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Self-aggrandizement is not the mark of true leadership. For example, in the world of politics, some have entered office moderately blessed in life, but at the end of their term in office, they are worth millions of dollars. They wield influence not based on their...
Many in the Church are unaware of the power they carry regarding the presence of God. The most powerful influencers on Earth are not the power brokers of earthly institutions or those who use their wealth to do evil. The most powerful and influential ones are those...
I was recently asked to write something for a family publication that will be compiled and left behind for future generations. I was asked to answer the following question, "Do you prefer winter or summer?" I had planned to write something else today but felt the Lord...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #22 Just Show Up Some of the greatest things in life happen when you simply choose to show up. Choose to show...
When I was a young cop, I was working the midnight shift as a rookie. My training officer and I received a call to respond to a domestic dispute. These calls carry the potential for violence because people release a lifetime of pain in a single, unscripted moment...
On June 4, 1851, three men laid a stone in the west hills of Portland, Oregon that would later become known as the Willamette Stone. The Willamette Stone was used as the initial point of reference for all future land survey measurements taken in Oregon, Washington and...
Today, I saw the image of a tsunami approaching the West Coast of the United States. This is not a natural tsunami, but a tsunami of answered prayers. When this tsunami strikes our coastline it will break upon our communities with supernatural power. At some...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #21 Arguing In Absence One of the most devastating things you can do is to allow an argument to take place in your...
When scripture tells us a peace is available that “exceeds anything we can understand” it means peace is available even when what is causing our lack of peace is still present and active in our life. This is a God-peace that comes in the middle of the turmoil and...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #20 Avoid Early Criticism Make the choice to not align with the first critical voices that demand your alignment...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #19 Trusting Your Team When I was a young police officer, I was part of a SWAT team. On these special...
#18 Lessons Learned From A Dry Lake This week, I learned that one of our local lakes was drying up. Emigrant Lake is located on the outskirts of Ashland, Oregon. It was first created in 1924 and then expanded to its current size in 1960 to service the...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #17 The Breakthrough Of Blessing In your journey of faith, when you meet opposition and resistance the way forward...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #16 Let People Tell Their Own Story It is too easy to want to tell the story of another person’s life. ...
(“Thoughts I Want To Leave Behind” is a collection of thoughts and impressions I want to leave behind as I begin to make my final pastoral transition.) #15 Take Your Spouse With You Every life in ministry is a journey. If you are married, the journey is a...