I last posted about a great book on Christian manhood entitled, The Masculine Mandate, by Richard D. Phillips, a Presbyterian pastor from Greenville, SC. When I recommended this book to a friend, he recognized the author and said he's also written a great book on leadership. That book is entitled, "The Heart Of An Executive," and I too would say it is excellent. Pastor Phillips speaks with wisdom and experience, for before he entered seminary he served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander, and has held numerous leadership roles.
In this book, Phillips reviews King David's life through several phases in the OT. We see David from the days he was a shepherd boy, to his amazing defeat of Goliath, then through his turmoils and conflicts with King Saul, to his own ascension to the throne of Israel, his making of the capital city of Jerusalem, (the city of David); then to his pride and moral failure in adultery and murder, and also through internal family corruption, failure, and civil war. Through God's grace, he was restored to the throne of Israel, and then successfully passed his throne to Solomon before he died.
Even though I've read these stories before I've never looked at them through the lens of Godly leadership. Pastor Phillips brings keen insights from the world of executive leadership to describe the "principles and purposes" that David lived by. In contrast to King Saul who lived primarily by the priorities of his own self-centered interests and advancement, David recognized the importance of living for God and his glory. Perhaps from his youth tending sheep when he gazed into the heavens at night to see the stars, he realized the big picture of who God is. His instincts of shepherding people were always guided by his realization that the God of heaven and earth should be honored always. David was indeed "a man after God's own heart."
In the review of David's many achievements, Phillips remarks,
"Can any of us rise higher than David did in his act of mercy and faithfulness at the cave of Adullam? Surely that was his greatest moment, the highest point his heart ever reached, higher even than the quick triumph of faith that slew Goliath. For the heart of an executive shines brightest not when it reveals its own identity, but when others find theirs in it," p. 262.
Other people realized that David was dedicated to a higher calling, a higher set of values, and even to a higher vision of God. This in turn led others to also be dedicated to this same vision and to live for the God of creation and glory, and not for our own glory or accomplishments.
David's life and leadership are most compelling and worthy of our admiration and following. From him we find the hallmark of Christian leadership, to inspire people with a great vision of God and to serve Christ with whatever gifts they have, so as to build His kingdom.
In this book, Phillips reviews King David's life through several phases in the OT. We see David from the days he was a shepherd boy, to his amazing defeat of Goliath, then through his turmoils and conflicts with King Saul, to his own ascension to the throne of Israel, his making of the capital city of Jerusalem, (the city of David); then to his pride and moral failure in adultery and murder, and also through internal family corruption, failure, and civil war. Through God's grace, he was restored to the throne of Israel, and then successfully passed his throne to Solomon before he died.
Even though I've read these stories before I've never looked at them through the lens of Godly leadership. Pastor Phillips brings keen insights from the world of executive leadership to describe the "principles and purposes" that David lived by. In contrast to King Saul who lived primarily by the priorities of his own self-centered interests and advancement, David recognized the importance of living for God and his glory. Perhaps from his youth tending sheep when he gazed into the heavens at night to see the stars, he realized the big picture of who God is. His instincts of shepherding people were always guided by his realization that the God of heaven and earth should be honored always. David was indeed "a man after God's own heart."
In the review of David's many achievements, Phillips remarks,
"Can any of us rise higher than David did in his act of mercy and faithfulness at the cave of Adullam? Surely that was his greatest moment, the highest point his heart ever reached, higher even than the quick triumph of faith that slew Goliath. For the heart of an executive shines brightest not when it reveals its own identity, but when others find theirs in it," p. 262.
Other people realized that David was dedicated to a higher calling, a higher set of values, and even to a higher vision of God. This in turn led others to also be dedicated to this same vision and to live for the God of creation and glory, and not for our own glory or accomplishments.
David's life and leadership are most compelling and worthy of our admiration and following. From him we find the hallmark of Christian leadership, to inspire people with a great vision of God and to serve Christ with whatever gifts they have, so as to build His kingdom.
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