Fruitful Failure: Find a New Definition of Failure
Issue #433, October 7, 2026 All leaders fail, but not all leaders find ways to make failure fruitful. The fear of failure often keeps leaders from moving forward and the pain of failure keeps them from trying again. Effective leaders turn failures into opportunities to grow by changing their perception of and response to failure. […]
Matters of the Heart: Gauge its Condition
Issue #410, October 29, 2025 Healthy leaders pay attention to their heart, the seat of their emotions. In the previous issue we recognized the power of our heart to direct our lives and the difficulty in understanding it. David acknowledged his desire to have an undivided heart. He also cried out to God for help […]
Matters of the Heart: Grasp its worth.
Issue #409, October 15, 2025 Most leadership writing is action focused, which is natural since leaders value results. Yet, the Bible focuses more on matters of the heart, mentioning our heart more than 500 times, certainly an indication of how significant our heart is. While the biblical view of the heart encompasses the mind, will […]
#336 Serving with Authority: Respect It
October 26, 2022 Serving leaders, like all leaders, have and use authority. Authority is the legitimate power that gives them the right to act in their role as a leader. But many serving leaders may find the subject of authority a bit awkward. Is authority good or bad? How does it fit with the concept […]
The Leader and Emotion: Peace
We have looked a David’s life to reflect on all kinds of emotions including joy, sorrow, fear, anger, guilt and vengeance. We’ll conclude our reflections on emotion with peace…a pleasant place to finish! 1Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he […]
The Leader and Emotion: Vengeance
When someone has opposed your leadership, have you ever wished you could just hit them in the face? Or, knowing that action doesn’t sound very Christian, did you wish God would do the same? Every leader has moments when the natural response is to take revenge and see someone else suffer. David certainly had these […]
The Leader and Emotion: Anxiety
What will happen to me tomorrow? Will I be able to pay the bills? Can I overcome the obstacles I am facing? What if I lose my job? Every leader deals with questions like these about the future. These questions can easily lead to anxiety—a feeling of worry or nervousness about an imagined threat or […]
The Leader and Emotion: Fear
We all face situations that bring fear. Fear can be a very natural response to a situation that presents danger or harm to us. Our bodies react instinctively either to flee or fight. David also experienced fear. 1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; 2 hear me and answer me. My […]
The Leader and Emotion: Guilt
Leaders fail! Paul’s declaration that “All have sinned….” (Romans 3:23) certainly includes leaders. And sin produces the emotion of guilt which is not a pleasant feeling! David experienced guilt after committing adultery with Bathsheba. His sin was more public than most and David wrote openly about his guilt. 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according […]
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 […]