John Stanko

“These are the Lord’s appointed festivals,
the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim
at their appointed times" - Leviticus 23:4.

Israel not only had Sabbaths to observe, they also had many high holy days on which they had to assemble 'before the Lord.' Sometimes they had to travel short or long distances to Jerusalem to participate. The Lord did not apologize for requiring the people to exert some money and effort to take a break from their workaday world to go spend time with him through those annual traditions. Leaders must also find ways to incorporate regular refreshment trips to conferences, seminars, and educational experiences of both a spiritual and secular nature that help them gain perspective on their world back home.

LEADERSHIP STEP: Is there some place, speaker or travel or conference experience that you have found to energize you in the work you do? Your Step today is to make plans to attend whatever that may be as soon as possible. If you don't have that in your life, then your Step is to search and find something that can become a tradition in your annual calendar. It can be across town or across the country; your job is to find a way to get there as often as possible.