A unique new concept to help develop leadership in the region will begin right here in the area. It's called the Heartland Leadership Labs. The labs are focused on bringing high-level nationally known leaders to the region to help nurture and develop leadership.

"Strong leadership can impact our families, communities, organizations, and an entire country," says Brad Aycock, one of the organizers. Growing up in southeast Missouri, then starting a business, Aycock saw a shortage of these opportunities.

"Whenever we wanted to learn from the gurus, we'd have to read their books or drive to St. Louis or Memphis for their conferences. Not anymore," Aycock notes. Aycock adds that there are future teachers, CEO's, and Presidents walking the streets of southeast Missouri. Many make it, but sadly some don't.

"We want to be intentional and focused on creating opportunities for all of us to learn from the best in the country, right here in our area, at a very affordable price," says Aycock. Oftentimes conferences can provide energy for awhile, but it sometimes wears off. With the Leadership Labs concept, people will get the frequency needed to make it stick. The speaker lineup rivals any conference you may see in the larger cities. On Sept. 30, Dr. Tim Elmore will teach on Habitudes. Dr. Elmore is the founder and president of Growing Leaders (growingleaders.com) and consultant for Chick-fil-A, as well as many major league baseball and NCAA football teams. He also works with schools across the country to help identify and develop the next generation of leaders.

His latest groundbreaking book, "Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future" has been a major benefit in helping corporations and franchises work with and understand the next generation.

On Oct. 28, Sue Nilson Kibbey will bring her expertise in Strengths based leadership. Kibbey consults with organizations on leading by strengths - based on the best selling book "StrenghtsFinder 2.0." In 2005 she was recognized as one of the top ten non-profit business administrators in America.

On Nov. 18, former St. Louis Ram and future Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams will be discussing the importance of teamwork in an organization. Williams had a stellar NFL career and eventually helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl in 2001. His latest book, "It Takes Respect" discusses how leaders must earn the respect of their peers in order to take the organization to the next level - Teamwork makes the Dream work.

"If a business person, educator, church leader, or civic leader can make it to these labs, you'll see a difference. That difference can have a great ripple effect. Our hope is that these rare opportunities could tap into our potential and unleash a movement to greatly impact our region and the world." says Aycock.

The Heartland Leadership Labs will be held in the Family Life Center at First United Methodist Church in Sikeston.

For information on pricing, speakers, dates, and tickets, visit heartlandleadershiplabs.com or call 573.421.1824.

Reprint Compliments of Men At The Cross By Joe White

VIDEO OF THE DAY

I'll never forget the sting of rejection I felt as a shy and insecure seven-year-old when I asked for Elvis Presley's autograph after a small concert in his early days of performing before he hit the big time. To the young singer's credit, he had already given me his "John Henry" earlier, and I had lost it somewhere in the crowd.

He must have remembered my nervous and embarrassed face the second time around because he rebuked me and said, "Hey kid, didn't I already do this once tonight?" After I fumbled a torn piece of paper and a pencil into his hands, he reluctantly scribbled "Elvis Presley" a second time.

I ducked my head in sheer embarrassment and scurried off to find my bicycle and peddle home.

Some people collect Elvis albums like diamonds and even call him "the King of Rock and Roll". To each his own, I guess, but for me, I think that the real King not only gave me His autograph (in blood no less), He actually calls me a family member and re-autographs my page in the Book of Life every time I fall. This is a feat I appreciate more than any other event in my life on this earth! Jesus calls me family. Jesus invites me to dinner every day. Jesus signs autographs just for the asking. As I choose to follow Him, He chooses me to be His son.

Guess what? The same family invitation is yours for the asking!

QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to you to be invited into His family?

Why does He regard His obedient followers with as much regard as His own mother and brothers?

What does it mean when He gives you His autograph each and every day?

LIFELINE:

As each of us in this home are members of God's family, how should we act towards each other?

Reprint Compliments of Men At The Cross By Joe White

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Matthew 8:23-26

23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose [a]a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26 He *said to them, “Why are you [b]afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and ©it became perfectly calm.

She may be one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, but she is definitely the poorest. She has read dozens and dozens of scripts from wooing directors and producers, but to this date in her young career, she has not accepted one. Every script has suggestive romance. Every script has language. Her response is always the same, "No, thanks. I'll wait for a script my conscience can live with."

Last week, a beer company sought to capture her beauty and offered her $300,000 to take a part in a TV commercial. She definitely needed the money to pay her rent. She immediately called her dad for advice. "No way," was his response. "We don't need money that badly." The actress agreed with relief.

My dear friend, Shannon, has faith that God will meet her needs.

All day long before the big storm in the boat, the disciples had listened to Jesus delivering the greatest lectures on faith ever preached. Now they were in the laboratory. It was time to test their listening skills. Had they really heard the teacher.

"Save us Lord, we are perishing!" Give 'em a big standing ovation. At Kanakuk Kamps we call it giving 'em a big O!

You haven't closed a deal in months. You could lower your standards.

The competition for customers at your sales office is intense. You could stretch your offers to "sell" more than you can deliver.

You turn expense reports in every month, and this month you could use a few more dollars to make ends meet. What will it hurt to bump up your mileage or claim meals that are not work related?

Faith that God will come through. It's the issue of the day isn't it! Storms rose up on the Sea of Galilee in a heartbeat. Storms prevail at school, sports and work that seem to pale the wind in comparison!

A word from Jesus and there is peace.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is your laboratory of faith today?
2. Where is Jesus in your boat?
3. What do you need for peace and calm in your storm right now?

LIFELINE:
In the storms of life, it's the home that points you to the One who brings peace and gives wisdom to the questions that arise when the boat seems to be going under.

Reprint Compliments of Men At The Cross By Joe White

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Matthew 8:1-3: Jesus Cleanses a Leper

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

I have a lot of great memories from my childhood. One memory from my high school days has never left me

Cathy was the girl in our high school that hardly ever went out or was even noticed by a boy. Cathy had a rare disease as a little girl, which left her neck and her mouth grossly distorted. (I do remember, however, more than once noticing her beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes.) Even though Cathy was as sweet as any girl in my high school, no boy would ask her for a date because of her strangely disfigured features ... that is, until her senior prom.

David was the president of our student council and was about as nice a guy as I've ever met. He not only asked Cathy to prom, but he took her there and treated her like a queen. Cathy looked stunningly beautiful in her baby blue dress with pure white lace. Alfonse was a quiet, but sincere country boy who was also at the prom. He too noticed her hidden beauty. Alfonse took a special interest in Cathy after that dance and eventually asked for her hand in marriage. The loving touch of Christ-through-his young servant, David, "healed" Cathy's quest for love and attention about as beautifully and completely as Jesus might have done had He been in the good ol' Class of '64 with David and Cathy.

The account of Jesus and the leper has always amazed me because as I read it, I picture Jesus with the compassion of love in His eyes that is only known by the father of a daughter in need, reaching His hand out and touching the disfigured leper right in his biggest sore spot on the side of his face. While others backed away and turned their heads in disgust, Jesus reached His hand straight into the heart of the man's greatest need.

QUESTIONS:
1. Why were dramatic physical healings so much a part of Jesus' ministry on earth?
2. What need, hurt or problem gives you "leprosy" today?
3. Describe how you'd like for Jesus to touch you in that need

LIFELINE:
Think how you can be a "David" to a "Cathy" in your home today!

Reprint Compliments of Men At The Cross By Joe White

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Matthew 7:13-14: The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

"It's the real thing." (Is there such an entity on this planet?)

Imagine what we'd all look like if we were completely transparent as we walked around planet earth and all you could see was what was inside a person's heart

Your motives.

The real you.

Your intentions.

Your true self.

No baloney; no excuses; no hoop-la; just truth. What would people see?

Better still, what would Jesus see?

I believe that a truly, sincerely dedicated Christian is always God's child. I don't believe He disowns those who are truly His.

I do believe, however, that many of us run around churches and Christian homes calling ourselves "Christians" when we've never really, completely, sincerely given our heart to Him ... thus, today's scripture.

Jesus sees the heart. He sees the core of the apple, the eye of the hurricane, the conductor's tiny wand of the giant symphony orchestra.

The chronicler puts it this way, "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." (2 Chr 16:9 NASB)

When He looks at yours and mine and sees true commitment, then perfect love is ours and as I John 4:18 says, "Perfect love casts out fear." Once you're truly His, you're always truly His.

But if He sees a lawless, rebellious, or untrue heart, then we have the right to wonder if we ever were His in the first place.

Paul urges us to test ourselves so that we won't fail the final exam. "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!

Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test." (2 Cor 13:5-6 NASB)

The best test I know is to ask your conscience and your family if there's anything in your life that you put before God. If there is, give it up; ask forgiveness and give it all so that you can be one about whom people say, "It's the real thing."

QUESTIONS:

1. What does Matthew 7:21 mean to you?

Matthew 7:21: True and False Disciples: 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

2. How do we know that once we're truly His, we're always His?
3. God is our daddy when Jesus lives in our heart. Why are dads so faithful?

LIFELINE:
Help each other see how God can be #1 in everything, forever.