Tag: Leader Development

The book of Acts describes the amazing story of Jesus’ work through the Holy Spirit in the early church. With an explosive start, problems were certain to surface. And they did. In the first example of internal dissension the Apostles displayed great leadership. The church had grown so rapidly that some of the widows were being overlooked in the regular distribution of food (Acts 6.1-7). And murmuring began that potentially could fracture the church. However, they led the church well and model for us nine things great leaders do.

When people began to list their reasons for their context being the hardest it used to annoy me. Now I believe them ‒ all of them. What’s the hardest context to be a missionary in? The one you are in. Here are three reasons why.

When those we are leading argue and complain, we try to please them, argue back or explain ourselves. But is that what Jesus did?

Hebrews 11 lists several faith heroes from the past and includes details about their lives that evidence great faith. We often refer to this chapter as the “faith” chapter. It offers leaders profound insight about faith that we must believe and embody to effectively lead. I suggest these six faith qualities every leader should embody.

Everybody talks about leaders needing more boldness and confidence ‒ that we need to make a deeper difference in the world. But rarely addressed is the actual personal path leading us to this level of inner strength and impact. One of the most important elements of powerful leadership (the real game changer) is simply learning ... to DISAPPEAR.

The muffled rant out in the hall prompted the fading in of a closed-eyes smile across my travel-worn face. It wasn't the words of the outburst – garbled French curses for the sake of quiet – but the images from earlier that night that animated a mind's view of what I could not see presently. I will share with you what I saw that you may smile with me but first, I hope you allow me to do my best in bringing your imagination to the Palm Beach. Should I succeed, perhaps you will have a greater appreciation from which to share my smile.

Sometimes there can be confusion about what the Christian life is and isn’t. But really it all boils down to this one question.

Feedback is a tool of power, and it can create environments of freedom or oppression.

Is there an “Asian American” way to handle feedback? How does ethnicity impact feedback processes and growth?

Allow yourself to be influenced by others, but believe in what you stand for.

A recipe for how to make someone’s blood boil. And how to cool it down in 3 simple steps.

Which is worse: criticism or indifference?

Breaking down effective feedback: 7 practical steps that can be executed in less than 1 minute.

The world has enough pagans. Even plenty of really nice ones. What we need is kids who fully grasp the reality that they have nothing to offer, but who intimately know a God who has everything they need.

Just add one word — “because” — to make your appreciation of others meaningful.

The best worker in any enterprise is one whom God has called and His Spirit has sent. They are there, not for a paycheck (although that is often necessary) and not for recognition (although they would not mind a pat on the back occasionally), but because “the Lord sent me.”

One simple thing you can say to eliminate 90% of problems when you’re delivering feedback.

How do you deal with disappointment? Some of us hide it away. We deny its reality with fine words. But deep down we become numb. We become afraid to trust God again. “Surviving disappointment” becomes our background story, influencing our response to every interaction. We need to grieve disappointment in a healthy way.

Three crucial questions to ask ourselves before we start giving feedback.

Just as the Christian life is union and fellowship, even so the church is union and fellowship. Its nature is union. Its nature is fellowship. Union and fellowship with Christ, and union and fellowship with each other – in Christ. That is all the church is: union and fellowship with each other, in Him. And every other aspect of church life will come out of that – inevitably and spontaneously. And it will be real. When it comes it will be genuine, and alive.