DEEP WATERS

I am an unapologetic fan of Dr. Brene Brown , writer and research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. The first time I heard Brene speak was at the Willow Creek Association's 2013 Global Leadership Summit . I loved her talk so much I even shared about it here in Deep Waters . Since then, I've heard Brene's popular TED Talks and read her book The Gifts of Imperfection . Brene is an expert on some interesting topics: vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame . I want to camp out on this last topic today. Even before hearing Brene speak or reading any of her books, I was well-acquainted with shame. I couldn't have defined the word (I'll let her do that in a bit), but I knew shame when it came knocking on my front door. Shame is what I felt earlier this month when I was invited to open up a conference of almost 3000 orphan advocates with prayer. I was nervous and certainly second-guessed their choice to have me pray...

On Thursday, December 5 we lost a legendary man that will never be forgotten. Nelson Mandela, a courageous, unwavering political and social leader of South Africa and the world, has left us with a beautiful legacy. In the Mandela family's first public statement since his death, his family members shared these words about their patriarch: "The pillar of the royal Mandela family is no more with us physically, but his spirit is still with us." Mandela's spirit of love and forgiveness and compassion for others does live on. And so do his words of love and forgiveness and compassion. When I thought of what I wanted to share about Nelson Mandela, I decided to focus on the eloquent words of our friend and leader.  1. "I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances." As I've heard many people speak of Mandela since his death, this quote resonates with me. I've heard extreme response...

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...

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...