Saturday Links
Links for your weekend reading:
Ben Reynolds, our music leader at Immanuel Nashville, wasn’t there in the early days. But he said to me not long ago, “Ray, my impression of the original core group at Immanuel is that you guys were so wounded and exhausted and hurting that no one in the group even had the emotional energy for selfish agendas.” I said, yes, that was probably true. Then Ben added, “And I think the Lord looked down on that and said, ‘Well, there’s a church I can use.’
Seven Principles of Sabbath Rest
Here are seven principles about Sabbath rest that I am learning. I share them in hopes they might help others fighting the battle of busyness, fatigue, and endurance.
Two Big Reasons Evangelism Isn’t Working
We need to see evangelism as a long-term endeavor. Stop checking the list and defeating others. Be incarnate not excarnate in your evangelism. Slow down and practice listening and love. Most conversions are not the result of a single, point-in-time conversation, but the culmination of a personal process that includes doubt, reflection, gospel witness, love, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Eight Reasons Why Some Full-time Pastors and Staff Should Go Bivocational
Without a doubt, many churches will always need full-time vocational pastors and church staff. I am not suggesting all of you, even the majority of you, should go bivocational. But I do believe more of you should consider this path. Allow me to offer eight reasons why.
Three Leadership Lessons from Winston Churchill
Here are three leadership principles from Winston Churchill that I draw from Paul Johnson’s biography, each with a corresponding lesson for us in leadership today.
Our creativity, charisma, and carefully crafted sentences are pathetic substitutes for truly preaching the very Word of God.
Ammunition for the Fight Against Porn
This is your ammunition — truths accomplished by God, knowledge given you by his grace.
Two years ago I took a vow never to tell a lie. Here is what happened.