Gardner believes that leaders are more born than made. He comes to this conclusion, after teaching on leadership for almost 20 years, serving under 6 presidential administrations and on the boards of several Fortune 500 companies. What he laments is that we just don't have the systems in place to find and develop them like we used to. So his book is meant to be an encouragement and guide to those who would develop leaders in all spheres of influence. As such, it is a compendium of knowledge for those who seek to make more of those who are born with the gift of leadership

Would you be interested if one of the 100 richest people in the world wrote a book that didn't tell you how to make money, but how to simply live by principles that would transform your work life. Would you be interested? Well that's what Ray Dalio does for his readers. Distilling down almost 70 years of experience into truths that have guided him and his company to its greatest successes.  That's probably why it made it on the New York Time's best seller's list and probably why you should listen in. 

When do we rest on our intuition and when do we need to think more deeply  about our decisions.  Dr. Kahneman provides years of research to help us make better decisions- for the benefit of all business leaders. 

What if Jesus wanted to teach us as much about economics as he did the human soul? That's the premise of The Maker vs. The Takers. In order to build this point, Bower is going to lead us into the realm of biblical history and archaeology. Both prove to be highly insightful in helping us understand the world Jesus was speaking to. And in so doing, helps make his words even more insightful to the economics of our world today. 

Is work a curse or a blessing? Keller says that when we understand God's design for work we can account for both. But until the gospel begins to change how we work, we will miss out on the ultimate design. 

What if a Rabbi offered to give you  the 10 commandments to making wealth- would you be interested. In Thou Shalt Prosper, Rabbi Lapin lays out timeless truths that have guided him and his community to holiness and wealth for millennia. Through his discourse on each, he shares a worldview where financial success is the expected outcome to sacrificial service. Whether those two can truly live in harmony is what we will explore. 

The story of the church is an Epic. Where do you fit in in the story?

Ephesians 2:1-7
We are so bound and determined to make our lives work that our natural tendency is to shut God out and just work harder. But God couldn't  leave us in that state of rebellion. So He came to His creation, to bring us home. Whether we can make it there is the question.

Throughout chapter 1 Paul has been building the point that the church is full of:

·      A bunch of unqualified people are brought into God’s family

·      Given a new identity and more responsibility than they deserve

·      Filled to overflowing with God’s gifts and His Spirit

·      Who still can’t grasp why God planned to choose us

So he  prays that we would be enlightened by the Holy Spirit  to grasp:

·      God’s hope in calling us

·      His value in choosing us, and 

·      His power at work in us
Paul pulls all of this together in this episode by illustrating what God’s plan combined with His power can accomplish- in His Son and in His Church.

Paul prays that the Church will know why God has called - them. They they are so valuable to God's eternal work. And just how powerfully God could work through their simple obedience. It's a lot to grasp and a lot to put into practice, but imagine if those of us in the Church actually did!