Category: Kingdom Design

On Leadership In The Kingdom

Well, it looks like Muammar Gaddafi is on his way out in Libya, following in the footsteps of Egypt’s Mubarak and Tunisia’s Ben Ali.

There are probably a lot of things these three have in common, but one for certain is they were all poor leaders. They have all demonstrated that power alone does not a leader make.

I don’t think anyone seriously doubts the importance of leadership when it comes to running a country.  I think those who study such things will tell you leadership is the most important factor in successful businesses or governments, even more important than ideology or intelligence.

I believe many Christians, however, would be surprised to know how important leadership is in running a church or other so-called spiritual endeavor. Continue reading “On Leadership In The Kingdom”

Go And Be Famous

I had some business in California this week on two cases I’m handling. I planned it so the wife and I could spend a week in Palm Springs with two of our best friends in between the deposition in the one case and mediation in the other.

Palm Springs is a playground for the rich and famous. It’s warm year around, has beautiful scenery and more nice golf courses than any other place in the world.

If you’ve been to Palm Springs, you know one of the trademarks of the city is streets named after celebrities. There are streets named after Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Gene Autry and others. They are a constant reminder of who once lived and played here, famous people, people everyone recognized, people other people dreamed of being. They are gone now, but their street signs remain. Continue reading “Go And Be Famous”

Economics For Dummies (Quantitative Easing)

I had decided maybe I was just dumb, but the more I read about the “quantitative easing” our government has been involved in of late, the less it made sense.

You see, I’m a saver and I hate debt.  When the Bible says to owe nothing to anyone except to love them (Romans 13:8), I take it literally.  We have lived well within our means for years so we could save and avoid debt.

So, when I read about quantitative easing I get confused. They say quantitative easing is necessary to avoid deflation and that deflation is bad, but deflation means prices go down and people who have saved can buy things cheaper.

They say they would rather have inflation, where the money you have today is worth less tomorrow. This means people who are in debt today can pay back their debt tomorrow with cheaper money. Inflation rewards people who are in debt and punishes people who aren’t and who have saved.

I thought the government was to support virtuous conduct (saving and moderate, frugal living) and discourage profligate and presumptious conduct (debt-driven lifestyles). I decided maybe I was just dumb, until I saw this video, and now it all makes sense.

Well maybe not, but it’s better to laugh than cry.  GS

Disciple or Student?

The Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote, “…the road is long if one proceeds by way of precepts but short and effectual if by way of personal example.”  Seneca knew something about discipleship.  He was the tutor for the infamous Roman Emperor Nero.

He once told Nero, who was intent on killing everyone he thought wanted his job, “However many people you slaughter you cannot kill your successor.”  He was a smart guy.

Seneca understood what modern educators and many Christians have not: the difference between making disciples and merely conveying information.

Attending law school lectures day after day didn’t teach me how to practice law; at best it taught me how to think.  I learned how to practice law working under two fine attorneys and watching what they did. It was much more personal and a better education relationally, intellectually and ethically than I ever got out of a law school lecture.

A law school lecture to a class of 60 students is more expedient and seems more effective than one student being apprenticed by two lawyers.  However, just as symbols and metaphors convey information on many more levels than mere description, apprenticeship imparts more information more than class room lectures, or weekly Sunday sermons.

Jesus’ parting words are significant, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt. 28:19).  Weekly sermons were never intended by the Master to be even the primary means by which Christians grew spiritually.

Jesus preached to the crowds to be sure, but He sowed His life into His disciples. Jesus wasn’t fooled into believing that if He just had bigger crowds He could achieve greater change.  Jesus went from town to town preaching, but His disciples were always with Him and it was to them He revealed the meaning of what He said to the crowds.

Jesus told His disicples, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables…” (Mark 4:11).  Jesus apparently wasn’t even that concerned that the crowds understood everything He said to them.

The disciples lived with Jesus, watched Him and learned from Him, and they would later disciple others, who discipled others, and so on and so on.

So, here is the question: Are you a disciple or merely a student? GS