How Could God Command Genocide in the Old Testament?
Read in this light, the terrible destruction recorded on the pages of Joshua in God’s Holy Word become not a “problem to solve,” but a wake-up call to all of us—to remain “pure and undefiled before God” (James 1:27), seeking him and his ways, and to faithfully share the gospel with our unbelieving neighbors and the unreached nations. Like Job, we must ultimately refrain from calling God’s goodness and justice into question, putting a hand over our mouth (Job 40:4) and marveling instead at the richness and the mystery of God’s great inscrutable mercy (Eph. 2:4).
Permission to be a Regular Preacher
I know you’ve been watching other young preachers ascend the pulpits of their gigantic churches. You’ve studied their sermons, dress style, worship elements, websites and books. We praise God for those who can reach the masses. They are needed! But most preachers will not be that kind. You know this already, don’t you? You have tried to incorporate all their ideas into your ministry, but without the same results. It has occurred to you that you can preach as good as these guys. And you’ve wondered why your church hasn’t grown by leaps and bounds. It’s time to stop trying to be someone else.
Here are ten commitments to give your beloved that will let your love blossom and grow in God-shaped ways.
1. I give you space and grace.
2. I give you tenderness of word, touch, and look.
3. I will celebrate the unique wonderfulness of you.
4. I give you my focus, my attention, and my consideration.
5. I will listen to your words, and even more to your silence.
6. I will lift you up with gentleness and kindness.
7. I will let you go first, choose your favorite, and have the biggest piece.
8. I will soak my words in joy and humility before I speak them.
9. I will keep a running count of all the ways God has blessed me through you.
10. I will tell you how proud I am of the way you look like Jesus.
9 Strategic Principles to Help You Get Unstuck
We hear a lot about vision and management. Very little is shared about developing good strategy. Recently, I finished reading The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs by Cynthia Montgomery. I’ve pulled some of the highlights from my reading to develop this list of principles to help you improve your strategic approach.
Whatever its original meaning, cyberspace has come to refer to what happens when we interact with one another through our digital devices. The big trick of cyberspace, and what makes it different from every form of media before it, is that it makes us believe we can extend a sense of self beyond the body. The word “cyberspace” and the idea behind it make us believe that when we go online, we actually go somewhere.