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Give Thanks and Break Bread
He sat down, paused before he spoke, and then said, “It's too much for me to give thanks. I cannot be thankful for this. I will never be thankful for this.”
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Catch of the Day
There are times I understand how pastors feel when people ask them what they do the rest of the week because the only time they see them is on Sunday. The Gathering conference could at least qualify as a revival because it lasts four days, but people sometimes ask me how we spend our time after we pack up our tent and go home. We go fishing. Every morning we get up, put on our waders, sling the creel over our shoulder and get out in the stream. Now you know. We cast for ideas, people, topics, different perspectives and practical applications to bring to The Gathering. We look…
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Nothing Left Undone
I am at the age (and in a line of work) where people come to talk about what legacy they want to leave behind – in their families and in their businesses. In almost every case we eventually get around to talking about core values. And I’m one of these boomers thinking about succession, but I also think as leaders we need to talk as much about our core idols. Most of the books, articles and sermons about idols and idolatry are directed toward us as solitary individuals, and that makes sense because we are an individualistic culture. We see our idols as personal. The top three you hear about are money, sex and…
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Coming Clean
Family: “We are involved with a start-up ministry and have made a public pledge based on the sale of a property. Is there any way we can get credit for the full sale price but not put the entire amount in the gift? We want to make the list of major donors but hold back part of the proceeds.” Advisor: “I think we can do that. We’ll just set up some instruments that are a bit complicated but create the impression you’ve given the full amount. We can hide the rest in a trust or claim some expenses that will be invisible to everyone but you. No problem.” This conversation…