Leaders See Deeper Meanings

Nehemiah Saw More Than Walls

Look at the challenges you must lead people to overcome. Do not assume they see the problem in the same light as you. Is there deep,  emotional reason for them to achieve victory? Is there hope that they can accomplish it? Have you given the solution and thrown down a challenge to them?

Nehemiah was a great leader. He led the Jews to rebuild their city walls after they were destroyed by the Babylonians. The walls sat broken and charred for more than 70 years. He rallied the people of God and rebuilt them quickly and efficiently.

Nehemiah is a good example of leading people to accomplish a goal. It took such a man to get the people going in the right direction. People lived day after day in Jerusalem. As they walked outside to go to work they could easily see the rubble lying in the sun. The charred remains must have been a constant reminder that they were a defeated nation.

It took Nehemiah one visit to Jerusalem to make a difference. It is amazing how he accomplished it. He saw the walls for what they were and called the people to action to remedy the situation.

Nehemiah 2:17 states, "I said to them, 'You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.'"

After such a speech the people rallied behind him and rebuilt the walls. Sound a little too simplistic? It is possible that Nehemiah had a long speech and this is the cliff notes. It is also possible that these two sentences is all it took. Many of the greatest speeches in history were short.

Winston Churchill rallied a nation to hold their borders against a relentless German attack with five words. He walked to the podium and said with great style and enthusiasm, "Never, never, never give up."

Jesus taught one of the greatest lessons in the history of civilization. Reading it today takes about 10 minutes.

So Nehemiah rallied people with a couple of sentences. Here's how that happened.

1. He saw the walls for what they were. The people saw rubble and charred stone. He saw reproach.

2. He did not ask them to rebuild the walls. He asked them to restore their dignity by getting rid of the reproach.

3. He asked them to work with him, not for him.

See like a leader, not like a follower. Then share that vision with others.

Making An Eternal Difference

How many seeds come from one kernel of corn?

The answer completely depends on how the kernel is used. If you take a kernel and plant it, and if it grows to fruition, it will produce many more kernels. That number could easily be multiplied many times. All you have to do is plant some or all of the kernels of corn that grow from it.

Then again, it could also simply rot.

Your life is that way. You can make a powerful impact on others. You can make a difference - and a difference that actually MATTERS in the long run.

Imagine sitting in Heaven one day and a stranger approaches you. He tells you that someone you taught and baptized taught him the truth. He put two and two together and realized that you were part of the reason he was there in Heaven. How would you respond?

Do we ever have any idea what kind of impact we can have on people around us in this world? The concept both terrifies and excites me!

People do not come to Christ by accident.

If you want to make an impact on others, you have to get the Word out! The Word of God is the seed from which Christians grow. But we need to be wise in how we spread the seed.

The Secret to Being A Great Friend

Everyone Needs Friends

Why did Jesus make friends? We know that He did. People flocked to Him. Some people did hate Him and eventually almost everyone left Him before His death, but He certainly made many friends during His ministry.

Perhaps the word "friend" is not the best description of His followers, but try telling people like Zacchaeus in Luke 19 that Jesus was not a friend to him. Try telling that to Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Try telling the 9,000 people He fed on those two occasions that Jesus was not their friend. Try telling that to the "inner three" (Peter, James, and John). Friend? Oh, He was much more than that, but the world never saw such a friend as Jesus!

As you study the Bible you will notice that Jesus was a people-person. You could almost always find Him around other people teaching, ministering, and spending time developing relationships. He did not build these friendships in order to take from them. He did it in order to serve others. He Himself said that He "did not come to be served but to serve" and to "give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

Consider how we can apply the Master's example to our own lives.

Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." The word "consider" is from a compound Greek word. Part of the word means "to perceive with the mind." The other part is a modifier that denotes intensity. In other words, we are to carefully consider how we can encourage others to express love and do good things.

Relatedly, 1 Peter 3:8 tells us to be compassionate toward others. "Compassion" means to share the suffering of others. It implies an emotional and a mental connection between people. In order to properly be compassionate, I need to understand what people are experiencing. The same is true for showing people consideration in stirring up love and good works.

If I do not know a person, I cannot properly show that person compassion. I can show pity, but that is not technically the same as compassion. People resent pity, but they appreciate compassion.

So if I want to help someone, I need to take the time to get to know them first. Let me tell you from personal experience that if you wait until someone is in need to try to get to know them, you will miss many opportunities to serve. People trust who they know. If they do not know you and you do not know them, they will usually not trust you to help and any help offered may be considered more of an intrusion than a help.

This is the secret to being a great friend: Make friends with the goal of serving them.

Sooner or later people will need a friend. If I am close to them and the opportunity arises I can be like Jesus and serve them with what they need. This is both an honor and a privilege to a friend. Another advantage to getting to know others is that when you need a friend (and we all do eventually) you will have one!

It might seem odd to some of you to talk about how to be a friend, but this is a skill many do not develop. Many people are selfish. They only seek friends for what they can get out of them. These people find only loneliness and the only "friends" they have are those who help from pity and not compassion.

Why do you have friends?

Be sure to build your friendships so that one day you will have the opportunity to be of service to them in some way. This is the heart of the "second greatest commandment" - love your neighbor as yourself.

I am grateful that Jesus came to serve. He taught me how to do it. I am glad that He was a friend to others. He taught me what a true friend is.


Meditate upon Proverbs 18:1 sometime: "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment."

The Path of Sinners

Know where a path goes before stepping on it.

“Thus says the Lord to this people: ‘Thus they have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet.’ Therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will remember their iniquity now, and punish their sins” (Jeremiah 14:10).

Restraint is a part of life. It must be learned and it must be based on principles from God for life to be worthwhile. Unfortunately, many people fail to learn to restrain themselves beyond what is acceptable in society. The reason that is a problem is because what is acceptable in society is not always what is acceptable to God.

A wise person will look at his ways and live according to the Word of God. Proverbs 1:15-16 is part of a warning to avoid the enticements of sinners to do wrong. “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood.”

It is unfortunate that we often walk on the path with sinners until the path becomes too evil for us. We will go so far, but we have "standards". We set arbitrary limits. We will only have so many drinks. We will only go so far in “making out” with a boyfriend or girlfriend. We will only say certain words. We will only drive so fast. We will only walk in small steps toward hatred. We will only say so much about others in gossip. We will only walk toward sin until we start to feel guilty, then we will hurriedly flee that path.

The problem with going down that road is that the next time it does not feel as uncomfortable and we do not feel as guilty. So we travel a few more steps.

Look carefully at the road you are on today. Where is it going? What are the results of your choices in life? Are you on the path of sinners?

Notice how one of the wisest man to ever live said we should treat the way of sinners. “Keep your foot from their path.”

Why do we push limits and see how close we can get to sin before we are punished? It is usually because our hearts are at the end of that road, caught up in the desires for sin. When separated, our hearts and our bodies will move toward each other. The heart will pull the body unless the body remains steadfast. If our hearts are caught up in sinful desires, we will find a way for our bodies to arrive there.

Keep your heart focused on Jesus and upon His word and keep your feet from the path of sinners.

Understanding and Help for Managing Distress and Despair

First there were bombs exploding in Boston. Then there was the horrifyingly powerful explosion in the little Texas town, West. These are stacked upon other troubling times in our country. It's enough to make you want to roll over and go back to sleep in the mornings. But we know life doesn't stop even if our worlds seem to.

We all suffer tragedies in life. Sometimes the tragedies affect large numbers. At these times we share the pain. And sometimes the tragedies are very personal. 

I've felt the emptiness and the numbness of grief as much as the next person. How many times have we sat in front of our televisions or computers with a look of shocked disbelief? Our eyes have been glued to video screen watching endless reports--knowing that there is nothing new but hoping to hear some new fact. We just want to hear something that will help us understand why it all happened.

Sometimes the answers are just not enough. How can we understand senselessness and depravity? And yet we long for something to make sense.

I know what these questions can do and what seeds these tragic events can plant. Each one of us faces danger when difficult times come. The danger lies beyond the immediate.

Distress can cause feelings of isolation

Feelings do not always represent facts. They are simple expressions of beliefs we hold. Our hearts do not decipher the information or judge it correct or incorrect. It acts as if the information is always right. These feelings also emphasize and expand those beliefs, adding even more ideas. Consider some seeds distress can plant in our hearts.

Distress can make us feel isolated from God.

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide your face from me?" (Psalm 13:1).

It is perfectly natural for us to feel isolated in challenging times. After all, there is no way we can see God or hear His voice echoing in the clouds. Sometimes this causes us to doubt Him. It may cause us to question His nature or even His existence.

Difficult times may also cause us to question ourselves. "Am I a bad person?" "Am I being punished for something?"Knowing our nature, it is easy for us to assume the worst about ourselves as an explanation for why things happen. I can't remember how many times I felt like this in my life. My prayers felt like they did not make it past the ceiling. I felt completely alone and completely at fault - empty and wondering if I could ever make it through this life and into the next one.

Distress can make us feel isolated from others.

"How long will I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?" (Psalm 13:2a)

When we face difficult times, we get tunnel vision. We assume no one can understand us. Our miseries are so intense, so painful, we forget that others also have suffered. We also tend to think no one cares.

Perhaps that last thought is not meant to be an insult to others but more of an insult to ourselves. There have been many times in my life when I felt like I was not worthy of someone caring about me. If I am such a miserable person, why would anyone care?

Isolation feeds upon itself. These dark thoughts can be amplified by intense situations of grief and distress. At the end of this vicious cycle of self doubt and isolation is nothing but darkness and despair. If you have reached such low points, you are not alone, but you certainly feel like you are.

Distress can cause feelings of hopelessness

"How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed against him'; lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved" (Psalm 13:2b-4).

 Distress amplifies the dark thoughts that it helps foster. In times of trouble seeds of doubt and grief are often given permission to grow. The end result can destroy a life. Before that destruction, however, is a sense of hopelessness.

How many people have faced feelings of desperation? Have we all looked at ourselves and truly felt like there was no hope?

I have faced the deep feelings of hopelessness and despair. And then I realized some things.

I realized that feelings do not define me.

I realized that there are some things far more important than whether or not I "matter".

I realized that there is One who created me and deserves my service no matter what I feel or think of myself.

I realized that God's goodness and purity DESERVE my dedication and my life.

And these realizations saved my life.

I was not intelligent enough to discern these things myself. I am thankful that the Word of God taught me these vital lessons. And I am thankful that I paid attention and chose to believe them.

There is ALWAYS hope with God!

"But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me" (Psalm 13:5-6).

Feelings are based on ideas. Not all of our ideas are correct, but our feelings do not discern them. The way to change the way we feel is to look at what we believe. Do you have a wrong view of yourself? Do you see your situation in the wrong light?

No one is wise enough to determine what the right information is without God's input. Jeremiah rightly said, "Oh, Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).

We may look at what others say and think it works. We might even figure some things out over time. But the best way to know the proper view of self and situation is to go to the Bible. Let God tell you what to believe. Let those thoughts be the basis for your emotions and your life.

Don't allow the seeds of distress and bitterness to take root in your heart. Don't follow anyone but the Lord. Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He will provide you LIFE.

Helpful Hints

Is distress weighing you down? Do you need some help getting through the murky times? Maybe you just need a light to guide your way. Here are some practical things you can do TODAY to make a difference. 

• Reach out. You are not alone even if you feel like you are. Make some new friends. 
• Reach up. Maybe it sounds cliche, but God has the answers you need.
• Ask yourself why you feel the way you do. What is the underlying idea? This may take a while to find, but it will be good when you do!
• Start reading the Bible. You probably have at least 3 of them. Dust it off and put it in your brain and heart.
• Start reading the Bible for what it says, not what you want it to say.
• Find people who believe in the Bible. I strongly suggest finding a Church of Christ in your area. And now that you mention it, here is where I preach. We would love to see you if you live near us!

Never Fear

F. D. R.

In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt immortalized the saying, “The only thing we have to fear is Fear itself.” Spoken in the context of the Great Depression and the challenges the world faced, this was a perfect statement to rally a nation. It emphasized a key principle for life: We must live by faith, not fear.

Roosevelt’s words ring true because they came from the teachings of God. The Bible is full of men and women who lived in faith. They overcame their fears. They triumphed in life because they trusted in God amidst uncertain futures. Hebrews 11 catalogues many such people. Their behavior should encourage us to reject fear and embrace faith.

Christians should never fear the past. 

Who can make an accusation against a faithful Christian? Certainly we all have things in our pasts that trouble us. Most humans live long enough to regret their pasts to some degree. The good news is that our pasts do not have to count against us in the Judgment. What magnificence! If that thought alone does not cause rejoicing then we need to check to see if our hearts are working!

Christians should never fear the future. 

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5b-6). The worst anyone can do to us is to kill our bodies. They cannot touch our souls!

Christians should never fear the present. 

There are plenty of things to worry about in this life. There are plenty of fears to overcome, but overcome we must! We must make decisions based on the correct outlook--our very lives depend upon the choices we make today! Do not allow yourself to make decisions based on fear. Trust in God. Live your life in faith that is developed and maintained through the Bible and you cannot lose. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

photo courtesy of dctourism under noncommercial license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wctc/81526409/sizes/z/in/photostream/

7 Benefits of Memory Work

There are many benefits of regular memorization.

I want to encourage you to begin or renew a focus on memorization. It may be difficult for you to do. (It is difficult for me too.) Some people think it is impossible for them to do it. But most of us are wrong about that. We can do it. And there are good reasons to do it. Consider a few of these few good reasons.

1. It improves your overall mental ability. A sharp brain is one that is used. It is like a muscle, and the rule for muscles is “Use it or lose it.” Memorization will help you even in the latter years of life.
2. It gives you clarity. When you memorize passages you see them with much more clarity. You notice things in the verse you never saw before.
3. It gives you perspective. When you memorize passages from different contexts and places you begin to notice connections you missed previously. It could be that you notice certain words used in different ways. It might be a particular phrase you notice, or even the style of the writers that you notice. You will be amazed at the subtle yet powerfully moving associations you will make.
4. You will grow in your awe of God’s Word. You will see the complete masterfulness of the holy text. It will leave a lasting impression upon you and draw you closer to God as a result.
5. It “cleans your mind”. You will be putting purity into your mind. As a result you will flush out bad thoughts and ideas and find that you are thinking about spiritual things much more often as you repeat your memory work throughout the day.
6. You will find connections between the Word and the world around you. You will see the world more clearly from God’s perspective. Applications of the text will leap at you from different contexts of life. For example, you will be in a situation and a verse will  come to mind and you will notice that the Word of God has something to say about that situation.
7. You will be more prepared to answer questions from others. There is nothing wrong with telling people you do not know the answer to a question. We all do that from time to time because no one knows everything. But when you can not only have an answer but quote a verse to show that answer, you will certainly make a powerful impact on the one asking the question.

I hope these reasons convince you to start memory work! Even if you memorize one verse a week, you are better off if you do. For more tips and encouragement in memorization, visit our group on Facebook called “Bible Memorization”.

Do you have any tips and tricks for memory work? Can you think of other benefits of memory work? Let's discuss them below!