15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17 Of all the people that Jesus selected for his initial launch team, Levi might have raised the most eyebrows. You're probably thinking, "But what about Judas? Surely his selection would have caused concern." That concern would come later; at the time, Judas seemed like a perfectly good choice. But Levi was a legal extortionist (a tax collector) whose…
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As a student of leadership, I'm particularly interested in the qualities of good leadership. What are the values, characteristics, and habits that set apart the good leaders from the mediocre and unhealthy ones? Most of us could quickly generate a list like this one: Integrity Honest Disciplined Charismatic Good communicator Visionary Hardworking Humble Service-minded In both the business world and church literature, certain characteristics would overlap. Whether it's called Level Five leadership, servant leadership, or some other name ... you'll find many of the same characteristics of good leadership in each of them. But I've been thinking about one characteristic that I believe needs more attention. In fact, it may be the underlying factor that enables the other characteristics to function at their prime. It's congruence. Congruence happens when the various aspects of your life -- your beliefs and behavior - are in agreement. The root of the word traces…
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"The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare." - Coach Bobby Knight This quote has appeared in various forms over the years. "Everyone wants to win, but not everyone wants to practice" is one variation. Another is "Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win." Whether you liked Bobby Knight or not (or even remember who he is), the sentiment is true: most of us like the idea of winning much more than we like the amount of work it takes to win. That's one reason why we put so much time and effort into looking successful - because it gives the appearance of winning without the effort. I've counseled with couples who accumulated large amounts of debt in order to maintain an image or lifestyle. It was a shortcut that had terrific long-term consequences. Shortcuts…
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My approach to evangelism has changed and adapted as my understanding of the gospel and our culture has matured. I grew up in the non-instrumental (acapella) Churches of Christ, who are a part of a larger movement known as the American Restoration Movement. Within the Churches of Christ, there was a strong emphasis on “restoring” the New Testament church – which often meant the mechanics of the church (how to worship, when to take communion, the proper mode of baptism, etc.). Because of this emphasis on restoring the New Testament “blueprint” for church organization and polity, there was also a strong anti-denominational orientation. Much of the material that was used for evangelism was designed to convince a Presbyterian or Methodist that they were in the wrong church. I remember one particular gospel track we had in the lobby: it was called “Denominational Dogmas”. It was in college (at a conservative…
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Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." - John 4:27-34 In John 4, Jesus and his disciples find themselves traveling through the region of Samaria. Taking a…
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