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Interim Leader as a Steward
By Dr. Brian Simmons | I am in the fourth quarter of my life and career. My goal as I look ahead to the finish line is to finish strong as faithful steward leader seeking the purposes of the Lord for all He has SO graciously entrusted to my care. Following my retirement from higher education, I have taken on a new role. I have served twice now as an interim head of school for two different K-12 Christian schools. Prior to my first of two interim experiences, I also witnessed firsthand, as a university VP, the struggles of an interim university president. To state the obvious, an organization needs an interim leader if it has come through a rough spot. This rough spot may look like a failed search, firing of the previous head with surrounding fallout or similar circumstances. You get the idea.
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Propaganda or Truth Telling?
By Dr. Brian Simmons | I know of a Christian organization that publishes a XYZ Today magazine for stakeholders. In a recent article a new Vice President was introduced. In preparation for the article, the VP was asked to name a person or two who was influential in his life. The media director called the mentor and included as a key component of the article details of the strong and loving relationship the VP and mentor share to this day...
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Board Members as Steward Leaders
By Dr. Brian Simmons | The work of a board is to provide effective governance for the organizations they lead as trustees (biblical stewards). A trustee is one whom has been given a trust. A steward is one whom has been given a trust. So, the two are (or at least can be) synonymous! Governance is the coming together of a group of appointed individuals to act as one for the purpose of guiding the organization of which they hold trusteeship toward the accomplishment of the school’s strategic initiatives, mission and vision guided by the school’s core values. The board is not to be single-person driven, committee driven or complaint driven. It is to exercise effective governance as leadership. The board is to create an organization with the right people doing the right things in the right way for the right reasons so that right results will be achieved to the glory of God...
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Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Reading these books on our 2025 cruise in Greece prompted me to consider many themes. The first of two letters begin with Paul writing to the believers in Corinth about the importance of unity in the church. Believers are to be of one mind united in thought and purpose (1:10). The other theme that should be characteristic of the body of Christ is love (I Corinthians 13). Paul then wrote about the theme that wisdom of the world is foolishness (1:20). Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God. Human wisdom is at odds with the wisdom and power of God. Then, Paul began to address the primary theme of both letters to the Corinthians. They were still controlled by their sinful natures (3:3). Paul was writing to the church i.e. followers of Christ but they were immature believers needing the milk of the Word and not ready yet for the meat!
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Reflections from Thessaloniki
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Reading these books on our 2025 cruise in Greece prompted me to consider many themes. The first of two letters begin with Paul writing to the believers in Corinth about the importance of unity in the church. Believers are to be of one mind united in thought and purpose (1:10). The other theme that should be characteristic of the body of Christ is love (I Corinthians 13). Paul then wrote about the theme that wisdom of the world is foolishness (1:20). Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God. Human wisdom is at odds with the wisdom and power of God. Then, Paul began to address the primary theme of both letters to the Corinthians. They were still controlled by their sinful natures (3:3). Paul was writing to the church i.e. followers of Christ but they were immature believers needing the milk of the Word and not ready yet for the meat!
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Reflections from Philippians: Press On!
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Reading these books on our 2025 cruise in Greece prompted me to consider many themes. The first of two letters begin with Paul writing to the believers in Corinth about the importance of unity in the church. Believers are to be of one mind united in thought and purpose (1:10). The other theme that should be characteristic of the body of Christ is love (I Corinthians 13). Paul then wrote about the theme that wisdom of the world is foolishness (1:20). Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God. Human wisdom is at odds with the wisdom and power of God. Then, Paul began to address the primary theme of both letters to the Corinthians. They were still controlled by their sinful natures (3:3). Paul was writing to the church i.e. followers of Christ but they were immature believers needing the milk of the Word and not ready yet for the meat!
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I & II Corinthians
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Reading these books on our 2025 cruise in Greece prompted me to consider many themes. The first of two letters begin with Paul writing to the believers in Corinth about the importance of unity in the church. Believers are to be of one mind united in thought and purpose (1:10). The other theme that should be characteristic of the body of Christ is love (I Corinthians 13). Paul then wrote about the theme that wisdom of the world is foolishness (1:20). Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God. Human wisdom is at odds with the wisdom and power of God. Then, Paul began to address the primary theme of both letters to the Corinthians. They were still controlled by their sinful natures (3:3). Paul was writing to the church i.e. followers of Christ but they were immature believers needing the milk of the Word and not ready yet for the meat!
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God’s Plan and Purpose: Reflections from Ephesus
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Photo by Bhumil Chheda on Unsplash As I prepared my heart for our shore excursion to ancient Ephesus this morning with Celebrity Cruise Lines I read the Book of Ephesians. What is God’s plan and purpose? God’s plan is at the right time to bring ... read on
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You Become Who You Hire
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Steward leaders are entrusted by God with time, treasure, talent, and relationships. Of these good gifts, relationships are the most precious. Nowhere is this more true than in the context of institutions like the family, church, government, neighborhoods and organizations. It is important that CEOs embrace the final responsibility for who the organizations they serve as steward leaders ultimately hire. This final interview should not be a mere formality. I remember a time in an organization I served as CEO when I met with a potential hire for a key position. As I read through this young man’s resume and information, I grew increasingly excited about the person. The same day, I had another meeting with a young lady for a similar position. The organization was a Christian school, and both positions were coaching positions...
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Board Retreats and the Steward Leader
By Dr. Brian Simmons | Years ago, I accepted the call of the Lord to lead a large Christian school in Indiana. My first year as head of school, I led up and suggested to the board chair (also founder of the school 30 years earlier) that we go on a board retreat together. He agreed. We decided to go to beautiful Brown County in southern Indiana that Fall. This founder had two board members by his side who had served with him for 30 years! After dinner the first night, we decided to take a walk. I purposefully decided to walk alongside of the 30-year board members. After a little while, I said to him “Isn’t this great to walk side by side, cast a shared vision for the school and get to know each other better!?” He replied, “I think this is a waste of time!” What makes a board retreat effective from the perspective of a faithful steward leader?
