Tag: leadership

August 4, 2026

August 4th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 27-28

Highlight Verse:

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭27‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have known managers who failed to train successors for fear they would be laid off. (One of them did get laid-off, partly because of his attitude.)

I’ve known others who failed to share their skills because they didn’t like it when someone did the same job a little differently.

Moses demonstrated not only a willingness to share his insights but actively asked the Lord to provide a successor.

Because of Moses’ attitude toward leadership, Israel was able to successfully enter into the promised land with a strong leader to guide them.

I have benefitted greatly from those who passed their skills on to me.

And I’ve had to deal with a few people who refused to help when I needed their skills.

I know from experience that those who take the time to share their skills and leadership abilities make this a much better world.

What skills do you have to pass on to others?
Are you training someone who could succeed you in work and or ministry?
How are you doing that?
July 8, 2026

July 8th, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 13-15

Highlight Verse:

“Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This verse seems to contradict verse 2.

That or he was awfully busy for the 3 years that he reigned (after which, he died).

The obvious answer is that he was building his family long before he became King of Judah.

In many ways it seems like he was a good king.

In his speech to the army of Israel, he spoke of the importance of following God.

Granted, that was more of a taunt than a sermon.

Oddly, this account of Abijah does not give the “he did good” or “he did evil” appraisal like the chronicler did with the other kings.

I almost expect a “he almost did good” in there.

In the end he did one thing very well.

He raised his son Asa to be a very good king.

So, what do we learn from the life of Abijah?

We could say that it is good to try.

We could also say that a more dedicated, all-consuming faith could have had better results.

Here’s my takeaway from Abijah – Never underestimate the importance of raising children.

What do you see as the most important lesson to learn from the life of Abijah?
If you were a King of Judah, what would the chronicler say about you – (He/she did _ in the eyes of the Lord.)?
June 28, 2026

June 28th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Ecclesiastes 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s probably time I got around to addressing the “elephant in the room.”

At the time he wrote Ecclesiastes, Solomon seems to have been struggling.

This book does not point to any doubt in the existence of God.

But Solomon writes as if Heaven did not exist.

Many would say that Solomon wanted to focus on life in this world to influence how people live their lives on earth.

I agree with this premise, but I also think that Solomon may have been struggling with understanding eternal life.

During his time, Jewish theology did not have the advantage of Jesus’ accounts of heaven or even Daniel’s prophecies.

Solomon may have not fully understood eternal life but that does not make his writing any less appropriate for life in this world.

Most translations start this verse with “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

The NLT is the only translation that I consulted that uses the term “do well”.

The difference may be subtle, but I believe the connotation is valid.

You can do something with all your might – sloppily.

It is consistent with Solomon’s wisdom that he would mean something to the effect of “do it to the best of your ability.”

I can speak from experience when I say that’s great advice.

I generally try to do my very best at work and it has given me recognition, job security, and good raises (when raises were available).

The times when I have not put in my full effort are when the quality of my work has faltered and I’ve seen setbacks to my career.

No one does perfect work all the time, but the more effort you put into what you do, the better the results.

What rewards have you seen from putting forth your best efforts?
What can you do to increase those efforts?
April 23, 2026

April 23rd, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – James 3

Highlight Verse:

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”
‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Prove it!

It’s so simple.

You don’t have to wax profound upon the intricacies of theology.

Just live an honorable life, doing good works with humility.

That will lead more people to the truth of Jesus than all the eloquent teachers combined.

It’s so simple that I will leave it at that today.

Is there someone whose honorable life has inspired you to live more honorably?
What are you doing to live honorably?
Friday – Prophets

April 10th, 2026

Reading – Daniel 11-12

Highlight Verse:

““As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.””
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Daniel has just been handed all these prophecies about future wars, success and failure and suffering.

And what is Daniel told to do with these prophecies?

Seal the prophecies and go your way.

I’d be like, “Then why did you tell me all this stuff?”

Obviously, the prophecies did not remain a secret forever.

I dare say that some of them have yet to be fulfilled.

They have and continue to prove God is all knowing and not bound by time.

Many have endeavored to explain each of these prophecies with historical events.

I honestly don’t know much about that.

In fact, I get to the end and see that “go your way” phrase and realize, the details of the prophecies do not matter to me personally.

What matters is that I walk in the way that God has called me.

I have a part to play in this historical spiritual battle.

While it is important that I understand the whole battle well enough to do my part well, I do not need to know every detail of every battle.

You might have noticed that the word calling is not used in this command for Daniel to go his way.

But look at Daniel. If ever there was a person with a clear calling and unswerving obedience to that calling, it was Daniel.

Daniel’s way was to walk in the calling God had for him.

If we lay hold of that same command, going your way does not me following the whims of your earthly desires.

It means to walk in the path that God has specially laid out for you.

What does “go your way” mean in the context of your life?
How are you following that command?
April 6, 2026

April 6th, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 14

Highlight Verse:

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The irony of this verse is it seems to suggest that the reason you should be humble is so you can be exalted.

That’s not the point.

Jesus comes out against the narcissist who would elevate themselves above everyone else.

Inevitably, that person will be brought down, if not in this life, certainly in the next.

The falsely humble person who chooses humility to gain recognition may get that recognition in this world, but God, who sees through to the heart, will only recognize true humility in the next life.

The truly humble will not seek recognition of any sort, in this life or the next.

Those are the ones whom God can trust to lead in the next life.

While trust in Jesus and repentance is what opens the door to eternal life, humility will earn the humble a place of honor and trust.

What is your take on humility?
Do you think that the truly humble can seek a reward of honor? Or is that reward simply a consequence of humility?
April 3, 2026

April 3rd, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Daniel was as righteous as they come.

His faithfulness in the face of opposition puts my meager faith to shame.

But when it comes to pleading for mercy for his nation, he lumps himself right in with the worst sinners in Israel.

Was his self image really that low?

I don’t think so.

I believe he recognized that, if he was to plead for the nation, he had to identify with the nation.

He so closely identified with the nation of Israel that he took on the shame of Israel as he laid his nation’s soul bare before the Lord.

And God listened.

From the moment he started praying, he started the wheels in motion to restore the nation of Israel.

As people seeking to live righteous lives before God, it is easy to become judgmental of those who bring down the level of purity in our nation.

I daresay that is one of the reasons our nation is so sharply divided right now.

What would happen if we all humbled ourselves before God, confessing the sin of the nation as our own?

Restoration!

Can you join me today in praying for the restoration of our nation (or your nation if you are outside the US)?
March 15, 2026

March 15th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 17

Highlight Verse:

“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And sometimes the Lord uses fire to test the heart.

The photo today is of last night’s beautiful sunset in North Platte, NE.

Unfortunately, it was beautiful because of major wildfires in Nebraska.

Already over half a million acres have burnt. Fortunately, the fires are in sparsely populated areas, but they are spreading quickly, and winds are expected to be very high today.

When people are faced with disaster, that is when true character comes out.

Some will do whatever it takes to protect themselves and assure their own survival.

Others will protect their loved ones at all costs.

Finally, a third group will help as many people as they can with the resources that they have.

I have not been in a major disaster, but the minor ones have mostly fallen in the second category. I definitely check on my own first.

But when the situation allows, I will turn to help others once my family is taken care of.

Case in point was a music festival years ago on a farm in western New Jersey. The remnants of a hurricane blew through that day, but the show went on (at least for those who braved the elements).

When they finally called it quits halfway through the afternoon, many cars were stuck in the muddy fields.

I joined a group of people pushing cars out of the mud.

When I finally got home, I discovered how completely covered in mud I was.

But I looked back at realized that was one of the best times I have had at a concert.

Now if they could just get some of that rain on the fires in Nebraska!

How do you react in the aftermath of disaster?
What have been some of your experiences?

Note: if you are reading this in the middle of March 2026, please pray that the fires in Nebraska and elsewhere are quickly extinguished and that victims experience love in the form of people living out their faith by helping.
February 24, 2026

February 24th, 2026
Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 9-10

Highlight Verses:

“So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.’” And Aaron was silent.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ouch!

I don’t know if I would be silent if I were Aaron. He just lost his two eldest sons.
- Here’s a couple of things to think about.
- The Bible does not say how old Nadab and Abihu were when this happened, but we know that Moses was more than 80 years old. Aaron was three years older. Chances are very good that Nadab and Abihu were at least middle aged.
- They were not that new at being priests. Granted, the tabernacle and the sacrificial system were fairly new, but they were counted among the 70 elders, and they were well trained in their duties.
- They knew better than to disrespect God by ignoring His instructions.
- Their actions could have led many thousands to go astray if God had not dealt with them.
Yes, their fate seems quite harsh.

While we don’t usually see that kind of punishment handed out these days, we know that God is still passionate about protecting His people from that which would lead them astray.

Those of us who have leadership roles should be extremely diligent to lead with integrity, devotion, and Biblical accuracy.

How do you check to be sure that when you lead, you stay on target with your message?
Have you ever seen church leaders who lead people to follow after something or someone besides God? What became of them?
February 21, 2026

February 21st, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 20:13-38

Highlight Verse:

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

At first glance, you might feel pity for Paul.

He says his life is worth nothing if he doesn’t do the work God set out for him.

Then you realize that he did fulfill that assignment and then some.

Nearly every Christian today can trace their spiritual heritage to Paul.

He had a heavy responsibility, but he stepped into it and God supplied the ability and opportunities and the work of the Holy Spirit to fulfill it.

Not too many of us are called to spread the Gospel to the known civilized world.

Wait, that’s not quite true.

We are ALL called to spread the Gospel to the entire world.

We each have our part in that calling.

Some preach to the masses, some make friends and share the love of Jesus, some produce content to influence people toward Jesus, some support the work in various ways.

If you feel like your life is useless, let me assure you that, if you join in the calling to Spread the Gospel, there is great purpose in every breath you take.

Do you know your current part in spreading the Gospel?
What can you do today to help spread the Gospel to the World?

Tag: leadership

I have known managers who failed to train successors for fear they would be laid off. (One of them did get laid-off, partly because of his attitude.)

Moses demonstrated not only a willingness to share his insights but actively asked the Lord to provide a successor.

I know from experience that those who take the time to share their skills and leadership abilities make this a much better world.

That or he was awfully busy for the 3 years that he reigned (after which, he died).

In the end he did one thing very well.

Here’s my takeaway from Abijah – Never underestimate the importance of raising children.

At the time he wrote Ecclesiastes, Solomon seems to have been struggling.

Solomon may have not fully understood eternal life but that does not make his writing any less appropriate for life in this world.

No one does perfect work all the time, but the more effort you put into what you do, the better the results.

It’s so simple.

Just live an honorable life, doing good works with humility.

That will lead more people to the truth of Jesus than all the eloquent teachers combined.

And what is Daniel told to do with these prophecies?

What matters is that I walk in the way that God has called me.

The irony of this verse is it seems to suggest that the reason you should be humble is so you can be exalted.

The truly humble will not seek recognition of any sort, in this life or the next.

Those are the ones whom God can trust to lead in the next life.

Daniel was as righteous as they come.

Was his self image really that low?

What would happen if we all humbled ourselves before God, confessing the sin of the nation as our own?

Restoration!

Ouch!

Those of us who have leadership roles should be extremely diligent to lead with integrity, devotion, and Biblical accuracy.

Nearly every Christian today can trace their spiritual heritage to Paul.

We are ALL called to spread the Gospel to the entire world.

If you feel like your life is useless, let me assure you that, if you join in the calling to Spread the Gospel, there is great purpose in every breath you take.