Would you welcome someone into your life or ministry if you knew for certain that they were going to betray you? Jesus did. In John’s gospel, we are told that Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him. In John 6:64 we read that “Jesus knew from the beginning who those ...
I'm writing this on Election Day Eve, and there's a reason for that. I'm a day removed from the Lord's Day; the day set aside to worship literally the only One who knows what'll happen tomorrow. What's more, He may still be the only One who knows what happened on ...
Do you know your own limitations? Do you know your strengths? As we lead, it’s important to know both. When we know our strengths, we can focus our time and effort in that direction. When we know our weaknesses, we can surround ourselves with people who can help us in those areas. Take a ...
In 20+ years of ministry, I've had my share of battles. Sitting overnight next to a hospital bed after a member had tried to end his life, losing a job when I wouldn't cover up a pastor's sin, and public slander and threats from a former member...to name a few. ...
I'm a pastor. I'm writing this as Pastor Appreciation Month is underway. As cliché as it sounds, I'm grateful to serve a church that appreciates her pastor 12 months a year. But I'm also thankful Mayhill Baptist usually goes above and beyond in October, as that's two months from Christmas ...
In an issue of Bits & Pieces, there is a quote that makes me laugh: "The trouble with being a leader today is that you can't be sure whether people are following you or chasing you." When I see that quote, I immediately picture the scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead ...
We fall short of being able to lead like Jesus in that we are not omniscient like He is. Nevertheless, we can ask God for wisdom as we lead and seek to understand as much as possible in situations by being intentional about listening to those around us. Speaking or leading ...
On this anniversary of the terrorist attack that occurred on September 11, 2001, my thoughts go back to the first responders who rushed towards the Twin Towers and the Pentagon even though the buildings blazed with fire. These men and women did not hesitate to place the lives of their ...
Recently, I owned and repented of a ministry failure of mine to our deacons. I apologized for my' if it's to be, it's up to me' tendencies during the pandemic. You see, from the get-go, I was thinking fast, working hard, and leading strong...but. But I was doing it on ...
You might not think of surgery as an opportunity for learning about leadership, but last week I had a though-provoking experience with a surgeon that made me think about some characteristics of good leadership. I went in for oral surgery, and, I must admit, although I do not tend to ...
