Every week church communities gather to worship. Worship includes singing; the vocalizing of praise and gratefulness, the words spoken to tune that can be declaration of rich theology and truth. People have varied emotions about singing but for the people of God singing has always been significant, powerful and formational. Songs can put words into our mouths that remind our hearts… Read more »
How we handle differences can reveal how we are maturing spiritually! Differences are a testing ground for how we respond to challenges, to opinions strongly stated, and to disagreements. Differences need not bring division, but they can. In fact, when those disagreeing begin to polarize, they may “reach” for other proofs or substantiations. That was happening in the church in… Read more »
The scripture says the Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Did you know He doesn’t eat beef? And He does’t need money! The only reason He has those cattle (yes it is an analogy but follow along) is for us! And as the perfect Father, He knows when to give to us and how to give to us…. Read more »
Holy leaders are a gift to the people. They are evidence of God’s love for us! Isn’t that striking? When we ponder how much the Lord loves us, one expression is the leaders He places over us! The sacrifice of a leader is an expression of our value! The willingness of a leader to lay down their life (which could… Read more »
Powerful theology forms powerful SPIRITUAL leaders. When the word forms our worldview we see differently. We see those we lead differently. We see obstacles and opposition differently. Ultimately the skills of a leader do matter. But the key factor is the leader’s soul. When leaders experience theology (meaning the power of the word in their world) they become powerful spiritual… Read more »
I’ve heard leaders, in conversation with other leaders, say “I really don’t need worship but maybe once a month.” What does that mean? Do they feel it is a need or feeling that can be satiated one time a month? Have you looked carefully at the pattern of Jesus? To begin with, he was an Israelite. The people of Israel… Read more »
The statement is often made, “I want to do this for the Kingdom.” Maybe so, but then again, maybe not so much. I find myself often hearing the Spirit processing my motive, “Why do you want that? Why would you like to be that speaker, that leader who does that?” And my heart is split open. Though I want a… Read more »
Jesus said he came so that we would have abundant life. Really? Do you know many people who would describe their life as abundant? Jam packed? Stressed? Over committed? Yes to all of the above, but abundant? Full of meaning and hope? Not quite. Which begs the question of why? Why is it that what Jesus promised we can’t seem to find? Is… Read more »
The average person, statistics reveal, attends church 1.8 times per month. That’s a churched person! That means the typical church goer gets to church 22 times per year. Other stats point to the growing number of people who attend church, but do not connect or ever truly know Jesus. And I agree, somewhat. If going to church means just showing up, dropping a… Read more »
Life without wonder is lived small, lived in the confines of our thinking, our ability, our limitations. Wonder opens our imagination. Wonder calls us to live in majesty, in the amazement of a God to whom nothing is impossible. Wonder opens us to possibilities and future. Leaders need wonder. Leaders need to be captured by the majesty of the Lord who orchestrates future, who calls… Read more »