We live in a world of perpetual outrage. We march for war and against war. We march for women and for babies. We block streets to save whales, turtles, and the polar ice cap. Long after we are too old to march or too sick to care about the turtles, we will realize too late […]
The Most Subversive Thing You Can do is Start a Family Read More »
One of the things I enjoy doing is finding new or novel ways to do things that make life easier or more enjoyable. I remember ten years ago when online rewards systems were just coming online, and I started BibleBucks 2.0 to help churches streamline and digitize incentives. We still use BibleBucks 2.0 in our
How ChatGPT Can Make You a Better Pastor. Read More »
Knowing when to quit isn’t a specialty of mine. Staying is a strength with a corresponding weakness. 2022 was a challenging year for everyone I know. Without exception, every pastor, leader, or parent would say 2022 was the hardest or one of the most brutal years they have ever lived. I have lots of speculation
What Pastors and Parents Need More of in 2023 Read More »
This July marked 22 years of pastoral ministry for me in the same church. Growing up, I moved often and rarely lived more than three to five years in an any given location. Two decades in the same place has been surreal and filled with its joys and pains. Pastoral ministry is not easy and
Death by One Thousand Cuts Read More »
The greatest gift you can give your kids and the kids you pastor is the twin girds of clarity and charity. Is this true and is this kind? Information is superabundant truth and kindness are not. May we raise kids who collect information and in an attitude of charity spit out the bones of untruth and cling to the meat of truth. May our kids grow in their knowledge but grow even more in kindness and truth.
Training Kids to be Truthful and Kind Read More »
One of the temptations in ministry but particularly in youth ministry is to be a preacher who pastors. Pastoral ministry is tough there is no way around it, it just is. Preaching is generally immediately rewarding with people telling you that you did a great job or how what you said impacted them positively. Pastoring generally results
Are you a Preacher Who Pastors or a Pastor who Preaches. Read More »
A few nights ago I had a conversation with my wife because our son was in a play that had some language in it (he didn’t have any lines). There were also a few suggestive ideas in the play. My wife asked me “should this be a play that a Pastor’s Kid is in?” My
There is No Such Thing As a Pastor’s Kid Read More »
Last week I attended Together For The Gospel a conference for Pastors. So man incredible sessions one that stood out to me was a message by John MacArthur on Sanctification and the Pastor’s Passion. Such a powerful reminder to us all of what matters most. In life and ministry, we can become sidetracked by good things
Pastor, What Do You Agonize Over? Read More »
I am wrapping up my Pastor as…. series. Pastor as Theologian may be the most controversial out of all four. Why you need to be a theologian is because you as a shepherd, leader, and disciple need to think right thoughts about God. A. W. Tozer famously said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God
Pastor as Theologian Read More »
There is no more fundamental description of what the role of a pastor should be than the role of a shepherd. There was a season of life where I was only reading leadership books. They have great advice and fantastic insight they can help you be a better leader which we should all strive to be.
Pastor as Shepherd Read More »
