Living a Leadership Legacy

Today was a good day.  It wasn’t good because I accomplished things of great significance.  It was good because I got to listen to how God is at work in the lives of others. And I got to  think about, and give thanks for, how God has been at work in my life through the influence of others.  Let me explain. tree

In the world of basketball, long tenured and successful coaches often have a coaching tree.  That is they have a list of persons who’ve both played or coached for them that have gone on to take the coaching reins elsewhere and become successful.  Well, today I spent some time in my leadership tree.

Leadership tree? Continue reading

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Living an Easter Life

EasterThe season that follows Easter in the church year is called “Eastertide”.  In our house we’ve been talking about this week in terms of it being Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, Easter Wednesday . . .   So, while the culture and world around us packs up the Easter season and moves on – to the latest news cycle, presidential primary, MLB season, or whatever – and while churches and pastors slow in their reporting (er- bragging?) about Easter Sunday attendance and hope they might see at least two-thirds of those folks again this Sunday . . . I’d like to linger a bit with Easter’s news and implications.

Every day after Easter is a day of hope and victory for those who follow Christ. Continue reading

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Brief Encounter – Lasting Impact

Each year during Holy Week I try to spend time reading and reflecting on Jesus’ last days – not as one who preaches or teaches, but as a Christ follower – one who seeks to understand and identify with what Jesus went through for me (for you).  This morning as I read Luke 23 I began to think about the lasting impact Jesus had in his very brief encounters with so many different people during his last hours.

There is a phrase that we hear used during this week: “Three days that changed the world.”  In historic church lingo these days are called the Triduum, the three day period from late Maundy Thursday/Good Friday to Easter Sunday.  Truly these three days did change the world – but they also changed lives. Continue reading

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I live in a world of words.  Each week I spend a good portion of my time trying to find the right words – the right words for a sermon, the right words in a prayer, the right words during a hospital visit, a phone conversation or in response to a query from someone who dropped by my office.  I believe words are important.

I enjoy reading the work of those who are gifted with words.  A well written book, blog or article can capture my attention as its words carry me into thoughts and ruminations that are unexpected but welcome.  Often the written lyrics of a hymn will cause me to pause as we sing it in worship – catching the meaningful intent behind the words. In the same way a well crafted and delivered message (whether spoken or written) will always hit my ears with appreciation.  I am grateful when persons have taken the time to choose their words carefully and order them with intent and meaning.  I believe words are important. Continue reading

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New Vistas on a New Year

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I had the opportunity, along with fifteen other members of our short-term mission team, to welcome the new year while guests in Chile. I doubt that any one of us will soon forget this most unusual celebration of New Year’s, both because of our location and the vistas it provided. Nestled in the foot hills of the Andes, as guests of the Mapuche people (the indigenous tribal people of Chile) we were rich in both hospitality and scenery for the holiday.

The particular vista my host home offered was that of a pasture overlooking an alpine lake, with an active volcano jutting forth in the distance. (See picture above) Continue reading

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