My friends, Issachar
July 4, 2005
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This is the first in what I hope will be a regular email on leadership. Norm Allen and his weekly Touchstone notes on personal growth and godliness have inspired me.
Here is the plan. Every few weeks I'll write a brief note, including a quote, a Bible verse, a comment and brief prayer centred on issues related to leadership. If this clutters your email, just cancel your name from the distribution list. (See instructions below.) If on the other hand, you find this useful and want to share it with a friend, please pass it on. A guiding verse for years in my life has been the verse noted in the sidebar. King David in rebuilding Israel, connecting the northern kingdom to Judah, looked for helpers. The historian notes that he turned to the sons of Issachar. Two amazing qualities stand out: they understood their world. They had taken time to figure out what was going on. Rather than live in either fear or anger, they began from a position of knowing. From that base of knowing, they figured out what needed doing. The combination of the two is formidable; however, knowing without doing results in the status quo. Doing without knowing leads to fanaticism. Better to link the two, harnessing understanding and forward motion in the doing of good. Prayer-- Father, in this day, help me see what is. Keep me from reacting to what I find offensive or too readily wrapping my arms around what I like. Instead first give me wisdom to understand. Then out of knowing better what is, help me do what needs doing, so that this day my life will engage with your kingdom purposes. In your grace and life I pray. Amen. |
King David searched out those to help in the building of a nation for God. |