Journey’s Best Reads of 2025
As we turn the final pages of the book on 2025, I offer my annual list of favorite reads for the year. This was another great reading year with many happy hours invested in the “Big Three” of mellow music, strong coffee, and a good book. As always, this is not a list of my favorite books published in 2025 but books read in 2025. If a book is on my “Best Of” list, I...
Reading Effectively as a Pastor
When we were missionaries in France and Belgium, we discovered one of Europe's most wonderful secrets: its book villages. Towns like Montolieu (France), St. Pierre-des-Clages (Switzerland), and our personal favorite, Redu (Belgium) are essentially village-wide bookstores, given over not just to the selling of books, but to their enjoyment, and the encouragement of reading. Imagine streets where shop after shop is filled with shelves, and even stacks, of books - old and new - for...
Solitude
There was a moment during the COVID-19 pandemic I will never forget. I was in my car, a few blocks from my house, returning from a quick trip to the office. Sitting at a stoplight, a thought struck me: “There is literally nowhere on planet Earth I could go right now, to get away from this global catastrophe.” Even in places that were less affected by the contagion than others—even in places that took it less seriously than others—the pandemic was on everyone’s radar,...
Shepherds After God’s Own Heart: A Pastor Appreciation Story
As he does every morning, a young pastor rises early. He can do so because last evening, he went to bed early, focused on beginning this day well as a disciple and pastor: he knows that what he does tomorrow will affect eternity for one, possibly for many. He prepares for the day before driving to his church. Entering the office suite early, he puts the coffee machine to work. While he waits for the...
Engaging the Cloud of Witnesses
Introduction Our relationship with God is often characterized as a journey. The Old Testament authors frequently spoke of two paths we might take, with one leading to life and the other leading to death. The Book of Acts literally recounts Paul’s missionary journeys and the resulting growth of the Church. On several occasions, Paul uses the metaphor of running or racing to describe the Christian life. If we look to more modern times, we find...
Another Pastor Another Mistress
My heart sank. No, please, Lord, not another one. Not another minister of the Gospel who surrendered his call to run off with a mistress. He had such a great thing going. He and what he said was "the love of his life" were so happy together. Content. Fulfilled. And their love for each other was producing so much good in their family and circle of friends. When the two of them were together and...
Simplicity
The Antidote to Our Self-Made Chaos EDITOR'S NOTE: The writer of this article, Josh Havens, lives in the Springfield, MO area with his wife and three sons. His passion for discipleship, coaching, and solving puzzles keeps him engaged in deep conversations. Learning to walk in God’s grace is his greatest joy and challenge. He’s a software developer by vocation, leading a team that currently develops educational software services for several government departments of education around...
I Am A Recovering Missionary
Editor’s Note: As spring turned to summer this year, we outlined a series of six stories from the experiences of our founder-director, who, along with his wife and two daughters, was privileged to serve two decades as a missionary in Europe. With this final installment, we conclude our series by going back to the beginning of their story, their call, and move to France. What sets this story apart from the previous five is that...
Redeemed
When Suicide Became Salvation in Belgium Editor’s Note: This is Part Five in Journey’s summer series, “Stories From the World of Missions.” Every two weeks this summer, we publish an article recounting a story from the experiences of our founder-director who was privileged to serve two decades as a missionary in Europe. We hope you will continue to join us here for a summer of rejoicing at the works of our great God. This story...© [2015] — Journey Pastoral Coaching