Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

“Character is Destiny”

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Archives for August 2025

Hand Me Another Brick

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This is a book about Nehemiah, a leadership book in the Hebrew Bible; Nehemiah is the best book on leadership ever written. The Education of Cyrus is close, but Nehemiah tells the story of an ordinary man who became an uncommon leader.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer, a position of trust, for King Artaxerxes, who was the leader of the great Persian Empire. Messengers from Jerusalem told him that the people were in desperate straits and the city was still a ruin. Nehemiah prayed and established a plan to rebuild the wall and revive the city.

Chuck Swindoll, a well-known Christian leader and pastor, wrote several books about famous leaders, including Moses and David. This book is designed to help leaders or those who aspire to lead lead well. Nehemiah has 13 chapters. The author goes chapter by chapter, covering topics like the following:

  • the role of prayer in the life of a leader
  • preparation
  • motivating oneself and others
  • dealing with opposition and criticism
  • handling discouragement
  • resolving financial issues
  • handling promotions well
  • dealing with intimidation
  • setting priorities
  • dealing with problems

1 Samuel For You

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Samuel is a book in the Old Testament that’s key to understanding the entire Bible. It’s about the nation of Israel 1,000 years before Christ. Things were a mess. The people wanted a king. Samuel, the prophet, anointed Saul to be king. However, Saul did not become the hero.

David, a humble shepherd boy, becomes the hero. In a war between Israel and Philistia, David defeats a giant named Goliath. The people rejoice, but Saul grows jealous and tries to kill David. Saul turns away from God and loses everything, while David seeks after God and is exalted.

David suffered persecution, became king, and rescued his people. But more importantly, Samuel reveals that David’s life pointed to a greater king, Jesus of Nazareth.

Samuel is a riveting story. Many life lessons can be learned. And Bible teacher Tim Chester is a marvelous guide.

Studying Samuel and David will help you:

  1. Understand the Bible better
  2. Learn how to make friends
  3. Learn how to handle difficulties
  4. Learn how to lead
  5. Learn how to become a less anxious, happier person

What did you find most helpful about 1 Samuel?

Land of Hope

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This is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. It’s about America’s story from its discovery and founding to recent history. Overall, Wildred McClay provides a broad overview of significant events, people, and ideas, aiming to show what made America a land of hope.

Events include the unsettlement of Europe, the Revolutionary War, Westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization and modernization, the World Wars, and more.

Leaders include Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and many more.

If you want a complete and fascinating explanation of who and what made America the greatest country on earth, this book is for you.

Beowulf

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Beowulf, a Scandinavian warrior, fights a monster named Grendel, then Grendel’s mother, and finally, years later, a fire-breathing dragon. Winning great honor, he eventually became a king, the bulwark of his people.

An ancient and renowned tale, over 1,000 years old, Beowulf was initially written in Anglo-Saxon, or Old English. This translation is regarded as one of the finest—poetic, epic, and gripping. About one hundred pages, it’s a quick read and hard to put down.

The unknown author offers a glimpse into the ancient heroic age of the Germanic peoples, who migrated to England and Denmark. They lived by the warrior code and sought glory through warfare.

Beowulf achieves great honor, and there are thrilling moments, and indeed, happy seasons. However, a perceptive observer noted that the book begins and ends with a funeral, revealing that the world is not enough.

Some of the great literary minds studied the tale. J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, translated Beowulf in his 30s and went on to teach it for decades, writing a commentary. (I have not read it.) In this translation, you can see the Old English on the left-facing pages; modern English is on the right.

Finally, after you read the epic, I recommend reading Seamus Heaney’s introduction.

What did you think about the story?