Leadership

Let nothing be done though selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in the appearance of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient ot the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

There have been countless seminars, books and videos on just what it takes to be a good leader.  Such people, it seems, are a rarity in our world today.  In a world where others look to those around them for leadership, very few accept the challange and truly lead from the front.  What is it to lead from the front?  Well, those who have spent time in the military of perhaps law enforcement may be aware of this attribute more than others.  For to lead from the front is to cast aside your own pride and ambitions and show others the way through our own example.  To never ask of anyone underneath you to do something which you wouldn't do yourself.  THIS is leading from the front.  From George Patton and Hal Moore to Douglas Macarthur, some of our nations most admired military leaders are those men who cast aside their fear and pride in order to lead those under them from the ranks of the common soldier.  It is these men who gain the respect of those whom they are leading.  After all, how can one obtain the perspective of those which he is leading unless he himself is among them?  It is indeed  leaders such as these who rise above the rest.

"When I go home, people ask me, 'Hey Hoot, why do you do it man?  What?  You some kinda war junkie?'  You know what I'll say?  I won't say a goddamn word.  Why?  They won't understand.  They won't understand why we do it.  They won't understand that it's about the men next to you, and that's it.  That's all it is."
~Norm "Hoot" Hooten~

This method of leadership is not only effective in the arena of combat, but in the way we teach others as well.  Time and again in scripture we see Christ Jesus teach as one who humbled Himself to put Himself in a postion to bring salvation to others.  Why did Jesus come to earth as God in the flesh?  Well, I am quite certain that it wasn't for His own selfish motives!  No, for Jesus bled and died for the forgiveness of the sins of others, that they might be saved and live with Him forever.  When satan tempted Christ in the desert, Jesus never flinched as the devil enticed Him with both riches and power.  With each temptation, Jesus rebuked His adversary with these words, "It is written!"  The focus of Christ was not on the pleasures of this world, but on the work of His Father in heaven.  There is no doubt that Jesus, being God in the flesh, could have vanquished satan in one instant, but then where would we be?  No, Jesus knew the path He would follow.  What made Jesus a goood teacher was not only His knowledge and compassion, but His humility as well.  How apt are we to follow the lead of one who will walk into that breach with us rather than tell us what to do as they watch us?  There is indeed a difference in leading and leading by example.  I would much rather follow a man who goes through that trial with me than he who simply instructs me on how to do it.  This style of teaching was shown to me recently as my friend Dennis offered his teaching and advice to me as I took up golf once again.  Instead of merely offering advice, he has often shown me the game by example.  Humility, and not pride, is the best instructor.

~Scott~

~Norm "Hoot" Hooten~

"Blackhwak Down"