Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

“Character is Destiny”

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Archives for July 2025

Called to Lead

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This is one of the best leadership books ever written, about two of the best leaders who ever lived: Saint Paul and Nehemiah. The author is qualified, having taught the Bible for over 50 years at Grace Community Church in California. He was also a respected leader. In this book, he identifies leadership principles implied in the stories about these men, such as trustworthiness and discipline. There are 26 of them.

The stories are fascinating and enjoyable to read, and they can help you become a leader. The author believes that leadership can be learned by studying the lives of great leaders, and that the Bible is a treasure trove of leadership wisdom.

What leadership principle interested you the most?

Horseriding

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Horses are magnificent creatures, enjoyed by leaders and everyday people for thousands of years. George Washington and Winston Churchill rode horses in combat. (Virginians considered Washington their best horseman, and Churchill rode in Britain’s final cavalry charge.) Legends, like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, rode horses in battle and on their quests. Princes of history and fiction learned to ride well: Cyrus the Great and Capian are two examples. Paul Revere’s midnight ride marked the beginning of America’s War for Independence and is perhaps the most famous horseback ride in history.

During America’s westward expansion, families crossed the Great Plains and farmed with horses, and young men carried mail across dangerous wilderness in what became known as the Pony Express. Cowboys on horses drove cattle across the Midwest. Horses played a big role in westerns like the Rifleman, and in classic John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies.

The world has changed, but horses still play a vital role. Police officers ride strong, beautiful horses in cities to maintain public order and peace. Horses play a critical role in state funerals and parades. And beautiful thoroughbreds are raced in the Ascot and the Kentucky Derby.

Horses, except for the lion, are quite possibly the most honored of all animals. No creature has helped man quite as much. They feature prominently in classic literature and the Bible, where it is revealed that Christ will return on a white horse.

Horseriding has been considered a noble activity. Churchill wrote,

No one ever came to grief—except honourable grief—through riding horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle. Young men have often been ruined through owning horses, or through backing horses, but never through riding them; unless of course they break their necks, which, taken at a gallop, is a very good death to die.

Learning to ride a horse well is exciting, but it’s also a challenge; it takes time and effort to become comfortable in the saddle. It’s important to know that horses are intelligent creatures. An expert rider can guide a horse with the slightest prompting. I recommend giving horse riding a try at a local farm.

Do you ride? What is your riding horse like?

Churchill

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To become a leader, you must develop your character. For this, it helps to read biographies of great leaders. This has been recognized for thousands of years. Plutarch, a Roman politician and writer, wrote the Parallel Lives, in which he compared the characters of Greek and Roman leaders.

I recommend the following. If you are interested in business, consider reading a biography of a successful businessperson, such as Walt Disney. If you are interested in ministry, consider reading a biography of a missionary, such as David Livingstone or Gladys Aylward. If you are interested in science, many individuals would be good choices, in particular, Michael Faraday. He is a true rags-to-riches story, and he changed the world. If interested in politics, it’s hard to beat George Washington and Winston Churchill.

Identify what they did well. If you observe a great habit, write it down and try to put it into practice. Note their mistakes and how they handled them. Also, note their vices and moral failings. (A definitive biography reveals the good and the bad.)

The best biographers tell a good story and are accurate, revealing the true essence of the person.

Churchill quite literally saved Western Civilization during World War II. His rise, and fall, and rise is a fascinating story. Some consider him the most excellent leader of the 20th century. I recommend reading Paul Johnson’s short biography of Churchill.

Warning: once you start reading about Churchill, you may not find it easy to stop.

Knowing God

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I read this book when I was about 19 years old. It quite literally changed my life, giving me a greater appreciation and respect for God. The book does exactly what the title indicates. It helps you get to know God. The author, one of the most respected theologians of the 20th century, utilized the Bible to help readers understand what God is like. He explains God’s attributes or character traits as they have been revealed in nature and Scripture.

The book matters because knowing God rightly matters for one’s happiness and freedom.

King David wrote: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, English Standard Version)

Jesus said: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

What did you find most helpful about the book? Comment below.

The God Who is There

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Francis Schaeffer was an influential thinker (i.e., philosopher) and Christian in the mid-to-late 20th century. He believed that God exists, that truth, goodness, and beauty come from him, and that they have been revealed in creation, history, and the Bible. He believed that living by the truth is necessary for happiness and dignity. 

In his books, he reveals how belief in objective truth has been lost, and the social and personal issues this has caused. Starting with philosophy, he explains how thinkers used to believe in objective reality, goodness, and beauty. And how truth began to be seen as existing only in the realm of science, while all other beliefs, such as religious ones, were deemed to be personal values rather than objective facts.  

He goes on to show how this affected art, music, and culture, providing specific examples. He shows how the loss of truth leads to despair.  

Ultimately, Schaeffer presents a compelling case for the existence of objective truth, revealed by God in creation and the Bible, providing those who embrace it an escape from despair.

Schaeffer’s classic trilogy has helped many people regain confidence and appreciation for true truth that frees one to live the good life and to make sense of it. 

Personal note: I read The God Who Is There and the other two when I was 16 years old. They were not easy to read; I had to use a dictionary to look up several words. However, his books educated me, and they changed my life for the better. 

If you read any part of them, please comment below and let me know your thoughts.

Pilgrim’s Progress

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This is a classic story about how to find happiness. Published one hundred years before the American War for Independence, it is one of the most widely read books ever. Some of the greatest writers read it. The greatest preacher in British history read it every year. Interestingly, the author, John Buynan, wrote it in prison.

Bunyan’s story has two parts. Part one follows a man named Christian who journeys to the Celestial City. Along the way, he faces many dangers and meets many people, some of whom help him, but many others try to stop him. Part two is about his wife and children as they make the same journey, facing many of the same dangers, as well as new ones.

The book, through its characters and events, represents two paths described in the Bible: the path that leads to happiness and the path that leads to destruction. The foundation and vision of the book is historical Christianity; the intent is to help the reader learn how to live and die well.

I recommend purchasing a book with illustrations.

Here is a map of the main character’s journey:

This conversation about the book will give you an idea of what to expect:

Did you enjoy the book?

To better understand the book, I recommend reading the Gospel of Mark. (It is the second book in the Bible’s New Testament.) It’s about how to be right with God and live the good life.

Fencing

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Legends and stories are full of swords. King Arthur had Excalibur. Sir Lancelot brandished the Sword of Truth. King Peter in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe wielded a sword against a wolf, and later, in Prince Caspian, an evil king. Aragorn, the mysterious ranger in The Lord of the Rings, waved the sword of his fathers, the Flame of the West. A small, yet consequential hobbit handled Sting, a sword with an unusual power.

The modern world no longer uses swords in combat, but many thousands of young people train with them in a sport called fencing. Like basketball, soccer, and baseball, fencing is a challenging art that requires technique, conditioning, and practice. Many kids and teenagers participate in fencing tournaments, and some go on to compete in Olympic events.

Fencing clubs offer instruction and training opportunities. You can contact a local fencing club and schedule a training session if you like. Generally, sessions involve running, stretching, form drills, and sparing. A local club in my area provides all of the equipment: chest guard, jacket, mask, glove, and sword.

If you want to become athletic, improve your hand-eye coordination, make friends, and compete, fencing might be for you. It will boost your confidence, and it’s fun.

The Death of Ivan Ilych

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A successful middle-aged judge suffered a freak accident and faces a slow, terrible death. His family and friends can’t bear him. His pain, depression, and uncertainty grow.

Thoughts of his life — childhood happinesses, ambitions, what he lived for, and his behavior — crowd into his mind. Did he live his life as he should have?

This short story by Leo Tolstoy, often regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time, is a shocking read. It makes one think seriously about life. Am I living as I ought to live, or am I deceiving myself? Can things be fixed?

Spoiler alert:

Amid his suffering, Ivan experiences a radical change, dying in hope. His incremental yet sudden transformation makes sense in light of biblical teachings on regeneration and justification.

What did you like about the story? Please comment below.