Tag: book highlight

Book Highlight: Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership by Gary McIntosh & Samuel Rima

1Tim. 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

One inescapable reality for all believers INCLUDING those in ministry is that our sinful flesh remains in play. Embracing the call to pastor does not eradicate our flesh. While there are called leaders, there is no perfect leader. There are gifted & godly leaders but none are immune to the sin nature that remains in each until Jesus Himself returns. 

Whether passion, personality or ability every pastor that has an upside also has a dark side. Some are more obvious than others. It is always more obvious in others than it is in the mirror. And therein lies the problem. If our dark side is left unrecognized, unacknowledged and unaddressed it waits to betray Jesus’ work in us and harm His work through us.

“How easy it is for us as spiritual leaders to use our ministry positions and the people we have been called to lead to advance our own goals and meet our own neurotic needs.” p. 213

Continue reading Book Highlight: Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership by Gary McIntosh & Samuel Rima

Book Highlight: “Developing the Leader Within You” by John Maxwell

2Tim 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Among the great fears of most thoughtful pastors is becoming the lid on the church’s potential. That was continually true of me, but especially in the transition from seminary to a lead pastor role. I was confident in my Biblical training and my calling but NOT in my leadership capacity. As the church grew through different seasons, I was grateful and excited. But there was often a nagging anxiety about whether I could grow enough as a leader to keep leading well in the church I loved.

Leadership can be taught! That was good news for a nervous heart!

The most significant early book (outside of the Bible) that gave me hope and practical help was Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell. There has been a flood of pastoral leadership books since, but this was foundational for me early in ministry. I found myself coming back to it often and reading it with others I sought to develop.

Continue reading Book Highlight: “Developing the Leader Within You” by John Maxwell

Book Highlight: Intimacy with the Almighty

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Every once in a while you come across a book that should be read repeatedly. Other than the word of God, there have been a handful books were strategically powerful in my growth as a spiritual leader. Some were due to timing and stage of life. Others are much more timeless.  For 2022, I’m going to share one of those with you each month in hopes they might be equally impactful for you and those you serve.  

Intimacy with the Almighty by Charles Swindoll, while helpful for all believers,  has special significance for those in ministry. Pastor Chuck wrote it to crystalize his reflection during his 2+ year interlude between pastorates. The catalyst was coming to see how enslaved we all- including pastors- are to the busyness of our lives. So busy in fact that many are operating on spiritual fumes. (p. 9) I have been there. I imagine you have as well. This book came to me early in my first pastorate and thankfully, graciously confronted my drivenness to overwork at the cost of abiding in Christ.

He reminds us that God invites us to go deeper (p. 16). Our God is deep beyond comprehension. His wisdom unsearchable and His ways unfathomable. Yet, He invites us to draw near, marvel, worship and spend our lives deepening in Him! I wonder that this is part of what will keep eternity from becoming boring!

He quotes Richard Foster lamenting that the pace of life keeps too many in our world including pastors living shallow lives. When this happens not only are we missing out but we live with little of value to offer those God has called us to serve. The answer is simple but we must be intentional. We need Intimacy with the Almighty!

Continue reading Book Highlight: Intimacy with the Almighty