Pastors – Leaders

The Mature Christian

December 10, 2021 by Peter Dubbelman 2 Comments

The mature Christian doesn’t necessarily have their act together. They are, however, typically humble, merciful, gracious … seekers of God and the good of others, aware of their faults, honest with others about them, and ever so not schismatic; they ground their contentment and purpose in God rather than the things of this world. Winn’s biography of Peterson portrays him as that type of person. Read More »

A Vocation Unlike Most: A Pastor’s Charge to Fellow Pastors

January 25, 2020 by Peter Dubbelman Leave a Comment

At the beginning of my pastoral career, an elderly pastor shared two key points with me: “Your vocation is unlike most. Your latter years of life can be your most effective ones.” I’m now decades away from this conversation, which proved to be invaluable to me. He unpacked his two key points by way of […] Read More »

“The Mark of a Great Athlete is to Be Bruised Yet Still Conquer”: A Vocation Unlike Most

January 10, 2020 by Peter Dubbelman Leave a Comment

Responding to God’s call to the pastorate is not for the faint of heart. To be a pastor, of course, is a great privilege — for it affords a person the opportunity to work intimately with “the great Shepherd of the sheep.” This vocation, however, is unlike most: Paul understood it to involve struggle, suffering, […] Read More »

The Mark of a Great Athlete and Christian Leader

August 30, 2018 by Peter Dubbelman 3 Comments

Christian leader, bear with all people, even as the Lord bears with you; endure all in love,… Press on in your race … the time needs you (as pilots [of a sailing vessel] needs winds and as a storm tossed sailor needs a harbor) … Be sober as God’s athlete … It is the mark of a great athlete to be bruised, yet still conquer. Read More »

The Way of the Lamb

November 24, 2017 by Peter Dubbelman Leave a Comment

This book’s opening quote, by Eugene Peterson, and closing quotes, by Augustine and others, help tether its consistent line of thought that is held by two opposing questions: Do you seek applause, self-importance, influence, control, and winning—using people in the process? Do you take on the way of the Lamb, find God’s power in weakness, and lay down your life for others? Read More »