In your Christian life, you will encounter many potential pitfalls. If you’re not diligently watching for them, they can quickly knock you off your feet. One of the hazards I have become increasingly aware of is the peril of faulty expectations, which is when we expect one thing from God and he does another. Faulty…
I suffered from severe growing pains as a child. My legs would become so sore at night I could hardly stand it. I’d tell my mom that my legs were killing me, and she’d reply that my leg pain was a good thing. It meant I was growing! Back then, I was big into basketball….
I live in Chick-fil-A country. I’m a member of the church Truett Cathy attended. Bubba Cathy still does. At church recently, Bubba Cathy was holding a door open for people, and I thanked him as I passed. “My pleasure,” he replied without missing a beat. Chick-fil-A staff are famous for telling customers that it’s their…
I was recently struck by a phrase I read in the Bible. 1 Kings 17:15 describes the mighty prophet Elijah having to wait out a severe famine in the home of an impoverished widow and her son in a Baal-worshipping city near Sidon. Elijah had boldly preached to the wicked King Ahab at his royal…
The writer of Ecclesiastes sagely wrote, “He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts” (Ecc. 3:11). To be honest, I prefer the New King James Version over the Christian Standard Bible for this verse. The NKJV uses the word “beautiful” rather than “appropriate.” Sometimes, presumably in an…
A challenge with re-reading the Christmas story each year is that it can become too familiar. Many of us can recite it from memory. My dad often saw truths in Scripture that other people overlooked. He didn’t make them up. He just noticed what other people missed. While it’s important not to make assumptions about…
God has many names. One human word could not possibly encompass the reality and dimensions of almighty, eternal God. At various times in my life, I have been drawn to different divine names. One name I am reminded of every Christmas season is Prince of Peace. In the frenetic and tumultuous world I inhabit, peace…
The best way to predict what kind of leader someone will be is to examine their track record. How have they led previously? Most politicians promise to be good leaders if they are elected. Once they are, they often fall disappointingly short of their campaign rhetoric. They are all talk but no action. Beware of…
A major leadership focus in recent years has been on “servant leadership.” When people promote this approach, they inevitably cite Jesus washing his disciples’ feet as the prototype (John 13:1-20). Jesus came as a servant, and he set the example for us to follow (Matt. 20:28). This model certainly presents a stark contrast to worldly…
The leadership world is often overtaken by fads. The “next best thing” is always being promoted somewhere. One popular trend in recent years is mentorship. The arrangement typically involves older, seasoned leaders taking younger or less-experienced people under their wing. Mentors develop a curriculum, assign reading and exercises, and take the lead in the relationship….