The Challenges of Leadership, Pt. 3
|
|
|
"That Hanani, one of my brethren, came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, 'The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.'"
(Nehemiah 1:2-3)
I highly recommend Carey Nieuwhof and his material on leadership. Carey is a trusted voice among many today, and I have benefited greatly from his writings and podcasts. In a recent article on his website by a contributing author, Carey offers helpful leadership principles so that leaders can lead like never before. In a recent article on Carey's website, author Jenni Catron, founder and CEO of the 4Sight Group, offers helpful insights on how to lead well in chaotic times. Interestingly, in the article, Jenni references Nehemiah as a positive role model for leaders today. Isn't that cool? Nehemiah led almost 2500 years ago, yet he is still being emulated by leaders today in the 21st century.
Catron writes:
|
|
|
"Leading through these tensions is at the heart of what extraordinary leaders do. The very purpose of leadership is to effectively navigate the tensions our organizations, our teams, and we as individuals are facing. Leaders emerge most prominently when things are confusing and chaotic. Great leaders lead the way, and I think you'd agree: we need great leaders right now. With all of the chaos that our world is facing, you need to become a master of navigating it. So what can you do? One of my favorite leaders in the Bible is Nehemiah. Nehemiah led the Jewish people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that had lain in shambles for seventy years. No leader before Nehemiah had the clarity of vision and the influence to overcome the obstacles in order to accomplish this monumental task."
|
|
|
(Read more.)
Our world needs good leaders, men and women who are able to get the job done. Leaders are needed in homes, schools, churches, businesses, athletic teams, and well, everywhere!
Nehemiah was given the herculean task of rebuilding the shattered wall around the city of Jerusalem. Early on in chapter 1, verse 2, Nehemiah asked both how his people were doing and how his city was doing. This gives us some early clues about the character of Nehemiah. He asked questions, and that is always a sign of a good leader. He demonstrated compassion as well, both for the people in the city and for the city itself. This is a true patriot, a lover of God, his people, and his country. Nehemiah 1:4 is critical; what will Nehemiah do once he hears these awful reports? "When I heard..." Don't miss this: in order to know what is really going on, you have to listen; even if the news is horrible, you still need to get accurate information and data.
Good leaders listen. Proverbs 18:13 states, "Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish." Let us not be foolish; rather, let us listen! You will always win if you learn to ask this most valuable question: "Can you tell me more about that?"
|
|
Help children build a lasting foundation.
Point the kids in your life to Jesus with a copy of the Bedtime Devotions with Jesus Bible.
|
|
|
|
The Gospel > Racism, Pt. 2
Pastor Danny concludes last week's discussion of how the Gospel is unequivocally opposed to racism and the best force to defeat it. He summarizes what he learned from a recent conversation with retired African American police captain, Freddie Maxwell, as well as the helpful and important remarks delivered at a recent meeting of Christ Together Greater Austin.
|
|
|
|
|
