DEEP WATERS

If I know one thing for sure, it's that racial issues in the United States are still alive and well. And although African Americans now have the right to vote, own property, attend desegregated public schools, etc. etc... I still find myself saying every so often - "Wow, and it's 2013." Take this story, for example: One of my friends, who happens to be African American too, took her two daughters to see "The Butler" last week. Her daughters were deeply moved and amazed at the narrative of history being played out before them. They had learned very little of this history in school, and they wondered why. I too have questioned this lack of the "whole-story" in our country's history lessons. I think the answer is found in the rest of this story. So... one of my friend's daughter's plans to try out for a part in her private school's production of "The Great Gatsby." In order to prepare the students for tryouts,...

Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Today marks my last post on the Global Leadership Summit. Sad, I know... In case you're just getting on board, I'll list my previous posts: Global Leadership Summit: My Takeaways (with a focus on Pastor Bill Hybels), General Colin Powell: Impeccable Leader with Humble Beginnings , Patrick Lencioni's 3 Signs of a Miserable Job and Dr. Brene Brown: Walking Her Talk . Today, I want to share one more talk from the Summit. I'd never heard of this speaker before, but I'm sure I won't forget his message. Pastor Oscar Muriu Pastor Oscar Muriu, Senior Pastor of Nairobi Chapel in Kenya, East Africa, spoke on a topic that I'm excited to close this series on. He spoke on leaving a spiritual legacy . I'll jump right into his five major points. 1. The size of your harvest depends on the number of leaders you raise up. Pastor Muriu encouraged leaders to pour into the lives of potential leade...

The week in "Deep Waters" we've heard from  Pastor Bill Hybels , General Colin Powell and Patrick Lencioni . Each spoke at the Willow Creek Association's Global Leadership Summit, but each shared a different take on leadership. A common thread among each of them was this: Leadership is not about me. Leadership is about inspiring others towards a passionate vision, and doing that in a way that honors, encourages and blesses them. It's not about me. Wow. So with that in mind, I move on to my next Summit speaker -- Dr. Brene Brown. Dr. Brene Brown Before I share Brene's talk, let me just say - this lady's has some serious chutzpa. She is one of the most courageous women I know. And yet, her courage is a treasure that she earned through some dark days and long nights.  As a university research professor, Brene has spent many years studying people. And what has she studied primarily? Vulnerability. Shame. Worthiness. Authe...

Yesterday I shared some invaluable thoughts from General Colin Powell . Sunday I shared some wisdom from one of the most passionate church leaders of our time, Pastor Bill Hybels . Well after the calm, refined delivery of Colin Powell, the Global Leadership Summit planning team must have decided it would be a great time to shake things up a bit. And onto stage walked the most energetic and hyperactive speaker I think I know. And yet he is one of my favorite speakers ever. He's none other than Patrick Lencioni , who is committed to helping organizations become as healthy as they can be. Love the man. Patrick Lencioni So with no further ado... I present: Patrick Lencioni's Three Signs of a Miserable Job: 1. Anonymity In Genesis 16, Hagar suffers greatly after she discovers she is pregnant with Abraham's child. Sarah's bitterness and jealously drives Hagar away from home and into the desert. When the Lord speaks to Hagar and promises her hope and a...

Yesterday I shared the first in a series on this year's Global Leadership Summit. Well, today I share one of the Summit's special treats for me: former - and the first African American - US Secretary of State Colin Powell. When I hear a person speak in this kind of forum, I always learn things about them I didn't know. General Powell mentioned that people often ask him to share all the great military schools he attended. Some even ask him, "So what year did you graduate from West Point?" Actually, General Powell admitted he wasn't a great student. Segregation forbade him from attending the best military schools. And he'd graduated as a rather average student from City College in New York. I was floored to hear this. But I was also inspired and encouraged as a Mama.  General Powell's admission to a mediocre school career gave me hope for my children - some who make wonderful grades, and one who struggles through school for average r...

On August 8 and 9, I had the wonderful opportunity to once again attend the Global Leadership Summit, a vision of Pastor Bill Hybels and the Willow Creek Association. These two days of instruction, encouragement - and even rebuke - were game-changers. Over the next few days, I'll share a few quotes from several speakers, so you don't have to just take my word for it. Today I'll begin with... Pastor Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church Pastor Bill Hybels opened the first morning, challenging leaders to be courageous , as God encouraged Joshua to be in Joshua 1:9. Courage, Bill said, must be paired with vision.  And what is vision? "Vision is a picture of the future that creates passion in people." Have you ever experienced passion that had its genesis in someone else's vision? Better yet... has God ever given YOU a vision that created passion in others? It's an amazing thing. Yet Bill had a warning about vision. Vision can b...