the direction of God. The teacher/leader must remind him/her that good leadership depends on God’s direction rather than on human reason. Retreating into the world of books and research might be a dangerous place to discern the will of God. The spirit and the intellect should both be placed under the submission of the Gift Giver.

Words, research, analysis, and diligence all work together to build a powerful leader who possesses the gift of teaching. If you have been given this gift, lead with endurance and balance. God will use you to accomplish effective and long-lasting ministry for His glory.

Leadership Gifts - Serving

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…If it is serving, let him serve.” Romans 12:6, 7.

In contrast to the leader with the gift of prophecy (who tends to be in the spot light and shouting from the rooftops), the leader with the gift of service is often quietly (and diligently) working behind the scenes. The individual who leads with a mindset of serving possesses an acute ability to discern the practical needs of others, is driven by the desire to meet those needs, and is highly motivated to solve those problems as quickly as possible.

There is often an urgency in the mind of this type of leader to complete the job; there is a physical stamina that pushes the individual with a disregard for weariness; and a willingness to utilize personal resources and funds to avoid delays. In reality, however, he/she can be quite frustrated if a time limit or much red tape is attached to certain tasks.

Short-range goals are more attractive to the leader with the gift of serving than are long-term projects. The practical takes precedence over the philosophical. A checklist of tasks is viewed as a challenge and an opportunity to accomplish great things. Putting forth sacrificial amounts of energy and time to accomplish specific projects serves as a prime motivating factor in this leader’s passion. The 30, 000-foot vision or the long range, strategic plan can be frustrating to this leader that wants to get things done quickly in order to serve others.

A positive strength that often accompanies this gift is the ability to remember the likes and dislikes of people. For example, birthdays and the names of the children of fellow workers are important details for this leader. Prayer requests are logged into his/her long-term memory and he/she asks for updates and expresses concerns for the needs of others.

This type of leader experiences joy when his/her efforts free others up to use their strengths in productive ways. This leader is motivated to remove burdensome tasks from others in order to enable them to accomplish more in the areas of their giftedness. The serving leader does not desire busy work but is willing to take on extra so that others can better use their strengths.

The leader with this gift loves to serve with others. This gift attracts people with similar giftedness. There is nothing more impressive than to watch a group of leaders, who possess the gift of serving, pooling their efforts to accomplish a goal. Fur flies and dust doesn’t have a chance to settle before the project is complete and all is organized and ready for action.

Leaders who function from this arena of giftedness do need to be cautious in some areas. First, their quickness to meet the needs of others might give the appearance of being pushy or brown-nosing toward self-advancement. Second, they often lack the ability to say “no,” (even to the detriment of their family) accepting too many jobs at one time. This can lead to an over commitment of time and a lack of balance in life... eventually the leader wears him/herself out physically and emotionally. Third, those who love to serve may have a difficulty being the recipient of the service from others. Using the gift is much easier than receiving the gift. Fourth, leaders with this gift can be hurt by the lack of gratefulness from the recipient of their efforts. Their motivation to serve is pure but it is fueled and affirmed by genuine appreciation. Fifth, they often feel that their giftedness does not qualify them for spiritual leadership and they view themselves as inadequate to play a leadership role within a larger group.

Serving others was one of the major methods that Jesus used to lead his disciples. After Jesus humbly washed his disciple’s feet as an act of leadership and service, he said to his disciples, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13: 14-15). Another wonderful statement of Jesus is found in Matthew 20:25-28 when a discussion centered on the concept of greatness in the kingdom of God. Jesus shared, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Those with the spiritual gift of service will lead with the very heart of the gospel. If this is your spiritual gift, lead in strong and mighty ways, recognizing your greatness in the kingdom!

Leadership Gifts - Prophecy

The first gift listed by Paul in Romans 12 is the gift of prophecy. Many associate the Old Testament prophet with telling the future. And although the prophet’s message often foretold future events and projected God’s deliverance, the major role of the prophet was that of messenger. The prophet was the mouthpiece of God proclaiming the divine message. The prophetic outcry is best summarized by the phrase “Thus says the Lord.” The prophet’s mission was to deliver and declare the message of God to his people. His focus was not to make predictions nor play the role of fortune-teller. The words of the prophet were not filled with conjecture or chance but rather were statements of truth and warnings of reality.

With this context in mind the New Testament gift of prophecy is not a gift of future telling but rather a gift of forth-telling – proclaiming God’s message. Since the word of God is clearly proclaimed in the Bible, today’s gift of prophecy is the ability to explain the scriptures and bring people to a true application of the Word. Providing an accurate interpretation of the Bible and challenging people to personally apply that truth to their lives is a strong passion within the mindset of an individual with the gift of prophecy. He/she has sensitivity to right and wrong; has the ability to discern the motive and attitude of others; possesses a deep need to identify and define what is evil and inappropriate; is willing to confront unethical behavior and suffer for doing what is right.

A leader that is energized with the spiritual gift of prophecy usually has a desire to express his/her message verbally. Vision-casting (communicating one’s vision for the future with others) comes easily and the leader is able to be direct, frank, and persuasive in verbal communication. Because the leader with this spiritual gift sees so much of the world around him/her in black and white terms, he/she has little problem in making a decision – in fact he/she often makes quick judgments on observable evidence and quickly speaks his/her mind. This type of leader possesses a deep concern for the reputation of his/her ministry and integrity is of upmost importance – there needs to be outward evidences that demonstrate the core convictions of the organization. Injustice brings great angst to this leader and harshness is often the initial response to those who offend the code of expectations.

The leader who is gifted with prophecy is often a man/woman with great influence and words of boldness. This leader is willing to die on the battlefield of truth and loves to fight “back-to-back” with other loyal warriors. He/she enjoys being on the front line where the action is. He/she is wholeheartedly involved in the vision and mission of the organization. He/she is the brave knight that many people admire from afar and love to follow.

Because of the boldness of speech and the zeal for moral decision making, this kind of leader must be careful how he/she leads. Frank comments can often be interpreted as harsh, leaving wounds of offense and rejection. Quick judgments might be seen as intolerance toward the opinions of others; confrontation and enforcement of strict standards might be viewed as intimidation and can become great barriers to close personal relationships; and comments without tact can destroy morale (speak the truth in love – Eph 4:15).

A leader with the gift of prophecy must be careful not to cut a person off who has failed to live up to the high standards of the leader. Restoration and forgiveness are areas in which that this type of leader may have to work. Jumping to conclusions about the words, attitudes, and motives of others can force this leader into some unwise decisions. The sensitivity to right and wrong tends to pull this leader into negativity as he/she becomes problem focused and can develop a condemning attitude.

I believe that this spiritual gift is one of the most powerful gifts that a leader can possess. A passionate vision accompanied by bold verbal communication can produce mighty change. Followers enjoy alignment with a discerning leader who clearly defines right and wrong. A champion on a white horse attracts a loyal army. But such a leader can cause great harm; a misdirected cause… a strong word of tactless confrontation….the lashing out of confrontation without a desire for restoration… a coercive attitude, even in the name of truth…can greatly diminish the leader’s effectiveness.

Those with the gift of prophecy recognize your power and use it wisely. Raise the banner of truth and righteousness… but be sure that love and forgiveness are in the firm grip of your right hand.

Leadership Gifts

There are several lists of spiritual gifts within the pages of scripture: Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. The gifts delineated in Romans 12 (prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, administration, and mercy) have often been called the motivational gifts – the spiritual gifts given to man to unify and edify the church. Paul compares the gifts to the parts of a body. The parts of the body have different functions – the hand is different than the foot and the eye has a different function than the ear – and yet all the parts combined make a healthy body. The spiritual gifts, although quite different from one another, when used in harmony can result in a healthy church (the body of Christ on earth). The seven gifts listed in Romans 12 demonstrate the diversity of strengths and yet emphasize the potential power when these gifts are utilized in tandem with one another.

As Christ followers, we have different gifts according to the grace given us (Romans 12:6). It is God in His sovereignty that distributes these gifts. They are gifts, tokens of grace, and cannot be earned, purchased, obtained or learned outside of God’s empowerment. However, Romans 12 makes it pretty plain that we are responsible to use our gift(s) and exercise these God-given strengths for the benefits of others and for the glory of God.

There are man-made assessments designed to help believers discover their gift(s). These inventories attempt to explain the gifts and to provide insights into what they might look like in the day-to-day experience of Christians. They often will provide a list of strengths and dangers associated with each gift (the proper use and the potential abuse of the gifts). Typically these self-evaluations will result in scores, or indicators, in each of the seven gifts giving the participant an idea of their giftedness. Some may have one dominant gift, others may have tendencies toward several gifts.

AS I began to reflect recently on these gifts, I began to see why the leaders with whom I work lead differently. Christian leaders lead through their giftedness. The mindset and actions of one leader might be different (not necessarily better or worse) than another because of the way that God has wired (gifted) them. When we come together around the administrative table, if each leader speaks from their spiritual giftedness, we have the ability to be unified and better equipped to make spiritual decisions. Each spiritual gift provides a different perspective on situations, issues, and agenda items. As the team allows the gifts to express the various dimensions of a problem/solution, decision making will be more effective. That decision making might be a more complicated process and might demand more patience and open-mindedness, but the results will produce a healthier organization.

I am not an expert on spiritual gifts and I have never seen the gifts defined in terms of leadership, but in the next few blogs, I would like to explore how these gifts might impact a leader’s perspective regarding the people and the tasks of his/her ministry.

There are many facets that make up the complicated entity called man. To understand who we are as individuals is a challenge. There are personality tests that describe us as animals (beaver, lion, golden retriever, or otter) in order to capture the characteristics of four basic temperaments: Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic, and Phlegmatic. Many have taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which measures the preferences people have in the way they perceive the world and make decisions. This inventory involves four dichotomies that lead to a potential of 16 combinations: Introvert vs. Extrovert; Sensing vs. Intuition; Thinking vs. Feeling; and Judgment vs. Perception. A recent emphasis in leadership literature is the discovery of your strengths and focusing your efforts on improving your strong areas (for example Now, Discover Your Strengths by Buckingham and Clifton). A book like Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath shares an explanation of 34 areas of strength and provides an online assessment to help readers discover and apply those strengths in their lives.

As a Christian it is important to understand how God has created us and wired us as individuals. A key to this understanding is relational. How do we relate to God and how do we relate to one another. Man was made to worship God, but he was also made for community. Discovery of strengths and giftedness should not primarily be an introspective exercise for a self-centered benefit, but rather a personal assessment in order to better impact the world in which we live. Discovering how has God put me together is really only valuable if I use that discovery in ministry.

The spiritual gifts to be explored in coming postings are prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, administration, and mercy. I hope to address two basic questions as I explore these gifts. How does a leader lead through the context of each of these gifts? What are some pitfalls that gifted leaders need to avoid that might be unique to their perspective?

Whambulance Service.

Leadership is filled with difficult decisions and the leader is often faced with questions that don’t have a satisfying answer. It is sometimes the simple decisions that cause major angst in the emotional make-up of followers. Leaders often make a decision failing to understand the fallout it will cause and the negative ramifications it produces in the lives of others.

Recently, we have been crafting our school calendar for next year. This task is not extremely hard and can be accomplished in just a few hours. After designing a proposed 2012-2013 school calendar, the assistant dean sent it to the faculty for ideas, suggestions, and comments. After reviewing the input from the faculty, we realized that we needed to adjust the calendar so that school would begin after Labor Day, include 3 days at Thanksgiving and 3 full weeks at Christmas time, and be finished prior to Memorial Day. Now, the state of Ohio requires 182 instructional days, including 2 days for parent teacher conferences, and 2 days for in-service. It didn’t take a second look to realize that there are not enough days to create such a calendar. The tasks of prioritizing the requests of faculty and then building an appropriate calendar were not a hard task, but it was a lose-lose experience. Most likely everyone will lose some desired aspect of the calendar.

The vast majority of professionals in my organization have hearts of cooperation and spirits of collaboration. Once the calendar is finalized, most faculty and staff will make quiet adjustments to their plans and will move forward with excitement into the coming school year. However, I am convinced that with every decision made (no matter how small or big and no matter how carefully the decision has been analyzed) there are at least five people in every organization who will criticize the direction provided.

Simple changes involving facilities can bring discord. A decision is made to paint a classroom that stands in great need of rejuvenation. “Why did you choose that color of paint? Why didn’t you poll the students and involve them in the color selection? Why isn’t my room being painted, too? Why didn’t you paint the room over the summer months instead of waiting until Christmas break? Isn’t there a better place to spend our limited money?”

Required decisions also result in grumbles… We will be conducting a mandatory fire drill next Tuesday. “I sure hope you pull the drill in the afternoon once all the important academic sessions are complete. Please don’t pull it in the afternoon, that’s when the younger children have their quiet time. Why can’t we have it on Monday and get it out of the way? Why do we have to have fire drills anyway; no one takes them very seriously? I was planning on giving a quiz that day, now I have to totally revamp my lessons.”

Yes, even weather related decision making can bubble up comments from the concerned. School will operate on a 2-hour delay schedule because of the snowy roads. “Why didn’t we just close school, the roads are really bad out there. I grew up in Wisconsin and we never would have delayed school for such a dusting of snow. The 2-hour delay schedule makes my classes so short; it is really hard to get anything accomplished. Lots of students won’t come to school at all because of the roads, what a waste of a day. The administration is just interested in completing the required number of school days, not in the safety of our students and the faculty.”

The little dark clouds of pessimism and discouragement can cast a giant shadow on the culture of an organization. I have been in a room of sunshine… laughter, smiles, and positive conversation… in walks a dark cloud and the entire atmosphere changes. Pessimism is a light- sucker, a black hole, a cold blanket, a de-motivator, and so easy to flow out of our mouths. One negative comment can sway a crowd. Why? Because the human spirit is bent in that direction… the natural response is toward darkness. Light and enthusiasm are supernatural responses (enthusiasm comes from the Greek, meaning “in God”). Complaints are contagious; the sinful nature loves the dark; we can all identify with pessimism…. and we are even drawn to it.

Bruce Willis stars as Russ Duritz in the 2000 Disney movie, The Kid. Russ is a wealthy L.A. image consultant, but as he nears 40, he finds himself cynical about most things, lonely without any close relationships, and estranged from his father. Russ has little patience with his clients and when they begin to complain about their current position or situation in life, Russ quickly turns to sarcasm and preaches a message of reality. In one scene in the movie, a client begins to communicate her sob story to Russ. Russ, the professional consultant, responds “Wha, wha, wha someone call the whambulance!”

I have considered establishing a whambulance service to remove the dark clouds from organizations. I might need a fleet of vehicles, but my biggest problem would be what to do with them once I removed them from the premises. I sure wouldn’t want to take them home for dinner and foul play would not be appropriate. All the same, a whambulance service might be in great demand.

The Biggest Loser Season 13 Week 2

This week’s episode was all about diet and wise eating habits. But the leadership lesson was clear: decision making and verbal communication reap important consequences. The show began with Alison asking for two leaders from each group to represent their team in a challenge. One member from each team immediately raised their hands. After a little prodding from Alison, the other two players volunteered to join the challenge. The contest involved guessing the total percentage of weight loss for the entire team at the weigh-in later in the week. The team representatives were to bid (like a card game); each team raising the other until one team folded giving the bid to their opponents. If the winning team accomplished the goal of their bid, they got a 5 pound advantage at the weigh-in; but if they failed to reach the goal, the other team received the 5 pound advantage.

Historically, the first week on the ranch results in a large percentage of weight loss by every player. Week two has always produced a much lower percentage (2% is fairly common). Kim and Kimmy, representing the Red Team, immediately bid 3.8% equaling a total weight loss of 94 lbs. The black team quickly folded confident that the red team could not lose that many pounds in the second week.

When Dolvett, the red team’s trainer, heard of the results of the challenge, he was shocked at the bid and acknowledged that the goal would be terribly difficult to accomplish. However, he used it as motivation for the team. He wrote the goal on the arms of the contestants; he taped “94 Pounds” on their T-shirts; he even spray painted it on the walls. He was so vocal about the goal, yelling constantly about the need to lose 94 pounds, that the black team became tired of hearing all the ranting. Kim and Kimmy were so confident that their team members could reach the goal, but they became quite concerned about being responsible for setting the bar so high.

Their concern was not misplaced, as the red team fell very short of the goal – as a team they dropped a little over 50 lbs and a total weight loss 2.09%. Not only did the black team win the 5 lbs advantage, but also the weigh-in as a whole. If it were not for the 5 pound advantage, the red team would have won the weigh-in and the black team would have been forced to vote out a team member. Instead, the red team headed for the elimination room. Kim was the red team player that lost the least amount of weight and she was concerned that her team would send her home. It looked pretty bleak for the two leaders because of the decisions they had made.

However, leadership is often more about relationships than it is about tasks. Bad decision making can certainly result in bad consequences. But positive relationships within the team can counteract a bad choice as the team offers understanding and compassion. Kim and Kimmy were trying to help their team; they made an unwise decision but with pure motivations; and the team understood their hearts.

On the other hand, Mike made two huge mistakes. First, he demonstrated an abrasive personality, a rather rough personality, and a tongue that spoke too quickly. The first week of the game Mike had offended Jeremy (a player on the other team) by calling him “Tank” when Jeremy weighed in for the first time. Jeremy’s sister (Conda) is on Mike’s team and became irate at Mike. Now, at this weigh-in, Conda was more than ready to see Mike go home. The second mistake that cost Mike another week at the ranch was his attitude in the gym. Mike was seen by his teammates as taking too many breaks and failing to put forth his optimal effort. Decisions involving the tongue and choices reflecting a lack of responsibility resulted in an unanimous vote to send Mike home.

Mike Messina was born and raised in San Leandro, California. His half-brother Joe joined him on the ranch with the hope of getting to know each another better. Mike’s weight gain began when he went on the road with his father at age 12, delivering furniture: Mike gained 50 pounds in one summer. Mike admitted at the elimination that he struggled with anger and abandonment issues. He sought the forgiveness of his team as he expressed his sorrow for hurt feelings and strained relationships. Mike arrived at the ranch weighing 358 and in two weeks lost 20 pounds leaving the campus at 338.

Effective leaders strive to build relationships of trust within their team. They can build enough confidence over time that one foolish decision (as long as it is not too severe or immoral) can be dismissed by the organization. The intention of the heart and attitude of the leader can soften a bad decision in the eyes of the followers. Often compassion and understanding are poured out upon humble and honest leadership. However, decisions based in arrogance and expressed in stiff words of anger and coldness bring a leader to the brink of disaster. A vote of confidence is sometimes withheld when trust is broken and responsibility is not evident in the actions of the individual. Mike’s elimination is a good example of losing trust by what you say and how you say it. Decisions involving oral communication can cripple the efforts of potential leadership.

The Confession

Leadership occurs around us. Effective leaders and ineffective attempts at leadership are part of everyday life. It is fascinating to me to observe people in meetings and watch how they influence conversations; how they input into the thinking of others; how they interact around the table. Some use humor and rapport as their major form of impact; others utilize a more serious, analytical discourse; others listen with quiet attention until they have formulated a well thought-out opinion; others maintain their soapbox ready to be into action at any given time.

As I watch a movie or a TV show or when I read a book, I am intrigued by the character’s approach to life and his/her leadership role in the plot of the narrative. Media is such a great training ground for leadership recognition. Even commercials have quick lessons about leadership – sometime take note of those car dealership commercials (as obnoxious as some of them can be) and evaluate the leadership style being portrayed on the screen.

A well written novel often provides outstanding examples of positive and negative leaders. The author, if skillful and effective, will paint a great picture of leadership qualities in the life of the major characters in his/her story. In my opinion, the better the writer, the easier these leadership threads can be followed. I have recently completed a John Grisham novel, The Confession, in which the author compares and contrasts some classic leadership paradigms. Grisham places the coercive, authoritarian leadership style that attempts to intimidate others through power and position in juxtaposition with a soft spoken pastor whose main motivation is to do the right thing in the face of a difficult situation. The drive and the need to be right blinds the eyes of the authorities in the book. The drive and need to do what is right leads the pastor into civil disobedience. Ignoring evidence and rationalizing away any last minute appeals as smoke-and-mirror deception, law enforcement continues to move toward punishment. Following his heart and the conviction of God in his life, the pastor moves to revealing what he believes to be truth that has been hidden for almost a decade.

The authorities are determined to administer the death penalty to a convicted murderer nine years after his initial time in court and several lost appeals. They are convinced that Donte Drumm is guilty and his time on death row needs to conclude with his execution. Donte, a black high school football star, allegedly killed Nikki Yarber, a white cheerleader in Slone, Texas. Racial tensions filled this novel as the accused consistently declares his innocence to the deaf ears of the family and friends of the victim as well as the legal authorities in the state of Texas.

Travis Boyette enters the narrative through church doors in Kansas as he visits the counseling office of a Lutheran pastor, Keith Schroeder. Travis is a lifetime criminal, recently released on parole and just as recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. His confession to the pastor indicates Drumm’s innocence and Boyette’s guilt.

Robbie Flak, Donte Drumm’s lawyer, has been passionately and tirelessly working over the nine years of Donte’s incarceration to prove his client’s innocence. Robbie thoroughly believes in his client and in the injustice done to this young man. Robbie is a flamboyant charismatic type of leader that says what he believes and articulates it with confidence and boldness. His rather rough exterior only partially hides his heart of compassion and zeal for justice. Robbie thrives on the hunt for truth and finds his motivation in defending the powerless. He leads with passion and enthusiasm.

Pastor Keith has the heart of a counselor and yet the stubborn will of a donkey. When faced with the decision of helping Travis Boyette break parole by leaving the state of Kansas and traveling to Texas, he is willing to risk his pastorate, his reputation, and possibly face criminal charges in order to bring truth to light. The pastor’s courage and faith are so evident in his leadership style. His combines compassion and confrontation; obedience to God and integrity to man; truthfulness and honesty in the midst of lies, slander, manipulation, and anger. Pastor Keith is willing to go against the advice of friends, his wife, and legal counsel in order to do what he feels God is calling him to accomplish.

I won’t spoil the story or give away the plot of the novel. The book is a typical Grisham story – the language is sometimes profane and the some of the topics require adult maturity, but the religious nature of the novel is portrayed as a powerful source of truth and redemption. I am not recommending this book for high school students and even adult readers may not desire an exposure to such topics/language, but it is an interesting study in leadership, the depravity of man, and the soul’s driving need for forgiveness.

Grisham, J. (2010). The confession: A novel. New York: Doubleday

The Biggest Loser – Season 13 Episode 1

Twenty people....10 teams made up of brothers,sisters, mothers, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, sons, and one team of two women who had never met each other before. One major thing they all have in common – they are all overweight. The theme of this season underscores one other aspect of life that they all have in common – they all have excuses for gaining weight – this season has been titled, “No More Excuses!”

This episode begins with all 20 people gathered outside of the gates to the Biggest Loser Ranch. Alison, the emcee for the show, announces that only 9 of the teams will enter through the gates and one team will be eliminated without setting foot on the ranch itself. Three challenges narrow the contestants down ending with one couple being asked to leave. The losing couple was a brother/sister team from Evanston, IL., Daphne and Adrian Dortch. Daphne is 37 years old, a single mother of three and arrived at the Ranch weighing 271 lbs. She earned a degree in political science from Eastern Michigan University with two children and one on the way, and is a music producer and community activist. Her brother, Adrian, weighed 370 lbs. and studied music and business at Columbia College in Chicago.

It was a heartbreak to see them standing in tears outside the gate as the other 18 people celebrated with smiles and high fives as they passed under the arches and into the hopes of losing weight and gaining a new lease on life. As the couple embraced and attempted to comfort one another, I could not help but think of the kingdom of heaven and those that will be left outside of the gates. How happy I was to remember that we do not have to win a contest or earn our way into those gates. The gates open with the key of grace, the free gift of God through the sacrifice of Jesus for us, and the redemption that comes from the loving God to all who trust in Him. After the others entered the ranch, Alison talked with Adrian and Daphne. She notified them that they will have a second chance to enter the game. After one month, they will be asked back to the ranch. If they combine for a weight loss of 50+ lbs, they will rejoin the group and compete in the game. Adrian seemed motivated; Daphne seemed deflated – only time will tell of their reaction to this second chance and the results over the next 30 days.

Upon entering the ranch, the rest of the teams found out that they were no longer couples but had to split up and each member selected to work with one of the two trainers (Bob and Dolvett). As the trainer began to get to know the players and the players began to understand the challenges ahead, many leadership qualities quickly emerged. Bob began to inspire his team members and encourage them toward the transformation that was going to take place in their bodies. One team member was so encouraged to realize that “Bob Harper would believe in me.” Although Bob pushed his team to physical exhaustion, he propped them up with hope and instilled in their minds that he truly valued them. How incredibly important this is for effective leaders. Leaders can push and demand if those under their supervision know that the leader values them. One of the characteristics of a servant as leader is that he/she values people and Bob demonstrates this quality on a consistent basis earning the respect of his players.

Dolvett was just as verbal in his challenge and his encouragements. At one point in the work-out he noticed his team lacking passion, so he called the whole team together in the gym and confronted the “culture of moping” that he was observing. He exhorted them to develop an awareness of the urgency of the moment. The team members responded and renewed their commitment to one another and to his leadership. Casting a vision and capturing the urgency of the mission enables leaders and their team to accomplish great and significant things.

At the first weigh-in of the season, Dolvett's team lost the highest percentage of weight. Bob's losing team then had to vote to eliminate one of their members. In a group meeting prior to the vote, Megan (who lost the least amount of weight on her team: 7 lbs) asked not to be voted out because there was nothing to help her back home. Ben, who lost 15 lbs and presented himself as a strong player, shared that he had everything back home for success, that he greatly missed his family, and requested that the team vote him off the ranch. And so, Ben became the first player to leave the competition. Ben's sacrifice enabled Megan to stay in the game and she acknowledged that his decision may have saved her life. Part of me hates to see a player throw in the towel and “give up.” I know that Daphne and Adrian would have loved to compete and yet Ben was willing to bail out after just one week. On the other hand, Ben's sacrifice allowed Megan to stay on the ranch for at least one more week.

Ben (Shuh) is 34 years old. He was born in Dayton, OH (where I currently reside) and has lived in Ohio, Florida, Texas and currently in Howell, Michigan. Ben is a retail store manager and has a family of 9 children with number 10 on the way. Ben is divorced and remarried and enjoys a blended family that consists of 4 children from his first marriage, 4 kids from his new wife's first marriage and one child together. He came to the ranch weighing 396 pounds; he lost 15 pounds the first week and since being home has dropped 35 more pounds. His goal is to lose 150 pounds by the season finale. I will be interested to see if he is able to utilize his supportive family to accomplish his goals.

The Biggest Loser - My Favorite

Probably my favorite reality TV show is The Biggest Loser. I really like this show for several reasons. It has the setting of a game but it has life-long consequences for every player. Many of the contestants face life and death situations and most have come to “The Ranch” in order to regain their life, their self-respect, their family/loved ones, and their dreams.

I love seeing people begin to change bad habits into positive routines through diligence, hard work, dedication, change, and trust. Several contestants each season seem to include God into their mindsets, although the show does not emphasize the spiritual dimension of the weight loss transformation. I find it motivating and even inspiring to see these men and women, terribly overweight, begin to address their weaknesses, discipline their lifestyles, and exercise the pounds away. Walking with the players each week, watching them work hard, and seeing great results on the scale (and in their hearts) make this show fun to watch.

The players in the game usually find themselves making close friends with other contestants, kindred spirits facing similar hurdles in their lives. It is one of the few games shows where the players truly support and encourage one another. As the season progresses, the relationships become deeper and when it is time to eliminate a player, tears of genuine sorrow accompany the vote.

The trainers on the show serve as coaches, leaders, counselors, motivators, advisors, and influencers. I don’t always agree with their advice but the trainers appear to value each person on the ranch and honestly want to see each contestant succeed. The trainers do not often enter into the game play, but rather see the ranch as a place that each player needs in order to turn his/her life around.

A new season has begun in January. Last season finished up just before Christmas break. On this last series, three trainers joined the contestants in their weight-loss journeys. These trainers have to demonstrate strong leadership traits in order to bring about drastic change in these obese individuals. Two trainers were rookies to the show and one has been with the show from the beginning. Bob, the veteran, has earned the respect of the players through many seasons of successful results: Bob is known for pushing his trainees but always sharing huge encouragements; he laughs and yells; he smiles and demands; he hugs and confronts. But the bottom line with Bob is realism – no gimmicks, just life change.

Anna Kournikova, professional tennis player, joined the show this year as a rookie trainer. She was softer and tended to be a little too kind to the contestants. But as the show progressed she found her place in the training approach and the players developed trust in her work-out routines. She began to push more without apology. Some of her tennis workouts had the players huffing and puffing with exhaustion and perspiration. Anna discovered how to push but in a nice and gentle kind of way. She would have been my trainer of choice if I had the misfortune of qualifying for the Ranch.

The other new trainer was Dolvett Quince. He has the sculptured body of a Greek god, has credentials as a certified trainer, and has developed his own company, Body Sculptor Inc. He worked hard on the show to develop relationships of trust. He ended up being the trainer for the winner of this season of the Biggest Loser; but I was quite disappointed that the champion, John, gave so little credit to Dolvett and praised Bob so graciously. Through a series of events John changed trainers halfway though the season from Bob to Dolvett. I was impressed with the time, energy, and commitment that Dolvett poured into John. Dolvett had such high expectations for John and tried to inspire him with hugs, yells, celebration, personal talks of vulnerability, and challenges of trust. John seemed to respond so well to his direction and counsel. I felt badly for Dolvett at the live finale because I thought he deserved more credit for John’s victory than John expressed. But such is a valuable lesson of leadership. Sometimes the leader pours out his/her energy into a successful project but, in the end, fails to receive proper recognition for his/her key role. An effective leader needs to have a higher purpose than praise; needs to grab on to a higher priority than the applause of man; needs to find the deepest satisfaction in his/her service to others (and to God’s call upon his/her life).

Accepting the negative aspects of this show (it is self-oriented; there is an absence of spirituality; it is humanistic and gives man credit for transformation; and it is trainer-focused [missing the power of the spiritual dimension of man]), it is still a great show to study change, motivation, and encouragement. As the next season has already begun I will be including some insights from the show on blogs to come.

Moses the Reluctant Leader: Pt 4

Go to Pharaoh and tell him to let my people go! Moses is tentative in his response. Moses is filled with questions – God is filled with incredible answers. Moses is going in the name of I AM, the eternal sovereign God of the universe. He has been given two miraculous signs (the staff/snake and the healing/leprous hand) and several divine promises of success and deliverance. And yet Moses is still reluctant.

Moses turns his concerns from his fear of others (Pharaoh and the Israelites) to his own inadequacies. Picking up the text in Exodus 4: 10, Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past not since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The focus here is still the fears of Moses. Being the mouthpiece of God means standing in front of large groups of people and verbally confronting, challenging, and rebuking others.

How many of us can identify with Moses on this one? Public speaking is one of the most common fears of people. I remember having to say memory lines in front of my high school English class. I died a thousand deaths waiting for my turn in front of the group. Nervousness and anxiety took on new meanings for me. I remember deciding during those times of angst that I would never go into a profession that I had to talk in front of people – if I only knew that I would be doing this on a regular basis. The feelings of personal inadequacies and fear of being rejected are powerful forces that defeat many leaders. Moses found himself face-to-face with this demon.

God quickly puts Moses in his place and promises to provide the words and teach the shepherd how to speak like a national leader. Listen to the great reminder from the Creator Himself, “The LORD said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’” (Exodus 4:11-12) Of all the words of direction and encouragement in these verses, two words stick out to me – “Now GO.” I can’t help but imagine that God was tiring of Moses’ hesitations and is underscoring the command within the calling.

Instead of jumping to his feet, taking the staff/snake in his hand, and running toward Egypt, Moses comes to the bottom line. He would rather not be considered for the position. He would like to take his hat out of the ring. Thanks for the vote of confidence but I must decline the offer. Or as Moses put it, “O LORD, please send someone else to do it.” Even the first time I read this, I could not believe Moses’ response. If I were God, I think I would be tempted to turn the staff into a snake and swallow the man I saved as a baby in the bulrushes. A quick zap from a lightning bolt would have done the trick or even changing him into a mouse might have been an option. Although God was angered, He provided human support for the reluctant leader. Moses’ brother Aaron was on the way.

Exodus 4:14 describes God’s response, “Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.’” Aaron (and maybe the fear of God) seemed to satisfy the last excuse of Moses. After Aaron’s arrival, Moses went back to his boss (and father-in-law) Jethro, requested permission to go to Egypt, gathered his wife and sons, and made his way to the kingdom of the Nile and Pharaoh’s court. The rest is a story of strong leadership and the redemption of an entire nation.

Have you seen yourself somewhere in Moses’ story? Some of his hurdles to effective leadership may be present in your life as well. Feeling inadequate to lead? This is normal and probably good – inadequacies can drive us to the source of strength and allow us to humbly rely upon the sovereign, eternal One for direction and purpose.

Illustration from the 1897 Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us

Moses the Reluctant Leader: Pt 3

Exodus 3 records an incredible encounter between man and God; the created with the Creator; the finite with infinite. God appears to Moses in a burning bush and talks to him in an audible voice. God calls Moses to a leadership role that will impact the world and all of human history. But Moses is not very enthusiastic about the call. Chapter three ends with a Q and A time between the human potential leader and the eternal sovereign Lord. God has just provided Moses with a marvelous answer to his question about God's name, revealing His eternal nature and powerful promises of deliverance.

But chapter four of Exodus begins with a follow-up question from Moses. The human shepherd does not seem satisfied with God’s name as the solution to his acceptance with the people of Israel. After God’s wonderful answer referring to His eternal name that is worthy of worship and His sovereign promise of the plundering of Egypt, Moses continues his hesitancy with these words, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you?’” For the third straight time Moses focuses on man and the fear of rejection. He expresses his doubt and unbelief in the awesome power of God and His divine intervention in the affairs of men. God’s word and future promise does not appear to convince Moses of the authority of God’s plan.
In God’s abundant patience He provides Moses with something much more tangible – a physical sign…no, not just one but two miraculous signs and a promise of a third when he gets to Egypt in order to convey his face-to-face encounter with the living God. The first is found in Exodus 4:2-5:

4:2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. 4:3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4:4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 4:5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has appeared to you."

What a powerful sign: the staff that turns into a snake. And this was some snake – so intimidating that Moses ran from it. This would have done it for me. I am pretty confident that if I walked into an administrative team meeting with my vision statement and then laid my staff down on the table to demonstrate God’s blessing on my plan, the rest of the administrators would be convinced of God’s stamp of approval.

But God was not finished with the opportunities for show-n-tell. The conversation continues in Exodus 4:6-7 “Then the LORD said, ‘Put your hand inside your cloak.’ So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow. ‘Now put it back into your cloak,’ He said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. Then the LORD said, ‘If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second.’”

The passage does not record Moses’ reaction to his leprous hand, but I am sure he breathed a sigh of relief when his hand was restored after tucking it into his cloak the second time. If I were Moses, I would not be too interested in demonstrating this second sign unless it was extremely necessary. How interesting it is to see how God uses disease (something that defines a person as ceremonially unclean in the law) and the healing of that disease as a sign of His encounter with Moses. On the other hand, who can give and heal an incurable illness other than God Himself.

God ends His response to Moses with another promise – this time a promise of yet a third miraculous sign. In Exodus 4:9 God says. “But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground." This shadow of the first plague against Egypt would demonstrate God’s authority over nature and the god of the Nile.

The staff…the hand….the water/blood…three powerful pieces of evidence that Moses was in the presence of God and was on a divine mission to set the Israelites free from the bondage of Egypt. How could Moses have any fear of failure or any apprehension of his confrontations with man? And yet Moses, possibly the greatest leader in Israel’s history was still hesitant.

Photo found at http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/michelangelo-moses

Moses the Reluctant Leader Pt 2

God’s call upon Moses’ life and his recruitment for national leadership was initially met with resistance and questions. Following Moses throughout the Pentateuch we see the powerful role he plays in the history of the Jewish people. He is indeed one of the most influential national leaders in the history of man. But his initial response to the call of God was filled with doubt and concern.

Moses’ inaugural inquiry centered on the authority of Pharaoh and his fear of man. God responds with two promises: the promise to be with Moses in Egypt and the promise that Moses would bring the people out and worship God on the very mountain where he was standing. Moses responds to these promises with a second question found in Exodus 3:13,

“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you and they ask me ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Again Moses points to man…this time it is the Israelites. If he can get past Pharaoh, what about the people? What if he stands up in front of the entire nation and they don’t believe him? What if he falls on his face? Maybe he won’t be received as the conquering hero – maybe they will reject him. Moses doesn’t ask his question in a self-centered way, but I suggest that this is the underlying issue. The people are asking “me” and what shall “I” tell them. In other words, “how am I going to convince the people that I am the real deal and that I can be trusted?

In Old Testament culture, knowing someone’s name was a sign of relationship with and even authority over that person. To ask for God’s name is a way of asking for some proof that Moses has been given divine authority in this situation. Although the text is not plain here, I have often wondered if Moses is really asking this question for himself or if he is actually anticipating the challenge of the Israelites.

In either case God is patient and provides an incredible answer to this potential leader. God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3:14-15)

This wonderful name of God says it all – The eternal God who was, and is, and is to come does not have beginning or end. In the beginning God….I AM who I AM. No earthy name can capture his authority and nature. Not mere human can understand the depth of his personhood. His ways are above our ways, his mind and will are transcendent. He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Center of the universe. He is Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent God. He sees all and he loves us; He knows all and He understands us; He feels all and He has compassion on us; He is perfect and offers us atonement. God is the great I AM.

Moses only asks for the name of God, but God continues with a statement of His faithfulness in trials and promised deliverance. In Exodus 3:16 God says to Moses, "Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.’” And then a great promise is given to Moses in Exodus 3:18: "The elders of Israel will listen to you.”

Not only will the elders listen to Moses, but God’s deliverance under Moses’ leadership will result in the plundering of Egypt’s wealth. Exodus 3:21-22: "And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians."

Moses’ second question focused in words on the Israelites but in attitude it again reflects the fear that Moses had regarding the response of man. God’s response powerfully answers Moses’ words and addresses his attitudes as well. It is the I AM to whom the people will listen and it is the I AM that will provide the strength and courage to proclaim the message to the nation of Israel.

Photo found at www.michelangeloexperience.com/2011/01/michelangelo-moses-estelle-m-hurll/

Moses the Reluctant Leader: Pt 1

Moses is one of those biblical figures who is bigger than life. Charlton Heston made such a great Moses in the classic movie, “The Ten Commandments” – he was strong, bold, articulate, and powerful. The hero’s voice declaring the wrath of God throughout the 10 plagues on Egypt…. the staff held high above his head at the parting of the Red Sea …. and the angry face of the prophet coming down off Sinai with the stone tablets…. all these images made Hollywood’s Moses appear to be the ultimate leader of the people of Israel. Within the pages of scripture, we see a similar picture painted of this great leader and spokesman of God. Over and over again Moses distinguishes himself as a discerning decision maker (most of his choices were good), an obedient messenger of divine revelation, and an organizer of a nomadic tribe numbering over one million people.

But all was not so dynamic and effective at the beginning of his leadership journey. Imagine taking a hike all by yourself in a barren countryside. Then imagine hearing the voice of God Himself coming out of a bush that bursts into flame but does not burn up. The voice calls you to leadership and to a mission of redemption and freedom for the people. You would think your response would be one of excitement, adventure, and enthusiasm. Not so with Moses – the call was met with hesitancy and skepticism. Moses, the great was Moses the reticent.

Exodus 3:10 states God’s direct call to Moses into the mission of leadership: “So now go, I am going to send you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Notice how clear the calling is. God is the One sending Moses – this is not an idea concocted by Moses in his old age; nor the whisper of his wife to inspire some dream of fame; nor a written appeal of the Israelites to the shepherd of Goshen. Rather this is God Himself, the Creator of the Universe, the faithful God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the All-powerful Redeemer. The purpose and mission of the calling was just as clear – Moses is being sent to Pharaoh – the ultimate authority in the land of Egypt; the absolute dictator and supreme commander of the land of the Nile. Moses, the spokesman of God, was to confront the greatest human authority within the powerful nation of the pyramids. Moses was being sent to Pharaoh in order to bring the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Pharaoh possessed the Israelites as slaves and used them mightily in the construction of his buildings. Moses, however, was going to go and set them free.

Moses’ initial response to the call was not an attitude of excitement, not a spirit of honor mixed with humility, nor a heart of enthusiasm for the opportunity. On the contrary Moses responds with five excuses and reasons why he is not the right man for the mission. Note first of all Exodus 3:11: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” The focus in this question seems to be on authority and personal insecurity. Who am I…and look at who Pharaoh is! I am an insignificant exiled shepherd; an outlaw wanted for murder; a Jew walking into the kingdom of Egypt where Jews are nothing but slaves. The fear of man had Moses by the throat and his courage is choked by the intimidation of human power.

Before I come down too hard on timid Moses, I have to be realistic and identify with this man’s lack of confidence. There have been many people in my life over the years that have intimidated me and paralyzed my leadership. Sometimes it might be the chairman of the board, or your direct report, or a strong-willed friend, or even the senior pastor of your church. God’s call may seem clear to you. You may sense a strong commitment to His message and mission and yet the thought of confrontation and going into the enemy’s camp is overwhelming to you. Obedience to the plan is muddled with the fear of man. Who are you to challenge the authorities above you?

God’s response to Moses’ initial reaction is found in Exodus 3:12: “And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." God is proactive in his words to point out the meaninglessness of human authority. Pharaoh is not an issue. I will be with you – what more can you possibly ask for. God the Creator of Pharaoh, the giver of power to Pharaoh, and the Sovereign Lord of all of human history will walk alongside of Moses. God will hem him in…going in front….watching his back…guarding his right and left…protecting every hair on his head. God will be his armor and his weapon. And I love the proof that God provides for Moses – it the proof of faith. God promises Moses that he will return (and the people will come with him) and they will all worship God on the very spot of this conversation. God is saying – I am sending you, I am going with you and I will be waiting for you here upon your return. All authority belongs to God and He who calls you is in total control.

This message for godly leaders needs to echo in their minds. The promise of God’s presence is as certain as the air we breathe. I cannot think of any more powerful, any more comforting, any more inspiring, and more motivating words than these: I will be with you. Read them slowly and think about their rich meaning for your life…I will be with you. In times of trial and testing…I will be with you. In times of triumph and celebration….I will be with you. In times of stress and worry…I will be with you. In times of sorrow and tears….I will be with you. In times of doubt and fear…I will be with you.

Photo found at www.forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/slow-as-moses/

New Year Resolutions

I have rarely made New Year resolutions in my life. The occasional January when I have considered some goals, I have decided not to set myself up for failure by declaring a resolution. As a young boy, I set some resolutions for the New Year, but usually had missed the mark by the end of January. This year, I have decided to give some realistic thought to establishing some habits that positively impact my life. I have developed a list of resolutions – ten in all, but only four will make this blog. The remaining six are more personal in nature and more difficult to measure. I would like to make the Big Four a vital part of the blog by tracking my progress (and hopefully my faithfulness) toward the goals. I will make some sort of measuring chart on the blog so if you visit periodically throughout the year you can hold me accountable for the progress.

Here are the four resolutions and a short explanation of each.

1.Blog : (3 times per week) = 150 posts during 2012
I really enjoy writing, but often the tyranny of the urgent and the call of convenience destroy my priority of written communication. The sporadic postings of this blog were a disappointment to me this last year. My goal is to keep this site up-to-date during 2012. My daughter-in-law maintains her blog (Silly Eagle Books) every day and has developed quite a following – you should check it out if you have young children (www.sillyeaglebooks.com/ ). My goal is not to attract a large reader base (although that would be nice), but to practice the discipline of writing. I have found that expressing my thoughts on paper is a vital part of my leadership role. The better I can put my ideas down on paper, the more effective I can be in sharing my vision. So my resolution is to submit at least 3 times per week. Now this is a huge commitment for me since this is my third year to blog and my yearly outputs to date have been 17, 60, and 30. For 2012, I plan to submit 150 postings. Is this too aggressive? Are my idealistic eyes bigger than my realistic schedule will permit? Only time will tell but I really hope that I can reach this target.

2.Run: (Three 5Ks per week) = 540 miles during 2012
I have been running pretty consistently since August of 2011. I started with a short distance (1.4 miles) from my house to the main intersection and back. I expanded that to a nice 2.4 mile run around the neighborhood. But I really wanted to run a 5K so I found this great little circuit that circles our housing community that measures 3.6 miles. It has some nice hills that challenge my old legs and provides me with a great little workout. Spring, summer, and fall are not too hard to maintain a routine, but those winter months can be tough to keep the pace. My goal is to run between 500 -550 miles this coming year which averages out to 3/5K runs per week. If God will provide the good health and strong knees, I hope to accomplish this resolution.

3.Weight – Maintain current weight +/- 5lbs (160-170 lbs) during 2012. I have worked hard this past six months to lose weight. I have lost nearly 30 pounds and find myself today at 163 lbs. However, I have lost weight before and then regained. In fact much of my adult life has been a roller coaster of loss and gain. I feel really good right now and would love to maintain my body weight over this next year. My running resolution (#2) will help achieve this goal as they will go hand-in-hand. Diet is such a key as well. I have a strange but effective diet right now that seems to work for me. But I need to be careful not to “fall off the wagon” and begin to eat unhealthily.

4.Read – minimum of two books per month = 24 books during 2012. I enjoy reading, but finding the time to systematically do so has not been easy to accomplish. I have a 35 minute drive (one-way) between the two campuses of my school system. I make this drive twice a week, so I have taken this time to read (listen) to books on tape. What a great way redeem the time. I have been able to read several books this past year and hope to continue this practice going into 2012. As I complete a good book, my comments and review might appear as one of the three blogs I plan to make each week. Two books per month does not seem to be very challenging to some of you. My wife reads that many each week, but for me, I think this is a stretch. I have never counted the number of books that I read each year, so this will be enlightening for me as I move throughout the year.

Really? New Year resolutions? They may go up in smoke after the first week OR they may be a focal point of fun and order. What do I have to lose? Come back and check out my progress. Better yet, develop some resolutions of your own and chart your own progress. Happy New Year!