Sharpen the Axe
I have a rule when using an axe: never chop a piece of wood on a rock. My grandson Jack knows this rule. And now he knows why. He admitted to me after a recent camping trip that he did something he knew he should not do. He used grandpa's small axe to chop some kindling wood. And he did it on a rock. The sharp...
I have learned the importance of consultation. Getting expert advice! In our recent annual leave in Canada we had ongoing issues with our Jeep. The engine light kept going on alerting us of some serious problem. A couple of mechanics that looked at the vehicle could not figure out what caused the engine alert. I even...
Prayer, we say, is our number one task! As churches we desire to be a church reforming to reach the lost for Christ, and we know this missional outcome must be begun and undergirded by prayerful dependence upon God. For this reason we make it our priority "to call upon God for such an outpouring of his Spirit that his people will be a...
I went back to where it all began. Full-time ministry, that is! I just returned from my annual leave in Canada, and while we were there on a Sunday we gathered for worship with the people from my first congregation. Things have sure changed. Not just the church, but the whole community. The country town had ...
Who has influenced your life? Helped you become who you are today? Achieve the goals you have reached? It might be a parent, a father or mother who were good role models in your formative years. Or a teacher at school. Her love for poetry and English composition inspired a passion in your life for reading and writi...
What is the key to church renewal? Congregational health? Missional vitality in and through the local church? I am often asked these questions in my coaching role with pastors, church leaders, and churches. People are often looking for the 'silver bullet' that will be a fix all for churches. But while there is no 's...
I just travelled through the hill-country of South Gippsland in Victoria. You cannot be unimpressed with the grandeur of the rolling landscape. And you cannot miss seeing all the cows. They literally dot the hills. Cattle beyond number on countless hills. As I made my way on these winding roads I was reminded of Asaph's words i...
Why do you do what you do? And how do you do it? The Bible calls us to do good to others. For example, we read: "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." (1 Tim. 6:18) As Christians we are to "abound in every good work." (2 Cor. 9:8) This ...
