How do you call your friends? Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Yes sir. Good afternoon. Good afternoon sir.  Venkat Srikanth is my first name sir. Okay. Srikanth. Yes sir. This is the second time you have written the IFS exam. Yes sir. There is one exam you have written is Central Armed Forces. Yes sir. Result has not come. Yes sir. Result not yet announced. No sir. I recently gave interview in April. The result is yet to be announced. You have studied in Chennai only? Chennai? No sir. Srinathri University, Uttar Pradesh. No Srinathar University. It is here only. That is another campus sir. There is also other campus in Uttar Pradesh. Okay. You have taken geology and forestry. Yes sir. How do you do in forestry? Sir, both the papers went quite well sir. Both the papers are alright. Yes sir. Very good. I like your confidence. You are from Guntur district. Guntur district of Uttar Pradesh. Yes sir. Guntur. Yes sir. Tell me something about the geological features of Guntur district. Sir, Guntur mainly composed of sedimentary and igneous rocks. And we also have eastern guards, which is the part of eastern guards mobile built. And we have weathered soils. And like quartzite soils. Yes sir. These are the things I can remember right. Is there any excavation for granite mining also in that area Guntur? Yes sir. We have Agnekuntala mines here in Palanada district. Where it is mining has been done for minerals like copper lead also. Yes sir. Recently, Andhra Pradesh had some issues with Telangana forest areas. Sir. Are you aware of it? I am not aware particularly about the issues. Sir, is it regarding the forestry land boundary issues? Yes. Yes. No sir, I am not aware. Some disputes about boundary areas. Do you have the problem of naxals in Andhra Pradesh also? Yes sir. We have LWV in Vijayanagara Manda Sri Kapilam districts right now. Because these are forestry areas and they provide for the... You have visited some forest areas there in your state? Sir, I have went to Sri Venkateshwara National Park in Tirupati Chittu district. You have observed something? Yes sir. Sir. What is what you have? Sir, the National Park mainly consists of dry deciduous and moist deciduous forest. And the flora I have observed are Shoria species. Terminalia species. We have neem and mango trees also. We also have scissorium species. Shoria, you find in your areas? What is that sir? Shoria, Shoria, Shoria, Robusta you said. Not sir, Shoria, some other species. Genesis Shoria. Not Robusta, Shoria not Robusta. Shoria species is there. Shoria species. The entire Andhra Pradesh agricultural areas are quite potential for social forestry. Yes sir. Have you observed any activity in those areas? Social forestry activities. Sir, right around where I live, I do not observe any agroforestry or social forestry as such. It is only agriculture and crops are only paddy or Bengal gram etc. I did not find any agroforestry. Mango cultivation is the major cultivation there, is it not? Yes sir. Mango is in plenty. Yes sir. And also part of social forestry? Yes sir. Mango farms are there? Yes sir. I am kidding sir. From your hobby I saw nature lover. Yes sir. What does it mean? Why do you love nature? Sir, I would like to observe plants and animals. It gives me peacefulness and a connect with the nature. Like I enjoy being in the nature. Also do some countryside walks sir to feel this connect and be peaceful and calm. So it looks like a poetic hobby. Nature lover, one loves nature. There are many kinds of loving of nature. Yes sir. If you read Varswar poems, you will find different stages of love of nature he has described. Yes sir. So I thought maybe you are inclined towards writing poetry. No sir, not in nature but doing countryside walks and observing the countryside animals and plants. That is my love of nature. And composite walk also? Yes sir. You walk in the countryside? Yes sir. For what? Sir, I basically enjoy doing this walk sir. It gives me peace and refresh my mind. You are staying in the countryside or you go to the countryside to what? No sir, I am staying in the town and I will go to the countryside outskirts and generally agriculture and fruits and canal sites. And I will take a walk for half an hour or so and I will relax and I will come back. That is actually positive. Humanity's number is increasing by lift and bounce. What is it sir? Our number, human beings number is increasing by lift and bounce. Yes sir. Some months back, 2-3 months back it crossed 8 billion. Yes sir. So humanity has already become a city animal more than half are remaining in city. Yes sir. Okay, they have become an urban phenomenon. Yes sir. So how long do you think we should have our countryside? Sir, how long do, pardon sir? How long we will have our countryside? Sir. Because more people are coming from the countryside to the city animals. Sir, I think agriculture as a profession will stay because human beings need the food and food supply. Many people might go to urbanization like we see in America 80% is in the service sector and only 2% is in agriculture. But there are predominantly suburban areas and rural areas in America also. So I think the countryside will stay even if India become urbanized substantially. India's population will exceed China in another one or one month by the middle of this year. Sir. All this is beneficial to India. Sir. Sir, mainly this provides the demographic dividends sir. Like what China have experienced in 1980s and 2000s. We are experiencing the democratic peak right now. So this will help in propelling the India for much larger development. See, democracy dividend doesn't come automatically. Yes sir. You have to provide so many things for that. You have to provide some health, provide for education, provide for housing etc. So that you can get the, you can reap the demographic dividend. Yes sir. So do you think the government is doing the necessary things? Yes sir. Government is getting such health skill development providing basic requirements of life. Without that, without that the population becomes a problem. Yes sir. Sir, I think the government is providing many schemes in terms of health, education and skilling through Aishma and Bharat. We have education in health and Samagra, Siksha in education. And also many Kaushalvikas, Yojana schemes in through government stage there. Sir, but also sir, I think we have to increase the private participation and also increase the human captain through private participation. Sir, I think it will become demographic burden as you have pointed out. We need to take steps in these things. But in our country, health has become such a big problem. And it has been exposed during the COVID times. Sir. So educational health must be ensured so that we can get the demographic dividend. And skilling of course. Yes sir. Sir, I think that health sector is lagging in India because there is low penetration of the primary healthcare sector. And less number of doctors in the rural areas where our large cooperation resides in the rural areas. So we need to provide more health facilities in rural areas. There should be more that work needs to be done sir in these areas particularly. Okay, okay. What is carbon border adjustment mechanism?  Why is it recently news? Sir, it was a law made by the EU countries where they want to tax the goods which have high carbon footprint from other countries. So that they adhere to the climate tab ledges of reducing the carbon footprint and carbon emissions. It has been news for the last one year. Even today if you see Hindu, the editorial is on carbon border adjustment mechanism. Yes sir. Okay, when does it start? Sir, I am not sure about exact date. It will start from this October. Taxing would start from 1st of January 2026. Okay sir. So what is India's objection to that? Sir, many of our goods we have been producing from the MSMEs which are in carbon emitters. And also we do not have the technology, the green technology like the Europe MSMEs and in manufacturing house. So I think it will be a problem for our goods because more tax will be levied on us and our goods will become less competitive. Sir, in that sector we will face the issues. What has India requested today to you? Today or some days back to the European Union? India has requested something. Sir, I am not sure about the particular request India made. India has requested that our MSMEs should be exempt from your carbon border adjustment mechanism of tax. Because and our carbon credit system should also be taken into account by the European Union. Yes sir. The carbon credit system that we are having that should also be taken into account. And especially our medium, small scale and minor industries, minor, medium and small scale industries. They should be exempt from this kind of because they do not have the same means. Yes sir. Okay, so this goes against the WTO's provisions. Yes sir. This is imposing a new kind of tax to protect their trade union. Yes sir. Okay. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thank you sir. Sreika. Yes sir. Where from Gundor? Sir, I am from Babatla sir. What? Babatla is Babatla from Gundor. Yes sir. Now it was under Babatla district sir. After the newly formed districts. This is a new district. Okay. What else are there in Gundor? Sir, Guntur have a rich history from third century BCE to right now. From Shatavahanas to the Kuthubshahis and to the British. And we also have Undavali caves which are Buddhist heritage caves and the Amaravathi stupa. And it is also famous for chillies and tobaccos sir. Okay district cultivating tobaccos even now. Can you hear me? Hello sir, can you repeat the question? Is it cultivating Gundor district? Is it the only district now even now cultivating tobaccos? Yes sir. Gundor district has even now it is creating cultivating much tobacco and output is large and export is also there sir from Gundor district. You have mentioned predication as one of your base. Yes sir. Sir, I am doing a Shambhi meditation right now of Satguru program sir. How long you do it in a day? Sir, I do it in the morning. Do you practice daily? Yes sir, daily I will practice in the morning for 30 minutes sir. So, it is exercising, weightlifting, jogging. Yes sir. Can you develop too much of physical exercise? Not too much sir. But these are different types of exercise but I will do 30 minutes in a day for exercise 30 to 45 minutes. That's all. Yes sir. For variation I do these different types of exercise. Yes sir. If you look at Andhra Pradesh, the southern part of Andhra Pradesh and the other part of Tamil Nadu. Yes sir. The southern part of Andhra Pradesh is a special species. Yes sir. Located in this area. Any special reasons for this? Sir, red sandals only occurs. Is it endemic to the Andhra Pradesh in Chittur region? In Seshachalam. So, the demand is high and the supply is less. So, there is a, why it is coveted all around the world? The red sandals is only grown here. What is the suitable soil for this? Sir, it is weathered shade and gauze soil that is suitable for the red sandals. Sir, it is already iron content in the soil. Sir, I am not really sure about iron content. Okay. So, recently the Apanid League has admitted the Sriraya into its membership. Which was suspended for more than 10 years. Last week they have admitted the Sriraya. So, are you aware of this? Sir, what said? I couldn't, pardon sir. Sriraya. Yes sir. The country named Sriraya is admitted, re-admitted. Yes sir. Into the Arab League. Yes sir. Are you aware of this Arab League? Yes sir, I am aware of it. Which are the members of this League? Yes sir. Which are the countries who are members of this League? Sir, excluding India, the Muslim of the North Africa and the Muslim countries of the Middle East are members of this League. And Indonesia and Malaysia also. Muslim countries are the Arab countries. Arab countries. Arab League. Arab League. So, even Sriraya is already suspended. Yes sir. In 2011 they suspended Sriraya. Yes sir. How it is they admitted to Sriraya. Anyway, what are the reasons? Sir, because of this civil unrest there and the war that is being going on in Sriraya, I think they have suspended from Arab League. And I'm not sure about this issue sir. Okay. Sir, one more thing. We noticed the large number of Telugu inserts migrated to US. Yes sir. I think on all the states. Yes sir. Other countries stops the list. Yes sir. Special reasons for having such a high number in US. Sir, I think it is basically a trend here like after graduation they are seeking other opportunities in America because they can afford the initial captain and go to America and have good education and good job there. Okay. Yeah, Mr. Sriram, I'm sorry. Yeah. Sir. Mr. Venkatrikanth. Yes sir. This Andhra Pradesh has a very long coastal area. Yes sir. Now, what is the reason we are not able to tap the ocean energy? Sir, the ocean energy consists of tidal energy and OTC energy and also wave energy sir. But these technologies are not particularly established in India as such. So I think we need to first improve the ecosystem of these energies. How do you do that? Sir, through government policy and private participation, we can increase just like solar like how we have scaled up solar in short of many gigawatts. We can also do for the ocean energy sir. If you have the forward and backward link. So why it has not been done? Sir, I think it was lack of public policy as such for the wind and solar as it is supporting, there is no support for this ocean energy. No, the question is why there is not because it is available. Is it that technology is not refined enough or what is it? Yes sir, I think it is a mix of technology is not enough and also public policy is not also in that direction. Tell us about thermal energy converters in ocean. How do you get it? Sir, it works on the principle of energy difference from the surface to the bottom. In the bottom layers are cooler by 20 degrees centigrade and we can use this difference for generating the ocean thermal energy. So if you do the comparison of the three sources of energy from ocean, what is the energy intensity in the sense how much energy can you produce per hour and so on? Is the investment worth it? That is the question, no? No, it is still at each of these three and just produce. Would you repeat your disconnected? Sir, I am not exactly sure about the energy intensity of these energies and also cost benefit ratios. Now, there was recently a high sea treaty which was signed after a long negotiation. Could you tell us about high sea treaty? Sir, I am not sure about it. I only have overview. What is the reason for coral bleaching? Sir, there are many reasons primarily due to climate change, high temperatures and more nutrients and pollutions that has been released into the oceans. These are the changes that leads to the coral bleaching, sir. We also recently seen massive coral bleaching in a great barrier reef in Australia. That was because of that, what? This great barrier reef, there was a bleaching event which happened 10 years back. What was the reason? Sir, I think it was because of high temperatures that coral bleaching happened. Ocean warming which happened, so what happened? Sir, when ocean warming happens, the corals expel the zooksia and the algae which are present in them. So, they cannot produce their food because this algae produces the corals food. And how is ocean acidification? How much is that? Sir, due to increased carbon dioxide levels, ocean is acting as a sink and this carbon is increasing the acidification of the ocean. Sir, regarding how much of it is a threat, according to the IPCC, carbon acidification is a primary threat in the climate change. Correct. Like it will affect the various ecosystems in the oceans, so we need to counter it. So, how much is the pH value of ocean right now? Sir, it should be around 7.5 to 8 in the tilting towards the basic side. So, where do we get this data? Sir, this pH ocean sir? No, this data which you mentioned that it should be between 6.7 to 8. Sir, I have read somewhere I couldn't recall what source it was exactly. That's not correct. My last question is, if you have an electric burn and secondly, if you have a chemical burn and you have a thermal burn, which is more previous? Sir, I am not sure about this issue sir. Take a guess, you are an electrical engineer, which will be more localized, which will be more spread out? Sir, I think the chemical one will be more spread out because it involves chemicals and reactions and electrical will be more controlled. Could you explain that? When you get an electric shock, it passes through your body, isn't it? Yes sir. How is it localized? It damages yourself throughout the body. Yes sir, I stand corrected sir, that is right actually. Alright, thank you. So, Mr. Srikant, so I will give the feedback. Okay sir. Try to attend the interview offline also. Be more conversant, your answer is very short and crisp, which is good, but then it is not leading to and you are also like the last question. You have to spend some time to think and answer. One thing good about you is that you are quite actively involved in the sense that quite enthusiastic and alertness is there. But then also try to be more conversant in the sense because it is becoming more of a question and answer. Yes sir. So also please don't give random data just because you feel like 7 to 8 percent. These are crucial issues, even 0.0 percent here and there changes a lot. So if I tell you that the ocean pH was 8.21 and now it is 8.17, which means that this small shift in pH value has changed the acidity by 30 percent. Yes sir. 8.27 to 8.1. So please don't give random data. So that is not credible. I mean you lose your credibility when you give answers like that. But otherwise you are doing fine and I hope you do well. Thank you. Thank you sir. Be a little more spirited. Okay. Because I found a little lack of spirit and energy. So try to be more energetic. Okay. And when we discussed about carbon border adjustment mechanism. Yes sir. So several articles have come on that. There is an article on that. Whatever external things you read. Yes sir. This belongs to European Union. But always keep India in the center. What will be India's reaction? Because you will be Indian government surveyed. You will become Indian forest service, Indian industry service, Indian police service, Indian forestry etc. So always what will be the impact on India and what will be India's response to that. And why that response? Okay. So always look at every perspective from Indian point of view. You can make a critical view of India's policy also. But at least see from Indian point of view. Anything that happens. Whatever is happening is Sudan. So what is India's? How is India affected? Whatever is happening in Ukraine war. How is India affected? Everything. Whatever comes you must analyze and see it from the angle of India's interest. Okay. Then you may agree with what steps India is taking. Make and sell it. But at least be clear about how India is going to be affected by that. Okay. So India made this request because you are going to use WTO provisions. So India made this request. So let us see what is happening. Okay. So it will start from October and the real taxing will come from first of January to 2026. Okay. So that whatever the carbon intensity products like steel, cement, fertilizer, chemicals, etc. They will have to pay extra tax on that. Yes sir. Okay. So please see from that angle. Thank you. Thank you sir. I will see you on. Yes sir. Okay. I thought you will just see the international news like Syria. Yes sir. And actually you can do more reasons, more analytical reasons for the lowest, more for the lowest in the U.S. Sir. For the lowest population in the U.S. Yes sir. Otherwise, we should all do this. Thanks. Yes Venkat Sikant. Yes sir. By and large, it's quite satisfactory. Your performance is quite satisfactory. Just two observations I would like to make on that. Yes sir. One is I found that there is sort of a small inconsistency in your statements. When sir was asking that you said that you would like to go to rural areas, countryside and you would love to be there. At the same time, when I was asking what about the status of social forestry in your area. Sir. So you are not able to tell much about it. Yes sir. This is inconsistent. And if you really go to countryside, you cannot fail but notice the activity of social forestry. Or you are going to countryside and you are not noticing the things. You are not observing things. Both ways it is not all right. I am confident that it is not possible not to observe. It is, you are observing, you would have observed it. Only thing is you are not able to recapitulate in your mind and tell at the instant. So for this purpose, whatever kind of questions are being asked. You have a mock interview of yourself. Telling that if it is coming, then what can be your sort of a response to these questions? What are the dimensions you would like to touch upon? Like Andhra Pradesh is a reputed for activity of social forestry in their respective rural areas. Yes. There is a large cultivation of light in social forestry. Yes sir. Eucalyptus also there sir. There are many. But I am going to recall that at this point. All the cultivation of Eucalyptus. Yes sir. Being done in the, and Andhra Pradesh farmers are the farmers who are expert in optimizing return from their land. Along with agriculture, they are always getting some sort of an input by way of social forestry. Pluriculture, for example. It is famous. Yes. A lot of flowers are going all over India. So these are the things which you not have missed it. You would have observed it. But you are not able to connect. Yes sir. So my request. And he is a lover of nature. He is a lover of nature. So then all these things are connected. It should be able to turn into a mosaic. It should look that you have told the truth.  It should look that you go to the countryside. It should look that you are observing the things and enriching. All these things should become a part of your personality. Number two. Always sit straight. Throughout this interview you have been sitting just to get on this. No. Whether you are an online interview or offline interview. Be straight. Look straight into the eye of the questioner and answer them boldly. You will do very well. Wish you all the best. Thank you sir. Thank you.


Okay, we'll pray and then get started. Yeah, okay. Let's pray. Father, we want to thank You, Lord. Thank You for this day. Thank You for this opportunity to call upon Your name. Thank You for this opportunity that You've given us to draw close to You, Lord, so that we can experience, Lord, You drawing close to us, Master. Master, we thank You, Lord.  We pray that You would speak to our hearts. We pray, Father God, that it be a time of establishing of Your word, Lord, it be a time of establishing our lives, Lord, deeper, Lord, in You, Father God. Yes, Master, we pray that we'll continue to draw life, Lord, from Your word and may that affect and change and transform all areas of our lives, Father God. But everything that needs changing, everything that needs establishing, Father God, everything that needs even removing of Father God. Lord, we pray that Your word will, Lord, do that, Father God. And I just thank You, God, that, as the word says that, let faith have its perfect work in us, God. That You would have Your perfect work in us, Master. We just surrender and yield, Lord, and even as You perfect us from the inside out, we thank You. In Jesus' matchless name, we pray. Amen, amen. Okay, so, welcome back to Christian Leadership. Okay, let's take just maybe two minutes. Maybe you can share what you learned last class. Oh, what stayed with you. One thing that stayed with you in last class. Okay, Nikhil, welcome back.  Yeah, right, right. Leadership is influence and for either for good or bad and all are called to influence so that for all are called to be leaders, yeah, okay. Okay, leadership is also about serving. So it's not about being served, but about, you know, serving because that's what the Lord said for us as an example. Anything else? So, yeah, so we may not be even aware of whom we are influencing, right? It can be, so what is that about stage two things, right? Yeah, right, right. So it need not be always that a senior person or a formal, somebody with that formal title as a leadership who's influencing it can also be the other way, right? Okay.  Francis. Probably into the position, but somehow people are influencing the way. Yeah, yeah, so, so which means that, you know, there are several situations and circumstances in which people rise up to be an influence, people rise up to lead, you know, in the course of the day, you will see that, okay, maybe there is some kind of a, let's say a crisis and you see that, okay, somebody rises up and takes the responsibility, takes the position of leading people through that crisis or, you know, providing solutions and so on. So, yeah, so everybody is a leader. So it doesn't mean that everybody is leading all the time. You know, sometimes there could be these moments where people rise up and lead because it's, maybe it is their area of expertise. Maybe it's just something that they are called to do at that moment. But the fact is that everybody, you know, is called towards this, right? Okay. So anything on Christian leadership? Okay. As leaders, there's no question of misusing it. It's a stewardship, right? Okay. Right. Anybody online? Anything that you want to add? Okay. So, um, so let's look at, we started with the, this first section of leading through time, right? Leading through time. So, um, which means that, um, an extended period of time, a season, right? So as we look at that, we see that a lot of things happen in a season, right, or through a season, um, in, in the position of leadership, right? And so we just going to look at that. But first of all, you know, we started by looking at how the Lord Jesus modeled leadership. So what we can learn, uh, from the way the Lord Jesus led. In fact, there's a whole ministry called Lead Like Jesus. Uh, I don't know if you've, uh, been, you know, attended any of their meetings where, you know, I forget who started it. I think this Ken Blanchard. Lead Like Jesus. And it's, uh, it's a weekend thing, you know, two days and, um, it's wonderful. Uh, they're considering. Uh, so the whole thing is about, you know, how Jesus led and, uh, and how we can lead just like Jesus, right? It's very, I would say very transformational, you know, workshop, right? You can, I mean, if you have an opportunity, sometimes to do that, be part of it, it'll be nice. Okay. So we're going to look at, uh, we started by looking at, okay, as, uh, when we, when we focus on Jesus, when we learn from the Lord, how he led. So first thing we see is that, um, he knew the purpose for which he came and it was so strong in him, ingrained in him, right? Why did he come?  Why am I here? Why am I doing what I'm doing? Right? So if that is clear, then no matter what happens, right? No matter who tries to distract or take us away, like we will always come back because that why is very strong. Why am I doing this? Right? So the purpose for which I'm doing it, like, when you say, okay, what are we doing? You know, it's about the details of what we go through. You know, it could be our, maybe a job title, maybe the things that we are, our responsibilities.  Uh, so you go about the details of what you have to do, right? You know, the responsibility. You need to be there at a certain time, have a certain expertise and do that. So that's the what, but then the why is very important. Right? The question, why, why am I doing this? Why am I, you know, doing what I'm doing? Why am I in ministry?  Why do I want to plant this church? Why, why do I want to do this? The purpose is very important, right? Because if the purpose is not clear and strong, then we'll be misled. Um, if there's anybody to do that, we'll be distracted. Uh, and when things get difficult, we will stop. Right? So we will say, okay, this is too, too difficult. I'm going to stop. Right? So in the life of the Lord Jesus, when we see, um, the Lord saying, you know, John chapter 12 and verse 27, we saw that verse where the Lord in the garden, right? He's saying, Lord, my soul is troubled. He's speaking to the father and he's saying, my soul is troubled. It's an anguish. He's saying, what shall I say? Shall I say this to you? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose, I came, right? For this purpose, I came to this hour, meaning that this is the time for which I have come. Oh, this is the purpose for which I have come. So how can I, excuse me, how can I say that Lord, you know, save me, Father, save me from this hour. And even, uh, when he was having this conversation with Peter, he tells Peter, you know, and the disciples, he's saying that I, I must go to Jerusalem. I will suffer many things and this is how I will, you know, I will die. And, and also he was talking about his resurrection, right? So he's telling them about that. Then, um, if you look at Matthew 16, right? It talks about that. Matthew 16 verse 21. From that time, Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised the third day. Okay. So this is much before the crucifixion. He's, he knew it already. He knew the details of it. So he's just telling them, this is how it must be done. This is, this is what will happen. Excuse me. Then verse 22. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Right? That might be something to watch. Now Peter's taking him and he's rebuking Jesus. Now he's saying, Jesus, what's wrong with you? And then he's rebuking him saying, far be it from you Lord, this shall not happen to you. But he turned, Jesus turned and said to Peter, get behind me Satan, you are an offence to me for you are not mindful of the things of God but things of men. Sorry, excuse me. Yeah, let's, let's try and continue. So, so when Peter says, Lord, this shall not be. Okay. So it's something that Peter, in his all sincerity, he wants to, he wants to actually comfort the Lord. He wants to protect the Lord. Right? So it's, it comes from a place of sincerity. Right? In, according to Peter, but the Lord knew the source of that. So he's saying, you know, get behind me Satan, for you are not mindful of the things of God. So he knew the source and even just before that, we know that Peter gives a revelation. What is that? He's, he receives that from God. Yeah, you are the son of God. Right? And then the Lord says that, yeah, flesh and blood is not revealed. So the Lord was able to discern the source and also not just discern, but also to go with what the Father wanted, even though it was a, not a very convenient thing, not a very comfortable thing. It is about what, it's about life. It's about danger. It's about, you know, very painful things happening. Right? And by nature, you know, we want to protect our lives from pain. We want to protect our lives from danger and so on. But then in this case, the Lord is very clear. And that happens when we have a clear sense of purpose. So that's something that we learned from the Lord, right? That as a leader, he knew the purpose. So as leaders, that's an example that we, we take a strong grip of what our purpose for that role of leadership is. Why, the why of it? Why am I doing what I'm doing? It's good to question that and, you know, ask the Lord and, and when the Lord speaks, when the Lord reassures, okay, when the Lord speaks and reassures and gives us, you know, that revelation in our hearts, then we'll be strong. We'll be rooted. The Lord is spoken. So no doubt, no turning back that the Lord is in it. And that's the greatest reassurance that we can have. Right? Okay. The second thing, as a leader, you can follow in your notes as well. As a leader, be selfless. Okay. Selfless, which is the opposite of selfish, right? Be selfless. Now, hey, thanks. Thank you so much. That's a lot of water. Thanks. So as a leader, be selfless. Okay. So Philippians two was three to five. There is this exhortation. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or concede, which means pride, but in lowliness of mind, this means humility. Let each esteem others better than themselves. It means to honor others better than ourselves. Okay. So the focus is not on our cell or what I can get out of this or what benefit can I receive out of what I'm doing. It's not that all the time. Verse four, it says, let each of you look out, not only for his own interests. Okay. But also, no, you need, you can notice two phrases, right? Not only verse four, right? If you'll get it, but let each of you look out, not only, but also, right? What does that mean? You do this, but you don't restrict yourself to this alone. Not only this, but go beyond it, but also. So what does he say? Say, let each of you look out, not only for your own interests. Okay. You need to do something. You need to, you need to be blessed in certain ways. Okay. But also for the interests of others. So it means let your focus just not stop with yourself. I mean myself, right? And the thing is that look out also for the interests of others. And it goes on to say, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, right? So it means that being selfless, just the opposite of selfish ambition and pride and, you know, honoring oneself, just the opposite of all that. So the Lord Jesus was a personification of this very thing that we're talking about, right? He personified, he lived that in his life. So ask Christian leaders who want to understand Christian leadership. No, this is a very important thing, very important lesson for us. We look at Jesus and say, okay, the Lord, this is how you live. Therefore, I'm going to follow, I'm going to do this. Help me to do this in the right way, right? So, like sometimes we can, we can say, okay, I'm humbling myself, I'm humbling myself, but it can be a sense of self. I mean, it's going to be a sense of false humility, right? False humility. Somebody says, okay, I think that's a good thing that you're doing. And then you want to say, no, no, no, that's not. It was good. What you spoke was good. What you shared was good. But then you want to say something negative about it to undermine it, right? Like, suppose you cook something and then somebody says, hey, that's a very nice dish. You cook really well. But then if you turn around and say, you know, actually this time it was not that great, you know, I think this also should have been a little better. Last time it was good. Something, you know, they want to say something to bring down the weight of what others are saying. Yeah, it can be true. It can be true. Maybe, you know, the factually thing is, maybe you just say, hey, thank you. But actually, last time was, you know, so that can be true. I'm saying, you know, as getting, we're all Indians in this class. We have that as a thing, you know, like, for example, if somebody asks, invites us home when you go there, and then maybe they offer some snack or some coffee, what will you have? We say, you know, no, we just had. Right. We say, no, thank you just had and came. But, you know, but we don't even think about it because you didn't have it. It's been a long time. But you still, but you, but you still say, no, no, no, we just had. No, it's okay. I'm full. It's okay. We say it and we think that, you know, it's a cultural thing. Right. So, yeah. So, and it kind of creeps into all areas of our lives and yeah. So that is not humility. That is not being selfless. We think, okay, I'm putting myself down like this is humility. No, it's not. It actually is the opposite. Like, so what would happen is when, you know, of course, I'm just digressing a little bit. What would happen is if, if the Lord were to declare something over you and say that you are victorious or you are precious to me and, you know, you are so-and-so. You are this, you are the head and not the tail and all those things that if the Lord were to declare, we would still continue to cancel that out by saying that, Lord, no, I'm not that. I'm actually not that lot because we feel that when we put ourselves down, even though the Lord is elevating and putting us in the right place, you know, that's the truth.  You are sanctified. You are justified. And we say, no, Lord, I am, you know, I'm worthless. You know, and we think that is humility where it need not be. It cannot. It is actually false humility. Right. So if you look at, let's look at Philippians two and about the talks about the humility and of the Lord. So if it goes down to verse six, verse five says, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Verse six, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation taking the form of a bond servant and coming in the likeness of men. Right. Verse eight, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. So verse seven versus six and seven and seven and eight, sorry, talks about how the Lord made himself of no reputation. Right. The Son of God, who was, who is, who will be, who is to come.  So he was a pre-existent one, but he made himself of no reputation. He, you know, laid aside that glory and came in the form of man. Right. So, so he became, in other words, he became a servant. And we don't find that anywhere. You don't find that in any other worldview. We don't find that God becomes man and in this manner too, so that man can be redeemed, man can be lifted up and man can be seated with him in the heavenly places. Right. So it's something beautiful, something wonderful, something powerful. Right. So it is something that actually protects the person, protects the leader, being selfless, right, being humble, being selfless. It's, it's actually a weapon. It is like a shield for the leader. Okay. Right. Third thing, as a leader, be obedient. I think Francis asked that question. So if everybody is leading, who's following? Right. You asked. I don't know. So what is, you know, how can, how can everyone lead and not have anyone follow? So I think we kind of address that, right? We have spheres of influence. We have, you know, circumstances and situations where people are leaders. We have formal leaders and so on. Okay. But as a leader, the Lord was obedient. He was obedient to the voice of the Father. Right. So that's something that we see. Hebrews 10 and verse seven says, then I said, behold, I have come in the volume of the book. It is written of me to do your will. Oh God. Right. Verse eight that we saw just now, Philippians two, he humbled himself and became obedient. Philippines two eight. Okay. So being obedient to the will of the Father, being obedient to the voice of the leading of the Father is something that we see in the life of God. That we see in the life of the Lord. Right. He being aware of the, of the timing and what really the Father wanted him to do everything. Right. He was so in step. So as a Christian leader, there is, this is something that we need to aim for because we see it in the life of the Lord Jesus. Right. That we will be obedient to the will, obedient to the voice, the ways of God all the time. Okay. And again, it's not the most convenient thing. Right. It's not the most convenient thing. It's something that we need to intentionally set our hearts towards. It's something that we need to seek. Right. And as a leader to keep this as priority. Hey, this is something of great importance for me. Right. That I need to obey the will of God. So what is the obeying the voice of the Lord, obeying the will of the Lord? What is it against? Sorry. Yeah. If you would say, what would, what would, what would this be the opposite of? So we can say, I should not do that. Yeah. So it's, so we see that the spirit always the talking about the Holy spirit. The flesh lusts against the works of the spirit. Right. So, so when I say, you know, when we say against whatever I will or I wish, what we're saying is that, you know, it's good to have your desires. But if it is contrary to the will or the wish of the father, that's what we're saying. It's good to have your desires. It's good to have. Okay. I have this desire. I want to do this. It's good to have ambition, you know, and, and plans and dreams and say, I want to do this. It's good to have that. You know, we're not saying that, you know, I should be like a robot.  And so it's good to have our own desires or thoughts and everything and take it before the Lord. And, and for that to have that to be brought under the Lordship of Jesus. Right. So, so that's the thing. So if it is contrary to the Word of God, if it is contrary to the will of God, if it is something that is off the flesh, so that is what we're saying. Right. And I think we looked at that, right? I think earlier sessions also, we looked at now, you know, and we always say the Lord's ways are higher than our ways. Okay. So his way, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And so that does not mean that every thought that you have or every step that you want to do is against God's ways. It is not because of you look at that scripture in context. It talks about the wicked person. It talks about the person whose ways are contrary to God's ways. It talks about the person whose thoughts are not in line with God's thoughts. Okay. And that's when the Lord says my ways are not your ways are my thoughts are much higher than your thoughts. Okay. So let the wicked man, you know, forsake his ways and let the wicked man forsake his thoughts. And then the Lord goes on to say this. So, yeah. So just a thing to know that, that as long as it's contrary, that is what, you know, we're saying that it cannot be in line with God's will, God's ways. Okay. So being obedient, being sensitive, if we would keep that as priority, I'm going to obey the Lord. So it would also mean that when we set our heart to do the will of the Father, and we set our hearts to be obedient to God and His voice, that whatever the other voices are, the will of man, the will of man again, contrary to the will of God. When you say contrary, it's opposite of not in line with the will of, because sometimes, you know, we hear counsel, how does counsel come from the heart of man, God actually confirms, right? There's a word of wisdom. God confirms what is in our heart. God confirms that through other people. So we're not saying that other people saying some things, other people instructing is inherently bad in itself. But only when it is not in line, when it's opposite of what God is saying, you know, that, that is the thing. And it can come in all sincerity. It can come like how Peter came and said, God, let it not be so. It will not be far be from you, Lord. It comes in all sincerity, but when it's not in line with the will of the Father, then we cannot be obedient to that, right? Okay. The fourth one we see is be a servant. This is something that we saw earlier also that this is, you know, a fresh paradigm or which means a very drastic thing that the Lord brought about. About leadership, right? That one needs to be a servant to the people who are whom they are leading. Okay. Let's look at that versus again, those scriptures again, Matthew 20, 25 and 28, right? Okay. So let's turn to Matthew 20 and just look at the context of why would Jesus say this? Okay. Matthew 20 and let's look at verse 20, Matthew 20 and 20. Okay.  So the mother's bringing the two disciples full on recommendation. So kneeling down, asking something from him, and he said to her, what do you wish? And she said to him, grant that these two sons of mine may sit one on your right hand, another on your left in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, you do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I'm about to drink and be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with? And they said to him, we are able, the sons of Zebedee, so they are there. So the picture, the scene, the mother's kneeling down, probably they made, made the sons also kneel down, right? Somebody's there.  And then they said, yes, Lord. So, so I don't know how this whole thing happened, right? Whether the sons asked the mother or the mother said, you know, I won't, I'm going to ask Jesus, if you're, if you're not asking, I'm going to ask. And about the kingdom, you need that special place. You're doing so many things you're serving. I'm going to just think about that, you know, it's not just one day they decided, hey, let's go and ask. Jesus. They've been talking about this, about the kingdom and about the position and all that. So they come and ask. And the Lord says, you will indeed, verse 23, you will indeed drink the cup and be baptized with the baptism. I'm baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give. But for those two, it is prepared by my father, verse 24. And when the 10 heard it, they were greatly displeased. Okay. And they heard that this has happened. The other 10 disciples, they were greatly displeased with these two brothers. They was like, you know, how can you guys do this? You know, we're all in it. It's a team. How can you suddenly go?  Very displeased. But Jesus called them. So this whole commotion is happening. And they were like, you know, maybe, maybe Peter gave it to them. You know, Peter's highly volatile. He just gave it to them. He shook them and maybe pushed these guys. And I'm just imagining all kinds of things. And why, why did he do this? How can you do this? And then the Lord calls them. And then this is what he says. You know, the rulers of the Gentiles, Lord it over them. And those who are great exercise authority over them. Okay.  They're saying that they Lord it over them. They boss over them. And those who are great exercise authority. Okay. Now leadership comes with authority. Okay. Authority to speak into people's lives. Authority to correct authority to maybe issue instructions. You know, saying, okay, let's do this and not that. So, so the Lord is acknowledging there is authority that comes with leadership. But he says that they, what do they do? They use authority, great, sorry. Those were great exercise authority over them or boss over them. And then the Lord says in verse 26, yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great, let him be your servant. So he, excuse me. So he makes a distinction between what kind of leaders we are to be, right? To be a servant leader. Okay. So, which means that in our heart, we humble ourselves and we want to serve. So what does it mean to serve? It's good to say I want to serve. But what does it mean to serve in, you know, various, yet to minister itself means to serve, right? Yeah. To consider, you know, sorry, to work. What is the thing? What is the thing? Yeah. Yeah, we can, we can do that. No, the verse that we just read, you know, I think it's first period too, that we say, well, about, not for, sorry, just a minute, about Philippines 2, sorry, Philippines 2-3. It says, so this should be our outlook. Okay. Your needs are important. Yeah. Okay. Your needs are important because that's what helps you function, like needs like food, water, shelter, whatever your needs are important. But it says, let you look out not only for your needs, but also, also for the needs. So which means that others are also in that thing, you know, and you're honoring is steaming others better than yourself. So which means that you're going to look for their needs first, put their needs first.  Right. Okay. So, so when you think of serving as a leader serving, what is it that we can, what are the different ways that we can think of? Okay. Yeah. Google says be obedient to be obedient. When you say server, give a helping hand. Okay. So you're bringing benefit into people's lives, right? When you're serving. So when we have someone who serves us, right? See, let's say you have someone who's helping at home or, you know, they are serving, they are bringing benefit, right? Some kind of benefit, whatever it is that they're doing, they are helping, they are bringing some kind of benefit. Right. So we are comfortable. We are helped. We are able to do our things better, whatever. So in all our ministering and all our leading as Christian leaders, the Lord is saying, you know, you will be a servant.  Yeah. And only then can you actually take care of it. Okay. So that's a, you know, and we'll see, you know, there is a, there is a line. As we look at the second, section two and section three, right? Winning with people and as teamwork, there is, there is a thin line, you know, between serving and being people pleasing, right? So there's a thin line. Okay. So yeah, as a, as a, as a, as a leader, the Lord's example is that we serve, serve in humility, let that be the, let that mindset be there. I'm here to serve. I'm here to bring benefit. Okay. And it's not by my building myself, taking care of my needs or it's not that. So it's, it's totally opposite of how the world would look at leadership. Right. Okay. Okay. We'll stop here and we'll continue with the two, three other things. Right. Okay. Thank you, Nina and Jack in for your inputs. Thank you. We'll stop here and we'll meet next class. So next class is next week only because we have the leadership, Chris leadership conference, 17th, 18th and 19th. Thank you.


Happy Women's History Month, Arlington Community. Every March, people in the United States celebrate Women's History Month in recognition of women's profound achievements, contributions, and history. Similar to Black History Month, Women's History Month began as a week-long celebration in Santa Rosa, California. To correspond with the International Women's Day on March 8th, organizer chose the second week of March as Women's History Week in 1978, and their celebrations spread across the country in the following years. In 1980, Women's History Week gained national recognition through the successful lobbying of women's groups and historians. And in 1987, Congress designated March as Women's History Month. Each year, to honor the contributions and achievements of women across a variety of fields, a new theme is dedicated to the celebrations. Last year in 2023, the theme was Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories. This year in 2024, the theme is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. As the National Women's History Alliance explains, it takes courage for women to advocate for practical goals like equity, diversity, and inclusion when established forces aim to misinterpret, exploit, or discredit them. Throughout 2024, we honor local women from the past and present who have taken the lead to show the importance of change and to establish firmer safeguards, practices, and legislation reflecting these values. Following decades of discrimination, we are proud to celebrate women who are committed to embracing everyone and excluding no one in our common quest for freedom and opportunity. They know that people change with the help of families, teachers, and friends, and that young people in particular need to learn the value of hearing from different voices with different points of view as they grow up. This month, we honor our very own Arlington Public Schools Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice, Dr. Margaret Kretel-Thomas, who spearheads this work with our town of Arlington Director of DEI, Julianne Harvey, and the numerous women in leadership positions advocating for equity alongside them both within and beyond our district. This year's theme also offers us an opportunity to reflect on the fight for women's rights. Even within this history of advocating for inclusion and equity, exclusive practices continue to exist. For instance, the women's rights movement fought for and secured both social and legal rights for white American women, but notoriously and strategically left out black and brown women of both the conversation and the legislation. And, as Fannie Lou Hamer reminds us, nobody's free until everybody's free. As our country continues to unpack how to live harmoniously across identities, we acknowledge this history and its lasting impacts by honoring all experiences in the fight for equity and justice. Within and beyond DEI work, Women's History Month offers an important opportunity for education and awareness. Schools, universities, museums, and community centers often organize events, discussions, movie screenings, and expositions that shed light on the achievements and struggles of women throughout history. As we celebrate Women's History Month in the education world specifically, it's important to reflect upon how our conversations, curriculum, and actions create and uplift women and folks of all genders beyond March and throughout the year. This is Women's History, and we encourage you to engage in conversation and learn something new, attend an event, act a librarian for a book, recommendation from authors who are women, or build out habits and patterns to interact with the women's diverse stories throughout the year ahead. We wish a Happy Women's History Month full of fruitful learning and inclusive engagement to all in our Arlington community and beyond.