faithrunner

Atop Camelback Mtn. in Phoenix Realizing a goal involves moving from where you are to where you want to be or become. That's obvious but it's not easy. To say, "I want to climb that hill," and you have never walked to the end of your street means you have a lot of work to do before you make the top. Pick any one of your goals you have set for yourself or ministry this year and if you take any time for reflection or planning, you will see what is involved it getting from here to there.  Reaching a goal includes transitions; those bridges of actions that carry you from one point of reality to the next. The effectiveness of these crossings will determine your success toward reaching your goal. I offered the first 3 Rules of Transition I have learned by leading people from a favored status quo to a preferred future in my first post, 6 Rules of Transition, 1-3 . I want to offer you the next three in this post.   Transition involves as series of conflicts which ...

I have been on a study leave for the past two weeks, and I am happy to be back online and in community with the people who are Legacy Church and with you in the blogosphere. As I re-entered my routine, the media-hyped, social phenomenon of Chick-fil-a occurred . So much can be said about the misconceptions and perceptions of who said what and who did what, that my 400-word post won't cover it all. But, I do have one thing to say to my fellow Christians: You can't reduce your relationship with Christ to whether or not you eat at a particular fast-food restaurant on a certain day.  As I said, I'm fresh off a study leave in which I was immersed in Paul's Letter to the Galatians under the tutelage of Dr. JMG Barclay . The Apostle wrestled with a group of Christ-followers who insisted those who followed Jesus had to do certain public things to show you trusted Jesus. His conclusion?   For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value....

After last week's revelations about the goings on at Pen State and Coach Joe Paterno , I have realized again how hard it is to finish well . The older I get, I am more and more grateful for men like Billy Graham , whose recent birthday at 93 and his book, Nearing Home , let me know it IS possible to finish well . But, what about the rest of us? I spoke on this topic this past Sunday at Legacy Church . (If you want to hear that message, you can hear it here .) I highlighted Paul's words to his protege, Timothy, that are recorded in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 . I hope to state with confidence the words he confessed in his last season of life as I finish my race. I have a mentor, Ray Rust , who is 86 now, and with whom I have shared my story and life for over a decade. He moved to the area after retiring as the leader of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. We met at 7th grade B-team basketball game when his grandaughter and my daughter were playing each other. We have been friends si...