DEVOTIONS Truth In Love Speaking truthfully sometimes requires a word of caution or an honest insight. Lynn Buzzard
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When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. …
A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-and how good is a timely word! …
A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. …
He who answers before listening-that is his folly and his shame. …
Lynn Buzzard was not yet out of Duke Divinity School when he faced his first political dilemma: the largest donor in his student pastorate quit giving. A third of the church's budget suddenly evaporated.
"My basic nature in those days was to run from conflict," he notes. "So I didn't say anything to the man; I just resented him and felt persecuted. I learned secondhand what the problems were: he found ...
At Willow Creek, we expect disagreement—forceful disagreement. Unity isn't the word we use to describe our relationships. The popular concept of unity is a fantasyland where disagreements never surface and contrary opinions are never stated with force.
Instead of unity, we use the word community.
We say, "Let's not pretend we never disagree. We're dealing with the lives of 17,000 people. The stakes ...
Six months into our church plant, the two most influential families had a fight. Nasty words were exchanged, battle lines drawn. Both sides began recruiting people to their cause. Something had to be done, but what? I held separate meetings with the two parties, but that just made things worse.
"Lord, help me," I prayed desperately. I set up another meeting with both families.
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