Leadership Jesus Style

I recently spoke at the graduation ceremony for apersonally, did not possess. It was the Holy Bible.
group called "Leadership Stephenville." As I"Think about that," I asked, "what better thing could
understand it, these groups are sponsored bya person do to ensure that he would function from a
Chambers of Commerce all over the nation as a wayperspective of truth and fairness than to consult the
of training up the future leaders of our communitiesteachings of the one who created truth and fairness?
and educating them regarding how it is that a cityFinney got a Bible, read it, and became an
actually functions. More or less. The graduates andevangelist."I mentioned a teaching that I had once
others met in the meeting room of a local downtownheard which was entitled "The Class the Stars Fell
restaurant. Nearly 70 people attended.I had been toldOn." The message referred to the West Point
that I could speak about anything I wanted, agraduating class of 1915 which numbered 164. More
dangerous thing to say to me, as some would agree.than one third of that extraordinary class, which
The only thing I could even think of was this:"Tellincluded the likes of Eisenhower and Omar Bradley,
them about the greatest leader of all time. Tell themwon stars, 59 in all - 24 brigadier generals (one star),
the truth."During my speech, I asked the group,24 major generals (two stars), 7 lieutenant generals
when it comes to leaders whose example we can(three stars), two generals (four stars), and 2
emulate, who can we think of who was setting angenerals of the army (five stars). The nearest
example that was worth following? Was it thecompetitor to that graduating class was the Class of
business leaders of Enron or WorldCom? No, for1917, which produced 43 generals.
these men ultimately fell as a result of theirI challenged the class that they, too, could be the
scandalous behavior. We can read book after book,class the stars fell on or, better yet, be the class
attend conference after conference, listen to tapethat fell among the stars. How so? By aspiring to live
series after tape series, only to hear fallible men tryas Jesus lived and do that which He taught, that's
and teach us everything they know about leadership.how. I said a bit more but finished with these words,
The blind leading the blind, in my opinion, for so many"Now, some might think that this is the epitome of
people's experiences are little more than repeatedarrogance to think that one should aspire to be like
mistakes. I mentioned to the graduates how I hadJesus. I disagree for the book of Ephesians tells us
recently heard that actor/comedian Jim Belushi hadthat we SHOULD be imitators of Christ. Logically, that
just written a book on relationships; an oddmeans hat we CAN be..." I said some more but
occurrence from a man who has been divorced fivefinished with this: "...in closing, shoot for the moon.
times.I commented that every one of us was aThe worst that will happen is that you'll land among
leader because every one of us was in a position ofthe stars...."Interestingly, the evening's keynote
influence over others. Somebody is always watching.speaker was unable to attend making mine the only
That being said, we must decide if we are going tospeech anyone was going to hear that night.
be a good leader or a bad leader. I commented thatApparently, God was going to share the stage with
Adolf Hitler was a great leader that an entire nationno one.If you, too, would be interested in learning
chose to follow in the most horrific ways. He simplymore about the leadership principals taught and
was not a good leader.So who was it that we shouldexemplified by Jesus - all of which can be applied to
follow? I warned those present that what I wasanyone in a position of influence over anybody else
about to tell them was either absolute truth or it wasfrom those who run a household to those who run a
a lie. "And I wouldn't lie to you," I added. I told themfootball team to those who run a nation - please
that, years ago, I decided to follow a leader whorequest my booklet "Our Father's Business: A
was raised in a poor family and, from an early age,Leadership manual for People who Lead People."
took part in his father's business. I talked about theSimply hit REPLY and type LEAD in the SUBJECT Bar.
worldwide organization that he started that hasI'll need those interested to PayPal a nominal fee to
lasted some 2,000 years and has involved millions. Iaid with postage. I'll respond with details. Thank you
mentioned how he taught so many wonderfulin advance.Every blessing!Michael
leadership principals including when he turned hisA servant of God
greatest adversary - a man named Saul from a placet.e.a.m. ministries
called Tarsus - and turned him into his greatestA Ministry of Discipleship & Encouragement to the
asset.It wasn't long before the attendees in thisBody of Christ
Bible-Belt crowd realized that I was speaking aboutacross Planet Earth
Jesus Christ and I enjoyed watching the smiles comeP.O. Box 633
to their faces as some were nodding and smiling inStephenville, Texas 76401
agreement. One black man, grinning widely andYour Town For Jesus!Tune-in to "Your Town for
nodding, mouthed the word "Amen" at one point. IJesus" on KSTV radio 93.1 FM in Stephenville, Texas
mentioned to them that Charles Finney, a lawyer ineach Sunday after Church about 12:05. You can
America's early years, recognized that there was onesupport this radio ministry with just a $5 donation!
book on the shelves of all his colleagues that he,