Growing as a Leader

Mark Miller, in his short ebook called "Lead Differently" lists four strategies that, if executed well, will enable a leader to become a leader for life.  The fourth one in particular caught my eye, and all of them are insightful and helpful.

Gain Knowledge:  Leaders need to be learning, gaining knowledge of their people, their business, their community, and their leadership. 

Reach Out to Others:  I love sharing what I learn with others, and I always find it mutually beneficial.  Others grow by learning and my own thoughts become sharpened when I share them.  This reaching out can take many forms:  mentoring and/or being mentored, teaching and/or being taught, and social media.

Open Your World:  Leadership is a never-ending pursuit of (new) ideas, relationships, and adventures.  Mark Miller writes the word new, but I would add the pursuit of old ideas, relationships, and adventures as well.

Walk Towards Wisdom:  Another never-ending pursuit, wisdom is to be desired far more than rubies (Prov. 8:11).  While I pursue wisdom, I always reflect on what it means to stand under wisdom.  Wisdom will never be completely understood, but I pursue it anyways.

Thanks, Mark Miller, for reminding me to grow in knowledge, community, awareness, and wisdom.

In The Beginning...

Like thousands of others, I tuned in to watch the origins debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham on Feb. 4 (this evening).  I was quite excited.  The promotional material made claims like "the debate of the century."  Partway through each man's 30-minute presentation, I realized this was not a debate at all.  It was two men doing plenty of talking but very little listening.

If you have not watched the debate yet, here's a link:  Ken Ham and Bill Nye

4 Observations about the Debate
#1:  The "debate" was respectful and civil.  Thankfully, the debate did not degenerate into hostility.  This debate between creation and evolution can bring out the worst in creationists and evolutionists.

#2:  Bill Nye, an entertainer with his own TV show, was much more entertaining than Ken Ham, CEO of Answers in Genesis (AIG).  Ken Ham was difficult to understand at times.  Sometimes I even wondered if he was confusing himself.  Bill Nye was more interesting, funnier, and spoke more clearly and directly than Ken did.

#3:  Ken Ham was calm and confident.  Despite Bill Nye's repeated personal attacks ("Ken Ham's flood," "Ken Ham's model," "Ken Ham's theory,"), he remained composed and generally articulate. 

#4:  The debaters never really answered each others' questions.  Even though the debaters were respectful to one another, they never really had a chance to speak to one another.  Bill Nye spent most of his time presenting a lists of "facts," Ken Ham presented the majority of his time explaining his Biblical convictions.  They barely debated either the facts or their convictions. 
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#6:  The main question of this debate was, "Is creation a viable model of origins in today's modern scientific era?"  The basic answer of both men?

Bill Nye:  Creation is not viable as a model of origins because I have a list of scientific facts that disprove it.  In other words, "In the beginning, kaboom..."

Ken Ham:  Creation is a viable model of origins because I stand on the authority of the word of God.  In other words, "In the beginning, God..."

“Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?”
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113062527/evolution-versus-creationism-bill-nye-and-ken-ham-to-debate-020414/#3KIl1sMQjE8mxqBq.99

“Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?”
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113062527/evolution-versus-creationism-bill-nye-and-ken-ham-to-debate-020414/#3KIl1sMQjE8mxqBq.99

“Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?”
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113062527/evolution-versus-creationism-bill-nye-and-ken-ham-to-debate-020414/#3KIl1sMQjE8mxqBq.99

4 Outcomes of the Debate
#1:  Evolutionists will be frustrated by this debate because Bill Nye "legitimized" the creationist explanation of science by showing up at AIG headquarters.

#2:  For part of the presentation, I followed the Twitter hashtag #creationdebate.  Some of the conversation was civil, but much of it was mud-slinging, thoughtless, and disgusting.  Creationists will need to be prepared for the mockery that evolutionists make of them.  I was disappointed to see the way that Christians also mocked and ridiculed those who believe evolution as well.  My prayer is that Christians will continue presenting the complete gospel each time they engage in the creation/evolution debate. 

#3:  Bill Nye's science gospel became more evident at the end of the debate.  I was thankful that he finally began to admit his assumptions.  Quotes include:  I believe in science.  Science brings me joy.  I believe that science helps us answer questions.  I do not believe the words written in a book written thousands of years ago translated into American English.  I find this unsettling.  He came pretty close to claiming that science is his god.

#4:  Ken Ham attempted to bring the gospel of Christ to people more clearly at the end of the debate.  I pray that many hearers are challenged to read the word of God and that God would make Himself known to them.

Untouchable?

Touchable

You are afraid to touch me,
You think I am untouchable,
But I am touchable,
And I could be loved.

Pink sores grow on my skin.
Soon I have no nerves
I feel no pain in my fingers and toes;
Pain would be a gift.

No one will touch me, but I long to be touched.
I could not feel your loving hands, but I could feel your love.

My face is blistered, my eyes widen.
I cannot blink, soon I become blind.

Without feeling I feel pain,
Without feeling everything feels the same:

Cracked feet on sand or broken glass,
withered hands on a rose or a scorpion’s tail.
Hands, that ring the warning bell as others pass.

I sit unable to move or speak,
My body: chapped and cracked and weak.
I am sent outside the city
So no one will touch me.

One man has touched me,
Even though I could not feel his hand,
I could feel his love.

BK