Biographies
Leaders are readers. We need a steady input of new ideas, dialogue with bright minds, people to challenge our perspectives, and the contemplative reflection reading makes possible. For the past few years, most of my vocational reading has focused on leadership and evangelism – my primary professional passions. But within those subjects, a particular genre has been […]
Compassion Ministries
Southern Baptists are compassionate people—media portrayals notwithstanding. Yes, we have some mean-spirited, negative people in our movement. The media seems to always find them when they want a story about us. In doing this, they ignore the millions of people who invest billions of dollars and countless hours meeting the needs of others. Perhaps the […]
A New Urgency
Over the Christmas Eve/Day weekend, we attended five different churches in Southern California. Although the churches were diverse in their size, constituency, and methodology, there was one common emphasis—a somewhat surprising emphasis given the season—in those Christmas services. At each service, the pastor presented the gospel and urgently called people to respond. A gospel presentation […]
Mission Discipline
Mission discipline is when most aspects of organizational function line up with the organization’s mission. No organization is perfect, so expecting all aspects to align totally with the mission is unrealistic. But the more an organization’s behaviors (actions, policies, budgets, personnel choices, rewards, etc.) align with the mission, the healthier the organization will be. Leaders […]
Mission Alignment
Christmas Ornaments
One of the best traditions in our family is putting up the Christmas tree. Of course, it’s just Ann and me doing it these days. But it is still a meaningful time for us because of a tradition we started many years ago. For years, we have collected or made a Christmas ornament as a […]
Crossfire
A recent Wall Street Journal article outlined the growing tension on college campuses about free speech. How ironic—institutions founded to exchange and analyze ideas are now under fire for suppressing certain viewpoints. Donors are pushing back. Cornell University is one example. They asked a California alum for a seven-figure gift. He balked, citing his growing […]
Crowd Control
Jesus drew large crowds, which seems like a good thing. He apparently thought otherwise. In Luke 14:25-26, we learn “Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even […]
The Rule of Law
Respect for the rule of law is a foundation stone for a healthy democracy. This respect begins with the cop on the corner and extends to decisions made by the Supreme Court. Without respect for the rule of law, anarchy and vigilantism will eventually rule the day. Fearful people will protect themselves, often in dangerous […]
Loving God With Your Mind
Seminary professors are thought, leaders. At Gateway, our faculty are busy producing classroom lectures, academic lectures, popular articles, formal papers, and books – all attempts to contribute to evangelical scholarship. Most of our faculty are members of the Evangelical Theological Society, the professional organization for evangelical scholars. Several of our faculty made presentations at their […]