Everyone is passionate about something, Or at least they once were. Or they certainly can rekindle or rediscover their passion.

How do you recognize your passion? Ask yourself, “Do I enjoy dealing with the details surrounding this activity? Am I compelled to learn about it, get better at it, seek out the experts who are pursuing this passion too? Does a taste of this activity make me hungry to do more of it?”

Sometimes a person finds his passion through trial and error. I’ve discovered I’m passionate about editing video, playing golf, and doing photography. Writing a book? I thought I wanted to do that till I gave it a try and decided I have no passion for the process book writing requires.

Church, LeadershipTrevor DeVageOctober 14, 2020passion, purpose, path, leadership, vision, dream, work, play, prayer, leaderComment

FOUR R's FOR PRACTICAL PRAYING

We’ve all been told we ought to pray. Some of us pray often. More of us struggle to pray. Many Christians feel embarrassed or guilty when they’re urged to pray, because they already knew they don’t pray like they should. Often they don’t pray because no one has taught them how.

As I’ve mentioned here before, I’ve been praying most mornings as I walk a giant circle around our church property. I take at least three laps, and for two of those I talk out loud (more about the silent lap below). I wear ear buds so passersby will think I’m talking on the phone instead of babbling incoherently.

Through the weeks, I’ve developed a process for prayer that helps me stay on track. It’s not complicated. (I need something simple!) Anyone can do it. I encourage you to try my four R’s.

Church, Leadership, LifeTrevor DeVageOctober 7, 2020prayer, reveal, respond, repent, reflect, leadership, church, covid, cancer, practical, simple, simplicityComment

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE MAKE POLITICS OUR PRAISE- PART 2

Last week’s post painted a pretty bleak picture of division in the church. If it did not describe the church you know, maybe you haven’t been looking. Or maybe the situation isn’t as serious in your world as I’ve seen it in mine.

I’ll agree it’s too soon to give up hope. Certainly many Christians are weary of all the political wrangling. Some have decided to quit watching the news. Others have agreed never to bring up politics or their presidential choice with certain friends or family members. They’re concentrating, instead, on strategies to build and maintain relationships. They’re looking at a world in need and asking how they can make a difference.

We need more of them, because even a vocal minority of Christians with an unbalanced focus on politics can bring dangerous consequences. I listed three of them last week. This week I’ll mention two more.

Church, Leadership, LifeTrevor DeVageSeptember 24, 2020politics, political, church, church leaders, judgement, joy, law, lost, praiseComment

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE MAKE POLITICS OUR PRAISE

Not long ago I passed a house with a shocking photo on display in the front yard. It showed a man holding up a middle finger above a caption that used the ugliest epithet to suggest what viewers could do if they didn’t vote for this guy’s presidential choice.

At first I couldn’t believe it, but quickly I realized how typical this is of what’s happening too often today. But here’s the worse part. Behind this unpleasant middle finger soared a huge white cross, the symbol of Christian love and sacrifice, also on display in the yard. But I doubt many who saw the photo noticed the cross, and those who did certainly received no clue of what the cross of Christ is all about.

When we put our political views in front of the cross of Christ, we hide it from a watching world. When politics becomes our praise, our effectiveness for God in this world is diminished, if not ruined.

Church, Leadership, LifeTrevor DeVageSeptember 16, 2020politics, praise, political, worship, church, love, unity, leadership, serving, policy, platformComment

THREE WAYS TO DESTROY YOUR LEADERSHIP

If you’re interested in improving your leadership, there’s no shortage of resources to help. Most leaders have a shelf of such books, and many have spent good money attending seminars or classes that tell how to be a better leader.

But today I want to take a different angle. Recent public leadership failures have led me to think about how to DESTROY your leadership. Let me highlight just three of the many ways this can happen

Church, Leadership, LifeTrevor DeVageSeptember 9, 2020leadership, mic, Thom Brennaman, Jerry Falwell Jr, Story, narrative, character, reconciliation, platform, destruction, destroy, church, liveComment

Trevor DeVage

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