Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Successful leaders don’t rest on their laurels, because leadership is not a title on a business card.  Leadership is a living process – and that means growth, according to Ken Blanchard & Mark Miller in Great Leaders Grow.  Ask any leader “what it takes to become a great leader” and I guarantee you sacrifice is right at the top of every successful leader’s list.

My previous post suggests, as a leader you sacrifice your time.  In case you missed it, you can read it HERE.  I once heard someone say, “in order to go up, you must be willing to give up something.”  A true leader will sacrifice their personal agenda for the sake of an organization’s goals. In addition to sacrificing time, as a leader you sacrifice your energy.

draining energy

The task of being an effective leader requires diligent effort and sacrifice. The principles of servant hearted leadership encourage an aspiring leader to invest themselves in others. This means that you need to pour energy into your team and organization. As a result there will be many emotional, mental and physical demands on you.

When preparing for leadership, know that you will have to sacrifice your energy. To counter this, find ways in which you can keep your energy levels up so that you can remain effective as a leader. Physical fitness has great benefits and is one way in which you can keep your energy resources renewed. The important thing is that you be prepared. Don’t underestimate the sacrifice of energy that leadership requires.

What do you do to keep your energy levels up?

Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Slapped Anyone Lately?

Growing up watching the 3 Stooges provided hours of laughter. Their comedy is timeless and still makes me laugh. The Three Stooges will always be remembered as comedic geniuses and as one of the best comedy dream teams who made our day by slapping the laughter out of us. Honestly, the slaps look real to me 🙂

I chose this video to show that oftentimes we do something similar to guests each Sunday. Sometimes the way we treat our guests is equivalent to a slap in the face. And when that happens, guests forget everything else (awesome praise & worship, children’s ministry, & the message) – even the good that happened before the slap.

A slap in the face to a guest can be a number of things. It can be an insensitive comment from the pulpit, a moment of awkwardness, a harsh word from an usher, or a nasty glance from a member.

Since Easter is our “Spiritual Superbowl” let’s do everything within our power not to spiritually slap our guests. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Mars Hill, let’s make Easter Weekend memorable and not “spiritually slap” anyone.

Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Would You Invest In You, Inc.?

I recently heard someone say, “Life is a cruel joke and I ain’t laughing.”  I agree wholeheartedly.  In fact, the majority would agree that life comes at you fast, doesn’t play fair, and is downright unpredictable!  Wouldn’t you agree?  Since life doesn’t play fair, why should you?  If you plan to excel, you’d better learn how to “hack” life and make it work for you.  Hack life, what in the world is that?  “A life hack a clever solution to a tricky problem,” according to UrbanDictionary.com.

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Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough

Today begins our corporate (church wide) Daniel Fast.  We’re fasting for three specific purposes:

  1. Let’s Do It For Them (Special Offering to Renovate our facilities)
  2. Spiritual Renewal
  3. Praise and Worship Conference (March 25-26) and Concert (March 27, 2011 @ 6pm)

What is the Daniel Fast?

The Daniel Fast is a biblically based partial fast. It is a method of fasting that men, women and young people all over the world are using as they enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. There are two anchoring scriptures for the Daniel Fast. In Daniel 1 the Prophet ate only vegetables (that would have included fruits) and drank only water.

So from these scriptures we see two of the guidelines for the fast:

1. Only fruits and vegetables
2. Only water for a beverage

Then in Daniel 10 we read that the Prophet ate no meat nor any precious breads or foods and he drank no wine for 21 days. So from this scripture, we get a third guideline:

3. No sweeteners and no breads

Another important guideline is drawn from Jewish fasting principles, where no leaven is used during the fast.  So that’s why yeast, baking powder and the like are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.

The Daniel Fast for the body, soul and spirit. (more…)

Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Looking For A Resolution – Get Salty In 2011

Today, we are literally five days away from a New Year, a new season, and new opportunities.  Without question many view this past year as one filled with struggle, sadness, and maybe even a sense of unfulfilled expectations.  However, you already claimed 2011 as your year and your moment.  You’ve seen change, tasted change, and decided you like what you’ve seen and tasted.  How do you plan to change your world, the one in which you live?  Allow me to cut across the yard and tell you how – GET SALTY!

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  Matthew 5:13



Jesus referred to His followers, as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Salt is a necessary mineral, without it we die. Too much of it and we also die.

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Sacrifices Leaders Make – Part 2

Now That I'm 44…

On December 2, I celebrated my 44th birthday with family and close friends.  During the week of Thanksgiving, we loaded up a rental minivan and hit the highway headed to Jackson, MS.  We had a great time bonding with family, shopping, and of course – EATING!  I’m happy my wife had a chance to see all of her relatives including her mother and grandmother.

(All the grandchildren posing for a pic…including my Shauntai – my wife)

Last week, my family and I shared a birthday meal together and I hopped on a plane to a much warmer place with a few close friends.  You can call it an official “fellas” trip.  We had a chance to catch up on old times and enjoy each others company in a “warm” & “stress-free” environment.  In short, we had a great time.  While away, I thought about my next steps in life…what they would look like…how I would approach the next phase of my life.  It’s been said “when a man enters his 40’s he carries with him the experiences from the past and the anticipations of tomorrow.”  Thus, I decided to create an organic…ongoing list called “Now that I’m 44.

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