The Gospel Might Be Offensive, But We Needn’t Be One of the most distinguishing factors of a Christian is what makes an effective leader—deep-rootedness that produces the fragrant fruit of the Spirit, budding in season and out. This fruit often results in favor with man. Gasp. As one who leads, I know there will be times when I must deliver a tough pill to swallow. Yet, while the message I carry might be offensive, the manner in which I carry... Read more
This article will explore Jesus as our model for embracing true leadership in every season. As the giver of life, He is the only one who can show us how to lead to life (eternal). Leadership is often misconstrued as a position of power or a title of authority. This is something I thought (and taught) FOR YEARS! However, true leadership really transcends any position. The essence of leadership, as Jesus demonstrated, isn’t about elevating oneself but lifting others by... Read more
Lament for Ordinary Life Lament is a practice for ordinary Christians that should be implemented into a regular rhythm of spiritual disciplines. After Times of Transition Lament is important during times of grief and loss, and even during good moments like starting a new job, having a new baby, or getting married. It might be odd to consider lamenting during moments of celebration, and I’m not suggesting stopping your party to cry! However, before the big moment, take some time... Read more
Jesus as the Model for Our Formation & Leadership There are many definitions of leadership. Yet, for those committed to glorifying God and leading others to Him, our leadership ultimately rests on our journey to becoming more like Christ and following Jesus’ model of leadership. My understanding of leadership comes from John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy… but I have come to offer life, and life abundantly.” In this passage of John, Jesus is in... Read more
Repentance is not when you cry, it’s when you change. Repentance isn’t necessarily measured by the presence of tears; it is measured by the presence of change. If you want to be a leader who leads others to life, you need to be well-acquainted with repentance. Simply put, repentance and lament are the pillars of transformational leadership. What is repentance? Repentance is when you willingly acknowledge where you have (or are currently) missed the mark. It involves coming face to... Read more
Seasons Changing in a Laundromat: Reflections on Leadership and Spiritual Growth This morning, as I am sitting in my local laundromat, waiting for the ping to indicate that my clothes are ready to move to the dryer, I’m reminded of how the changing of seasons impacts our spiritual lives and Christian leadership. We are about 7 days from the arrival of our brand-new in-home washer and dryer, and about 7 days past the time when doing a load of laundry... Read more
A Story of Devoted Faith In this story of devoted faith, the woman with the jar approached Jesus. The woman with the jar approached Jesus. Walking past eyes unable to hide their disgust, walking past men whose hearts condemned her for her very presence, she moved forward with measured determination holding in her hands what amounted to her life’s savings. Counting the cost of each step, she put one step in front of the other until they stood face to... Read more
The Pesky Thief If you don’t know what to look out for, you might confuse a bouquet of weeds for pretty wildflowers. Similarly, there is a thief who is after our faith, and if we aren’t on the lookout, our faith might get stolen right from under our eyes. It almost happened to me. Let me tell you a story about abundant faith… As a child, I was always captivated by the fields of wildflowers that I’d pass as my... Read more
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