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“Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ.” (Sheila Walsh) Every time Jesus stepped into a scene he either instructed his disciples not to fear or to have peace. He didn’t change their circumstances but brought peace by His presence. Injecting peace into every situation is a sign of a truly great leader. During World War II, Roosevelt and Churchill led the free world less by their problem solving but by their dispelling fear and bringing peace. As Roosevelt famously quipped, “all we have to fear is fear itself.” Modern times present just as many, if no more, fear invoking circumstances as at any other time in history. Even as medical science advances, it seems we have greater challenges in illness. As our standards of living increase, our fear of economic collapse multiply. As we develop more powerful weapons for peace, our fear that they will be used for war expand. The circumstances seem overwhelming, but Jesus is as capable of bringing peace in the midst of it all as ever before. Our mission is not to solve the problems or to correct the circumstances, but to introduce the Peacemaker into the equation. As the […]

There is a crisis of leadership in our country and in the church. We need to do more than just shake our heads and moan. We need to identify new leadership, maybe by looking in the mirror. What makes a good leader? Ability to stand alone – Today leaders seem to focus on polls or what’s popular. A good leader needs to stand, sometimes alone, on what’s right.   Ability to see what others can’t see – Today’s leaders seem to suffer from near sightedness. A real leader can see beyond the confusion of today. He has a “higher” perspective.  Ability to think beyond today – A good leader doesn’t ask, “What now?” but “What’s next?” Ability to communicate a vision – True vision comes from God. He choses those who are able to explain that vision to others and make them want it above all else.  Ability to include people in the process – Great leaders are great delegators. They can identify where people best fit into the job at hand and know how to get them to do it. They give credit where credit is due and don’t seek all glory for themselves.  Ability to make the first move – Leaders show more […]

Our life situation is, in large part, a result of the choices we have made. When you think about it we face hundreds of choices each day: when to get out of bed, whether to go to work, what to eat for lunch, etc. We take the pressure off of having so many choices by forming habits. When faced with many of these choices we simply do what we always do. It takes the pressure off. Instead of thinking about whether we should brush our teeth each morning we just do it. Rather than thinking about whether we should go to work, we remember we have bills to pay and we go. Many of these habits are no big deal. In fact, they are necessary for the success of our lives.  But many of our habits have placed us in danger of failing to get everything from life that God intended. Just for one day give a little more thought to each choice as you are faced with it. Before you do what you always do consider, just for a moment, if there isn’t a different choice that could be made, one that might advance the kingdom of God […]

One of my Kairos brothers summarized the weekend this way: Final report from Kairos #56 at Angola State Prison. 32 residents started the retreat on Thursday 28 completed the entire weekend, and every single brother either gave their life to Jesus Christ or made a rededication to HIM. Although I’ve done so many of these retreats, it still amazes me to see what God does to the hearts of these men from Thursday to Sunday…to God be the glory…. I am still basking in the “afterglow” of my Kairos weekend. When  you see God move for an entire weekend, there is an afterglow. There is an afterglow, from just being in God’s presence. There is an afterglow from a weekend in which  you realize just how blessed you are. You are not incarcerated. You get to see your family on a daily basis. When  you get up in the morning, you have many choices on how to spend your day.  When you spend a weekend being used by God and seeing differences in the lives of folks, there is an afterglow. When you spend the weekend with the people of God, there is an afterglow.  Take a moment. Get up […]

I am in the middle of spending the weekend with murderers, rapists and drug dealers. It’s great. I feel no fear or even social discomfort. In fact, I feel very much at home.  I know saying it like that makes me seem very heroic or very much in need of therapy. How about this. I am spending the weekend with sinners who are struggling with their walk with God, some of them are residents of Angola and some are not. That may be the better way to say it. I am continually amazed by the inmates that come through our Kairos program. Almost without exception they are gentle, well-manner, willing to listen and hoping for change. I wish I could say that about the folks that show up at church on Sunday. No doubt these guys have made some terrible choices with often life long consequences, but haven’t we all. I have no trouble identifying with the inmates my age and thinking about “there but for the grace of God…” I can’t help looking at the younger ones, their lives incredibly turned down a bad path, and think of my grand children.  One of the great problems in modern […]

On Sunday I had the honor of officiating at the marriage of my grand daughter.  Here’s the essence of the message I delivered. On these occasions it’s traditional to talk about the nature of love. Recently I read a great definition: Love is acting in the best interest of another. Love isn’t a feeling or promise or emotion. It’s all about action, action that is completely non self-centered but rather focused on another person. As much discussion as there is at weddings on love, I don’t think it’s a failure to understand love that trips up marriages. I think marriage problems are based on four myths about what marriage is all about. Here they are: THE COMPLETION MYTH. You often hear those in love talking about how the loved one completes them or is their “everything” or their “better half.” While it’s certainly true that the marriage relationship is special and that God created us with a hole. It isn’t true that our spouse is suppose to fill that hole. God creates a need in each of us that only He can complete. It is a fatal mistake to expect our marriage partner to fill a need that only […]

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Just a couple of years ago we were holding three Kairos retreats a year at Angola and averaging 42 guests for each retreat.  It was a strain on our volunteers and support base, but the results have been real and dramatic. Because of a new commitment to follow precisely the rules from Kairos International  we are down to two retreats a year averaging 30 guests each. That’s less than half of the number of residents served each year. Because of financial restraints our November retreat may have to be reduced even further. I understand the need for rules and I know that bigger isn’t always better, but I have to think that numbers matter.  Our church, for example, lost some folks a few months ago. Our numbers are down. We are seeing some new faces, but are low on experienced members. I would think that almost everyone who remains believes we have a better church because of it, but we have fewer dollars coming in and fewer volunteers to carry on the mission of the church.  Last Sunday our Pastor taught on being “Better Before Bigger.” It was a wise and good word. Nevertheless, I have to believe that […]