This young man will dash your "Disney Dreams"! Give it a look and let me know what you think. Have we been fed a set of pipe dreams by Disney? And, has it contributed to the Millennial Generation being dubbed the most entitled Gen in American history? … [Read more...]
The #1 Essential for Your Ministry Team.
February 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Trust is probably the most oft-mentioned and common ingredient within great ministry teams. Experts from all fields of team building agree on this team essential. No matter what the team ingredient or value is that is being discussed or developed, they really all have their roots in trust or team trust. For example, honesty is an essential value of team, but upon what is it founded? It is founded upon trust. In order for me to be honest with my team or teammate, it is essential that I feel that I can trust them. Another value great teams strive for is innovation and initiative. Both of … [Read more...]
The Most Misquoted Bible Passage at Weddings
October 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Biblical value of teams over individual efforts is described in resonant and simple terms in Ecclesiastes. It is especially interesting that, although someone who held a supreme hierarchical position, namely King Solomon, wrote this passage, he nonetheless saw the wisdom and value of teams even in his day. Even from his lofty throne he thought to include these insights and the model of the triple-braided cord in his volume of wisdom. Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. … [Read more...]
What “Following Jesus” Is … and Is Not. – Eugene Peterson
June 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“I like the prayer of Thomas – ‘my Lord and my God.’ ...This prayer keeps us ready for surprises; it keeps us alert to Jesus who rules our lives as Lord and commands our worship as God. Following Jesus is not a skill we acquire so that we can be useful to the Kingdom and it’s not a privilege that we’re let into so that the Kingdom can be useful to us. It’s obedience – 'my Lord' – and it’s worship – 'my God.' No matter how much we know, we don’t know enough to know what Jesus is going to do next. And no matter how familiar we are with the traditions and customs and … [Read more...]
How Good is “Good Enough”?
May 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion…” - Isaiah 1:14 The Message “It will be an ill day for us if what most humans mean by ‘religion’ ever vanishes from the Earth. It can still send us the truly delicious sins. The fine flower of unholiness can grow only in the close neighborhood of the Holy. Nowhere do we tempt so successfully as on the very steps of the altar.” - Senior “devil” Screwtape in a speech at the “Annual Dinner of the Tempter’s Training College for Young Devils” (from C.S. Lewis’ popular parody, The Screwtape Letters) One of my … [Read more...]
The God I DON’T Believe In.
May 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment
There are many people in the world today who don’t believe in God. Even though I now believe in God, when I talk with some of these people I find I agree with them. The kind of God they don’t believe in, I don’t believe in either. Writer Brian McLaren described the God he doesn’t believe in: An uptight God who is about black-and-white easy answers and brittle, rigid logic and law, rather than about profound and many-faceted truth, self-sacrificing love, compassionate justice, and profound relationships. … [Read more...]
Marriage and Revelation: What John Remembered
May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Marriage is a revelation; or, better said, a series of revelations. And a Christ-Follower, whether married or single, is greatly helped when they discover how much our spiritual union with Christ is like a good marriage. As a matter of fact, Paul the apostle encouraged his readers to make the connection and to ponder it when he said that the “object lesson” of marriage is “a profound mystery (Eph. 5:32a).” Let’s consider the mystery. When love captures two hearts they both find out soon that there is much to discover. … [Read more...]
Leading, the Following Way.
April 10, 2012 By 3 Comments
Jesus did not focus on leadership; certainly not the way many Christian pastors and teachers do today. In fact, I cannot find one place in all of his (red-letter) words where he calls any man specifically to “lead” or to “leadership.” Don’t get me wrong. Certainly Jesus was and is a leader and led not only a band of twelve men but a movement that would fascinate and dominate the interests of countless millions. Still, as I pour over his words, although I personally love the subject of leadership I am hard-pressed to find any inkling of the fascination we have today with the … [Read more...]
RvRs – 12 Distinctions Between RELIGION and RELATIONSHIP
August 3, 2011 By 13 Comments
Religion is about man endeavoring to work his way to God; Relationship is about God coming down to man. Religion depends on man’s effort; Relationship depends on God’s grace. Religion is about working harder; Relationship is about coming closer. Religion is based on rules; Relationship is based on a promise. Religion is a chore; Relationship, an adventure. Religion is complicated; Relationship is simple. … [Read more...]
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