Have you ever noticed how often God’s servants faced rejection? Moses was criticized. David was dismissed by his brothers. Jeremiah was ignored. Paul was opposed. Even Jesus “came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him” (John 1:11). Rejection hurts because God designed us for relationship. When we feel excluded, criticized, overlooked, […]
How to Handle Rejection without Losing Heart Read More »
Leaders Who Flatter Fall Flat Psalm 12:3 Psalm 12 is not a reflective psalm written from a quiet place.It comes from a moment when David felt surrounded—by voices he could not trust. He describes a culture where truth had thinned out. Faithful people were disappearing. Words sounded polished, but motives were not. What hurt most
Are you Known for Flattery? Read More »
We all carry baggage not only from our family of origin, but also from our previous ministry experiences. For some, that baggage may feel like a light daypack. For others, it may feel like a 100-pound duffle bag. How can we deal with this pain so that it doesn’t affect our families, ourselves, and our
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Israel’s second king, King David, poses a question about character in Psalm 15.1, “God, what do you look for in those who draw close to You?” He them summarizes the answer in the first part of verse 2 with the words ‘blameless’ and ‘righteous.’ The NASB version uses the word ‘integrity’ for ‘blameless.’ These eight
8 Indispensable Qualities Every Leader Needs Read More »
Getting a new church job can be scary. And pastors often overlook pitfalls in those new jobs. In this post, adapted from my book on on-boarding for pastors, I list 7 pitfalls pastors must avoid in a new church job. A quaint story circulated among Methodists describes a young pastor fresh out of seminary who
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We’ve all been deeply hurt in some way…a betrayal by a spouse, a behind-your-back criticism from a friend, hateful judgment from someone at church, a false accusation by a co-worker, unfair treatment by a boss or a parent. And the deeper the hurt, the harder it is and the longer it takes us to forgive.
What Unforgiveness Does to Your Brain Read More »
The book of Jonah is quite revealing. The book describes the prophet Jonah’s call by God to preach to the city of Nineveh (a quintessential sin city of antiquity). Jonah initially ran from His call. As a result he spent three days in a big fish before God got his attention and Jonah decided to obey Him.
When We Run from God: 7 Insights from One who Did Read More »
If you are human, you have secret fears. I don’t mean ones like fear of snakes or fear of heights, but deeper ones. You may have never verbalized them to anyone. Perhaps they have burrowed themselves deep into your subconscious. Perhaps they’ve become like a shadow that dogs your every step. Perhaps they’re no big deal.
Are these a Pastor’s 5 Greatest Fears? Read More »
For years doctors have warned us that prolonged stress can hurt our bodies such as causing high blood pressure and stomach problems. But as neuroscientists learn more about our brains, they’re discovering that stress can diminish brain functioning which in turn shows up in subtle ways in our bodies. Take the quick self evaluation below and ask yourself
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In a previous post I suggested 5 indicators that point to leaders who quickly bounce back from adversity, setbacks, and disappointment. I used the phrase “resilient leaders” to describe them. Since every leader will face difficulty, what can we do to become more resilient? Consider these practical steps you can apply in your life and leadership
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