The Leader and Emotion: Gratitude
Emotions are often spontaneous and unplanned reactions to the circumstances of life. David seems to have experienced them all. David also experienced gratitude, an emotion that can be chosen and cultivated by all leaders. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3Know […]
The Leader and Emotion: Betrayal
Betrayal is a common experience in leadership which stirs up many emotions. Betrayal happens when a person close to us violates our trust. Betrayal itself is an action, not an emotion. But it often catches a leader by surprise and results in many different emotions such as anger, hurt, bewilderment, etc. A church member may […]
The Leader and Emotion: Loneliness
With our entire world connected by social media it seems that none of us should be lonely. But the United Kingdom recently appointed a “minister of loneliness” to deal with the increased social and health issues associated with this emotion. Loneliness is not a new emotion; it was keenly felt by David when he said […]
The Leader and Emotion: Depression
Can a servant leader experience depression? Consider David’s writing in Psalm 88. “LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. 2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3 I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. 4 […]
The Leader and Emotion: Sorrow
From joy to sorrow, all leaders experience a broad range of emotions. Often they are mixed together as they were for David in Psalm 31. In the first verses he expresses his joy in God’s love but then he quickly reveals his sorrow. 9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my […]
The Leader and Emotion: Joy
David experienced much pain and difficulty in his life, but he also experienced deep and sustaining joy, some of which he expressed in Psalm 33. 1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2 Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing […]
The Leader and Emotion: Anger
David is known as “a man after God’s own heart” for many reasons. But I believe that one of the reasons is because he was able to appropriately express to God a wide range of emotions. We’ll look at some of David’s emotions from the book of Psalms and consider what they mean for leaders. […]
The Leader and Emotion: Jesus
I begin this series with a personal confession. At the age of 55, after many years of leading and teaching on leadership, I am beginning to realize that I have often not been aware of my own emotions. In fact, I’ve tried hard to keep my emotions from impacting my leadership. I allowed myself to […]
Leadership Temptation: Compromising Character for Privilege
Jesus resisted using His calling for provision and He refused to use His charisma for promotion. But the devil had one more temptation for Jesus before He began His public ministry. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this […]
Leadership Temptation: Using Charisma for Promotion
Jesus resisted the first temptation to use His calling to provide His identity, physical or personal needs. So, the devil brought a second temptation to Jesus as he will to all leaders. 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are […]