Leadership has a spotlight. People see you on the platform, hear your words, watch your decisions, and feel your energy. They see the meetings, the prayers, the big ideas, the vision cast into motion. But behind that spotlight, there’s a shadow few people talk about. It’s the part of leadership that doesn’t make it into…
We used to just… show up. To the game. The dinner. The awkward backyard birthday party. We brought a dish, stayed longer than we meant to, and lingered on front porches just because we could. Now? We RSVP “maybe,” scroll past the invite, tell ourselves we’ll catch up sometime. We’re busy, tired, behind, and convinced we have…
This weekend, grills will fire up, flags will wave, and kids will run through sprinklers while parents kick back with a cold drink. Memorial Day, for many Americans, has become synonymous with sunshine, burgers, and an extra day off. But behind the laughter and leisure lies a blood-stained history too sacred to ignore. It’s time…
Over the next 8 weeks we’re going to pause on Thursdays for what I’m calling a Common Ground Project. It’s a reflection on what we have in common in life. This week it’s exhaustion. Yeah, you’re not alone. It’s not just you. You’re not imagining it. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not the only…
Earlier this week, I went to my daughter’s final track meet of the season. Now, before you picture me in running shorts and a stopwatch yelling, “Let’s go!”—let’s get one thing straight: I do not run. I respect running. I admire people who run. But me? If you see me running, call the police because something has…
Let’s stop pretending the Church is fine. It’s not. The numbers say it. The exodus of young people says it. The stale worship. The empty classrooms. The leadership pipelines that dried up a decade ago. They all scream what no one wants to admit: we are stuck. Not in doctrine. Not in Jesus. But in…
Part 7 of the “Towel-Bearers: Redefining Leadership” Series They don’t wear name tags that say “hero.”They don’t have book deals, podcasts, or one of those larger than life cardboard checks.But they have towels. And they’re soaked. These are the leaders you won’t find in conference lineups.But heaven knows their names. Because they’re doing it the Jesus…
Part 6 of the “Towel-Bearers: Redefining Leadership” Series You’ve prayed. You’ve poured out. You’ve kept showing up.But if you’re honest—you’re tired.Not just physically. Soul tired. Ministry can hurt in ways you didn’t know possible.People ghost you.Plans fall flat.Recognition for carrying the extra load never comes.The critics? Oh, they never miss a beat. And somewhere deep inside,…
Part 5 of the “Towel-Bearers: Redefining Leadership” Series There’s no spotlight.No applause.No thank-you note.No social media post shouting you out. You vacuumed the church hallway.Held the crying baby in the nursery.Prayed for someone who never knew.Texted the hurting at 2 a.m.Showed up again. And again. And again. And not a soul noticed. But heaven did. The…
Part 4 of the “Towel-Bearers: Redefining Leadership” Series Let’s say the quiet part out loud:Ministry has a branding problem.Not the logos. Not the livestreams. Not the fonts.The ego that sometimes hides behind it all. Somewhere along the way, some have stopped preaching Jesus and started promoting ourselves. They stopped building altars and started building platforms.And if we’re…
