The lessons outlined on the subsequent pages are rooted in Biblical principle, but they have a profoundly personal feel. The simple test for the reader is to find yourself in this book. Where are you? On what page? In what passage? Keep in mind that you are reading this book for a reason-not just to avoid succumbing to Leader-I-Tis (as Dr. Bates terms it) but to begin to thrive as an effective leader. This book is about the personal accumulation of experience, but it is also a story of transcendence. It is about moving beyond your present circumstances to more fully realize your leadership potential. I encourage you to find yourself in the pages, the stories, and the lessons that follow. Allow yourself the chance to rise above your circumstances and live, whenever possible, above the fray. In essence, this book is a mirror reflection for us all in regard to our leadership potential-and the challenges we face in seeking to fulfill that potential. The examples that are offered in this book remind us first to see ourselves in the reality of our circumstances. Yet we are also reminded that we hold the power-through faith-to change those circumstances via a more purposeful pursuit of our potential. We must, as Dr. Bates instructs, be faithful and do the work that God has called and equipped us to do. We must be purposeful in our actions, but we must also be mindful of the guidance that is available to us, both through our own experience and through Christian teaching, that enables us to meet our potential as leaders of faith. As you explore the seven Biblical principles for living above the fray, I encourage you to be purposeful in your self-reflection. Open your mind to seeing yourself in the midst of the fray (as many of us often are) and then find the path to living above the fray (as all of us can do). It is through such faithful self-reflection and focused action that each of us can achieve our full potential as leaders. Dr. Lee Pearson