Well-intentioned insecure leaders do great harm. I know I have in the past because of me rooting my self-worth in the love of man and my feelings instead of the grace of the Gospel. The problem is when trying to speak into the well-intentioned insecure leader’s life, you usually get constant bewildered looks or quick apologies with little change or repentance. I think this TS Eliot quote explains what’s going […]
Sam Storms posted on The Gospel Coalition website ten things he wished he’d known earlier in his 40 years of pastoral ministry. I encourage you to check out all ten, but wanted to feature #10 here because it’s such good advice for not just pastors, but any leader of consequence, including parents! I’ve found it true in my life and in the lives of many a leader that’s struggled with […]
Here are a few things I’ve learned as of Day 3 on my Lenten hairless journey: My wife and daughter are pretty much past the “surprised by the intruder in the house” effect of my unhairdo. My reflection is becoming less startling to me. I can pull shirts and sweaters on and off and not worry about messing up my hair. My hats are suddenly very loose. It is so […]
I shaved my head for Lent yesterday. Much like many evangelicals have rediscovered and embraced Advent of a season of preparation for Christmas, Lent is a season of preparation and reflection on the Passion and coming of Easter. More (or less) on my hair in a minute. Last year at this time, I was on staff at a Southern Baptist church. As plans for a big Easter Sunday consumed the […]
Exactly one year ago, I preached a sermon at my church entitled “Leaving Fear Behind.” It was a messy sermon in both how I preached and what was shared back to me afterwards. You see, I asked members to write down or text me their greatest fear; what they wanted God’s help to leave behind for the new year. Mine was the I wouldn’t lose weight over the course of […]
I wrote a book for Christian teens back in 2009 called B4UD8 (Before You Date) along with my wife Hayley. Hayley was known more infamously for co-writing a 2003 release Dateable, but few know that we never speak on Dateable and that B4UD8 was a game changer on how we began to change the way we talked about guys, girls, and relationships. We wish we could say that B4UD8 was as commercially successful as its predecessor (Dateable outsells it 8:1,) […]
UPDATE: I wrote this post 18 months ago (September 2013.) And the Hulk-like rage is still surging through my veins but with fruit to show for it. Make sure to check out the link at the end of the post! *** It’s been a little over a week since the D6 Conference in Louisville and me driving away fuming mad. Here are three things that have stuck with me since […]
You can’t save someone from a burning building if they don’t think it’s on fire. Problem is, if you spend too much time trying to convince them from the inside of the building, you’re likely to lose your strength to smoke inhalation. Make your best efforts, then get yourself outside. And if you love the people on the inside, grab a bullhorn and a hose.
Even though we’ve published over 40 books now, we’ve only had three released as audio books and all three were books that Hayley and I co-authored. The first was “Over It” and we had the option of being the narrators but we passed due to scheduling conflicts. When I heard the recording, I grimaced because they only used one narrator because chunks of the book are written by me in […]
The top reasons junior or princess leave the church, in reverse order: 5. They hear sermons that are either self-help driven (what you get out of it,) church/money-driven (building campaigns, volunteers/workers needed,) or bible trivia-driven (head knowledge) instead of gospel-driven (heart knowledge.) 4. They don’t WANT to belong to a country club and, conversely, they don’t NEED to belong to a night club or comedy club. 3. Church is seen as […]
“Medicating to feel complete just treats the symptoms rather than the cause. Whether you are looking for the one person or the one drug to stop the pain, you are ultimately looking for a numbing agent rather than a healing one. But there is an answer to all of this wound stuff and that is in the one place you’ve probably looked at but never fully considered to treat your wounds, […]
“The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that in 2008 there were 1.9 million cocaine users. According to the Central Intelligence Agency, there are an estimated 2 million heroin users in the United States, with some 600,000 to 800,000 considered hardcore addicts. Compare these numbers to the 40 million regular users of online pornography in America. Neurological research has revealed that the effect of internet pornography on the human brain is just as potent—if […]
Disclaimer: I know Micah Tyler. I’ve shared “Boneless Thursdays” with him at Buffalo Wild Wings back when both of our Body Mass Indexes hovered dangerously close to the “more boneless than not” metric. Micah is a friend. Even though he gave me tracks to listen to along his recording journey, I bought the album on iTunes today. I’m a paying customer. That being said, this is a review of his […]
Here are the things kids and students need from their church (in order of importance:) 1. An emphasis on discipling parents to know how to disciple their kids.** 2. Paid staff and volunteers emphasizing one-on-one time with students over group activities. 3. Stop using bible stories as moral lessons for behavior modification. 4. Elevation of the quiet, awkward, and outcast. 5. Less mountain-top experiences (camps, conferences) and more living room […]
My wife Hayley and I need your help with something. Do you like movies? Do you like music? Do you like great stories? Then I need you to take time and spread the word about a fantastic movie with a great story AND great music that releases this coming Friday, Oct. 4th. The movie is Grace Unplugged and even though it’s not out yet, I’ve seen the movie four times […]
“Letting your sin designate you “bad” is a misunderstanding of your sin nature. You don’t sin because you became bad but because you were born a sinner; it’s your nature, so it comes as no surprise to God when you fail. But it comes as great joy when you agree with Him and repent from your sin.” Own It – Leaving Behind a Borrowed Faith – pgs. 95-96 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433682028/
“When you want the approval of the world, you reject the approval of God. When man’s thoughts on you matter more than the One who can save you, your love exposes your worldliness. In Galatians 1:10 the author asks, “Am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not […]
Pastors, we are not anchormen; pretty faces with voices full of gravitas reading a gospel teleprompter full of pay per view wisdom from another’s scholarship. No, we are to be eyewitness reporters, delivering credible accounts of the Good News as we’ve experienced it, as His Spirit has revealed it. To us. Through His Word. Not from someone else’s sermon notes and fruit of their study as our primary source. Hayley […]
Prophets, Priests, and Kings. If you’re called to leadership, you’re naturally tuned to one or more of these roles. But your gifting can turn toward serving self instead of God even in a public position of ministry. God delivers revival to His church through the UPS drivers that are the prophets. If you’re a prophet, what you speak must be grounded in wisdom, the Word, and recognition that every person […]
Excited to have the ESV version of the God Guy Bible coming out this coming February! http://www.crossway.org/bibles/god-guy-bible-none-hccase/
