I had a new experience yesterday when I stopped at a restaurant to grab some lunch. After speaking to some fellow church members who were sitting at a table waiting for their food to arrive, I walked to the counter to place my order. That’s when it happened. No one was standing behind the counter. … Read More »
Study Retreats & Listening To God
Jesus often withdrew from the crowds by retreating to the mountains to be with His Father. This week I’m at the beach on a study retreat so I can be with our Father. I’m listening to His voice. I’m reading scripture and books, writing notes and ideas, meditating and thinking, praying and walking. I’m seeking… Read More »
Reading God’s Word @ the Lake
It’s warm here in east Tennessee and the water on Cherokee Lake is calm. The setting is relaxing and beautiful. That’s the way I like it when I’m on a study retreat. The quiet calm of nature with few distractions. It allows me to focus on God’s Word and prayerfully listen to the Holy Spirit… Read More »
Young Preachers
Yesterday I spent a few minutes talking with my friend and mentor, Dr. Joe Brown. Joe is 65 and retired from Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte. He recently began an interim at a church in Monroe, NC. Part of our conversation centered on young pastors and how many of them are planting new churches.… Read More »
Seven Suicides
Seven suicides! What would you say if I told you that South Carolina Baptists lead the Southern Baptist Convention in both forced terminations of pastors and suicides committed by pastors? Seven Baptist pastors in our state committed suicide in the past seven years. Others considered it. No other state convention experienced this rate of suicide.… Read More »
Learning and Changing
Yahoo Sports recently published a series of articles on college basketball records they deemed to be “untouchable.” The #1 untouchable record: The seven consecutive national championships by the UCLA Bruins from 1967-1973. Much has been written about the tainted nature of those teams due to the relationship between UCLA booster Sam Gilbert and the players,… Read More »
The Secret: What Great Leaders Know – And Do
This week I’m sharing a post each day about five books I read this summer. Today’s book: “The Secret: What Great Leaders Know – And Do” by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller. This book is an easy and fun read, written in a narrative style and packed with practical insights for leaders. Those insights also… Read More »
Running the Wrong Direction
The college football season is underway and we’ve already had one play that was both unusual and embarrassing. It occurred during Thursday night’s game between Kent State and Towson. Kent State punted the football to Towson, but the ball bounced and touched the Towson return man. That made it a fumble or a live ball.… Read More »
Steve Spurrier, Football, and Church
Steve Spurrier, current South Carolina Gamecock football coach, has spent his whole life around football in the south. Born to a Methodist minister in Florida, the family eventually settled in east Tennessee where he played high school football. Most teams (at both the high school and college levels) ran the football almost exclusively. Spurrier’s team… Read More »
Are You Average?
Over the years, I’ve been part of numerous conversations with leaders in churches, community institutions and other organizations who wanted to make changes and improve their effectiveness. These conversations often turn to what similar groups are doing and how much they spend on certain functions. Inevitably someone asks the question, “What is the average these… Read More »