Photo credit: CLTampa.com
Very timely piece by Brian Broderson on Calvary Chapel’s Blog…
Mormonism and the Election
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The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy
The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy
Two of the greatest influences in our lives will be the people we associate with and the books or other media we read or watch. So choose wisely.
-Tony Dungy
If you dream of becoming great someday, you’d be wise to read Dungy’s book, The Mentor Leader.
Other than the Bible itself, this is the best book on leadership I’ve ever read. Dungy’s most popular book was Quiet Strength, and it might be more entertaining than The Mentor Leader. But if you’re looking for the best possible information on how to be the best possible leader, The Mentor Leader is the better book.
Many authors and speakers talk about the value of mentoring and growing leaders but what makes this book different is the practical “how to” information that Dungy provides. Another interesting difference is Dungy’s frankness concerning his own weaknesses. He talks openly about mistakes he’s made and conflicts he’s experienced with players.
“Mentor leadership is all about shaping, nurturing, empowering, and growing. It’s all about relationships, integrity, and perpetual learning. Success is measured in changed lives, strong character, and eternal values.” (Dungy)
According to Dungy, the model for such leadership is Jesus Christ.
The irony concerning such leadership is, the organization wins when this approach is taken.
The Indianapolis Colts under his leadership are proof.
I highly recommend it.
Matthew 18:23-35 — Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?
Like you, I’ve been forgiven much. Like you I’ve been shown amazing grace. Yet I still find myself criticizing others and struggling to forgive at times.
With that in mind, I find these words from Jesus to be sobering.
“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
“His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
“When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Lord have mercy on us. Bless us with great ability to show grace. Bless us with an ability to forgive.
In Jesus’ name.
Galatians 6:9 — We will reap a harvest if we do not give up
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
-Sir Winston Churchill
Success isn’t final. If you’re at the top of the mountain right now, there’s one thing guaranteed — you won’t be there forever. It’s just a matter of time before you come down off that peak. And if you’re in the valley of failure right now, the same can be said. It’s just a matter of time before you move up out of that valley.
So don’t rest on your laurels. And don’t falter in your failure.
Keep moving forward.
Don’t give up.
Keep your eyes on God, He’s much bigger than both your successes and your failures.
Never, ever give up.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Mama’s Bible
Best story of this type that I’ve ever seen. Thank you Susan for sending this to me.
MAMA’S BIBLE
Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors
and lawyers.
One evening, they chatted after having dinner together. They
discussed the 95th birthday gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who moved
to Florida .
The first said, “You know I had a big house built for Mama.”
The second said, “And I had a large theater built in the house.”
The third said, “And I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her.”
The fourth said, “You know how Mama loved reading the Bible and you know
she can’t read anymore because she can’t see very well. I met this
preacher who told me about a parrot who could recite the entire Bible. It took
ten preachers almost 8 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute
$50,000 a year for five years to the church, but it was worth it.
Mama only has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it.”
The other brothers were impressed. After the celebration Mama sent out
her “Thank You” notes.
She wrote: Milton , the house you built is so huge that I live in only one
room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home; I have my groceries
delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby sound and it can
hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I’ve lost my hearing,
and I’m nearly blind. I’ll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the
same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to give
a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you so much.”
Love, Mama
Colossians 3:23 — Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
Warning: The outlook on choosing a career depicted in this cartoon, may only work in a video game.
Yea, I know, your mom and dad told you that if you put your mind to it, you could do anything you wanted to in life. Well, I wanted to be a pro football player, then a pro basketball player, then a pro tennis player, I practiced hard, but, guess what? I’m still waiting for the NBA to call. Sometimes it’s true, sometimes if you work hard enough you really can live your dream. But the reality for most of us is that we’ll probably have to settle for something less than our dream. And that’s OK. The important thing is to not despise the day of the small thing. (Zechariah 4:10) Jesus said,
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…
Luke 16:10
The scriptures are full of examples of people working faithfully in the day of the small thing, usually for a very long time, I’m talking years and years, but then ultimately they receive their reward. So whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. (Colossians 3:23)
If you can be trusted with very little, if you do well in the day of the small thing, who knows what might happen down the line.
1 Corinthians 10:31 …whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Martin Guitar Builder at Work
Young man: “What’s the big deal? This is good enough.”
Old man: “Better to apologize once for cost and time, rather than apologize forever for quality.”
…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
References:
How Can I Go to Heaven?
Jesus died in your place, on the cross, defeating your sin.
Jesus then defeated death, and rose again.
And from the moment Jesus saves you… The Father looks at you, as if you lived Jesus’ life.
Because the Father looked at Jesus, on the cross, as if He, had lived your life.
1 Cor. 15:3-4 & Romans 3:23-26
Ryan Sample
Pastor of Lakeside Family Church
Falling Star: If this nation doesn’t reconnect with its military, we will lose more than our wars | OregonLive.com
Whether you’re a dove or a hawk, this article, by a man whose son served as a medic in Iraq, is an important read.
What stays with you latest and deepest? of curious panics,
Of hard-fought engagements or sieges tremendous what deepest remains?
–Walt Whitman, “The Wound Dresser”
The Haunted City
There is a city.
Inside it dwell a million souls.
Each of stained purity,
and embraced in spiritual shoals.
Dis is its name,
the haunted walls
smeared with ambitions of fame
while arrogance upon the ground crawls.
Lust is the current exchange
and the hairs of the tormented burn with mange.
Iniquity hangs above the gate
and its boundaries hold the worlds’ reprobates.
There is a city.
Inside the faithful wait.
Each a with covered iniquity,
paragons of the grace to mistakes.
Zion is its name,
the sacred walls
blessed with the right to forget shame
while all within may walk unfettered and tall.
Strength marks the time within,
each new soul is cleansed of sin.
For while we wait, the people cry
to escape from the forces that vilify.
Man has known these cities,
and though we may disguise,
the truth ushers fear and trembling.
For we know the reprise.
The truth of five thousand years
cannot be bought nor sold to assuage fears.
For in each brother human there is a common face.
Only the darkness of hearts can deny that grace.
Of the two cities, there is only a choice
and salvation depends on the sounds of your voice.
But the climb abroad Heaven’s ladder is hard
and easily may they falter that do not guard.
But I have known the Haunted City’s embrace,
and its many tormentors,
furies from ancient myths of disgrace.
So quickly they become fomenters.
And by the hearts of man,
are the hearts of man condemned,
in their own lack of salvation,
by their own reprimand.
My thanks to Jeremy Huard, poet and writer, for today’s guest post contribution.
