One of the main reasons I love my job as a banker is because it offers such a great opportunity for ministry. As bankers, our jobs are to build very close and personal relationships with our customers, so that we know their needs and can help them accomplish their lifelong goals. In building those relationships, you walk through the good and the bad times of their lives.

“I AM NOT A ROLE MODEL.” With that tag line for a 90’s Nike Ad, Charles Barkley ignited a debate on the role of athletes in American society. Now, the inappropriate actions of another group of professional athletes has reignited this debate and opened an often heated discussion. This sobering reminder about shirking the responsibility of role model provides a unique opportunity for us as Christians to reflect on our own personal responsibilities.

So we began the soul searching journey of “surrender” and I noticed stories in the Bible that I had read since I was a kid and found a type of surrender in every story.

A lack of humility and a lack of courage hinder one from being a realistic optimist. I would never start or join a company or even a challenging change initiative with a team of pessimists. It is very difficult to innovate with a team led by a pessimist. If you don’t know if you are an optimist or a pessimist just ask your spouse or a close friend. If they indicate you’re a pessimist or delay in their response you should pray about becoming more optimistic. Jesus knew the heart of man but was never cynical. His optimism was based on knowing the Father. Being a realistic optimist is a further characteristic required of a leader worth following.

Will DeSanto talks about how he and his wife Ginny have been able to bring Christ to people through their life insurance business. Gail Cardwell reflects upon the life of a missionary who gave up everything to serve God in Russia.

As a planner, this verse appeals to me. I’m the kind of guy who loves casting a vision, building a plan to make that vision a reality, then executing the plan. I know that when an organization (a company, a non-profit, a church, a family) has no vision from leadership, the people inside get lost and they “perish.”

In the September 2014 Newsletter, CIC co-founder Louis Grams describes how he and his wife helped to change the culture of their condo community when he joined the board of their Home Owner's Association. Larry Favor of the Santa Cruz Chapter talks about being denied employment based solely on the fact that he was a Christian. Introducing our new Tampa Chapter in the News section!

Since my dad went to heaven in February, my sister (btw…a great sister) and I have been working to finalize my dad’s estate.

Do I really want to be blessed by God? At a recent SLI class, we talked about Mary being blessed and I think most of us glossed over that statement since we have all heard it so many times. Sure Mary was blessed and didn’t she have it so wonderful being Jesus’ mom…

Recently, I was in a friend’s office and noticed a book on the corner of his desk, "The Gospel According to Starbucks" by Leonard Sweet. Since I love reading and coffee I couldn’t help but ask if I might borrow the book.

The word “wrestle” may conjure up a sweaty match with a victor and a loser; however, when we wrestle with our God, we are always a winner. Just as Jacob was finally pinned by the angel of the Lord, he was also blessed with his full inheritance. His limp is a symbol of the transformation he went through. Consider ...

I always had a good marriage. I was happy. Then I attended a retreat of the New Canaan Society in DC. I have heard people talking of transformation before, but ...

I started 2013 with some major challenges and brought them before the Lord in my quiet time with Him. I discussed them at length with my Spiritual Leadership Institute (SLI) discipler, Dick Schultz, and then waited to hear from God. The clear leading I was receiving from the Father was to "pray the Psalms." So ...

In Part 1 of this devotion, I shared that we all find ourselves struggling and in pain at various points in our journey with Jesus and wanting to escape the pain. Maybe it is a health problem—maybe something we caused ourselves. Maybe it is something with the kids; maybe there was a recession, maybe, maybe, maybe . . . .

When you are going through trials that you don’t understand have you ever ask the questions –Why me? Where is God? Isn’t God hearing me? Being in the real estate investment business in Phoenix for the last 40 years and never having a major loss until the recession in 2008, those are questions that I asked over and over without answers – that led to bouts of depression, many sleepless nights, loss of hope, and a very uncertain future. Then I started sensing maybe there was more to this ...

When my son, was 11, he devised the most mischievous, brilliant plan his warped little mind had ever conceived. Adept at teasing his four year-old sister Carrie, he found dastardly delight in pulling pranks on her. As Christmas approached he planned a masterstroke – his opus. He carefully gift-wrapped a lump of coal and tagged it “From Santa.” Then, late on Christmas Eve he stealthily deposited the package prominently under the Christmas tree.

The company I lead completed a significant acquisition a few years ago during the downturn in the U.S. economy. Despite the tough economic times, this acquisition was an opportunity to dramatically improve our competitive position and chart a course toward growth and prosperity. However, the integration activities, combined with a weak economy, took their toll on our people and created a challenging environment for the first two years after the acquisition.

After 15 incredible years of growing our company, we announced a sale of the company for over $23 billion in May 2007. The highly publicized transaction closed in October 2007, to buyers who wanted to double the size of the company again, while retaining the existing management team to do so. Their dreams of stratospheric growth didn't become a reality as the primary owner/buyer was Lehman Brothers and their bankruptcy filing in September 2008 (11 months after our closing) threw everything into disarray.

Many of us deal with the challenges of a demanding and busy schedule. We are tasked with making tough decisions for the good of our company. We go from the demands of a busy work day, to busy family, church and community activities. As leaders, many of us are naturally wired to be in charge and when circumstances cause our world to spin out of control, our natural reaction is to do everything humanly possible to bring it back under control.

Many of us deal with the challenges of a demanding and busy schedule. We are tasked with making tough decisions for the good of our company. We go from the demands of a busy work day, to busy family, church and community activities. As leaders, many of us are naturally wired to be in charge and when circumstances cause our world to spin out of control, our natural reaction is to do everything humanly possible to bring it back under control.

The business world creates many demands and stresses on our everyday life. Even our best planning efforts don’t always bring about the results that we had intended. Circumstances beyond our control bring new challenges. Not only are we trying to manage this chaos at work but it easily spills over into our family life. Is this the lifestyle that God intended?

God could not be clearer in this account of Caleb and the Promised Land. How do we become more like Caleb and Joshua and not like the others?

In the midst of this reality, God calls us to be leaders who are everything but ordinary. In business, family, and church we must turn to God, abandon the ordinary, and revive His brand! Greatness and distinction in life never has been, and never will be, marked by that which is ordinary. It was true of Jesus’ life. It is true of yours. Indeed, it is a sin to be ordinary!

How to create a faith-friendly workplace and understand the difference between what it means for a company to be faith-friendly vs. faith-based.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers with at least 15 employees, as well as employment agencies and unions, from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It also prohibits retaliation against persons who complain of discrimination or participate in an EEO investigation. With respect to religion, Title VII prohibits: treating applicants or employees differently based on their religious beliefs or practices – or lack thereof – in any aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, assignments, discipline, promotion, and benefits (disparate treatment); ...

Many employers are weaving religion and spirituality into company cultures. The push may come from bosses or the rank and file – and their motivations vary. Either way, when religion and spirituality cross the threshold, they result in daunting legal and managerial challenges along with perceived benefits.

How could you go about approaching your management about establishing a faith-based group in your workplace?

Don’t isolate yourself from those who could tell you what you need to hear. If you have inadvertently done so, immediately invite various kinds of people into your life who will tell you the truth. Wise leaders don’t hide from the truth; they face it, learn from it and are better because of it.

The following Guidelines, addressing religious exercise and religious expression, shall apply to all civilian executive branch agencies, officials, and employees in the Federal workplace.