The beauty of small churches in West Texas inspires me to remember that the Sunday assembly is not about me.
Is It Too Late to Turn Back? Reflections on the Difficulties of Change
You brace yourself for the change, you rally the forces, you organize every detail, and you convince yourself that you have created a foolproof plan for a perfect and seamless transition.
Walking the High Wire without a Net (This Sunday!)
I can't remember the last time I preached. I believe it was two years ago, perhaps longer.
A Different Style of Prophetic Preaching
I have noticed a trend toward equating "prophetic preaching" with a confrontational, rough and tough style of delivery.
Saved from Myself
God uses truly “beautiful” people from time to time, to hold up the mirror, show us our own ugliness, and save us from ourselves. Thank you, Lord.
One More Time - This Year
For a couple of weeks I will be away from my blogging position, hoping to come back strong.
Church from a Child’s Eyes
In the face of systemic human suffering and need, children’s first instinct is to rely on their church family to increase their effectiveness in responding to said need.
Who’s the Boss?
Our freedom is found not in being without a master, but in the identity of our master. Because there will always be a boss, it very much matters who that boss will be.
4th and 7th for the 2nd Time
Now we come to even more serious situations—not a mere financial crisis but a financial collapse.
Sharks, Life, and Jesus
Hard things happen to those you lead, so help them be ready. Pray for your flock, speak truth into their lives, keep them connected to you and to others in their community of faith.
The Fragility of Ministry
The best things in life are the risky things, the impractical things, but maybe especially, the things that can’t break.
4th and 7th to Go
Before we get too excited about seeing our debts float down river, I must point out that Israel’s system of loans and debts is a world away from our own.
Preaching through Pain: A Contemporary Christian Conversation
What happens when the preacher struggles with their own faith? Mike Cope speaks of finding ways to minister to others from an authentic place even when your heart is broken.
Yet - from Balkan Voices
What is the difference between reasoned encouragement that penetrates the soul and glib phrases that skate off our skin?
Pocket Phrases
When you decide to reach out to someone in the wake of a divorce, death, cancer, addiction, or even if they have skipped a few Sundays, there is a risk that you might say the wrong thing.
Why I Pray The Daily Offices
I had been praying in our worship services and at night with my children, but my daily time in prayer had somehow gone the way of my schedule.
A Whale of a Tale
Nothing "spiritual" today—unless you consider the magnificence of creation something of spiritual wonder.
The Things that Make for Peace: Saying “I’m Sorry”
If the apology becomes about us receiving forgiveness, we’ve lost our focus on the welfare of the other and are just trying to make ourselves feel good.
I Remember - from Rusty Tugman (on His Son's Birthday)
How could I forget the one who made known to me a kind of love that runs so deep it cannot be explained?
I Saw a Captain in Action
The purpose of vision is to lead us on a journey of lessons more than it is about reaching a destination. May we as leaders see a vision for ourselves first.