On July 15, I celebrated ten years as pastor here at New Highland!  What a journey it has been! ...

My wife, Melanie, gave me a great little book on my anniversary entitled 10 Things Every Minister Needs to Know by Ronnie Floyd. I am about finished with it and wanted to share a nugget from one of the chapters.  The author is speaking about leadership and decision making in the church.  He states that there are a number of "hills worth dying on."  Three of them are: Truth (the truth of God's word); Morality (we must be the conscience of our regions, nation, and world); and the Great Commission (Jesus' command to make disciples in every people group in the world). 

Floyd says, "Do not die on needless hills.  You will have to die on a few necessary hills as a leader.  Just make sure when you do that you have some change left in your leadership pockets.  Don't waste your change on matters of insignificance in the big picture of church leadership -- i.e. color of room, furniture, having the final word in a committee, role in Christmas service, when to pave the parking lot -- Keep the big picture" (Floyd, p. 92).

Whether you are a pastor, staff minister, or lay leader, these principles are very practical.  May God give you wisdom and discernment as you seek to make decisions for the sake of the kingdom of God.  Blessings, Pastor Bob