Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible
Two of our friends from India, Sandeep (on the left) and Ujjwal, celebrate after partaking in their first skiing experience recently when I taught them to cross-country ski around our neighborhood park. This was their first time to enjoy so much snow as they live in a tropical climate. Both commented that while they liked skiing, this was pretty much the “cold of a lifetime!”
The United States of American just inaugurated our 45th President, Donald J. Trump, into office. The Bible encourages us to pray for our leaders, whether you like them or not, voted for them or not, care about them or not, pay attention to what they do or not. I don’t say this flippantly. Regardless our our political swayings or convictions, we should pray. We may or may not be voting citizens, but as believers we should all be praying citizens.
Here’s a couple of verses to keep in mind as you pray:
When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.
2 Samuel 23:3,4
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
Proverbs 21:1
Let’s pray together for our nation and our nation’s leaders that they would rule in righteousness. Let’s also remember that it’s the Lord who directs the heart of presidents and kings. The Lord is ultimately in control, regardless of what world leaders may think, and we have the privilege of praying and communicating directly with the one in control. Why ignore this special opportunity? Take some time, right now, and ask the Lord to help our leaders to follow Him and to live by the principles found in the Scriptures.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today is our holiday reserved to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., commonly referred to as MLK day. I made it a point several years ago to start reading about the life and work of Dr. King. On this day I can say that Martin Luther King is one of my 
leadership heroes. Rarely will you see a leader so given to his ideals and so committed to his methods. King’s commitment to nonviolence endured despite being spit upon, hit in the head with bricks and constantly threatened. Martin Luther King is an American hero and a wonderful example of a leader who put his Christian faith into practice.
I would encourage you to read more about Dr. King and a good place to start is with his autobiography, pictured here. If you’ve not read it before, I would suggest you add it to your booklist for the year. You’ll be impressed and encouraged and thankful for this man who has blessed our times.
Trinity College Library, Dublin
I enjoy reading. It’s a pleasure that never grows old. I read a great deal as I work in ministry and I read just for fun. This year I’ve read some excellent books and also read some that were not so great, but that’s how it goes. Here’s my list of the books (with the author’s last name) that I read this past year, in the order I read them. You’ll find **highlighted** the books I enjoyed the most and recommend highly. Happy reading!
Lead like Jesus – Blanchard & Hodges
** The Witches – Schiff **
The Kill Artist – Silva
Movements That Change the World – Addison
Predictable Success – McKeown
Impact – Irwin
Leadership and Self-Deception – Arbinger Institute
** Dead Wake – Larson **
H3 Leadership – Lomenick
The English Assassin – Silva
** The Things They Carried – O’Brien **
Multipliers – Wiseman
Native Son – Wright
** Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus – Qureshi **
The Water is Wide – Conroy
Black Hawk Down – Bowden
The Girl in the Glass – Ford
Accelerate – Kotter
** This Change is Everything – Sebastian **
The Prince of Tides – Conroy
** I Once Was Lost – Everts & Schaupp **
** The Revenant – Punke **
The Stoning of Soraya M. – Sahebjam
Delighting in the Trinity – Reeves
The Way Is Made By Walking – Boers
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek – Dillard
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – Kamkwamba
** Church History in Plain Language – Shelley **
The Climb to Hell – Olsen
The Confessor – Silva
** Heroic Leadership – Lowney **
** Confederates: A Novel – Keneally **
Pope Joan: A Novel – Cross
A Life God Rewards – Wilkinson
The Sabbath – Heschel
Epic – Eldredge
The Fox was Ever the Hunter – Muller
True Community – Bridges
A Death in Vienna – Silva
Discovering the Camino de Santiago – Markey
Night of the Grizzlies – Olsen
Create vs. Copy – Wytsma
Being White – Harris & Schaupp
** The Bridge on the Drina – Andric **
The Color of Wealth – Lui et al
Danny the Champion of the World – Dahl
Prince of Fire – Silva
The Coffee Trader – Liss
** The First Time We Saw Him – Mikalatos **
** Follow the River – Thom **
Longshot in Missouri – Baker
** In the Sanctuary of Outcasts – White **
The Messenger – Silva
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals – Piper
The Confessions of Nat Turner – Styron
A Man Called Ove – Backman
Eat, Move, Sleep – Rath
** Hillbilly Elegy – Vance **
Finally, in December I finished my “read through the Bible in a year” program, so I include: ** The Holy Bible, New International Version **
Stories to encourage you with the leadership experiences of overlooked men and women of the Bible. Their lives will inform your story, and move you to step out and lead.
This book contains reflections on the Lordship of Christ, the Great Commission, and a life of adventure and eternal significance. Read this book and you won't be able to sit still!
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