Be Strong and Courageous (Part 2)

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors’” (Joshua 1:6). Last time I discussed that strong and courageous leadership starts with submission to God. This time, I want to discuss how strong and courageous leadership means standing strong and being courageous in the face of adversity. 

To recap, God forbade an entire generation of Israelites from entering the promised land due to their lack of faith and unbelief. They wandered the desert for forty years as the last of that generation died off. At the end of that time, the Lord calls on Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the land that was promised to their ancestors (I went into more detail in my last post, and I encourage you to go back and read Part 1 if you haven’t yet). 

You need to keep in mind the type of people Joshua “inherited” as a leader. Their parents were whiners, complainers, unfaithful, doubtful; I mean the list could go on and on. After forty years of wandering around listening to the previous generation bicker and complain, their attitude had to have worn off on their kids, right? After the Lord told Joshua to lead with strength and courage, to keep the law Moses had given the nation of Israel always on his lips, meditating on it day and night, he convened the whole assembly of Israelites together. He told them what the Lord had told him, and this is how the Israelites responded:

Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:16-18).

Only be strong and courageous. Jericho was the first city the Lord told Joshua to conquer. However, there were specific rules that needed to be followed. For example, Joshua commanded: 

The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred  to the Lord and must go into His treasury. (Joshua 6:17-19)

However, greed filled the heart of Achan, and he took some of the devoted items. And just as Joshua warned, the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. As Joshua and Israel approached Ai, Joshua sent scouts to observe the inhabitants of the land. When the scouts returned, they told Joshua that not all of the army had to go, “for only a few people lived there” (Joshua 7:3). Joshua orders only a couple thousand men to go to battle. However, their army was decimated. The book of Joshua says, “At this, the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.” Not very strong or courageous.

Joshua finds himself face down at the ark of the Lord complaining to the Lord saying: 

Why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this, and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What, then, will you do for Your great name?” (Joshua 7:7-9)

What happened to “be strong and courageous”? What happened to trust in the Lord? The Lord’s response is priceless. “The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies” (Joshua 7:10-11a, 12). The Israelites created the problem, but more importantly, one man caused the problem; Achan. Ultimately, Achan’s sin is found out and he and his family are destroyed. (Side note: Listen and obey what the Lord says, or our destruction is ever before us). 

It took one battle loss for Joshua to lose his courage and strength. He started to whine and complain, just as the previous generation did. He thought it would have been better to stay on the other side of the Jordan than to listen and follow the Lord. In the face of adversity, Joshua lost his composure, his strength, and his courage. Instead of humbly seeking the Lord, he complained to the Lord about his situation. And what does the Lord say? “STAND UP!”

Anyone in leadership will tell you that adversity comes with the position. However, we have two choices when adversity comes our way: Fall on our face and complain, or stand up and humbly seek the Lord’s guidance. Joshua is called to lead with strength and courage. As stated in my last post, we know that starts with submission to God. It is then followed by standing firm against adversity and humbly seeking the Lord. It is important to always remember the command the Lord gave to Joshua:  

Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. THEN you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:7-8)

Leadership is not for the faint of heart. It is a position that takes strength and courage. Adversity will come, and when it does, don’t fall down in a pitty party, or start thinking the grass was greener on the other side. Stand up, humble yourself, seek the Lord, and be STRONG and COURAGEOUS!

As always, stay humble and serve well!

Be Strong and Courageous (Part 1)

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors'” (Joshua 1:6). These were the words the Lord told Joshua when he took over as the leader of the Israelites. But let’s back up some forty years before when the Lord commanded Moses to send men from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to scout out the land of Canaan. After forty days of scouting the land, they returned to Moses and the rest of the Israelites and gave their report. Ten of the twelve scouts spread fear by expressing that the inhabitants of the land were giants, numerous, and had fortified cities. Joshua and Caleb, two of the twelve chosen to scout the land of Canaan, were the only two that encouraged the Israelites to take the land. Joshua and Caleb said:

The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into the land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. (Numbers 14:7-9)

 After Joshua and Caleb said these things, the Israelite assembly discussed stoning them. These were people who saw the miraculous works of the Lord over and over, yet they constantly complained, doubted, and feared for their lives, even though the Lord had saved their lives numerous times. The Lord called them a “wicked community” who “grumbled” against Him. Due to their unbelief and lack of faith, the Lord forbade them from entering the promised land. The Lord said:

How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness, your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with an uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, son of Nun. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die. (Numbers 14:27-35)

Forty years later, Moses is dead, and the Lord tells Joshua:

Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them – to the Israelites. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors. (Joshua 1:2, 5-6)

The command to be strong and courageous is repeated four times in the first chapter of Joshua. In one of the commands, the Lord tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The Lord, however, did not stop there. There were specific expectations that needed to be met: 

Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. THEN you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:7-8)

Listen to the command that was given to Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Lead with meaning and purpose. Do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged. However, to be successful and prosperous, we must always keep the Word of the Lord on our lips and meditate on it day and night. In today’s language, that means to live with integrity, always do what is right no matter the cost, and constantly reflect. Read God’s Word, listen to it, and live it intentionally. As the Apostle James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). 

Many distractions can turn our eyes away from doing what is right. Wealth. Fame. Power. Position. Animosity. Selfishness. Personal gain. The list could go on. However, each of these are mere distractions that lead to weakness; weakness in character and faith. These distractions keep us from leading with strength and courage. As Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Did you catch that? “In ALL your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths STRAIGHT.” Sounds familiar when read with the command given to Joshua, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not TURN from it to the right or to the left.” Being strong and courageous starts with submission to God. If you want your company, organization, non-profit, team, family, children, etc. to prosper, then you must start by leading with strength and courage, and that begins with submission.

As always, stay humble and serve well!

The Power of Investing

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you may have noticed the emphasis I place on investing in those you lead. Investing in your people is crucial to the success of any company or organization, and it also creates a successful, well rounded culture. Investing in people is the most important action leaders should perform. As Todd Whitaker states, “It is people, not programs, that determine the quality of any organization.”

People are the life force to any organization. I worked retail for numerous years, and we were told to invest into each customer, because they are the ones that determine if we have a job or not. At the time, I agreed with what I was told. Today, I don’t necessarily disagree with the statement, but what I have learned is that the more management and leadership invested in me, the more I wanted to invest into the customers. If leadership was aloof, not present, or only communicated with me on things that I was doing wrong, my desire to do better for the company, work harder for the company, and help the company become more successful was little to none. 

In a previous post, I mentioned the time I had a manager show me what true investment in employees looked like and how it made me feel. As a young man of 16 years old, still getting used to the idea of what work really was and the responsibilities that went with it, I was working as a busser in a restaurant. I didn’t have meaning or a purpose at work. I just came in, did my time, and waited for the paycheck. One day, as I was cleaning a table, my manager was standing off to the side and watching me. She came over and told me to watch what she did. She took my towel and started to bus the table. Mind you, she wasn’t really dressed to get messy, as she was the manager and face of the restaurant. Nevertheless, she got in the ketchup, water puddles, and used plates like it was nothing. She quickly got the table done, turned to me and said, “You are one of the most important people in this place. You are the person that prepares the table for the customer. Without you, customers would not have a place to sit, eat, and enjoy themselves. Make sure you remember that and show it in how you bus and prepare the table.”

There were a myriad of ways she could have handled my lack of work ethic, if that’s what it was called. She could have told me to do better. She could have pulled me into the office and chastised me. She even could have berated me in front of customers and fellow employees. But she didn’t do any of that. Instead, she took the time to invest in me by showing me what my job is and by expressing how important I am to the company and the customer. Needless to say, the way I did tables changed from then on out, and after a month, I was promoted to head trainer for all bussers. 

Another example of leadership investing into their people is how they communicate with them. How many of you have been “called into the office” for a conversation? I know I have many times. Some of those conversations are difficult to have and may possibly get heated, others may be just to share information. Either way, the moment you have been called to the office, an uneasy feeling sets in. It’s like walking into a dark cave not knowing what you might run into.

Leaders, there is a much better way to have “conversations” with your team. First, go to them. Have conversations with them on their turf. Walk into their office and sit in front of their desk rather than having to be behind the desk. If they work in a warehouse, pull them aside to the lunch room or some place neutral on the production floor. The point is, go to them. Show them that they are important enough to get out of your office and your comfort zone.

The bottom line is your team should be the most important thing to you as a leader. The more you invest into them, the more your company, organization, department, classroom, etc. will thrive and succeed. Investing in people is about speaking truth into their life. It means you show them their value to the company/organization. It means you take the time to meet them where they are at and make time for them. When people feel valued, they feel a sense of worth and pride in themselves and their job, ultimately having a positive impact on the company and those around them. 

Takeaways:

  1. Invest in your people. As Todd Whitaker wrote, “It is people, not programs, that determine the quality of any organization.”
  2. The more you invest in your people, the more successful your company/organization will be.
  3. Go to your people. Don’t make them come to you.
  4. Express to your people the value they bring to the company/organization. 
  5. Speak life into the lives of your team. Be someone who encourages, listens, and supports their people.

As always, stay humble and serve well.

My Heart Sings (Part 2)

A few days ago, I posted a blog titled, My Heart Hurts. Even though everything I discussed in that post is true, there is another side that needs to be considered as well. People think being a teacher means teaching curriculum, giving assignments, and having summers off. This is as far from the truth as you can get. Along with teaching content and helping my students in their learning, many of my days are spent helping students traverse the mental and emotional struggles they are going through; most of which are brought on by factors beyond their control. And yes, it does hurt knowing some of the situations my students live in and knowing there is nothing I can do about it. However, there is also a bright side that should never be forgotten. What follows are reasons for why my heart sings amid the trials and struggles of being a teacher.

My heart sings knowing some of my students are going home to get a good night sleep.

My heart sings knowing that some of my students find home to be a safe place.

My heart sings knowing some of my students are cared for and supported outside of my classroom.

My heart sings because some of my students don’t have to worry where their next meal is coming from.

My heart sings knowing some of my students go home to a loving, supportive house everyday.

My heart sings because some of my students don’t have to worry about living one day to the next and can put their full attention on their learning.

My heart sings knowing some of my students have strong positive role models in their life.

My heart sings because some of my students have a firm foundation in which they can build on.

My heart sings knowing that I don’t have to worry about some of my students and their livelihood. 

My heart sings knowing that some of my students will choose to do what is right because of the people in their life. 

My heart sings knowing that there are parents who fully support their child in their learning.

My heart sings knowing that students find my classroom safe and comforting.

My heart sings watching students who might struggle academically have “Aha” moments and gain self confidence.

My heart sings knowing that I get to spend five days a week hanging out with some of the greatest human beings.

My heart sings because even though some days are hard in the classroom, the good times definitely outweigh the bad times.

My heart sings knowing that many of my students are leaving my classroom better versions of themselves.

My heart sings because I have the opportunity to teach amazing students.

My heart sings knowing that I get to encourage my students everyday.

My heart sings when I get to have fun with my students and watch them smile and laugh.

My heart sings watching my students learn how to navigate their learning but find confidence as they go.

My heart sings knowing I get to spend my days with incredible students and have the opportunity to speak truth into their life.

My heart sings knowing that I am not alone in helping my students become better at this thing called life.

My Heart Hurts (Part 1)

This post is a bit unconventional, but one I felt needed to be shared. It hasn’t been the best of days today, and I am left with a heart that is breaking for my students. What follows is the struggle I have on a near daily basis:

My heart hurts knowing the hardships and struggles I see some of my students going through. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students live in darkness, and I maybe the only sliver of light for them to see. 

My heart hurts knowing that I can’t swoop in and protect some of my students from what they are going through. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are making poor choices, because outside of my classroom, they don’t have the support or the guidance they need to make better choices. 

My heart hurts knowing the potential each of my students have and watching some of them throw it away because of situations beyond their control. 

My heart hurts because some of my students don’t know what love, support, and appreciation feel like. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are not a priority outside of the classroom. 

My heart hurts because some of my students bring the baggage of other people’s choices to school. 

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students go home to an empty house or no house at all. 

My heart hurts knowing that my classroom is a safer place for some of my students than their own home. 

My heart hurts because I see some of my students crying out for love and time from those closest to them and getting no answer. 

My heart hurts because all I want is the best for my students, but outside of the classroom some do not reciprocate the feeling.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students have to grow up sooner than they should.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students emotional and mental health is declining because of the actions of those closest to them.

My heart hurts because I invest countless hours speaking life and truth into my students to have some of them go home and get it ripped out of them.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are not a priority in their own home.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students are hungry because of the actions and choices of others in their life.

My heart hurts knowing that all of my students are gifted, talented, and passionate but some are told that they won’t amount to anything.

My heart hurts knowing that my classroom may be the only place where some of my students are shown love, respect, and encouragement.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students go to bed with tears in their eyes instead of a smile on their face.

My heart hurts knowing that even though they walked out of my classroom with their head held high, some of my students will return with it hanging low.

My heart hurts knowing that some of my students go home to people who will make excuses for their bad choices rather than choose to be a better example for them to follow.

My heart hurts because many days I feel alone in helping my students become better at this thing called life.

Choose Your Words Carefully

The other day, I was watching a snippet from the movie 300; one of the best movies ever made. In the scene I was watching, King Leonidas addresses a Persian messenger. The Persians want to make a treaty with the Spartans to use their land and water for their armies. Throughout most of the discussion, the Persian does most of the talking while King Leonidas listens. Near the end of the conversation, the Persian messenger warns the king to choose his words carefully. 

After a long conversation, where Leonidas does most of the listening, he leads the messenger, and his companions, to a giant hole in the ground. The king reflects on his land, his people, and his wife. He considers his choices and consequences, and with confidence and power, the king quickly draws his sword and points it at the neck of the messenger. King Leonidas responds by saying, “Earth and water; you’ll find plenty of both down there. You bring the heads of conquered kings to my city steps, you insult my queen, you have threatened my people with slavery and death. Oh, I’ve chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same.” The Persian messenger then exclaims, “This is blasphemy. This is madness.” King Leonidas yells, “THIS IS SPARTA!” and powerfully kicks the messenger into the pit.

There are many things to learn in this scene, but I feel the most relevant lesson is to choose your words carefully. I am sure you have seen someone walk in with their head held high, with a cocky strut, and a look of arrogance. They came to make a statement. They tend to be someone who speaks a lot and listens very little. They think they have all the right answers, or they believe they deserve the respect of those they are speaking to. It’s as if they don’t even hear themselves speak, and the poison they spew has the adverse effect as intended. Their arrogance is their downfall. 

King Leonidas’s response to the Persian messenger is also something we can learn from. Even though the Persian was arrogant and thought himself more superior, King Leonidas listened to everything he had to say. He allowed the messenger to keep speaking; allowing the messenger to dig his own grave. Leonidas was attentive to what the messenger was saying and took mental notes of every wrong word the messenger chose to speak. Leonidas waited for the Persian to finish before responding. He then took stock of the situation, reflected, and made a confident decision to defend his land, his queen, and his people. He spoke with assertiveness that commanded respect. He was sure of himself; not in a haughty or arrogant way, but rather more self-assured. 

Scripture is filled with proverbs and commands concerning speaking and listening. James says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (1:19). Ecclesiastes states, there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (3:7). In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he stated, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (4:29). Proverbs states, “To answer before listening – that is folly and shame” (18:13).  There is wisdom in listening before speaking and choosing wisely what words we use.

Don’t rush into a situation thinking you need to have something to say. Listen well and take note of what is being said. If what you hear is folly, either ignore it and say nothing, or address it with carefully chosen words. What we say has the power to destroy who we are. If we are to live a life of humility and integrity, we must choose wisely every word that comes out of our mouth. We must take pause before we respond. We must choose language that attacks the problem and not the individual. We must speak only words that we will stand by wholeheartedly. Never sacrifice your character just to have the last word. Speak truth and consider every word that comes out of your mouth. 

I leave you with a quote from King David, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Takeaways:

  1. Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Don’t assume you need to always have something to say. Rather, listen intently to what is being said and speak only when necessary.
  2. Reflect before you speak. Just because you disagree with a post on Facebook or with what someone might have said in the store doesn’t mean you need to respond. Reflect on what you want to say and determine if it should be said.
  3. Own what comes out of your mouth. If you aren’t willing to stand behind what you say, shut up! Only speak that which you will stand behind wholeheartedly. 
  4. Choose your words carefully. What you say has the power to destroy, not only the person you are talking to, but yourself as well. 

As always, stay humble and serve well.

Louder Voice

I was sitting on my couch, preparing for a meeting that I was going to, when a song came on over the speaker. The song immediately grabbed my attention, because the words I heard were not sung, but were spoken. “We all have two voices in our head: Fear and Love. The one you listen to will shape you. The one you ignore will fade away.” This is the beginning of the song, The Louder Voice, by Fit for a King. After the singer spoke these words, I couldn’t help but start thinking of the truth that is found in this statement. 

These lyrics closely resemble a Cherokee Indian Tradition that goes like this:

An old grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with raging anger at a friend, “I too have felt great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison into your own body and wishing your enemy would suffer and die. It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is kind and understanding and does no harm; it works to benefit the entire pack. He lives in harmony with all and does not take offense or plot revenge. His heart is open and available to the Great Spirit. The other wolf is always vengeful, vicious and full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone and for no reason. He kills without cause or remorse. He cannot think because his resentment, anger and hate are so great. His heart is closed to the Great Spirit. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me. Both of them try to dominate my Spirit.” The boy looked with amazement into this wise man’s eyes and asked, “Which one wins, Grandfather?” The grandfather smiled and said, “The one that wins—is the one I feed.”

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions. Fear produces greed, hate, rage, anger, etc. Fear is controlling, manipulative, and blinds those who succumb to it’s lies. Fear has the power of dividing the closest of friends, the most intimate of lovers, and it can even keep us from doing what is right. Fear has the power to convince us that what we are doing is the right thing, when in reality, it is destroying relationships, keeping us from growing, and hindering us from progress. 

Love is the direct opposite of fear. It is written, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is by suspicion, but he who fears is not grown up in love” (1John 4:18). Love unites. Love is what focuses on living a selfless life of service. Love is what accepts others for who they are; now don’t misunderstand me, I did not say tolerates others, I said accepts others. There is a difference. Love is an action not just a feeling or emotion. Without love, we are nothing. 

Whether it’s a beginning line of a song or a Cherokee Indian Tradition, the story and truth is the same. We all have two voices, two wolves inside of us. Whichever we listen to, or whichever we feed, will dominate us. It is important that we understand what this means. It is important that we attune ourselves to our thoughts, actions, and responses. Both voices will scream at you. Both wolves will claw their way to your heart and mind. Fight hard and choose wisely which voice you listen to, or which wolf you feed. In the end, whichever one you give the most attention to will consume you, while the other will simply fade away.

Takeaways:

  1. We all have two voices, two wolves clawing for our attention. Whichever one we give attention to more will ultimately affect who we become.
  2. Take pause and reflect on what voice or wolf you are giving attention to. Fight hard to give attention to that which is right.
  3. Do not succumb to the easy way out. It is easier to hate and be angry. However, the more we choose this path, the worse we become.
  4. Life is a battlefield, and we must constantly be preparing for war. We are not at war with each other, but with the voices and desires within us. Take heed of this and prepare accordingly.

As always, stay humble and serve well.

Strong Character

American novelist, G. Michael Hopf, once wrote, “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” There is much truth in this quote. However, I want to add something: “Hard times create men of character, men of character create good times, good times create men of weak character, and men of weak character create hard times.” We are not products of our circumstances, but rather our choices. What we choose to do will ultimately affect our circumstances. The weaker we are, the easier it is to succumb to the pressures and struggles that enter our life. The weaker we are, the more susceptible we are to follow rather than lead. The weaker we are, the harder our life tends to be.

With the constant noise from social media and news outlets, it becomes difficult to hear the truth. Let’s face it, if we are still thinking that news and social media is spreading truthful information without any bias, then we have become weak minded and lazy. Truth can only be found through constant and fervent searching. Truth is very much like success; it can only be achieved if we work for it. Weakness is following blindly, or thinking that we need not to do anything to become successful. Weakness of mind, body, and will leads to a weak character.

The more we allow ourselves to succumb to laziness and excuses, the more difficult our circumstances. Life is not easy, and I don’t believe it is supposed to be. Easy produces laziness. It also creates a society that lacks integrity and character. It is easy to be loud, obnoxious, demeaning, and forceful, but it’s difficult to stand for what is right in a way that does not compromise your integrity or character. 

When I consider strong men and women of character, I think of individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Adam Brown and Chris Kyle (former Navy Seals), Abraham Lincoln, Malala Yousafzai, and many more. All of these individuals have something in common. They all stood for what was right and went through extreme hardship and adversity, but never wavered in their integrity and character. They were strong willed, and they lived their convictions with passion and fervor. These individuals provoked positive change in the lives they impacted. 

I have noticed that today’s culture wants to focus on global change rather than individual change. This is where the forcing, manipulating, and bullying comes in. This is a sign of  a weak character. Weakness of character is thinking you need to change the person you are sitting next to, your in line with, or the person who thinks differently than you. Strength of character is being able to look in the mirror everyday and focus on changing the person staring back at you. Global change starts with personal change. 

During his time deployed in Afghanistan, Adam Brown, a devout Christian and former Navy Seal, a fellow Seal told him, “I don’t understand how you can believe in God when we do what we do.” Adam’s response, “I can’t believe you don’t believe in God when we do what we do.” Adam was known to stand his ground but was never forceful about his beliefs. People around him would leave energized and feeling better about themselves. This is a sign of a strong character. Standing for your convictions is good, but how you stand for them says a lot about your character.

Strength comes through adversity. Every person aforementioned went through adversity. It was through that adversity that they became stronger. They worked on themselves to better those around them. I want to encourage you to be strong; strong in heart, mind, body, and character. Do what is right and do not compromise your integrity. Live out your convictions, but do so humbly. Be willing to listen and learn. Stand for truth, but seek truth. Do not accept every claim as truth. Be men and women of character through the good times and the bad. Do not allow the good times to weaken your character, instead, through it all, be a person of strong character.

Takeaways:

  1. We are products of our choices, not our circumstances. Whether it’s hard times or good times, our choices determine our character.
  2. Stand for your convictions, but do so humbly. Be willing to listen and learn. Seek truth rather than accept it at face value. 
  3. Someone with a strong character cares more about changing the person in the mirror rather than the person they are sitting next to.
  4. Be careful not to be weakened by the noise of society. Stay alert, seek truth, and build a strong, secure character.

As always, stay humble and serve well.

A Work In Progress

Mistakes are a part of life. They are also lessons to be learned. Mistakes come in all shapes and sizes. We might make mistakes in our diet, our personal choices, doing simple math, or even making the wrong turn while driving. However, the mistakes that have the most impact are the ones that affect our relationship with others. These are the mistakes we must heed carefully. It is these mistakes that we must learn from and make improvements in ourselves. If leadership is about one life positively influencing another, then we must always be improving ourselves.

Personally, I have only a few people I keep very close to me, and these people are my strength and pillar when things get difficult in my life. These are the people I call first, want to spend time with most, and invest much of my time in. The closest, and most important, individual in my life is my wife. We have been married for over 12 years. In those 12 years, I have found myself in a constant state of improvement. I have learned the ugly sides of myself that I absolutely despise, and I have been fighting a constant battle to get rid of the ugly parts of me that hinder our relationship. 

I am what many consider to be an “A type” personality; and no that doesn’t stand for “A$$hole” personality; even though I might act like one from time to time. According to wellness coach and author, Elizabeth Scott, “Type A personality may include operating at a more urgent pace, demonstrating higher levels of impatience, having a more competitive nature, getting upset easily, and associating self-worth with achievement.” Scott’s definition is pretty spot on when defining my personality. These qualities are not bad when they are kept in check. However, there are times when these qualities come out in ways that are disrespectful and careless. Most of the time, we tend to strike out at those closest to us, or at least I do, and this causes great rifts and problems in the relationships of those who are most dear to me

My wife is a very patient woman, but there are times when my “A type” personality comes off as arrogant, disrespectful, careless, or a mixture of all three, and her patience runs out. When this happens, she begins building walls between her and I, and a disturbance in the force is awakened. There are very few things in this world that I allow affect me, but the one that affects me the most is a rift in my wife’s and I relationship. The disturbance that was created was because of my lack of empathy, compassion, and out right stubbornness. I know that I create these problems, and I know this is partly due to my personality type. However, as I stated earlier, my personality type is not bad unless it goes unchecked. 

I am not great at backing off on my pride and arrogance, but I have gotten a lot better. I have learned that I need time to reflect, own my faults, and then humbly approach my wife, admit my mistakes, and ask for forgiveness. This is where my wife shows her grace and pure heart, as she always forgives me and wants to rebuild what I broke. My stubbornness can get the better of me, and there have been times that I have gone a day or two not owning my issues and problems. When that happens, the void and darkness that is created between my wife and I is heavy and consuming. This is a feeling I have grown to hate and despise with every fiber of my being. I eventually break down my prideful wall, realize that my actions and behaviors were not loving or respectful, and I humbly come back to my wife owning my mistakes. Have I ever mentioned how much I do not deserve this amazing woman?

I never want to jeopardize my relationship with my wife, and the only way to do that is to keep being self-reflective, keep my personality type in check, and stay humble. In other words, I am, and forever will be, a work in progress; and I am okay with that. The legacy I want to leave behind is that I never settled or made excuses for my actions, but held myself accountable and worked hard to better myself until the day I died.

Takeaways:

  1. Never stop working on you. We all have faults and make mistakes, but don’t make excuses for them, rather work to make yourself better.
  2. Pride comes before the fall. Stay humble and do not allow pride to take hold in your life. Admit your faults and mistakes and push yourself to be better.
  3. The only way relationships can grow is if we are willing to own our mistakes and failures and purpose within ourselves to become better, not only for the relationship, but for ourselves as well. 
  4. The only person hindering you is you.

As always, stay humble and serve well.

Leading With Resilience

Why do we allow people to hold power over us? Why do we care so much what people think and say about us? The more we give up our own power to those who are toxic, degrading, and ignorant, the more we give ourselves away. People who force you to think or accept ideologies that are fake, immoral, corrupt, or unethical, are the people who are ruining our culture and society. And instead of standing up against these people, leaders are falling victim to the rhetoric and coercion these people are pushing. Leaders must lead with resilience.

In a world where moral and ethical values are quickly given up for clicks, likes, and the almighty dollar, there is no wonder why our culture and society is dying from the inside out. Where are all the leaders that stand loud and proud for morals and ethical values? Where are the leaders who will say “No” to the mob and become the black sheep? Where are the leaders who will not allow the pressure and harassment of the mob to take away everything that is right? Where are the leaders who will lead with resilience, face down the bullies, and become pillars of integrity? It’s time to take a stand as leaders and demand morals and ethical values to be the staple of everything we do.

Resilience is a quality that our current culture seems to have forgotten. With the “cancel culture” and the political bullying that takes place, rather than being resilient and doing what is right, people give up and succumb to the pressure of the mob. Sadly, this leads to weakness and instability in integrity, morals, and ethics. If we are to be people who lead well, we must have resilience against the mob mentality and degradation of the current culture. We must not shy away from standing for what is right. We must hold to morals and ethical values and stay resilient toward the adversity that comes to challenge said morals and ethics.

Leadership is about serving those you lead, but it is also about setting the example for what is right. This is why leading with integrity is crucial. When organizations and companies bend to the will of the mob without standing for what is right, they show that their true motives are not about morals and ethics, but rather making a profit. There is a reason why the good book says, “The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” Popularity and likes should not be what drives leadership. Instead, the leadership should stand for what is right and lead with integrity and resilience. 

Leading with resilience is not about being haughty and arrogant, but rather leading with purpose, humility, and conviction. If we allow others to shake our convictions, then we never had convictions in the first place. Stand firm in wisdom and do what is right. Proverbs says, “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked  and who are devious in their ways” (Proverbs 2:11-15). I find that wisdom is quickly fleeting, because leadership no longer leads resiliently.

Takeaways:

  1. Lead with resilience. Stand for what is right and do not be swayed by the pressure that surrounds you.
  2. Do not sacrifice morals and ethics for more likes and the almighty dollar.
  3. Be wise and steadfast in all your ways.
  4. Just because the mob says they are right doesn’t make them right. Do what is morally and ethically right.
  5. Lead through service and be an example for what is right.

Finally, head these words: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:23-27).

As always, stay humble and serve well!