Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas. It’s time for family, for comfort, for love. And for Christians, it’s a time to celebrate what’s most important, the birth of Jesus Christ.

But there are a lot of things we get wrong about Christmas.

For one, we give each other so much stuff. Whether it’s out of obligation or just to truly show someone we care, we’re still essentially material-rich people giving other material-rich people more… materials. The purpose of our holiday, though, is Christ. And Jesus made his purpose clear to us – sacrifice. He died so that we could live. And we struggle to keep that the focus of Christmas while we’re busy buying and unwrapping gifts.

Let’s face it, we actually sacrifice very little. But what’s small to us can be huge to someone who lacks basic health necessities. Just $20 is enough for one person to have clean water for two decades, for example.

So, this year, I’m asking others of you to join me and give up some gifts and donate that money to help me build a well. 100% of all funds raised go directly to the water projects. Between now and Christmas, I aim to raise $2,500 in my charity: water campaign.

Jesus sacrificed himself for us. This is the least I can do.

Please join me and donate whatever you can…..http://mycharitywater.org/ebroussard

THANK YOU!

Seems as though there is a character gap in our leaders today. Well actually there has ALWAYS been a character gap in most of our leaders. The position, power, money and or stress always seems to compromise men in women whenever they appear to have it all together. Spiritual leaders are not immune to this reality. Reggie McNeal does a wonderful job in this book of giving us few guidelines (disciplines) that will help all of us stay true to our self and to our followers.

Reggie states that humility and popularity can coexist. Because great leaders keep the perspective of the true source of their strength. We all have known a handful of “great” leaders in a sea of “good” leaders. Reggie’s wisdom makes it very clear that great leadership is earned. It is not a gift…it is a reward. The first three disciplines revolve around the leaders self-awareness, self-management and self-development. While the final four disciplines provide clarity for the leader in the areas of mission, decision making, belonging and aloneness.

 If you are a spiritual leader or coach and you have the desire to have a lasting impact on the people around you, you should read and reread PRACTICING GREATNESS.