Monthly Archives: April 2013

I recently remarked to a mentor that I think I’ve earned several post graduate degrees- one as a board member of Southern Seminary from 1993-2003; one in community organizing and facilitation since 2000; and another one in denominational planning and strategy since being elected president of the NWBC in 2011. 

This last learning experience has been rewarding and challenging. The rewards are many: meeting great pastors and church leaders across the Northwest; hearing the heart of NWBC staff people and their families; leading the process of discerning God’s man to come as our new Executive Director. 

This past Friday and Saturday I was with some of the students from our church at the NWBC Student Conference. Friday night as we were worshiping I was convicted that I was so immersed in the details of planning and leading that I was in danger of missing the majesty and greatness of our God. 

I think for most pastors and church leaders this is an ever present danger. Systems thinking, details are important as we plan and lead, but more importantly we need to take time to just be in awe of God and His majesty.

My prayer is to find ways to spend time in contemplating and meditating on the greatness of our God before I get lost again in the details!

God has opened some interesting doors for me in the past cou

It’s Saturday, the sun is shining and I am sitting inside preparing for an auction that my wife sends a significant amount of time investing in for our local high school booster club. A significant part or my life in invested in supporting her as she uses her gifts for decorating and organizing. As a leader- in the family and in the community there are few things I do that are as important as investing in others so that they can use their gifts and talents.

I will celebrate by 57th birthday later this summer. As I think about the future of my ministry and the assignments God has given me I am wondering how to begin sharing whatever few insights I have learned with a younger generation of leaders. I have been deeply involved in city, county, and state issues relating to providing services for at-risk children and their families for around ten years. I am finishing a two year term as President of the NWBC – and we recently elected a new executive director who will lead us into that future (see http://www.gonbw.org/). 

In these last 12 years I have been privileged to serve alongside a group of community leaders that have helped engineer significant social change in our community of 6,000 people. As we all get older I am hoping for opportunities to pass on some of the skills and knowledge this group has gained about changing community norms. 

So, my hope is to use this space to share some of the lessons learned in the battles and point to dangers (into which I have far too often fallen) along the way.

So, stay tuned….