Leaders

How serious of a sin is it to not wait on God? Sure, all sins are equally evil in the sight of God. No debate there. But in terms of the consequences, it’s not that bad. Right? It’s just a little impatience. No different than getting impatient in traffic or a slow line at the grocery store. It happens to everyone.

2014 was the hardest and darkest year in my life. Christmas 2013, I was diagnosed with burn-out. I had to stop work completely. This was incredibly difficult. I was so used to being busy, to having my head filled with stuff, to be carrying on. I have always done so much in my own strength, relying on my own insight. But this proved unsustainable.

Let’s spread more kindness this year, without expecting anything in return. This week let’s commit ourselves to a simple act of kindness each day at our workplace.

Communication is worth the investment and is very powerful. We can recall when our communication mattered, such as ordering a meal and enjoying it when it is placed on our table, when a family member humbly asked for forgiveness, or when a colleague offered much needed help. This is one of the great questions about human communication: Why do we believe that our communication can make a positive difference?

Humans make dumb mistakes. With more than 33 years in ministry, Charles has committed his share of dumb mistakes, as have we all, without ill will or an evil heart. Even so, these mistakes are … well, just dumb.

All Christians are able to lead and influence others with the gifts God has given them to distribute His grace to others. But leadership should be stewarded with character, consistency, preparation, wisdom, clarity, and conviction.

Taking care of ourselves is an intentional act of good stewardship. We are the only gift we have to offer other people. Self-care gives others permission to do the same without feeling guilty. The Bible describes our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. We need to look after that temple.

Two-by-two provides protection. It provides another set of eyes to watch and ears to listen, to be on the alert for the enemy. It allows also for one to rest while the other is on watch. This keeps both in the battle. Two-by-two provides a system of accountability. By laboring together one can help the other stay on the narrow road.

Whether it is a moral lapse, sexual abuse, habitual failings, or simply inadequate leadership skills and closed attitudes, they all need dealing with.

Pastors’ children find themselves in a complicated position within the church community. Members’ expectations about their behavior, harmful gossip, and the taxing schedule of their pastoring parent may cause anxiety and breed cynicism in so-called “PKs” (Pastor’s Kids). Thom provides us with five reminders about how to combat this.

Wisdom sends the enemy fleeing. It is God’s gift-in-waiting. All we need to do is ask for it, seek after it and expect God to provide it. What will you do today to accept this gift?

How you handle hard times will set the tone for how your team handles those same hard times. If you’re running around like a headless chicken, or acting like a sulky toddler who missed out on their favorite ice cream, people will consider the way you are leading – and then they will quickly follow suit.