When people tell the stories of Christian history, they usually tell them through extraordinary people. Augustine. Luther. Wesley. Richard Allen. Billy Graham. Hudson Taylor. Corrie ten Boom. René Padilla. Their lives deserve to be remembered. God used each of them in remarkable ways. Yet, the more I read history, the more convinced I become that … Read more
One of the most underrated spiritual disciplines isn’t listed in most books on Christian growth. It doesn’t require a study guide. There isn’t a conference built around it. Still, I am increasingly convinced that it is essential for both discipleship and leadership. It is the discipline of paying attention. Like right now. You’re probably fighting … Read more
One of the unexpected gifts of travel is perspective. I’m an “aisle seat” guy, so I’m not talking about the perspective from an airplane window. I’m talking about the kind you gain by standing somewhere that reminds you just how small your own moment in history really is. By the time you read this, I will have spent several weeks moving through England, … Read more
I’ve shared this before, but I like checking things off lists. There is something deeply satisfying about seeing progress. A completed project. An empty inbox (for about twelve minutes). A meeting that ends with clear decisions. A trip planned down to the gate number and boarding time. I enjoy productivity, planning, and working on “what’s … Read more
One of the more interesting questions I have wrestled with over the years is deceptively simple: Why do leaders keep growing? Not why they start growing. Why they continue. I know that leadership development sounds exciting in theory. However, growth is often inconvenient. Leadership development costs time, attention, humility, energy, money, discipline, and ego. As … Read more
One of the few undergraduate courses that I still get to teach at Manna University is Mentoring & Coaching. Almost every undergraduate student takes the course, which means I get the privilege of connecting with nearly every student who journeys through our university. Early in the course, I usually ask some version of two simple … Read more
BJJ has taught me many things. I’ve learned truths like: Gravity is undefeated. Ego bruises easier than ribs. A person significantly smaller than you can absolutely ruin your afternoon. It has also taught me something deeper about spiritual formation. Almost 20 years ago I found myself up to my neck in pastoral ministry, college studies, and family life. I also found myself … Read more
I’ve taken all the “tests” and the results are conclusive: Myers-Briggs=INTJ, Enneagram=Five, Working Genius=Tenacity/Wonder, Strengths Finder=Learner/Intellection Hello, my name is Carlo, and I’m an introvert. Not the “I dislike people” kind of introvert, which would be a problem for sure. I genuinely love people. I’ve spent over two decades in vocational ministry serving people as a pastor, educator, and nonprofit leader. However, I dislike small talk. … Read more
One of the stranger trends in modern Christianity is the growing divide between intellectual depth and practical ministry. In some circles, scholarship is treated with suspicion. The assumption is that serious theological reflection somehow weakens spiritual passion or practical effectiveness. In other spaces, ministry practitioners are quietly viewed as less serious than academics, as though preaching, shepherding, … Read more
One of the few undergraduate courses that I still get to teach at Manna University is Mentoring and Coaching. Almost every undergraduate student takes the course, which means I get the opportunity to connect with nearly every student who journeys through our university. One of the things I tell students early in the course is that formation rarely happens … Read more
