Leadership is influence. To the extent we influence others, we lead them. If I were asked to name some of the standard qualities or characteristics usually found among natural-born leaders, I would list: Enthusiasm, Optimism, Persistence, Ambition, Competitiveness, Knowledge, Insight, Inquisitiveness, Independence, Friendliness . . .
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Spiritual Famine
THE WORD HANGS LIKE AN OMEN IN OUR HEADS. We picture brutal, grotesque images. Cows’ hips protrude. Babies’ eyes are hollow. Bloated stomachs growl. Skin stretches tight across faces. The skull outline emerges. Joints swell. Grim, despairing stares replace smiles. Hope is gone . . . life is reduced to a harsh existence. Those who have seen it cannot forget it. Those who haven’t cannot imagine it. It’s famine.
Read MoreJust Be You
THERE IS ONLY ONE YOU. In our overly-populated, identity-crisis era it is easy to forget this. Individuality is played down. We are asked to conform to the “system.” This results in what I’d like to call an image syndrome, especially among the members of God’s family called Christians. My mind lands upon a fig-picker from Tekoa . . . a rough, raw-boned shepherd who was about as subtle as a Mack truck on the Santa Ana Freeway.
Read MoreSpiritual Leadership
None can deny that these are standard qualities found in “natural” leaders. But my question is: Are these qualities necessary in “spiritual” leaders, too? Before you answer too quickly, I would refer you to some biblical leaders who would’ve done rather poorly on a “natural” leadership test. The incredible thing is that God picked people whom we would have overlooked!
Read MoreDoes God Hate?
Hate is a powerful word. We are taught from childhood to avoid hatred at all costs and to obey the command of Christ to love everyone, including our enemies. So it’s shocking to read the words that Paul quoted from Malachi, who declared that God loved Jacob but hated Esau (Malachi 1:2–3). How can a […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Our Troubled Times
Don’t you sometimes just shake your head and wonder, What on earth is happening in the world? Over the course of my lifetime, I have witnessed numerous changes in the broader culture. Unfortunately, not all have been for good. If Christians hope to make an impact in this world, it’s imperative that we first understand […]
Read MoreSpiritual Leadership
Leadership is influence. To the extent we influence others, we lead them. Lord Montgomery implied this when he wrote . . . Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose, and the character which inspires confidence. We could name many great people who did just that, whether they […]
Read MoreFamine
The word hangs like an awful omen in our heads. Mentally, we picture brutal, grotesque images. Cow’s ribs and hips protrude. Babies’ eyes are hollow. Bloated stomachs growl angrily. Skin stretches across faces tight as a trampoline. The outline of the skull slowly emerges. Joints swell. Grim, despairing stares replace smiles. Hope is gone . […]
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