Category: Ministry

   As I’ve gone back through the books I read in 2014, I’ve found stories and lessons I’d forgotten. More than once, I’ve had to force myself to stop reading a book I’d read just a few months ago. That’s a problem when you like stories! This is one of those books that includes stories.

Love Works is a book that shares the management and leadership philosophy of Joel Manby who heads up Herschend Family Entertainment – the company that owns and operates Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and works with strategic partners like Dolly Parton in other venues.

Folks began asking about his leadership style after seeing him on the television program Undercover Boss. In response, this book was created.

Love Works contains the seven principles that guide and inform Mr. Manby’s leadership style. With themes pulled directly from scripture, the seven principles can be adapted by leaders at any level and in any role. The seven are: patient, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, and dedicated. Stories from the real world illustrate how these are applied in real-life situations.

While the principles are Bible based, the book does not come across as a sermon cloaked in a business suit. Mr. Manby does a great job showing that kindness and respect for people can exist in a fast-paced and competitive work environment.

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In just a few days, we will be drawing names from our email list to give copies of books, including Love Works, to our friends. Please forward this post to anyone you think would be interested in joining our community.

For the first fifty years of the 1900’s, most communities viewed Pentecostals as undesirables. This group of folks claiming a spiritual experience that had been outside mainstream Christianity for years were springing up everywhere and nobody knew what to do with them. One thing was certain: their experience did not mesh with most churches’ worship traditions. Claiming that baptism in the name of Jesus was the only correct formula was the final straw. Those who embraced this “new” doctrine found themselves unwelcome in most mainline and community churches.

The church I pastor started as a tent revival in 1916. When the evangelist took down his tent and moved on, the new Pentecostal congregation began meeting in the local Community Church – a building that all faiths shared and used to hold their worship services. Things were fine for a while, but one day the Pentecostals arrived at church to find that the locks had been changed and they were no longer welcome to use the church that the whole community shared. Their noisy worship, speaking in tongues, and baptizing folks in Jesus name wasn’t going to be tolerated any longer.

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Who Are You Following?

Everybody imitates somebody. When I was a kid, I had a friend who adapted the mannerisms and expressions of Colonel Hogan from the tv series Hogan’s Heroes. 

After whom do you pattern your life?

Elisha patterned his after Elijah’s. Elisha did not just practice Elijah’s preaching style or memorize his best lines, but he walked the same roads Elijah walked, he slept in the same houses, ate the same fare, braved the same elements, confronted the same crowds. He stood behind him as the prophet spoke, carried water when he was thirsty, delivered messages when asked. Elisha was covered by the dust Elijah’s feet stirred up.

It worked. Elisha received what he asked for. A double-portion of Elijah’s anointing came upon him.

Admiring someone does not make you like them. Doing what they do is what changes you. You can’t act like Madonna and become Mother Teresa.

Who you admire is important, but who you imitate is critical, because they are what you are becoming.