I am writing from New Zealand and decided to re-write a post from 2011 on an interesting Leadership concept. I think it has merit and is worthy of repeating with updates. I learned a new leadership concept while in New Zealand called The Tall Poppy Syndrome. Although the phrase was completely new to me, it was easy to recognize once…
In the 135 years since its introduction, kudzu’s tentacles have spread over almost seven and one half million acres of the southern United States and continues to ‘consume’ the south at an estimated rate of 120,000 acres per year, destroying power lines, buildings, and native vegetation in its path.[1] The kudzu plant was introduced to the United States from Japan…
There are advantages to living forty miles from the nearest large city (“large” being a relative term). We do not have smog, stoplights, or traffic jams. When I leave my office, waiting on more than three cars to pass so I can pull out onto the state road seems like an eternity. Being located in the heart of the Adirondack…
“O, my friends, we are leaky vessels, and have to be kept right under the fountain all the time in order to keep full.” – Dwight Lyman Moody Is there a secret to keeping our souls full? Maybe you feel as if your spiritual reservoir is almost empty from the constant drain, and just one more little thing might suck…
There is a distinct advantage to possessing the higher ground in warfare. We see illustrations of this in history from the Romans to the Battle of Little Round Top. Most outnumbered armies who won glorious victories won them as a result of their strategic command of the higher ground. In leadership, maintaining a higher ground mindset can mean success rather…
Devotional and sermon prep can be demanding. It does not matter if you are a seasoned veteran or tackling your first ministry opportunity. Perhaps you are confident in your homiletics training, or maybe you feel like you were “thrown into the deep end of the pool without your flotation device.” Regardless of how you arrived where you are today, we…
2017 is upon us as are the perennial New Year’s Resolutions. I applaud the attempts made through this holiday tradition to bring about change, but many are temporary. Students need more than holiday resolutions as they face challenges for the New Year. Now is a great time to invest a little extra time helping them think through those challenges. While…
There is no “Secret Formula” for bringing Generation’s Y and Z to Christ. However, there is a “Gospel Magnet” for attracting them. This may sound contradictory but hear me out. There is a difference in a “Secret Formula” and what I refer to as a “Gospel Magnet.” A formula suggests “X easy steps” to salvation or perhaps some procedure that…
At least during this season, the number one question being asked is, “What do you want for Christmas? Walking through malls you will hear Santas and parents asking children this question. Or just listen to children talking to children in most any setting. As I traveled with a Christmas Musical on a ten city tour, each night we hosted a…
Leaders influence everyone from the receptionist who greets them at the front desk to the person who is second in command. Attitude, perspective and customer service are reflected from the top down in churches, businesses, organizational headquarters or physician’s offices. So I am never surprised when I am treated as an interruption by the secretary - to feel the same…