This past Sunday at church I got a little fired up! Fired up in a good way that is.  The sermon was on the differences between being a thermostat and a thermometer in your spiritual walk. This is an old adage that I think is deserving a revisit from time to time. We all know that a thermostat controls the temperature whether for your air handler or under the hood of your car.  Meanwhile a thermometer merely reflects or measures hot or cold with no controls. My question for you is ‘do you influence or control the tone in your life or do you simply react and measure the ups and downs?’ Our thermostats in our homes have been working overtime lately with all the weather changes. Are you working just as hard to influence your house as well?  What about at work, in the community or even at church? Many of us act as thermometers where we gauge our surroundings and allow them to dictate out moods and behavior.  If our work is stressing us out, or our home life is in shambles so are we.  Rather than being a leader that inspires others we become irritable and difficult and thereby diminish others’ trust in us. Being a leader that works as a thermostat, you have the opportunity to check the temperature and make necessary adjustments.  This type of leader is caring and aware of the mood or temperature and with their finger on the pulse is able to adjust accordingly. The purpose of […]

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  Is it a challenge to be a Christian in the workplace? Many people hide their faith and beliefs at work as they are terrified of being ostracized, picked on or possibly even fired.  Why should we be ashamed of the one thing that gets many of us through the day? Now I am not saying that we need to be Bible beating witnesses that preach to our co-workers and have a crucifix on our desk.  We all need to be sensitive to the religion and beliefs of others that may differ than ours.  I am sure it would probably bother you if someone adorned their desk with fish, peace signs and Stars of David as well. However, our actions can be a reflection of our faith even if our cross is hidden beneath the collar of our shirt. Personally, I have found if you treat others with humble generosity, and are polite and polite, faith will shine through.  Whether it is through simple gestures that many associate with being chivalrous such as opening doors for others, waiting for others to enter or exit a room or elevator.  Maybe you quietly bow your head and bless your food before you eat in the cafeteria, a potluck even when you eat alone at your desk. You know what you believe and you can be the mirror that shines and brightens someone else’s day without saying a word.  Do you say ‘Bless you’ if a co-worker sneezes?  What if they are an atheist do you still bless them?  Of […]

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True men that lead, do so with character, honor and values that are visible.  Whether they be a visionary that sits on a board of a non-profit, a minister or priest leading a local church, a small business owner leading a few, a father or husband leading his family.  Whatever your role is you must take charge and lead with compassion as well as courage. Many of us I am sure have had the experience working for or with people who lack moral character and the ability to lead.  Those people who may have the title of manager, supervisor, or even father yet are paralyzed by fear and could not make a decision if their own lives depended upon it. They may not be the obvious responsibility shirking weasels we all know so well.  They can also come in the form of unorganized mutterers that rely on other people to force them into a decision.  They can be the guy down the street that talks about all the things he wants to do to improve the neighborhood yet always is away on business on beautification day.  Or the guy at church that talks about how things need to change but is never willing to give up watching Football to help out at church. In a world that is faced with morality issues that cannot depend upon the people who are currently leading the charge, we need men that will step up.  Men that have morals, values, are God-fearing, and wife loving men. Men that will […]

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