Blog

  • Which way do we go?

    I’m sure you have wished from time to time that heaven would open and God would say, “My will is that you do A, B, and C.” A nice map of how and where we are to live our lives… Continue reading

    Which way do we go?
  • A Worthy Ambition

    Pastor, what is your ambition? I ask this because we are not immune to dreams of greatness. Perhaps we want to pastor a giant church. Perhaps we want to become a national sensation, invited to speak at all the conventions… Continue reading

    A Worthy Ambition
  • Ministry Lesson Learned from the Army

                All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum argues that the most important lessons for living a meaningful life are learned at the lowest level of education. They are simple and include things like… Continue reading

    Ministry Lesson Learned from the Army
  • Why grow?

    Recently, leaders of another church asked me how they could grow their church. Even though this was not my church, it is a conversation my own has had—like all churches. The question is commonly asked of a new pastor or… Continue reading

    Why grow?
  • Debate or Debacle

    We’ve all experienced it. You share biblical views on gender and sexuality, and you get called homophobic or transphobic. If a man speaks on the immorality of abortion, he is shouted down because he doesn’t have a uterus. A woman… Continue reading

    Debate or Debacle
  • Difficult Sheep need a Strong Shepherd

    “Lord! Why have I not found favor in your eyes, that you make me responsible for these people?” Many of us pastors have uttered similar words to these. It may be: “Lord, why did you call me to this church?”… Continue reading

    Difficult Sheep need a Strong Shepherd
  • Is the grass greener?

                    When I was in the Army, we used to say, “The best post is the one you just left or the one you are going to. The worst is the one you are at.” This is a form of… Continue reading

    Is the grass greener?
  • Church DNA and Change

    Years ago, my son took a DNA test to research his ancestry. He shared the interesting results. They said that he was half-Japanese. That shocked his mother because she is Korean—and quite sure he is hers. Not long after, they… Continue reading

    Church DNA and Change
  • Four Answers to Every Question

    As pastors, various people and groups often ask questions. Several years ago, I was asked to consider serving at a particular church. An elder of that church called to chat, and we discussed several questions. This practice is common. We… Continue reading

    Four Answers to Every Question
  • Pastor Lightning Rod

    As dark clouds rolled in, accompanied by flashes and rumbling, the two-way radio crackled to life: “Storm warning! Expect lightning and high winds. Take appropriate action.” After ensuring the doors were secure and everything was in place, I placed a… Continue reading

    Pastor Lightning Rod