After reading the story in Genesis 15 where God tells Abraham to look up at the night sky, and promises that his future family will outnumber the stars, a teacher gave this assignment: “Tonight I want you to go out …
10 Things Every Church Needs from Its Elders
10 Things Every Church Needs from Its Elders Before the now gone Crystal Cathedral was internationally famous, its founding pastor, Robert H. Schuller, wrestled with his board of elders for more rapid change and ministry development. In its early years …
5 Things to Consider Before Planting a Church
5 Things to Consider Before Planting a Church Gathered for Sunday dinner, parents asked their two youngsters what they had learned in Sunday School. “It was great,” enthused their seven-year-old son. “Our teacher said the boys were better than girls!” …
Eleven Signs You’re in Crisis Mode
Eleven Signs You’re in Crisis Mode Friends who met in biking events thought it would be great to take a summer tour on a tandem. Soon, however, their differing personalities grated. On a long, steady mountain climb they pumped without …
5 Things a Leader Should Do Every Day
5 Things a Leader Should Do Every Day A young girl came home from school with a tummy ache. “You need something to eat,” said her mom. “Your tummy aches because there’s nothing in it.” A quick snack remedied the …
Handling Failure—In Ourselves and Others
Handling Failure—In Ourselves and Others Some years ago a psychologist named Aldrich published a fascinating article about his work in social services, spending most of his time with teenagers who had been arrested for shoplifting or other theft. Aldrich interviewed …
Perspective
Our participation in the present humanity of this world drives us often toward distinctions, separations, bigotry, and racism—even in the church. That was powerfully brought home to me during our time as missionaries in Nigeria. We were received with openness …
Competition and Prejudice
As a seminary intern in St. Louis, Missouri, I was part of a Jewish-Christian Dialogue group. We were seeking to understand one another’s traditions, work together for the good of our neighborhoods, and promote tolerance and respect in society. I …
Teaching leaders to fly with Jesus
A friend of mine had a wonderful dream some years ago. As he slept, his subconscious imagined him walking along a wide chasm with vertical sides and no means to cross. The footpath was safe enough, but like all of …
Winds and Waves
One of the greatest military campaigns ever conducted was the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 B.C. King Xerxes (the ruler featured in the pages of the Old Testament book of Esther) set out to redress the humiliation suffered by …
