On Leaders: Perseverance and Growth

I heard Rick Warren say that he has had far more leadership failures than he has leadership successes. Many of his ideas that have been implemented at his church have been colossal failures. But what has made all the difference is that the things whatever is done right is then leveraged for greater success and the many things that have missed or fallen short they have (1) sought to learn from and, more importantly, (2) refused to allow those things to paralyze them from taking more risky decisions.

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How One Christian Man Leads His Home Spiritually

A lot of Christian men wonder how to go about leading their family devotionally. Here’s a good example.

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How Do You Motivate People?

Think you know how to motivate people? You may need to think again:

What do you think now?

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The Gold Standard for College Coaches

What makes a great coach? Was Vince Lombardi right when he said that winning is the only thing? Or is it really more about how you play the game?

Read the rest of my latest column HERE.

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A Leadership Lesson from Little League

To read my latest column at BP Sports, click HERE.

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Tullian Tchividjian

Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of Billy Graham, became the 2nd senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale yesterday.  The new position consists of a merger between his current church, New City Church of Fort Lauderdale, with Coral Ridge.  He succeeds the founding pastor, Dr. D. James Kennedy, who went to be with the Lord in 2007.  Dr. Kennedy was well known for his television and radio ministries as well as being the author of Evangelism Explosion!, an evangelistic program that has been used to lead many people to a saving knowledge of Christ.

This merger will be interesting to follow since Coral Ridge is a large, established, aging traditional church, and New City Church, founded by Tullian, is a young, contemporary church.  Say a prayer for Tullian and the two congregations as they seek to glorify God through what is sure to be a challenging, but hopefully very fruitful, transition.

Tullian embraces the doctrine of election, the truth I expounded yesterday at Harvest from the sixth chapter of John.  In an interview with Justin Taylor some time ago he explained how he came to embrace this difficult doctrine:

I really wrestled with the doctrine of election. But after a long hard struggle with the Bible I came to the realization that I could choose not to believe this doctrine but I could not in good conscience say that the Bible doesn’t teach it. It was clear to me that from cover to cover Scripture highlights God’s sovereignty in salvation.

Tullian came to embrace the doctrine of election through a struggle in the Scriptures.

I recognize that many who heard the message at Harvest yesterday might have been surprised by the doctrine of election.  For some, this doctrine can seem like it goes against everything they have ever thought or been taught.  For others, it leads to a flood of questions. It is important that no matter what people are saying about the doctrine, no matter what feelings may emerge as one wrestles through an understanding of this doctrine, one must keep going back to the Word of God. Our thoughts do not naturally line up with God’s (Isaiah 55.8-9).  We must conform our thoughts to His.

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Would Jesus Run Up the Score?

100-0. That was the final score of a recent girls’ high school basketball game in Texas. Quick, what words come to your mind when you read that score?

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A Tale of Two Coaches

Talk about polar opposites. This coach doesn’t deserve to be the water boy for this coach.

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How to Pray for Me

Ligon Duncan, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi, recently posted how he would like people, especially his congregation, to pray for him. I think the list is so good, I covet anyone doing the same for me. So here it is…feel free to pray these things for me as often as you like:

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Summing Up Straight Up

I’m back from another outstanding Straight Up Conference in suburban Chicago. Pastor James and the servant-hearted, talented group of leaders at Harvest Bible Chapel-Rolling Meadows/Elgin know how to put together a conference that is encouraging, inspiring, instructive, and challenging.  Every year I return with my batteries recharged and with fresh ideas for ministry.

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