on the walk

If you are a Star Trek fan (or simply a culturally aware person) then you know all about tribbles and you know all about the Borg. I don’t think this post has much to do with either one but I plan to mention both at different points so pay attention. I will be starting with the Borg.

The Borg have a simple strategy for growth. Assimilate everything. Continue Reading »

I have spent a lot of my life setting and resetting my timetable. Plans were made with dates attached, “By 22 I will have done….” “By thirty I will be….” When a milestone passed and the goal wasn’t there I will toy with depression and then set a new date.

As I have analyzed this behavior I have know for some time that it was not serving me well. In the first place, Continue Reading »

This will be my last post inspired by Gary Haugen’s session. It deserves more but I also want to move on through the summit.

Gary connected his call to share the interests of Jesus with the admonition to lead in areas that are hopeless, dangerous, and hard by invoking the following great quote, “Jesus did not come to make you safe, he came to make you brave.” Continue Reading »

Gary Haugen (CEO of IJM) had so much good stuff to say that I have a couple more posts in response to his session.
After calling us to consider the values and interests of Jesus, he began to focus on leadership.

One of the quotes that made it into my notes was, “Leadership precisely matters when the task is hopeless, scary and hard.” I have continued to reflect on that text. I confess that too often I want to lead in situations that are hopeful, safe, and easy. But Gary is right, that my leadership doesn’t matter then. Continue Reading »

In the second session of the summit there was a lot of good stuff. I have may have a few posts.

Gary Haugen is the head of the International Justice Mission.

He is serving Jesus and listening to him talk made me want to get serious about serving Jesus.

Early in his talk he challenged us to ask this question, “Are Jesus and I interested in the same things?”

Well, are you? Continue Reading »

The first session of the summit was Bill Hybels talking about decision making in leadership.

I am allergic to fame (I think that this is mainly because I want to be famous and I am jealous) and so I always expect to dislike Hybels. That expectation is never met. Every time I hear him speak he is fantastic. Even when he is trying to sell me something that I don’t want and think is a waste of paper, I respect him because I’m convinced that he believes in the product and is offering it not to make a buck but because he truly thinks it is good. Continue Reading »

I am still recovering from the last couple of weeks. You may have noticed from the lack of blogging that real life has been pretty intense. Last week began intensely with huge writing project, and ended intensely with the Willow Creek Association Leadership Summit. Now I am by no means a sycophant for the WCA, and I arrive at all their events with a healthy bit of skepticism. Despite this however, it was wonderful. Hybels as usual surprised me with his genuine compassion and authenticity Continue Reading »