The frontlines of any battle are subject to the most heated warfare.  In the fight of faith, spiritual leaders are enlisted as first-infantry soldiers in the army of God; so to expect anything less than a battle is a misnomer.  Wrestling with principalities and powers is never easy business, but it is part of the preacher’s calling; it is part of his development.  The more adamant we are to the things of God the more adverse the affliction can be.   In his book, The Discipler’s Manual, F.E. Marsh states, “Great characters and great souls are like mountains-they always attract storms; …

In his book, The Top Ten Leadership Commandments, Hans Finzel documents the leadership principles that are exhibited through and in the life of Moses.  The burning-bush believer seemed to experience every possible angle of leadership during his tenure.  From his failed attempts to his frustrating angst to his final admonishments, Moses was a man who knew the ups and downs of being out front.

Finzel cleverly engraves Moses’ experiences on tablets of stone, and lists the top ten “commandments” one might glean from observing his life and ministry.  Finzel does more than just offer another leadership list of qualities …

I have read many parable books on leadership throughout my ministry, but this is the first one that features the dynamics of a church staff.  In the fictitious setting of the “Community Covenant Church” author Dave Kraft describes how various personalities affect the overall synergy of the typical church leadership team, and how we have replaced various aspects of genuine leadership with superficial aspirations.

The format of the book is comparable to the writing styles of leadership gurus Ken Blanchard and Patrick Lencioni.   As a matter of fact, Lencioni gives Kraft a nice endorsement in the book.  Kraft does a …

A pastor told his congregation one Sunday that he would be taking a few days off to repair a broken fence in his backyard.  A little boy heard the announcement and showed up the next day at the pastor’s home.  As the preacher began working on the fence, the little boy just stood there silently and watched the man of God as he worked.  This went on for several days until the man asked the boy if he would like to help.  The boy responded, “No sir, I just want to see what a preacher does when he hits his …

Every year thousands of preachers, pastors, and evangelists leave their calling.  It is true-God redirects some men into different locations and fields at various times.  On occasion God will close and open the doors of ministry.  But others leave with the intent to only go through one final door, and that is the door out in the vestibule.

While ministry is the greatest privilege of a man’s life, it is also difficult-only those who have never been in it will say otherwise.  Ministry is full of disappointments, heartaches, mud-slinging (yes, mud-slinging), tears and aggravation.  However, much of the difficulty we …