Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We have all heard this idiom. And in business, it could not be truer. Knowing what steps should come first and discerning priorities is cumbersome and can be overwhelming at times. We are bombarded with choices and opinions. Too many possibilities have the potential to distract from making progress in any one ...
A retired CEO asked recently if I’m seeing more acceptance for faith in the workplace. I shared that most publicly traded companies prefer to avoid the subject of faith altogether, but small independent businesses are different. A good example is found in a press release I read recently. When discussing his company’s growth plans, Darris Stoll in South Carolina said, ...
In the Midwest, Mid-August is a time for schools to start back-up. College kids are planning to head back to school, while kindergartners are excitedly preparing for their first day. This can be a hectic, exciting, anxious, and/or sad time for parents with school-age children. A family friendly workplace may want to be sensitive to the needs of their employees ...
In Nehemiah 6, we obtain a glimpse into the amazing discernment of Nehemiah. In this series we’ve been discussing three elements that can be helpful for us to become more discerning. The Third Element is to Listen to the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus under the New Covenant we have a benefit that even Nehemiah didn’t have, the Holy ...
In Nehemiah 6, we discover Nehemiah’s remarkable discernment. In this series we’re discussing three elements to help us learn to be more discerning like Nehemiah. The first element was to know God’s Word. The second is Spiritual Maturity. Spiritual maturity requires us to not only know God’s Word, but also to grow more discerning through constant use and interaction with ...
In Nehemiah 6, we discover that Nehemiah was a leader with great discernment. In order to acquire discernment like Nehemiah, I believe there are three elements that may be helpful for us to consider in this series. The First is to Know God’s Word. In Nehemiah 6, the prophet Shemaiah was hired to lure Nehemiah inside the temple. But Nehemiah ...
In Nehemiah Chapter 6, Nehemiah’s enemies shifted their strategy from ridiculing and threatening the Jewish people to personal attacks on Nehemiah. On four occasions Sanballat tries unsuccessfully to lure Nehemiah into a trap. On one occasion Sanballat uses rumors and lies to try snaring Nehemiah, and next he hires prophets to deceive Nehemiah. Most men would have succumbed to at ...
In an article by Forbes magazine about leadership, Williams Craig says, “Leaders have a responsibility to demonstrate the beliefs of the company and reinforce behaviors that reflect those values.” Leadership is not just about giving directives, it is about exemplifying transferable character and behavior. King Jehoshaphat was a leader who demonstrated faith in God not only in word but in ...
Nehemiah’s vision for rebuilding Jerusalem is only two verses long, but it identifies four elements helpful in casting vision to others. The fourth and final element is “sharing your reason for hope.” Nehemiah was a newcomer to Jerusalem tackling a project that had been tried multiple times over a period of 93 years unsuccessfully. Nehemiah, however, had great hope because ...
Nehemiah’s vision for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem is only two verses long, but it identifies four elements helpful to us in our own vision casting opportunities. The third element is to “make an emotional appeal.” People typically get behind a project based on their emotional connection to the project. In Nehemiah 2:17, Nehemiah said, “You see the bad situation ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
