Principles of Servant Leadership

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 23:11

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

NKJV

The Pharisees and religious leaders of the time of Christ liked to flaunt their position and the power it afforded them.  They would walk around portraying an aurora of their positional greatness and chosen status with God creating a perception of their supposed greatness in the coming Kingdom of God.  With his statement in Matthew 23:11, Jesus is putting the religious leaders of his time in their place and teaching his followers that the path to greatness is a path of servitude. 

Jesus did not just say this, he went on to demonstrate it at the last supper (John 13:2-5) and in His greatest demonstration of servitude, died on a cross for our sins.  Jesus abandoned the glory of heaven and became one of us, living in this sinful world, suffering pain just as we do even though he did nothing to deserve it (Hebrews 4:14-15).  There is no doubt that Jesus Christ gives us the greatest example of a servant leader.  Let us take a moment to look at the principles of servant leadership and see how Jesus demonstrated these principles in his ministry. 

In an article on changingminds.org entitled Servant Leadership, the following principles of servant leadership are mentioned.

1)      Transformation – Jesus transformed the world around him.  When the disciples of John asked Jesus if he was the messiah, Jesus told them to report what they had seen.  What they had seen was the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel, or good news, preached to them (Matthew 11:2-5).  In other words, our servant leader, Jesus Christ, transformed the world around him to the benefit of those he met. 

2)      Personal growth – Jesus took a group of poor, rough fishermen, tax collectors, and not the elite religious leaders of the day and molded them into men who would have it said later that they turned their world upside down (Acts 17:6).

3)      Enabling environments – When Jesus left this earth and ascended to heaven he did not leave His disciples, or us, powerless but sent the Holy Spirit to empower and enable them, and us, to spread the Gospel around the earth (John 14:26). 

4)      Service – During Jesus ministry on earth he was the tireless servant going about doing good demonstrating the power of God over sickness, death, and poverty (Matthew 11:5).

5)      Trusting relationships – When Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water, Peter thought nothing of stepping out of the boat and was able to walk on the water.  That was until he took his eyes off the Lord.  However, even when he began to sink, he cried out for help and the Lord rescued him (Matthew 14:25-31).

6)      Creating commitment – Even though Jesus disciples would abandon him when he was crucified, they later would serve him, and all but John would suffer death for their faith.  Jesus created an aura of commitment by forgiving his disciples sin of abandoning him and demonstrating he was the Son of God by rising from the dead. 

7)      Community building – Jesus began with 12 disciples but as he continued to minister and teach with demonstrations of signs and wonders, he created a community.  This community abandoned him for the most part after his death but as he showed himself to them after rising from the dead, he created a community that would spread the Gospel around the known world.  We still feel the impact of this community as the Church of Jesus Christ continues to grow in spite of attempts to stop it.

8)      Nurturing the spirit – Jesus ministered to those hurting and wanting in the world.  He demonstrated the love and power of God to them by healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding them, and dying for their sins on the cross.  (1)

Jesus is unique in that he is the Son of God and we will not find an earthly servant leader that perfectly demonstrates these principles as Jesus did.  However, we should use these principles as a guideline as we select the next President of the United States in 2016.  In this time of need in our country and the world, we desperately need leaders not interested in their own advancement or the advancement of some political agenda but we need leaders that demonstrate the qualities of a servant leader. 

1. Changingminds.org. Servant Leadership. changingminds.org. [Online] [Cited: November 30, 2014.] http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/servant_leadership.htm.

A Civil Society is a Mature Society

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

NKJV

As Christians, we attain understanding by first entering into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  We gain further understanding by studying the Bible, the Word of God.   However, as we are told in 1 Corinthians 14:20, we are to be babes when it comes to malice.  In other words, when the world tempts us to be disorderly or destructive, we are to be like babes not understanding what that means and thus choosing not to go along. 

The Grand Jury in Ferguson Missouri has reached their much anticipated decision.  As the prosecutor making the announcement stated, the Grand Jury saw all of the evidence and concluded that officer Wilson did nothing wrong and was only defending himself and doing his job in the situation.  (1)   Evidence showed that Michael Brown, the so-called gentle giant, was not so gentle and that Officer Wilson stopped him because he matched the description of someone that had stolen merchandise from a local liquor store and assaulted the storeowner. 

Michael Brown then attempted to take the officer’s gun with the gun even going off inside the officer’s car.  It was fortunate that Officer Wilson was not shot while in the car.  (2)  Had the incident ended there, most likely Michael Brown would still be alive but witnesses testified that he then aggressively charged the officer making it necessary for Officer Wilson to shoot Michael Brown in self-defense.  (3)

Those with understanding and maturity understand that the judicial system worked as designed.  (1)   Lady Justice, in the person of the Ferguson Grand Jury, looked at the evidence, ignoring the media and political hype, and arrived at their decision.  Granted the system is far from perfect for it is run by flawed people and sometimes arrives at decisions some may not agree with but the system is based in a presumption of guilt until evidence is presented showing guilt.  In this instance, the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence demonstrating Officer Wilson's guilt and the Grand Jury could not make an indictment.  

Would that the issue dropped there but we now must to deal with immature people full of malice.  In the days leading up to the Grand Jury decision, race baiters, and what I like to refer to as the rent-a-mob moved into Ferguson in anticipation of the Grand Jury not indicting Officer Wilson.  It did not take long for these immature individuals with malicious intentions to begin rioting, burning down, and looting businesses in the area, many owned by minorities like Michael Brown.  Sadly, the most malicious individual was Michael Brown’s own father who video shows saying “burn the bitch down.”  (4)

The issue in Ferguson is a lesson in the dangers of immaturity in society and demonstrates that a civil society is a mature society.  Those of us with children experience joy when our child takes their first steps.  We are joyful when they begin to speak, when they start school, when they graduate high school or college.  We are joyful because these events demonstrate that our children are maturing.  Shouldn’t we be equally joyful when our society matures and we can have debate on issues such as race without having to resort to rioting and destruction? 

Tomorrow, we in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving.  The holiday began when the Pilgrims wanted to express their thanks to God for providing for their needs.  (5)   I believe we, including the rioters in Ferguson, should take the occasion of Thanksgiving Day this year and pause to give God thanks for what He has done for us.  I understand it has been a rough year for many but even in the middle of struggles, we have much we can be thankful for,

1)      If you are able to read this, you are alive and literate.

2)      Even though you may not agree with the Grand Jury decision in Ferguson, we live in a country where we can still express our opinions.  In contrast to the violent riots in Ferguson, there were protests in other places last night that were peaceful.  (6)   These were protests by people of maturity and not people with malicious intentions. 

3)      If you are visiting with family tomorrow and have a table full of food, thank God for providing family and food for some are spending the day alone without food or family. 

4)      If you have accepted Jesus as your savior, pause to thank Him for dying on the cross for you so you could have complete forgiveness of your sins. 

5)      If you have not accepted Jesus as your savior, take a moment to pray with me.  Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned.  I ask you to forgive me of my sins.  I make you Lord of my life and accept your free gift of salvation.  Amen.  If you prayed this prayer, you now have salvation from your sins and eternal life (John 3:16). You can now give thanks to God for sending His Son to save you.

If you just prayed to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, I urge you to now go to needanswers.com and refer to the tabs for connecting with others to find a church near you or to watch services online.  Refer to the tab of required reading to either purchase an affordable print version of the Bible or read the Bible online.  Then refer to the tab of recommended reading to find books to help you mature in your new life as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Finally, take time tomorrow to pray for the maturity of our society and the innocent people in Ferguson.  Only a small percentage of the people of Ferguson are rioting.  Most of the people of Ferguson are mature and only want to live peaceful lives running their businesses, doing their jobs, and spending time with their families.  The immature malicious rioters that have invaded their fine city have disrupted their lives but I believe our prayers will restore their lives back to normal. 

1. Calamur, Eyder Peralta and Krishnadev. Ferguson Documents: How The Grand Jury Reached A Decision. www.npr.org. [Online] NPR, November 25, 2014. [Cited: November 25, 2014.] http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/25/366507379/ferguson-docs-how-the-grand-jury-reached-a-decision.

2. Brown, Emily. Timeline: Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Mo. www.usatoday.com. [Online] USA Today, November 24, 2014. [Cited: November 25, 2014.] http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/14/michael-brown-ferguson-missouri-timeline/14051827/.

3. Eckholm, Erik. Witnesses Told Grand Jury That Michael Brown Charged at Darren Wilson, Prosecutor Says. www.nytimes.com. [Online] The New York Times, November 24, 2014. [Cited: November 25, 2014.] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/us/witnesses-told-grand-jury-that-michael-brown-charged-at-darren-wilson-prosecutor-says.html.

4. Holmes, Jack. Michael Brown’s Stepfather Tells Crowd, ‘Burn This Bitch Down’. www.thedailybeast.com. [Online] The Daily Beast, November 25, 2014. [Cited: November 25, 2014.] http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/25/michael-brown-s-mother-speaks-after-verdict.html.

5. Limbaugh, Rush. The Real Story of Thanksgiving. www.rushlimbaugh.com. [Online] The EIB Network, November 23, 2011. [Cited: November 26, 2013.] http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/11/23/the_real_story_of_thanksgiving.

6. Associated Press. Ferguson grand jury decision: Thousands rally across US after Ferguson decision. www.abc15.com. [Online] ABC 15, November 24, 2014. [Cited: November 25, 2014.] http://www.abc15.com/news/national/thousands-rally-across-us-after-ferguson-decision.

Finding a Transformational Leader:

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

1 Samuel 13:14

But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."

NKJV

Saul was selected as Israel’s first king.  Saul was the most handsome and tallest man among the children of Israel (1 Samuel 9:2).  On the surface, he definitely appeared to be the right man to lead Israel.  However, Saul did not have a heart that wanted to follow God.  This became evident after Saul offered an unlawful sacrifice in Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:7b-10).  God’s choice for king was David.

As a shepherd boy, David was not the tallest or most handsome of Jesse’s sons.  In fact, when Samuel came to anoint Israel’s new king, Jesse did not even bring David (1 Samuel 16:11).  When David came in from tending the sheep, he would have smelled like sheep, hardly one that we would believe God would choose to be the king of Israel.  However, what we choose is not important, it is what God chooses that matters.

As I wrote on Wednesday, we face the lame duck legislative session and the lame duck presidency of Obama.  We must remain diligent but we also must begin seeking the next President of the United States.  The contrast between King Saul and King David provides a valuable lesson as we approach the election in two years. 

It is not important that we pick the best looking or most educated man or woman to lead our nation but we must select the one God chooses for our nation.  God chose David, not for his looks or physical strength but for his heart.  This is not to say David was weak for David did kill a lion and bear to protect his father’s sheep.  David also slew the giant, Goliath that threatened the armies of Israel. 

However, David’s strength did not come from his physical prowess but his heart (1 Samuel 13:14).  As the shepherd for his father’s sheep, David fearlessly slew a lion and bear because his heart was with protecting the sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-36).  David also had a patriotic heart towards his nation and fearlessly slew Goliath even though all he had was a slingshot and five stones.  David also knew that even though Goliath was a giant, he had a giant God backing him up that was more than able to slay Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37). 

Our nation currently faces many giants threatening the citizens of the nation.  We have had six and soon to be eight years of a president that leads from behind.  President Obama promised to transform our nation so he is a transformational leader.  However, like Saul, President Obama does not lead from a heart desiring to follow God and His will or a heart concerned about the wellbeing of the citizens.  On the contrary, his agenda is all about propping up himself and his liberal, progressive agenda.  If harm comes to the nation and its citizens in the process of advancing this agenda, they are considered collateral damage. 

When President Reagan assumed office, the nation had experienced four years of the feckless Carter Administration.  The nation was in an economic funk, something termed as stagflation.  This coupled with the protracted Iranian hostage crisis left the nation feeling weak.  President Reagan ran promising to restore both the military and economic strength of the nation and defeated the incumbent president by a landslide.  I believe voters voted in droves for Ronald Reagan because like David, they sensed he had a servant’s heart desiring to protect the citizens and the nation. 

When seeking the next President of the United States we must find a leader that:

1)      Has internal motivation and self-management (1)  – David found his motivation from God and managed his life according to the Word of God.  When seeking our next president we must pay attention to what motivates them, something ignored by the media and a majority of voters in 2008 and 2012 with Candidate Obama

2)      The ability to make difficult decisions (1)  – When David had an opportunity to assassinate King Saul he made the tough decision to allow him to live (1 Samuel 24:1-14).  His motivation to obey God and not kill God’s anointed motivated this decision.  President Obama had ample warning and could have sent help to Benghazi.  Instead, President Obama chose to disappear and go to Vegas for a campaign fundraiser because his motivation was his own reelection and not protecting the ambassador and those attempting to save him. 

3)      Check his or her ego (1)  – David checked his ego when given an opportunity to kill King Saul.  President Obama however does not have the ability to check his ego and continues to try to force his agenda on the citizens of the United States.  The Democrat party just got skunked in the last election but instead of listening to what the voters were saying in the election, he chooses to go on vowing to go around Congress if they will not do what he wants, which he just did by granting amnesty to 4,500 illegals. 

4)      Has a willingness to take the right risks (1)  – David took risks but also knew when it was best to hide from danger.  Instead of confronting King Saul and letting him know he was now the one anointed King of Israel, he chose to hide in the caves of the Judean desert so as not to have to intentionally confront Saul in battle.  Obama on the other hand sees no problem with creating a constitutional crisis that threatens to fundamentally change the constitutional separation of powers outlined in the Constitution of the United States, a dangerous risk threatening the liberties protected by the Constitution.

5)      Has organizational consciousness (1)  – David was aware that he was the anointed King of Israel but also knew he could not ascend to the throne until it was God’s time for him to do so.  David lived his life in submission to the big picture of God’s plan for Israel.  President Obama on the other hand chooses to remain oblivious to what is going on around him and his constitutional duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States.  Instead, President Obama chooses to force his unpopular agenda on a public that soundly rejected it in the recent election.

6)      Demonstrates adaptability (1)  – When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he knew there would be consequences.  When confronted with his sin, David repented and threw himself on the mercy of God (2 Samuel 12:1-15).  President Obama on the other hand continues to move forward with an increasingly unpopular agenda and now when confronted with a Republican controlled House and Senate, refuses to work with them, instead vowing to circumvent their constitutional authority.

7)      Is willing to listen and entertain new ideas (1)  – David was open to new ideas but lived a life of obedience to his God.  Even though he was not perfect and disobeyed God by committing adultery with Bathsheba, his motivation was to obey God.  Because of that motivation, if presented with an idea violating God’s Word, David would soundly reject it.  President Obama on the other hand never deviates from his agenda and has no problem with disobeying the Constitution he has twice swore to protect.  With president Obama, it is my way or the highway. 

8)      Is inspirational (1)  – As a man of God and songwriter, David was inspirational.  Even his archenemy, Saul, would have David come and play for him to ease his troubled heart (1 Samuel 16:23).  The messianic aura of Obama has subsided.  Instead of thrills going up their legs, people are beginning to experience a massive leg cramp. 

9)      Is proactive (1)  – As a young boy David’s father sent him to see how his brothers were doing on the battlefield.  When he arrived there, he saw that they were cowering in fear with the rest of the army because of Goliath’s continual taunts.  David would not stand for hearing this Philistine taunt the armies of God, proactively took action (1 Samuel 17:35), and with the help of God, defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-51).  President Obama on the other hand chooses to ignore problems until they become a political liability.  Only then does he take an appearance of action claiming he has just become aware of the problem. 

10)   Is visionary (1)  – David had a vision of building a temple for God but was forbidden by God from completing it (2 Samuel 7:1-17).  However, this did not stop his vision, which he passed on to his son Solomon.  President Obama won election promising to fundamentally transform the United States.  Many believed the country needed a transformation and elected him to office.  However, they failed to ask Candidate Obama what he wanted to transform the nation into and did not find out until he became President.  Voters must check out what the candidate’s vision entails before just voting for someone promising change. 

My recommendation, when seeking a transformational leader this next presidential election, seek a leader with the qualities of David and not another leader like President Obama.  Next Saturday, we will look at the qualities of a servant leader. 

1. Hogg, Bill. 10 Characteristics of Transformational Leaders. www.billhogg.ca. [Online] Bill Hogg & Associates, March 13, 2012. [Cited: November 19, 2014.] http://www.billhogg.ca/2012/03/10-characteristics-of-transformational-leaders/.

It’s Lame Duck Hunting Season

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

NKJV

The thief that Jesus is speaking of in John 10:10 is the Devil or Satan.  The verse is a call for believers in Christ to be diligent and aware that there is a thief seeking to steal, kill, and destroy them and that abundant life comes from belief in Jesus Christ.  It is easy to be diligent when facing struggles but it is also important to remain diligent when experiencing good times. 

I am not a big fan of reality TV but the show Duck Dynasty is an exception.  The show has come under fire for its stand for God, mainly because they pray at the end of the show.  Love for the Lord is the number one passion in the lives of the Robertson family but duck hunting is their number two passion, after all, the family business is making duck calls.  I am not a duck hunter but after the recent electoral victory for Republicans, we must all be diligent in hunting down a very dangerous breed of duck, the lame duck. 

It would be ideal if after the election of a new congress, they were immediately sworn into office.  It would also be ideal if a sitting president that loses both houses of congress had to resign if he refused to work with the new legislature.  However, that is not how the founders set up our Constitution so we must to deal with the extremely dangerous breeds of a lame duck legislative session and the more dangerous breed of a lame duck President. 

Ideally, if legislators held themselves accountable to voters, the lame duck legislature would do little more than closing up shop during their lame duck session.  However, we do not live in an ideal world and the fact of a lame duck legislative session is a reality but that does not have to mean that we must allow the outgoing congress to sabotage their successors. 

Republicans have majority control of the lame duck House of Representatives.  The House is where all government spending legislation originates.  One of the pending issues the lame duck congress must deal with is a continuing resolution to keep government operating.  The current spending resolution expires on December 11, 2014.  (1)  Liberals would prefer to pass an omnibus spend bill funding the government through the end of the fiscal year or September 30, 2015.  (2) 

Passage of an omnibus spending bill will strap the incoming congress with the out of control spending of the outgoing congress.  Much of the reason people fired Democrats from control of the Senate and lessened their power in the House is because of their fiscal irresponsibility.  Voters have to live within their means and on a budget and expect their elected representatives to do the same.  However, the federal budget continues to increase and the national debt grows.  (3)  Obviously, government leaders like to live of their credit cards leaving future taxpayers with the bill.

Voters elected to change leadership in the legislature from Democrat to Republican control in this past election but for the outgoing congress to strap them with a debt-increasing deficit producing spending resolution until September 30 will only cause further fiscal damage to the U.S. Treasury.  It makes much more sense for the outgoing congress to pass a temporary spending bill keeping the government open until around the end of January or middle of February and allow the new Congress to pass a more fiscally responsible omnibus spending bill funding the government till September 30, 2015. 

As dangerous as the upcoming lame duck session of Congress is, the much more dangerous problem facing the United States is two more years of a lame duck President Obama.  Obama has already expressed his intention to go around the newly elected Congress and issue an unconstitutional executive amnesty order granting legal status to an estimated 4.5 million illegal immigrant adults with U.S.-born children.  (4) 

It would appear to be compassionate to keep families together by allowing parents of children born in the U.S. to have some form of legal status allowing them to remain in the country but since Congress passes immigration laws, any change in those laws must go through Congress first.  For the nation’s chief executive to bypass congress’ constitutional authority by issuing an executive order is a high crime against the Constitution of the United States which Obama has twice sworn to defend.  Such a high crime is an impeachable offense.  However, Speaker John Boehner has taken the option of impeachment off the table, plus, impeachment would leave us with two years of President Biden.  However, Congress still has the power of the purse. 

It will require money to enforce any Presidential executive order and Congress can block this funding.  However, if the President issues his executive amnesty order and the outgoing congress funds it through some omnibus spending bill, Obama will be able to implement his executive amnesty and the damage will have been done even if the new congress is able to defund it in the next fiscal year.  Once we grant amnesty in any form, it is irreversible.  (5)  Once again, this illustrates the need for the outgoing House to stand strong and only allow funding of the government for a short term, allowing the incoming congress to pass an omnibus spending bill that does not include funding for any executive orders, including executive amnesty. 

Unfortunately, the lame duck congress and presidency are a reality of our republic but it is possible to prevent these dangerous species of duck from doing any damage to our nation.  We therefore must light up the phones and email servers of congress and the White House during this lame duck season insuring they do not do any damage.  On the right portion of this webpage are links to finding and contacting the White House, your senators, and representative.  Express your concern that the outgoing congress not pass any omnibus spending bill strapping the incoming congress with more deficits and debt.  Also, demand that they refuse to fund any unconstitutional presidential executive order, especially an executive amnesty order that threatens the national and fiscal security of the nation. 

1. Association of Defense Communities. House Republicans Split over Way Forward on FY’15 Spending. www.defensecommunities.org. [Online] Assiciation of Defense Communities, November 13, 2014. [Cited: November 15, 2014.] http://www.defensecommunities.org/headlines/house-republicans-split-over-way-forward-on-fy15-spending/#.

2. United States Senate. Fiscal Year. https://www.senate.gov. [Online] [Cited: November 15, 2014.] https://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/fiscal_year.htm.

3. Treasury Direct. Historical Debt OUtstanding - Annual. www.treasurydirect.gov. [Online] [Cited: November 15, 2014.] http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt.htm.

4. Tomlinson, Lucas. Source: Obama to announce 10-point immigration plan via exec action as early as next week. www.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, November 13, 2014. [Cited: November 15, 2014.] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/11/13/source-obama-to-announce-10-point-immigration-plan-via-exec-action-as-early-as/.

5. Limbaugh, Rush. Amnesty is Irreversible. www.rushlimbaugh.com. [Online] EIB Network, November 13, 2014. [Cited: November 15, 2014.] http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/11/13/amnesty_is_irreversible.

From Governing to Leading

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Acts 17:6

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out,"These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

NKJV

Last Saturday we stressed the importance of the newly elected senators and representatives moving from campaign mode to governing mode.  However, if these new leaders are really going to make a difference that will last, they must shift from governing to leading.  Just because voters elect someone and they have a title does not necessarily mean they are a leader for leadership has special qualities that transcend just having a title or position. 

Jesus did not hold any office or have any worldly title of prominence yet in just three short years of ministry Jesus made a tremendous impact on the world.  Granted, he is God in the flesh (John 1:14) but when he walked the earth, he did so as a man.  Eleven of the 12 Apostles, which were in Jesus’ inner circle, went on to spread Jesus teachings around the known world at that time.  Since then descendants of those impacted by the ministry of the apostles have taken the Gospel and spread it around the world.  Since neither Jesus or his Apostles held any office or had any prominent worldly title, it is not governing but leadership, based on Godly principles, that caused the Gospel to spread around the world and turn it upside down (Acts 17:6).

It is refreshing to know that at least for the next two years Republicans instead of Democrats will govern the United States legislatively.  However, we must live with the reality that we are also only one election away from Democrats wrestling control of the Congress from Republicans.  We see these back and forth swings throughout the history of the United States as well as other countries in the free world.  It will take solid leadership to bring about lasting change in the direction of the country from liberalism and socialism to the free republic the founders of our nation envisioned.  What our nation needs is real transformational leadership so let us look at the characteristics of transformational leadership.

According to Michele McDonough writing for Bright Hub, (1)  Transformational leadership consists of

1)      Idealized Influence – This influence engenders trust, admiration, loyalty, and respect.  Our future transformational leader must be skilled at

a.       articulating a vision and explaining how to attain the vision in an appealing manner

b.      leading by example

c.       acting confidently and optimistically

d.      sharing risks with followers

e.      emphasizing values and reinforcing them by symbolic actions

f.        displaying a high level of ethical and moral conduct (1)

The results of the recent election demonstrate that the leadership of the nation was not exercising idealized influence and leading by example.  Thus, the voters fired them from leadership.  New leadership must begin exercising idealized influence or face the same fate in 2016.  Voters have had enough of leading, or pushing, from behind and desire leadership that will step out front and lead the nation back to greatness.

2)      Inspirational Motivation – A transformational leader must inspire followers to follow his or her ideas by,

a.       articulation of a clear and appealing view of the future

b.      development of a shared vision in both economic and ideological terms so that the followers see meaning in their work

c.       making sure of each follower’s role in the fulfillment of the shared vision, and setting high standards for the followers to attain objectives

d.      encouraging followers to integrate and become part of the overall organizational culture and environment

e.      making vivid descriptions of a good future that raises one’s imagination

f.        motivational speeches and conversations

g.       public display of optimism and enthusiasm

h.      highlighting positive outcomes

i.         stimulating teamwork

j.        persuading followers to transcend their own interests for the collective team or organizational interest when required

k.       countering the followers’ emotional resistance to change  (1)

Inspirational leadership may actually require an individual to temporarily abandon his or her own interests, not values, in the interest of transforming the nation.  Some who have grown up relying on some government handout may need to learn dependence on God and their God given abilities to support them in the interest of controlling out of control government spending.  For far too long people have been taught to believe the answers to their problems will come from some government program, only to be disappointed. 

Perhaps the main benefit of the last six years of the Obama Administration has been people finally realizing that government does not have the answers to their problems.  This is causing people to seek answers from other sources.  My prayer is that my fellow Christians will take this as an opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ as the answer to their problems. 

3)      Intellectual Stimulation – Encouragement of change through intellectual stimulation through,

a.       fostering a climate that favors critical examination of commonly held notions, beliefs, and the status quo

b.      creating an environment conducive to the creation and sharing of knowledge

c.       encouraging innovation and creativity

d.      heightening sensitivity to environmental changes

e.      encouraging the suggestion of radical and controversial ideas without fear of punishment or ridicule

f.        empowerment and imposition of the leader's idea only in the absence of viable ideas from the followers  (1)

Liberals have controlled the education system and media for several generations and have managed to virtually eliminate critical thinking, replacing it with indoctrination.  (2)  Students are discouraged from questioning their teachers out of fear of a lower grade or not being politically correct.  The media concurs with this indoctrination creating the perfect opportunity to create a compliant society that will not question their leaders. 

In contrast, a transformational leader encourages new ideas and surrounds him or herself with people that are encouraged to present ideas, even if they differ from what the leaders wants.  A transformational leader assembles a leadership team instead of acting unilaterally.  This is what the founders of the United States had in mind when they created a government system with power divided among three coequal branches of government.  The founders believed that this division of power would result in better government as ideas could be debated among representatives, the executive branch, and courts. 

4)      Individualized Consideration – Treatment of individuals as whole people instead of people that are just there to serve the leader. 

a.       listening to each follower’s needs and concerns

b.      expressing words of thanks or praise as a means of motivation

c.       making public recognition of achievements and initiatives

d.      making private notes of congratulations to boost self confidence

e.      ensuring fair workload distribution

f.        undertaking individualized career counseling and mentoring  (1)

One of the major faults of socialism and communism is it demeans the individual in the interest of the collective society.  For my trekie friends this would be like the Borg who conquers worlds by assimilating people into their collective.  (3)  Thinking in this society is only allowed if it agrees with the mastermind of the elitists governing the society.  In many ways this is what is occurring in our education system and media and is the major reason why freethinking people must resist common core.  (4)

Ronald Reagan was the most recent example of a transformational leader in the United States.  His policies unleashed the free market stimulating its creativity leading to the greatest peacetime economic expansion in the nation’s history.  (5)   Ronald Reagan surrounded himself with a great team and encouraged them to present ideas, ideas that transformed the nation from its stagnation back to its former position of greatness.  (6)

With Republicans now in control of both houses of Congress and with the election of a new President in 2016, it is imperative that we find transformational leaders committed to restoring the United States to its former position of greatness as a world leader.  The good news is we as voters and citizens of the country have an opportunity to support and elect these leaders. 

Next Saturday we will explore what makes a great transformational leader. 

1. McDonough, Michele. Characteristics of Transformational Leadership. www.brighthub.com. [Online] Bright Hub, May 20, 2010. [Cited: November 14, 2014.] http://www.brighthub.com/office/home/articles/71743.aspx.

2. Chomsky, Noam. What Makes Mainstream Media Mainstream. www.chomsky.info. [Online] October 1997. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199710--.htm.

3. MD, Ronald Cherry. The Borg vs. The People. intellectualconservative.com. [Online] Intellectual Conservative, January 1, 2014. [Cited: November 14, 2014.] http://intellectualconservative.com/the-borg-vs-the-people/.

4. DeWitt, Peter. Have Standards Ever Promoted Independent Thinking? blogs.edweek.org. [Online] Education Week, December 29, 2013. [Cited: November 14, 2014.] http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2013/12/have_standards_ever_promoted_independent_thinking.html.

5. Yale, Burton. The Ten Legacies of Ronald Reagan. www.heritage.org. [Online] The Heritage Foundation, November 15, 1988. [Cited: November 14, 2014.] http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/the-ten-legacies-of-ronald-reagan.

6. Mohler, Albert. Leadership Lessons from President Ronald W. Reagan. www.albertmohler.com. [Online] June 11, 2004. [Cited: November 14, 2014.] http://www.albertmohler.com/2004/06/11/leadership-lessons-from-president-ronald-w-reagan/.

Godly Confidence

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Phil 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

NKJV

These are definitely challenging times and it is easy to become fearful and lose confidence.  The election of November 4, 2014 gave conservatives and those disappointed with the policies of President Obama a shot of confidence.  However, voters fear that Republicans will want to cross the isle and work with Democrats, and with that fear comes a potential loss confidence that the newly elected House and Senate will be unwilling to dismantle the statist leviathan of the policies of Barak Obama. 

This is why I find my confidence in the Lord.  Philippians 4:13 is like a vitamin B12 shot of confidence when I start feeling down.  I even wear this verse on a ring as a reminder when I need it, as I often do.  However, what can we do to give our newly elected leaders a shot of confidence to govern and lead in order to fulfill the promises they made during the campaign.  One popular method of determining a course of action is to perform a S.W.O.T. analysis.  A S.W.O.T. analysis analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a plan of action.  Let us take a moment and conduct a S.W.O.T. analysis for the new House and Senate.

1)      Strengths – The election was a rejection of six years of the failed policies of Barak Obama and the obstructionism of the Harry Reid controlled Senate.  The strength the new Congress possesses is that they have a clear mandate from a vast majority of voters to begin dismantling the last six years of failed policies.  These people are rejecting Obamacare that has caused many to lose their doctors, spend more in premiums for insurance that comes with higher co-pays and deductibles.  They are rejecting failed economic policies that leave many hopelessly unemployed and dependent on food stamps and disability to survive.  The voters are on the side of the newly elected House and Senate.  In fact, Rosh Limbaugh suggests that when they Congress sends a bill to President Obama to sign, they conduct a poll showing voter support for it so Obama will be vetoing legislation voters support.  (1)   The GOP candidate in 2016 can then use these polls to demonstrate the Democrats refusal to pass legislation voters support. 

2)      Weaknesses – After six years of being out of power, media attacks, IRS investigations, many conservatives may have lost the confidence that we can reverse the policies of the Obama Administration.  Even though this election provided a shot of confidence, we also remember how the confidence of the 2010 midterms did not transfer to the 2012 presidential election.  The Tea Party remembers how the administration used the IRS to target them and may be wondering what will happen this time.  Currently the administration is considering regulating the internet as they regulate utilities.  (2)   We have to wonder if this is not an attempt to prevent conservatives from using social media, the internet, and even blogs like this one in future elections.  It is imperative that conservatives be on guard and not permit these regulations that infringe on our first amendment rights to become a reality.

3)      Opportunities – By leading and governing according to how they campaigned, conservatives now have an opportunity to advance a conservative agenda in both the House of Representatives and Senate.  Granted, Obama will most likely veto most of this agenda but in so doing, Obama will be showing his true colors.  (3)   In addition, if they follow through on the suggestion made by Rush Limbaugh, people will see that President Obama does not care about what interests them. 

4)      Threats – Liberals may have lost big in the 2014 midterms but they still have the mainstream media, academia, and Hollywood on their side.  Through these tools liberals and progressives have the ability to make an agenda only supported by a small number of special interest groups appear to be the majority opinion   (4)   We see this in the issues of global warming, gay marriage, and abortion.  Polls point to the fact that the majority of the voting public does not support these issues.  However, through mass media, these issues appear as the majority opinion.  This may cause some to vote for candidates supporting these issues because they do not want to appear out of touch with what is popular.  Others may stay home in elections believing they are in the minority and their vote is useless. 

The voters have given the GOP an opportunity to advance a conservative agenda.  The landslide victory in this election has given them a strong mandate to repeal the Obama agenda.  There is no need to be weak or timid for the voters have handed the GOP a mandate to be strong, lead the nation out of the ditch of the Obama agenda, and back onto the mountaintop.  There will be threats but together, and with the Lord’s help we can overcome any threat. 

Ronald Reagan referred to the United States as a shining city on a hill.  (5)   When Ronald Reagan took office, the nation was weak militarily and in an economic funk but because of President Reagan’s strong leadership, the United States was once again strong militarily and economically when he left office.  The United States, and much of the world is once again weak and in a funk again.  The 2014 election and its voter mandate demonstrate a hunger for leadership.  The new Senate and expanded House leadership of Republicans have an opportunity to fill that leadership void and create momentum that will enable the Republicans to regain control of the White House.  The question is will they find the confidence to lead.  My recommendation is to find the Godly confidence of Philippians 4:13. 

1. Limbaugh, Rush. My Suggestion for John Boehner. www.rushlimbaugh.com. [Online] EIB Network, November 6, 2014. [Cited: Novenber 11, 2014.] http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/11/06/my_suggestion_for_john_boehner.

2. Cheng, Don Reisinger and Roger. Obama: Regulate broadband Internet like a utility so it 'works for everyone'. www.cnet.com. [Online] Cnet, November 10, 2014. [Cited: Novenber 11, 2014.] http://www.cnet.com/news/president-obama-calls-on-fcc-to-keep-internet-free-and-open/.

3. Martosko, David. WHAT LANDSLIDE? Obama threatens vetoes and executive orders – including immigration reform THIS YEAR – after Americans reject him by giving Republicans historic gains in Congress . www.dailymail.co.uk. [Online] Daily Mail, November 5, 2014. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2822484/WHAT-LANDSLIDE-Obama-threatens-vetoes-executive-orders-Americans-reject-giving-Republicans-historic-gains-Congress.html.

4. Chomsky, Noam. What Makes Mainstream Media Mainstream. www.chomsky.info. [Online] October 1997. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199710--.htm.

5. Reagan, Ronald. Shining City Upon A Hill. www.youtube.com. [Online] YouTube, October 1, 2012. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c32G868tor0.

From Campaign Mode to Governing Mode

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

James 2:20

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

NKJV

Some have interpreted James 2:20 to mean that the doctrine of salvation by Grace is not entirely true and that we must work to earn our salvation.  However, the context of this verse is not salvation but faith.  In James 2:18b scripture says, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (NKJV)  When we truly have faith in God, others will notice it by what we do.  When teaching His disciples about how to distinguish false prophets from Godly prophets Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits.”  (Matthew 7:15-16, NKJV)  James 2:20 is about the fruits of faith in God which will result in good works. 

The recent sweeping victory by the GOP in the 2014 midterms has given the Republicans a mandate.  It is not a mandate based upon an agenda which the candidates campaigned on for the GOP basically ran on a hands off strategy letting the candidates campaign on what they believed in and letting the Democrats run on the policies of the Obama Administration.  The GOP mandate instead is a mandate to govern differently than the Democrats have governed the last six years.  This will require candidates to shift from campaign mode to governing mode.  Even though this may sound like an easy transition, we need look no further than President Obama to see how difficult this transition can be. 

The American People are expecting the GOP to govern more effectively on two main issues affecting everyone, the economy, and national security. 

1)      Effectively governing the economy – The government is putting the brakes on what could be a vibrant thriving growing economy.  The U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate in the world.  (1)  Many were alarmed when Burger King was considering moving its operations to Canada, something known as inversion.  (2)  The only reason tax inversion is a viable strategy for a business like Burger King is the high corporate tax rates of the United States in comparison to the rest of the world.  Excessive regulation also puts the brakes on what could be a vibrant economy and most importantly hampers innovation.  (3)  Lowering taxes, especially corporate taxes, and needless regulation will take the brakes off the economy, resulting in dynamic growth similar to what we experienced in the 1980’s.  In an article written by Peter Ferrara that appeared in Forbes, Mr. Ferrara made a contrast between Reaganomics and Obamanomics.  The numbers prove that the tax cuts and regulation reductions of the Reagan administration resulted in a 92-month economic expansion and set a new record for the longest peacetime economic expansion in history.  (4)  Obamanomics has left the nation with a 36-year low labor participation rate (5) and record numbers surviving on food stamps (6)  and disability.  (7)  President Reagan knew how to govern a thriving economy whereas Obama seems more interested in campaigning instead of governing where the economy is concerned. 

2)      Effectively governing national security – Under the Obama Administration our borders are wide open and our military has been reduced to pre-World War II levels.  (8)  The reason for this is that the Obama Administration is more interested in catering to its pro illegal immigration and anti-war constituents than it is in governing and protecting the citizens of the nation.  President Reagan campaigned on ridding our nation and the world of the evil soviet empire through a strong military.  (9)  After the campaign, President Reagan proceeded to govern according to his campaign promise by expanding the military, causing the Soviet Empire to implode trying to keep up.  Granted, President Obama is governing according to the campaign promises made to special interest groups that support him but the interests of these special interests are not in the best interest of the nation as a whole.  One of the issues that drove Democrats from power this past election was the feeling of insecurity of many in the nation.

Republicans successfully campaigned in 2014 and now have a majority in the U.S. Senate and an expanded majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.  However, to be effective and remain in power, they must now shift into governing mode.  They must develop and communicate a plan to take the brakes off the economy and unleash dynamic economic growth.  They too must secure the nation by confronting our enemies and securing the borders. 

Now is the time to demonstrate that conservatism is the most effective way to govern a nation.  We demonstrated this in the 1980’s under the leadership of President Reagan and I believe we are primed to demonstrate the effectiveness of conservatism to a whole new generation in the 2010’s. 

1. Heritage Foundation. U.S. Corporate Tax Rates Are the Highest in the Developed World. www.heritage.org. [Online] Heritage Foundation. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.heritage.org/federalbudget/corporate-tax-rate.

2. Hartley, Jon. Burger King's Tax Inversion and Canada's Favorable Corporate Tax Rates. www.forbes.com. [Online] Forbes, August 25, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonhartley/2014/08/25/burger-kings-tax-inversion-and-canadas-favorable-corporate-tax-rates/.

3. Stewart, Luke A. The Impact of Regulation on Innovation in the United States: A Cross-Industry Literature Review*. www.iom.edu. [Online] Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, June 2010. [Cited: March 28, 2014.] http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2011/Health-IT/Commissioned-paper-Impact-of-Regulation-on-Innovation.pdf.

4. Ferrara, Peter. Reaganomics Vs. Obamanomics: Facts And Figures. www.forbes.com. [Online] Forbes, May 5, 2011. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2011/05/05/reaganomics-vs-obamanomics-facts-and-figures/.

5. Meyer, Ali. Record 92,584,000 Not in Labor Force; Participation Hits 36-Year Low. cnsnews.com. [Online] cnsnews.com, October 3, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/record-92584000-not-labor-force-participation-hits-36-year-low.

6. —. Record 20% of Households on Food Stamps in 2013. cnsnews.com. [Online] cnsnews.com, January 21, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/record-20-households-food-stamps-2013.

7. Jeffrey, Terence P. 10,996,447: Disability Beneficiaries Hit New Record. cnsnews.com. [Online] cnsnews.com, May 20, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/10996447-disability-beneficiaries-hit-new-record.

8. Cooper, Thom Shanker and Helene. Pentagon Plans to Shrink Army to Pre-World War II Level. www.nytimes.com. [Online] The New York Times, February 23, 2014. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/us/politics/pentagon-plans-to-shrink-army-to-pre-world-war-ii-level.html?_r=0.

9. 4president.org. Ronald Reagan for President 1980 Campaign Brochure. www.4president.org. [Online] 4president.org. [Cited: November 7, 2014.] http://www.4president.org/brochures/reagan1980brochure2.htm.