Many leaders have been encouraged and emboldened by the words of Theodore Roosevelt in his speech, “The Man in the Arena.” In that speech, Roosevelt said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.Continue reading “The Critic Helped Me”
Category Archives: Leadership
Lord, I Don’t Like Him
Years ago, I found myself holding onto hard feelings against a key ministry leader in a church I served. This brother had the gift of criticism. I know he did because he exercised it each week when I finished preaching. My dislike for him had reached a point where I didn’t want to beContinue reading “Lord, I Don’t Like Him”
My Name is “Hard Times”
Years ago, I heard a pastor tell of a man who came to the church office in need of assistance. When the pastor asked his name, he said it was “Hard Times.” With a smile the pastor said, “No really, what is your name?” The man pulled out his I.D. and sure enough it wasContinue reading “My Name is “Hard Times””
You Talk Too Much
Are you guilty of overtalking? A University of Arizona study found that most of us speak around 16,000 words per day. Proverbs 10:19 tells us, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking.” Overtalking was such a problem for King David that he sought God for help. Israel’s king is recorded in PsalmContinue reading “You Talk Too Much”
Three Ways to Raise Up Church Workers
Ask any church in Kentucky, “What is your greatest leadership challenge?” and the answer will likely be, “We need more workers.” Gospel ministry opportunities abound, but finding the folks to lean into those opportunities can be a great leadership challenge for pastors. How can a church find the workers needed for its life-changing ministry? ConsiderContinue reading “Three Ways to Raise Up Church Workers”
Do You Need to Declutter?
I am by no means a housecleaning expert. If my wife, Connie, was reading this, she would agree — along with a great big laugh. I have, however, benefited from decluttering. Marie Kondo, in her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, popularized the idea of decluttering. While her approach is more mystical thanContinue reading “Do You Need to Declutter?”
How Door Knocking Can Change Eternity
Since becoming the executive director-treasurer for the Kentucky Baptist Convention in August 2019, I have had a long list of things to be accomplished. Given the challenges of our times, that list has changed some, but serving Kentucky Baptists remains the greatest joy of my ministry experience. One of my personal goals during my tenureContinue reading “How Door Knocking Can Change Eternity”
The empathetic leader
Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone; empathy seeks to understand them. Sympathy feels bad when you are in a dark deep hole, but empathy crawls down in the hole with you and may eventually help you out. My mother died when she was 54, so whenever I hear of someone losing their mother atContinue reading “The empathetic leader”
Learning From Failure
I remember the first time I heard the phrase “free to fail.” I was in a Bible study with Bob Warren, former west Kentucky pro basketball player who came to know Jesus in his late 20s and spent the remainder of his life teaching God’s Word. Warren was communicating to believers that we are lovedContinue reading “Learning From Failure”
Overcoming Cynicism
Comedian George Carlin said, “Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist.” He is probably right. Cynicism often comes from being let down by others or by circumstances of life. Jonathan Brush, being interviewed by Andy Andrews, said, “Optimism gives way to cynicism and cynicism gives way to bitterness.” I don’t know anyoneContinue reading “Overcoming Cynicism”
Dr. Todd Gray 