Esther's Zeal & The Feast of Purim .. 3/12/2003

March 12, 2003 .......................................................................................................... Esther's Zeal & The Feast of ... I would like to share that I do not hold a position of clergy, pastor, minister nor ... I have never studied Theology nor taken religion classes. ......................................................... Esther's Zeal & The Feast of Purim .................................................................................... First, I would like to share that I do not hold a position of clergy, pastor, minister nor evangelist. I have never studied Theology nor taken religion classes in any school. ............................................................ I do not represent nor am I certified in any specific field. My only resource is the Holy Inspired Written Word of God ...The Bible. One thing for certain I believe and stand on -- ALL Mankind IS precious. ................................ The Biblical Truth on Record: The greatest message of Esther is a divine providence, by which God can rule and overrule in the affairs of men and work events out according to his will. The king had a sleepless night at exactly the right time - the night before the first banquet (Esther 6:1). God could easily cause that. The king had the book of records brought before him and read. The result was that Mordecai was honored on the very day that Haman planned to hang him. Then at the second banquet Esther, was in a postion to plead for her life and the lives of her people. (Esther 7). ................................................................................................ It will help to think of Daniel or Esther when ever in a hard place. But remember most of all that the Lord is your helper as he was theirs. ............................................................................................. Key Words in Esther 4:10-17; 9:20-22, 26 and 27: Hatach, commandment, unto Mordecai, one law of his, the golden sceptre, I have not been called, Think not, enlargement, from another place, fast ye for me, and the 15th day, Purim and such as joined themselves unto them. ............................................................................... The identification of the Hebrew name Ahasuerus with Xerxes was determined via of the Babylonian form of the name. Ahasuerus is mentioned in one verse in the Book of Ezra 4:6 and in the period of his reign comes chronologically during the part of the 57 years which elasped after the events recorded in Ezra 6 and before those of Ezra 7. ................ The book of Esther was written in the Persian period around 406 - 359 BC, by a Susan Jew who was familiar with the palace, and with Persian history, and with Persian customs. .......................................................... Esther, the Persian name of HADASSAH, daughter of Abihail, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Esther was a beautiful Jewish maiden, whose ancestor Kish had been among the captives led away from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar when Jehoiachin was taken captive. She was an orphan without father or mother, and had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai, who had an office in the household of Ahasuerus king of Persia, and dwelt at "Shushan the palace." When Vashti was dismissed from being queen, and all the fairest virgins of the kingdom had been collected at Shushan for the king to make choice of a successor to her from among them, the choice fell upon Esther. The king, was not aware, however, of her race and parentage. .................................................................................. The opening book chapter of the book of Esther tells of a 180 day feast given by Xerxes in the third year of his reign. The banquets was a time to decide concerning an invasion of Greece. Between the third year of Xerxes, when Queen Vashti was deposed, and his seventh year (Esther 2:16), when Esther was made queen, Xerxes campaign against Greece took place, ending in dismal failure. ............................................................................................ The royal favorite was Haman, called thought to mean that he was of Amalekite descent and hence one of the hereditary obeisance. Haman was wroth and determined to get revenge by bringing about a massacre of all the Jews throughout the Persian Empire. ...................................................................................................... It was then that Mordecai, warned Esther of the terrible proposed destruction and urged her to intercede with the king in her people's behalf. Mordecai suggested that Esther elevation to the position of queen might be a part of a divine plan to save the Jews from death. There was prayer and fasting. Then Esther risked her life and went in before the king. ................................................................................................................. The king held out to Esther his scepter, and asked her what was her request. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet and then to a second banquet. Haman was highly elated, but Mordecai was honored instead of being hanged on the gallows prepared for him. The plot of Haman to destroy the Jews was revealed. ........................................ The 14th day of Adar, the first day on which the feast of Purim is celebrated, is called in the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees "Mordecai's day," which shows plainly that Purim was observed late in the period between the Old and New Testament (2 Macc 15:36). ............................................................................................ The 13th day has been observed by fasting in honor of Esther's prayer and fasting before she approached the king. On the following morning of the 14th, synagogue services are held, with the reading of Esther (Exodus 17:8-16) which records the destruction of the Amalekites (Esther 3:1). Presents are given to the poor and to friends, and the rest of the day, as also the 15th, is observed with feasting and rejoicing. .................................................. Scripture text-history-reference: ..................................................................................... Crusade @ Bible Publishers, Inc. 1970, Mt. Juliet, Tn, USA, 37122 .................................................... The Precious Promise Bible KJV, "International", Copyright 1915/1908 By The J C Winston Co., Entered 1915/1908 At Stationer's Hall, ALL Rights Reserved, Printed in USA New Devotional "KJV" & Explanatory Bible, Old & New Testaments, Apocrypha, Concordance, & Psalms in Metre; Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by J R Jones, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington

Ain't No Valley - Book Review

Well you know the story... this is a book that I reviewed in 2004 while being the Baptist Host - Editor - Writer at another site. ........................................................................................................ This book is written in the form of a parable. ........................................................................ This book has three parts: ............................................................................................ The Invitation ........................................................................................................ The Preparation ....................................................................................................... The Wedding .......................................................................................................................................................................... The Parable of the Wedding Banquet.. Matthew 22:2-6, 8-10. ............................................................ Praise for Ain't No Vally, Foster's characters are unforgettable, full of life and charming.... Kweisi Mfume, President & CEO, NAACP .......................................................................................................... The lights shining on her were hot. It was good television. Pat Sajak is standing next to her. ........................ Vanna White is in front of her......................................................................................... This was her big chance. .............................................................................................. It was something that she had dreamed about for years, that she'd be on national television spinning the wheel. ....... Naomi picked her consonants and vowels. ............................................................................... She won one hundred thousand dollars! ................................................................................. Meemaw should never have volunteered to sew beads on Mary's wedding dress. ............................................ The wedding was coming so quickly. .................................................................................... Esther kept abreast of every space-age advance in straightening and coloring hair. .................................... Smitty had been part of the summer time charm of Big Esther's Beauty Shop a few years back. .......................... Smitty was Esther's husband. .......................................................................................... Meemaw is pulling out of the hedges and the highways. It's becoming like a family reunion, or one of those family-and friends days at church. The groom is from Africa, and he doesn't have many people coming. For some reason, he and Mary both have people that can't come for one reason or another. .......................................................... I want too thank you for letting me be mice (no misprint) self again. Sly Stone's lyrics ran through Anthony's mind. ..................................................................................................................... The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Matthew 22:8-12 .................................................................... The Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13 ........................................................................ It was going to go crazy, she might as well go all the way. Naomi laughed to herself as she laid the map she had purchased out on the table top of the booth in front of her. .......................................................... The money from Wheel of Fortune was going to be a blessing. ......................................................... Ruthie tossed her stringy hair. Naomi noticed a tattoo on the girl's arm. It was a cross ringed with a crown. ............................................................................ Naomi hesitated and then followed. She watched as Ruthie unpacked the shoulder pack, gently patting each loaf of bread as she removed it. "Thank you, Jesus!" She whispered each time, and Naomi felt the same discomfort she had felt earlier. "Jesus is a friend of mine." ................................................................................ For the past two weeks or so - it could have been shorter or longer, Anthony had been going to the church and the hotel. ............................................................................................................... There was still no sighting of Sly Stone, but things weren't bad. ..................................................... He went to Evangel, he stayed at the hotel because he needed some kind of routine in his life. ........................ Pops told him keep looking. If you don't find what you're looking for, you for sure gonna find what you need. ......... We all know about the story of the prodigal son, don't we? ............................................................ The preacher was nodding as he spoke. The preacher waved his arms dramatically. He wanted it all, and he wanted it all now. "Daddy, give me everything that's due me. Give me all my gifts now." The congregation laughed with the preacher. "It makes you want to holler, throw up both your hands!" They all shook their heads and laughed. ..................... "So, the ungrateful young man goes off and lives a riotous life. Drinking." The congregation laughed as the preacher pretended to dance. "Til pretty soon all that he had was gone. You know the story: He found himself in mud, in slop, living with pigs. One day everything's fine. He's on top of the world - living in the palace, working in the big house. But before you know it, the brother is living in the pit. He's lost his luxury car and he doesn't even have a hoopty. He was eating caviar and drinking Dom Perignon, now he's fighting pirgs for slop... and the pigs are winning. ......... You looking for your great adventure. And the greatest adventure ain't about money. It's the story of the good king, and the evil prince who is willing to ruin the kingdom so he can have everything, and the good son willing to do anything to save his father's kingdom and all mankind. The greatest adventure is full of angels and evil -- it's a wild ride baby. ............................................................................................................ Luke 15:11-13 The Prodigal Son ........................................................................................ The Bible tells us God's ways not being our ways. And the author realized, the prize is not really money, cars, or VIP seats. That's not the prize. The prize is close relationship. God has enough to love everybody. ...................... Anthony was anxious about the wedding. ................................................................................ They were traveling on a bus to the wedding. .......................................................................... Naomi, Thelma, and Latrice - the bridesmaids were dressed in blue and white. .......................................... Sharon Ewell Foster, author, is a double Rita-Award finalist and Daily Guidepost Writer. She has found loyal fans that cross racial, religious, age and gender boundaries. A former U.S. Defense Department instructor, writer, logistician, and is also the author of Passing by Samaria. ......................................................................... I review books for publishing companies, publicists, authors, businesses and ministries.

Breaking Bad Habits .. 2/17/2013

Sunday School Lesson for 2/17/2013. Unit III. Imitating Jesus. Breaking Bad Habits. Colossians 3:5-17. ................ Christian Life In Action (Colossians 3:5-4:6) ................................................................................................. Discard the Old … Colossians 3:5-11 .......................................................................................................................................... Put on the New … Colossians 3:12-17 ............................................................................................................................................................................. Bad habits are the worst habits to break according to the Life Optimizer Blog (http://www.lifeoptimizer.org ), which is a secular blog, but was listed in my sunday school book. ......................................................................................................... Colossians 3:5-17 ................................................................................................................................................... Verses 5,6,7 – Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces of the New Life; Self-Denial ................................................................................................. Verse 5 – the apostle Paul was using a “figurative word” when he wrote put to death. ............................................................................................. At the time of the apostle’s writing their was an extreme amount of sexual immorality (verse 5) ..................................................................................... (Matthew 6:24; Zephaniah 1:14-15; I Thessalonians 5:1-3; Zechariah 1:2; Ephesians 2:1-5; Titus 3:3-4 … Reference Scripture in my Sunday School Book) ............................................................................................................ Colossians 3:8-11 ............................................................................................................................ Verse 8 – Fallen Man; Sins Against God; Blasphemy .................................................................................................. Verses 9,10 – Man Redeemed; Effectual Calling; Man Co-operates ...................................................................................................... Verse 11 – Man Redeemed; Effectual Calling; Man Co-operates … Sacred Rites & Forms; Sacraments, Worship, & Church Fellowship; The Significance of the Rite, But of no Importance to Christians .................................................................................................................. Human power of speech is/was hurtful & destructive ................................................................................................................... Greedy desire can at times produce sexual exploitation, materialism that controls people & societies ................................................................................................................ The Christian life is an on going learning process/program – continuing christian education ................................................................................................................ vs 11 – Greek, Jew, Barbarian, Scythian ............................................................................................................................ Jew – (II Kings 16:6; 25:25) originally; then later anyone of the Hebrew race … In the New Testament .. Jews (Israelites) .................................................................................................................................... (The apostle Paul needed his Greek education, as he needed the Judaism of Gamaliel) .................................................................................................................... Greek – Gentile, non-Jew ............................................................................................................................ Barbarian – non-Greek speaking people ......................................................................................................... Scythian – term for the barbarians of the Steppes. Area between the Carpathians & the Don & modern Ukraine. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... (Acts 7:58; Romans 13:12-14; I John 1:7; Romans 12:12) ................................................................................................................... Colossians 3:12-17 ............................................................................................................................................................ Verse 12 – Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces of the New Life; Fellow- Feeling with Others .................................................................................................................................. Verse 13 – Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces of the New Life; Mercifulness .. Jesus Christ; Christ’s Divinity; Performs the Works of God; In Forgiving Sins ..................................................................................................................... Verse 14 – Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces of the New Life; Love to Christian Brethren ................................................................................................................. Verse 15 – Man Redeemed; “Duties & Grace of the New Life; Peaceableness ..................................................................................................................... Verse 16 – Sacred Rites & Forms; Sacraments, Worship, & Church – Fellowship; Music, Among Christians ....................................................................................................................... Verse 17 – Jesus Christ; Offices of Christ; Our Mediator ...................................................................................................................... (I Corinthians 13; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 1:12; 2:7) ..................................................................................................................... While I/you are not perfect, we are aware of the sinful ways that displease God. ..................................................................................................................... Never lose sight of the way you behave for God expects us to behave like Christians. .................................................................................................................... Scripture & reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible & Zondervan Bible Commentary

2/16/2013 .. Wise Word .. Word For The Day

This thought for today is coming from my daily devotional reading calendar which is over 15 or 20 years old. ........... When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 .................... Proverbs - wise sayings of Solomon. ..................................................................................... The Hebrew title of Proverbs is 'Mishle' the singular of which is 'maschal,' usually translated "proverb." .............. Works of God; God's Providence In Man's Temporal Affairs; Inclines the Heart of Men Toward His Servants .......................................................................................................................................................... Promises: The Upright are Blessed & Prospered ..... Victory over Enemies & Troubles ..................................... A person can be prospered in many ways .. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Chapters 10 - 22 of Proverbs consists of ethical maxims, but connected with one another. ............................... maxim - a general truth or rule of conduct expressed in a sentence. ..................................................... Scripture & reference taken/used from: KJV Topical Reference Bible, KJV Precious Promise Bible, & Reader's Digest Word Finder

101 Tips for Graduates - Book Review

101 Tips for Graduates: A Code of Conduct For Success & Happiness in Your Professional Life ........................... Be Yourself - Lead By Example ... ....................................................................... I am sharing some tips from a book I reviewed in 2005. ............................................................... Natural leaders earn a respect as a result of what they do, not because of who they are. ............................. Think about the leaders who have a positive influence in your life. Is there a special teacher, family member, friend,or other role model who's helped guide you? Think about the people you respect, those you turn to for advice. ...................................................................................................................... Be sure you don't overlook the leaders in your life - the people who've taken time to talk with you and help you. ...................................................................................................................... Some people create and inspire change in others. They don't consider themselves to be great leaders and may not even realize they are making a difference. They simply lead by being who they are. ......................................... You guide and influence people every day whether you do it intentionally or not. .................................................................................................................... Your words have more impact than you think - think about the things you say. .......................................... Strive to be your best and bring out the best in others. .............................................................. On a plane ride from Atlanta, the author was thinking about all the work she had left to do before she could get her business up and running. After spending several days with Susan Bixler, a successful and respected image consultant in Atlanta, she had earned her certificate as a corporate image consultant. .............................................. The author met with Gail, a friend of hers who is a psychologoist, a few weeks later. She told her about some of her concerns and asked her to work with her on a few projects. ............................................................ Gail told the author you've got everything you need to succeed. People might have awards and degrees decorating their walls, but many of them hide behind their credentials. They need to hear what you have to say. ....................... The author said her friend reminded her to be herself. ................................................................ Be yourself. There is nothing more attractive than genuineness and authenticity. ___ Maggie Mortenson ................. The author interviews have been show cased on countless radio and TV programs and in major publications, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fox News and CNN. ..................................................................... The author, Susan Morem - 101 Tips for Graduates. ..................................................................... I review free books: review from publishing companies, publicists, authors, businesses, and ministries.

2-11-2003 .. Damascus Will Cease To Exist

http://injesus.com/message-archives/christian-living/ChristianThinkers/fwd-angelaswisdomdamascus-will-cease-to-exist Written by Angela Watkins 2-11-2003 . [Thinkers, -- This is remarkable thinking. Angela emphatically states that she is not a prophet, but only brings out what the Scripture says, what is there within it; and sticks to the Scripture. I find myself fascinated by her points. -- Ellis] THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ACCORDING TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES: And again I am jumping ahead of some of my studies but it will be okay. IMPORTANT: I am not predicting when but I am teaching according to the Holy Scriptures. There are some tuff days ahead... Isaiah 17:1-14 and Jeremiah 49:23-27 - will Damascus cease to exist in the end times? ISAIAH 17:1-14 verses 1 - 3 The burden of Damascus, Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. OTHER NATIONS - NOTICES OF GENTILE NATIONS - PROPHETIC & DENUNCIATORY "WARNING" verses 4-6, 9-11 And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of this flesh wax lean. And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. Yet gleaming grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bought, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel. In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In that day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow. TILLING OF GROUND - EMPLOYMENT - SORROWFUL HARVEST verse 7 ...At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. OBEYING GOD - DUTY TO GOD - WAITING ON GOD verse 8 ... And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images. IDOLATRY - GROVE WORSHIP FORBIDDEN verses 12, 13, 14 Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us. OTHER NATIONS -- ENEMIES OF ISRAEL JEREMIAH 49:23-27 verses 23 - 27 Concerning Damascus, Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted: there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad. OTHER NATIONS - NOTICES OF GENTILE NATIONS: CHIEFLY PROPHETIC & DENUNCIATORY "WARNING" - SYRIA TO BE DESTROYED Scripture text taken from: Crusade @ Bible Publishers, Inc. 1970, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 37122, USA [Of course Angela's Archives can be read at http://AngelasWisdom.InJesus.com ]

25 Principles For Leadership That Matters - Book Review

Leadership is always a theological enterprise in the sense that our most important beliefs and convictions are about God. .................................................................................................................. Dr. Mohler mentions several leaders on a national level good and not so good. I loved the comment that he made about the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ................................................................................... For the Christian leader, the frame of reference for leadership is infinitely greater. Our leadership is set within the context of eternity. .................................................................................................. In Daniel 4 we learn of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, one of the most powerful monarchs in human history. God judges Nebuchadnezzar for his arrogrance and pride, and he takes Nebuchadnezzar's kingly sovereignty away from him. Later, after a humbling lesson, God restores Nebuchadnezzar to his former greatness. ......................................... After all this happens, Nebuchadnezzar speaks of the lessons he has learned about who is truly sovereign, and he testifies that sovereignty belongs to God alone, stating that "his dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:34) ............................................................................................. No one can truly thwart God's plans or frustrate His determination. It means that we are secure in the knowledge that God's sovereign purpose to redeem a people through the atonement accomplished by his Son will be fully realized. ...... Those who lead are entrusted with a stewardship that comes ultimately from God and in the end will be judged by him alone. ................................................................................................................ We know that character matters when we hire a baby-sitter. How can it not matter when we are calling a leader? ........ You should read a book or article only for what it is worth. If you find that the book is not contributing to your life and leadership, set it aside. Time is more valuable than money. ....................................................... Keep a couple of books ready for reading, and take a couple with you as you travel. ................................... Test everything you read by viewing it through the lens of biblical truth and your convictions. Those who would lead with conviction must read with conviction. ............................................................................ We can learn a great deal from the secular world and its studies and practices of leadership, but the last thing the church needs is warmed-over business theories decorated with Christian language. ...................................... The requirements of stewards is that they be found faithful. That's why leadership is only for the brave. ............. Leaders are subject to the same laws, morals, principles, and expectations as the rest of humanity, but the moral risks are far higher for them. .............................................................................................. When difficulty comes, and it will come, loyalty is what we give to each other and to the cause we serve. That loyalty has to start at the top. .............................................................................................. Loyalty is hard to maintain in a world of no-fault divorce, broken contracts, and collapsing corporations -but it remains essential. ................................................................................................... Leaders have unique abilities, but they received these talents and the ability to develop them as gifts from God, given for the good and welfare of others. ................................................................................... It's not about us - even though we are given the platform, the position, and the prominence within the organization. The gifts were given to us in order that we might serve others. ....................................................... Those who follow you know that you have weaknesses and foibles, so let them share in the humor you direct at yourself. ................................................................................................................... Humor is the virtue of allowing people to see your humanity and your comfort in being fully human, quirks and all. .................................................................................................................... Leaders know how to laugh with their team, with the public, and at themselves. ....................................... Humor must never be crude or disrespectful, but it can build respect. ................................................. Dr. Mohler saw an example of this when President Barack Obama welcomed former President George W. Bush to the White House for the unveiling of his presidential portrait. The political tensions were incredible. Obama had run against the record of Bush in 2008, and Bush would be doing everything possible in 2012 to prevent Obama from a second term in office. That's politics. ............................................................................................. Humor was brilliantly used by both presidents to humanize the occasion. Obama paid tribute to Bush, and then jokingly thanked him for leaving "a really good TV sports package" on the White House cable system. "I use it," Obama said. Bush, in turn thanked Obama and then told the incumbent president that he could now look at the portrait from time to time and ask, "What would George do?" ................................................................................ Leaders who want to make a a difference, and make that difference last, must write. .................................. Email has now become the standard means of communication, displacing not only the printed letter but also meetings, phone calls, and oral discussion. ..................................................................................... Leaders write newsletters, memos, correspondence, articles, columns, and books in order to extend their reach and deepen the impact of their leadership. ................................................................................ While writing is demanding, its rewards are truly great. .............................................................. The digital world is driven by its entrepreneurial and ideological pioneers and cheerleaders, and they are a multitude. ................................................................................................................... Cell phones, originally the toys of the rich and powerful are now more popular than landline phones in the poorest regions of the globe. ................................................................................................ Facebook, the central fixture of social media (for now), was launched in February 2004 and now links more than 900 million users worldwide. Twitter, the micro-blogging sensation, was launched in May 2006 and boast 140 million users who post 340 million tweets each day. ................................................................................. For many Americans, Twitter represents the leading edge of news and communication. .................................... A teenager with a computer can create a blog that looks more authoritative than the blog written by a CEO of a Fortune 500 Corporation - and perhaps read by more people as well. ............................................................ If you want to influence the future, brace yourself and get in the fast lane. ......................................... Content is king. ...................................................................................................... Your web presence advertises to the world who you are, what your organization is all about, and the seriousness of your commitment to that mission. .......................................................................................... No book can broadcast ideas as quickly and inexpensively as a blog. ................................................... Learn how to use links, images, and social media to drive people to your blog. ........................................ As with the digital world as a whole, there are dangers and traps. Social media can be used for good or evil. Social media will soon dominate all other forms of digital communication. ................................................... If you are not on Twitter, and if you are not working and following it regularly, you are missing a massive leadership opportunity. .......................................................................................................... The old media are tightly contained and controlled by large corporations or organizations. The digital world opens the opportunity for you and your organization to become a producer of video and audio content without the massive investment. ........................................................................................................... Creating a podcast is a powerful opportunity for a leader, but you can start small. ................................... A leader ready for influence and leadership in the digital kingdom needs, at the very least, access to the Internet and support for a presence there. You do not have to own a computer, but you do need one close at hand that is connected to the Internet. ......................................................................................................... Leaders are readers, whether in print or on screen. Leaders have a message, and should be ready to use every appropriate platform and technology to get it out to others. .......................................................... In the book of Ecclesiastes, we find a breathtakingly beautiful testimony to the meaning of time. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) ..................................................................................................................... The first thing that we learn about time in the Bible that God created it and that time is contrasted with eternity. God is not bound by time, and he created time as a feature of the creation that reveals his glory. ................... The Christian leader knows that our time is in God's hands. We cannot add time; we can only exercise stewardship over the time we are given. (Matthew 6:27) ................................................................................ Everything humans build will one day be reduced to ruins, but our lives and our leadership will, in Christ, have eternal consequences and impact. ..................................................................................... The leader knows a time to work, a time to rest, a time to plan and a time to act, a time to read and a time to speak, a time to play and a time to fight. ................................................................................... Leadership requires maturing, learning, adapting, rethinking, and retooling. None of these things come fast or easily. ...................................................................................................................... Truth is eternal, established by the God who is eternal. The truth endures, and so must we. ........................... Leadership, in other words, is perishable. We know that our leadership, no matter our age, is a temporary stewardship. We are creatures made for a specific time and a specific opportunity and a unique stewardship of influence, life, and energy. We have a limited opportunity to make a difference, and make it last. ......................................... Time and opportunities are precious and perishable. ................................................................... The style of the leader is a personal signature. Your tastes will not be the tastes of the future. What matters is that the convictions survive. ............................................................................................. The patriarchs and prophets of Israel define leadership by conviction, as do the apostles in the New Testament. ....... The determination of the patriarchs in the Old Testament: Abraham, Issac, and Jacob all built for future generations. Great chapter of faith in the Bible (Hebrews 11:13) .................................................................. The loss of a secular institution is a shame. The loss of an institution founded on biblical truth is a tragedy. ...... If the concerns is merely financial gain and organizational aggrandizement, legacy will not matter much. ............. The leader unconcerned about leaving a legacy is a leader who will leave the job undone. .............................. Bethany Publishing sent me a copy of this book for review. ............................................................ Dr. R. Albert Jr., became the youngest member in the 153 - year history of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the process he became one of the most important and prominent Christian voices in contemporary culture. ............ He is president of the Southern Baptist Convention's flagship school, as well as radio personality, blogger, and sought after commentator. .................................................................................................... Dr. Mohler has been quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. ................................................................................................................................................................ He has appeared on such national news programs as Larry King Live, NBC's Today Show, Dateline NBC, Good Morning America, The NewsHour with Jim Lehr, and The O'Reilly Factor. ......................................................... He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, Mary