Reflections Upon One’s Assignment

Joshua 12 presents a stark contrast between two great men, Moses and Joshua, and their successes in the field of battle. Moses, it is recounted here, defeated two kings: Sihon, king of the Amorites; and Og, king of Bashan. Joshua, however, defeated “in all, thirty-one kings” (v. 24). At first glance it would appear that READ MORE

Fresh Wind for Tattered Sails

Too many pastoral leaders are isolated, ground-down by the rough chisel of people’s warped expectations, and filled with worry that they really are not making any meaningful difference. I should know. I have been there. The fact is, it is one of the devil’s most familiar tactical approaches with pastors and their families. So when READ MORE

The Church in Good Hands

The past few days I’ve been suffering for Jesus in Carlsbad, California, attending to two critical features of my yearly schedule. One is a personal retreat; a time for prayer and reflection and dreaming and rest. This is something that the leadership at Bethel Church sees as very important; time that we want all of READ MORE

Excitement for 2010 Global Leadership Summit

I’m totally pumped about the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit being hosted here at Bethel Church August 5-6, 2010. Tony Dungy, Jim Collins, Jack Welch, Andy Stanley, and many other world-class leaders will be speaking into the elevation of excellent leadership in a culture that is desperate for authentic and quality leaders. You’ve absolutely GOT READ MORE

Spiritual Leadership Defined

In my role as a pastor I am sometimes asked what, exactly, is spiritual leadership. Typically I will answer such a question with a question of my own (which is a common tactic I employ that greatly irritates my beautiful Christa). My question back will be something along the lines of, “Well, what would you READ MORE

Fingerprints

If by chance you’re one who expects that real leaders must be so overt, then reflect on what is being said. And the moment you wish to challenge the notion that a leader’s fingerprints are much less important than his or her footprints, please pause and introduce yourself again to a godly sage like Jethro, or a prophet like Gad, or a host of others whose behind the scenes influences are transforming God’s Kingdom. READ MORE