It has been quite some time since I have shared my thoughts about my devotional readings. No, I have not been unfaithful in reading God's Word; however, I will concede that I do not spend enough time in studying His thoughts. It is amazing how that we, as Christians, stand upon His Word for our eternal destiny; yet, we are so quick to read a chapter and declare our relationship fine. Instead, we must get alone, dig, study, and apply everything that we read. Sometimes, we must read quite a bit in order to discover what God has for us in that setting. Anyway, I needed to remind myself of that fact before moving onward; so please excuse that digression.
In working through the Biblical history books, last night found me moving through II Chronicles 26:16-23. Uzziah was considered a good king, but his life provides a specific challenge to us all. This section personally applies to me because I have recently received a promotion at work and am the Director of my Office. So, let's learn about this king and see how we can ensure that we do not repeat his mistakes.
Uzziah, according to verse 16, fell into the trap of pride due to his prosperity and position -- "when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction." Clearly, the verse shows that his strength and success did not produce future success. Past results are not guarantee of future gain! Future accomplishments can only be produced the same way as the past -- through vigilant, hard work. If you look at the preceding verses, we see that Uzziah's strength came from the craftsmanship of his people. He developed machines on the city walls to launch rocks and arrows - early versions of the trebuchet or catapult.
With that backdrop, Uzziah decided to offer incense, which he, as king, could not do. In modern vernacular, he was dead wrong! The king served as the civil authority of the nation; however, he did so at the pleasure of God. Multiple times, God spoke to His people and told them that He would bless them as long as they followed His commands. Uzziah was hoping to usurp one of those directives by assuming the role of priest as well -- something that would never work (i.e. look at the example of the judge Gideon who lived like a king and created a priestly ephod that led Israel back into idolatry).
Thankfully, the priests, in verse 18, "withstood King Uzziah." They warned him! The Hebraic term references taking a stand and defending. In other words, they surrounded him, stopped him, and stood to stop him. Verse 17 reveals that 80 priests stood together against the king - quite possibly for their own peril - but God wanted us to remember them as valiant or strong men. Typically, in the Old Testament, valiant is a word utilized for soldiers. Its usage in this context reveals that standing for what is right against wayward leaders is just as vital. Simply, they warned their king about the error of his ways and attempted to prevent Uzziah's death. Whereas Uzziah listened to his advisers regarding military machines on the walls, he failed to heed the warnings of these priests.
While the king was wrong and warned by servants loyal to him, Uzziah's response was one of wrath. These priests sought to protect him, but the king could only see them as lowly priests that were subservient to his authority. He has already entered a part of the Temple that was forbidden to him, and when rebuked, he became "furious" and "angry." The NKJV uses two different words, but they are both the same Hebrew term. To get an understanding of Uzziah's response, the Hebrew term does denote anger but in two expressive ways: (1) foaming at the mouth and (2) intense burning. Uzziah was not disappointed, he was about to explode in rage.
Although wrong and warned by others, his wrath led to the final element of this story -- his power waned. God punished this king by immediately causing leprosy to break out upon him. The presence of leprosy was symbolic of uncleanness and Uzziah fit that symbolism perfectly. This king who was earlier described as strong was not thrown out of the Temple and could no longer live in his palace. He resided in an "isolated house" meaning that he could not judge his people -- his son had to instead. The once powerful man had been reduced to the holder of a position. His influence was gone because he refused to listen to the proper advice of his constituents.
The implications are clear for leaders and for those aspiring to become leaders. We know what is right and must continue to practice rightness even when we have climbed the ladder. Further, when corrected by others, gauge your response correctly. Too often, we stubbornly refuse to listen and launch into a defense of our position. Listening and reflecting may prevent serious heartbreak down the road. Also, anger can be a dangerous thing; so beware of its hold upon your life. Finally, if you will not do right, will not listen to advisers, and will not respond correctly, then expect a hard fall.
What a challenge this was to me, and maybe it will help you as well.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Real Manhood....
If you are seeking a “how to” manual in teaching your son the principles of manhood, then William J. Bennett’s The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood is not for you. Rather than clearly describing specific steps or providing teaching principles, Bennett takes a completely different approach by assembling a myriad of quotes, stories, and case studies. In doing so, he leaves the interpretation of those vignettes to the reader, thereby, giving them freedom to adapt as needed for instruction.
I did not expect the book to be the large compendium that it is; however, he adroitly utilizes small poems and quotes in order to retain interest. The format allows a reader to be able to move quickly through his six major divisions. The author tackles this work, as he has done all others, with time and effort. He wanted to ensure that he got his point across through as many different manners as possible.
For those using this volume to teach their sons, I offer this advice --- do not read the book in the order it is written. Instead, I encourage you to read in the following order: 6th chapter (man in prayer and reflection), 5th chapter (man with woman and children), 2nd chapter (man at work), 4th chapter (man in the polis), 1st chapter (man at war), and then 3rd chapter (man at play, sports and leisure). My rationale is rather simple – a man’s relationship with God determines everything else. Being right with God, transforms a family and allows him to keep a proper perspective about work. In working, he seeks to contribute to society at large and, if called upon, will serve his nation at war. Finally, and least important, is leisure time. Our society, unfortunately, has inverted this prioritization in that we largely focus upon leisure and entitlement at the expense of all other considerations.
This book is on a shelf awaiting my son, who is about to turn 4, to become older. We will read some of these together and I will use the primary resources to teach him about manhood. As good as this voluminous collection may be, never forget that your life is a book that children read every day. In order to teach your sons about manhood, we, as men, must project the right idea of manhood – not this bumbling view offered by Hollywood. Simply, we can benefit from Bennett’s work too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I did not expect the book to be the large compendium that it is; however, he adroitly utilizes small poems and quotes in order to retain interest. The format allows a reader to be able to move quickly through his six major divisions. The author tackles this work, as he has done all others, with time and effort. He wanted to ensure that he got his point across through as many different manners as possible.
For those using this volume to teach their sons, I offer this advice --- do not read the book in the order it is written. Instead, I encourage you to read in the following order: 6th chapter (man in prayer and reflection), 5th chapter (man with woman and children), 2nd chapter (man at work), 4th chapter (man in the polis), 1st chapter (man at war), and then 3rd chapter (man at play, sports and leisure). My rationale is rather simple – a man’s relationship with God determines everything else. Being right with God, transforms a family and allows him to keep a proper perspective about work. In working, he seeks to contribute to society at large and, if called upon, will serve his nation at war. Finally, and least important, is leisure time. Our society, unfortunately, has inverted this prioritization in that we largely focus upon leisure and entitlement at the expense of all other considerations.
This book is on a shelf awaiting my son, who is about to turn 4, to become older. We will read some of these together and I will use the primary resources to teach him about manhood. As good as this voluminous collection may be, never forget that your life is a book that children read every day. In order to teach your sons about manhood, we, as men, must project the right idea of manhood – not this bumbling view offered by Hollywood. Simply, we can benefit from Bennett’s work too.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wisdom for the Ages...
The Little Red Book of Wisdom by Mark DeMoss is a compelling read for anyone but particularly for those in positions of leadership. He divides his book into two sections and offers wisdom for both. While many use this primarily for professional development, he hammers home the truth that you are what you do every day. So, our professional and personal lives are one and the same because choices in one arena impact those choices in the other.
I highly encourage anyone in a position of leadership, or those ascribing to leadership, to purchase a copy of this book and read its contents. You can read through it quickly, and that is acceptable for a first pass. However, my suggestion for a second read is simple: dwell on a single chapter for a full week by reading it on Monday and then studying the Bible verses peppered throughout.
My book reviews normally include small critiques for underlying assumptions or unfulfilled promises; however, I cannot make that claim with this book. In all honesty, I could not find a single critique. He encloses his thoughts within Biblical principles and concludes with the ultimate choice of wisdom – a call to trust Jesus Christ. If our relationship with Him is right, then the rest of our lives will be lived wisely. Acting with wisdom does not entail a life free of difficulties, but wisdom allows you to handle those quickly approaching circumstances with aplomb.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I highly encourage anyone in a position of leadership, or those ascribing to leadership, to purchase a copy of this book and read its contents. You can read through it quickly, and that is acceptable for a first pass. However, my suggestion for a second read is simple: dwell on a single chapter for a full week by reading it on Monday and then studying the Bible verses peppered throughout.
My book reviews normally include small critiques for underlying assumptions or unfulfilled promises; however, I cannot make that claim with this book. In all honesty, I could not find a single critique. He encloses his thoughts within Biblical principles and concludes with the ultimate choice of wisdom – a call to trust Jesus Christ. If our relationship with Him is right, then the rest of our lives will be lived wisely. Acting with wisdom does not entail a life free of difficulties, but wisdom allows you to handle those quickly approaching circumstances with aplomb.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A Challenge for All Americans
Be the People, by Carol Swain, presents a stinging indictment of American culture. The problem within American culture rests with each individual. We longingly gaze toward those in elected positions to lead us; however, we fail to understand the implications that leadership and positions are not the same. In a sense, we have abdicated leadership to others because they hold titles; and in doing so, we have allowed them to escape consequences of political double-speak. We can, and should, ask pointed questions of our elected officials, but we must do so in respectful tones. America was built upon the ability to host robust and rigorous debate while still being able to coexist in the greatest country of the world. Unfortunately, this ability is no longer an accepted practice.
She weaves back and forth through difficult topics (abortion, immigration, racial relations, etc.) and presents details that are heart-wrenching. Her ultimate conclusion, the right one, is that we have forsaken God and have received exactly what we wanted.
I must confess that, although much of what the author wrote resonates with me, the title and the material of the book did not coincide very well. Yes, Swain provided tremendous research within her chapters, but the overall connection to “being the people” was missed in those detailed chapters. I expected a vibrant plan for turning around the prevalent cultural relativism of our day; however, the denouement failed to deliver that stunning conclusion. While a series of steps were outlined in the last chapter, those final thoughts paled in comparison to the depth of the prior chapters.
I would love to discuss this further with the author over coffee because I believe, based upon her interesting American story, that our conversation would be intellectually stimulating. Her work is challenging to read – and quite shocking – yet it is one that I will pass along to inspire others to be the people that our country desperately needs.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
She weaves back and forth through difficult topics (abortion, immigration, racial relations, etc.) and presents details that are heart-wrenching. Her ultimate conclusion, the right one, is that we have forsaken God and have received exactly what we wanted.
I must confess that, although much of what the author wrote resonates with me, the title and the material of the book did not coincide very well. Yes, Swain provided tremendous research within her chapters, but the overall connection to “being the people” was missed in those detailed chapters. I expected a vibrant plan for turning around the prevalent cultural relativism of our day; however, the denouement failed to deliver that stunning conclusion. While a series of steps were outlined in the last chapter, those final thoughts paled in comparison to the depth of the prior chapters.
I would love to discuss this further with the author over coffee because I believe, based upon her interesting American story, that our conversation would be intellectually stimulating. Her work is challenging to read – and quite shocking – yet it is one that I will pass along to inspire others to be the people that our country desperately needs.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Monday, June 13, 2011
Smiling at Your Enemies...
I Samuel 2:1 is often considered the prayer or praise song of Hannah. She begged the Lord for a child and made a vow with the Lord - give me a son and I will leave him at the tabernacle to serve You the remainder of his life. God honored that prayer and Hannah's opening phrase is interesting: "I smile at my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation." Say what? How does that apply?
Culturally, a barren Hebrew woman was considered cursed of the Lord. In ancient times, if a husband had a wife that did not bear him children, he often married another wife. Hannah's husband did likewise and his second wife bore him many children (including sons). While Elkanah, Hannah's husband loved her more, the second wife berated Hannah frequently. At every turn, she maliciously reminded Hannah that she has sons while Hannah had none. These attacks hurt Hannah and drove her to find comfort in the Lord.
Hannah's reflection on the situation provides us a wonderful example to follow -- when berated by our enemies. Turn to God who will comfort you. Her words are valuable in that they reveal a needed perspective. Rather than focusing on the difficulty, we should be seeing the Savior. Anything that happens to us has been approved by the Sovereign God of the Universe to produce something better in us. However, we can choose to allow those events to make us bitter. Hannah did not do so because she ran to God.
When hurt by enemies, offer a smile. Jesus, much later, in the New Testament commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Loving our enemies is something so outrageous that it will attract the attention of others. They, in turn, will want to know why or how we can do so; and that opens the door to share our faith. The typical response - hating your enemies - is expected of the world, and leaders thrive in the extraordinary.
Be a leader. Be a Christian example. Smile at your enemies and, in doing so, share the love of Jesus.
Culturally, a barren Hebrew woman was considered cursed of the Lord. In ancient times, if a husband had a wife that did not bear him children, he often married another wife. Hannah's husband did likewise and his second wife bore him many children (including sons). While Elkanah, Hannah's husband loved her more, the second wife berated Hannah frequently. At every turn, she maliciously reminded Hannah that she has sons while Hannah had none. These attacks hurt Hannah and drove her to find comfort in the Lord.
Hannah's reflection on the situation provides us a wonderful example to follow -- when berated by our enemies. Turn to God who will comfort you. Her words are valuable in that they reveal a needed perspective. Rather than focusing on the difficulty, we should be seeing the Savior. Anything that happens to us has been approved by the Sovereign God of the Universe to produce something better in us. However, we can choose to allow those events to make us bitter. Hannah did not do so because she ran to God.
When hurt by enemies, offer a smile. Jesus, much later, in the New Testament commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Loving our enemies is something so outrageous that it will attract the attention of others. They, in turn, will want to know why or how we can do so; and that opens the door to share our faith. The typical response - hating your enemies - is expected of the world, and leaders thrive in the extraordinary.
Be a leader. Be a Christian example. Smile at your enemies and, in doing so, share the love of Jesus.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
He's Alive....Are You?
Luke 20 contains the last ditch effort of the Jewish religious leaders to ensnare Christ with a series of questions. The Sadducees step up to the plate and throw Christ a curve-ball. This religious sect did not believe in the resurrection, but their opening allowed for the possibility of a resurrection. Christ masterfully answers their inquiry and they admit that "Teacher, you have spoken well" (v39). They have been soundly defeated in this debate.
As you ponder the thoughts, a short phrase exists that got me to thinking -- "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him" (v38). A few weeks ago, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ meaning that we have no fear in death. He has conquered it for us leaving us only one option -- TO LIVE!! That thought has raced through my mind for several weeks and, now, I see this phrase in Luke 20.
Are you alive? That question presupposes life in Him; and if that assumption is founded, are you living daily? The world is filled with events and circumstances that can sap the life out of people; however, that deduction is a personal choice. We, by our actions, allow other things to diminish the life that we can live for Him. A deacon at a past church always said: "Don't let nobody steal your joy." He embraced the concept of living for Jesus because Christ gives us life.
Tough times comes. Hardships abound. Trials and temptations are just around the corner. Remember, He's alive and so are you. Live!! While it may be raining now, close your eyes and remember the sunshine and warmth it provides. Live for Him daily and nothing can rain on your parade.
As you ponder the thoughts, a short phrase exists that got me to thinking -- "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him" (v38). A few weeks ago, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ meaning that we have no fear in death. He has conquered it for us leaving us only one option -- TO LIVE!! That thought has raced through my mind for several weeks and, now, I see this phrase in Luke 20.
Are you alive? That question presupposes life in Him; and if that assumption is founded, are you living daily? The world is filled with events and circumstances that can sap the life out of people; however, that deduction is a personal choice. We, by our actions, allow other things to diminish the life that we can live for Him. A deacon at a past church always said: "Don't let nobody steal your joy." He embraced the concept of living for Jesus because Christ gives us life.
Tough times comes. Hardships abound. Trials and temptations are just around the corner. Remember, He's alive and so are you. Live!! While it may be raining now, close your eyes and remember the sunshine and warmth it provides. Live for Him daily and nothing can rain on your parade.
A Talent Plus Person...
Beyond Talent, by John C. Maxwell, continues the long line of leadership books written by the internationally recognized expert. The book was originally released in 2007; however, it has been updated and re-released in 2011. If you have ever read Maxwell, then you immediately know the type, style, and format of this book. He has the ability to make complexity rather simple.
The thesis of Beyond Talent remains as valuable today as it was several years ago. Extraordinary results do not merely originate from a talented individual because we all know people that possess tremendous talent that did not produce as predicted. Talent is an asset, but it is not the most important one. As Maxwell clearly states on page 7: “The key choices you make – apart from the natural talent you already have – will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” In other words, hard work earns success and relying upon anything else will result in underperformance.
I must confess that, at the time of this review, I have not yet finished the entire book. The rationale is rather simplistic in that any reader must go through this manuscript slowly but deeply. Each chapter concludes with a series of questions that take mere words or ideas from the page and force a reader to wrestle with the content. The questions, in a sense, are the formulation of a personal action plan to remove personal dependence on talent. I highly suggest that you open a free account with Evernote so that you can access your comments from any computer or via a smart-phone. In doing so, date your comments because this allows you to read through Beyond Talent in the future and see whether or not you have made progress.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The thesis of Beyond Talent remains as valuable today as it was several years ago. Extraordinary results do not merely originate from a talented individual because we all know people that possess tremendous talent that did not produce as predicted. Talent is an asset, but it is not the most important one. As Maxwell clearly states on page 7: “The key choices you make – apart from the natural talent you already have – will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” In other words, hard work earns success and relying upon anything else will result in underperformance.
I must confess that, at the time of this review, I have not yet finished the entire book. The rationale is rather simplistic in that any reader must go through this manuscript slowly but deeply. Each chapter concludes with a series of questions that take mere words or ideas from the page and force a reader to wrestle with the content. The questions, in a sense, are the formulation of a personal action plan to remove personal dependence on talent. I highly suggest that you open a free account with Evernote so that you can access your comments from any computer or via a smart-phone. In doing so, date your comments because this allows you to read through Beyond Talent in the future and see whether or not you have made progress.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
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