If you know the old hymn "It is Well," you likely know the story behind it. Horatio Spafford, its author, lost his four daughters at sea in a shipwreck. Only his wife survived. On his way to retrieve his wife, as he crossed the same Atlantic waters where his daughters perished, he penned the song. Its lyrics are hauntingly beautiful: When peace like a river attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say,“It is well, it is well with … [Read more...] about This Glorious Thought
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Small Call
What does a call to ministry look like? Most of the call stories that get repeated are grand stories. One famous example is the call of Martin Luther. It involves a literal lightening bolt knocking him to the ground and an immediate commitment to become a monk. Now that is a call story! But must all call stories be so big? Many folks in ministry have only a small call story. There never was a thunderbolt or a burning bush. Just a shut door here and an opportunity there. A … [Read more...] about Small Call
Imperfect Leaders
Every leader I know, past and present, comes with flaws and failures (myself included, of course). Leaders from past generations have blindspots that make us blush now. Leaders from our day have their own peculiar shortcomings, too. So, how should we think of imperfect leaders? Should we follow them? Do certain imperfections require us to dismiss them altogether? Or, can we retain some leaders as heroes worthy of emulation? If so, who and by what standard? And what about those of us … [Read more...] about Imperfect Leaders