Not long after the Lord establishes his shepherd, David, over his people Israel, does King David turn to devour his own flock. Bored and distracted at home while his armies fight the king's battles, David takes another man's wife. To cover up his adultery, he betrays and murders his loyal and faithful servant, Uriah the Hittite.
We are reminded again through this story that, "No one is good but God alone," and "Whoever would be greatest must be servant of all." Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests, "If you say these things and repeat them, trust me, it will finally sink in and live there and be the corrective to all temptations." Listen to this episode or read the interview transcript.
0 Comments
Safe from his enemies and finally secure in his own palace, King David desires to build the Lord a house of cedar. The Lord reminds David through His prophet Nathan that the ark of the Lord moves and dwells in a tent. The Lord has no need for a house. Furthermore, it is the Lord who establishes David and his house, and not the other way around. Taking him from the pasture, the Lord has established David as shepherd over His flock. The warning for His doulos is to attend to the business of caring for the people and not to be distracted with the business of buildings.
The story allows us to pause and ask, Who builds? Whose house? Whose glory? Read the full episode transcript here. 
Constantly searching for impressive candidates - from elected officials, to job postings, to new recruits on parish councils - we hope to find leaders in whom we can trust. Yet every leader who comes from the seed of Adam falls short.
Fr. Timothy Lowe looks to the story of God's regret that He had made Saul king over Israel, a similar regret we hear in Genesis after God had created man. From this harsh reality emerges our only hope in submitting to the Lord as King and His mercy through His anointed One. Read the full episode transcript here. 
Good leaders manage expectations. Good leaders provide clarity and a path forward to eliminate surprise and disappointment. Since the beginning, the Lord makes it clear that all will be well for those who do His will.
As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, He reiterates His Father's expectation. The crowds who follow Him are impressed with His prophesies, healings, and mighty works, yet they hold false expectations about entering the Kingdom. Jesus addresses their self-deception, "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." So why are the crowds astonished at His teaching? Read the full episode transcript here. |
Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|
© Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative. All rights reserved. OCLI is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit; FEIN 83-2005526