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David and three of his mighty men sat together in the stronghold not far from the city of Bethlehem. An anointed king and a fugitive, he was a marked man. The days of being the national hero known for taking down the giant Goliath were a distant memory for many. Once again he was up [...]

Life had taken an unexpected turn. He was outnumbered and outmaneuvered. Ten to one is hard to overcome. His hands were tied. Joseph watched as his brothers negotiated a price. Money exchanged hands and he was on his way to Egypt. Each step he took led him away from the familiar comforts of home. Everything [...]

It has been said of Ray Lane, “He’ll often be quiet for long stretches of an important meeting. He listens to what others are saying. And when he does speak, everyone listens.” (Multipliers) Ray was previously the president of Oracle Corporation and is currently a managing partner at Kleiner Perkins venture capitol. Ray is known [...]

What is a Multiplier and how does a leader help others become smarter? Some leaders feel threatened when those they lead appear more intelligent. Then there are those who look on the bright side. They celebrate when someone on their team has implemented a bright idea that has brought benefits to the organization. Liz Wiseman [...]

I get excited when I discover a new idea. I enjoy seeing their soaring effects as improvements are pursued. But believe it or not, there are times when my latest “great idea” or new “sure fire fix” isn’t well received (Every organization needs a good bad idea, by Ron Edmondson). It is during such times [...]

My mom didn’t let me get away with it. She knew whose responsibility it was.  I was the one responsible for the clothes stuffed under my bed. I had left the wet towel on the floor. I hid the trash in the garage instead of taking it to the dumpster. I was the obvious culprit [...]

I recently read an insightful book by Joel Kurtzman, Common Purpose: How Great Leaders Get Organizations to Achieve the Extraordinary. Mr. Kurtzman pulls together his years of experience at several distinguished organizations and shares what he has learned about leading an organization to accomplish the extraordinary. He also interviewed 50+ leaders and compiled the best [...]

For more than 15 years, Tim Stevens has been on staff with Granger Community Church. He has been an important part of helping the church grow from a congregation of 350 meeting in a movie theater–to a world-impact ministry reaching more than 6,000 locally and thousands around the world. Outside of his family, the most [...]

Not sure what made me so mad that I wanted to quit. It doesn’t take much to get a 14 year-old boy to that point. I had been working for a dairy farmer for several months helping milk the cows, bale the hay, and repair fences. I had never worked so hard or required to [...]

I recently had the opportunity to hear Jennifer Rothschild share her story. She was 15 years old. Her dreams were just beginning to unfold. She had aspirations of becoming an artist. Drawing came naturally. She had an eye for bringing characters alive on paper. Every stroke of the pen moved her toward living her dream [...]

I drove a beat-up 1964 Chevy pickup every morning to a dairy farm in Richmond, Kansas, a little town 13 miles away from where I lived. My summer job as a 15-year old boy was to milk the cows and bale the hay. The farmer who hired me, Mr. Henderson, probably had no idea how [...]

Holding a position of authority requires a keen understanding of how to use it effectively. Authority should be used for the good of the team. I worked for a Marriott hotel when I was 19 years old. My job was to check every room service order before it was served to the guest and to [...]

I have interviewed more than 50 people for positions at Oak Hills Church during the last three years. I always enjoy meeting new people who express an interest in serving on our team. Each has a unique story to share, and I am fascinated to learn how God has been preparing them for the opportunity [...]

I was sitting at a local coffee shop working when a black Mercedes pulled up. The driver stopped long enough for a guy in a tailored dark suit to get out. I admired the sleek black beauty as it pulled away, and then my attention turned to the man who had stepped out of the [...]