1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Life audio. People need you to lead well, and that 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: doesn't begin by pretending that everything's okay. Lloyan, Welcome to 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: the March or Die Show today. Glad to have you 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: joining me. This is the show where we do our 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: best every single episode to give you both the principles 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: and perspectives you need to march when it would be 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: easier to stay where you are and die. And today 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: I definitely want to give you just some principles from 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: moving forward, leading well during times of anxiety. When you 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: look at the world around us, we are in a 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: moment of global anxiety. It seems like often anxiety is 12 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: kind of a personal thing, or maybe a local thing. 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: There's something going on where you are. As we look 14 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: at the world around us, we recognize that there is 15 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: a global anxiety, this cloud almost that's over most of 16 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: the world as we look at what's happening in places 17 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: near and far. And the question we need to ask, 18 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: I think, and this is an important question for parents 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: to answer, for community leaders to answer, for those in 20 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: the corporate workspace to answer, is how do we lead? 21 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: How do we lead well during times of global anxiety? 22 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: And I have some principles for you today that I 23 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: would like to share that I hope will be a 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 1: help to you before we jump into that. If you're 25 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: not yet subscribed to the show, please do that right 26 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: now wherever you are listening from whatever podcast platform you're 27 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: listening from, go ahead and subscribe. That would be fantastic. 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: And then take some time go over to YouTube and 29 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: you can find our channel there, the March or Die 30 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: Show or March or Die. You'll find it and go 31 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: aways subscribe. Subscribe. There a great place to leave us comments, 32 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: to share content out. Would love to have you joining 33 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: us there. And then a couple of the things that 34 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: are going on. I guess content that's available to you. 35 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: I just wanted to share with you. So number one 36 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: and maybe you've seen it, maybe you haven't, but we 37 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: have a new March or Die website and so that 38 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: is a great place to go to to kind of 39 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: begin the conversation, to get archived episodes. There is written 40 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: content that's there as well, so really a hub for 41 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: all the content around March or Die. March Ordie dot com, 42 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: march Ordie dot com. You can find the website there 43 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: and I'd love for you to check that out. It's 44 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: brand new. We've had a website. We've played with it 45 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: a little bit over the last couple of years, but 46 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: it's great, just completely redone and ready to go. So 47 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: that is there as well march Ordied dot com. And 48 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: then you've heard me talk about this a little bit. 49 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: And when Sean's been on the show, and he'll be back, 50 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: he's doing some solo episodes. I'm doing some solos. We're 51 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: gonna get some co hosting done here as well in 52 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: the near future. But you've heard Sean and I both 53 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: talk about the Men of Action, Men of Action, our 54 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: Men of Action platform, and i'd encourage you to check 55 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 1: that out. What is that well for men and the ladies. 56 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: You're welcome to take a look at it as well 57 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: if you'd like to, but specifically for men. It is 58 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: a platform that has great content. We've got some learning modules. 59 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: There is a series of lessons on leadership, some other content. 60 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: There a weekly Bible study currently working through the Gospel 61 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: of John. There's a community aspect where we're able to 62 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: communicate with one another. It's a wonderful platform. And this 63 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: is really been designed or this has really been designed 64 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: for just men generally, not specifically veterans and service members. 65 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: But for men who are looking to have a community 66 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: of other men online and who are interested in some 67 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: of the content that we're putting out, and so I'd 68 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: ask you to check that out Men of Action. Now, 69 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: how do you get there? Probably a lot of ways, 70 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: but the simplest way is to go to that March 71 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: or Die website march Ordie dot com and you can 72 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: find the Men of Action platform and check that out. 73 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: Would love to have you joining us there. All right, 74 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: that's all the commercials. Let's get back to what we're talking. 75 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: We're talking about I get one chance a week to 76 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: talk to everyone, and I want to make sure you 77 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: have all of the information that you need. But we 78 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: are talking about how to lead through global anxiety, and man, 79 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: there are a lot of different ways I guess to 80 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: phrase that, or to stage that, to position that. But 81 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: it seems like, and this is something I've talked about before, 82 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: and we talked about this on the show, even it 83 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: seems like the world is becoming more and more chaotic, 84 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: not less and less. And isn't that ironic? For those 85 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: of us that are Christians and we look to the 86 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: Bible for direction and understanding, the Bible explains this process 87 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: doesn't it that things will get worse before they get better, 88 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,119 Speaker 1: and we are living through that, and it's become this 89 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: kind of situation where it feels like everywhere you look 90 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: there's something crazy going on. We could look at our 91 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,119 Speaker 1: local communities, depending on where you live, there's always things 92 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: going on in the local community, often even within our families. 93 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: If we go a little more micro there are things 94 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: happening and unresolved issues and circumstances that don't have a 95 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: clear end, and so there's some anxiety there. We look 96 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: to the community that we live in, there's some anxiety there, 97 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: and certainly nationally here in the United States, for sure, 98 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,239 Speaker 1: there's a lot going on politically, and it just seems 99 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: like things are more and more polarized, and how is 100 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: this going to resolve? And how is that going to resolve? 101 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: Not clear answers or clear direction, and so there's anxiety, 102 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: a lot to be worried about. You couple that with 103 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: the fact that we have access to all of the 104 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: noise all of the time through social media and the news, 105 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: so much so much to be anxious and fearful about. 106 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: And then we look to the world's stage and who 107 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: we're talking right now about conflict in the Middle East. 108 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: We're talking about just varying opinions and positions on global 109 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 1: politics from country to country and region to region, and 110 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: because the world is an increasingly smaller place, it impacts 111 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,799 Speaker 1: all of us. Maybe this whole introduction is causing anxiety. 112 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: It is for me. There's always something going on, and 113 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: again it's not always easy or clear to understand what 114 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: we should do. But I want to speak specifically to 115 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: people who are leading. And if you've been listening to 116 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: this podcast for any length of time, you've heard us 117 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: talk about leadership a lot. I believe that leadership is 118 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: something that we all have a responsibility to engage in. 119 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: I don't believe that some are leaders and some aren't. 120 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: Now I believe that there are some leaders in some environments, 121 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: there are people who are positional leaders, and all those 122 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: things we've talked about, But I believe we're all leaders. 123 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: We all have the opportunity to lead. We all have 124 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: the opportunity to help people go from where they are 125 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: to where they need to be. That's something that all 126 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: of us, on some level have the opportunity to engage. 127 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: Maybe you are a parent, and that's man such an 128 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: important areas to lead, you need to lead your kids. 129 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: Sometimes that's leading them in their pursuit of knowledge, as 130 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: we get them into school and help them work through 131 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: their education. It can be in other areas, but we're 132 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: leading our kids, helping them get to the place they 133 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: need to be in their lives so they can be 134 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: productive citizens. Maybe it's a relationship that you're in and 135 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: you have the opportunity to lead, to serve the person 136 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: or the people that are in those relationships. It could 137 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: be in the community, it could be in your workplace. 138 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: Whatever the case, there are those who look to you 139 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: or direction. They look to you for leadership. Again, I've 140 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: talked about this a lot, but when we start to 141 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: realize the world is not about us, and we have 142 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: the opportunity wherever we stand or sit to influence other people, 143 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: then we realize there are those who look to us 144 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: for direction, who are also confused, are also anxious, are 145 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: also fearful, don't know where to turn, and because of 146 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: the relationship that we have with them, whatever that is, 147 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: they look to us and we have a responsibility to lead. 148 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: This is always hard, it's always challenging, but at times 149 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: when the world is as chaotic as the one we're 150 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: living in, it becomes more and more difficult. So I 151 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: want to give you some thoughts, some principles on how 152 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: to lead when the world feels out of control. This 153 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: isn't how to survive when the world is out of control. 154 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: This isn't even how to take the next step when 155 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: the world is out of control, but how to be 156 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: that leader that your family needs, that your community needs, 157 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: that your workplace needs. How to be that person when 158 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: there is globe anxiety. There's so much to be fearful about. 159 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: And of course we're going to approach this from a 160 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: Christian standpoint or a biblical viewpoint, and so I have 161 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: some things written down that I just want to share 162 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 1: with you, and I hope that this will be at help. 163 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: Maybe this is the type of content that you'd want 164 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: to share out with someone else in your life. As 165 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: we think about this, it is the job of the leader. 166 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: It's the responsibility of the leader during moments of local crisis, 167 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: personal crisis, or global crisis. It is the responsible responsibility 168 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: of the leader to anchor themselves and those that they 169 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: lead to the unchanging nature of God to anchor themselves. 170 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: So as the leader, you need to anchor yourself and 171 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 1: then anchor those that you have the opportunity to lead 172 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: to the unchanging nature of God. This is something that 173 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: is absolutely critical for us to understand personally, that you 174 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: will constantly be in a state of chaos and confusion 175 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: and anxiety if you're anchoring your life, your identity, your future, 176 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: your sense of value or purpose, if you're anchoring those 177 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: in anything other than an unchanging God, you will constantly 178 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: be in a state of anxiety and fear that comes 179 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: with that and this chaos because things change all the time. 180 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: Workplaces change, people change, relationships change, your financial situations change. 181 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,479 Speaker 1: All of that changes, and if you find your identity 182 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: or purpose in those things, and you'll constantly be in 183 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: a position of anxiety and fear. When you anchor yourself 184 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 1: or tie yourself to an unchanging God, a God who 185 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: created everything, who sustains life, who's outside of space and time, 186 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: who's not moved by what's happening in the world, When 187 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: you anchor yourself to God who doesn't change, then you 188 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: can be steadfast and consistent when the world around you 189 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: seems to be spending out of control. And that's an 190 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 1: individual thing, that's a personal thing. I've talked about this 191 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: a lot, even as it relates to identity and those things, 192 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: but that's where it begins, because as the leader, you 193 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: need to be tied to an unchanging God, and then 194 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: you need to tie those who you have the opportunity 195 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: to lead to that unchanging God. That's the goal. How 196 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: do we do that? Number One, understand that we live 197 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: in an era of noise A better way to say 198 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 1: that constant news from around the world that's coming in, 199 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: and it comes in whether we want it to or not. 200 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: I guess there are some people who don't have social 201 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: media and who shut down any outside noise and they 202 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: just keep their head down to work, and I envy 203 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: those people, But that's not most people. Most of us 204 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: are being constantly inundated with news from around the world. 205 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: Now we'll talk about this a little bit as we 206 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: continue on, but part of this is pushing out the noise. 207 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: Part of it is separating from what's happening in at 208 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: least to the extent that you can. But I think 209 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 1: a lot of this conversation begins with just understanding that 210 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: chaos and confusion and anxiety is what the world is. 211 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: It's what the world is. God created the world and 212 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: all that inhabits the world in a perfect environment, without sin, 213 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: without brokenness, without so many of the things that we 214 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: deal with as humans. But the first humans, Adam and Eve, 215 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: they sin on our behalf. They rebelled against God, and 216 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: when they did a lot of things happened. One of 217 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: the things that happened was that the sin nature entered 218 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: the human race. Sin entered the world, and with sin, 219 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: brokenness and so many of the challenges that we deal 220 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: with in our lives if are a result of that's sin. 221 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: And we could talk all the way through that. I won't, 222 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 1: that's not the point of today. But when we look 223 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: at the chaos, we look at the fear, we look 224 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: at the wars, we look at the brokenness, we look 225 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: at the hurt, all of those things, where do those 226 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: come from. Ultimately, they come from rebelling against a holy God. 227 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: They come from a rejection of the way that God 228 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: has told us to live. And so sin has a consequence, 229 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: and a consequence is what the Bible calls wars and 230 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: rumors of wars. So as we have this conversation, it's 231 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: important we begin with this, this premise that the world 232 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: has always since the fall of Adam and Eve has 233 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: always been a place of chaos and confusion and brokenness 234 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: and hurt and will continue to be. Why is it 235 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: important we start there. It's important that we start there 236 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 1: because so often the reason we allow ourselves to become 237 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: overwhelmed by these things because we somehow believe, whether we 238 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: say it or not, we somehow believe that this is 239 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: a unique moment in time. Now is it different than 240 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: other times? Sure? Technology again, some of the things we've 241 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: already talked about, even they change how we feel about 242 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: these things and how much access we have to them. 243 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: There's certainly been moments of greater peace than at others. 244 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: But even if you look back one hundred years, people 245 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: were dealing with this different ways. If you read history, 246 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: super interesting to look at moments in time where there 247 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: was peace followed by absolute chaos in the form of 248 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: a world war, followed by peace, followed by not too 249 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: long another world war, followed by peace after tremendous destruction, 250 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: followed by a series of years later, a couple of 251 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: years later, another war, followed by a moment of peace, 252 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: and another long per tracted war. This is the world 253 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: that we live in. It always has been, whether we 254 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: knew it or not, It's always been this way, and 255 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: although that doesn't provide comfort, it does provide a sense 256 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: of direction. This is not new, and so as a leader, 257 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: I think one of the ways that we lead forward 258 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: is by getting a hold of that truth, staying anchored 259 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: to an unchanging God, recognizing this is what a fallen 260 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: world that has rebelled against the word and work of God. 261 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: This is what it looks like, and it's always been 262 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: this way. When we start to believe these terms of 263 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: these phrases like unprecedented times, this has never happened this 264 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: way before. This is unique. It's never been like this. Listen. 265 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: I get the nuance and all of that. There are 266 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: different ways that things happen, and technologies change things. I 267 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: get that, But this is not new. What did Solomon 268 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: say way back in the Book of Ecclesiastes, there's nothing 269 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: new under the sun. Humans have always devised interesting, maybe novel, 270 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: ways of hurting each other, rebelling against God, and creating 271 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: chaos in the world that they live in. So it 272 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: begins there. The Bible says in Matthew chapter twenty four 273 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: and verse six, I just mentioned this, and you shall 274 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you 275 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass. 276 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: But the end is not yet. All these things must 277 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: come to pass. What is the author here saying in 278 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: Matthew twenty four to six, Well, these are the words 279 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: of Jesus, and so Jesus is saying, and the author 280 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: is communicating Jesus's words. Jesus is saying, this is how 281 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: it is, and you're going to hear about it, and 282 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: it's going to happen. And the end is near. There 283 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: is ultimate victory that God provides and will provide. The 284 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: end is near, but it's not there yet. So we 285 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: need to really get a hold of this truth. This 286 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: is the world that we live in. So take a 287 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: deep breath. Understand this is the world we live in. Okay, 288 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: Understanding that doesn't make it any better. So we get 289 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: that reality. That's the reality. We can rest in that reality. 290 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: But then what do we do? I think the next 291 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: thing we do, And here's a principle that we can 292 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: focus on. We need to anchor our minds. Remember, the 293 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: goal of the leader is to be anchored to an 294 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: unchanging God and to anchor those that they lead. To 295 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: an unchanging God. Well, for us, we recognize the landscape 296 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: as it is. Okay, we're not going to be afraid 297 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: of this or think that it's something new or unprecedented. 298 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: This is the world, got it? We can settle. And 299 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: then what do we do recognizing that and accepting it? 300 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: What do we do well? First, anchor your mind. Anxiety 301 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,479 Speaker 1: is so often the result of focusing on things that 302 00:17:55,520 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: we cannot control, focusing on things that we can control. 303 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 1: And for me, this is where I struggle. It's not 304 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: the things that I can control that I worry about, 305 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: it's the things I can't control. Why it seems backwards 306 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: within all of us. I think there is a desire 307 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: to be in control. Some have this more than others. 308 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: But when we can put our hands on something and 309 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: keep it where we want it to be, or put 310 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: it where we want it to be, that doesn't bother us. 311 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: What bothers us, what creates fear and anxiety in us, 312 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: are those things that we cannot control. That's why wars 313 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: in nations ten thousand miles away, That's why the situations 314 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: that are being decided in Washington, d C. That's why 315 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: all of these things outside of our control, create so 316 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 1: much anxiety and fear in us because we have very 317 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: little control over them. We can't stop it, we can't 318 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: make it happen, we can't do anything with it. We 319 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: simply have to let it be, and that creates fear. 320 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: So what do we need to do? Focus on the 321 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: things that we can control, keep our minds on those 322 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: things that we have the opportunity to control, to interact 323 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: with the things that God has allowed us to have 324 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: a part in. And then and this sounds maybe even 325 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: trite or overly simplified, but then trust God for the 326 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: rest of it. It is not as simple as simply 327 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: It's not as simple as simply It's not as easy 328 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: as simply saying I'm not going to worry about that 329 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: because we're receiving it. But it is as simple as 330 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 1: recognizing I can't control that, so I'm not going to 331 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: get that a place in my heart and mind. And 332 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: maybe that means staying off of the social media where 333 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: you receive that type of content. Maybe it means not 334 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 1: looking at national you're watching local news and see what's 335 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: going on in your community, but maybe you consume that 336 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: national or international news and it creates anxiety. Things you 337 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,959 Speaker 1: can't control fear that really has no place in your 338 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: life because you can't do anything about it. Will limit 339 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: the intake of that. Start to understand what you're allowing 340 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: to come into your heart and mind, and limit the 341 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: intake of those situations and circumstances that you cannot control. 342 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: Here's what Isaiah, chapter twenty six and verse three says, 343 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: that will keep him in perfect peace is and that 344 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: what we want that will keep him in perfect peace? 345 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: Whose mind is stayed on the because he trusts in 346 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: the now. I love that verse for a couple of reasons. One, 347 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 1: it promises peace. Isaiah is saying to God, you do 348 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: keep those in peace. There is peace available to people. 349 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: Sometimes we don't even think it's available. There is peace available. 350 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: You will keep him in perfect peace. How does that 351 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: happen well when their mind is stayed on THEE on God? Why? 352 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 1: Because he trusteth in thee. The person who is focused 353 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: in their life, who pushes out the noise the things 354 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: that they can't control. Now, we need to be aware 355 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: of what's happening. We certainly need to know what's happening 356 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: in the world. I'm not saying shut off everything and 357 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 1: go live in a hole. Somewhere. I'm just saying, don't 358 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: consume it to the point where it controls your thoughts 359 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: and mind, where it controls your heart, where it creates 360 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: these anxious thoughts and these fears. Some people are consumed 361 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: with it, and day after day hours of content coming 362 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: in about things that they have zero control over. And 363 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: the Bible says, there is peace to the person who's focused, where, 364 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:55,400 Speaker 1: whose mind is stayed, where focused, where on God. It's 365 00:21:55,400 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 1: a looking to God. Why because he trusts in thee 366 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:06,679 Speaker 1: And I think if we are going to experience peace, 367 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: then we need to have a mind that is focused 368 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: on the things of God, dealing with the things that 369 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: we can control, controlling the things that we can, trusting 370 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,479 Speaker 1: God to place within our hands what he wants us 371 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: to steward over, but then trusting him or allowing him 372 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: to be God in the other areas. And this is 373 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 1: an important conversation because we don't always think about it 374 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: this way. We don't always think about it in terms 375 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: of letting God be God. But we need to let 376 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: God be God. Listen, I can't do anything about what's 377 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,159 Speaker 1: happening in the Middle East. I can vote, I can 378 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: try to put the right people in place to make 379 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 1: those decisions. But at the end of the day, I 380 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: have very little control over that. I need to trust 381 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 1: God in that. I need to trust God in relationship 382 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: issues that I have no control over. I need to 383 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: trust God in other areas of my life and other 384 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: circumstances I find myself in that I have no control over. 385 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: I need to trust God in that. Because as I 386 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:09,400 Speaker 1: trust Him instead of looking at my lack of ability 387 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: to control a situation, then I can experience peace. Not 388 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: because the world is not in chaos, but because I 389 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: know God is bigger than the chaos. And as I 390 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: anchor my mind, I focus on the things of God, 391 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 1: I put faith in God. What am I doing as 392 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: a leader? I am demonstrating what's important to the people 393 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: that I have the ability to lead, which takes us 394 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 1: to number two. These all work together. Here's the next principle. 395 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: We need to establish a non anxious presence. Don't know 396 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: the best way to say that, but we need to 397 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: establish a non anxious presence. So we're talking about leading 398 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: in al time of global anxiety. So leading in a 399 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: time of globally anxiety, Well, how do we do that? 400 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:06,959 Speaker 1: Part of it is establishing a presence as a leader 401 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 1: that does not bleed anxiety. Listen, so many things are 402 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: caught by people who are near us. When we think 403 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: about the atmosphere and a home, so often that atmosphere 404 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 1: is created by parents because of how they're feeling and 405 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: what they're involved in conversations that they're having, and that 406 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: atmosphere impacts the rest of the people in the home, 407 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 1: the children in the home, other people in the home. 408 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: We see this in workplaces, and we see this in 409 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: so many different environments. As a leader, it's important that 410 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: you start by focusing on God and his word, his truth, 411 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: controlling what you can control, and trusting Him for the rest. 412 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: You have faith in God for those things that you 413 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,239 Speaker 1: can't control. You're limiting the intake of the things that 414 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: create that anxiety. And so what does that do. It 415 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: creates a peace within you, a centeredness. You're anchored, You're 416 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: tied to the God who doesn't change. You're allowing him 417 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: to work. You're trusting him to do what only he 418 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 1: can do. And as that happens in your own life, 419 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: you're creating a presence for those around you that is 420 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: a non anxious presence. And in fact, I would say this, 421 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: it's one that demonstrates peace. Maybe you've been in this 422 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 1: environment before. I certainly have been where things were chaotic 423 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 1: for one reason or another, and yet someone in that 424 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: environment they exuded peace, not nonchalance, not demonstrating that they 425 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: don't care, but just a peace, a settledness, a firmness. 426 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: And listen, a lot of people in your life are 427 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 1: going to look to you even to understand how they 428 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: should respond. They're going to look to you to see 429 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 1: if they should be upset. They're going to look to 430 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: you to see if they should be anxious and fearful. 431 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: They're going to look to you to really take the 432 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: cue on how they should behave in this chaotic environment. 433 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: It's funny if you've ever been around small children, very 434 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 1: small kids, they'll run and trip and fall and it's 435 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: kind of part of their life when they're young and 436 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 1: learning to walk. But they'll fall down on the ground. 437 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 1: And so often, if you've seen this happen, you know 438 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about. So often when they fall down 439 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: on the ground, they'll either get back up and continue 440 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: on or start crying like the worst thing in the 441 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: world has happened. And then because they fell, based on 442 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: the response of their parents. And you've probably seen this happen. 443 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,159 Speaker 1: But if a parent runs over, oh my goodness, I 444 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 1: can't believe this happened to you. Are you okay? Then 445 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: often the child receives from that. What's communicated to that 446 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: child is you should feel hurt and act hurt. This 447 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: is a big deal. And they'll respond. And yet if 448 00:26:58,080 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: a parent says all right and get back up, let's go, 449 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: unless they're actually hurt, most of the time that child 450 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: will go, oh, I guess I'm okay, and they'll get 451 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: back up and they'll continue on. So it is as 452 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: we lead in these moments of global anxiety, we have 453 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: the opportunity to demonstrate what a life anchored to God, 454 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 1: focused on Him, trusting him for the uncontrollables, a life 455 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: of faith. We have an opportunity to exhibit or to 456 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: demonstrate what that looks like. Anxiety, just like so many 457 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: other things, is often contagious, but so is peace. Peace 458 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: can be contagious. If you demonstrate peace, often others who 459 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 1: are also fearful will get in line and they'll say, 460 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: I guess it's going to be okay. Now, this isn't fake, 461 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 1: this isn't pretending, this isn't pushing things down. This is 462 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: the leader focused on God, experiencing the peace of God 463 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: in his life so that he can lead those around them. 464 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: Philippians four, verses six and seven. Great verses. In these 465 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: moments of anxiety and difficulty Philippins Chapter four, verses six 466 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: and seven say this, be careful for nothing, or it 467 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: could be translated anxious, overwhelmed. Be careful for nothing, but 468 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 1: in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your 469 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: request be made known into God. And the peace of God, 470 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds 471 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 1: through Christ Jesus. Be careful for nothing. Don't be anxious, 472 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: but in everything, that's everything that happens, everything by prayer 473 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: and supplication, prayer, diligent prayer, supplication, but with thanksgiving, thanking 474 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: God for who he is. Let your request be made 475 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: known unto God. As you turn your attention in prayer, 476 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 1: you turn your focus to God, allowing God to be God. 477 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: We just talked about that. Then what happens. The peace 478 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 1: of God, which passes understanding, you can't even explain it, 479 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: shall keep your hearts and minds. Through Christ Jesus shall 480 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: keep your heart and mind It gives you focus, It 481 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: gives you clarity, that peace of God that passes understanding. 482 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: It puts you in a place where, because you're trusting God, 483 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: you're able to move forward in spite of what may 484 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: be happening in the world. And this is an opportunity 485 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: for a leader. He's walking this walk, trusting the Lord, 486 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: bringing those prayers a request to him. It's an opportunity 487 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: to demonstrate peace to those that God has placed in 488 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: their lives. So important. Another thing I would say, another 489 00:29:55,880 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: principle is this lead where you can and leave the 490 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: rest alone. Here's another way to say, this lead small 491 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: in light of the big. Lead small. This is interesting, 492 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 1: but very very helpful. And so often when there is 493 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: chaos around us, there's chaos because we want to do something, 494 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: but we don't know what to do. That's that control 495 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: thing we were talking about earlier. It's okay to understand 496 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: I may not be able to control the thing that's 497 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 1: happening in another country or even across the country, but 498 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: I can control what's happening in my life. I can 499 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: control what's happening in my community. I can make a 500 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: difference where I am. I think, although it's often misguided. 501 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 1: We see this when big things are happening politically, people 502 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: rally and they do all kinds of stuff, and a 503 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: lot of that stuff is silly. But I think in 504 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: a lot of ways, for people that are sincere in it, 505 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 1: not act of this. For people that are sincere in it, 506 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: it's really this. They're trying to get control, control of 507 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: their feelings, control of their emotions, control of the sense 508 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: of doom that they are experiencing because they're consuming so 509 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 1: much of the content around them, and so they want 510 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: to do something, and so they do something. Now Again, 511 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,959 Speaker 1: whether that something has any value or not is another question, 512 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: but they want to do something. But I think for 513 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: a leader, it's important for us to point the people 514 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: in our lives, those that we have the opportunity to lead, 515 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: point them to areas where they can do something. Listen, 516 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: you have the opportunity, if you're a parent, to focus 517 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: on your children, to raise them, to teach them, to 518 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: encourage them to do the things that you're supposed to do. 519 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: Don't become so distracted by something you have no control 520 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: over that you're not making a difference in the small areas, 521 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: in the areas where you can actually impact something in someone. 522 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 1: And so it may be in your church community, or 523 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: in the place that you live, or in your workplace. 524 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: Make a difference where you can focus your energy, where 525 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: you have the opportunity to actually impact those around you. 526 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 1: And again I've alluded to this, I think this is stewardship. 527 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: Let God give to you the opportunities, the resources, the 528 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 1: intellect of the will, and the people that He wants 529 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 1: you to have to make a difference. You steward over 530 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: what God has placed in your hands. And for some 531 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:33,719 Speaker 1: that's big opportunity, for some it's not as big an opportunity. 532 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: Whatever it is. For you, take what God has given 533 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: to you and make a difference. Make the world, which 534 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 1: may just be your corner of it, better for having 535 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 1: been in it. And then let God be God in 536 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: the areas that you have no control. Lead in the 537 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 1: small in light of the big. A lot of big, 538 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: crazy stuff going on, that's fine. Find those areas where 539 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: you can make a difference. First, Thessalonians, chapter four and 540 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: verse eleven says this, and that you study to be quiet, 541 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: to do your own business, to work with your own hands, 542 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: as we commanded you. If you can think of a 543 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: period of time where things were crazy, at least politically. 544 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: It was when the Apostle Paul was writing these letters 545 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:25,959 Speaker 1: to the Thessalonian believers, the Empire of Rome, all that 546 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: was going on in that and the paganism, and it's 547 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,200 Speaker 1: just crazy and out of control. And you've got these 548 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: Christians that are really expanding around the world, even those 549 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 1: that they came from, the Jewish believers who weren't Christians, 550 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: who believed that Jesus was not the Messiah. So there's 551 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 1: conflict there kind of locally, there's conflict in families, and 552 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 1: then that spreads throughout the empire, and then there's persecution 553 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: that comes to those Christians and a lot of chaos 554 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:00,959 Speaker 1: going on, a lot of uncertainty. And what was Paul's 555 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 1: instruction fight it all? No, be quiet, study, do your 556 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:12,360 Speaker 1: own business, work with your own hands. I think you 557 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,879 Speaker 1: would say it this way. Make a difference where you are, 558 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: Make a difference where you are. We understand in all 559 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: of this, and then this needs to kind of put 560 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 1: a bow on this conversation. That ultimate victory will come. 561 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:33,719 Speaker 1: As far as God's concerned, it has come. He sits 562 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:35,719 Speaker 1: outside of our space and time. He's not on the 563 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 1: same timeline we're on that peace will eventually come to 564 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 1: this world. That for the Christian we understand the Resurrection 565 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: defeated sin and death, and we looked in the Bible 566 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: and we know how it all ends. Ultimately, God will 567 00:34:55,280 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: rule and reign without interference from the sinful, broken world 568 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: that we live in. Victory will come, but we also 569 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: understand that that victory has already come. There's victory to 570 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: be had in our personal lives. There's victory to be had, 571 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: and so many areas that we have the opportunity to 572 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 1: engage in. We're not waiting for that ultimate victory as 573 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,720 Speaker 1: far as God's concern has already happened. We're simply walking 574 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:27,360 Speaker 1: our way there experiencing the victory that He's provided for us. 575 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 1: But one day sin and death will be completely defeated 576 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 1: and will no longer be a part of this world 577 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: that we live in. We understand all of that and 578 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 1: we need to take comfort in it. So it begins 579 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: by understanding this is the world as it is. Don't 580 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: be thrown off. This is it, okay. So we're not 581 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: fighting against something that's new. This is how it is. 582 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 1: And believers for generations, for millennia have dealt with the 583 00:35:57,560 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: corruption and the brokenness of the world, and so much 584 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:03,319 Speaker 1: we as a leader, we anchor ourselves in God and 585 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:05,799 Speaker 1: who He is, and then we work to anchor those 586 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:11,560 Speaker 1: that we lead to the same unchanging God. We experience 587 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 1: peace why because we put our focus on him well, 588 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:18,239 Speaker 1: cutting out or pushing away the things that we have 589 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 1: no control over. We go to him in prayer, we 590 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 1: ask him to work, and as he does, it's that 591 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 1: peace that passes understanding, that guards both our hearts and 592 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:37,640 Speaker 1: our minds. We are people of peace. We exude that peace, 593 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,640 Speaker 1: We demonstrate that peace, and it's contagious, just like fear. 594 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:44,919 Speaker 1: Peace is contagious, and we spread that peace to those 595 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 1: that we have the opportunity to influence. We lead where 596 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: we can, maybe those small areas, and light of the 597 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,879 Speaker 1: big chaotic things that are happening, we lead small, making 598 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 1: a difference where we can, and then resting in the 599 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: fact that ultimate victory comes by way of God and 600 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,279 Speaker 1: his work. John chapter sixteen and verse thirty three. These 601 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:14,480 Speaker 1: things have I spoken unto you, that you might have 602 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:18,600 Speaker 1: peace in the world. You will have tribulation, but be 603 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:23,840 Speaker 1: of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Jesus was 604 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:27,480 Speaker 1: saying to his followers, be of good cheer, have peace, 605 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 1: have peace, experience peace, live it out. Don't engage in 606 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:36,799 Speaker 1: the chaos. You can't control it anyhow, Don't engage in it. 607 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 1: Experience peace. Why because you can have confidence that I 608 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:49,160 Speaker 1: have overcome the world. Listen. I think these are important 609 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:52,240 Speaker 1: conversations for us to have, and from time to time 610 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 1: I've even talked about this on this podcast in the past, 611 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:59,279 Speaker 1: But from time to time these conversations seem more necessary 612 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:04,000 Speaker 1: than an other time time perhaps, And good night. There's 613 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:07,520 Speaker 1: so much happening on every front. There's something happening right 614 00:38:07,560 --> 00:38:10,239 Speaker 1: now that is chaotic and out of control. We try 615 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:14,120 Speaker 1: to go to the airport right There are wars happening 616 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:20,880 Speaker 1: around the world, alliances that are centuries old or crumbling. 617 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:25,880 Speaker 1: We have very little connection or control to our national 618 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: political system or scene. It's chaotic, for sure, and a 619 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:35,200 Speaker 1: lot of that brings anxiety. But the peace that we 620 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:38,640 Speaker 1: can experience comes from knowing that God is bigger, He's 621 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 1: outside of all of it, and he has a plan. 622 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:44,320 Speaker 1: But listen, that's not just for us as individuals to 623 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:48,400 Speaker 1: get a hold of and to keep to ourselves. We 624 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 1: need to anchor ourselves to God and then help those 625 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 1: around us to anchor themselves to God so that they 626 00:38:55,320 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 1: too can experience peace. People need you to lead well, 627 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:05,000 Speaker 1: and that doesn't begin by pretending that everything's okay. It 628 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,719 Speaker 1: begins by acknowledging that things are a mess, but putting 629 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 1: your faith into God, He's bigger than all of it, 630 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 1: and leading the people in your life into that same 631 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:21,880 Speaker 1: life lived experience of faith hope has helped to you 632 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:28,600 Speaker 1: and an encouragement that Christian people have historically, and you 633 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 1: read history and you read some of the accounts of 634 00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 1: Christian people. I've dealt with so many difficult things. I 635 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:38,040 Speaker 1: mean recently certainly, but you could go back to the 636 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:43,280 Speaker 1: persecutions and martyrdoms and so many things that Christian people 637 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:47,319 Speaker 1: have dealt with in very chaotic moments and demonstrated in 638 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:49,359 Speaker 1: all of it what it is to have peace as 639 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: you walk with God. And it's an incredible blessing. And 640 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 1: this is our moment, this is our opportunity to do 641 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:59,320 Speaker 1: that for those around us and for future generations that 642 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,359 Speaker 1: will look back see how they do it. Well, let's 643 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:06,000 Speaker 1: give them an example that they can follow. I really 644 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,000 Speaker 1: appreciate you listening or watching if you have a subscribed 645 00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:11,359 Speaker 1: please do that. Go over to YouTube you can find 646 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:16,520 Speaker 1: us there as well, or go to the newly redesigned 647 00:40:16,719 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 1: march orde web page marchordie dot com and do some 648 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:22,279 Speaker 1: great content there for you as well. Thank you and 649 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:24,000 Speaker 1: we'll talk to you next Trek