Leading from Personal Vision: The Missing Piece in Pastoral Leadership (Part I)
Many pastors lead with a clear church vision in mind. They cast mission statements, set goals, and rally people toward a preferred future. Yet, many of these same pastors struggle with a lack of personal vision.
How to Make Sure Your Organization Fails
There is no shortage of tips, tricks, and opinions out there claiming to lead you to success. And it is true that there are a lot of different elements that can lead an organization to success. You can get pretty lost in that world if you want to.
Buyout on Hold
A U.S. federal judge has put on hold an offer put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump to buyout federal employees. The offer, which the White House says has already been accepted by 65,000 federal workers, is to voluntarily separate from the federal workforce with severance pay until the end of September rather than comply with a return to full in-office schedules.
The Devil’s in the Details
More and more these days, churches are being involved in legal actions. Denominations are suing local congregations over ownership of the church property. Former staff members are suing churches, challenging what they feel was an unlawful termination. Every week it seems we’re reading about a sexual abuse case that has caused a family to bring a case against the church.
Education Should Prioritize Communication, Not Pronouns
In today’s classrooms, students are increasingly bombarded with lessons on personal pronouns while basic communication skills—reading, writing, and speaking with clarity—fall by the wayside.
Playing for Keeps
Friend, this life isn’t for the faint of heart. You were born on a battlefield, and the enemy is playing for keeps. It is no use pulling punches: He aims to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you (Jn. 10:10a).
Peace Talks
Senior officials from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia Tuesday to open discussions about ending the war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the U.S. delegation and was joined by national security advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Confirmed
U.S. President Donald Trump’s new cabinet is rapidly being confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Those who have already been confirmed include:
Tragedy over the Potomac
It had been nearly 15 years and approximately eight billion passengers since the last fatal commercial airline crash in the United States. That streak ended tragically over the Potomac River near Washington, DC, when an American Airlines flight with 64 people onboard collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers.
Blockbuster Trade
“Maybe it’s an April Fools’ Day joke in February.”
That was my first though when I saw the news. But no, it wasn’t April Fools’ Day, and it wasn’t a joke.
Dismantled
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is being dismantled, according to Elon Musk, head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The announcement comes a week after most U.S. foreign aid was paused, and a day following the dismissal of two USAID officials who reportedly denied DOGE personnel from accessing part of the USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. Employees of USAID, both domestically and around the world, have been put on leave and, in the case of those stationed internationally, instructed to return home.
Eyes of the World
The eyes of the world (an average of about 127.7 million pairs of them) were on Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs attempted to win a third straight championship.
Ruminate or Restore
You have wounds. I have wounds. Everyone we encounter has wounds. These are hardly trifling affairs, either.
A Reflection on 27 Years
After 27 years of marriage, I’ve learned that we aren’t the same people we were when we first met. Marriage is a journey of growth, intimacy, and mutual love, not about completion, but about becoming better partners as we walk through life together.
A Full Workweek
As has become customary in American governance, it was a very full first week for the new Trump administration. The number and scope of executive orders and actions was likely even higher and broader than normal due to the fact that Republicans are also in control of both chambers of Congress.
What is Love?
Okay, if your brain did not immediately follow reading the title of this article with, “Baby don’t hurt me” we might not be able to be friends. Extra points if you continued it with, “ don’t hurt me, no more.”
First Steps of Freedom
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has begun, with the release of three Israeli hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. While the deal offers a temporary reprieve, lasting peace remains uncertain, and believers are called to seek both justice and peace (Ps. 34:14, Is. 1:17).
12:01 p.m.
Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, marking a historic return to office and the beginning of a wave of executive orders. As political power shifts, believers are reminded that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20) and true freedom is found in Christ (Gal. 5:1).
Senate Actions Reflect Christian Values of Leadership, Justice, and Remembrance
The Senate recently unanimously passed two resolutions that echo Christian values of justice, compassion, and the importance of remembering God’s work in history.
Pardons, Pardons, and More Pardons
In a historic use of presidential pardon power, outgoing President Biden issued pardons for political and personal allies, while incoming President Trump granted sweeping clemency to January 6 defendants. As believers, we are reminded that while human leaders act with personal and political bias, God alone grants true justice and mercy (Psalm 103:6-8).