Staircase to Glory: A Flight Plan to Heaven: Goal Setting, Ethics, Morals for Everyday Life (Individuals & Businesses)

By Dr. James E. Lester

Staircase to Glory has great meaning, and the purpose was due to a strong yearning to spread God's word through the author's formal education, life experiences, and to teach how one can accept the Lord as your savior by taking simple steps, like steps up a staircase. By setting goals, instilling strong ethics, and good morals, you are fulfilling God's role here on earth.

This book is about goals and goal setting in today's world for the individual and business/workplace. The goals we set in comparison to ethics and morals is needed to reach our heavenly home. It also goes into strict detail of the author's own life experiences and how he made it to his current relationship with God. The journey from which he has traveled in an early age to the present has been very overwhelming at times, but the Lord was with him.

The drama of life is portrayed along with scripture researched to help move on and continue to achieve goals. The book has many angles to dealing with life and life's barriers and finally a clear, simple plan to get you to climb the staircase to glory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098046866

Book preview

cover.jpg

Staircase

to Glory

A Flight Plan to Heaven

Goal Setting, Ethics, Morals

for Everyday Life

(Individuals & Businesses)

Dr. James E. Lester Jr.

Foreword by Alan White

ISBN 978-1-0980-4685-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-314-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-0980-4686-6 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Dr. James E. Lester Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture quotations noted NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973 978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved

Scripture quotations noted NKJV are from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright © 1979,1980,1982,1990, 1994 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Goals

Goal Setting: Business, Personal/Individual, and Spiritual

Factors of Goal Setting

Advantages of Goal Setting

Disadvantages of Goal Setting

Individual Goals

Types of Goals

Areas of Goal Setting

Career Goals

Family Goals

Health and Fitness Goals

Spiritual Goals

Fun/Recreational Goals

Mental, Psychological, and Educational Goals

Home Improvement Goals

Creative/Artistic Goals

Personal Relationship Goals

Community Goals

Friendship Goals

Financial Goals

Combination Goals

God-Centered Basic, Universal Goal Model

Family/Relationship

Work/Financial

Mental/Physical Goals

Personal Goals

Spiritual Goals

Characteristics of Goal Setting

Goal Positives

Goal Negatives

Barriers to Goal Setting

Inappropriate Goals

Unattainable Goals

Overemphasis on Goals

Scriptures on Goals

Barriers to Basic Universal Goal Model

Peer Pressure

Lust

Stealing

Drugs

Lack of Devotion

Wrongful Thoughts

Misplaced Trust

Alcohol (Drinking)

Doubts

Temptations

Anger

Perversion

Isolation, Greed, Many Others

Goals, Ethics, and Morals in Business/Workplace

Individual/Personal Leadership Effects Study: The J. Lester Experiment

Goals in Business

Consistency of Goal Setting

Reward System

Unattainable Goals

Quantitative Goals

Qualitative Goals

Barriers to Ethics and Morals in Today’s Business World

Barriers to Ethical Judgment and Moral Leadership

Invisibility of Bias

Ethical Issues Do Not Exist Alone

Making Any Ethical Judgment in Situations That Are Wrong

Barriers in a Real Estate and Appraisal Firm

Recommendations to Overcoming These Barriers

Ethical Goals versus Nonethical Goals

Standard Ethics versus Christian Ethics

Pessimism

Leadership, Ethics, and Morals

Where Is the Leadership in Moral Leadership?

Ethical Decision-Making

Application to Ethical Decision-Making

Ethical Values and Behavior

Diversity, Discrimination, Etc.

Abercrombie & Fitch History

Diversity Understanding

The Lawsuit

Injured or Not

Recommendations to Mend Relations

Approve or Not Approved of Campaign

Unethical Best Practices

Philanthropy

Moral Courage and Diversity

Power and Moral Leadership in Today’s Organizations

Moral Leadership

Civil Virtue: Respecting Human Diversity

Civic Virtue: Rewarding Moral Behavior

Self-Interest

Scriptures on Ethics

Scriptures on Morals

Staircase to Glory

Taking the Steps

3-L Approach

Prepare a Plan for A Relationship with Christ

Implementation

Stair Steps to Goal Attainment Model

LIVE Model to Eternal Life

Thoughts and Perspectives

Conclusion

Bibliography

Testimonials

Your life’s story (as partially told in these chapters) is remarkable. God has enabled you to do many things well, and it is nice to see you sharing your experiences and insights, which are clearly anchored in God’s word. I think the way you have laid out how accepting Christ, following his precepts and staying aligned with God enables one to have a fulfilling life is unique. Not many with a PsyD venture off the humanist path and I so appreciate that stance all the more (my doctorate is in Human Resources from Vandy, but I also hold master’s in I/O Psych and another in Information Systems—and my wife holds a master’s in clinical—so I’ve rubbed elbows with many in academia and the psychology circles—and at least in my world your perspective, which I share, is rare).

I also appreciate the way you’ve systematically linked the research and value of Goal Setting (and God’s principles) with practical application in one’s life. This is quite an important insight…and your examples regarding perseverance (like with Lincoln) emphasize the point. I also think your writing supports the growing movement to shift away from professional missionaries toward believers of all walks of life sharing their faith via whatever occupations the Lord has gifted them to do (your writing is a strong recursive example of this).

At any rate, I just wanted to share my thoughts and encourage you to continue your efforts. I think it will help many, and I see a kindred spirit in your writing.

—Dr. Bart Dahmar, CEO & Founder Innovo Publishing

Well, I tell you, the title sure is intriguing! I like how you specifically define different types of goals: physical, mental, personal, spiritual, etc. You even talk about the disadvantages of goal setting, which definitely caught my eye because it seems counterintuitive. You make a good point though. It’s not that setting goals is bad, but sometimes we have so many different types of goals going on at once that life can interrupt or delay those goals. Goals are good, but if things happen in life to disrupt them, we need to be able to be flexible and readjust. This is a very practical and applicable book to help people succeed in reaching their goals in life.

—Darya Crockett

Like that you write about setting and achieving goals from a biblical standpoint (A topic we all need to revisit now and then) and you back it up with a lot of scriptures. You also write with a clean and casual voice that is relatable.

Andy Carmichael—Deep River Books

For my daddy, James Bo John E. Lester Sr. He was a man of many talents. His love for me and his grandchildren is more than proven, time and time again over the years. He was my best friend, business partner, fishing buddy, hunting buddy, and, most of all, he was a great father. His ability to persevere during his lifetime was evident. He was not only a great father but a great sportsman and a great basketball player.

In his early years, he played high school basketball and helped win three state championships, even beating a college team in 1952, 1953, and 1954. As captain of the team and most valuable player, he knew what scoring and winning was all about. However, he had to persevere a hard life in his early years and worked hard throughout that life, not just for him to survive but for his son.

He raised me in a positive light and taught me to persevere in hard times and to never forget where we come from. His love for me was no different than God’s love for his son. My earthly father paid a price that does not compare to the price Jesus paid for his father and for the love he has for all. My goal is for one day to be with my father once again, to see his face, look at his smile, laugh at his funny actions, and fish by his side.

Thank you, Daddy, for the strength to persevere and look beyond the negatives in life. Thank you for teaching me in, your own way, the rights and wrongs of life so I can teach my children. I miss you so much and hope to be in your arms one day with the arms of our Lord wrapped around both of us. I love you, Daddy.

James E. Lester Sr.

Bo John

August 9, 1935–September 28, 2014

Acknowledgments

I wish to personally thank the following people for their contributions to my inspiration and knowledge and other help in creating this book, along with their lifetime support of me and guidance through the years:

My late father, James Bo John E. Lester Sr.—for being a part of me and doing the right things in life.

My mother, Joyce Wynn—for giving birth to me to create my ideas and thoughts of life.

My late grandfather Ed Wynn—for taking care of me in my early years and being a great grandfather.

My late grandmother Marie Wynn—for being committed to over fifty years in church and taking care of me when needed.

Charles and Betty Cleckley—for planting the seeds and being an inspiration from my early years to present.

Art Parrish—for believing in me when I needed you.

Deb Hefner—for loyalty as a friend and coworker.

Roy Wimp—for his straightforwardness and inspiration to keep on going.

Bill Hillary—for being determined and overcoming barriers.

Ed Crowston—so thankful to you and for the start of many things in my profession and trust in me The Book.

Willie and Dean Wilson—for being there when needed and your giving spirit of your time.

Micah Loggins—Worship Pastor Elkdale Baptist Church for spiritual analysis and spiritual advice.

Marion Bank & Trust Company—for giving me a chance to prove myself

Elkdale Baptist Church—changed lives… real relationships

Rev. David Fernandez & Oak Grove Assembly of God—My beginning and their influence.

Glad Tidings Assembly of God—for continued spiritual growth during my life

Wewahitchka First Baptist Church—for being there in time of need and prayers

Trey Lester—for all the ideas a son could give to a father on a project like this.

Master Sargent Ronnie Roberts—for his straightforwardness as a friend.

My family—for my time taken away and for your understanding and love.

To all my pastors and Sunday school teachers who have played a part of my life, including all the universities and colleges from which I have graduated, especially Liberty University and the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Foreword

By Alan White

First, you should ask yourself how you personally, define success before you read this book. Be honest. Most people have different ideas about the definition. However, a well-rounded life is worth considering here. Family, work, financial, mental, physical, personal, and spiritual. You’ll find that all these are covered here in detail. And it is all God-centered.

I met the author just a few years ago. In that time, we have become great friends and conducted business together. A few unassuming people in your life will come along and surprise you with the depth they possess. Jamie is one of those rare creatures. You’ll know this after you read the book.

In times like these, this book is essential to study. Especially for young people. With the obvious lack of moral and spiritual leadership in the home, young people need the lessons taught here. Many modern homes these days have absent parents, parents who work two jobs, and unfortunately, some parents who just don’t care.

However, adults of any age will benefit from this writing. I wish I could have read this book when I was seventeen years old. I wonder how many decisions would have been better for me and the people I love. These reflective exercises are good to ponder. If you’re honest with yourself as you read this book, you’ll see what I mean.

An outline for a full life, based on and backed up by the Holy Scriptures. There is a plan for success and Jamie illustrates this with tireless research, personal testimony, and more in this book. Take your time with this book. Read it and pray. Read it and study. Read it and reflect. Read it and live.

Preface

This book has great meaning; and the purpose was due to a strong yearning to spread God’s word through my formal education, life experiences, and to teach how one can accept the Lord as your savior. By setting goals, instilling strong ethics, and good morals, you are fulfilling God’s role here on earth. As I heard the doctors say I had to have open-heart surgery or be bedridden within six months, I was brought to my knees. I was so distraught, I did what I always did; and that was to reach out in prayer and beg God for forgiveness for all I have not done for him and to beg him to give me the chance to live to take care of my children and my family. I made a pledge to God that I would work for him and spread his word while on earth.

When my operation was over and the hard road to recovery took place, my inspiration was evident. I was able to be with my children, and walk on the land that means so much. It was after surgery—during my recovery period—that I prayed, researched, and started writing this book. The goal of living for Christ has also been important to me, and doing his work became a reality. This book is about goals and goal setting in today’s world for the individual and in the business/workplace. The goals we set in comparison to ethics and morals are needed to reach our heavenly home. It also goes into strict detail of my own life experiences and how I have made it where I am today. The journey I have traveled from early age to the present has been very overwhelming at times, but the Lord was with me.

While writing this book and thinking of the past, I have shed many tears. It has brought back so many memories that really need to be forgotten. As I think about the death of my father, grandfather, and granny, my pain grew further from missing them here on earth and missing each one’s characteristics, which made each one so special. The drama of life is portrayed along with scripture researched to help move on and continue to achieve goals.

I could not have done this without the help and support from my family and our group Bible discussions with my son, Trey, and others. The book has many angles to dealing with life and life’s barriers and, finally, a clear, simple plan to get you to climb the staircase to glory.

Part 1

Goals

Chapter 1

Goal Setting: Business, Personal/Individual, and Spiritual

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

—Joshua 1:9

The term goal, or goals, for us as a human being starts early in life. We start out as a baby with the goal to survive, a goal to live. As a baby, the drive to take that first step to achieving the goal of walking is a major goal we start out with in the beginning, including the goal of communicating by speaking our first words. Achieving goals is a part of who we are in one way or another.

As we get older, we start developing decision factors to achieving goals. The decisions we make as an individual to determine our goals, working toward our goals, and, finally, accomplishing our goals are key. Once goals are determined, the working or motivation to attaining those goals comes to play. This concludes the idea of goal-setting theory of motivation.

Goal-setting theory of motivation was created by Edwin Locke, who created this theory in 1968. Locke related goal-setting theory to the workplace and work situations. He argues that goals and intensions are cognitive and willful, and they serve as mediators of human actions and that our needs and our goals are mediated by our values, which determine what is beneficial for us. He states that goal setting is essentially linked to performance or task performance as it relates to an employee. The theory communicates that specific and challenging goals along with appropriate feedback contribute to higher and better task performance. I am examining and relating that theory to the perspective of an individual’s personal and spiritual goals. Goals give direction and a vision to an individual about what needs to be done and how much efforts are required to accomplish the desired outcome. In spiritual terms, Proverbs 29:18 states, Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. Blessed is he who keeps the vision, the goals set in one’s life.

The determination to work for goal attainment is the primary source for spiritual and individual motivation. It is made clear in Philippians 3:13–14:

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The determination to press on and keep the faith, keep the strength, and keep the focus on a goal or multiple goals is a major factor of one’s life.

Factors of Goal Setting

The factors of goal-setting theory seem to be simple and straightforward for an employee but can also be concluded for an individual, personal, and spiritual goal attainment. In setting goals, one must be specific and clear on the goal or goals to be attained.

The goals need to be measurable and clear so no misunderstanding interferes. Was Jesus’s role on earth clear and specific? Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work (John 4:34). Jesus accomplished his mission with a clear and specific goal when he hung on the cross.

It’s hard to