Author: Jon Gauger

Leadership.  It's quite a buzz lately in Christian circles.  Have you noticed all the leadership chatter? Consider the enormous popularity of Christian publications like… Leadership Gold Leadership Journal magazine. Then there are all those Leadership conferences. But go ahead and Google Christian conferences on “Following Christ”…and you won't find much.   Following lacks the flash and fun of being a leader.  And, in my opinion, therein lies the danger. Now hear me carefully.  I'm not saying we don't need leaders, or that there shouldn't be any new training for leadership.  But I AM saying I think our current emphasis is probably…

By now news from the London Olympics is so old, it's not even in the rear view mirror.   We've moved on.  There’s a presidential election just before us…the NFL season is in full swing—complete with the REAL refs… These are the headlines that now dominate our attention. But a misstep in marketing takes me across the pond nearly every day.  Let me explain.  At the train station that I walk there lingers a set of illuminated photos of Olympic hopefuls–the heart of a bank's advertising campaign. The campaign’s idea was to suggest that in choosing the bank on the sign…you’d…

Recently, my wife and I sat down with our three year old granddaughter to watch the 1973 Disney animated classic, “Robin Hood.”  If you haven't seen the film—or it's been awhile—it's quite charming in every regard. As we sat there with Joslynn, giggling at all the onscreen antics, I was struck with an observation.   Though the storyline is a classic, and Robin Hood, Maid Marion, and the whole cast are delightfully depicted, it was the lesser characters that grabbed my attention. They are so well developed, so carefully crafted that I found myself looking forward to their every appearance.  For…

Capricious.  When it comes to properly evaluating sin, that’s you and me.  And it's not a good thing, either. The word, capricious, means whimsical.  Fickle.  Given to unaccountable changes of behavior.  And like I say, that's many of us, when it comes to assessing our own sins. You see, the Bible calls all sin…sin.   But you and me?  Most of us have managed to downgrade a whole list of sins into…something less sinful than sin.  For example… Anxiety.  We brush it off as a fairly harmless habit.  Like biting your fingernails: it'd be nice if we could quit—but no big…

Time out for a pop quiz.  Question one: Please name the country with the worst record of abuse toward Christian believers.  Question two.  Please list the names of any countries you've prayed for in the last week where believers are heavily persecuted. Now pass your papers forward, please. How'd you do?  Did you get the answer to the first question?  It's North Korea, the most restrictive nation in the world for Christ followers. I'm actually more interested in question number two—the number of countries you've prayed for in the last week. Places where Christians are treated with open hostility. If…

According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights… solely because of their faith.  If current trends continue, by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually. We hear numbers like these and feel disturbed…but powerless. Or at least I do.  That's why a recent article caught my eye about a senate bill under consideration. The bill would appoint a religious freedom envoy that would operate in the Near East and South Central Asia.  The purpose of the envoy would be to monitor and report on abuses…

Forgive me for offending you.  But to make my point, I'm afraid I must offend some. It is a well-established fact that I cannot stand the taste of creamed corn.  The truth is, after one bite, I honestly begin gagging.  I wish it were not so…but it is. (See—now I've gone and done it–offended all the creamed corn lovers out there.  My apologies).  At a recent Christmas party, I turned down someone's prized recipe for creamed corn and was entreated with a familiar line: “If you'd just try it…..I think you'd like it.”  Trust me—ain't gonna happen.  And it’s not…

I think I saw Jesus today! At…McDonald's, no less. As I write this, I'm seated at a booth in a Detroit airport McDonald's.  Frustrated by the gouging prices at other food stands, I settled for some Chicken McNuggets and a fruit and walnut salad.    I hardly had time to dip the first nugget when a voice from across the way breaks into a solo rendition of O Holy Night.  It was clear from her face and gestures she preferred a choir to a solo, so I joined in.  Heartily.  The two of us finished the song,  high-fived each other and…

The environmental movement—it's riddled with holes: inconsistencies that nobody seems to care about.  Don't get me wrong.  I believe Christ followers SHOULD be good stewards of the earth—as long as we don't worship it.  That means we SHOULD care about clean air and clean water.  Genesis 1:26…God gave man dominion over creation.  The idea is that we are to care for creation,  not abuse it. That said, I'm fascinated by all the inconsistencies.  For example,  when I bought some expensive music software, it came in a rather large cardboard box.  Inside? Three paper-sleeved DVDs.  That's it! Not even a manual!…

Is it just me or is America’s fascination with food—or at least food that’s prepared by chefs on TV—at an all-time high? I suppose it began back with Julia Childs.  But her legacy is an army of Food Network television chefs: Emeril, Bobby Flay…Paula Dean. More stars than Hollywood. More shows than you could possibly stomach.  Cooking is definitely on America’s front burner. Yet I watch it all with a…tasteful mixture of intrigue and cynicism.  On the one hand, the Food Network seems to thrive.  On the other hand, there’s an explosion in things like “lunchables” and other pre-packaged meals….