If you are fortunate enough to have a strong sense of personal calling or talent or giftedness, one of the great temptations will be pride. It is common for great leaders to think of themselves and what they are doing as a gift to the world. Os Guinness writes, One of the most common, subtle, […]
When you are alone, and there is no one holding you responsible for your actions, what motivates you to behave “properly”? Your answer to this question points to your foundation for morality. To whom, or for what, are you responsible? You may say something like “the Bible” or “God.” Or, you may say that you […]
We all have a default mode of operation. It’s how we operate in the moments when nothing is expected of us. When we are alone, on vacation, on a Saturday night or a Sunday afternoon. These are times when the demands have slowed to the point at which we may consider it to be “down […]
The Lord bless youand keep you,make His face shine upon youand be gracious to you.The Lord turn His face toward youand give you peace Amen. This blessing is recorded in Numbers 6:24-26. It was first spoken by Moses as a blessing on Aaron and his sons, who were first in the Nazarite priestly order established […]
Just two weeks ago I was faced with a decision to cancel some important organizational events due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The response of several people was, “We should not act out of fear.” I agreed, but also said that this was not a response of fear, but of care. On March 12, I flew […]
Historically, adversity is a familiar experience for the church. It has come in many forms, yet the church remains strong and growing. This is due to the eternal purpose given to us by Jesus: to know His ways, and to always be discipling until every tribe, tongue and nation has heard the gospel. In the […]
We are in a time of opportunity. In the midst of uncertainty, it may be easy to just shut down and wait for the storm to pass. But this is not the example set by Jesus. In the midst of the storm, Jesus calmed the storm. This is our call. To be calmers of the […]
This teaching is a continuation of an ongoing theme that seeks to set a foundation for discovering your purpose. It may sound repetitive, but it is meant to reinforce a very elusive concept that followers of Jesus tend to forget constantly. “Calling is not only a matter of being and doing what we are but […]