Category: General

Our President made some off-the-cuff remarks that have become the entree of the day for political analysis. Part of the game, of course, but still a telling remark in the context of our American condition. The remarks, when taken as a starting point for dialogue, can open up our understanding of the deeper assumptions he […]

Mentoring can be an aspect of fathering but certainly cannot be the definition of it. Several dynamics of natural fathering may speak to the function of spiritual fathers, but natural fathering cannot be the model for spiritual fathering for several reasons. Abraham was a father of nations by a natural-fathering-first function: his own flesh and […]

“For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.”  Isaiah 55:9 Introduction The term “attitude” comes from older French, Latin, and Italian words, similar in sound, used to speak of tendencies or aptness of disposition. […]

Not all apostles are the same. Although the New Testament is filled with apostles, written by apostles, and written about apostles, very little discussion is given today to the apostolic ministry because a segment of the church has arbitrarily dismissed this leadership function from consideration. Yet, a considered treatment of what the Bible says demands […]

Dreaming occurs in the experience of sleep and calm. The mind lays down the immediate demands of what is happening now in front of us and joins in with the swirl of unconscious processing. In this condition we are open to deeper impressions and God inserts revelations of ourselves, His heart, and spiritual conditions. Daytime […]

Jesus tells Peter to forgive his brother 70 x 7, a way of saying, “Just keep on forgiving.” Jesus also says, “This is wicked generation. How long must I remain with you?” He wasn’t having any problem forgiving them while pointing out the frustrating failure of their faith. So, there is a fine line between […]

Potential represents everything I could be if I wanted to badly enough. Potential is the nearly infinite flavors from which to make a banquet of possible recipes. Potential is a vast ocean upon which I can drift following various currents to explore new places and possibilities. Destiny represents everything I should be if I surrender […]

A play on words. Nations that father. Nations that are fathered. Of course, it is not possible to father a nation that refuses to be fathered, or be fathered when no fathering nation is available to fill the role. First, there are dynamics of spiritual fathering that function at a cultural level. God has always […]

God authorizes through assignments and alignments. Once apostles receive assignment, God will bring others into alignment with their assignment. Authority flows toward assignment: you have the authority of your assignment, and aligning with apostolic assignments positions you to function in that authority. All authority comes from the King and flows toward His assignments. As Head […]

Step 1 – Spiritual Refuge Church has become a dangerous place. The stories are pretty extensive: first for leaders because they have been drowned by false expectations created by warped “church growth” strategies. The disappearance of the “middle class” has driven leaders out of the ministry: leaders are leaving ministry at a 1,800-per-month clip for […]