Dave Dishman

Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible

Category: Leadership (Page 1 of 22)

lamy of Santa Fe

Wise Words From the Bishop

November 27, 2022 / / 0 Comments

I just finished the book Lamy of Santa Fe, about the missionary bishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy, who arrived in New Mexico in 1851. Lamy served in the wild west, traveling thousand of miles by horseback, burro and wagon. He went hungry and thirsty at times, fought off bands of raiders and buried co-workers. All to carry the good news to all the peoples of the Southwest.

His quote after years of arduous ministry life caught my eye:

The divine word is a mirror that discloses to the ambitious all the infidelity of the world which he serves. It lets him see his ingratitude
toward God, whom he has rejected, abandoned. This divine word is a mirror without taint that shows the impenitent sinner the danger to which he exposes himself in falling into the hands of the terrible justice of God.

Jean-Baptiste Lamy

The entire time Lamy traveled and taught and encouraged he emphasized the Scriptures. The divine word, a mirror without taint, reflects clearly our issues before the Lord, and Lamy unhesitatingly showed people their reflection.

The divine word works the same for us today, when we’ll willing to give it a look.

basket of deplorables

Working with a Basket of Deplorables

July 10, 2022 / / 0 Comments

A few years ago a politician referred to her opponent’s supporters as a basket of deplorables. While the description accurately describes many in politics (both sides of the aisle), in this case it galvanized the opposition. Perhaps it would have been better to quote scripture?

Paul wrote the young church-planter Titus to buck him up in the midst of strenuous efforts among insolent people:

One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons. This saying is true.

How should Titus communicate with new church members from this demographic? Speak loving words softly and tenderly? Nope—in this case more truth than grace:

Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.

Rough crowd for a church-planter, but Titus took to the challenge. He planted multiple churches on the island. He stuck it out through frustrating meetings, provocative sermons and very few five-star reviews.

Paul and Titus considered no soil too hard for the gospel. In fact, the development of churches in Crete led by indigenous leaders showed how the message of Jesus penetrated even the most defiant of cultures.

I actually like the phrase basket of deplorables, and I’m tempted to stamp the label on many I disagree with. But the flourishing Cretan churches founded by Titus pull me up short. No one is too far gone to turn to the Lord.

I’ve seen it happen again and again. God goes after those farthest from him, redeems them and uses them to build his church.

Titus 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Maria Teneva

you are not alone

Fight the Battle Well

June 26, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Over the years in ministry I’ve grown to value the Pastoral Epistles more and more. These three letters written to two young church planters yield tons of wisdom for anyone hoping to minister to others.

Timothy received the two letters we read as 1 & 2 Timothy, and Paul sent to Titus the letter we read in his name. These two missionaries launched churches, argued against false doctrines, and set up governing structures. The work proved arduous and often discouraging. Paul’s letters brought hope as they slogged away.

Early in his first letter Paul reminded Timothy of his calling: Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience.

The first step to fight the battle well? Remember why you’re here. Paul urged Timothy to recognize God’s call on his life and gain energy for the fight. If you remember, Timothy grew up in the faith under a godly grandmother and mother. Paul brought to mind that legacy Timothy carried.

Hang in there. You’re not alone. More people think of you and pray for you than you realize. Remember who’s with you and fight the battle well.

1 Timothy 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Dave Hoefler

Construction & Management

A Best Practice for Construction & Management

June 23, 2022 / / 0 Comments

All around my town the noise of construction on new houses and condos and apartment buildings echoes from dawn to dusk. This is repeated around much of the U.S. as we experience a building boom. Some builders are better than others, of course. A few raise to the level of master, and those you want building your house.

Solomon built throughout Israel. Construction seems to have been a passion of his, culminating in his magnificent temple. He possessed an eye for detail and quality.

So I notice when Solomon writes: Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Solomon knew about construction, and Solomon know about vanity (see Ecclesiastes). As he looked at his vast kingdom, this unrivaled king understood that without the Lord, all his work would crumble. Indeed much of it later did, as his successors failed to take his words to heart.

When we set about to build something, great or small, physical or spiritual or relational, it’s good to remember the Master Builder and seek his sign-off throughout the project.

Psalm 127 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Silvia Brazzoduro

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