ShepherdLeader.com

The image of the life of the faithful in Hebrews 11 as a pilgrim, one awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises in their life beyond this earth I struggle with this idea - heaven as my real home. There seems to be so much that is real about life on earth. There seems to be permanence that can be fo...

"Story after story shows the Lord of the universe working in triage mode, responding creatively to threats to his plan" (p. 251). In Congo, where I live, life is often less predictable than it would be if I was living in the States. I have grown accustomed to this. However, I do not always...

"Faithful shepherd" (p. 239) is how I also want to be remembered. As I reflect on this reading, I am reminded again that this not only requires that I be skilled, hard-working, and trustworthy, but I need to be preparing other leaders to be faithful shepherds and that this requires the Bed...

The two thoughts in today's reading "think flock" and "we are shepherds" were good reminders for me in my role as a team leader of 11 other missionaries and in my role as missionary working with national church leaders. I too tend to look at individual sheep whether it is a missi...

" Shared leadership is a reality in a flock and a biblical norm for the church" (p. 217). As I read Day 32, this final paragraph jumped out at me. How often do I see leadership as my responsibility? It was a good reminder that "leadership is never reducible" (p. 217) to just me. ...

My wife and I have had the privilege of working with a great team of missionaries in Congo. We have become family to one another as we share work and life together. I believe we are learning more about sharing our lives together, our vision for ministry, and the passions God has given us for the wor...

We like rules. This morning, along with today's reading "Righteous Ruts," I read Ephesians 3 and Galatians 3. I am reminded in today's reading of the importance of good processes, policies, procedures, and protocols for the people of God. I am also reminded in Galatians of the temptation t...

In my role as team leader of our missionary team, I have been challenged by different leaders in the church with which we collaborate to enter more directly into resolving issues facing the national church. I have many thoughts, questions, theories on what this should like, and why or why not to do ...

I appreciated Dr. Laniak's response to his friend going through a family tragedy. "Welcome to the darkness. There are more questions than answers in this place. But you'll find good company among those who understand how little we understand" (p. 172). This week a friend in ministry is goi...

Dr. Laniak wrote, "Whether in physical death or as a 'living sacrifice,' we are called to death. Only in that death is resurrection life available to others" (p. 167). On reflecting on today's reading, I was reminded of what Jesus said in John 12:24, "I tell you the truth, unless a ke...

The past nine months the national church leadership that we work with has been dealing with the destruction caused by a wolf, a false prophet, in a couple of our local churches. One of the things that has come out during their investigation was that there were a couple of sheepdogs who over the last...

I appreciate the example of the Dean of Students. This is a challenge to me to take time each to listen to God about the sheep under my care.

May I a be a shepherd who stays at the gate with the Good Shepherd.

These past three days of reading - the wolves in sheep's clothing, the roaring devil, and the heavenly Lion of Judah - have been good reminders to me of the dangers that face the church and of my responsibilities as a leader and a shepherd of God's flock. I want to be a shepherd that attentively kee...

"..at the center of the leader's role is something more subtle and subjective--discerning, attentive oversight. Leading means watching. It requires the ability to see and sense things like Bedouin baheth " (p. 118). Being discerning and attentive are things I have been learning that I need...

These days I seem to often find myself in need of rest and restoration. I appreciated the reminder that the rest I need comes by "returning to a place of divine provision where comprehensive care is available and where life can be restored" (p. 91). My rest will come when I go to God and a...