John Owen came from Welsh descent, was educated at Queens College, and became a renowned Puritan theologian, Oxford professor, and passionate pastor who lived from 1616 to 1683. In 1647, he wrote the exhaustive treatise The Death of Death defending Limited or Definite Atonement against the Arminian view of Universal Atonement or Unlimited Atonement.
Read MoreI started reading Fusion to help think through the church’s responsibility toward guests and how to execute that responsibility faithfully. Like many of you, I have been to churches that greet newcomers obnoxiously, and then others where I have wondered if anyone even noticed I was present. Certainly, there is a biblically faithful practice somewhere between seeker-sensitive and religious exclusive that is rooted in orthodox ecclesiology. Unfortunately, this logic appears absent in Fusion.
Read MoreClever people are highly talented individuals with the potential to create disproportionate amounts of value from the resources that the organization makes available to them.
Read MoreFew people actually enjoy change. Fewer enjoy leading it. For the many who need help, John Kotter has developed an excellent resource to consult.
Read MoreEvangelical Christians worldwide define this little word by primarily using the same words. Regardless of denomination, I have found that most define the word disciple with its lexical meaning of follower, learner, student, or pupil of a teacher or master. So, what is the big deal? Why are there so many evangelicals writing about this tiny little word that most Christians define with the same words?
Read MoreThe year is AD 316. Imperial persecution has ended, but Christianity's future still hangs in the balance. Will churches rise in Rome where pagan temples once stood?
Read More“Faithful shepherds remain alert, ready for battle when wolves invade the field. Taking up God’s Word as a sword, we fend for the sheep and fight off threats.” Wax argues that our time in history demands multi-directional leaders.
Read MoreJesus demonstrated love by engaging with and listening to the lost. Christians love to run to the cross, saying, "Jesus died for sinners." It is true, Jesus' love culminates in his life-giving death on the cross and resurrection from the dead that solidifies the possibility of a new life and the secured hope of a future resurrection and life with him. But he didn't just die for sinners.
Read MoreHow does the moral leader create transformation in an increasingly morally subjective and diverse world with technology advancing exponentially? Burns contends leaders must learn from the transformational leaders of history. The latter attempted to capitalize on the needs of the people to evoke lasting transformational change.
Read MoreShould a Christian seek power and influence in the world? Or is it wrong for humble Christian men and women to desire, plan, strategize, and passionately pursue powerful roles in society, culture, and government? Is ambition for social and political recognition to gain the ability to direct policy that shapes tomorrow wrong?
Read MoreIn his book The Conviction to Lead, Dr. Mohler seeks to eliminate the dichotomy of what he calls Believers and Leaders amongst Christians.
Read MoreFew men have been so passionately loved and feared as General Jim Mattis.
In his book, Call Sign Chaos, Mattis walks his eager audience through his extensive career as a Marine Officer and then into his two-year stint as the Secretary of Defense to President Donald Trump.
Read More“The crisis of leadership today is the mediocrity or irresponsibility of so many of the men and women in power, but leadership rarely rises to the full need for it” (1).
Burns wrote those words 43 years. Years later, we have leadership books on every shelf, workshops in-person and online, retreats and executive getaways, coaches and coaching organizations. Yet, somehow, we still feel the irritation of mediocrity.
Read MoreLeadership is energizing a community of people toward their transformation to accomplish a shared mission in the face of a changing world
Read MoreSince today in New Years' (I am writing this at 12:41am PST), I thought I’d revisit one of my go-to motivational and direction shaping books from David Platt called Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.
The problem is simple. American Christians are settling for a Christianity that caters to our own comforts when the Christian message continually talks about abandoning ourselves.
Read MoreHow can God be good when there is so much evil in the world? If God is good, then he would not let humanity experience pain. Humanity experiences pain, therefore, God is either not good or does not exist.
Read MoreAt the start of 2020, our church was reading together a book written by a truly fascinating character. He is Consul for the Republic of Uganda, professor at Pepperdine Point Loma Nazarene University, and his primary office is a table at Tom Sawyer Island inside Disneyland theme park. His name is Bob Goff.
Read MoreAt the start of 2020, our church was reading together a book written by a truly fascinating character. He is Consul for the Republic of Uganda, professor at Pepperdine Point Loma Nazarene University, and his primary office is a table at Tom Sawyer Island inside Disneyland theme park. His name is Bob Goff.
Read MoreIt seems appropriate to reflect on the human emotion of grief on the last day in 2020. For many people around the world, this unprecedented and historical year has brought a considerable amount of pain. And globally, humanity has been divinely allowed to sip from the terrifying elixir of mortality.
Read MoreIt is book 47 of 52 in the Tim Challies 2020 reading challenge, and I was recommended The Culture Map: Decoding How People Think, Lead, and Get Things Done Across Cultures by Erin Meyer.
Read More
