Our beliefs about who we are dramatically impact our behavior. In a recent blog, I wrote about the reality that we are people God has chosen to bear much fruit. We are God’s chosen instruments. It is a beautiful thing to be chosen by Him to do His work. In this article, I will focus …
I stepped out the door for my early morning run. A heavy fog hung on the streets. It reminded me of times in Nepal when fog would hang low in the valley where we were church planting. The sun didn’t come out to clear away the fog until mid-morning. Until then, it was hard to …
One of my favorite things to do on a day off is to play in my garden. I’m not a “green thumb” by any means, but something about being out in the yard with my hands in the soil is deeply relaxing. God often speaks to me about spiritual things while I am gardening. As …
Imagine someone running in a baton race carrying a large, heavy piece of wood. It would be hard to pass on to the next runner, right? One person may be large and strong and able to run with it. But the next runner may not. Discipleship groups are very similar to this. The baton …
Burnout! A common condition we hate to see fellow workers walk through. Depression. A mental health issue more common in ministry leader’s lives than you would think. Marital difficulty or divorce. Again, not unusual. Heart attack! Almost predictable in busy leaders who don’t take care of their health. As I write that, I think about …
Rice, meat, spices, herbs, onion, garlic…you make your list and go to the market, if you are cooking an Indian meal. Before making a special meal, you first prepare the ingredients you need. You wouldn’t want to start cooking and then have to stop and run to the store, right? In the same way, as …
Missionary platforms– a necessary evil, or a tool for launching a Disciple Making Movement (DMM)? That is a great question! There is a lot of talk in missions circles today about Business as Mission (BAM). Can BAM and DMMs go together? Are they a good fit? Another good question. Ignoring Platform Issues- Not An Option …
My husband and I like to run at least one half-marathon each year. To get a decent time in a 21 K race, you need a good strategy. If you start too fast in the beginning, you won’t get a good time. You have to slow yourself down at the start, to speed up at …
Effective movement leaders don’t focus on disciple-making strategy. In contrast, the focus that consumes them is a passionate urgency to reach lost people. Concentrating on the wrong thing (even good disciple-making strategy) can hinder a movement from starting. Strategy is important and has its place. It’s not, however, what drives a Disciple Making Movement (DMM) …
As a kid, I enjoyed going to the circus. I especially liked watching the jugglers. How did they keep all those balls in the air? Then, when I was about 12 years old, my dad bought me a set of bean bags to practice juggling with. It was fun to try to keep a few …