Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category
Last month I turned 45—that was a shift (I’m now closer to 50 than 40) This week, my life is about to change again. Drastically. On Saturday I’ll serve my last day as a denominational overseer, and then, on Sunday morning, I will be installed, and preach, at the church […]
Read More...‘We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again” When I was a sixteen year old punk rocker, I wore a tattered army jacket with the sleeves torn off that I had marked up with a sharpie. The statement written in large black print on the back of the […]
Read More...Not too long ago I had a friend visiting me in my city, Los Angeles. As I excitedly drove him down the freeways and through the streets, pointing out all the things I loved, he mentioned that some of it reminded him of traveling in underdeveloped countries. The statement threw […]
Read More...While on vacation in Portland, Oregon a few weeks ago, a friend and I spent a Sunday visiting ten churches. I realize how potentially dysfunctional it is for me to do that on vacation, since visiting churches is part of my job—but the fact is, I passionately love the local church, […]
Read More...Here is some sage advice I received this morning from a pastoral mentor in the faith: “Remind the churches you oversee to to obedient and subject to the rulers and authorities, and to be prepared to do whatever is good, to slander nobody (even—especially—those they disagree with), to be peaceable, […]
Read More...Today the United States witnessed a significant shift in public policy regarding traditional marriage. Some theologically conservative Christians might see this as a tough time for our nation, for morality, and for the church. I see potential. In fact, as I heard the news this morning I realized this season […]
Read More...I’ve had countless discussions with groups of younger pastors, and among the important issues we discuss, the tools and technology available for ministry today is usually either a topic of conversation or at least a subtext to it. I can’t remember the last time I was in a meeting where […]
Read More...Christmas fell on a Sunday again this year, and there were more and more churches who decided to “close up shop”. All of the pastors I know who decided not to gather as a Church on Sunday morning had a full complement of Christmas Eve (and even Christmas Eve-Eve) services […]
Read More...NOTE: This is an open letter to pastors in our denomination who are over 50. At some point it will be used publicly. At this point, I’ll post it on my blog and look for your feedback! Thanks. Dear Pastors and Leaders, For a few years now, we have had […]
Read More...Easter is history. Mother’s day has come and gone. Graduation weekend for the College our church meets at is over, which means we have about 30 less people with us when we gather. This is what I call the in-between time. When September comes we’re back in full-swing. More people, […]
Read More...Note: This month I’m posting a series of devotional thoughts from Acts. Many of these are reposts, some are new. I’m “working out the kinks” for submission to a compilation of short, pastoral writings in Acts to be published later this year. If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please […]
Read More...Note: This month I’m posting a series of devotional thoughts from Acts. Many of these are reposts, some are new. I’m “working out the kinks” for submission to a compilation of short, pastoral writings in Acts to be published later this year. If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please […]
Read More...Note: This month I’m posting a series of devotional thoughts from Acts. Many of these are reposts, some are new. I’m “working out the kinks” for submission to a compilation of short, pastoral writings in Acts to be published later this year. If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please […]
Read More...Note: This month I’m posting a series of devotional thoughts from Acts. Many of these are reposts, some are new. I’m “working out the kinks” for submission to a compilation of short, pastoral writings in Acts to be published later this year. If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please […]
Read More...“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions […]
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