MORALITY & EDUCATION MATTER

Right now, our country is in educational decline.

I've got one reason to share: Right now, our country is in moral decline.

You see, you cannot separate the two.

~*~

"The three-yearly OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) report, which compares the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in 70 countries around the world, ranked the United States 14th out of 34 OECD countries for reading skills, 17th for science and a below-average 25th for mathematics."This is an absolute wake-up call for America," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in an interview with The Associated Press. "The results are extraordinarily challenging to us and we have to deal with the brutal truth. We have to get much more serious about investing in education."

(Huffington Post)

As an Educator who has spent nearly twelve years in the field, teaching everything from preschool to highschool, all ages, nearly all subjects, many learning capabilities (from bright dyslexics with 140 IQs to Autistic children who barely speak) and many educational settings (from private, non-religious, to private Christian to alternative school for troubled teen girls, to public school in Anywhere, USA) there is one thing that I am committed to: providing quality education to children regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion. This has always been my goal and will continue to be.

As a Christian who is an Educator, I want to make it clear: we cannot leave out morality if we are going to provide quality education. When we try to educate without a moral code, we raise up intelligent barbarians who have no moral compass and are capable of any heinous crime. I dare say we are seeing this now. College students brutally murdering their classmates because no one taught them the skills of how to communicate or how to resolve conflict without violence, another college student murders a girl on her wedding day, because he didn’t learn he can’t have everything he wants. Still another college student murders his girlfriend after repeatedly fighting with her. Yet his violence was overlooked by his coaches because he was good at sports. Where do people learn these things and internalize them? At home but also at school, where the majority of their time is spent outside the care of parents. Whether we say it out of our mouths or express it in our actions, we are teaching something every day.

When we teach through our actions and now blatantly in some classrooms that God does not exist, that the moral code that shaped our nation "really isn't that important", we wind up graduating students who lack courage, integrity, honesty, kindness, compassion for their world at large. They matriculate into higher education where there are even less restrictions, and suddenly find themselves having to make moral decisions they have little foundation for. They are soon swept up into the tide of what feels good, looks good, simply operating on their senses, not realizing the war for their very soul that is waging. With parenting methods ranging from "you're not getting married until you are 85" to "I just let them float along and figure it out" (even though we ourselves needed direct instruction), we as a country have been blessed to not have self-destructed before this point.

I think of the many Classic writings of authors like Dickens. In order to even really understand half of what he refers to, one would need an understanding of Basic Biblical principles and characters. When I have children who frequently ask, "What's a BIble?" (not what kind of Bible is that?) or "Who is David? Who is Goliath? Who is Mary? Who is Abraham? What is a Hebrew?" I am reminded of the verse in Judges 2:10 :

After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.

Why did that generation grow up not knowing the Lord? They were not taught. They were not introduced to God. They did not hear the testimonies of God. It may even have been politically incorrect to share your faith. The previous generation remained silent about God and in turn the next generation gained none of the benefit of knowing the God of their forefathers.

I am thankful today for the wonderful educators that graced my life. They are why I teach today. They not only educated me on matters of the natural but they lived their faith out, right where they were in the workplace and marketplace. No one saw it as strange, or detrimental. No one saw it as brain-washing. No one saw it as separation of church and state. I will never forget my second grade teacher, Mrs.Salzman. She was a kind and gentle lady. She introduced me to Hanukkah. I even dressed up and danced like a dreidel for the school program! I fell in love with the Jewish people and culture because of her care for me as a student. The day she announced that she was returning to Israel, I was heartbroken. I never saw her again, but I remembered that she was Jewish. I wanted to meet this God that she would run off and leave Me for! Thankfully, I met him in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Mrs. Salzman never tried to convert me. She never said, you must believe what I believe or else. It was the love of God shining in her that drew me.

I can share countless stories of teachers who I grew up with who lived out their faith, modeled integrity, love, faith, kindness, goodness, and concern beyond my race or skin color. I learned from them more than how to create art or calculate a problem or how to write. I learned to live out my faith in such a way, that it teaches even when class is over, the books are closed, and the diploma is in hand. If I have only deposited head knowledge into my students, I have failed as a human being and I have failed them in their future purpose. They will need more than head knowledge. They will need a moral compass. My prayer is that my life will always point them in the direction of the true North, The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

Four Keys To Maintaining The LEAD

^{One of the greatest leaders our world has seen and certainly one of the most famous the world over not just for his leadership ability but for his heart towards God is David. Prophet. King. Warrior. Worshipper. Architectural Planner of a Divine Monument  (Solomon'sTemple) still unparallelled in our day.}

^{There are many life lessons that can be gleaned from David's life, but I want to look simply at four keys to maintaining the lead. Let's take a look at a familiar passage of scripture and unlock timeless wisdom right from the Word of God.}

^{1 Samuel 30}

1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

18And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

19And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

 ~~~

David was in a tenuous position. He was leading a group of men who had entrusted all that they were to him when this tragedy occured. Whether you are a pastor, CEO, or a shift leader, you feel the pressure of the position of leadership. There are four keys I want to pull out that allowed David to maintain the Lead  in Crisis.

I jokingly like to refer to many of my clients as Nick-At-Nite customers. Most of my consulting is done out of the public view and eye. People want advice, prayer, and help, while at the same time keeping their identity and issue confidential. Confidentiality is more valuable than your talent. If you can't keep confidences, it will affect every area of your life, both public and private. People rely on good advice as well as prayer to help them lead in crisis. David did no less.

Key Number 1: Love-Fueled Loyalty

David felt not only his own loss, but the loss of those around him to the point of emotional distress. In our current economic crisis, many are hard pressed to find leaders who empathize and sympathize with the over 50% of the country that are unemployed or under-employed. People don't care about your plan until they know you care about them. How do we know that David exhibited loyalty? At the end of recovering all, David stood up for those who had fought and those who guarded the camp. They were equally important though their functions were different. If you are going to maintain the lead, you have to recognize the importance of everyone you serve and who serve you in some capacity.

Key Number 2:Encourage.Enquire.Empower.

David wept until he could weep no more. I am amazed at how many leaders consider it a good thing to keep thier feelings in and show no emotion. I call that an explosion waiting to happen at the wrong place, with the wrong person, and most likely at the wrong time. When you get done weeping, you have to move forward. God gave us the ability to feel pain and loss. Every emotion serves a purpose. When dealt with properly, grief can galvanize and has fueled some of the greatest victories. But David did not stop at grief; he did 3 very important things that leaders must do: he encouraged himself, he enquired of the Lord, and he went in the empowerment of the answer. I say this boldly: true leadership begins and ends at God. God sets up natural and spiritual leaders and when we think we can do it without Him, He is at liberty to put one down and set up another. In this instance, David did not lean on his own understanding, though he did in other cases. God here allows us to see what victory looks like as David equires of God before venturing to initiate a military campaign. God assures him of the victory, and David goes in the power of that Word.Whether God says No, Stop, Wait, Go Ahead, or Next Year, if we go in the power of God's Word, we will see the success God promised.

Key Number 3: Assignment

David knew his assignment. It wasn't to go  and collect another wife. It wasn't to remain at Ziklag and cry himself to sleep. He was given an assignment of rescue and recovery. If we are maintain the LEAD, we must remain focused on the assignment that God has given to us. When we follow through with our assignment, lack and insufficiency will be a thing of the past. Not only did David recover, but he also gained the spoils of those who had ransacked their town. God has a sure assignment for us if we will seek Him. The enemy may seem to have an upperhand in the skirmishes of life, but if you will remain on assignment, you will win the battle every time!

Key Number 4: Determination & Drive To Deliver

This is perhaps one of the most under-emphasized things in leadership. I call it the follow thru. Some companies call it the Promise, other the Guarantee. What it boils down to is customer satisfaction. Did you "deliver the goods"?  Most consultants will tell you it is better to under-promise and over deliver, than to promise what is not in your power to deliver. Your biggest advertisers are 1. dissatisfied customers and 2. satisfied customers. Clearly, if you want to maintain the lead, you want repeat customers, loyal to your product, your brand, your ministry. David had heard from the Lord, and now it was up to him as the leader to follow through with what God had endorsed. David made good on his promise to recover all by putting into action what God has endorsed. He smote their enemies from sunup to sundown, not resting until they were all defeated. As a leader, your determination and drive for the vision and goal should out-match those you are leading. David had a personal stake but he also had a leadership stake in recovering all. It can be difficult to be vested in following an apathetic leader who has lost sight of their own vision.

As followers of Christ, we are always in lead mode. We are called to be a light to the world. What does light do, if not lead out of darkness?

In order to maintain the LEAD in life you must be fueled by love, encourage yourself, enquire of God, be empowered in your assignment, and have the determination and drive to complete the assignment God has given to you. When you do these things, maintaining the LEAD in life will not be the exception but the norm. You will move from simply maintaining to Reigning in the place that God has called you to!

The Nepotism-Driven Church

Moses. Eli. Samuel. Saul. 

As far as the Word of God goes, these were some of the most uncommon and heroic men of their day.
Reading about them inspires us to become friends with God, to see him face to face, to serve in the house of God, to hear him clearly, never miss a beat, to not let our words fall to the ground, to know that God can pick the smallest and the least to do great things with. But what else do these men have in common? Their sons did not follow in their footsteps.

 Let's see what the scriptures say:

Moses' position as leader of Israel was not hereditary. His son, Gershom, did not inherit the leadership of Israel. Moses' chosen successor was Joshua, son of Nun

 ⁹ Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[b] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. (Deut. 34:9).

David is Chosen instead of Saul's Son Jonathan:
 ¹ The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” (1 Samuel 16)

 ¹² Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD.

¹⁷ This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they^[b] were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.

¹⁸ But Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

²² Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ²³ So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. ²⁴ No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the LORD’s people is not good. ²⁵ If one person sins against another, God^[d] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the LORD, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the LORD’s will to put them to death.

²⁶ And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

²⁷ Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? ²⁸ I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. ²⁹ Why do you^[e] scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

³⁰ “Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. ³¹ The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, ³² and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. ³³ Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

³⁴ “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. ³⁵ I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. (1 Samuel 2:12,17,18, 22-35)

________________________________

These are Old Testament examples, remnants of what can still be seen in the Church setting today. Many Churches have a structure that consists primarily of family related leaders that serve in key positions in the Church. While this is not necessarily a bad thing (most American Churches have a membership of 200 or less, and many of the core or founding members are family) when leadership is not held to a formal standard or code of ethics, it can spell trouble.

Nepotism is defined as favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis (m. "nephew")

Here are 5 things to consider in a Nepotism-Driven Church:

1. You may rely too heavily on family support rather God's provision

2. You may be more family directed in decision-making rather than Spirit led

3. You may be reluctant to remove family members when they are in error

4. Your staff of personally connected friends and family may develop an entitlement attitude

5. You might actually stunt the growth of your ministry;
    people who are not blood-tied may see your church as "exclusive"

These are hard things to consider but it is important as a Leader in the Body of Christ that blood ties not be placed above the Lordship of Christ. Jesus said it this way: (Matthew 12:46-50)

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

As the Body of Christ, we are to be above reproach. That includes every aspect of ministry and life. The key here is granting a place regardless of merit. There are countless examples of Ministry Royalty and Secular Family empires. The key here as a leader is to seek God for the best man or woman. Jesus' brother James was a disciple. His mother was in the upper room at Pentecost. David's Son, Solomon became King. Can your family, or  my family, lead in ministry? They could. Should we be open to whoever God calls to walk alongside us?

That, my fellow Leader is the point.

 ⁷But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart

It can be tempting to simply place people in position because it is convenient, they are your friend or family member, or because you don't want to upset the person who may be really nice yet they have absolutely no skill in the area they desire to serve in. Your temporary fix could be creating future problems. Let us not be guilty of overlooking and basing our decisions on our own understanding. Let us trust that God knows what he is doing. He sets members in His Family as He wills. When God does it, the Church will looked the way he intended, love the way He intended, and when people look on us, they will see a true picture of the Body of Christ. Jesus chose 12 men from different walks of life to paint a picture. The women who followed him and supported his ministry were just as diverse. The message? God can choose anyone, even me.

When the Un-Churched encounter The Church, let that same sentiment ring true.

BlackThought: Voices Of Change NOW

"You cannot feed the world and starve your countrymen and expect an applause from God."

Shantae A. Charles

 Someone may be wondering: Why is she writing about Black History? Isn't Black History over?

Let me just clear the air:

Well, it might be  "over" if you are not Black or African-American. But, if you are one of the 14% of Americans described as such, Black History is everyday. It is constantly being written by each one of us who carries within our genetic code the characteristics that define us as such, mainly the melanin that infuses our skin with color, making some of us more obviously black than others. From ebony to cafe au lait to near ivory, we vary in shade and many of us are of mixed ethnicity & culture (Caribbean, Afrcan, American, Latino, Native American, Asian), and to the on-looker that can confuse the conversation and dialogue. Which is why we should talk. We are not all the same.

As I pondered today what I wanted to share, the words Black Thought Thursday popped into my head. God deals with me in rhyme and analogy, and alliteration, so I just go with the flow. I had been reading this wonderful book about the speeches and letters, and lectures of African American leaders, writers, poets, and statesmen, teachers, peanut farmers and university founders, and I was floored by their eloquence, their precision in commuicating that change needed to happen for our people and by our people.

They faced the hostilities and predjudices of the day head on and did not flinch at the backlash they recieved for plain speaking, as my friends would call it. I wondered, where are those voices of change now? The voices most of us hear are so politically correct, and neutral that you cannot really be sure what side they are speaking from.

These Voices of Change demanded a NOW answer to the growing problems of racism, economic, social, and educational disparity. They did not have a "sit back and shut up" mentality. They demanded justice based on the document of justice that was put in place first for white males, but essentially for everyone. The declaration that "all men are created equal" was to apply to humanity, not just to one race, or one gender, or to the person who was able-bodied but to all. I want to share with you some of the statements that stood out and challenge you to do a little reflecting of your own and research some of these great voices of change.

On Slavery

A slave was rarely killed. They were too valuable. It was quite easier and more effective to sell him Down South. In slave times, a Negro was kept subservient and submissive by frequency and severity of scourging.~ Ida B. Wells Barnett

The white man's happiness cannot be purchased at the price of the black man's misery.~Frederick Douglass

Reflect: What way has slavery been institutionalized in our society?

Lynching is the aftermath of slavery.~ Mary Church Terrell

Reflect: Do you think political, economic, social lynching exists?

When you give away your right to speak, you put the next generation back in chains.

Reflect: What social justice efforts have your children or those you mentor seen you speak out about?

On Equality & Democracy

What the people want is simple. They want an America as good as its promise.~Barbara Jordan

The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of mind or intellectual powers.~ Benjamin Banneker

We wish to plead our own cause. Too long others have spoken for us.~ John Russwurm

This country can have no more democracy than it accords and guarantees to the humblest and weakest citizen. ~James Weldon Johnson

The American Dream reminds us that every man is heir to the legacy of worthiness.~MLK

If America is to remain a first class nation she can no longer have second class citizens.~MLK

The price America must pay for the continued exploitation of the Negro and other minority groups is the price of its own destruction.~MLK

Reflect: Do you think we have made real progress in racial  and social equality?

Now, more than ever before, America is challenged to bring her noble dream into reality.~MLK This thought still rings true in 2012.

On The Struggle

It may get me crucified, I may even die. But I want it said, even if I die in the struggle that, "he died to make men free." ~MLK

Sadly, this came to pass when he was assasinated on 1968.

The citizens of America want and deserve more than a recital of problems.~Barbara Jordan

How can we begin to build institutions that allow people to relate as human beings? This country has not done that. Especially around the concept of black or white.~Stokeley Carmichael

Reflect: How can we end the struggle for equality personally?

On Globalization

All of us must develop a world perspective if we are to survive. The American Dream will not become a reality devoid of a larger dream of a world brotherhood and peace and goodwill. MLK

The world in which we live is a world of geographical oneness and we are challenged now to make it spiritually one?

Reflect: Do you think globalization has minimized the needs of people of color who are still underserved?

On Self Education & Empowerment

If you want to hide something from a black man, put it in a book.~Anon

The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.~Mary McLeod Bethune

One of the things young people should learn is how to see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself.If you get in the habit of going by what you hear others say about someone or what others think about someone instead of searching that thing out for yourself, you'll be walking east when you think you are going west...the most important thing we can learn today is to think for ourselves. ~ Malcolm X

Every time black people move in this country, they are forced to defend their position before they move.~ Stokeley Carmichael

If you form the habit of taking what someone says about a thing without checking it for yourself, you'll find that other people will have you hating your friends and loving your enemies.~Malcolm X

Reflect: Do you see double standards when it comes to accountability?

On Integration, Segregation, and Responsibility to the Race

What integration is in this country: You do what I tell you to do, and then we'll let you sit at the table with us.If there is going to be integration it has to be 2-way. If you believe in integration, come live in Watts. Send your children to the ghetto schools. Let's talk about that.~ Stokeley Carmichael

We commit racial suicide by not sounding the alarm and protecting our own children from the poverty that ravages their dreams. Marian Wright Edelman

Integration is subterfuge for the maintainance of white supremacy.~Stokeley Carmichael

Hug your grandparents and say, "I want to thank you for what you've done to make me and my life possible."~Alex Haley

Reflect: What responsibility, if any do you think you have to your race?

On the Black Middle Class

Unless the black middle class begins to exert more effective and sustained leadership with and without the black community on behalf of black children and families, both as personal role models and value instillers and as persistent advocates for National, State, and Locally funded policies...then all of our Mercedes and Halston frocks will not hide our essential failure as a generation of Black "Haves" who did not protect the Black future on our watch.~ Marian Wright Edelman

Don't be so busy getting that you get down in the mud of oppressing your own race.~Sac

I hope the quotes and reflections here will promote a dialogue long after the last sentence is read. I encourage you to be a voice of change Now, not an echo of political correctness and status-quo thinking.

Blessings to You, Next Generation Leader.

A Leading Lady In My History Part 2

As I continue this segment, I'd like to introduce you to another Leading Lady, the late Mrs. Leary M. Davis. I can tell you now that much can be said, but I will speak from the position of granddaughter. You see, when I entered the world, she took one look at me and knew I was "a Davis" (my family name). My grandmother was an incredible Woman. Some of the things I remember about her is that she was raising my father (also deceased) and 10 other children single-handedly. She and my other grandmother were raising large families alone and pulling the wieght of father and mother (they showed me it could be done without the help of a sugar-daddy!). They became fast friends, and their children did too. That's where I come in. My father and mother never married each other. I am the sum total of their brief and passionate relationship. I'm glad they didn't abort me to "get on with their lives". There was much controversy (for another article) around me at the time because of it (my Dad was 16, my Mom 22).

In spite of the way I entered the world (without the covering of marriage), my grandmother loved me to pieces. And I felt it. She took me under her wing, and cherished me. To me, she was home. When I think of her hugs now, I recall sweet potato pie. She was the essence of what goodness in the world can be. I loved doing her chores (though I could not cook a lick!) because her home was a home of peace. People were always coming to Mrs. Aunt Tot's house to stop by, drop off a gift, or just sit at her feet and listen. Her home was the meeting place for wisdom. People spent their vacations coming to visit her and just talk. Truly God had crowned her with wisdom. I remember right before I got married, both of my grandmothers and my mother were all together. I asked them for advice. I tape recorded it. I still have that tape. It is gold to me. I still own a tape recorder for that very reason: to replay it.

 Leary Mae Davis
A True Leading Lady

      

My grandmother taught me if you have nothing nice to say, pray Lord, help me to have a kind word even if they are doing bad things. My grandmother always joked that for her to be on a fixed income, she always had more to give than those who were not. She always spoke to me about saving and not spending money on things that soon fade. When she passed away, her debts were paid and she left something for her children and their children. She also left a legacy of unconditional love. I know I don't just speak for myself when I say I don't think  I will find anyone who loved so strongly and forgave so easily. No, she was not perfect, but she was as close to heaven as many had ever experienced. I plan to pass on the wisdom I gained at her feet to the next generation. Though she is now at rest, her voice lives on in me and everyone who knew her. Love You forever Gram Tot.

Gram Page & Gram Tot
Lifelong Friends

They are the inspiration for the Grandmothers in my novel series Church Love. 

Check that out at www.churchlove333.blogspot.com

A Leading Lady in My History

In honor of my ancestry, I'd like to introduce you to a woman who is still alive, but she is living black history for me. She is my grandmother, Ruth Page.

My grandmother and role model, was called by God at 13 on her parent's 40 acre farm in Fayetteville, North Carolina. If the Lord permits, she will see 92 years in April (she is now 93).  She taught me how to bow my knee to Jesus Christ alone, how to be a traveling missionary, how to work for social, racial, political, and economic justice, while visiting the sick, healing the diseased, visiting the poor, widow, orphan, working the altar, forgiving those who wronged her, preaching fire, and doing it in 6-in heels, winning Senior Citizen olympics, riding a three-wheeler for MILES up until she was in her late 80's, talking crackheads into returning stolen goods, and receiving Miami Herald's first round of Spirit of Excellence Citizenship awards. She was awarded a HURRICANE ANDREW award for turning on fire hydrants to help get clean water quickly to residents with a wrench b/c no one could get into our neighborhood directly after. She helped bring Health Services and Head Start to South FL, and petitioned to get our black community schools rebuilt after Andrew b/c they wanted to leave it as portables. This 100% Cherokee Woman of God is incomparable.

The amazing thing is, I was there these moments. I can remember her influence and involvement in my life at 2 years old, and even now, though she is battling dementia and resides in a nursing home, she still demands my relatives nearby call me and she talks with me. I have her letters she wrote while I was away at college. Those letters are like gold now that she can no longer recollect or recall certain things about her life and childhood. I treasure the history I saw through her life of service. From county meetings, to neighborhood programs, to senior citizen center meetings, to tent revivals, she did not leave me out. If I wanted to go, she took me, and even those times when I just wanted to hang out and do nothing, she still took me along (smile). I met influential city council, forgotten widows, people from all walks of life who respected and still respect my grandmother and the life she lives.

I remember one time a few years back my oldest brother called me. My grandmother had walked out of the house and could not find her way back. One of the people who lived in the neighborhood blocks away found her, realized what had happened and brought her back home. I wish America knew each other like that everywhere. You wouldn't have to worry about the elderly or your children, because everyone would be their neighbor's keeper. She was returned safely home. The man recognized Missionary Ruth Page, no longer as sprite and fiesty, but still a woman of God.

My grandmother is one of many women I admire who has had a profound and lasting impact on my life. She led me to Christ at 13, out in my backyard while making arts and crafts with me. No matter what she was doing in the ministry and community, she volunteered in the local schools, and made it to our school presentations. She stood up for us when it seemed like we would not reach the goals we needed and when society desired to make sure we were a statistic. She was always trying to give to us, show us how to use our own hands, and show us inexpensive ways of getting what we needed. There are so many lessons that I learned from her that this blog can do no justice to. I simply wanted to honor a snippet of my Black History.

Grandma, I love you forever. You taught me how to lead and love without limits or boundaries.

LOVING Leadership

Companies. Churches. Nations. What do they have in common? They all rise or fall on leadership. So, it stands to reason that if you are a leader, you want to do all that you can to be the best you can be, to improve in your leadership. If not, well, there is always someone who is studying your strengths and weaknesses. They might just become your successor. That won't be a bad thing if you are prepared to hand over the reigns. So, what does it take to be a better leader? You must first recognize that leadership that will be duplicated should flow out of love. Jesus, the Son of God, and the greatest leader this world has ever known, was the epitome of a leader whose influence flowed from a place of love.
Here's what LOVING leadership looks like using that very word.

Leadership should be:

Launchable: As a leader, we have to be able to cast the vision, equip those who will carry the vision, and then launch them. One of Peter the disciple's most admired traits was his sheer boldness to take Christ at his Word, and launch out. As a leader, you have to know when to tell the team to step out, stay on the boat, or dock it. The evidence of the success of your launch is not when you are at the helm, but when you are asleep below deck. Jesus' disciples were not yet ready for Pentecost, hence the refrain, "Master, carest not that we perish?" They still needed time to know Jesus purpose and mission for them.


Observable: There is nothing worse than someone directing you to do something, yet never taking time to model what it is they want or walk you through the process. Very few people are entirely audible learners, meaning most need HANDS on care. If the mission is always failing or aborted, go back and check whether you made the mission observable. Jesus never assumed the disciples knew how to spread the Gospel. He allowed them to walk with him in ministry. He mourned, He got angry, He rebuked, He danced, He hung out, He sung hymns. They saw the total leader, not just the PC side.

Validating: Almost as bad as blind directions is the feeling you are being set up to fail. As a leader it is imperative to affirm the mission and the messenger for the assignment. David was anointed as King not just in the field while herding sheep, but before all his kinsman. He was validated and therefore walked in a confidence and security that would have been lacking.

Involving: As a leader, it is important to get your hands dirty, and also allow people to be apart of the process and own the vision, goals, and mission of your organization. Yes, there is a time where leaders need to retreat and refuel, but there is also the time when leaders need to swing the golf club or make the 3-pointer with the company team.

Next Generation Minded: As a leader, you have to think beyond the now to what is to come. This requires prophetic eyes and insight. A leader will not build a vision around him or herself, but will equip the team with the principles that will carry the organization into the future, regardless of who is at the helm. Jesus left a playbook of instructions so that his mission could be easily understood, mass communicated, and duplicated at breakneck speed. Can your vision do the same?

Generous: If your organization or team is going to grow, you have to be willing to give, to invest in the team. You might do this through providing training, incentives, a better health package, opportunities to further education. A leader who is generous understands that people are the greatest investment property. Team members who are poured into will remain with an organization even in hard times. Why? Because they became vested in the success of what was invested in them.

So, Next Generation Leaders, have you provided loving leadership? If not, it isn't too late to strengthen the areas that need strengthening. May God bless the work of your company, ministry, and nation as you take leadership to the next level!