It's easy sometimes not to make a decision, to let the perceived status quo become our daily agenda. Instead of becoming a leader who is a change agent, we become managers who carry out routine tasks. How can we leaders make certain we are not seeking the comfort of sameness and committing sins of omission?

Sin rips and ravages. Like a sinister and dangerous predator it tricks us and then pounces. From burning lust to to juicy gossip to gloating pride sin draws us in through portals of hormones, bitterness and arrogance before killing us with the consequences.

I want to say that there may be a time when you're calling God's judgment on somebody. But here's where I'm probably going to end up: Jesus said, "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. Bless those who abuse you."

To be a Christian is to be a person who cares about words. We care about definitions and implications. Our aim is not to be contentious or obstreperous. Our aim is to be true and to speak in a way that strengthens the truth.

All it takes is a 30-second perusal of the supermarket tabloids to confirm what you already know: There is an excessive, if not obsessive, draw to celebrity in the culture. From Tim Tebow to Kate Middleton to Kim Kardashian, people are drawn to certain individuals, for any number of reasons.

It has often been said that America was founded upon an idea. The country was not formed mainly for power or privilege but in adherence to a set of principles. Granted, these ideals have been, at various times in our history, less than ideally maintained. But the ideals remain. The idea persists.

Even as I write this, I can see the once piercing blue horizon of my beautiful Colorado skies transformed into a thick haze of billowy smoke. In nearly every direction, the flames stretch skyward as they are fed by howling winds that sing a grim tune.

All too often all too many churches subtly imply that a life well lived is enough. They imply that if you're a good neighbor, co-worker, student or friend then, at some point, others will ask what makes you so different.

In the context of serious theological discussions, it may seem trivial to write about first impressions of guests when they visit your church. But, if we could understand that a returning guest has more opportunities to hear the gospel and experience Christian love and fellowship, we might take the issue a bit more seriously.

If you had only a few minutes to gather up a few select treasures of your life before fleeing a raging inferno, what would you take - and what would you leave behind?