If what the Breastplate of St. Patrick claims is true, then both a physical body and a congregational body can rest in its truth.
Moral Injury and the Power of Forgiveness
I want to delve into moral and spiritual injury, looking at ways that we as Christians, ministers, pastors, counselors, and chaplains can respond when we encounter it.
The Attitude of the Heart
I want to share with you how to become more available and aware of God’s presence in your life through his Spirit. It’s like connecting to a network where you need to know the password.
Top 10 for Getting Through It
I set out to write a top 10 for getting over it but quickly realized that such a list might inadvertently trivialize deep wounds.
Thoughts on Elders as Shepherds
Many elders are frustrated because all they do is act as a board of directors. Instead of being in the lives of their flock, they’re spending time in meeting after meeting.
Leadership in Complex Times
What sort of leadership is needed in this time of complexity and uncertainty? I want to explore some implications of Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT) for congregational life.
Celebrating Black Excellence
Many of us are making history today, and it is also imperative that we celebrate and support our Black leaders. We must honor Black history by supporting and celebrating Black excellence today.
Love: It’s Time to Get to Work
Reflecting on years of teaching young students, I am reminded of exercises captioned “Listen and do.” Might this be a simple, yet awfully mature, set of ancient instructions?
Pastoral Epistemology
I’m used to hearing epistemology used as a joke, but with all the conversations about truth, opinions versus justified beliefs, and general questions about what we know, epistemology seems suddenly and surprisingly relevant.
We Are Sheep
Sheep respond to nurture, and we are sheep according to John’s Gospel. Thus, we know our master’s voice of grace, which causes us to turn our heads and assent to follow.
Collateral Faith
When we are reading and studying the Bible, we often focus on the main characters, rarely considering those who are members of the faceless, nameless “crowd.”
Five Spiritual Resources for When You Need Help
As leaders in our communities of faith, we need to make sure that our people know the resources available to them when they are in spiritual need.
What Does it Mean to Be Church?
What sort of church structure describes Churches of Christ, Christian Churches, and other non-denominational congregations?
How to Speak Christian Correctly
Only God can bring light out of darkness, and the church cannot limit God’s work to its own projects and priorities.
Event Spotlight: Cruciformity and ElderLink Houston
As we prepare for our first ElderLink of 2022, we wanted to whet your appetite for our time together. We recently sat down for virtual conversations with our speakers and host.
Top Five for Speaking Up
You live and breathe, so you matter, which means you have every right to speak up. Period.
Sheep Respond to Nurture
This week I saw a sheep with an adopted master, following close because it knew familiarity and care. It had everything it needed and responded simply in acceptance.
More of Paul on Light and Darkness
Paul is encouraging his hearers to enter into the realm of God even while they remain in this life.
Is it Time to Quit My Church?
For me, perhaps the saddest aspect of the pandemic has been the polarization and consequent sorting of churchgoers.
Getting Our Questions in the Right Order
Until folk see and experience the countercultural power of true Christian community and begin to ask, “What does this mean?,” they will not be asking the next question, “What shall we do?”