Thank you for being courageous enough to share your reaction to my term “broken people.” It seems we’re living in a time when the virtue of respectfully disagreeing with others while maintaining basic human etiquette has fallen to the vices of partisan bickering, shaming, and name-calling. This has taken us Read more…
I’m sure you’ve heard of the fog of war, but have you ever experienced the fog of obedience? For twenty years Jacob worked for his conniving uncle, Laban. As the relationship deteriorated, God spoke: “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” (Gen 31:3). Read more…
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” To say that Nathanael’s snap response to Philip dripped with sarcasm is an understatement. Hear the word again, “NAAZ-a-reth?!” Underneath the printed words of John 1:46, I hear, “Are you kidding me? That Podunk town? Come on, man.” But Philip wasn’t joking. He Read more…
It was eerily quiet.
No music pouring through the huge flat screen TVs. No kids running around parents’ shopping carts. Even the number of patrons was carefully monitored by the masked gatekeepers. All that could be heard was the shuffle of shoes on the concrete isles of Costco.
Everyone kept their safe six-feet distance, and nobody talked. Except for the guy who checked us out, but even that was through a plexi-glass barrier. Weird. (more…)
What is PTSD? Why does this matter for me as a youth minister? What are it’s implications for both civilian and military youth ministry? Brian gives great teaching and guidance on these issues and why this topic is crucial for youth pastors today.
Moses found himself in a bind. The people he led out of Egypt were complaining…again.
This time they were craving meat!
As I imagine the scene, Moses’ own sultry question shatters the commotion:
“How on earth am I supposed to provide meat when we’re stranded in this $#&(!@ desert?” (paraphrase of Num 11:13-14).
The people were so angry they threatened to oust God’s point man (11:15b).
Yet God’s response is incredible. He promises not just to provide a meal but enough meat for a month. In fact, they will be given so much meat that it will come out of their nostrils (11:19-20)!
Moses is incredulous. He can’t believe what he hears. “Would there be enough meat if whole flocks and herds and all the fish of the sea were cut up and put on a buffet line?”
To which God gives the famous answer:
“Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (11:23).
“Is the Lord’s arm too short?”
That question has dogged me for much of 2014.
As the year opened, we were staring down a double-barrel shotgun of two seemingly impossible goals:
(more…)
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I discovered something recently that has revolutionized the way I gauge the future success or failure of leaders. I call it a leader’s VQ and PQ.
What is the leader’s vision for the future of the organization? Is it grand and compelling? Such visions, which are not formed overnight, inspire and motivate others to put forth their outmost to achieve the vision. (more…)
Here it is in quick free-write fashion:
The developing and escalating situation in Ukraine ought to be cause for concern for every one of us.
Here’s why:
Since 1980 obesity rates among adults, children, and adolescents have steadily risen to the point that the problem has now reached epidemic proportions. The ramifications of this epidemic are widespread and far-reaching. This executive brief summarizes the causes, trends, effects, implications, and possible solutions of obesity in America.
