“Surrender is death to the self, but it is not death of the self. God loves ourselves more than we do. The surrender of the self brings new life, just as when a seed is planted in the ground. When we die to ourselves, we are not being buried. We are being planted.” John Ortberg, Steps This fall, our church is …
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:3-5 My iPhone and I are currently in a very strained relationship.I’m grateful for the …
I remember the first time I felt it. I was in my mid-20s. The band I helped start was getting noticed. We were writing songs, pouring ourselves out in music, following whatever spark lit the next idea. There wasn’t much calculation, just raw, earnest creation. And people noticed. Doors opened. Opportunities came that I hadn’t …
Leadership isn’t about filling every silence. It’s about creating space where trust, creativity, and vision can rise naturally.
First shall be last, last shall be first. Preparing those around you for success can be a tall order involving humility and a willingness to put others first, while still getting your tasks done. Giving others the opportunity to succeed requires planning, preparation, intentionality and potentially sacrificing something but is a huge motivating factor for …
Surprises are bad. Addressing conflicts head on with appropriate honesty, candor and as soon as possible allows for the negative attribution effect and confusion to be minimized while increasing trust. As a leader, clearing the way for people to move forward is one of the best ways to care for the people you lead.Clarity demands …
There are plenty of ways to appreciate people, and those should be sought out, but saying “thank you” will never get old. It was 2014. I was sitting in a rocking chair with my 3-month-old son, Caleb, doing my best to get him back to sleep in the middle of the night. Kristen and I …
Evaluation is necessary. We learn from mistakes. Take every opportunity to properly, strategically and appropriately gain feedback. Create space for people to do a job and understand what’s successful and what’s not. Good work is growth. ‘Much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know, the more you hurt.’Ecclesiastes 1:18 MSG When I started …
Be present when others are not then encourage others to show up. Your presence is overwhelmingly important and more than half the battle. If you get the opportunity in the right environment, have a kid. Or multiple if you can. Fair warning though, it will scare you in a way that is unlike anything you …
It’s amazing what good can come from simply not being a jerk. So much of the good life is predicated on relationships. Forming authentic and inspired bonds with people is not just fulfilling,but also incredibly productive. When I think about all good leaders I want to follow and how I would want to mold and …