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  I have been spending time reading and pondering the life of Eli, a spokesman for God who lost his voice. And no, he didn’t have laryngitis. The Bible records the story of Eli in the opening chapters of first Samuel. Eli held a prominent position of influence but lost his voice when he lost [...]

This year holds amazing accomplishments ready to be enjoyed. It will require solid leadership built on the foundation of trust and a firm belief in the giftedness of those you lead. Leaders who see the possibilities and encourage an open discussion will be positioned to celebrate an amazing 2012. The best is yet to come [...]

  If you’ve been in the workforce for very long, you’ve likely come across a manager or coworker who fits this description: “He is a dreadful manager. . . . He acts without thinking and with bad judgment. . . . He does not give credit where due. . . . Very often, when told of a [...]

  I remember the subtle comment from my brother-in-law as we got into our car for the 13 hour drive home, “Be careful and no tickets.” I thought to myself, “that won’t happen, I always stay close to the speed limit.” We waved goodbye as we pulled away. It had been a great Christmas. The [...]

  Children who understand what their parents expect are more likely to meet those expectations. I Heard it said once, if you don’t know what the target is you’ll miss it every time. Parent who fail to help their children find the target leave their children wondering what it takes to please or satisfy their [...]

  Every parent is concerned with what impression their kids are making when they are invited to a friends house to play. Children who leave a good impression are more likely to be invited back. Parents can help their kids leave a good impression by teaching them simple ways to be considerate and show respect. [...]

  Children flourish when parents set reasonable boundaries and communicate clear expectations. When children understand how far they are allowed to go, they have greater freedom and learn to make better choices. Parents, it is our responsibility to help our children learn how to manage their passions. Children who grow up letting passion control them [...]

  Do you remember that gift you dreamed of as a child? I have vivid memories of my eyes feasting on brightly colored pictures of toys in back of the Sears catalog. With pen in hand, I circled every toy I hoped to unwrap on Christmas morning, including a bright red fire engine with a [...]

  Every leader needs to be accountable. We all need to answer to someone. Accountability indicates responsibility. When we are required to provide an explanation for our actions, we realize personal agenda’s should not drive decisions. Accountability encourages finding the best solution for the movement over what is best for one individual. Leaders who resist [...]

  I recently asked my son to list the top 5 things he believed a leader should be and this is what he gave me: A True Leader is: 1. Willing to listen to what other people on the team have to say 2. Keeps up morale 3. Gives his best in all things 4. [...]

Have you ever worked for a boss who wouldn’t confront those who are make up their own rules? As the leader, the boss is ultimately responsible for calling out the self-serving. The story is told of a man in a high position of leadership named Eli. Among his many employees, were two managers who also [...]

  If your  family likes to create things together like our family, you might enjoy making these. Yesterday Karen came to me and asked if we would get some acorns from our yard and figure out how they could hold some place cards for our Thanksgiving dinner table. We are having 14 for dinner so [...]

  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I’m glad a special day was established to thank God for his blessings. We are a blessed people. God’s goodness and grace is poured out daily for our benefit. He is worthy of our appreciation on Thanksgiving and all 364 days of the year. All to often [...]

  Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce excellence?  Excellence is the result of giving our best for the benefit of others. There is a huge difference between “getting by” and “giving our best.” These two approaches bring about very different results. Those who do just enough to “get by” go through life [...]