Focus on One Big Thing
The problem with most of us is not that we don’t dream big enough, it’s that our dreams and goals get lost in the shuffle each working day. The biggest casualty of the daily grind, surprisingly, is not your inboxes…
Solitude vs. Isolation
More than ever before, I enjoy being alone… but there’s a world of difference between solitude and isolation. It’s easy to miss the difference because, on the surface, they look the same. You’re by yourself. But that’s where the similarities…
If You Don't Take the Sabbath, the Sabbath will Take You
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127.2 Most ministry leaders I meet are tired. I had this…
I Wish God….
I need your help. I know you’ve thought about this. Doesn’t matter how strong your faith is, you wish some things were different. In fact, you wish God were different. I’m writing a message series for the summer (or fall) of…
11 Ways to Bring Your Best to the Table
What you and I should bring to the table every day is our best. There are some people who can solve a crisis in a moment that others couldn’t solve in a millenium. There are some people who are constantly…
Why I Dislike Easter (and Good Friday and Christmas)
So we get ready to celebrate the greatest moment in human history (Easter), and I’m worked up about it. It’s not that I dislike Good Friday, Easter and Christmas themselves. I love what they’re about. But as a lead pastor,…
Is Christianity Becoming Extinct?
This study profiled by CNN last week suggests religion might be extinct in Canada within 100 years. More and more people are affiliating themselves with the category called “unaffiliated”, which I think is the technical term for ‘no thanks’ when…
Five Questions about Confession
Confession is a lost art. Blame? Not so much. I find that there’s a link between how well I confess and how often I blame others and justify myself. Avoiding confession allows me to think the fault lies with someone…
The Greatest Threat to your Dependence on God
I twittered about something a few days ago and it generated more of a reaction than I anticipated. This is simply what the tweet said: The greatest threat to your dependence on God is your current success. Most of us…
Nothing is Actually Free
Years ago, one of my best friends told me “Nothing is actually free.” We were talking about a free lunch I won. He said, “Sure, it’s free to you. But somebody paid for it.” Never forgotten that. And it’s completely…
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Squandering
I love social media. I love life online. But I’m worried about what it might be doing the souls of some leaders. Does closely following the lives of other leaders threaten to erode the unique footprint of your leadership? Let…
Seven Things That Won't Fuel Your Passion
The longer you’re in leadership, the more aware you become of what really fuels passion over the long haul. The question that drives me (a lot) these days is this: How do you stay passionate over a long period of…