I saw a meme the other day that made me laugh out loud, and you can see it on the left side of this blog entry.  While not knowing who did this, we can all appreciate the sentiments behind the imagery.  Yes, 2020 - the year of "clear and great vision" - was a compilation of multiple messes that has left many people befuddled, frustrated, and out-right anxious with what the future may hold.  Will 2021 be a repeat or improvement?  Will things in 2021, as many are thinking, be even worse that the year just completed?  Honestly, nobody knows; however, we do hold the power of our lives in our hands.  Let's look at living life the 2021 way.

We stand at the cusp of closing one year and moving into a new one, and this time often produces reflection and goal setting.  Unfortunately, most of the "new year's resolutions" end in abysmal failure - some studies have indicated that as many as 80% of those resolutions fail and then claim that we should abandon any such practice.  Let's stop there.  Just because there has been failure, does it mean that we should throw the "baby out with the bathwater"?  Should we really stop goal-setting or making resolutions?  I think not and will explain further below by looking at something that jumped off the page at me from Luke 21.

Have you stopped to ever think about the question mentioned above?  If not, then pause - RIGHT NOW - and define that "f word" for yourself.  Several years ago, I had a leader that sent me the image to the left.  The image says fear has two meanings and we are the ones that personally choose our meaning of fear in our circumstances.  Yes, can clearly see the emphasis on the terms above that place it all within our realm of responsibility.  That personal nature is where we will focus on today's life and leadership blog.

If you read the first of this new series, then you notice the title is a bit different.  You are right because I want to check your historical and Biblical knowledge.  Answer this simple question:  who was the second king of Israel?  I know you just answered in your mind, then looked at the title and thought something like this - "Well, I'm not gonna waste my time here.  This author is a way off base because there is no way that David was just a figurehead."  I would encourage you to read on because all is not as it seems.  A definitive lesson or two can be clearly seen from the second king as he faced challenges stemming from Saul - the Initiator.

In Matthew 20, Jesus sheds significant light on the topic of leadership, authority, and greatness as He offers an amazing contrast between what people perceive and what actually is.  Far too often, this passage is quoted without the all-important context that is vital for understanding.  He concludes a grand discourse that has presented several parables and, most recently, announced to His disciples that He would die at the hands of the Jewish and Gentile leaders.  At the end of this teaching, a mother approaches Jesus to ask for her sons to have preferential treatment in His kingdom.  She was exhibiting faith that He was the promised Messiah but also betraying a misunderstanding of the Messiah.  Needless to say, the other ten were not happy and then we hear leadership gold from Jesus!

Saul, the first Hebrew king, offers us an example that cannot be overlooked - particularly for those that are business starters or hold a newly created leadership position.  He made decisions that are typical of an "initiator" and we would do well to learn from his example to save us from expensive AND extensive difficulty.  To unpack his life and leadership, we will go to the book of 1 Samuel for a summary explanation of his life and decisions.  Please note that we cannot cover the majority of one Old Testament book in a short blog, so this will only hit the highlights.  We will close with five specific applications of those lessons for leaders.