Leadership & the NHL Trade Deadline

A few thoughts about leadership in light of yesterday's NHL trade deadline.

1) Emotions do play a part in tough leadership decisions - and that's good. Esp thinking about Kevin Lowe dealing Ryan Smyth to the Islanders, it was a very tough decision and I'm glad the Oilers GM was honest about that. Though I don't listen to Edm radio stations, apparently there was a great deal of angst that the Oilers wouldn't cough up the extra $$$ to simply sign Smyth. And Smyth is and always has been a classy guy - as even further evidenced by his decision not to comment on the trade when the day was one to celebrate Mark Messier. And even as a Flames fan, I kinda hope the Oilers can re-sign Smyth after July 1 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent (UFA) - unless of course the Flames could sign him!!!

2) Good leadership makes the tough decisions - Although it was a very emotional and difficult decision, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe made the tough decision (I believe an excellent trade) for the good of the organization for the long term. He knew he would/will get criticized by fans, the media, etc and is/was willing to live through it - and still made the tough decision for the good of the organization. Making the tough decision may not be popular but it is still the leader's responsibility. Of course, if its the wrong decision, the leader also has to take the heat and/or admit the error.

3) Be shrewd - more than a few hockey pundits, esp the good friends on TSN and Sportsnet, where debating the rightness of the St Louis Blues actions in the past week, believing that they traded Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachuk to other teams and yet already have plans in place to sign them back on July 1 when they become UFAs. And if that is true, then full marks to John Davidson the Blues GM for being so shrewd. All of his actions are above board, and won't be a surprise to anyone. And if the rules/system allows such actions, then use it wisely. The Blues desperately need to be re-built and so if Davidson is doing it shrewdly, using his assets to gain future assets and then will be able to re-acquire the recently departed assets, then more power to him. That's simply shrewd leadership.

Please understand that this does not mean "fudging" the rules or even applying the rule-of-law, and totally ignoring the spirit of the law. If Davidson truly pulls this off come July 1, it will be all above board with everyone aware of the possibilities.

Law & Order vs Evangelicals?

Just curious if anyone else out there has observed the "strange coincidence" of NBC's Law and Order having two episodes that seemed to me to rather "opportunistic" in "capitalizing" on a recent Christian/Evangelical scandal?

Last week's episode of L&O: SVU and then last night's episode of L&O: Criminal Intent both featured a "prominent leader of an evangelical empire" who "preached strongly for family values and against homosexuality" and was involved in a murder (that's the main difference), both in an effort in some way to cover up a homosexual relationship with a male prostitute.

I'm obviously a fan of the Law & Order series (all of them) and generally a fan of NBC programming (especially "ER" though it has dramatically faded in recent years), but these two episodes just seemed so "opportunistic" that I just wondered if anyone knows of an anti-Christian, anti-evangelical bent in NBC leadership - or if it just shrewd programming?

And of course, recent evangelical "scandals" have given the media plenty of opportunity to condemn Christians without having any axe to grind. By God's grace, any Christian leader, myself included, will refrain from looking for some sinister anti-Christian "plot" behind any television story/program and simply ask God to keep us from the same failures... and live beyond the criticisms and false presentations to live the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Great article by ESPN's Chris Broussard

I found the link to this article on Tim Ellsworth's blog - and I agree it is a well-written article. (And some of you thought that guys who love sports and/or Jesus couldn't also be smart and articulate)

Valentine's Day

This is truly a very different Valentine's Day... because I have a special woman in my life - and not just a girlfriend, but a fiance, who will be my wife in 80 days! God's Ultimate Gift of Love was the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that I could free from the death penalty of sin(s), and be restored to right relationship with Him, now and for eternity.

And undoubtedly his next best gift to me is the incredibly beautiful woman that He has blessed me with as a friend, fiance, future wife, and a true partner in the work of His Kingdom. God has always loved me, and has always blessed me with loving people around me. Yet this Valentine's Day I celebrate and understand His Love in a new and richer way because of Sarah.

I love you, Sarah. :-)