Beware of the Leaven. . .
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. In a team meeting at work this morning, it powerfully struck me the responsibility I carry as a leader. The realization came to me that to be an effective leader, I must both understand, and utilize the power of position. For a leader especially attitudes are contagious. . . in battle a lowly foot soldier can be overcome by fear and panic with little ill effect, but if the same feeling of terror visibly overtakes a general or a captain, all other things being equal the battle may well be lost solely for this reason. Negative attitudes can move like a disease from the leader to the entire team, like a disease passing from one to another, infecting each with a sickness of the spirit. . . Bitterness. . .cynicism. . .skepticism. . .resentment. . . unforgiveness. . .greed. . .blame laying. . . anger. . . fear. . .panic. . . depression. . .despair can easily f...