Morning Leaders – Listen Well

Morning Leaders. Not all leaders listen well, especially some of the leaders who are higher on the rung. Over the past twenty-five years I’ve read, listened, and personally observed countless senior leaders who really just want to hear what “they believe” to be the truth. Ego & Pride often stop these leaders from acknowledging the very things which would be of most benefit to them. May God help us all to listen well. #Grace

The Biblical Remix – Just Fine

The Biblical Remix – Just Fine

Acts 12:20-23 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixjustfine

Herod the King was pissed off at the people who lived in the land of Tyre and Sidon.  They were so shook they quickly made peace with him.

Just to show off, Herod threw on his kingly best outfit and sat on his blinged-out throne and he spoke to the masses.  He loved the praises and the screams of the people and they made sure they gave it to him.  In the crowds you heard the shouts of “He ain’t no man. He is a god” and “This is the voice of a god”.

While Herod soaked it all in, this Mary J. Blige song was playing in the background:

“You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just fine, Fine, Fine, Fine, Fine, Fine, Oooo…”

Reflection:

Even when people are loving us and giving us mad props it can be very easy for the masses to think we got it going on.  If they only knew the truth.

How many of us are smiling on the outside but have a slow death going on the inside?  We are not fine at all.

Some of us need the glory of other people praising us in order to combat this inner void.  The adulation and adoration empowers us to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.  In order to make up for the lack inside, we thirst for the praises of mankind (Side note: I can attest to having been at this place.  Even today I still have to pay attention to make sure I don’t revert back.)

This is all too prevalent in our entertainment society. We idolize musicians, athletes and actors.  They grace magazines and awards shows, but are they fine? How many stories have we seen or read regarding their battles with alcohol/drugs/jail/gambling/prostitutes/extra-marital affairs?  These “heroes” rise and fall daily on tabloid television.

I wonder how many of them give glory to God.  I wonder how many of us give glory to God.

I close today by asking: Are you fine?  No, really are you fine?  How is your life?  Are there things you would like to change?  If so, go ahead and do them.  Just make sure you give God the glory for the great things He has done by giving you life and the air that you breathe.  I wouldn’t want you to end up like King Herod…

P.S. – Oh yeah after the song played King Herod was struck with a disease where worms ate him from the inside.  Within five days he died.  Why?  Because he did not correct the people calling him a god.  He did not give the rightful honor to the one, true living God.

Um, yeah.  It’s like that.  Remember pride comes right before a destruction.

The Biblical Remix – On One

 


The Biblical Remix – On One

1 Chron 11:22-24 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixonone

When it was time for some action, Benaiah would throw down with the best of them.  His skills were so tight he actually jumped into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

If that wasn’t enough, one day  even stepped to a 7 1/2 foot tall Egyptian dude, took the Egyptian’s own spear out of his hands, and used that spear to kill the Egyptian.

When he walked out of that battle this Drake hook was playing in the background:

“I’m on one, Yeah, I said I’m on one…”

Reflection:

When you have skills, let them speak for themselves. You don’t have to go around bragging about how gifted and fly you are.

Remember the road called Pride leads to a destination called Destruction.

May Humility be the fragrance you bring in a room today.