Speaking the Truth, Patiently
Paul calls us to speak the “truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and also says “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). How can leaders speak the truth patiently? Patience simply means to accept delays without becoming angry or annoyed. So, speaking the truth patiently requires leaders to think carefully about the timing of their words. They […]
Joseph: Learning Who to Trust for the Dream
Issue #218, October 18, 2017 As Joseph interprets the dream of the cupbearer he sees a glimmer of hope for his own life and asks for a favor in return. “Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just […]
Joseph: The Birth of a Dream
Issue #214, August 23, 2017 Josephs’ dream was born when he was a young man, 17 years old. Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the […]
A Sense of Timing: A time to harvest
Issue #204, April 5, 2017 In the last issue we examined when it is time to sow or plant. There is a time to plant and a time to harvest. Every farmer plants with the expectation of a harvest to come. Every leader plants with the anticipation that there will be a time when they […]
A Sense of Timing: A Time to Sow
Issue #203, March 22, 2017 The writer of Ecclesiastes, in the passage on timing, says that there is “a time to plant” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Farmers know that there is a time for sowing seeds in anticipation of a harvest. Leaders also recognize the value of sowing. Leaders “sow” ideas in their own minds and plant […]
A Sense of Timing: A Time to Quit
Issue #202, March 8, 2017 Leaders never quit, right? Wrong! Great leaders know when it’s time to persevere but they also know that there is a time to quit! Moses learned this lesson from his father-in-law. The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him […]
A Sense of Timing: A Time to Accept a Loss
Issue #201, February 22, 2017 No one loves to lose! No leader intends to lose. It’s hard to accept loss, but there are some times that it is best to accept a loss and move on. King Amaziah learned this leadership lesson at the young age of 25. Amaziah called the people of Judah together […]
A Sense of Timing: A Time to Share Vision
Issue #200, February 8, 2017 Every leader has a vision for the future but many visions fail because the leader shares them at the wrong time. Some share it too early before it is ready while others wait too long and the opportunity passes by. The best leaders, like Nehemiah, have a sense of timing […]
A Sense of Timing: A Time to Confront
Issue #199, January 25, 2017 Encouragement is always needed and usually greatly appreciated. But servant leaders also recognize that there is a time to confront. One of the best-known confrontations in scripture happened when God called the prophet Nathan to confront King David who had committed adultery and murder. Nathan first tells the king a […]
A Sense of Timing: A Time to Encourage
Issue #198, January 11, 2017 Think of a person who has encouraged you in your life. How has the encouragement you received helped you to continue on? Everyone needs encouragement, even leaders. Servant leaders recognize that there is a time to encourage others and they deliberately work to meet that need. When it comes to […]