Tag Archives: influence

The Side-Effects of Holiness

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Mark Cole

Holiness is not a fashionable word. In many circles, it sounds rigid, joyless, or outdated. But biblically, holiness is not about stiffness or superiority. It is about belonging fully to God. It is about being set apart for Him. “Be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged alignment, authenticity, authority, be holy, before God, clarity, clean conscience, close to His heart, compromise, confession, confidence, consecration, eternity, finishing well, full of joy, God is holy, gray zones, holiness, I am holy, increases joy, influence, intimacy, Jesus, joy, more weight, obedience, obey, pain, prayer, protection, repent, repentance, restore, self-inflicted, set apart, sin, sin drains, spiritual muscles | Leave a comment

The Side-Effects of Patience

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Mark Cole

We live in a culture of microwaves, high-speed internet, and same-day delivery. We don’t wait well. We tap our fingers at red lights. We check our phones in grocery lines. We grow restless with people who don’t move at our … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged Abraham, anxiety, calm, character, confidence, control isssues, correct gently, David, deep faith, delay, depth, entitlement, expanding, faith, forgives, forming, fruit of the Spirit, generations, God is working, gratitude, growing, humility, impatience, impatient, influence, Joseph, lasting impact, love matures, maturity, patience, patience builds, peaceful, perseverance, pride, roots, side-effects, strength, strength under control, strengthening, Trust, unanswered prayer, wait, wait on God, waited | Leave a comment

Clothed by God

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Mark Cole

(Lessons from Exodus 28) In Book of Exodus 28, God gives detailed instructions for the garments of the priests—especially the high priest. At first glance, it feels technical. Fabric types. Colors. Stones. Measurements. But this chapter is not about fashion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged attitude, calling, character, clothed, clothed by God, consecration, dressed, Exodus 28, for glory and for beauty, garments, habits, heart, holiness, holy place, Holy to the Lord, identity, influence, lead, love, preparation, priests, purpose, speak, spend, strength, Surrender, think | Leave a comment

Faithful With What We’ve Been Given

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Mark Cole

Jesus said: “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29, NLT) … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged abundance, afraid, be faithful, bless, calling, commitment, faith, faithful, faithfulness, fear, gifts, give, giver, giving, growth, hoarder, influence, invest, invested, love, multiply, obedience, opportunities, parable, Parable of the talents, resources, responsibility, servant, serve, sharper, spiritual gifts, stewardship, stonger, talent, time, use well | Leave a comment

The Power of Blessing

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Mark Cole

Near the end of his life, Jacob gathers his sons around his bed and speaks words over each of them (Genesis 49). These are not casual comments or sentimental goodbyes. Scripture calls them blessings. And what he says shapes not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Family, God, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged Adam and Eve, bless others, bless the people, bless your family, bless yourself, blesses children, blessing, blessing God, blessing is powerful, blessing to the nations, blessings, character, corrective, declaration, destiny, disciples, encouragement, future, God blesses, God's purposes, honest, hopeful, identity, influence, instruments of life, Jesus blesses, leaders bless, life, life and death, parents bless, positive, potential, power of blessing, purposeful, redirection, sobering, speak blessing, speak life, spiritual, spoken blessing, struggles, tongue has the power, truthful love, what we say | Leave a comment

What the Bible Teaches About Leadership

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Mark Cole

Leadership is everywhere — in families, churches, workplaces, communities, and nations. The Bible has a lot to say about leadership, not just about authority and influence, but about character, humility, service, and responsibility. Biblical leadership doesn’t begin with position — … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Jesus, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged accountability, appointment, authority, Biblical leaders, build people, care, character, compassionate, courage, courageous, dependence on God, equip the saints, example, examples, faithful, faithfulness, feed, follow Jesus, give His life, God's calling, greatest, guide, heart, human ambition, humility, influence, integrity, lead, lead by example, leader's heart, leadership, model, obeyed the Father, prayer, preparation, protect, purpose, relational, sacrificial, self-control, servant, servant leadership, serve people, served, service, shapes leaders, shepherds, stewards, stewardship, strong, transformed lives, true leadership, truth with grace, walk with God | Leave a comment

Never Too Old: When God Calls Later in Life

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Mark Cole

One of the quiet lies our culture tells us is that our best years are behind us. We are taught—sometimes subtly, sometimes directly—that usefulness belongs to the young, the energetic, the innovative. But when we open the Bible, we discover … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, God Adventures, Health, Leadership, Wisdom | Tagged 80, 85, Abraham, advanced in years, age, authority, breath in your lungs, Caleb, challenges, character, courage, discernment, eighty, faith, faithfulness, fruit, fruitful, fruitfulness, God calls, influence, journey, joy, legacy, long timelines, Moses, never, obedience, old, old age, one hundred, produce fruit, promise, purpose, Sarah, tested, timelines, vision, wisdom, years old | Leave a comment

Lessons from the Book of Esther: Faith, Courage, and God’s Hidden Hand

Posted on December 20, 2025 by Mark Cole

The book of Esther is one of the most intriguing stories in the Bible. God’s name is never mentioned, there are no recorded prayers, no miracles on display—yet God’s presence is unmistakable. Esther teaches us how God works powerfully behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, God, Leadership, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged community, courage, deliverance, divine, Esther, faith, faithful, fear, God works, God's promises, good, gratitude, Haman, hatred, His purposes, humility, influence, meant for evil, Mordecai, obedience, orchestration, ordinary people, pride, protect, responsibility, serve, speak up, strategic, such a time as this, trusting God, who knows, Worship | Leave a comment

Why Some Musicians Age Out of Ministry (and How Not To)

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Mark Cole

I’m 70 years old and still serving as an active musician and leader in the local church. Over the years, I’ve watched something happen—quietly, gradually, and far too often. Some gifted church musicians don’t leave ministry because they lose ability.They … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, God, Jesus, Leadership, Worship | Tagged age out, alive in learning, alive in spirit, church musicians, curiosity, curious, humble, inflexibility, influence, keep practicing, lead with joy, learning, longevity, ministry, music is a language, musicians, new sound, new vocabulary, next generation, personal taste, rigidity, rooted in the past, serve the Church, start shrinking, stay alive, stay teachable, stop learning, styles, teachable, the mission, worship leader | Leave a comment

The Penniless Preacher Who Became the Center of History

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Mark Cole

H.G. Wells, one of the most influential historians and writers of the last century, made a startling admission:“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Jesus, Wisdom | Tagged breaks addictions, center of hope, courage, dominant figure, eternal life, gives purpose, grace, H.G. Wells, hate into love, heals, heals broken lives, heart-level, His influence, His teachings, historian, history, influence, Jesus, Jesus changes people, Jesus Christ, joy, King of kings, liar, living Savior, living Saviour, Lord, lunatic, outlived Rome, penniless preacher, redeem, redeem humanity, salvation | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: influence

The Side-Effects of Holiness

The Side-Effects of Patience

Clothed by God

Faithful With What We’ve Been Given

The Power of Blessing

What the Bible Teaches About Leadership

Never Too Old: When God Calls Later in Life

Lessons from the Book of Esther: Faith, Courage, and God’s Hidden Hand

Why Some Musicians Age Out of Ministry (and How Not To)

The Penniless Preacher Who Became the Center of History

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