faithrunner

Daily News What is a leader to do when the bottom falls out? How is he or she to respond when people panic and look to their leader as the one who should know how to get them out of the mess or crisis. I'm no expert on leading in a crisis, but I do have some personal experience as a pastor and what I observe from the life of Jesus, the ideal servant leader. First, a servant leader reminds everyone that no matter the changing circumstances, the mission remains the same . For my family and those I serve as Legacy Church, our mission to help people trust Jesus as the church, at home, and in the world does not change no matter what goes on elsewhere. This stance allows the leader to be what Edwin Friedman called the "non-anxious presence." Knowing and sticking to the mission is the rudder and course in the storms of life. Good leaders call those they lead back to the reason for the group in the first place . Jesus continually reminded his closest followers that al...

We have returned to reading through the Bible this month at Legacy Church . We began this week by reading the story of Daniel , the exiled Israelite whom God used during his Babylonian captivity to reveal many things about the future. Daniel's prophecy has captured more attention in these uncertain days, but I have always been intrigued with his character . Daniel was chosen from among his peers to serve in the king's cour t. We all like to be chosen, and in those days this was a big deal. Enemies of the state were to be groomed to be servants to the king . No one in his or her right mind would refuse the opportunity. Daniel accepted the offer, but refused to be like everyone else. ( Daniel 1 ) This is where the story gets good for me. Daniel resisted the all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet of the king and stuck to the diet he had known from childhood -- a diet that honored his God and the traditions of his family's faith . That would be like telling the President of ...