One of the joys of ministry, for me and perhaps for you, is that while there are many “normal things” in ministry, there are also many unforeseen things that are not always bad! It seems to me that variety and fresh challenges go hand in hand with local church ministry. That is also true serving you…
Read more
I’ve had a bit more time, lately, to read. I’ve enjoyed re-reading Paul’s writings in the New Testament. I’ve not been reading to get great sermons, or incredible, new insights. No, I have been reading Paul’s letters for me. I’ve been asking the Holy Spirit to minister, personally, to me, whatever He would want to say to my soul. I could…
Read more
One of the tragic losses for someone who claims the Name of Christ but who willfully doesn’t go to church is the loss of community in the Body of Christ. I get it that church life can be messy — it’s been that way since the beginning! Ananias and Sapphire in Acts 5 apparently wanted to be recognized as…
Read more
Twenty-five years ago we entered a new millennium with a ton of hysteria! Much could be written about that time, but my thoughts in this season go to the fact that hardly anybody I knew, talked to, or heard ever said anything about 2025, the day and age in which we live now. In that day, 2025 seemed…
Read more
If you have ever attended a Prepare to Plant training (formerly Church Planting Bootcamp), you’ve heard about creating strategies. God has given us a mission – to make disciples, and to live out that mission requires intentionality and planning. Or, to put it another way, our mission requires a strategy. Actually, it requires several strategies.…
Read more
Recently, when on the road traveling in the district, I checked into the hotel I was staying at one night. There was a new person behind the counter, even though I’ve stayed at that hotel literally dozens of times through the years. I had my license and credit card ready when I checked in. The person…
Read more
By the time you read this column, our national Election Day will have passed — and we still might not know who has won the Presidency and has control of the House and Senate. Pundits and prognosticators have said depending on who is ahead there could be rounds and rounds of challenges so that some election results might…
Read more
Years ago I read a brief article that resurfaces in my mind occasionally. Recently, I was mulling over some things and I looked for this particular article and amazingly I found it in my files. It is entitled, Ten Questions To Ask To Make Sure You’re Still Growing. Every time I read it and think about it my heart…
Read more
I love football! I don’t get to watch much anymore as I am on the road most weekends. With satellite technology, however, I do get to listen to a few games as I travel around our District on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. When I was a kid, college football was played only on Saturday and the NFL was…
Read more
Recently I was visiting with one of our RMD pastors and the conversation drifted to the all too familiar “summertime slump” in Sunday attendance. As we discussed potential reasons why and possible ways to address it, he shared with me something that his church is doing to respond to this trend. It was such a…
Read more
