Immanuel’s Appearance

One of the greatest stories ever told is presented with profound simplicity in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible. Read the brief description with an open heart:  “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the READ MORE

The Shepherd’s Prayer

Folded into the midst of of the sixty-ninth psalm is a remarkably simple prayer that ought to capture the attention of every pastor, parent, coach, and shepherd. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor READ MORE

The Risk of Moving Forward

“Forward!” is the watchword of the spiritual life, a movement toward a destination that seems so incredibly elusive, but one into which we will step when it does in fact materialize. But “Forward!” is incredibly frightening. It can be costly. It requires change. It requires patience. It requires determination. It requires humility. It requires faith. Moving READ MORE

The Shepherd’s Prayer

Folded into the midst of of the sixty-ninth psalm is a remarkably simple prayer that captures my attention and ought to capture the attention of every pastor, leader and shepherd. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be READ MORE

Selected Books on Leadership (May 2012)

A good friend of mine reached out to me earlier this week asking what resources I have been reading lately on leadership. I get questions like this a lot, and not just about leadership, but issues relating to culture, the spiritual life, theology and so forth. I also get lots of questions about news sources READ MORE

Manage the Moment or Build the Individual. You Choose.

There are two ways of influencing a situation that tend to dominate the leadership landscape. One is to manage the moment. This is when the person in authority recognizes the need for change and pursues a safer course toward transformation, putting into motion the manipulation of tasks or systems or behavior for an immediate effect. In READ MORE