Dwight D. Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership in a simple but forceful way. He would place a single piece of string on a table and say, “Pull it, and it follows wherever you want it to go. But push it, and it goes nowhere.”

This method has been a blessing both in the Old and New Testaments. It should also be seen in church leadership, according to what Peter left us.

1 Peter 5:2-3

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

 Give it some thought.

Gary

A rather pompous-looking deacon was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. “Why do people call me a Christian?” the man asked.

After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”

Matthew 10:32 

So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven,

Luke 8:39 

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Why do they call you a Christian?

Give it some thought.

Gary

When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes which left no time for lunch, he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said. “Do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

“Sorry,” the woman told him, “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”

“But I’m starved,” the governor said.

“Sorry,” the woman said again, “only one to a customer.”

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?” he asked. “I am the governor of this state.”

“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

It is so refreshing to see individuals who are committed to their work and responsibility. We should all be like that, showing no partiality.

Acts 10:34 

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

James 2:1 

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Give it some thought and pass the chicken.

Gary

During the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands between England and Argentina, the Royal Navy’s 3,500-ton destroyer HMS Sheffield was sunk by a single missile fired from an Argentine fighter jet. It caused some people to wonder if modern surface warships were obsolete, sitting ducks for today’s sophisticated missiles. But a later check revealed that the Sheffield’s defenses did pick up the incoming missile, and the ship’s computer correctly identified it as a French-made Exocet. But the computer was programmed to ignore Exocets as “friendly.” The Sheffield was sunk by a missile it saw coming and could have evaded.

Judas was such a nice man that he was elected treasurer. Only Jesus knew that he chose twelve and one was a devil. Be vigilant.  A lot of American soldiers were killed by friendly fire.

 “Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.”―Henry Fielding

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 

Don’t be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” Come back to your right way of thinking and stop sinning. Some of you don’t know God. I say this to shame you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The word, aspirations, means a hope or ambition of achieving something. Examples: I want to preach like Billy Graham, No, that’s out – definitely unattainable. I want a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger had when he was thirty.  No, that’s out. My goal is to be rich and famous. Both of those endeavors are also impossible. I long to be president of the United States. You might ask, as I do, whatever for?

Is there anything that I can aspire to and be successful in?

2 Timothy 2:1 

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 6:16 

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Romans 10:17 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Life is a leaf of paper white
Whereon each one of us may write
His word or two, and then comes night.

Greatly begin! though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime–
Not failure, but low aim, is crime.

                                                             James Russell Lowell

Have realistic goals. Give it some thought and head in that direction.

Gary

My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;
Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way. 

I am a part of all that I have met.

   Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

Romans 14:15

 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 5:6

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

If you can’t make yourself better, at least don’t make others worse.

Give it some thought.

Gary

After the American Civil War, the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name in their scheme.  They promised that, if he did, he would become rich.  Astounded, Lee straightened up, buttoned his gray coat, and shouted, “Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war.  I lost my fortune in the war.  I lost everything except my name.  My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here, I’ll break this crutch over your heads!”

I would rather make my name than inherit it.

   — W. M. Thackeray

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

Ecclesiastes 7:1

A good name is better than precious ointment.

 Thank God for the influence in our lives of those with a good name.

Give it some thought.

Gary