Leaders Must Live at a Higher Standard

According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 18:3-4 God calls His people to live at a higher standard than the unbelievers who surround them. In Leviticus chapters 18 – 20, God reviews His higher standards regarding relationships, religion, and the rights and responsibilities of community members. In the subsequent chapter, He reviews an even higher standard for Israel’s leaders, the priests. Why these higher standards? God intended Israel to be a light and a standard for the rest of the world, and Israel’s leaders to be a light and a standard for the Jewish nation. God expects the same of us (as leaders) today. Why must we be faithful in keeping a higher standard than the rest of the world? For the following five reasons: 1. We are called to be like God. 2. To qualify us for ministry. 3. To guarantee God’s blessing on our life. 4. To prepare us for leadership. 5. To receive God’s reward for faithfulness. And what characterizes those who choose to pursue life at God’s higher standard? The following seven characteristics: 1. They adopt godly values. 2. They care for the interests of others. 3. They live with integrity. 4. They keep their word. 5. They develop their gifts and potential. 6. They manage their time and money well. 7. They pass onto others what they have received. How are you doing at living at a higher standard? Is your life characterized by the seven qualities above? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Integrating Spirit and Truth

The hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 Places and rituals aren’t the essentials of a relationship with God. Jesus explains that, instead there are two rails that keep us on track: spirit and truth. Both are necessary for a vibrant, growing relationship with God. In John chapter 4, Jesus says, “God is Spirit.” We operate in the physical world, but God has put eternity in our hearts with an awareness of the unseen world. It’s easy, though, to be attracted to any of the myriad of spiritual experiences promised by other religions and New Age philosophies. Jesus reminded the woman at the well (and us) that the second rail in our pursuit of God is truth. The Scriptures tell us the truth about the nature of God, the way He relates to us, His instructions about life and relationships, and the consequences of turning our backs on Him. Our expanding grasp of truth, though, can lead only to pride if we aren’t sensitive to God’s Spirit, who points out our selfishness and points us back to God again and again. Sprit and Truth – both are essential in our walk with God. And this is the foundation behind my coaching and consulting practice – Truth@Life. Are you more attracted to spiritual experiences or biblical truth? You need a balance of both. What would a strong blend of both look like in your life? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Profiles in Leadership: Moses – Obedience Without Understanding

You shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them. Leviticus 15:31 Have you noticed that rules, regulations, and laws often bring out the human tendency to ask, “But why?” Sometimes the Lords gives the reasons behind His laws. Near the end of Leviticus chapter 15, God says He gave the people various ceremonial laws in order to separate “the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them. It may seem odd to us that God demonstrated so much concern over personal cleanliness, but could it be that God knows something that we don’t. If Moses harped on one thing, it was this: Be sure to obey God whether you understand “the why” or not. Many of our problems arise from ignoring God’s Word when we don’t think it’s instructions make sense. Moses tells us that the rules and regulations God gave to His people not only kept them clean and holy, but they also protected them from discomfort, sickness, and untimely death. In some ways, the law can be seen as God solving a problem before it ever occurs. Moses reminds us that God always knows what is best for us and for our relationship with Him. I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

God’s Peace Plan

The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11 Many of us have an entirely wrong idea about peace. We think it can only be found in the absence of hassles, but that’s not the way David saw it. In this brief Psalm, he recounts a few of the wonders of God’s power – like an amazing lightning storm or a raging tornado. Out of a recognition of God’s power and majesty, God gives his people strength and peace. A heart at rest doesn’t come only from the absence of problems. Far more significantly, God’s peace can be ours any time we focus on His greatness, His involvement with His creation, and His tender care. With that perspective, we can experience God’s peace even in the middle of the storms of life. That’s God’s peace plan. Our part is to fill our minds with the wonder of His strength, and as our faith grows, so will our sense of God’s peace. Do you need a greater sense of peace in your life? When was the last time you sat in wonder of the majesty and sovereignty of our Almighty God? What are some things you can do to increase your sense of wonder of God’s power? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Breaking the Leadership Principle of Solid Ground

The sons of Aaron each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Leviticus 10:1-2 God does not take it lightly when the leaders He calls disregard His commandments. When the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, broke Gods laws, they never recovered. God executed them on the spot. Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Consider this: Any movement in its infant stages must set a standard pattern of operations. If God allowed compromise at the beginning, things were sure to grow worse. The same principle came into play in the new church when God took the lives of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5. Nadab and Abihu broke the Leadership Principle of Solid Ground. The Leadership Principle of Solid Ground states that trust is the foundation of leadership, and character (i.e., integrity) is the foundation of trust. Consequently, for successful leadership, strategy is not as important as character and integrity. As holy priests and trusted leaders, Nadab and Abihu were supposed to model obedience for the people. God could not permit them even the slightest renegade move, the smallest maverick act, for that would send a signal that others could act in a compromising manner as well. The specific mistakes of these leaders are also a good lesson for us. They were the following: 1. Independence – they acted presumptuously, apart from God’s leadership. 2. Impatience – they failed to wait on the Lord for direction. 3. Ignorance – They moved without the knowledge of what God wanted. 4. Illegality – they acted contrary to God’s command. 5. Impulsivity – they did what they wanted, driven by ego, not submission. 6. Insensitivity – they paid no attention to God’s instruction. How is your leadership relative to the Principle of Solid Ground. Based on your character, are you a leader who is well trusted? Are you a person of integrity? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Testing of Your Faith Produces Patience

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3 Many Christians read James comment about suffering (that difficulties and trials produce faith, patience, and joy) and simply don’t believe it – or don’t want to believe it! Those who do believe it often feel frustrated and defeated because they don’t see the result promised. Count it joy? You’ve got to be kidding! To see these trials produce results in our lives, we need to undergo a radical reorientation. Years ago, cultural critic, Francis Schaeffer observed that most of us supremely value “personal peace and affluence”. Anything that gets in the way of those values, is, to say the least, unwelcome. But in the Kingdom of God, those things aren’t that valuable, and in fact, they can get in the way of what God truly values. He treasures our faith in Him through thick and thin, but He knows that faith is built most effectively in times of difficulty. For that reason, God, our loving and attentive Father, allows problems in our lives so that we learn to trust in Him. Author and speaker Elisabeth Elliot notes that suffering takes all kinds of forms. Her broad definition is, “Not having what you want, or having what you don’t want.” Every obstacle, every annoyance, and every genuine heartache in our lives is part of God’s curriculum to produce persistent, tenacious, deep, trust in Him. Patience isn’t killing time until we experience more personal peace and affluence. It’s riveting our affections on God and His purposes every moment of every day. What are some ways the pursuit of “personal peace and affluence” erodes patience and persistent faith in God in your life? How would it help you to realize that every difficulty in your life is part of God’s curriculum to teach you faith and patience and joy? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Special Announcement: Faith-Based Leadership Development Groups are Forming Now!

Special Announcement:Faith-Based Leadership Development small groups are forming now. My hope and prayer is that you will join one of these groups and be transformed by studying the principles of leadership as illustrated in the Bible. The truths, principles, and examples drawn from the Scriptures have been formulated into case studies, profiles, and lessons on the 22 principles of leadership, the 21 qualities of a leader, and the application to over 80 issues leaders deal with at home, as well as in the marketplace and the various other spheres of our society. No matter how weak or strong your leadership is, you can improve and reach your leadership potential for the glory of God. Whether you are a follower who is just beginning to discover the impact of leadership or a natural leader who already has followers, this program is designed to ensure you become a better leader and help others do the same. The greater the number of principles you learn, the more leadership qualities you will acquire, and the more adept at dealing with leadership issues you will become. Each principle is like a tool, ready to be picked up and used to help you achieve your dreams and add value to other people. Learn one, and you become a better leader. Learn a few, and people will gladly follow you. Learn them all, and you will become a transformational leader that leaves a lasting legacy. The small groups will meet twice a month for 60-90 minutes (each meeting). The meetings will contain the following agenda: 1. A review and discussion of the curriculum materials sent out in advance of the meeting. The topic will be sent out along with the assignment for reading and questions to be answered. Each participant will be asked to apply the material to their own life / vocation and to come prepared to discuss not only the material, but also the application. 2. Roundtable discussion of issues members are struggling with each month. 3. Monthly member focus – an opportunity for one member each month to share an issue in greater depth and for the group to serve as a godly board of advisors to him/her. 4. Goal setting, accountability, and prayer. I am inviting you to be a part of this remarkable opportunity. Local groups will meet in person. For those who are not able to meet in person, virtual groups are also forming that will meet by phone and online. I will merely be your humble guide and facilitator. We will all learn from God, His servants, and each other. If you are interested, please respond to this email or call me at the number listed below and I will provide you with more information. In all my experience as a teacher, coach, and mentor, I have never seen such a powerful course of study, that could assist such a broad group of people (remember, we’re all leaders), at a time of such urgent need. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Character & God’s Call to Leadership

The sons of Aaron each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Leviticus 10:1-2 God takes seriously the issue of character. We see His concern repeatedly in Leviticus, from the sins of Aaron’s sons to His detailed instructions about clean and unclean food. While today we realize some obvious medial and biological reasons for His precise directions, we can assume god intended through these texts to teach His leaders and His people an important lesson: Put “being” before “doing”. Get yourself right before you work on anything else. Far too often we jump to mechanics, methods, and techniques. We put style ahead of substance. We focus on charisma, but neglect character. The following axioms beckon us to put our character first: 1. We are given our gifts, but we must develop our character. 2. Our character earns the trust of others. 3. Only good character gives lasting success with people. 4. Sound character communicates credibility and consistency. 5. Our character colors our perspective. 6. Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. 7. We cannot rise above the limitations of our character. Does your character need some work? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Humility vs. Pride

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 Humility can be a difficult concept for us to grasp. It is often thought of as being weak or spineless, but that is the wrong definition of humility. A fitting example of humility can be found in the responsiveness of a strong horse to the gentle tug of its rider on the reins. When the horse was acquired, it may have been a wild bronco, but it has been trained and now gladly responds to its master’s care and guidance. The Bible describes proud people as “stiff-necked” and “willful”. They demand their own way, which focuses on their selfish purposes of success, pleasure, and approval. In His kindness, God allows difficulties into our lives to train us, not to harm us, but to tame the selfishness in our hearts. As long as we buck, we fight against God and His gracious purposes for us, but when we finally give in and accept His leadership in our lives, we experience more encouragement, strength, freedom, and joy than ever imagined. The “freedom” of the proud is an illusion. Rebellion ultimately results in shattered dreams and shattered lives. But a “broken and contrite heart”, one that is open to God’s discipline and leading, experiences the true riches of His grace. Would you say you have you been tamed, are being tamed, or are still running wild? Do you see God resisting your pride or giving you grace? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Aaron: God’s Call to Leadership for Every Believer

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take Aaron and his sons with him, the garments, and the anointing oil… Leviticus 8:1-2 Aaron receives his ordination to the priesthood in Leviticus in chapter 8. By that time the people already recognized him as a leader, but now God gives him his divine calling. The Lord instructs Aaron to wear certain garments and accessories as an outward symbol of an inward call. For the godly leader, the call of God becomes a personal foundation for ministry, regardless of his vocation. Every call has two components, inward and outward. God’s hand on the person provides the inward component. Through it, the person recognizes that he or she is supposed to occupy a leadership position. The outward component comes when others confirm that God’s hand does indeed rest on the person. Only God anoints a person to lead and minister; at best, organizations merely recognize and agree with His anointing. A leader’s real authority comes from God, not from men. The word “authorize” is derived from a Latin word which means to “increase or grow”. Frank Damazio (pastor of City Bible Church in Oregon) reminds us that the word authorize also suggests the spiritual meanings of: a builder of spiritual buildings; a creator of spiritual families; a doer of spiritual deeds; an author of spiritual writings; a teacher of spiritual knowledge; a spiritual advisor of actions; a promoter of spiritual plans; a supporter of spiritual laws; a spiritual leader in public life; a model of spiritual conduct; a spiritual guardian of women and minors; and a champion of spiritual welfare. This is a calling for every believer - regardless of vocation. Every Christian is called to be a spiritual leader – to positively influence and impact others. How are you doing as a spiritual leader? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

How to Know God’s Secrets

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. Psalm 25:14 We love secrets because they often promise to bring excitement into our lives. Getting the inside scoop is a great feeling, and the one who listens to a secret feels valued by the one who tells it. In the spiritual world, many things seem to be hidden. We wander and stumble around, trying to figure out how to relate to God, how to follow His will, and how to relate to His people. King David understood that God doesn’t share His secrets with everybody – just those who “fear” Him. The term “fear of God” isn’t very popular today because it is misunderstood as being afraid of Him. It actually means “wonder and awe”, a sense that God is so powerful, so intelligent, and so loving that we can hardly imagine it. It is a sense of reverence and respect. If this is the basis for revelation, it is no wonder that so many people do not know God’s secrets. People who are overwhelmed with the awesome nature of God become good listeners, and God delights in sharing His secrets with them. But even those who are overwhelmed with the awesome nature of God often times have not dealt with the truths He has already revealed to them and they are therefore not ready for more revelation to be given – but that’s another blog for another day! Back to God’s secrets… What are those secrets? Are they the answers to decisions we need? Are they the reasons behind happenings in our lives? Are they the nature of His will for us? Are they the direction of His calling for our lives? Sometimes yes – but they are also much more than that. More often, God’s secrets focus on developing a godly perspective of our lives and on the revelation of His character. Therefore, we grow our trust in Him even when we can’t see His hand at work because He assures us that He is infinitely wise, loving, and in control. Ultimately, the biggest secret of all is that God has made us his own dearly beloved children in a covenant relationship with Him. So to know God’s secrets is to know God Himself well. How are you doing on that measure? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Paradox of Leadership

Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Matthew 20:26 In his outstanding book, “Good to Great”, Jim Collins describes a mistake many companies make when they hire a CEO. Too often, they try to get a charismatic leader who becomes, in Collins’ phrase, “a genius with a thousand helpers.” This person demands to be the center of attention and receive all the praise. Others in the company are 2nd class citizens, just helpers who deserve no recognition. Some leaders who are Christians make the opposite mistake. They confuse humility with passivity and meekness with weakness. Their leadership style is to take little to no active role in positively influencing and impacting others. This is also not a biblical role. Scripture shows us Jesus arguing with the religious leaders and over-turning tables in the temple. His followers stood boldly for the truth, even to the point of tortuous deaths. Collins observed that most successful companies have leaders who are “humble visionaries”. They lead with passion, but are happy to give plenty of credit to anyone and everyone else. Collins’ observations fit perfectly with Jesus leadership strategy. In reaction to the natural, normal style of most leaders to demand to be the center of attention, Jesus told His followers to show their greatness by serving. He then dispelled any misconceptions of what it means to be a servant by picking up a towel and washing the dirty feet of the men at the table, the job of the lowest servant in the home. What does it meant to be servants of those under us in our families and on the organizational chart? If we follow Jesus example, we take time to do the most humble tasks: washing dishes, cleaning, sweeping, helping an intern with a task, or stopping to talk to an employee in the shipping department to ask about her family. In business we call this “management by walking about” or “capturing the heart before we ask for a hand”. Said another way, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care (about them). You have to establish trust before you can lead – and trust is built upon your investment in relationships with your followers. The same analogies can be made for the home/family environment. The bottom line is that a shepherd knows the condition of his flocks because he stays close to them. Are you too busy for things like that? Don’t be – for such is true servant leadership – one who goes before all others, sets the example for us to follow, serving the needs of his followers ahead of his own. What impact do “geniuses with a thousand helpers” have on those under them? What impact do “humble visionaries” have on people? What do you need to start doing today to be a servant leader to those around you? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Profiles in Leadership: Aaron – The Expectation and Cost of Leadership

About three thousand men of the people fell that day. Exodus 32:28 Aaron, like many leaders throughout history, received a divine calling. God chose Aaron and his sons to serve as Israel’s high priests and charged them with carrying out the rituals and sacrifices on behalf of all Israelites. Scripture gives meticulous detail to their ordination and calling. Their conduct was to be beyond reproach – and God made it crystal clear that failure to uphold His established guidelines would result in death. Numerous accounts in the book of Leviticus demonstrate the high expectation and cost that goes with a holy calling to leadership positions. As the high priest, Aaron was the only one authorized to enter the Most Holy Place and appear before the very presence of God. The Lord set Aaron apart for His holy work. Despite his high calling, Aaron struggled with his authority and later caved in to the depraved wishes of the people. He failed at a crucial juncture and led Israel in a pagan worship service, an abomination that led to the deaths of many Israelites. Aaron had been set apart for God’s service, but he chose to live and lead otherwise. The failure of a leader usually results in consequences far more grave than the fall of a non-leader. On the day that Aaron failed, about 3,000 men died. When leaders fail, followers pay the price. You are called to be a leader. God has called you to influence and positively impact the lives of others. Whether at home, in your neighborhood, at church, or in your vocation – you will influence the lives of others and you are therefore a leader. Consequently, you cannot escape the high expectations of your calling. How are you doing? Will there be a great reward to be reaped from the result of your leadership or a heavy cost to be paid? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

King of the Hill

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. Psalm 24:3-4 In the business world, many people get to the top by climbing over others on the way. They want to be “king of the hill” and nothing or nobody is going to stop them. But in the spiritual world, the goal isn’t to stand in power in front of stakeholders; it’s to stand in humility and inner strength before the Lord. In the awkward time between his anointing and his coronation as king, David had many opportunities to take shortcuts and compromise his integrity. Saul chased David and his men through deserts and towns, and on several occasions David could have killed Saul and taken the throne immediately. His most trusted and loyal followers urged him to do just that. But each time, David refused to rush into success. He trusted God to accomplish His purposes and in His timing. Through times of being misunderstood, attacked, and betrayed, David had “clean hands and a pure heart.” He trusted God even in the darkest days; he kept telling the truth. One of the most significant features of David’s life was the loyalty of his men. In him, they saw a man they could trust, a man who spoke the unvarnished truth and followed God with his whole heart. Even before David became the king of Israel, his character (not his title or position) won the hearts of his men. What are some temptations you face to take shortcuts to gain (self) promotions at work, at home, at church, or in your community? What would it take for you to act like David and have “clean hands and a pure heart”? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Leadership Principle of the Picture: Israel Models Leadership for the Nations

Multiple passages on sin offerings… Leviticus 6:1 – 10:20 Albert Schweitzer (the famous German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary) once said, “Example is not the main thing influencing others, it is the only thing.” Leviticus chapters 6 – 10 gives detailed instructions about how leaders are to implement sacrifices, how they are to be publically ordained, and how they are to live a life of total obedience. So much time is spent on these topics in Scripture because example is the most important tool a leader possesses. People do what people see. The following are just some of the key areas that God’s leaders were expected to model: 1. Moral and ethical lifestyle. 2. Proper appearance. 3. Pure conscience. 4. Excellence in fulfilling duties. 5. Healthy relationships and restitution. 6. Establishing proper priorities. 7. Maintaining regulations and guidelines. 8. Initiating forgiveness and atonement. Once Israel’s leaders had established model lifestyles, God called the entire nation to set an example for the rest of the world. The Hebrews were to model behavior for the other nations. Are you modeling proper behavior for those you seek to influence? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Personal Opportunity Costs

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 We all make decisions that would involve what we would call “opportunity costs”: when we say yes to something, we are saying no to countless other options. The question we instinctively answer each time is, “What gives me the most benefit?” In this passage, Paul asks his readers to reflect on all he has written in the first eleven chapters of Romans about the incredible mercy of God to rescue us from sin and give us purpose, peace, and hope. In response to God’s mercy, the only reasonable choice is to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to Him. Paul says this devotion takes the form of a “living sacrifice,” a choice we have to make each moment of every day. The opportunity cost may be high, but the return is of infinite value. Do we choose to follow a cause? Yes, but much more than that, we choose to follow a person, the one who loves us, forgives, us, and calls us His own. When we say yes to God each moment, we choose a lifestyle that reflects Christ’s values. Paul tells us not to be squeezed into the world’s mold of selfishness, but to let God transform us as our minds focus on God’s truth. The result of saying yes to God each moment is the incalculable value of knowing and following God’s perfect will for our lives. We join hands with Him to walk on the mountains and in the valleys of the adventure of life. What are some of the opportunity costs when a person says yes to Christ each moment? How is the world trying to squeeze you into its mold? What do you need to do to have your mind renewed by God’s truth? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Leadership Quality of Planning: Sacrifices Were Plans to Solve Problems

But no sin offering… Leviticus 6:30 One of the fastest ways to gain leadership is to solve problems. When Adam and Eve first sinned, it was God who initiated a plan for animal sacrifices to atone for sin. God saw the problem and God solved it. The Levitical directions for sacrifices were simply plans to solve sure-to-occur problems. Consider the biblical importance of planning by the following leaders: 1. God did it – Adam and Eve’s sin required an animal sacrifice (blood atonement). 2. Noah did it – He received explicit instructions to build the ark. He finished its construction in 120 years, exactly as God told him. And the well-built ship withstood months of storms and flooding. 3. Nehemiah did it – Nehemiah developed long-range plans to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He visualized the project, then planned for its construction. Israelites completed the work in 52 days. 4. David did it – David made long-range plans to build the temple. God did not allow him to build it, but David did all the planning and secured the construction materials to get the job done. 5. Jesus told parables about it – Jesus often spoke about the necessity of planning (e.g., Matt. 7, Luke 14, and Luke 16). In summary, tomorrow’s production begins with today’s preparation. How well do you plan? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Leadership Principle of Sacrifice: We Must Give Up to Get it Right

When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord… Leviticus 2:1 The “laws of sacrifice” in the book of Leviticus illustrate the Leadership Principle of Sacrifice. God lays out specific instruction regarding how His people are to offer sacrifices acceptable to Him. He makes it abundantly clear that they must give up certain things in order to get it right with Him – and that getting right with Him is crucial in light of the big picture. Cain and Abel made the first offerings recorded in the Bible. The early leaders of the Old Testament made sacrifices to God wherever they settled. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built sacrificial altars. Noah offered sacrifices of thanksgiving after the flood. What did all these sacrifices mean, and how can a leader today apply the purposes of sacrifices? The “burnt offering” meant the purging of sinful acts by the worshipper. A leader must pursue moral purity. The “grain offering” meant giving the best from a person’s property. A leader must offer excellent effort and service. The “peace offering” expressed praise to God and fellowship with others. A leader must commit to prioritizing relationships. The “sin (a.k.a. guilt) offering” was to atone for sin when restitution was impossible. A leader must request forgiveness when wrong. The “trespass offering” was made for unintentional or lesser offenses. A leader must desire to maintain communication in all circumstances. Is there a sacrifice you need to make to “get it right” with God or with those you seek to positively influence and impact? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Comparison Kills

He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 You worked hard in the company for years, but someone else got the promotion. You invested your money in funds that you broker recommended, but they plunged to the bottom of the Morningstar ratings. You did your best to be a good parent, but your kids turned out to be no better than the children whose parents didn’t seem to care about them. Many times unbelievers do just as well in life as believers. What’s that about? If we take out our measuring stick too often, we can become angry because we think we deserve more than we’re getting from God. Jesus spent a lot of his time explaining the grace of God to people. Grace is a foreign concept to most of us. We operate in this world by standards, rewards, and punishments, so grace just doesn’t fit. But in this passage, Jesus explains that the embracing arms of God’s goodness reach out to everybody: the good and the evil, the righteous and the unrighteous, you and your neighbor, you and your spouse, you and the person who got the promotion instead of you. When we see God’s grace operate in the lives of people who we feel don’t deserve it, we have a choice: either we can complain and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can be thankful that the God of such goodness is the one we love and serve. Comparison kills because it always leaves us wanting more, but thankfulness brings life. In your life, are there some people who are getting more than they deserve? How does comparing your life to theirs hurt you? Do you need to adopt a spirit of thankfulness for what you have, regardless of others and what they have? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Moses Leads from His Divine Anointing

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai … Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone. Exodus 34:29 After Moses shattered the first set of the Ten Commandments made of stone, the Lord directed him to chisel out some replacements. When he brought down the new set, his face shone with the glory of God. The nature and character of God had begun to rub off on Moses. The glory took such tangible form that he had to wear a veil over his face. The Israelites sensed both God’s presence in Moses’ leadership and a divine anointing to lead. What does it mean to be anointed? Here’s one way to break it down. Anointed leadership is characterized by: 1. Charisma – the anointed enjoy a sense of giftedness that comes from God – it seems magnetic. 2. Character – people see God’s nature in your leadership – they trust you. 3. Competence – you have the ability to get the job done – your leadership produces results. 4. Conviction – your leadership has backbone – you always stand for what is right. Would others describe your leadership as “anointed”? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Choosing What to Think About

As he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 What do you spend most of your time thinking about? Many of us never step back and analyze what’s running through our minds; we just go with the flow. But when we stop to take notice, we may find that our thoughts are dominated by daydreams of success and worries of failure. A snapshot of our thoughts gives us a picture of the content of our hearts. And what we hold in our hearts serves as the ground, seed, and fertilizer for what grows into our attitudes and actions. A good analysis of our thoughts includes looking at both what we think about and how we think. We may be preoccupied with concerns about our children, conflict with our spouses, the expectations of a boss, or a hundred other worries. Or, we may daydream about escaping our problems by taking a cruise, playing the perfect game of golf, or finding a thrill in a secret affair. All our thoughts, including our worries and desires to escape, can be fulfilled through faith, hope, and love. When we’re worried, we can refocus our thoughts on the goodness and greatness of God so that we find faith to trust Him for wisdom. When we’re bored and want to escape, we can choose to rivet our minds on the hope of God’s purpose for us. And when we are thankful, we can let our thoughts roll on in gratitude and love for our Lord. Martin Luther once said, “We can’t keep a bird from flying over our heads, but we can keep it from building a nest in our hair!” Analyze your thoughts for the past 24 hours and put them into categories of worry, escape, determination to succeed, faith, hope, and love. What can you do today to make better choices about what you think and how you think? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

The Leadership Principle of the Picture: Moses Sets the Example for Intimacy with God

The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend… Exodus 33:11 Modeling provides the basis of all true leadership. Leaders must set the example for their followers. One of the most important management principles in the world is this: “People do what people see”. Moses demonstrated this truth. The people watched him as he spent time with God, interceding for them in intimate personal communion – and it changed them more than any sermon could have. If you want to enjoy an intimate relationship with God, as Moses did, you must practice what he did: 1. Separate yourself regularly – You must remove yourself from the crowd. 2. Seek God with all your heart – You must pursue truth over popularity. 3. Be watched by the public – You must be willing to take a risk, even though it feels intimidating to be watched and scrutinized. 4. Learn to listen and obey God’s voice – You must practice the patience of silence and submission. 5. Enter covenant partnership with God – You must be faithful and committed just as Moses was a trustworthy partner with God. Who’s watching you? I guarantee you someone is watching. What are they seeing? What are you modeling? Is it what you want them to emulate? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Fighting Spiritual Wars

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 1 John 5:3-5 Spiritual warfare is real. In the above verse, Paul is reminding us saying, “Don’t be surprised to find yourself in a fight. And remember all the things I have taught you…” Satan uses several different ploys to block our walk with God. He uses temptation – sex, money, power, pleasure, possessions – like a fishing lure to get us chasing something that looks good but is very harmful to us. He tries to confuse us with conflicting teaching about God and His will so that we will stop moving forward and drift in a cloud of uncertainty. And he attacks us with accusations (“You’re rotten; God will never forgive that; How can you do that and call yourself a Christian?”) to try to make us doubt God’s love and forgiveness. In what ways can you identify Satan’s ploys of temptation, confusion, and accusation in your own life? Are you fighting effectively? Why or why not? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Leadership Principle of Respect: The People Replace Moses with Aaron

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron… Exodus 32:1 While Moses spoke with God on the mountain, the Israelites began to wonder just where their leader had gone. It didn’t take them long to look for a new leader. As they gathered around Aaron to request his help in making a golden calf, they violated the first of the Ten Commandment they were about to receive. The people begged Aaron to take charge. Unfortunately, his convictions lagged seriously behind Moses. The Leadership Principle of Respect states that people will look to the next strongest leader to take over in the absence of leadership. When Moses pulled his disappearing act, that is exactly what they did. They did so because: 1. People are like sheep without a shepherd – they always need a leader. 2. People focus on immediate felt needs – they struggle with delayed gratification. 3. People suffer memory failure – they are always asking, “What has the leader done for me lately?” 4. People are insecure – they begin to worry without abundant signs of hope. People naturally respect and follow leaders who are “stronger” than themselves and they look to the strongest, most well-respected person in the immediate vicinity to assume leadership. Are you that leader? Are you well-respected? Why should people respect you? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

A Clear Conscience

Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Psalm 26:1 A clear conscience is a glorious thing. When we can go to bed at night without having to relive situations and rethink conversations to make sure we don’t get caught in lies, we can enjoy sweet sleep. And when we talk to our spouse and children or look at a colleague at work, we can look them in the eye because we don’t have any fear of being caught in fabrications of the truth. Only then can we pray, “Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity”, with confidence when someone challenges us. Why do we lie (or as we might say, exaggerate the truth – put spin on it)? We might be trying to look good to someone else, we might want to avoid blame for something we’ve done, or we may have simply developed a bad habit of shading the truth. Trusting God gives us the strength to face the sometimes painful facts of our lives – even if we’ve lied. When we’ve failed we can embrace God’s forgiveness, confess our deception to the person we’ve lied to, and choose the path of truth again. How clear is your conscience today? What would it be worth for you to walk in integrity? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Leadership Principle of Buy-In: Leading Change

Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has said we will do.” Exodus 24:3 It was a huge day for everyone – a whole new life had begun! The Israelites got off to a fresh start when they affirmed the covenant God had offered them. To make it work, however, they discovered they would have to change their lifestyles and shift their paradigms – and that would take shrewd leadership. Sometimes (as in the desert) the majority of the people even wanted to return to Egypt! Peter Drucker helps us to learn from Moses about how to lead people into change, even in the wilderness: 1. Magnify the plagues – To make Pharaoh release God’s people, Moses called down the plagues, and he didn’t stop until the old system gave way. At this stage, problems are a leader’s friend. Don’t solve them; they convince people that they need to let go of the old way. 2. Mark the ending – What a symbolic and memorable “boundary event” Moses had in the crossing the Red Sea. After his people walked through the waters on dry land, there was no turning back. 3. Deal with the murmuring – Don’t be surprised when some lose confidence in your leadership somewhere between where they came from and where they are going. Moses heard things like, “Does our leader know the way? We’ve never done it this way before! What was so bad about Egypt?” In times of transition, look for opportunities to show concern for how your people feel and interact with the strugglers. 4. Give people access to decision makers – Thanks to Jethro, Moses appointed a new cadre of leader’s to narrow the gap between the people and the decision makers. As a result, the people felt more connected. 5. Capitalize on the creative opportunity of the wilderness. It was in the wilderness, not the Promised Land, that a big innovation took place: God handed down the Ten Commandments. Some of your biggest breakthroughs will also take place in the wilderness. 6. Resist the urge to rush ahead - It often seems that little happens in the wilderness, but great transformation takes place there. Don’t jeopardize it by hurrying ahead or removing the pain of giving birth to a new vision. Let God do His work. 7. Understand that “wilderness leadership” is special – Moses did not enter the Promised Land. His kind of leadership fit the transition time, where things seemed bit confusing and fluid. The nation needed Joshua to enter Canaan, because he led the military, and because a settled life required new skills. Movements and new organizations don’t often need a new leader, but they do require a new style of leadership once the transition is complete. I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Personal Leadership All Day, Every Day

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17 Many Christians attempt to compartmentalize their lives into sacred and secular parts. They act one way on Sunday and a different way the rest of the week. They are aware of God for an hour on Sunday morning and perhaps for a few minutes each day when they read their Bible and pray, but they hardly think of him the rest of the time. One of the most life-transforming concepts is that we are in God’s presence all day, every day. We can relate to Him, serve Him, and depend on Him every moment – at work and at home, in the car and on the golf course, in the bedroom and in the boardroom. In his insightful and challenging book, “The Call”, Os Guiness defines our purpose as “the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to His summons and service”. This perspective gives meaning to every moment, and it challenges us to live with integrity in every choice and relationship because we represent God at all times. Does this perspective inspire you to use every part of your day more effectively as God’s servant, or does it threaten you because you realize some things in your life aren’t what they should be? It should do both. What are some of the negative consequences of compartmentalizing God into just a part of our lives? What would it mean to you to live as though everything we are, we do, we have, is for serving Him all day, every day? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6Everyone is a leader, and everything rises and falls on leadership. More than anything else, the leadership of any group or organization (including families) will determine its success or failure. You can see the impact of leadership frequently in the Bible. In ancient Israel, when God’s people had a good king, all was well with the nation. When they had a bad king, things went poorly for everyone. Because of the importance of leadership, Scripture teaches that without a vision the people perish. This applies all areas of life – the people in our nation, in your church, in your business, or in even your family. Without good leadership, they will perish.The call to leadership is a constant pattern in the Bible. When God decided to raise up a nation of His own, He didn’t call upon the masses. He called out one leader - Abraham. When He wanted to deliver His people out of Egypt, He didn’t guide them as a group. He raised up a leader to do it - Moses. When it came time for the people to cross into the Promised Land, they followed one man – Joshua. Every time God desires to do something great, He calls a leader to step forward. Today, He still calls leaders to step forward for every type of work: at home, in the marketplace, in His church, and in government. A follower of God should be a leader of people. That’s more than just being the “boss” or having a leadership position. And it certainly doesn’t mean being pushy or in control. Jesus taught that leading means serving others. All believers are called to exert their influence in a Christ-like manner. Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less. If you are being salt and light as Jesus commanded, then you have begun to obey God’s call to leadership.One of the most important leadership principles is the principle that, “Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness.” That is key when working with others. Greater than resources, money, talent, or intelligence, leadership makes the difference when it comes to making an impact. Consequently, the key to increasing your effectiveness is to increase your leadership ability. And since Jesus was the greatest leader that ever lived - having impacted and influenced more people than any other - to become more Christ-like you need to think and act more like a leader. If you desire to have an impact on others and to leave a lasting legacy, you must become an impactful person of influence – a leader.We live in an age of tolerance, where protecting feelings is more highly valued than proclaiming the truth. People look with suspicion upon anyone who desires to influence others to embrace their beliefs. But as Thomas Jefferson proclaimed, “In matters of fashion, swim with the current. In matters of conscience, stand like a rock.” Become a dedicated student of leadership – if you aren’t already one. Becoming a good leader will guarantee that you will leave a spiritual legacy for future generations. The principle of legacy states that, “True success is measured by succession.” A legacy that does not include people has no eternal value. That is why leadership is critical. We must all learn to practice truly transformational leadership, where people’s lives are changed from the inside out. That kind of leadership is based on character, conviction, and Christ-likeness. In other words, transformational leadership follows the pattern laid down in Scripture.The need of the hour is great. Faith-Based Leadership Development small groups are forming now. My hope and prayer is that you will join one of these groups and be transformed by studying the principles of leadership as illustrated in the Bible. The truths, principles, and examples drawn from the Scriptures have been formulated into case studies, profiles, and lessons on the 22 principles of leadership, the 21 qualities of a leader, and the application to over 80 issues leaders deal with at home, as well as in the marketplace and the various other spheres of our society. No matter how weak or strong your leadership is, you can improve and reach your leadership potential for the glory of God. Whether you are a follower who is just beginning to discover the impact of leadership or a natural leader who already has followers, this program is designed to ensure you become a better leader and help others do the same. The greater the number of principles you learn, the more leadership qualities you will acquire, and the more adept at dealing with leadership issues you will become. Each principle is like a tool, ready to be picked up and used to help you achieve your dreams and add value to other people. Learn one, and you become a better leader. Learn a few, and people will gladly follow you. Learn them all, and you will become a transformational leader that leaves a lasting legacy.The small groups will meet twice a month for 60-90 minutes (each meeting). The meetings will contain the following agenda: 1. A review and discussion of the curriculum materials sent out in advance of the meeting. The topic will be sent out along with the assignment for reading and questions to be answered. Each participant will be asked to apply the material to their own life / vocation and to come prepared to discuss not only the material, but also the application. 2. Roundtable discussion of issues members are struggling with each month. 3. Monthly member focus – an opportunity for one member each month to share an issue in greater depth and for the group to serve as a godly board of advisors to him/her. 4. Goal setting, accountability, and prayer. I am inviting you to be a part of this remarkable opportunity. Local groups will meet in person. For those who are not able to meet in person, virtual groups are also forming that will meet by phone and online. I will merely be your humble guide and facilitator. We will all learn from God, His servants, and each other. If you are interested, please respond to this email or call me at the number listed below and I will provide you with more information. In all my experience as a teacher, coach, and mentor, I have never seen such a powerful course of study, that could assist such a broad group of people (remember, we’re all leaders), at a time of such urgent need.If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, I’d love to talk to you personally. Either email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com or call me at 248-396-6255. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right.

The Leadership Principle of the Picture: God Establishes the Power of Example

A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? … You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. Great fear came upon all those who heard these things. Acts 5:1-5 Good leaders communicate a clear picture of their expectations. For example, when change is required, a good leader will communicate clearly the consequences of not changing, as well as the rewards of implementing the change. The first is called the change imperative and the latter is the future vision. A change imperative gets people moving away from the status quo. But change is hard and people remember the “good old days” and desire to return to it. That’s when the future vision kicks in – it draws people forward to the new way of doing things like a magnet. Both are needed to insure that the required change is implemented. Sometimes, a leader's prompt, decisive action paints the clearest picture of all. In Exodus, all sorts of laws and penalties are introduced. God’s people were given instruction and clear consequences for disobedience. Why were the penalties so strict? Is God mean and fierce in the Old Testament and loving and gracious in the New Testament? We can see both sides of God throughout the Bible, but God laid out these severe penalties because of the power of example. The people needed a picture. Once a penalty is seen implemented, everyone is sobered by the example. God did the same thing in Acts when Ananias and Sapphira were punished. Mere talk would not have had the same effect on this baby nation in Exodus, nor the baby church in Acts. Frequently, people need to see a clear, visible demonstration in order to remember. As a leader, are you clear in your communications of the consequences of action/inaction? Have you painted a picture for those who are following you? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Is God a Capitalist?

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1 In a capitalist economy, ownership is the cornerstone of society. We earn money and buy things, and we consider those things to be ours. But the Bible has a different twist on capitalism. The earth and everything in it were created by God, and as the Creator, He is the rightful owner. He entrusts parts to us for a short time, but we’re wise to see ourselves as managers instead of owners. A consumer mentality values things and people for what they do for us. If they make us happy and strong, we like them, but if they don’t make us feel good, we get rid of them. As God-appointed managers, we acknowledge that our money (and the skills God gave us to earn money) is the Lord’s, and the first question is, Lord, how can I use this in a way that pleases You? If we ask that question often enough, we may change some of our spending habits, and we might devote more of our resources to the things that matter most to God. Of course, people are what matter most to Him. Our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers belong to God too. He has put us in relationships with them for a purpose, and again, we need to ask a similar, piercing question: Lord, how can I relate to these people in a way that encourages them and honors You? How would it affect your management of money and other resources if you saw yourself as God’s appointed manager – His steward of His resources? How would it affect your relationships if you saw people as entrusted to you by God? Have you asked God lately, “God, where do you want me to spend my time, my talent, and my resources today?” I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Where to go for Inspiration

Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Who are the people that have meant the most to you in your life? Who has had the most influence in your life? Your parents? A coach, a teacher or a Sunday School teacher? Undoubtedly they challenged you to rise above the status quo. I remember people who cared about my character and who inspired me to a solid standard of holiness, devotion and diligence. The bottom line? They all called me to noble, pure virtues. Others have also stepped out of the herd and stepped up. Consider the famed scientist and inventor George Washington Carver who once wrote down what he called the “eight cardinal virtues”: 1. Be clean both inside and outside. 2. Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor. 3. If you lose, do so without whining. 4. Win without bragging. 5. Always be considerate of women, children and old people. 6. Be too brave to lie. 7. Be too generous to cheat. 8. Take your share of the world and let others take theirs. Virtuous words. Yet even from a distance of nearly 100 years, they touch us at a deep level of our souls and call us higher than the selfish parts of our natures typically want to go. I encourage you today to be careful where you look for inspiration - be sure that the people who influence you are those who can be counted on to lead you in the paths of purity and righteousness. And I encourage you to become an influencer, a leader, one who has the thick-skinned courage to step out and up and motivate others to be Christ followers. For Christ is the One who truly embodies noble virtue. I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Jethro & the Principle of Intuition: Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias – Part 2 of 2

Moses’ father-in-law (Jethro) said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Exodus 18:17-18 Some people are born with great leadership intuition; others have to work hard to develop it. Continuing from yesterday, consider how Jethro handled Moses’ situation. His leadership bias made him a great “reader” of situations, trends, resources, people, and himself. Yesterday’s blog discussed the first of these: 1. situations. Let’s look at the next four now… 2. Trends: A leader sees what is happening in the present and understands where an organization is headed. Jethro could see Moses heading for trouble. He told his son-in-law, “Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.” Maybe Moses settled disputes effectively, maybe not. But even if he were able to get by with doing everything, he could never sustain it. As the population grew, his situation would worsen. Jethro knew that disaster lay ahead if Moses didn’t change. 3. Resources: Leaders know how to resource their vision. They don’t take anything for granted, and they maximize whatever is at hand to achieve their goals. Jethro identifies Israel’s greatest assets: Moses’ heart, God’s favor, and the people. He directed Moses to seek God’s counsel, to teach the people God’s laws, and to empower the people to share the burden. Jethro’s plan utilized everything of value the people possessed. 4. People: Skill with people is perhaps the greatest ability of a leader. Some can understand what it takes to lead; others can actually do it. Jethro understood people and leadership well enough to know how to empower Moses’ leadership, even though he had no personal experience with those who had just escaped Egypt. Jethro knew leadership had to be based on ability, not position, and he instinctively understood that the right people were present to lead thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They just had to be put into place. 5. Himself: A leader reads himself well. He understands his strengths, weaknesses, and his individual calling. Jethro not only read and understood Moses’ leadership problem; he realized he (Jethro) was not the man for the job. So he read and evaluated Moses’ leadership ability and planned accordingly. Look at any leader with sharp intuition, and you will see an ability to read a leadership situation. When Nehemiah looked at the wall in Jerusalem, he knew what to do. When Joseph understood Pharaoh’s dream, he knew how to prepare for the famine. Intuition, whether natural, or developed intentionally, helps a good leader to become a great leader. Fortunately, while we may not all have been born great leaders, we can become great leaders (with greater leadership intuition) by learning and practicing the 22 Principles of Leadership. I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Being Thankful

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 It’s a delight to be around thankful people. They fill up a room with their optimism, thoughtfulness, and peace. They are a pleasant “fragrance”. Grouchy people smell too – but that’s an entirely different odor! Each of us knows people who seldom have anything positive to say. Even when things go well, their cynicism sours everything around them. What makes people thankful? They are known for two connected actions: Remembering God’s past blessings and realizing that God still gives them wonderful gifts. They look forward to the future, trusting that the One who has abundantly provided will provide again. Don’t assume that thankful people are blind to the often painful realities of life. In fact, they can be more honest about hurts and disappointments because they don’t need to hide from those things. But their hope focuses their attention away from their hurts and disappointments and onto God’s character. They are convinced that sooner or later He will give them the wisdom strength, direction, and blessing they need. Looking back at God’s past faithfulness gives them confidence in Him for the future. Who is a great example in your life of someone who is an honest and thankful person? As you look back as well as forward, what needs to happen for you to become more thankful? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Jethro & the Principle of Intuition: Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias – Part 1 of 2

Moses’ father-in-law (Jethro) said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Exodus 18:17-18 Some people are born with great leadership intuition; others have to work hard to develop it. But however it evolves, the result is a combination of natural ability and learned skills. This informed intuition makes crucial issues jump out at the leader, enabling him or her to get a handle on intangible factors, understand them, and work with them to accomplish leadership goals. Successful leaders see every situation in terms of available resources: money, raw materials, technology, and most importantly, people. Intuitive leaders can sense what is happening among their people and almost instantly know their hopes, fears, and concerns. Leaders also have the ability to step back from what’s happening and see not only where they and their people have gone, but also where they are headed – as if they can smell change in the wind. Everyone has some level of intuition, especially in his or her area of natural giftedness. If your gift is mercy, then you can sense when someone needs comfort, and you know how to give it. If service is your gift, you instinctively know when and how to help those in need. Moses was a good leader, but not a naturally born one. When he met Jethro, he hadn’t led Israel for long (the Hebrew nation had just left Egypt). But over those long years in the desert, Moses’ leadership improved substantially – and so did his intuition. Jethro, on the other hand, appears to have been a natural. How do we know that? Because he looked at a situation unlike anything he had ever seen – leading more than a million disgruntled, displaced ex-slaves – and knew exactly how to handle it. That’s intuition in action. Who he was determined what he saw. Jethro saw things with a leadership bias. Consider how Jethro handled Moses’ situation. His leadership bias made him a great “reader” of situations, trends, resources, people, and himself. Let’s look at one of these in this blog and take up the other four tomorrow… First, An intuitive leader can quickly size up a situation. Jethro watched Moses in action for a day and immediately reacted. Jethro didn’t have to form a committee, do extensive research, or establish a special task force. He instantly realized there was a leadership problem. All leaders may not settle on a solution as quickly as Jethro did, but when they rely on their intuition, they rapidly sense that a situation needs their attention. More to come on this subject in tomorrow’s blog… I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

What Fills Your Heart?

Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” Mark 10:21 Let’s get one thing straight. Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions because He was disgusted with Him. He did not tell the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions because He wanted the money. Jesus told him to sell all his possessions because He loved him. Sound strange? Jesus wants each of us to love Him wholeheartedly, but we can’t love him that way if our hearts are full of anything or anyone else. Idolatry isn’t just about little statues. Anything that takes first place in our hearts instead of God is the definition of idolatry. We can make anything an idol if it takes first place in our hearts: a spouse or children, work, hobbies, wealth, fame, beauty, or possessions. Jesus pinpointed the one thing that kept this young man from experiencing the richness of a relationship with God: money. The remedy for idolatry isn’t a half-way measure. Idols must be ripped out of our hearts and replaced with God Himself. Since money was this man’s idol, Jesus didn’t mince words, “Sell your stuff and give all the money to the poor.” Jesus didn’t tell anyone else to do this, but when He points out an idol in anyone’s life, He requires radical surgery. Nothing else will do. When we loosen our grip on our idols, we can take up the cross of obedience and loyalty to Christ and follow Him wherever He leads. This is the “abundant life” in all its richness that only Christ can give. Has the Holy Spirit pointed out any idol in your heart today? If so, what will you do about it? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

The Leadership Principle of Connection: Leaders Touch the Heart Before They Ask for the Hand

If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. Exodus 19:5-6 Have you ever noticed how God introduced the Ten Commandments? Before He spoke His laws to the people of Israel, He took the time to remind them of three vital truths: 1. The love He had for them. 2. The victories He’d won for them. 3. The future He planned for them. God spoke about how He intended to bless the nation of Israel as His children, and He warned them of the boundaries to keep – how to survive His presence on Mount Sinai. Only then did He give them His commandments to obey. Do you see the genius of the sequence? Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. You can’t move people to action, until you first move them with emotion (a.k.a., people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care). Before God commanded His people to keep His rules, He reminded them of His relationship and blessings. That gave them all the incentive they needed to follow through on their commitment! Have you connected emotionally with those you are trying to influence? Are the relationships in place so that the leadership is reasonable? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Leadership Principle of Empowerment & the Day Moses Became a Leader

You shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. Exodus 18:21-22 Empowerment is one of the toughest leadership principles for some to master. Only secure leaders give power to others. Your people’s capacity to achieve and grow is determined by your ability to empower – to let them do their thing without your interference. And then to give them the credit for their work. True leaders give credit where credit is due. Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on one good compliment” – how true. In Exodus, we see that something revolutionary happened when Jethro confronted Moses over his leadership methods: Moses moved from merely ministering to truly leading. Instead of doing all the judging himself, he released other leaders to join him and lead according to their gifts. At this point, the leadership of Israel grew exponentially. Empowerment was happening. Once Jethro had empowered Moses, now Moses began empowering other leaders. Notice the following changes Moses made in his methods of leading - he changed his way of thinking and his way of working: 1. He became a man of prayer. 2. He committed himself to better communication. 3. He laid out a vision. 4. He developed a plan. 5. He selected and trained the leaders. 6. He released them to do the work. 7. He did only what they could not do. When Moses made these changes, God supplied Moses with strength, the people with peace, and empowerment for a host of new leaders. Theodore Roosevelt stated, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” Are you meddling? Are you giving credit where it is deserved or are you pushing others down to elevate yourself? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

God Does Not Exist to Serve Our Needs

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! Psalm 22:26 One of the most potentially destructive attitudes in a person’s life is to demand, “I deserve better.” Psychologist and writer Larry Crabb observed that many Christians see themselves as the center of the universe, and to them, God exists only to make them happy and comfortable. Crabb says that we treat God like “a specially attentive waiter” giving Him our orders and tipping Him when He performs well, but complaining when we don’t get exactly what we expected. A far more accurate perspective is that we are “poor, blind, and naked” before the majesty and holiness of the Almighty God. Everything we are and everything we have are gifts from Him. If we grasp that fact, we, the poor, will be far more satisfied with the gifts and opportunities God gives us – instead of demanding our way and complaining when we don’t get it. With humility, we should pursue God, and delight to know Him. We increasingly realize that He is our most valuable treasure, and our hearts sing with gratitude. We are amazed that the Creator of the universe would love us and involve us in the greatest adventure people have ever known. That’s when our hearts “live forever”! Take a minute to reflect on God’s greatness and grace, His love, and the privilege of being His partner in changing people’s lives. Do you treat God as though He exists only to serve your needs? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Like It or Not, You are a Leader

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6Everyone is a leader. Leadership is not just for a select few. Years ago, in his book, Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders gave one of the best definitions of leadership ever written. He simply stated, “Leadership is influence.” And sociologists say that even introverted people will influence an average of 10,000 people in their lifetime! It doesn’t matter if you are a CEO or a stay-at-home mom. Jesus commanded us to be salt and light and to let our light shine so that others may see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. Everyone who calls himself a Christian is called to influence others – everyone. Obedience to God means realizing you are a leader – called to be an impactful influencer of others. So it is important to learn to become a better leader – whether you are the parent of a family, the pastor of a church, and elected government official, an older brother or sister, the president of a company, or a potential leader for the next generation. The problem is that, if you are like most people, you may not wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “Now, there’s a godly, effective leader if ever I saw one!” Today, most people don’t believe they can make a positive impact on the world they live in. The truth is that few people are naturals when it comes to leading themselves or others. But everyone has God-given potential. God never gives us a command without giving us the capability of obeying that command, and the promise of blessing if we do. You can become a better leader, regardless of your age, gender, marital status, or profession. The good news is that even though times change, technology marches forward, and cultures vary from place to place, leadership principles are unchanging. The true principles of leadership are constant – whether you are looking at the citizens of ancient Greece, the armies of the last 200 years, the rulers of modern Europe, famous heads of impactful families, or the business leaders of today’s global economy. Leadership principles stand the test of time – they are irrefutable. In addition to this reality of constancy, when studying leadership it is important to keep the following facts in mind: 1. While not everyone is a born leader, anyone can become a great leader. 2. Leadership principles can be learned. Some are easier to understand and apply than others, but every one of them can be learned. 3. Leadership principles can stand alone. Each principle compliments all the others, but you don’t need one in order to learn another. 4. Leadership principles carry consequences with them. Apply the principles and people will follow you. Violate or ignore them, and you will not be able to lead others. 5. Leadership principles are only the foundation of leadership. Once you learn the principles, you have to practice and apply them to your life in order to master leadership. Reiterating from earlier: Sociologists say that even introverted people will influence an average of 10,000 people in their lifetime - think about it. Someone who is not even trying to lead others will impact many – whether for good or bad. Just think about what one person can do if he or she is intentional about leading – as Jesus directed us to be. What kind of impact potential has God put inside of you? So where do most people go to learn leadership? The answer to that question today is that they search in many places. Some examine the world of politics. Other seek models in the entertainment industry. Still others turn to the world of business. Most people seem to look to successful CEOs, management consultants, and theoreticians with Ph.D.s to learn about leadership. But the truth is, the best source of leadership teaching today is the same as it has been for thousands of years. If you want to learn leadership, go to the greatest book on leadership ever written – the Bible. When studied with the appropriate guidance and focus, the Bible has the potential to change your life and the course of your development as a leader. Leadership principles have been woven into it by the One who invented leadership. Who could possibly teach us more about leadership than God Himself? In addition, having been a student of leadership principles most of my adult life, I have combined what I consider to be the 20 best works from the 10 best authors on the subject of leadership. Using the structure of Christian author John Maxwell as a guide, I have discovered there are at least 22 leadership principles and 21 leadership qualities dealing with over 80 leadership issues in the Holy Scriptures. Combining my 30 years of business experience with 25 years of Bible teaching and 20 years of family ministries experience, God has blessed me with the opportunity to organize a curriculum of faith-based leadership development. The truths, principles, and examples drawn from the Scriptures have been formulated into case studies, profiles, and lessons that can be immediately applied to your life.I am inviting you to be a part of this remarkable opportunity. Currently forming are small groups focused on studying this curriculum of faith-based leadership principles. Local groups will meet in person. For those who are not able to meet in person, virtual groups are also forming that will meet by phone and via video conferencing. I will merely be your humble guide and facilitator. We will all learn from God, His servants, and each other. If you are interested, please respond to this email or call me at the number listed below and I will provide you with more information. In all my experience as a teacher, coach, and mentor, I have never seen such a powerful course of study, that could assist such a broad group of people (remember, we’re all leaders), at a time of such urgent need.Your Brother In Christ,curtis.songer@gmail.com248-396-6255 If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right.

Real Leaders Earn Their Authority

Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” Exodus 17:4 God’s people received and important lesson on authority when the learned to trust God for provision. Time and again the Lord provided what they needed, thus demonstrating His right to lead them. Moses learned to depend on God as his ultimate authority. One of the keys to Moses’ greatness is this statement: Moses cried out to the Lord (whenever he needed wisdom, guidance, help). Leaders may be given authority by higher powers, but in the eyes of those they would lead, they must earn their true leadership-based authority. Few individuals will just give it to someone. This is the difference between positional authority (assigned to an individual based on their position) vs. relational authority (earned by an individual in the eyes of those he leads). Even God earned the trust of His people and “earned” His authority through several means: 1. Vision – He showed the way for His people to cross the Red Sea safely. 2. Protection – He eliminated the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. 3. Provision – He provided manna and quail (the daily food supply) for the people to eat. 4. Problem solving – He produced water from a rock. Similarly, we - as leaders in our homes and workplaces - must demonstrate vision, protection, provision, and problem solving to those we desire to influence. Are one of these missing in your personal leadership style? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Movie Credits or the Plot of Your Life

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 While reading through the book of Proverbs I looked at the passage that appears at the top of this page. During times of severe trial, these verses can take on extra meaning. What does it mean to trust in God with “all” our heart, to acknowledge Him in “all” our ways. Related to this is the following question from a Bible commentary: “Is Jesus Christ the One who gets the credits in the movie of your life, or is He the plot?” Times of tragedy and loss have a way of answering this question for us. If you have been basically doing things on your own while occasionally expressing a semi-sense of dependence on Him for your life and work and family, then you may not be prepared for suffering. But if you build a habit of daily acknowledging Him as your source and sustainer, you will feel welcome rushing to His side in an emergency. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,” Jesus told His followers, “and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33) - peace in the midst of anxious moments, courage in the midst of fear, and contentment and joy in the midst of lack. These are the sweet rewards for those who have made Jesus Christ the plot of their lives. Is Jesus just part of the movie credits in your life or is He the plot? What would have to change in your life to make Him the plot? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com