Category: 2012 Column

The greatest struggle of the average pastor in America is with discouragement and sometimes flat-out depression. The source of his discouragement may be the stress of the ministry and the absence of elders who are walking with him in it. Or the feeling that he is not equipped to take care of a flock. Or … Continue reading Does your pastor have the blues?

Who says the Bible does not help us deal with every issue of life? Those who deny this truth simply have not read the Bible themselves or have rejected the book, hoping this will somehow make them less accountable to it and its Author. The Bible speaks clearly on the question “Who is to care … Continue reading Who is to care for widows?

So, you want to be a leader? There’s no better leadership checkup than what Paul wrote to Timothy: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Leadership is not a function of age or ability, according to the … Continue reading You want to be a leader?

I had the privilege to meet in St. Louis last weekend with 17 men from around the country. We flew or drove there from places as far away as Gresham, Ore., Ovid, N.Y., and Lake Wales, Fla. We are fathers and grandfathers, pastors and conference speakers, lawyers and entrepreneurs, writers and researchers, life coaches and … Continue reading Eighteen men, three days, one goal

Why do we applaud and want to be like the famous athlete? Or the famous musician? Perhaps because he or she is the best; excellence in any arena is a magnet. The question is, how did the athlete or the musician get to be the best? Discipline. A master violinist held the audience breathless with … Continue reading Train yourself for godliness

I really like John Rosemond’s column in the Times-News, and generally I agree with him. This past week, however, I think his answer was off target. The question from concerned parents was what to do about their 17-year-old daughter and her boyfriend. The letter said the daughter is an honor student, and is not a … Continue reading Accountability is not “micromanagement”