The word “gap” only appears once in the Bible. Once. And Ezekiel 22:30 is that one time. The nation of Israel was a mess. They had turned from God. The cities had become violent and crime ridden. Immorality was rampant. Liars dominated the leadership structures in the Temple and the government. Greed rather than grace … More It Only Appears Once in the Bible
Have you ever had an interaction with someone who gave you the creeps? I know you have. We all have. Some people easily set off our “phony” radar. We seem to be able to detect their fake motives and disingenuous character. Something in the way they look, or the look of their eye, or the … More There is No Hypocrisy Like Religious Hypocrisy
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations,if you live near him.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit ( Ballantine Books, 1937, 1938, and 1966 ) p. 207. This post relates to all planning but I have church planters in mind most particularly. I love church planters because of what they are … More Planning Pitfalls
It was an innocent question. I’m sitting at a pastor’s retreat acting as one of a team of four mentors seeking to encourage 15 pastors, with one exception, the oldest of whom is 50, most of which are in their 20’s or 30’s. “What will you take away from this week?” I’ve listened to a … More An Apex Predator Stalking Younger Pastors
I heard a horror story yesterday. A large mega-church “hired” ten interns. One day before they were to finish their internships, they were all fired and none were given good recommendations. None. I said, “hired” in quotes because they were paid “slave wages” and worked long hours. At another church, apparently a mega-church with a … More A Pastoral Horror Story
Howard Hendricks was a great leader and discipler of men. Not very tall but with a personality that dominated a room, he was unforgettable. Unfortunately, he is mostly forgotten today, except by everyone whoever met him or heard him, he was a man useful to God. Though small in stature, “Howie”, was both a scintillating … More A New Prayer from a Dead Saint
This is a site designed to provide materials, ideas and hope for Christian Leaders. It is pastoral care for church planters, missional leaders, pastors and missionaries and all those who want to be more effective and more Christ-centered in their lives and ministry. Working with Standing Stone Ministry, I meet with pastors on a regular … More When Christian Leaders are Criticized
It’s the third chapter title in the J. Oswald Sanders classic and unequaled work, Spiritual Leadership. (True story: My wife gave me a second date partly because she saw a well-read copy of the book on my office desk.) “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be … More The Master’s Master Principle
“Three key Hebrew verbs are used for leading a flock. Nahal means leading with tenderness and can refer to bringing a flock to a place of rest and refreshment. Nakhah is a straightforward guidance verb. Nahag suggests the kind of directive herding accomplished best from the back of the flock, when the will of … More The Lovingkindness of the Shepherd of Israel
[Dateline: October 15, 1950] I’m reading a military history book. It was a national bestseller when Penguin Random House published it in 2018. Hampton Sides, the author, tells the epic story of “Chosin Reservoir—the Greatest Battle of the Korean War”. ON DESPERATE GROUND is a compelling read. This morning, I was in chapter 7 which … More A Warning to Pastors and Others Who Lead
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