Category Archives: Leadership

Things I Don’t Understand…


A blogger/pastor/comedian named Chris Elrod posted this recently. It made me think. Some parts I agreed with, some I didn’t. But it made me think. And I appreciate that. Some of these “things I don’t understand” tie in with life and some with ministry. Hope it fosters some thoughts in your mind too:

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There is some stuff I just cannot comprehend. Try as I may to get it…it doesn’t make any logical or Scriptural sense. Here is a partial of things I do not understand.

1. Folks that show up to church only a few times a year but expect the pastor to drop everything to provide them with his undivided attention.
2. People that put nothing in the offering plate but still have the stones to expect that their opinions on the church should count.
3. Parents who ground their children from church or the youth group…the very things that could help them with their behavior, future and afterlife.
4. People that expect the pastor to tolerate their political views…but leave the church because of his.
5. The occasional volunteer that expects the church to throw a parade in their honor just because they finally did what the Bible commanded.
6. People that have basked in the grace of God…but fail to give grace to anyone else.
7. Pastors that leave one church for another…for better pay.
8. The need for church growth plans, programs, books, conference, seminars and resource kits…when we already have the Bible
9. Women that tolerate their husbands having multiple affairs…”for the sake of the kids”.
10. Pastors that would rather be political pundits or civil rights leaders…instead of just preaching the life-saving message of the Word of God.
11. People that have one spiritual standard for their pastor…and another for themselves.
12. Folks that think the word ‘disciple’ is a noun…and not a verb.
13. People that make comments about needing to go “deeper” in God’s Word…as if there is a Scripture in the Bible that isn’t deep.
14. Pastors that think accountability means never asking them the tough questions or taking the hard line when it comes to their failure to follow Scripture.
15. Men that think being the head of the household has something to do with the amount of money they are bringing in or the title they acquire at work.”
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Again – I don’t necessarily sign off on all of these. But they made me evaluate some things. What about you?

What resonated with your spirit? What did you disagree with? Did this make you think?

Busy Putting Out Fires

Fire

A few months ago a firehouse in Hawaii responded to a call and rushed to the scene of an accident. The problem was, they forgot something important back at their own station… Read on:

Oahu firefighters have been issued a reminder to be sure to turn off cooking equipment when responding to emergencies. The advice comes in the wake of a May 22 blaze at the Waipahu fire station that caused about $25,000 damage.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said food was inadvertently left cooking on a stove when the firefighters responded to an emergency call involving a traffic accident.

He said after finishing the call, the firefighters responded to a call at their own station house. Seelig said like everyone else, firefighters need to be careful and attentive when cooking.

According to Seelig, the fire caused smoke and heat damage, primarily to kitchen areas that had been scheduled for renovation. He said the damage has been repaired. (Associated Press)

I looked over this story the other night, and at first glance, I saw it as just another interesting news read. For whatever reason, I decided to skim through it again. As I read, God gripped my heart and reminded me of something that so many pastors/ministers forget – myself included.

We are called as pastors to serve people and minister to the world we live in. We are called to help others in spiritual need, mediate in difficult conflict situations, and challenge people to walk closely with Christ. But herein lies the problem: we are often so concerned with others that we neglect our own spiritual growth and well-being.

I have heard it said that “the mechanic has the worst car in the shop.” As I hear stories from around the country about pastors and ministers that have had significant moral failures and burnouts, I fear that this is true in our context. Pastors work so hard “fixing” everyone else’s spiritual problems that they forsake their own spiritual health. It may seem like the natural thing to do in ministry, but all it leads to is an atrophy of the soul.

Reading this story brought to light a passage of scripture I’ve been meditating on recently. Paul instructed Timothy in many things, and one of those things makes more sense now:

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 4:15-16

While we’re called to shepherd the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2), we must remember to be sheep ourselves as well as tend to the lives of those around us. We need our Shepherd as much as anyone else in our churches.

There are a few introspective questions that this story and this verse made me ask myself. Be careful if you read this – conviction ensues:

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First: Am I walking closely with my Shepherd and growing in my walk with Him?

Second: Is there any sin in my life (or the temptation of any such sin) that will, if not addressed and repented of, lead to destruction?

Third: Am I honest/accountable with Christian brothers so as to avoid disaster?

Fourth: Am I busy attending to the needs of others while neglecting my own soul?
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Here’s the moral of the story: if we aren’t careful and intentional about this, our “firehouse” will burn down while we’re out on call.

John Maxwell Parody Video

John Maxwell is an incredible man. His books and resources on leadership have impacted an immense amount of people around the globe. His blog seems to always have great insights as well.

But the ‘Leadership Guru’ got roasted… and roasted real good.

Watch the parody video below:

Humble Pastors: Mark Driscoll

Are you a humble pastor?

We try our best, but even then, our efforts seem fleeting. We are so easily puffed up! And even if I’m not struggling with pride at the moment, it is probably creeping at my door, waiting to overtake me.

Check out this short Mark Driscoll clip from a message he recently preached on this:

HT: The Resurgence