I was privileged to formally study for the ministry in two schools: a Bible College and a seminary. Both of these schools gave me a quality education for life in ministry, specifically, pastoral ministry. Given the opportunity to go back and attend or not attend each one, I most certainly would choose to do so […]
Over the past year, I’ve had far more, shall we say, “conversations” with health professionals than I would like. I’ve had more examinations, tests, blood work, etc than I ever thought possible. Doctors have worked hard for my health, not only endeavoring to find and fix my problems, but to help me build well and […]
I am a pastoral coach: I have the joy of pastoring pastors every day. Millennial pastors primarily. Pastors across America and in foreign nations. Pastors of all kinds: lead pastors, church planters, staff pastors, special needs pastors, missionary pastors, and even a couple of pastors-of-pastors. I love what I am called to do with my […]
Every minister breathes silent prayers at Christmas. He lifts “wishes” to heaven. In quiet moments of reflection he reaches into his heart and draws out the dreams he would dream if only he believed they really could come true. Here is such a list of dreams. Prayers. Christmas wishes. Each and every one of them […]
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of the local church in Wittenberg, Germany, 95 reforms he believed necessary to revitalize the universal church and restore Jesus to His rightful place as Savior and Lord in church doctrine and life. In effect, Luther grabbed the church by the throat & […]
Life & Death Culture is imploding, collapsing in upon itself. Denying absolutes and objective truth, culture is now without safeguards, consuming itself in a death spiral of spiritual and moral chaos. In his outstanding essay, “The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World,” David Wells writes: “The evangelical church has a sense that moral absolutes […]
One of the greatest constants in my ministry as a pastoral coach is walking with young ministers who are in transition, aka hiring or being hired. It is possible that the single most important decision a lead pastor makes is in the hiring of staff pastors: a poor choice can add dead weight, obstacles, or poison […]
Several years ago, the magazine, “Inc.” published an article that began like this: “… Businesses tend to spend so much of their time and money acquiring new customers that they often overlook their best source of growth: retaining and growing their existing customer base.” Interesting! The best source of growth for a company is not […]
Years ago pastors were expected to handle FIVE primary tasks, but studies today reveal that the number has swelled to SIXTEEN. This increase in primary responsibilities has at least TEN effects on pastors and churches: 1. The sheer number of tasks means the pastor does each task with less excellence and effectiveness; 50% of pastors […]
All people are, by nature spiritual and relational: at our core, we are vertical (built to connect with God) and horizontal (built to connect with people). These realities are beautifully depicted by the vertical and horizontal beams of the Cross, and by Jesus’ definition of the two greatest commandments: to love God with all our […]
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