Biblical Leadership

Luke 11:46 “And He said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men down with burden grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers”

This verse is ALL about leadership…to me at least.  When I read it, it immediately reminded me of some things at a leadership camp last year.  Being the right kind of leader.  I categorize leaders into two groups.  The first group I call ‘Title Leaders.’  This group of people are the people who lead people simply because they have the leadership title.  There is nothing in their actions to show that they are the leader.  All they do is tell others what to do, well not doing anything themselves to help!  The biggest reason why I think title leaders are bad is because they drive a wedge between them and their people, because the people see the ‘leader’ as a mini dictator who orders others around while never doing ANYTHING!!!  Now the other kind of leader that Christ was implying we should be is what I call a ‘True Leader.’  These true leaders are the people that either do, or don’t, have a title that makes them a leader.  What makes this group of people TRUE leaders, is the fact that they lead by example and not by command.  They show others what to do, or how to do what they are being asked to do.  An example is Napoleon Bonaparte.   He was an AMAZING leader because when he went to war with a country he fought in the midst of his soldiers.  He of course had times when he simply commanded, but the reason he was SO successful is because HIS troops loved him because they knew that he was right there with them fighting next to them and enduring the same things that they were enduring!  Awesome!  People will love you more and respect you more and being A LOT more willing to follow you if they see that you are out there with them ‘getting dirty’ with them, not just standing off to the side in the shade giving orders.  Bottom line is that to be a GOOD and EFFECTIVE leader you need to get out ‘in the field’ with the people you are leading, and do the tasks with them and show them that you understand ‘what they are going through’ and your proud to be able to lead them and have them work for you.  I know the last part was confusing, but I hope you understand what I’m saying!

DUMP Starbucks...NOW!

On January 24th, 2012, Starbucks issued a memorandum declaring that same-sex marriage 'is core to who we are and what we value as a company.'  A portion of every cup of coffee purchased at a Starbucks anywhere in the world goes to fund this corporate assault on marriage.  Please sign the petition to register your protest.  Is that cup of whatever it is you get worth it, if you're supporting GAY MARRIAGE!!!!:0

http://www.dumpstarbucks.com/

Levi

IAC Shirts

Just wanted to post the link for all of the IAC designs I've done so far.  The prices that are set for them, are the lowest that RedBubble allows me to go, and even then I only make eight cents off each shirt.  Let me know what you think, and if you have any ideas for more shirts!

http://www.redbubble.com/people/pixlz/collections/135829-iac-tees

  

Are YOUR Ways HIS Ways?

Proverbs 16:7  “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him”

This is a pretty amazing verse if you think about it, and it’s one of those verses that is simple and powerful.  Ok…so…everybody is a creation from God.  Duh.  Some of His creation has chosen to be rebellious, and some of his creation has chosen to submit to him…that would be us Christians.  Now God has EVERYBODY'S hearts in his hand so He can control and change people and their lives and feelings if He needs to, or wants to.  Right here Solomon is saying that if we are doing the things that please God, and we have a lifestyle like that, then God will reward us by turning the people who dis-like us and don’t get along with us, into people who maybe still don’t like us, but they get along with us and they aren’t out to get us anymore. I know that God can do that when He wants to, but it’s also human nature.  If somebody is always being nice to you, and doing the right thing in their lives, and is just a pleasant, happy, Godly person to everybody…it’s REALLY HARD to hate them.  This verse showed me two things. First off that if we obey God He will make more people be at peace with us…like us.  Secondly, I took it also to say that if we have a good attitude toward others and are kind to others (those are ‘ways’ that please the Lord) God will make people who don’t get along with us, get along with us.   Sorry if that was confusing!:/  So my question to everybody reading this is, are you pleasing God in all areas of your life?  Are you spending your money wisely?  How about your time?  Are your friends, people God would approve of?  What about the way you dress, talk, act…your outwardly appearance?  Your education?  Are you pleasing God in ALL your ways, so that He can make the tough people in  your life be at peace with you.  I’m sorry if this didn’t really flow, but I really stood out when I was reading.

IAC Loyalty Poster

HE Made ALL Things.

Proverbs 16:4  “The LORD hath made all things: yea even the wicked for the day of evil”

I don’t need to repeat the first part of the verse but hey, I’m going to because I’m just that awesome!  So obviously God made everything the we can see as well as the things that we can’t see, such as emotions, character traits, and ‘physical’ things like air, and the elements.  At the beginning of time God intended for all the things that he created to be good and stay good.  However in Genesis 3:17 God created or allowed thorns and thistles, which are considered bad things.   It wasn’t his intent to have to use them, but man made a horrible choice and so all the bad things that God created – but didn’t want to use – were released because of OUR choice…remember that it’s NOT God’s fault that there are bad things, it’s OUR fault because of the decision that Adam and Eve made in the garden.  It’s all a choice.  So back to the verse…God created man and even the wicked are his creatures although they are rebels to him and against him.  We/they all have a good nature and a bad nature, but they (the wicked) have chosen their bad nature instead.  Also we have to understand (and I don’t know why He did this) but God gave those wicked people the power and intelligence that they use to fight Him, and us Christians.  However since God created the He is above them, everything is from Him and is of Him, therefore everything is to Him and for Him.  So even though there are LOTS of bad things happening to others and to us, God is in some way using them for His purposes.  We may not see it now, or in the future, but He may be letting the bad things happen to you and others so that 100-200 years from now He can use it for His purpose.  Also most likely he is letting the bad things happen so that He can teach you something that will make you a better person, and later in your life be able to relate with others who are going through the same thing you went through, and be able to help them.  Know what I mean??  Just because God allows the bad and wicked doesn’t mean that he condones it.  Keep this in mind…the wicked people came from who? God.  So God is higher and mightier then they are, so we know that we can rely on Him when things get hard because He is above all of them.  Here’s a thought I had…maybe He let’s the wicked people/things prosper and grow until they are really big and mighty, then He topples them so that people will see that even though ‘the wicked may reign supreme for the month, He controls the year’   Instead of moaning and griping when hard things happen to you or wicked people come into your life, pray for wisdom and try and learn something from what’s happening.  Maybe your refusing to learn from the bad things that are happening, which is why God keeps sending them.  He may just be waiting for you to learn something.  I hope you understand what I’m saying here! 

I HATE Christians!

It's GOD'S Time. Not YOUR Time!

Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil”

This is a super powerful verse that we need to keep in the back of our minds…actually this is a verse that  have memorized because I think that it is so important to us.  Paul is giving the church at Ephesis a pretty simple and concise thought here.  Loosely translated in the Levi Arnold Revised Edition, he is saying, Is what you are doing with your time going to benefit you, God, or others in a way that is productive?  Now a days it seems that everyone’s favorite word is….*drum roll*…”I’m busy.”  Okay…many times that is very very true…people ARE busy.  Now, here’s my question to those people…is your busyness hampering your effectiveness.  Is “I’m busy” and excuse for the fact that you are un-organized or un-concerned about how you spend your time…and if you’re a Christian…God’s time??  Are you busy or are you effective?  What I’m trying to get across is that in the increasingly busy world, we need to examine our lives and schedules and see what we have in them that we could really do without, or that really isn’t benefiting us, God, or others in a productive or helpful way.  Think about this…If Solomon AND God were to sit down with you and go through your entire last week, what would they find?  Would they find that you are very careful and productive with all of your time, or would they find that you’re ‘friterous’ with your time and really kinda let other people ‘control’ your time.  What I encourage everybody to do is to go through their life and find most/all of the non-productive/wasteful things that take up their time, and replace them with things that are productive.  Now I’m NOT saying that occasional fun things that really don’t benefit you are bad, but a lifestyle of those things IS bad.  I don’t think that I have to list ALL the things that are exempt from what I’m saying, but I REALLY REALLY hope you’re getting what I’m trying to say.  Just pick things that are going to make you a better or more productive person, as much as you can!!! J  I really hope you get what I’m trying to say!!  Don’t not have fun, but DO use you’re time in a way that you think God would be pleased with!! :D

The Maze

Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits”

Solomon is telling us that we see things that we do differently that God may see them.  We may be making a decision or something like that, and to us it may seem perfectly fine but God is going “uhhh….dude….you might wana re-think that”  Think about it like this…you are in a big maze…trying to get to the end, and there is someone above the maze who can see the right way to go out.  Obviously you are going to listen to that person when they tell you to ‘go right instead of left’, even though in your mind the ‘left choice’ is perfectly good.  Now do this…replace that person with God...He can see all of our decisions will lead to, and as Christians He wants the best for us, and for us to always succeed, so He is going to do all He can to make sure that we take the ‘left choice’ instead of the ‘right choice.’  Now God mainly uses our conscious to talk to us and tell us what we SHOULD do, as talking to us through the Bible.  But he also uses the Godly people in our life, young and old, to help is make the best decision for us.  We need to listen to those people when they say something.  Like I said the other day we need to consider the source, but if a person you know to be a good Godly person gives you advice about a choice that you are about to make, the it is probably God saying “hey there, I want you to take the left and not the right.”  Also here is something else to think about…you are in your life…other people like I just mentioned are not, so they aren’t going to be necessarily biased to what YOU want to do, because if they are good Godly people then they are going to want for you, what God wants for you.  Now I’m sure we all want what God wants for us (I certainly do) but we are all human, so unfortunately we sometimes we let OUR desire over-ride God’s desires, and that’s when God normally sends those people to tell us to do what we want to do and know is right to do but don’t necessarily have the courage/will power on our own to do.  We are all human…God knows that and he always wants to help.  So listen to God, as well as the people that he sends.

Be Honest Drawing

Here's a hand-drawn poster I did for my 'IAC' series.  Tomorrow I will post a devotional...I just wanted to do two days of posting for 'IAC'  Hope you like the poster for today!

(If the quality isn't that great, it's because this is a picture of the poster and not a scan)

Have Faith

I'm going to start doing a series of posters/shirts called 'IAC' or 'I'm A Christian'  The 'Trust' poster is the first, and this will be the second.

Constructive Criticism

Proverbs 15:5 “A fool despiseth his fathers instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent”

So this verse is pretty simple but…REALLY powerful as well!  We all know people who have problems, but some people when you try and help them fix those problems or tell them they have those problems and you’re willing to help them, simply blow you off.  Sometimes because it would require a drastic change in their life, other times it may be because it would require them to humble, and that is something that for most people (including me at times) is hard to do.  Now I want to be like the guy in the second part of the verse, who, when somebody confronts him about what he’s doing wrong or something that they see in his life that should be changed, listens and applies what he hears.  The bottom lines is that, if you want to be successful at anything, then you’re going to have to take criticism, however hard it is, and use and follow it.  Now let me point out, that WHERE the criticism comes from is important as well.  For example…let’s say that you’re a photographer and you and a friend started doing photography at the same time.  If that friend start criticizing your photos and critiquing them, some of the advice is going to be good, but most you probably don’t need to worry about because you both started at the same time, and you both have the same experience in it.  But if someone who works for National Geographic comes and starts critiquing your photos, then you’re probably going to want ot listen because they have been in photography longer than you, and have EXPERINCE in it, so there criticism and critiques are going to be ones that you’re going to want to follow.  The same thing applies to your life.  If your struggling with something in your life, then you’re not going to want to go to someone who is at the same stage in life and ask for advice, and you’re not going to want to take advice from a person like that either.  So when taking or getting advice/criticism, it’s important to consider the source.  Lastly, when you do get advice/criticism form someone who is qualified to give it, apply it and use it.  Don’t just take it, and then throw it down because it’s to hard, or to humbling.  You won’t get anywhere in life if you do that.  So basically, consider the source and use and apply the constructive criticism that you receive from those who are qualified to give it.

Be. Wise.

Proverbs 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed”

This verse is a good verse for us a Christians, as well as just plain good advice.  Actually in many success type books today, this verse is the underlying theme.  What Solomon is saying here is that you want to surround yourself with people who are smarter, more mature, and more capable than you are.  This doesn’t mean that you should shun others, but that the people who you let impact you the MOST should be people like I just described.  If you’re are a normal and regular person (I do have my doubts about some of you:P) you WANT to learn more and be becoming a better person, because guess what…the more you learn and the better you become, the more influence you will have!  For us Christians that is a good thing because obviously we want to have more people that we can influence for Christ.  The last part of the verse is just as important to me as the first part is.  In case you didn’t get what Solomon was saying, let me make it clear for you…DON’T BE AROUND STUPID PEOPLE!!!  I think that we’ve all seen people who this has happened to.  They start out great and really awesome…then…they hang out and become friends with that one person that really isn’t all the great in all areas of life.  Then they become friends with his friends, and start spending more time hanging out with that crowd and letting those people influence them and ‘direct’ their lives, and as a result they just get on a downhill slope in life.  If you think about it, it actually makes plenty of sense.  A ‘fool’ doesn’t WANT to become better.  They are content with where they are in life, because they don’t want to work to become better.  Then someone comes along to the ‘fool’ and ‘lowers the bar’ and they go along with it…after a period of time those people who were a type ‘5’ person at were content with being there, are now down at a ‘1’ or ‘2’ type person.  Also a type ‘10’ person who gets around ‘fools’ can become a ‘5’ or ‘4’ type person because they have let those stupid people influence them and drag them down.  Becoming friends or hanging around foolish and stupid people is just a downhill path…sometimes morally and in intelligence/wisdom…sometimes spiritually…and sometimes BOTH!  Make sure that your friends who you’re close with are pushing/pulling you to a higher standard in all areas of your life.  Please…don’t be friends with people who are going to drag you down to their level in life.

A Quick Poster Idea

This is a poster idea I had.  Let me know what you think.

Light It UP People!

Matthew 5:14-15 “Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

This verse is EXTREMELY powerful, and in my mind one of the most important for us Christians.  Jesus Christ himself says here in the verse that we are to show others that we are Christians, and that the way we live is the right way to live.  SO many Christians today muffle themselves up in privacy, under the pretence of contemplation, humbleness, self-preservation from the ‘vices of the world’……NO YOU DINGLEBERRIES!  Jesus said right here to GO…GET OUT OF YOUR SAFETY SHELTER and SHOW the world that you are Christ followers!  Don’t coup yourselves up in your churches and houses, only coming out when you HAVE to.  Now this doesn’t mean that you have to stand on a street corner telling people that they are wicked sinners going to hell to burn up in brimstone…you’ll probably get a broken nose if you do that…but it does mean that we need to show “the world” through our lifestyle, the way we talk and dress, our conduct and music, etc, that we ARE Christ followers, and influence then for Christ.  If people see that we are happier and more productive because of being a Christian, then they are going to want Christ in their life as well.  What I’m going to say next may offend some people…but…it’s the unfortunate truth.  To many Christians are just plain weird and un-social, which is why Christians have gotten the label of weird.  For some reason A LOT of ‘Christians’ are the people with the dumpy clothes, trashy cars and houses, bad manners and bad grammer.  That’s wrong and a border line sin and it’s no wonder that people really don’t like Christians.  We’ve gotten the label...and it’s our fault…of being the people at the ‘bottom of the barrel’  That’s really a shame:(  As a Christian you want to make sure that you are one of the people at the ‘top of the barrel’.  Why don’t you do your part in showing others that Christians are really cool people, who are intelligent, productive, well rounded, normal, and just really awesome and friendly people who are a joy to be around.  Make a difference for Christ, and don’t stay all couped up anymore.  Get out in the world…aspire to a higher standard…influence the world for Christ.

The Infamous Four Letter Word

Proverbs 10:4 “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich”

I think that it’s kind of crazy how some people can be all gun-ho about certain verses in the Bible, and then totally and completely skip of others like they aren’t even there.  This is one of those verses.  I’m only 17, but I’ve seen this verse made true over and over again in peoples lives.  Some of the Christian people now a day, complain about how all these un-saved and ‘wicked’ people have all the money and nice material things, and us Christians are left with the junk.  Well right here in this verse Solomon tells us why exactly that is.  Leme lay it out.  All these ‘wicked’ people who have all this money, worked there tail off to get to where they are today.  For example…Warren Buffet.  He is one of the richest men in the world today.  When he was growing up he worked ALL day SEVEN days a week…when he wasn’t working he was reading and learning more about stocks, options, money, economy, etc.  The guy was CONSTANTLY learning and working.  When he went to college he had read SO much that he hardly ever studied, but when he did, he studied so thoroughly that when the teachers would read from the book he would sometimes tell them that they had forgotten to pause at the comma!  He was and is constantly working and becoming smarter, which is why today he is a Multi-Billionaire.  So sitting at home on FB collecting un-employment and asking God to ‘open a door for you’ is really pretty dumb.  God tells you right here – through Solomon – that to get anywhere and become prosperous you have to…here it comes…W-O-R-K!  It’s the four letter word that so many people shy away from.  The same thing ALSO applies to us spiritually.  If you don’t read and STUDY the Bible, really listen to the sermons and apply them to your life, and truly build you OWN relationship with God, then you cannot expect to grow in Christ, anymore than a guy standing infront of an on-coming train can expect to live.  So to become prosperous either with material things or in spiritual matters, then you have to WORK.  Once you do that THEN God will bless you and open doors for you.  Do YOUR part to show the world that Christians can be some of the hardest working and most prosperous people around…not the people who frequent the buffet and food isle the most;)

Do God a favor and be a hard worker in all that you do.

Make the Choice. Be a Happy Person.

Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken.”

Okay so this verse rocks!  What the fisrt part is telling us is that it is GOOD to laugh and joke around, and all around be a pleasant and happy person.  If you know me, you know that I do quite a bit of it, so this is kind of my ‘backup’ verse!  Laughing and being joyful actually helps your body and helps you stay energized and  healthy.  So not only does Solomon (the wisest guy EVER next to God) say it’s good, but it’s been proven to help you.  Also it makes you an easier and ‘more fun’ person to be around…BINGO…as Christians we want more people to be around us so that we can then influence them for Christ, so being a happy person DEFINITELY helps. 

Who is more fun to be around…someone who is always serious and takes everything WAY to seriously, or someone who is serious when it is appropriate but is also really funny and knows how to joke around and be funny?  For me it’s definitely the latter.

However Solomon does gives us one caution…not to let being funny or joking around go so far that it’s hurts someone or hurts you and your reputation with others, either by not being serious and focused when you should be, or letting your joking and kidding around go so far that you literally (most of the time without meaning to) start making fun of people in a way that you shouldn’t.  Let me give you an example.  If you go to a friends funeral and the whole time you are there, you are cutting up and laughing with people…how does that make you look?  Also more than likely the family is going to be hurt by that because they will think – and rightfully so – that you really don’t care…so your happiness and joy may actually hurt others and your reputation at times if you are not careful to keep in check. 

So make the choice to be a happy and pleasant person, but keep it in check and don’t let it get to far.  Also we need to be serious when the time calls for it.

There's Always a Beginning for Everything

Okay, so I had an idea a while back but I never did anything about it.  That's about to change.  On this blog I will be posting short devotionals every so often, on verses that pop out at me as I'm reading the Bible.  I won't be posting every day, but hopefully at least twice a week.  Hope you enjoy reading my take on the Bible!