I will be the first to admit there are several things that I don’t understand and answers that aren’t easy to obtain when it comes to Gods Word, yet I argue that the Bible has been divinely created to be assessable to all people not just Biblical Scholars. Simply put it means what it says!
With many topics I am quite content to agree to disagree, but on issues concerning the salvation, I admit I get a little stubborn. Truth is that whatever we might believe about some Biblical topics may have little bearing on the whole of our relationship with the lord, but whether or not your in Christ is essential territory to understand. Ironically it seems that in these issues we are the most likely to get emotional aggravated, and stubbornly stick to dogma and traditional definitions while avoiding logical rational discussion.
For a long time I’ve prayed that we as believers might begin to look at our faith through no other filter than that of God’s word, that together we might be the answer to Jesus prayer for unity, that we might restore the power to the Church, Jesus and Gods Word alone!

I recently ran across this video from Francis Chan, he wrote the book “Crazy Love” and is a highly respected minister among Evangelical Christians, he asks of himself the question we all ought to be asking…….

Hey the election might not be too fun, but this gave me a laugh! Kinda sums up how we feel sometimes!

• A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.

• There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in the South.

• There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in the South, plus a couple no ones seen before.

• If it grows, it’ll stick ya. If it crawls, it’ll bite ya.

• It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy!

• When you get out of your car ya “get down”

• People actually grow and eat okra.

• Fixinto is one word. It means I’m fixing to do that.

• Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you’re two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.

• Backwards and forwards means I know everything about you.

• You don’t PUSH buttons, you MASH em.

• You measure distance in minutes.

• You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.

• All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.

• You carry jumper cables in your car – for your OWN car.

• On average you only own five spices: salt, pepper, Tony’s, Tabasco and ketchup.

• You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit a bit warm.

• You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.

• You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good Gumbo weather.

• Fried catfish is the other white meat.

He wrote these words with a fountain pen before the greatest invasion in history began. The attempt to take the beaches at Normandy against Germany’s entrenched defenses was a fearful risk. The effort would be massive, and if the attempt failed, he wanted someone to blame. Himself.

“Our landing has failed,” he wrote, “And I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air, and the navy did all that bravery and devotion could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine, and mine alone” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, June 5, 1944).

Thankfully that was a message he never had to deliver. It’s ironic to learn that the secret to greatness is the ability to admit failure. Three words, more difficult to pronounce than “Mephibosheth” are, “I was wrong.”

It’s hard in a marriage to learn that the problem with us is me. It’s too easy when we abandon the Lord to blame his church. People wonder why Saul was considered a failure as leader of Israel, and the flawed but earnest David achieved greatness.

It’s not that David made fewer mistakes; he admitted responsibility for them.

“For I know my transgressions,” he declared. We know our brethren’s transgressions. David knew his own. “And my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3). In contrast, our sin is constantly repressed in our memories!

How’s your pronunciation of hard-to-say words?

If you’re like me sometimes the arrogance of our fellow humans is a bit aggravating.  We pretend to have so much figured out, and believe we have such a command of the world around us,  that we forget just how small we are in that same universe.  We make bold claims like “there is no God” or “God is dead” when we but only barely understand a sparse corner of the universe!  I recently ran across some material sent to me by a friend that might help to put our place in the universe a bit more realistically.

Proverbs 11:14
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

Every leader should on occasion  take the time to stop and ask themselves some important questions.  Questions that probe the heart and ask the tough questions of our desire to lead

Questions like:

The Most Important person for me to lead is ___________?

I lead so _____________ ?

The most inspirational leader is _________________?

The Hardest Person for me to lead is _____________?

The Bible gives solid advice on a variety of subjects, leadership being one of them. The pages of scripture contain many stories of leaders both good and bad, and the inspired reflections of some of histories most famous figures.  Today I have compiled just a few of these valuable lessons that will benefit leaders in any field.

1. Good Moral Character

The ancient and wise Israelite king Solomon once wrote:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

In the Bible, the heart always refers to the seat of one’s consciousness and emotions. Today, we would describe those whose hearts are upright and pure as having good moral character.

Character epitomized the most celebrated of the Bible’s leaders, including Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Hezekiah, Peter, and Paul. And in the Bible, character was measured primarily by one’s heart being humbly and sincerely turned toward God.

The importance of character was also underlined by arguably America’s greatest leader, when George Washington declared: “Purity of morals [is] the only sure foundation of public happiness in any country.”

2. Importance of Vision

King Solomon is credited with the famous saying: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18a) When it comes to leadership, truer words have yet to be spoken. Effective leaders, by definition, are leading people in a direction. Knowing what direction to take is vital. Communicating the importance and value of that direction is what leaders do when they cast the vision.

The greatest leaders of the Bible, from Abraham to Moses and from David to Paul, all understood the importance of strategic vision. Even when they were unclear as to the specifics, they worked to keep the people focused on the hope and aspirations of where they were headed and for what they were striving.

3. Knowledge and Wisdom

The second book of Chronicles records God offering to give Solomon whatever the new king requested. Solomon asked for wisdom. God was pleased. According to II Chronicles, God replied:

11 Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—

12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

The interesting thing is that it was Solomon’s newfound knowledge and wisdom that empowered him to receive God’s blessings of wealth and honor. The same is true for anyone today.

While you might get lucky in the lottery or an unexpected inheritance windfall, the truth is that most people will not acquire meaningful or stable wealth without wisdom. If you want to be a successful leader, you have to be knowledgeable and savvy.

4. Perseverance

The theme of perseverance in the Bible runs deep. Joseph was sold into slavery and later languished in Pharoah’s dungeons, before finally getting the opportunity to govern Egypt and deliver his people. Moses endured years in the desert, rejection by Pharoah (until the plagues temporarily swayed him), and then led the children of Israel – a frequently unruly lot – on a 40-year trek, before they could finally enter the Promised Land. Consider the challenges and obstacles that confronted Peter, Paul, and John. Or for that matter….Jesus.

Perseverance is a critical skill of leadership. If you aren’t able to keep leading toward your goals, when confronted with challenges and adversity, you will not succeed as a leader.

5. Incorporating Biblical Leadership Skills into Your Life

Mastering the skills of leadership requires that one begin with the qualities of leadership. And those qualities of leadership can all be seen in the pages of the Bible. A leader who exercises good moral character, casts a strategic vision, acquires knowledge and wisdom, and exemplifies perseverance will be one great leader indeed

Matthew 20:25-28
But Jesus summoned them, and said, ““You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””