church
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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With whom does the Pastor talk?
Imagine struggling, striving, and working for the good of others. But then, when you have a need, there is no one with whom you can be honest and share your heart. Many pastors are going through this. Almost all go… Continue reading
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Not all Advice is Helpful
Much of the practical advice given to churches and pastors doesn’t fit the dynamics of small church ministry. Of course, there are exceptions. Some authors lead small churches, offer great advice, and even write good books. But many times, those… Continue reading
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The Warrior Shepherd
When I was a kid, one of my favorite cartoons was that of Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf. Ralph Wolf was always trying to get the sheep, and Sam always foiled his plans—despite the fur over his eyes. I suppose… Continue reading
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Pastor, how are you doing?
As a young man—and even not so young—dark humor was a tool to compensate for a world we could not control. I served years as a Paratrooper, Infantryman, and Law Enforcement. In that world, we made jokes that civilians seldom… Continue reading
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How do you spell Success?
Are you old enough to remember the old ad asking, “How do you spell relief?” In the ad, the answer given was “R-O-L-A-I-D-S.” It was an ad for Rolaids™. Like all such ads, the claim was that this product would… Continue reading
Little Church Big Heart 