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By Tom Lane

Attitude of Gratitude

An attitude of gratitude is one of the greatest things we can impart to our children. Psalm 100 tells us to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Gratitude in its simplest form is a heart of thankfulness that opens doors with God. It will also open doors with people. It is more than a polite thing to do. Expressions of thanks actually do things in the emotions that work as a key does in the ignition of a car to start receptiveness in the human heart.

We live in a very negative world. Research tells us that it takes seven positive inputs to overcome one negative input in our lives. The reality is we get a lot of input when we fail but when we are doing great there is little praise and very little comment. Praise is a form of encouragement and it also unlocks the heart. The saying goes something like this, “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.” Praise is one of the tangible ways we let people know we care.

Are you strategic in developing an attitude of gratitude? Do you work to create an atmosphere of praise in your home? Simple compliments that recognize how someone looks, how good the meal was, how clean the house is, how straight the bedroom looks, how nice the bed looks when it is made; they all go a long way to create and maintain an atmosphere of praise.

Expressions of thanks aren’t trite instead they are forms that shape gratitude in the attitude of our children. We must model expressions of appreciation for our children and then train them to do what we have modeled for them to see. We must train them to say thanks when someone gives them something or compliments them. We must train them to send expressions of thanks by email, phone, or snail mail if an attitude of gratitude is to be developed in them.

Finally, we must monitor the critical comments and sarcastic humor in our family. These forms of communication are like weeds in a garden. If they are not contested they will increase in number and scope. What might easily be contested at its inception becomes more difficult when it is allowed to grow over time. If uncontested they grow in their impact to the point that gratitude and praise are choked out of our home.

et’s think strategically as we work hard to maintain an attitude of gratitude in our home and create it in the hearts of our children!

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Marilyn Wedige

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND COORDINATOR

Marilyn Wedige serves as the Executive Assistant to Tom Lane and Coordinator for the Executive Leadership Institute. She and her husband Mike moved to Texas in 2013. She has served as Pastor Tom’s assistant since 2017. Marilyn is honored to serve in assisting the ELI to help leaders develop a: healthy lifestyle, enriched spiritual walk, and tools to increase their success and influence.

Marilyn was blessed in being raised in a godly Christian home and church. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with a double major in mathematics and computer science. Due to her husband Mike’s advancement in corporate management, they have had the privilege of serving in many churches across the United States and in New Zealand. Together they have led many small groups as well as served in prayer and youth ministries. Marilyn has led and taught in women’s and youth Bible studies as well as volunteered and tutored in her children’s schools.

Marilyn and Mike have been happily married since 1985 and together they have 3 children of which 2 are married, and 2 grandchildren. One of Marilyn’s greatest joys is serving her family.

Todd Lane

Chief Executive Officer

Todd Lane began his business career with a multi-national corporation who provided outsourced customer services. He developed through corporate management while moving across the United States and New Zealand. During his tenure in the corporate sector, he also served in several churches in the areas of youth ministry, worship, and small groups.

He transitioned to vocational ministry in 2002 as the first Business Administrator of Gateway Church. Over the following 20 years of ministry, he has led the development of business operations, new ministry launches, the methodology behind extension campuses, and guided overall staff alignment and implementation of the church vision. He has led small groups, taught classes, and has spoken at various churches, conferences, seminars, and events. He has also served as an elder of the church.

Todd holds a business administration degree in finance from Baylor University. He and his wife, Blynda have been married since 1995, and have three young adult children: Olivia, Harrison, and Evelyn.

Tom Lane

Founder & Chief Content Officer

Tom Lane began his career in business. He spent five years working in a residential Plumbing, Heating & Cooling business owned by his father-in-law. He then worked for seven years as a regional sales Representative for his dad’s wholesale paper distribution company based in the mid-west with 13 locations from Montana to Texas.

In 1982, he made a shift to vocational ministry and served as executive senior pastor both at Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, Texas (22 years), and Gateway Church (18 years) in Southlake, Texas. Throughout his more than 40 years of vocational ministry he has held many different roles including: business administrator, administrative pastor, executive pastor, executive senior pastor, senior pastor, and executive director.

Whether leading in business, ministry, or in his family Tom has lived his life to be the greatest influence for God and to impact people. He has always known that influence affects leadership at home or work.

Tom has written many leadership books including Tested and Approved, Heritage: A Father’s Influence to the Generations, Influence of a Father, Healthy Church Government, He Still Speaks, He Still Speaks to Kids, Strong Women and the Men Who Love Them, and Letters from a Dad to a Graduate. He has also written articles for Ministry Today. Tom and his
 wife, Jan, have been happily married since 1972 and have 4 married children and 15 grandchildren.

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Step 1 of 7

This assessment is intended to give you an understanding of the emotional and spiritual health of your life. First think through each question and determine a quick placement on Health Indicator Scale (ranging from Never to Always.) This assessment is only as credible as the authenticity of the answers. Your first instinct is usually the most honest and accurate response. Most leaders are inclined to post the “best answer” but we want honest, raw, and vulnerable responses to these questions.

In the box to the right place the number from 1-5 that best describes your feeling today. Tally each section and place the numeric score on the total line for each category. Add the tallied scores from each section to get the overall total score.

Health Indicator Scale (HIS):

Select the appropriate answer for each question.

Each answer has a numeric value from 1-5 based on these indicators:

1 - Never    2- Seldom    3 - Ocassionally    4 - Often    5 - Always