On Sunday, eight aerialists fell 35 feet onto a dancer below when their rigging collapsed above them during a performance of the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Investigators have already tracked the problem down to a single caribiner that failed. Thankfully, none of the nine performers suffered deadly injuries. They are still in the hospital recovering from broken bones and shock, but the latest news is that they are doing well. In some ways, this accident can feel like it is a... Read more
by Bob Robinson I was recently invited to teach a session of a seminary class called “Pastoral Functions” at an extension of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In this class, the pastors-in-training had been discussing such topics as Worship, Disciplemaking, Evangelism, Visitation, Funerals, Weddings, Pastoral Counseling, Children’s Ministry, etc.—topics we’d expect in a class like this. But I was invited to talk about something significantly different and paradigm-shifting. Pastors need to recalibrate their ministry philosophy so that the members of their congregations are... Read more
What challenges and obstacles do you face that prevent you from accomplishing big things? I don’t know about you, but I’ve long wrestled with my (perceived) shortcomings. I’ve always felt like I could accomplish more if I was smarter, had more education, or could get better connections with influential people. If we’re not careful, then our limitations can become a ceiling preventing us from reaching out potential. What it would look like if we leveraged our limitations and obstacles to... Read more
Earlier today, the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Donald Sterling, owner of the LA Clippers, will be banned for life from the game. He must also pay a $2.5 million fine for allegedly making racist remarks in a conversation with his girlfriend, Vivian Stiviano. Issues like this get people talking about race and power and money and sex and basketball. No one should be surprised that this story is dominating nearly every news channel, news feed, and social stream.... Read more
by J.B. Wood I recently spent a couple of hours thinking about my job instead of actually doing it. I mulled over the current state of affairs at work, my priorities, my recent accomplishments, where my time is being spent, and so on. I guess you could say I was reflecting. To some of you, this may sound like a colossally assinine waste of time, but self-reflection is actually one of the defining qualities of a high-performance leader. Which I am attempting to... Read more
Mediocrity is agruably our worst enemy in any work we do. That's why it's important to take pride in our work. Recognizing the value in a job well done moves us beyond mediocrity and into excellence. Read more
My 82-year-old neighbor says, “Sam, you worry too much.” My spiritual director echoes, “It’s okay to let go a little.” My supervisor affirms, “Don’t pull an all-nighter trying to make better what is already great.” As much as I’d like to hear their counsel, I can’t help but ask, Don’t they care? Read more
Ehud took a nation that was at a standstill under foreign rule, and created the momentum not only to get them moving in the right direction, but to regain their independence and stay that way for 80 years. Read more
Competition is a good thing. It pushes us to do better and achieve more. However, that doesn't mean that we should hate our competition. That's not what God called us to do. Rather, we should respect and honor our competition. Read more
Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. (Eph. 6:6-7, The Message) Read more
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