pastors

Faith UP! Your purpose is GREATER than all your PROBLEMS.

I have learned that the harder you fall_the higher you bounce!

We must admit that simply knowing the contents of the Bible is not a sure route to spiritual growth. There is an aweful assumption in evangelical churches that if we can just get the Word of God into people's heads, then the Spirit of God will apply it to their hearts. That assumption is aweful, not because the Spirit never does what the assumption supposes, but because it excused pastors and leaders from the responsibility to tangle with people's lives. Many remain safely hidden behind pulpits, hopelessly out of touch with the struggles of their congregations, proclaiming the Scriptures with a pompous accuracy that touches no one. Pulpits should provide bridges, not barriers, to life-changing relationships.

Sacred service is sacrifice.

It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.

The most intriguing people you will encounter in this life are the people who had insights about you, that you didn't know about yourself.

There is nothing worse for a young convert than to be thrust into leadership without mentoring and ongoing coaching because the devil relishes these vulnerable souls.

Let the world know what you live for...not what you fall for!

Senior pastors cannot be those who think they can do everything but are willing to let a few people help them. Rather, they are those who know they can__ do everything, don__ want to do everything, and are not willing to do everything; they welcome others to come along-side with their gifts in order to form a powerful team for Christ.

Missional leaders are comfortable in the own skin.

God makes his gospel attractive through his people.

God, I don't really understand You but I know I can hug YOU..

When you lower the definition of success to such a level that any person can reach it, you don__ teach people to have big dreams; instead you inspirit mediocrity and nurture people__ inadequacies.

This ain't my first rodeo!".~R. Alan Woods [1999]

A preacher shouldn't preach just to make you feel good. Then it's about the money not about the teach. He should preach the truth because the truth shall set you free.

If you want to encourage your spiritual leaders (and their wives!) let them know you are praying for them. Ask them periodically for any specific prayer requests and assure them you will pray accordingly. Use the following prayer guide with accompanying scriptures, to suggest practical ways to pray for those who provide spiritual leadership for the flock.

The most spiritual people I__e ever met were not __ivers_ they were communicators. You don__ give people crumbs. You give them the whole piece of bread when that is what they are asking for, in order to be healed. Christ was never about hiding behind a Facebook page, an email, a prayer circle, a bible, or a church. He was about talking, listening and healing-- face to face. He walked among sinners and ate with them. He devoted his time to people that were brokenhearted, difficult to like and fake as the religious beliefs they clung to. So, why is it that so many people profess to believe in Christ, yet they have forgotten what real love is----communicating?

Lordship and rapport are the keys to save us from being combative and make us more attractive in spiritual conversations.