In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 305), I open Luke 19 and the Palm Sunday story to explore a simple but life-changing phrase: “The Lord has need of it.” Jesus’ triumphal entry was set in motion by an unexpected act of release and trust, and it reveals how grace is meant not only to come to us—but flow through us. Grace received but not given becomes stagnant. I talk about how grace works in real life — in our homes, marriages, churches, and even how we see ourselves. From generosity to forgiveness to everyday kindness, this message calls us to become conduits of unfettered grace. When we stop clinging and start releasing, we discover the joy and freedom of Spirit-filled living and leadership. – Dr. Mark Rutland Listen: bit.ly/4t9xxc8 #MarkRutland #GlobalServants #LeadersNotebook #Leaders

In this episode of The Leader’s Notebook (Ep. 304), I walk through the extraordinary and complicated life of King David, beginning in Ruth 4 and 1 Samuel 16. David was not an ordinary man—shepherd, musician, warrior, king, poet, and prophet—yet Scripture still calls him a man after God’s own heart. We explore his calling, his courage, his failures, and his fierce pursuit of God’s purpose through every season of change. From the anointing at Bethlehem to the cave of Adullam, from kingship to repentance in Psalm 51, David teaches us how to keep our eyes on God’s destiny even when we fall. His sin does not excuse us—but his repentance instructs us. His Psalms still speak, still heal, still point us to Christ. There is deep encouragement here for anyone who refuses to quit and keeps falling forward toward grace. – Dr. Mark Rutland Listen: bit.ly/4rCFllk #MarkRutland #GlobalServants #LeadersNotebook #Leaders

Look What the Lord Has Done 25 Years of FAITH. LEADERSHIP. IMPACT. For a quarter century, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) has served, united, and equipped the Hispanic Christian community, raising a voice of faith, justice, and hope in the church, culture, and the public square. What began as a God-inspired vision has grown into a movement impacting thousands of churches and millions of believers across the United States and around the world, advancing what we call the Lamb’s Agenda. As we celebrate this milestone, we give thanks for what God has done over these past 25 years and renew our commitment to serving the Church, strengthening families, defending freedom, and proclaiming truth with courage and compassion. 📖 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 #NHCLC #25Years #LambsAgenda #FaithLeadershipImpact #HispanicChurch #ForTheGloryOfGod

A foretaste of heaven!

This Christian woman lost her family at the brutal massacre in Damascus, but not her faith. Her pain is deep, but her courage is deeper. The one who hopes in the Lord will be surrounded and protected by Divine mercy. (Psalms 32,10)

A fascinating and, to my mind, compelling thread by Prof. Ferguson. He conceives faith and reason as being more sharply separated than I do, but in the great scheme of things that's a detail (and may have more to do with our respective backgrounds--his being Protestant, mine being Catholic--than anything else). In any case, I've observed that people come (or return) to Christian faith (and religious faith more generally) by various routes. For some people, it's intellectual questioning, reflection, deliberation, reasoning, and judgment. For others, it's something like an epiphany or even a mystical experience (or set of mystical) experiences. For still others, it's something they describe as akin to "falling in love." There's no single, uniquely correct way.

Pastors, I know you are busy, but write your own sermons. A sermon written, prayed over, and internalized for a particular group of people, deeply known by the actual preacher, is uniquely used by God in the life of that church. The hard work of sermon writing is worth it.

Tony Campolo passed away today. He was 89 years old. He was one of the most gifted preachers I have ever heard. If you have a few minutes, listen to him tell the story of throwing a birthday party for a prostitute in Hawaii. It's worth your time.

I am a Pentecostal because this tradition connects me to a living, dynamic encounter with the Spirit of God, calling me into a transformative experience that aligns with the Gospel’s depth and breadth. Pentecostalism carries roots in the Wesleyan tradition, a heritage that emphasizes sanctification—a continual journey of growth into Christlikeness empowered by the Spirit. Wesley’s vision of holiness and personal piety resonates deeply with me, as it insists that faith is not a static belief but a lived experience that draws us into a life of holy love and compassion. This Wesleyan foundation in Pentecostalism underscores a commitment to holiness that isn’t just moral but relational, urging us toward love for God and neighbor in a Spirit-filled, cruciform life. The call to entire sanctification in the Wesleyan sense aligns with the Pentecostal emphasis on being empowered by the Spirit, not only for personal transformation but to live as active participants in the mission of God, bringing renewal and hope to the world. In this tradition, I find a unique blend of personal experience and communal responsibility, rooted in the cross and resurrection of Jesus, animated by the Spirit, and inspired by Wesley’s call to a disciplined, holy life. It’s this integration of Wesleyan holiness with the Spirit-empowered life of Pentecostalism that calls me to live out the Kingdom of God here and now, bearing witness to Christ in a way that is vibrant, sacrificial, and deeply rooted in love. This grounding, combined with the ever-present work of the Spirit, is why I am—and will remain—a Pentecostal.

10 Guidelines for Christian Voters. This is from 1984 (Pentecostal Evangel).

Things We've Handed Down: Twelve Letters I Leave for You #books #disappointment #wounds #light #love #acceptance #forgiveness #joy #hope #ebook #paperback #letters #twelve a.co/d/2Jvzy1I