"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord." (Proverbs 21:31) As a young pastor, I believed it was my responsibility to get the horse ready for battle AND to win the victory.  That kind of thinking is the result of several things: Stupidity Immaturity Arrogance This is only one extreme.  The other is to believe we don't have to do anything at all and can sit back and wait for God to act. I've learned through the years that God expects me to act on things that are under my control.  When possible, be prepared, be ready.  It's why we must continue to learn, expanding our mental resources. In the end, however, the outcome rests with God.  He is not bound to my preparation (or lack of).  Success in ministry, success in life, is in God's hands.  That takes away a tremendous…

"To earn trust, leaders must demonstrate to others that they will do the right thing for them even if it puts themselves at risk." -- Robert Hurley, writing at The Wall Street Journal

Back in the early 1990's, the church I was pastoring in San Diego sponsored a conference and brought in a friend of mine from Seattle.  I had first met Milton Jones when one of my older brothers had interned with him at the Northwest Church in Seattle. I don't remember sermon titles or stories, but I do remember one particularly passionate moment.  Milt looked at the crowd and said, "What would you put up with in order to see someone come to Jesus?"  Then he preceded to rattle off several things that our particular fellowship liked to hold dear.  Would we give those up if it meant more people would find their way back to God? It was an unsettling question for some in the crowd.  The unspoken answer was likely "no." As I've reflected on that moment over the years, I would phrase it this way: Are you seeking…