Thirty Days With King David: On Leadership

by Larry Buxton, Timothy Michael Kaine (Foreword by), Andrew Hill Card (Preface by)

Overview

In turbulent times, King David united a nation—and his hard-earned wisdom can bring us together today. This new 30 Days With book offers a month of readings plus ideas for small-group discussion. David ranks among the world’s greatest heroes for defeating Goliath and best-selling authors for writing Psalms. He is honored by Jews, Christians and Muslims. In this book, pastor, educator and leadership coach Larry Buxton shows us how David embodies 14 crucial values shared by effective leaders to this day.

Just as the first volume in this series invites readers to spend 30 Days With Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest unifying figures in American history, Buxton’s book is a call for all of us to remember values that unite us. Buxton dedicates “this book to everyone who believes that the character of any leader is of critical importance to our nation, our institutions, our congregations and our homes; and to all those who seek to let God shape their character as more virtuous human beings, that their influence may spread to heal our world.”

Answering that call in the opening pages are two nationally known political leaders—one a Democrat and one a Republican, who came together in these pages to urge all of us to read these 30 short stories drawn from David’s often tragically learned lessons about life.

In his Foreword, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine writes: “From the blockbuster arc of David’s life, Larry Buxton assembles 30 short chapters on key leadership traits—patience, vision, humility, integrity, openness, tenderness, forgiveness, courage, gratitude, self-control, surrender, perseverance, calmness, justice. Buxton helps us see how David either exhibited these values or catastrophically failed to achieve them. The chapters are probing and conversational—with references from the worlds of literature, sports, politics and entertainment to illustrate how to apply these lessons to our everyday challenges.”

In his Preface, Andrew H. Card, who served in Washington D.C. during two Bush administrations, writes: “No matter what your faith or tradition of worship—and, no matter your role in business, management, philanthropy, sports, politics, government or family—you will find the adventures in these 30 daily readings extremely relevant and highly motivating. We need to meet David again through Larry Buxton's wise retelling of these stories—so that we all can lift up the best values in leadership in our institutions, our nation and our world.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641800815
Publisher:	Read the Spirit Books
Publication date:	09/15/2020
Series:	Thirty Days With , #2
Pages:	188
Sales rank:	1,118,086
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

The Rev. Dr. Larry Buxton began Larry Buxton Coaching after a distinguished 41-year career as an ordained clergyperson in the United Methodist Church, educated at Yale Divinity School. He is a certified Resilient Leadership coach. In coaching, he draws on his training with family systems pioneers Murray Bowen and Ed Friedman to improve leaders' functioning in organizations. Larry knows the unique and complex challenges of leading communities through times of stability as well as times of crisis. Larry teaches at Wesley Seminary, Washington, DC., where he earned his doctorate. His wife Beverly also is a leadership development coach and trainer. They have two married sons and two grandchildren. Larry enjoys travel and is a sought-after speaker and educator.

Timothy Michael Kaine is the U.S. Senator from Virginia. An attorney and educator, Kaine has served as an elected leader at local, state and national levels since 1994. In the 1990s, he was mayor of Richmond; in 2005, he was elected Governor of Virginia; in 2016, he was Hillary Clinton's vice-presidential running mate; then, in 2018, he was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

Andrew Hill Card, Jr. has been a leader in the U.S. auto industry, a top figure in Washington D.C. and an educator. Among his many roles, he served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President George H.W. Bush and was Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. He also was president of Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire until his retirement in 2016.

Editorial Reviews

This engaging study and devotional book based on the biblical story of David ought to be on everyone's list for group study or personal inspiration. Using the lens of the classical theological virtues, Larry Buxton focuses on David as a model for leadership in church and society that allows us to learn from David's admirable qualities, and his glaring failures, as the “man after God's own heart.” Buxton is a learned guide, making this 30 Days journey a rich experience of David's life—along with reflections on the virtues needed for effective leadership in our time.

Bruce C. Birch

Dean Emeritus, Wesley Theological Seminary

Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology

For those seeking to read the life of King David through a Christian lens and to extract lessons of leadership therein, 30 Days with King David is accessible and entertaining. Larry Buxton weaves elements of popular culture, political history, and modern management theory into this ancient story.

Rabbi Amy J. Sapowith

Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation, Ashburn, VA

As an Imam, I have had the honor of learning from Larry Buxton. He has a unique ability to approach ancient scripture and make it alive and applicable in the modern age. Buxton’s insights cross religious lines of demarcation and provide universal insights. In this book, Buxton eloquently points out the traits of true leadership in Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) as a guidance for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Imam Mehmet Ayaz

Executive Director of Institute of Islamic Studies and Imam at Ezher Bloom Mosque, Chantilly, VA

This slim volume is rooted in a nuanced, sophisticated understanding of contemporary biblical studies, pastoral care and the complex challenges that leaders must wrestle with on a daily basis in the “Secular City.” Larry Buxton reveals himself as a wise listener and questioner, someone who is familiar with what is required of leaders in both family and organizational contexts—a mature, well-differentiated man of faith with something substantive to say in every chapter. I loved how Buxton grounds the entire book within the narrative of David’s spiritual journey, respecting both the limits and the richness of solid scriptural scholarship. He helps readers to identify with the universal human joys and sorrows, tragedies and triumphs, that make David’s story a template for any leader interested in a more self-aware, reflective life.

Bob Duggan, author of Resilient Leadership and Resilient Leadership 2.0

We are navigating through a period that calls for exceptional leadership. This book is a fascinating guide that brings King David’s story to the help of contemporary individuals trying to achieve a virtuous life rewarded with success. Larry Buxton seamlessly connects landmark scenes from the King’s life with challenges that test the contemporary individual’s leadership qualities. This is a timely journey in the footsteps of King David, particularly for those in search for renewed determination to face their own Goliaths, whatever they might be.

Ibrahim Anli, Executive Director, Rumi Forum, Washington, DC

From the Publisher