Proven Perspectives with John Hawkins: Recent Episodes
Leadership Edge, Inc.
Proven Perspectives is a podcast with John Hawkins, Founder of Leadership Edge Inc. Each episode explores a topic related to life, leadership and mentoring. Through over 50 years of faith in Christ, John has learned proven life and leadership perspectives that will equip listeners for a lifestyle of leadership in their marriages, families, careers, communities, and churches.
In this episode, Laura and John, along with Janet, discuss the meaning of wrapping up your career and living all of life as a God-centered adventure.
All organizations go through leadership transitions. The challenge is doing a leadership transition in a God-honoring way that positively moves the organization forward. Listen in as Laura, John, and their guests discuss how Leadership Edge is doing a leadership transition by God's grace and for His glory.
The cross of Christ is the universal symbol of Christianity. But what is its meaning? More specifically, what actually happened on the cross and why? Listen in as Laura and John get at the meaning of the cross and its impact on our daily lives.
Ever wonder how to encourage someone to stand fast in their faith during a hard season? Hebrews 10-12 gives a wonderful, poignant picture of this that is relevant for every believer. Listen in as Laura and John talk through these verses and their relevance for daily life.
Every Christian has their story or testimony of how they came to faith in Christ. Understanding "our story" in light of how the Bible describes the salvation story of all who have come to faith in Christ is enormously beneficial. Join in as Laura and John talk through the glorious salvation story in Ephesians 2:1-10.
Many people help us in life. And there are a few people who help us become the person God wants us to be. In this episode, Laura and John talk about the impact of Harold Bullock in John's life and how God can use us to help others become what He wants them to be.
Whether at the New Year or throughout the year, we all need daily guidance and confidence for life's opportunities and challenges. Listen in as Laura and John discuss two scripture passages that give a God-Centered basis for daily life.
Today, we are revisiting this classic episode of Proven Perspectives.
Anxiety seems to be rampant in the US and other countries. In this episode, Laura and John discuss a scripture passage on anxiety that we often don’t not how to understand and the reality behind it that can break anxiety’s grip.
Show Notes: The Lord is at Hand
Join us as we revist this classic episode of Proven Perspectives.
Leadership Edge Founder, John Hawkins, reflects on living by faith. He states, "In faith I must do all that God calls me to do today-- then I must leave the results with God."
Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Gen A? Generational cohorts are helpful for Christians to understand. And yet the Bible says that each generation has similar core needs that are clearly addressed for every generation in the Bible. Join in as Laura and John thoughtfully discuss core needs of every generation and how to be relevant across the generations.
In this episode, Laura and John take a fresh look at the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20. In various ways, we tend to miss the meaning of the Commission, who it was originally given to and the hope that it is based upon. Listen in and you'll likely leave with new motivation and insight in living out Christ's commission to all of His disciples.
We often find ourselves in the position of training others, whether it's instructing our children on room cleaning, training employees at work, or training members of our church. In this episode, Laura and John delve into John's decades of training experience, sharing ten key insights that make training effective and enduring.
Life-on-life mentoring was consistently essential in developing the leaders of the first-century church. That is not the case now. Listen in as Laura and John unpack the concept of life-on-life mentoring and why it is so important for Christians and churches today.
God calls every Christian to be involved in ministry to others. This can take various forms through the years of one's life. Listen in as Laura and John talk through practical ideas of giving up our lives for the benefit of others for the glory of God.
The Bible says that the Church is the Body of Christ. Among all that this means, it certainly means that one of the great blessings Christians have is to be a member of His body, His church. Listen in as Laura and John dig deep into this blessing.
"To love and to cherish till death us do part" is a fundamental phrase in Christian wedding vows. Join Laura and John as John shares what he's learned about loving and cherishing, and a few other things, through his 46-year marriage to Janet.
Knowing God is the great privilege and purpose to which all Christians are called. But the pressures of day-to-day life often redirect us from this great calling. Listen in as Laura and John discuss how to focus on knowing God throughout the days of your life.
Men were made by God for Christian brotherhood. And yet so many Christian men go through life on their own, not benefitting from the loyalty, understanding and courage that can come from brothers in the Lord. Listen in as Laura and John talk about the benefits and costs that come with Christian friendship between men.
Three fathers of boys continue the conversation started in the last episode with Dr. Gary Chapman. Todd Melby is joined by two godly men, Eric Smith and Adam Hoover, who have each been impacted by Leadership Edge. They discuss the challenges, successes and hopes they have for living as God's men in the sphere of influence of parenting.
Today, LEI President, Todd Melby sits down with Dr. Gary Chapman to discuss parenting boys. Gary is a well-known pastor, counselor, public speaker, and author. He hosts a radio program called A Love Language Minute and is the best-selling author of numerous books including The Five Love Languages series of books which includes The Five Love Languages of Children which may be helpful for some of our listeners today. Gary and his wife of more than 50 years, Karolyn, have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Resource: 5 Love Language Resources
Every organization, whether businesses, families, churches or communities, need managers and leaders. Someone has to manage this week's payroll and someone has to lead the company into what it must be in the future. Join Laura and John in a wide-ranging discussion of leading and managing and the lessons about these in I Samuel 30.
Resource: The Lifestyle Leadership Model
Bob Hostetter is a husband and father who works in financial services from Dallas, TX. Bob is also the first person mentored through Leadership Edge after it launched at Duke University. In this episode, Laura leads a meaningful discussion between John and Bob as they talk about their 30-year friendship.
Acclaimed leadership expert John Kotter says that a vision clarifies the direction in which we should move. Proverbs says that without vision people wander off. Join Laura and John as they discuss the practical dynamics of Leadership, Change and Vision.
Resource: Leadership, Change, and Vision
Whether one of many years or few, a wasted life is a tragedy. Join Laura and John as they discuss how to live your life according to its intended purpose.
Washing socks, handing out doughnuts and coffee and the glory of God. How do these three things fit together? Listen in as Laura and John talk about how daily menial tasks provide great opportunities to glorify God.
Resource: Managing for the Glory of God
Retirement can be a transition to a great season of life or a movement into disappointment and futility. In this episode, Laura and John talk about John's upcoming retirement and what it means to him. Listeners will gain practical, Biblical insights no matter how near or far they are from retirement.
Resource: The Role is not the Reward
Resource: To Declare that the Lord is Upright
How does a Daily Quiet Time become Meaning Fellowship with Christ with the focus being on God's part and not on our own? Join Laura and John as they share practical insights learned over 52 years.
Resource: Prayers of Those Who've Gone Before
In large responsibilities and small, Christians understand that God has a part and we have a part. Listen in as Laura and John discuss "God's Part and Ours" from a Biblical and practical perspective. You'll find in this episode helpful insight that is relevant to all of your spheres of influence.
Article: God's Part and Ours
Volodymyr Zelensky has become an internationally acclaimed example of effective leadership. In this episode, Laura and John discuss Zelensky as a leader and then extend their discussion to the area of God-honoring leadership. As you listen, you'll learn of Two Tests for God-honoring Leadership and what these look like in everyday life.
Article: Two Tests for God-honoring Leadership
Few of this generation know of Mahalia Jackson and her influence in Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech. Listen in as Laura and John discuss this story as an example of The Precious Gift of God-honoring Influence.
Article: The Precious Gift of Influence
Article: Mahalia Jackson - Tell Them About the Dream
What does it look like when one’s faith shapes their influence in all their relationships? Listen in as Laura and John discuss this question and how to become the same person, leading the same way, in all of life.
Article: The Same Person, Living the Same Way, In All of Life
Join Leadership Edge President Todd Melby for a conversation about discipleship in the Church and how one-on-one mentoring relationships might be the key for a change in culture. Jonathan Welch and Tim Safley, two LEI staffers, join the discussion to talk about the impact mentoring has made in their own lives and the priority they give to relational discipleship today.
This week, join Leadership Edge President, Todd Melby as he hosts one of his mentors, Tim Oakley. Listen as they discuss living a lifestyle of leadership, Tim’s mentoring journey, and the impact that mentoring can have in the Church.
Radical Mentoring
Thrivers
Leadership Edge Mentor Training - Begins January 18, 2023
This episode is a follow-up to The Reality That Breaks Anxiety episode. Laura and John discuss two important things for us to do related to anxiety due to God’s presence with us.
Anxiety seems to be rampant in the US and other countries. In this episode, Laura and John discuss a scripture passage on anxiety that we often don’t not how to understand and the reality behind it that can break anxiety’s grip.
Show Notes: The Lord is at Hand
Hundreds of people across the US and in other countries have been mentees in a Leadership Edge Mentoring relationship. Laura and John discuss a core indicator of whether a Christian mentoring relationship will have value-adding impact or not. Listen in to this practical and actionable discussion.
Article: The Blessing of a Ready Heart
Leadership expert Stephen Covey believed that we should begin with the end in mind. This is important for how we live out our days whether in our 20’s, 40’s or 60’s. In this episode, Laura and John look at Faith and Faithfulness in the Later Years. Listeners of all ages will gain insight into how to build a consistent life of faith and faithfulness throughout all of the years of their lives.
Laura and John discuss how God uses faithfully bearing life responsibilities in developing God-honoring men. Laura’s husband Adam is a special guest in the discussion.
Article: Men with Broad Shoulders
Four words summarize God’s commands to His people in the Old Testament. These four words are Remember, Worship, Trust and Obey. Listen in as Laura and John discuss these four words and the practical guidance they give us for living out our faith, in all of life, every day.
Article: Remember and Worship, Then Trust and Obey
In helping others to grow in their faith and influence, we realize that they need to learn about God, His Gospel and His Word. We also realize that we need to learn about them – who they are, what they think, how they live and what they believe. Too often we forget that the younger Christian also needs to know about us – especially about how we choose to believe in God and live for Him in all of life. In this episode, Laura and John look at why and how we need to share our “wrestlings” with believing and obeying as we help others grow in faith and faithfulness.
Article: They Need to Know About Me
John refers to the middle years (30-60) as the “go-go” years. What does believing in Jesus and living out our faith in Jesus look like in those years? Join Laura and John in their insightful discussion of this important, and often times, perplexing aspect of living our whole life for Him.
Join special guest host Todd Melby, President of Leadership Edge, Inc., as he talks with three Leadership Edge Alumni about the early days of the organization, their faith, and how the impact of being mentored has shaped them into leaders they are today.
Elisabeth Elliot thought, wrote, taught and lived gospel simplicity. As part of their ongoing series of Persons, Books and Passages that Have Changed My Life, Laura and John discuss the life, message, legacy and impact of Elisabeth Elliot. Included in the show notes for this episode, listeners will receive a brief article that John wrote on growing older that draws from Elisabeth’s life and writings. To Declare that the Lord is Upright
Listen as Todd Melby visits with Sydney David Walusimbi from Watoto Christian Hall in Kampala, Uganda and the impact of a lifestyle of mentoring. https://www.watotochurch.com/ https://www.watoto.christianhalls.com/ https://onehope.net/
Personal and organizational accountability protects the future of both the leader and the organization. Laura and John discuss this timely reality using both corporate and personal examples.
Today’s parents have many challenges and little encouragement. They also struggle to access the “lessons learned” from parents whose kids are grown and gone. In this episode, Laura and John share meaningful encouragement and practical perspective from their daughter-father relationship. Listen, learn and be encouraged.
Christian mentoring should be a developmental relationship. But what is it that helps ensure the growth of the mentee?In this episode, Laura and John discuss practical tools to assess and promote the mentees developmental growth; both as a Christian and as a leader.
Join Laura and John in the third of a four episode series on Christian Mentoring. Today they discuss the shape of Christian mentoring and give practical steps in beginning a mentoring relationship, planning the meeting and how to effectively lead the meeting.
Join Laura and John as they describe the profile of a Christian mentor that aligns with the developmental needs of the mentee. You will also learn about Ron Austell who was John Hawkins first Christian mentor.
A recent participant in Leadership Edge Mentor Training commented, “I was encouraged that Biblical mentoring can be simple and yet impactful.” With this episode, Laura and John begin a four-part series on Leadership Edge’s Mentor Training. In this episode, they discuss “What Is Christian Mentoring?”, “How Is It That It Is Biblical?” and “How Does Christian Mentoring Fit with A Vision for All of Life?” Listen in to learn about the simplicity and impact of Christian Mentoring.
Over time leaders lose perspective and balance. It is not a question of if but of when. In this second of two episodes, Laura and John share practices that help us to regain and sustain perspective and balance.
https://lead-edge.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Perspective-and-Balance-Slides-for-Podcast.pdf
Over time leaders lose perspective and balance. It is not a question of if but of when. In this episode, Laura and John discuss what is the perspective and balance that leaders need and what happens when they lose it. In the next episode, they will share tips on how to regain and sustain perspective and balance.
Do you ever look at a leader and ask yourself the question, What happened to them? In this episode, John speaks on Spiritual Erosion - why it happens and what we can do about it.
Mary Byers is a Christian woman who has had nearly lifelong influence in the life of John; In this episode, listeners will learn about race, influence and how our leaders do not always have the title of leader
Laura and John look at the great hope we have due to the kind sovereignty of God at work in all of life. Though this is our hope, it is also a truth that we have to prayerfully wrestle with to come to understand and believe in on our hardest days and in our deepest disappointments. To read more on this episodes content, go here: https://lead-edge.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Absorbing-and-Believing-In-Gods-Sovereignty.pdf.
Over the years, Leadership Edge has trained hundreds of mentors who now mentor both in the US and abroad. Consistently one of the concepts in our mentor training that is most striking and appreciated by the participants is that the Holy Spirit is the Master Mentor. In this episode, Laura and John unpack what it means and looks like for a mentor to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in a mentoring relationship.
At the end of his life, as Moses gave his last message to the Israelites before his death, he proclaimed to the Israelites the supremacy of knowing and living by God's Word. In Deuteronomy 32:45-47a, Moses says (excerpt) Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day...they are not just idle words for you--they are your (very) life. John unpacks with Laura the difference that reading through the entire Old and New Testament several times in the last few years has made on his personal growth and in better understanding the fullness who God tells us He is.
As 2021 comes to an end, Laura and John talk about favorite memories, biggest surprises and greatest concerns from 2021.Listeners will be interested to see if their own 2021 memories, surprises and concerns are similar to those of Laura and John.They then look ahead to what theyare looking forward to and what they hope God changes in 2022.
Laura and John switch roles in this episode with John as the host and Laura telling the story of a dark period of deep anxiety that she went through some years ago. Listeners will learn how God brought her through this experience and what she learned from it. Laura’s story is a timely and practical one for those battling through anxiety.
Leadership Edge President Todd Melby joins Laura and John to discuss key lessons from Joseph in the Old Testament. John believes that the story of Joseph is one of the best stories ever told. Listen in to learn how Vision, Journey, Fulfillment and Impact of Joseph are a small story in a much grander story.
Mentoring relationships often turn into valuable lifelong collaborative friendships. In this episode, Laura and John share stories, scriptures and perspectives on mentors becoming lifelong friends.
What do we do with those besetting sins that we must battle ongoingly? Laura and John discuss this topic incorporating insights from scripture, John Newton and Dane Ortlund. Listen and walk away with clearer thinking and God-centered hope in your battles with indwelling sin.
Peer Development Groups are one of the great tools that we have developed, by Gods grace, at Leadership Edge. Ben Thomason with the Duke University Fuqua School of Business and Taylor Mattingly with Deloitte join Laura and John to discuss their experience with Leadership Edge Peer Development Groups. Click below to view the framework and agenda presented in this podcast. https://lead-edge.com/peer-development-group-framework-and-agenda-3/
https://lead-edge.com/peer-development-group-framework-and-agenda-3/
The evangelical church in America is greatly challenged in this period of pandemic and cultural polarity. In this episode Laura and John focus on the great need in this cultural moment for Christians to be skin in the game, blood on the court; committed to the local church. Listeners can download a short summary piece that John wrote on this topic or email us at LEI@lead-edge.com to request the article and we will be glad to email it to you.
Stepping Forward in His Church
https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
Stepping Forward in His Church
Gordon Blocker joins Laura and John again on this episode. The topic is Peaking Into A Mentoring Relationship. John and Gordon get in-depth and honest about the mentoring relationship that they have shared for 30 years and its impact on each of them.
Gordon Blocker joins the podcast and leads John through a quick round of Would You Rather? Gordon puts John on the hot seat as only a beloved friend of 30 years can do. Listen in as John, in his first experience of Would You Rather? breaks most of the rules.
Continuing the conversation begun in Part One, John and Laura continue the discussion on how God works in the lives of believers to grow us to become more like Him. John points out that for us to rightly understand what it means to be in relationship with God we have to understand what He is doing- that He is transforming us! God is not just blessing us, not just answering our prayers, not just being our heavenly Father in soft ways. But He is committed to grow us -sometimes even radically at work to change us to be more like His son. Understanding this can give us greater perspective on things we go through. It can also guide us to the important role we play in the process of us becoming more like Christ.
Suggested resource is “How Does Sanctification Work?” by David Powlison
Revisiting the first of the summer 2019 podcast two-part series.
Every day that we live, once we come to faith in Christ, God is building sanctification in us. Sanctifying us is one of the promises - one the commitments that He has made to us. For us to rightly understand what it means to be in relationship with God we have to understand what He is doing- that He is transforming us! God is not just blessing us, not just answering our prayers, not just being our heavenly Father in soft ways. But He is committed to grow us -sometimes even radically at work to change us to be more like His son. Understanding this can give us greater perspective on things we go through. It can also guide us to the important role we play in the process of us becoming more like Christ.
Suggested book is “How Does Sanctification Work?” by David Powlison
What do young Christian professionals want? Like the rest of us, they want a lot and are often unhealthily driven by these wants. In this episode, Laura and John talk about the Wants, Vanity, Belief and Glory of young professionals. Listeners will see that these are much the same for anyone who seeks to follow Christ.
In this second episode of the series Books, People and Passages that Have Shaped My Life, John talks about an author that he ran away from for a long time. That author is John Piper, who has since become an author and teacher who has profoundly shaped his understanding of what the Bible says to be true about God and His sovereign purpose in all of life.
It is tough to be a peacemaker in 2021. There have always been "landmine" issues in culture, like politics and faith, about which we know to talk carefully and thoughtfully. But now, it seems like the landmines are everywhere. Laura and John have an honest and biblical discussion on Being a Peacemaker in 2021 on this episode
Steve Schoeffel is the co-founder of Whimsical (www.whimsical.com). In this episode, Steve talks with Laura and John about his story, his company and how a God-centered, Biblically-based life vision statement keeps him on course.
God-honoring influence is greatly intensified or diminished by the words that we use. In this episode, Laura and John discuss three insights from a single verse in the Bible for appropriate and gracious verbal impact on others.
Laura and John cut to the core of how we often misunderstand prayer and avoid it or feel guilt over it. Listen in as they explain that prayer is nothing more than a two-way conversation between a child and their loving Father. Included in the show notes is a list of prayers that John uses as he prays to his Father.
Prayers of Dedication https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e770d027d4bd9ffa94bcec/t/605cde82ff1d24246d135897/1616699010447/Prayers+of+Dedication.pdf
For 27 years Leadership Edge Inc. has equipped God-honoring leaders through our unique approach to Christian mentoring. In this episode, Laura and John discuss the "why" that led us to begin the organization.
In this podcast episode, Laura and John begin a new occasional series on people, books and Biblical passages that have shaped his life. This first episode focuses on John and his father, their broken relationship and how God used it to bring John to Christ.
Loving God is the greatest commandment. In this episode Laura and John have a free-flowing discussion on growing to love God more. They even discuss The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by 19th century Scottish minister, professor of theology and political economist Thomas Chalmers. Listening to this episode will give you practical ideas on living out the greatest commandment.
Cybersecurity directly or indirectly affects all of us and is poorly understood by most of us. Dr. Seth Hamman, Director and Associate Professor of Cyber Operations and Computer Science at Cedarville University and Luke DuCharme, Red Team Operator at Wells Fargo join Laura and John to break down cybersecurity from a Christian perspective.
Dr. Edgar Schein, Professor Emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology said that The bottom line for leaders is that if they do not become conscious of the cultures in which they are embedded, those cultures will manage them.
This is true for all kinds of organizational leaders, even church pastors. In this episode, Laura and John discuss with Pastor Mike Poff the challenges, opportunities and practicalities of changing a church's culture. To read more on this topic go to Cultural Change in Churches https://www.lead-edge.com/culturalchange
Wow! What a year it has been! In this episode, Laura and John sift through the challenges of this year as they discuss finding peace and living out our faith at the end of 2020.
All good things must come to an end - even mentoring relationships. Josh Wykes and Evan Schindewolf are seasoned Leadership Edge Mentors in San Francisco. In this episode, they join Laura and John to give practical insights and practices they have learned on assessing and ending mentoring relationships.
Show Note Tips: The following evaluative questions have been found to be helpful in LEI mentoring relationships.
- Is the mentee still making the relationship a priority and is there still a place for me to serve in this mentee's life?
- Am I growing to understand the mentee?
- Is effective two-way communication occurring between us that facilitates understanding and growth?
- Are the developmental needs of the mentee being met?
- What is the mentee putting into action as a result of our time together?
- In what ways does the mentee's life exemplify the LEI Personal Vision Statement?
Janet Hawkins, Director of Women's Services at Leadership Edge Inc joins Laura and John to discuss insights into mentoring women. Leadership Edge Mentors Anna Poff in Warrenton, VA and Samantha Strother in Dallas share from their experience in mentoring women.
Modeling Belief and Obedience To Your Kids Amid the Uncertainties
Laura and John cut through the parenting urgencies of this chaotic period to get to a few fundamental and practical Biblical perspectives for parenting in the new normal. They focus on how parents can model for their kids (of all ages) daily faith and faithfulness in their speech and actions. To read more on this topic go to https://www.lead-edge.com/parentingnewnormal
Ethical Leadership is more than just a leader acting ethically and being legally compliant. Leadership Edge President Todd Melby and Board Chairman Randy Boyts join Laura and John in this episode in which they get at the deeper issues of ethical leadership in any organization.
Revisiting- the Need for Encouragement Leadership Edge Founder, John Hawkins, reflects on Hebrews 3:13 on the need, opportunity and responsibility that we have to encourage one another. He observes, "It’s revealing to see that (in Hebrews 3:13) the main action that we’re called to is not to hold each other accountable- it is rather to encourage." This is a re-broadcast of our first podcast promoted in summer 2018. For more of John's thoughts on the importance of encouragement visit:
For more resources from Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) visit: Proven Concepts And Practices For Christian Living, Leadership And Mentoring.
https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
US Army Officer Steve Smith joins Laura and John in this discussion of the role that modeling and imitation play in learning to live the Christian life and in training others at work and at home. Access the pdf referenced titled Modeling and Imitation at www.lead-edge.com/s/Modeling-and-Imitation.pdf
How do I learn to live the Christian life now? How do I help others learn to live the Christian life now? These are questions that Christians ask from their first steps of faith to their death. In this episode, Laura and John begin a two-part conversation on the New Testament practices of modeling and imitation that are foundational to learning to live the Christian life. Access the pdf referenced on Modeling and Imitation here www.lead-edge.com/s/Modeling-and-Imitation.pdf
Changing leadership in any organization is important and usually difficult. This podcast is the second of two episodes that focus on the lessons learned at Leadership Edge as its founder stepped away from serving as President, remained on full-time staff and the Board brought in the next President. Leadership Edge Board Chair Randy Boyts and President Todd Melby will join Laura and John for this valuable discussion on the values that shaped Leadership Edge’s succession and transition.
Changing leadership in any organization is important and usually difficult. This podcast is the first of two episodes that focus on the lessons learned at Leadership Edge as its founder stepped away from serving as President, remained on full-time staff and the Board brought in the next President. Leadership Edge Board Chair Randy Boyts and President Todd Melby will join Laura and John for this valuable discussion on the values that shaped Leadership Edge’s succession and transition.
Over the years, Leadership Edge has trained hundreds of mentors who now mentor both in the US and abroad. Consistently one of the concepts in our mentor training that is most striking and appreciated by the participants is that the Holy Spirit is the Master Mentor. In this episode, Laura and John unpack what it means and looks like for a mentor to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in a mentoring relationship.
Any kind of disruption or transition has the potential to have a dizzying effect on spiritual disciplines such as prayer. This is certainly true of the current COVID-19 crisis. Laura and John discuss the great usefulness of a prayer written by Elisabeth Elliot many years ago which along with the Lords prayer serves as a means by which to reorder our prayers to God. To read this prayer go to
https://www.lead-edge.com/elliotprayer
Integrity is more than honesty or morality. It is about "integratedness" - having an absolute truth or principle that is integrated into every action and aspect of our lives and influence. In this podcast, Laura and John discuss the fact that God's Word and God's Character form the basis for Christian integrity. Their discussion moves on to consider how Christ is our example of life and influence that was absolutely aligned with Scripture and with His Father's character. Listeners will gain insight and encouragement in living an integrated life that leads to God-honoring influence in their marriage, family, career, community and church.
Resource-How Christ Exemplified Lifestyle Leadership
https://www.lead-edge.com/christlifestyleleadership
What do effective leaders do? In addition to having great character and commitment, strong leaders must be competent. Laura and John unpack seven leadership competencies in this episode that are essentials for leaders to develop. Listen to gain practical insights for successful leadership in any of your spheres of influence.
https://www.lead-edge.com/competence
How do we think through, in a Christian way, these days of the pandemic? In this bonus episode, Laura and John talk through practical steps for us to take each day to gain God-centered sanity, purpose and grace. Their discussion highlights how LEI’s Five Mindsets for God-honoring Leaders provide an excellent guide for navigating this fearful and challenging time. Resource: Five Mindsets for God-honoring Leaders https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
A crisis like the COVID-19 Pandemic quickly reveals to believers what are those things in which they have placed their hope and trust. In this episode, John and Laura discuss how God uses Christian mentoring relationships to build-up and encourage both the mentor and the mentee to keep their hope and trust in the Lord amid this crisis. John shares several scripture passages, quotes from Christians who have gone before us and recent stories from his mentoring relationships to make the case that now is a perfect time for Christian mentoring.
Resources:
The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Perfect Context for Christian Mentoring
www.lead-edge.com/covid-context-for-mentoring
John and LEI propose that leadership is not necessarily about position, but about having influence. Influential leadership can be attained through consistently living a life of character, competence and commitment or the three C’s.
In this podcast, John and Laura explore the first of these components-CHARACTER. They discuss character as displaying moral or ethical strength and having congruity between public and private life. Character is the result of aligning words and actions with one’s personal values.
To read more on the 3 C’s and the Lifestyle Leadership Model go to
https://www.lead-edge.com/leadershiplifestylemodel
Sometimes mentors and mentees run into the challenge of not being able to be in the same room for their meetings due to business travel, unanticipated personal or business appointments, family needs, etc. Sometimes the best option is to skip that week’s meeting. However, John says that LEI has found that web meetings can be an effective alternative for meeting when needed. Web meetings can also be an effective means for meeting when the mentor and mentee don’t live in the same city but already have an established relationship. Remote meetings can especially be useful to continue a mentoring relationship when either mentor or mentee move to a new location yet both desire to continue the mentoring relationship. In this podcast, John offers recommendations on how to effectively use web meetings as the means for your mentoring meetings.
To read more go to Tips for Remote Mentoring via Web Meetings
Additional resources of John’s thoughts on topics related to life, leadership and mentoring can be found at https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
At the end of Moses’ life as he gave his last message to the Israelites before his death, he proclaimed to the Israelites the supremacy of knowing and living by God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 32:45-47a, Moses says Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day... they are not just idle words for you--they are your very life. John shares with Laura the difference that reading through the entire Old and New Testament several times over the last few years has given him a better understanding of who God tells us He is. To read more go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
In part two of the Mindset of God-honoring Leaders series, John and Laura take a deeper look at five established sets of attitudes (mindsets) which he has observed often characterize God-honoring leaders. A mindset is defined as a fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. Through observation of hundreds of young men and women mentored through LEI over the past 26 years, John has identified five mindsets he has seen that God often forges into God-honoring leaders. These mindsets are:
- bringing honor and glory to God in all things,
- humility,
- wisdom,
- intentionality and
- resilience
Click to read John’s reflections on the mindset of God-honoring leaders.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e770d027d4bd9ffa94bcec/t/5e27513f6a01722e9115a6fb/1579635007293/The+Mindset+of+God-honoring+Leaders.pdf
A mindset is the established set of attitudes held by someone. As God brings values to become part of our character they are shown by our mindset. In this podcast, Laura interviews John Hawkins and SF Regional Director at Young Life, Matt Walker about 5 mindsets of God-honoring leaders. Our mindset is how we think about things, how we assess and understand our context and make accordingly make decisions. Click to read John’s reflections on the mindset of God-honoring leaders.
Perspectives https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
Laura opens the interview with John and Randy Boyts, his closest friend for over 40 years stating that it's rare for people, and probably especially men, to have friendships that are as long and as deep as yours. Our topic today is, "A Long Friendship in the Same Direction."
Though very different from one another, Randy and John reflect on the strength they have found through their friendship as they have encouraged each other on as Hebrews 3:13 describes. John says that one of the residual effects of a long friendship where you share the same core values and have gone through so many parts of life together is that even when you are not together, there is still guidance that comes to you from the life of your friend.
There is a sense in which even when I’m not with Randy, I can hear his voice. I know what he would say. I know how he lives now and how he has lived in the past. Even when we aren’t together, there is guidance that comes from him which gives me perspective and calls me forward. Randy reflects on the value he found as he faced a hard situation a number of years ago where talking to a long-term friend like John, who knew him well, knew his heart, his history could give him needed perspective on the hard situation. Also knowing that John was walking alongside him with support was key to helping him get through a time that was very challenging. Randy says that it is important for men to be able to lay aside pride and pretense to develop a deep friendship. John concludes, we understand the deep need that each of us has for Jesus. We are two men who desperately need Jesus who have learned how to walk through life together.
To read an excerpt on friendship from Leadership as a Lifestyle by John Hawkins go to As Iron Sharpens Iron-The Inestimable Value of a Few Good Friends
www.lead-edge.com/s/As-Iron-Sharpens-Iron-The-Inestimable-Value-of-a-Few-Good-Friends.pdf
In this episode John and Laura discuss the fact that leadership is much more about interpersonal influence than about the position held in the organization. They break down a 2 x 2 diagram that shows the impact of moving from the lower left quadrant where one has no position and no influence to the upper right quadrant where one holds both position and influence. Those in the upper right quadrant (high influence and position) are able to build up the organization, lead the people well and God is honored and glorified. Below listeners can access John’s paper on Lifestyle Leadership that further explains the need for influence and how to gain it by growth in character, competence and commitment.
Leadership and Influence https://www.lead-edge.com/influence
Lifestyle Leadership Model https://www.lead-edge.com/leadershiplifestylemodel
Throughout the span of our lives, God gives us many roles to play. In this podcast episode, John and Laura discuss John’s transition from serving as the President of Leadership Edge to welcoming and working under the new President Todd Melby. We focus on a quote from Jon Bloom’s book, Things Not Seen: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Trusting God's Promises and related scripture passages that guide us to understand that knowing Christ, not the role we play, is the reward. Listeners can also access a paper that John wrote called, The Role Is Not the Reward at www.lead-edge.com/roleisnotthereward
Part two continues the previous conversation of how God works in the lives of believers to grow us to become more like Him, John points out that for us to rightly understand what it means to be in relationship with God we have to understand what He is doing in our lives- that He is transforming us! God is not just blessing us, not just answering our prayers, not just being our heavenly Father in soft ways. But He is committed to grow us -sometimes even radically at work to change us to be more like His son. Understanding this can give us greater perspective on things we go through. It can also guide us to the important role we play as we seek to become more like Christ. Suggested resource is How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison.
Every day that we live, once we come to faith in Christ, God is building sanctification in us. Sanctifying us is one of the promises - one the commitments that He has made to us. For us to rightly understand what it means to be in relationship with God we have to understand what He is doing- that He is transforming us! God is not just blessing us, not just answering our prayers, not just being our heavenly Father in soft ways. But He is committed to grow us -sometimes even radically at work to change us to be more like His son. Understanding this can give us greater perspective on things we go through. It can also guide us to the important role we play in the process of us becoming more like Christ.
Suggested book is “How Does Sanctification Work?” by David Powlison
And for more of John's thoughts on life, leadership and mentoring go to
lead-edge.com/perspectives
www.lead-edge.com/perspectives
To grow us in humility is part of the relentless commitment of God as part of His sanctification of us. John proclaims that we have to understand the wonderfulness of that! We tend to think that humbling means to hurt us or to shame us but really the synonym for humbling is freedom—and especially the freedom to know the glory and goodness of God. If, as Andrew Murray says, ‘humility is a measure of my dependence on God for everything’ then the reason God wants to make us humble is to bring us into freedom from the stuff inside of us that falsely seems to be a desirable drink to us. As follow-up to the previous podcast, “Pride: The Poisonous Drink”, John and Laura explore humility as the antidote that takes away the subtle poisonousness of our prideful thinking and actions.
To read more of John’s thoughts on this and other topics related to life, leadership and mentoring go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
We are oriented toward being prideful. John Hawkins points out that often we do not even realize how much we love pride- such as when we put ourselves forward at others expense or when we spend much time thinking about how wise or how useful we are. He proposes that pride is like a poisonous drink which we find to be delightful. Yet it is killing the depth of our relationship with the Lord and has a disastrous effect on those around us- especially those whom we love the most. To read more of John's thoughts on this and other topics related to life, leadership and mentoring go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
When the waves of life crash over our hopes and plans, we can feel disappointed BY God and over time even become disappointed WITH God. This disappointment can lead to cynicism and doubt as we stand in judgment of God and His ways in our lives. A crisis in faith can occur because we think that all of life should support what we expect and what makes sense to us. This can be fatal to our ability to believe Jesus.
John helps us to see that If we don’t work through our disappointment with God, then distrust of God grows in our heart. This distrust ultimately brings us to either wholly abandon our faith in God or to attempt to play a game of maintaining an outward perception of trust in God while we plot our own way to fulfillment. This episode is the conclusion of a two part series.
For more reflections on this and other topics, please go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
When the waves of life crash over our hopes and plans, we can feel disappointed BY God and over time even become disappointed WITH God. This disappointment can lead to cynicism and doubt as we stand in judgment of God and His ways in our lives. A crisis in faith can occur because we think that all of life should support what we expect and what makes sense to us. This can be fatal to one’s ability to believe Jesus. John helps us to see that If we don’t work through our disappointment with God, then distrust of God grows in our heart. This distrust ultimately brings us to either wholly abandon our faith in God or to attempt to play a game of maintaining an outward perception of trust in God while we plot our own way to fulfillment. This episode is part one of a two-part series.
For more of John’s reflections on this and other topics, please go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
Beyond books, conferences and mentors, God plays the key role in developing a God-honoring leader which is often overlooked. In this second of a two-part series, John Hawkins and Laura Hoover discuss that In the busyness of life, it is important to remember that there is a God at work, using the circumstances, challenges and opportunities to develop us into God-honoring leaders. We must do the things that are in front of us to do. We must do them in faith asking God to give us the grace to do them and to do them well. But we should remain aware that God is behind the scenes using my context, my opportunities and the breadth of my influence in ways that only He can to establish and transform me into the man (or woman) leader that He wants me to be. Our normal way of thinking is what do I need to do? And there are definitely things that we need to do. But we must remember that our sovereign God is behind it all, working in us and working through us. May we lift our eyes up to rejoice in and relax in the fact that there is a craftsman, a loving Father who is behind all this accomplishing His purposes. To read John's article on this topic go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
Beyond books, conferences and mentors, God plays the key role in developing a God-honoring leader which is often overlooked. John Hawkins and Laura Hoover discuss that In the busyness of life, it is important to remember that there is a God at work, using the circumstances, challenges and opportunities to develop us into God-honoring leaders. We must do the things that are in front of us to do. We must do them in faith asking God to give us the grace to do them and to do them well. But we should remain aware that God is behind the scenes using my context, my opportunities and the breadth of my influence in ways that only He can to establish and transform me into the man (or woman) leader that He wants me to be. Our normal way of thinking is what do I need to do? And there are definitely things that we need to do. But we must remember that our sovereign God is behind it all, working in us and working through us. May we lift our eyes up to rejoice in and relax in the fact that there is a craftsman, a loving Father who is behind all this accomplishing His purposes. To read John's article on this topic go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
God is a personal, relational God and this suggests that He has plans for our lives. Though He has given us minds and good judgment for many decisions, it can be helpful to go to our Father for guidance. Anxiety can be a reminder to us to check in with God to learn His guidance in the stressful situation. John Hawkins and his daughter, Laura discuss this and how to discern Gods guidance in part two of this two-part series. To read more on John's thoughts on Discerning Gods Guidance go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
God is a personal, relational God and this suggests that He has plans for our lives. Though He has given us minds and good judgment for many decisions, it can be helpful to go to our Father for guidance. Anxiety can be a reminder to us to check in with God to learn His guidance in the stressful situation. John Hawkins and his daughter, Laura discuss this and how to discern God’s guidance in part one of this two-part series.
For more on Discerning God’s Guidance go to https://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory
For His (God's) glory is the final phrase in the Leadership Edge personal vision statement which provides the framework for LEI mentoring relationships. John Hawkins and his daughter, Laura, discuss why the vision statement ends with for His glory and reflect on what it means. John states that not only is for God’s glory the culmination of the personal vision statement but it is the core purpose of our lives. And, as we live our lives for the glory of God, it elevates and fulfills us and gives ultimate guidance for our lives. As we gain glimpses of the holiness, goodness and the glory of God, we begin to see, I am made for this. To live for the glory and honor of God!
For more information on Leadership Edge mentoring and the personal vision statement please go to:
http://www.lead-edge.com
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs and
http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
If we really accept the fact that as step forth as God’s men and women then it makes sense that we would want to spend our lives seeking and fulfilling HIS purposes—not our own. Listen as John Hawkins and his daughter, Laura Hoover discuss what seeking to live our lives for God’s purposes looks like in a busy season of work, family and life. They discuss the false dichotomies of spiritual and secular that can lead to narrow, segmented thinking. God’s work is BOTH spiritual and secular and so should be ours!
For more information on Leadership Edge mentoring and the personal vision statement please go to:
http://www.lead-edge.com
http://www.lead-edge.com
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs
http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
(Repost) In each of our spheres of influence, we have an opportunity to encourage and bless those around us as we step forward as God’s men and women. John Hawkins and his daughter, Laura explore how God can use us in these spheres of influence. This is fifth episode exploring the Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) personal vision statement which shapes the mentoring framework used in LEI mentoring relationships.
For more information on Leadership Edge mentoring and the personal vision statement please go to:
http://www.lead-edge.com
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs and
http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
Whenever we step forward, we have the opportunity to not only step forward as "me" but as a man or woman who is owned by God. This makes a difference in everything!-How we step forward, our values, purposes and how we treat people is different if we understand that we are His men and women. This is fourth episode exploring the Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) personal vision statement which shapes the mentoring framework used in LEI mentoring relationships. For more information on Leadership Edge mentoring and the personal vision statement please go to: http://www.lead-edge.com http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
In the third of the LEI Personal Vision podcast series, John Hawkins encourages us to step forward. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God calls us forward everyday to do the good works which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Instead of being limited by fears or inadequacies, John casts vision of how we can step forward by God’s grace in each of the areas into which He calls us. For more on the PVS please go to: http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs and http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
John Hawkins discusses the transformational impact of understanding the grace of God and how this changes not only our own lives but how we interact with others. As we truly comprehend the grace of God, we experience that we are accepted by Him and no longer have to prove anything. This affects how we respond to others. John's organization, Leadership Edge, Inc. (LEI) provides an adaptable and intentional mentoring framework for life-on-life mentoring for next generation leaders which begins with experiencing the grace of God in our own lives. This is the second of a seven-part podcast series in which John reflects on each phrase of the personal vision statement (PVS) which shapes the mentoring framework. For more on the PVS please go to:
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs
http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
John Hawkins, Founder of Leadership Edge, Inc. (LEI) introduces the Personal Vision Statement (PVS) series by discussing the importance of having a Biblically based, God-centered vision to guide our lives. LEI provides an adaptable and intentional mentoring framework for life-on-life mentoring for next generation leaders. This is the first of a seven-part podcast series in which John reflects on each phrase of the personal vision statement which shapes the mentoring framework. For more on the PVS please go to:
http://www.lead-edge.com/pvs and
http://www.lead-edge.com/mf-pvs
The Graciousness of God through 40 Years of Marriage John and Janet Hawkins reflect on their 40 years of marriage and how the grace of God displayed to each of them through marriage has transformed them.
For more resources from Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) visit:
Proven Concepts and Practices for Christian Living, Leadership and Mentoring.
http://www.lead-edge.com/leiperspectives/
Mentoring for Lifelong Impact John Hawkins shares his experience with mentoring in such a way that even decades later, God is still using the things discussed in the mentoring relationship to impact the mentee's life. He finds that mentoring relationships that are God-centered, faith based relationships which help the mentee build Biblically based values, beliefs and convictions can set the trajectory for the rest of their life.
To watch two short videos from John on this topic visit:
- https://vimeo.com/258733639
- Mentoring for Lifelong Impact
- Mentoring for Lifelong Impact
For more resources from Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) visit:
Proven Concepts and Practices for Christian Living, Leadership and Mentoring.
http://www.lead-edge.com/leiperspectives/
Keys to Effective Mentoring John Hawkins, long-time mentor and founder of Leadership Edge, Inc. (LEI) discusses three keys that he has found through the years which lead to effective Christian mentoring. In this interview with his daughter Laura, he presents that the goal of Christian mentoring is to help the mentee become more like Christ. Keys to mentoring are:
- Having a prayerful dependence on God recognizing the HE is the master mentor
- Having a clearly defined purpose and focus for the relationship that is both flexible and adaptable
- Intentional selection of the mentor and mentee that fits with the purpose and focus of the relationship
The effectiveness of the mentoring relationship can be evaluated over time by discerning if God-honoring change is occurring in the mentee's life.
For more of John's thoughts on life, leadership and mentoring visit
Proven Concepts and Practices for Christian Living, Leadership and Mentoring
www.lead-edge.com/leiperspectives
Living a Lifestyle of Leadership An interview with Leadership Edge Founder, John Hawkins. In this episode, John discusses with his daughter, Laura Hoover, the importance of living an integrated life in our marriages, families, careers, communities and churches where we demonstrate a consistent "lifestyle of leadership" by positively influencing those around us-- in each of our spheres of influence.
For more of John's thoughts on living an integrated lifestyle of leadership visit:
- http://www.lead-edge.com/4hisglory/
- Lifestyle Leadership model (Word and Powerpoint presentation)
- How Christ Exemplified the Lifestyle Leadership Model
For more resources from Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) visit: Proven Concepts and Practices for Christian Living, Leadership and Mentoring.
Show Notes for Encouragement-The Powerful Daily Reminder Leadership Edge Founder, John Hawkins, reflects on Hebrews 3:13 on the need, opportunity and responsibility that we have to encourage one another. He observes, "It’s revealing to see that (in Hebrews 3:13) the main action that we’re called to is not to hold each other accountable- it is rather to encourage."
For more of John's thoughts on the importance of encouragement visit:
- Encouragement: The Powerful Daily Need And Responsibility
- 5 minute video vignette on Hebrews 3:13
For more resources from Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) visit: Proven Concepts And Practices For Christian Living, Leadership And Mentoring.
Show Notes for Leaving the Results with God Leadership Edge Founder, John Hawkins, reflects on living by faith. He states, "In faith I must do all that God calls me to do today-- then I must leave the results with God."
Read about In Faith I must do all that God calls me to do today then I must leave the results to Him. For more Perspectives from Leadership Edge, Inc (LEI) visit: Proven Concepts And Practices For Christian Living, Leadership And Mentoring