It was an innocent question. I’m sitting at a pastor’s retreat acting as one of a team of four mentors seeking to encourage 15 pastors, with one exception, the oldest of whom is 50, most of which are in their 20’s or 30’s. “What will you take away from this week?” I’ve listened to a … More An Apex Predator Stalking Younger Pastors
The other day I was asked if I wanted to be called “reverend”. “No!” was my quick and nearly four decade old answer. I want no part of “honorific” titles. I am, and many of my compatriots in ministry feel totally unworthy of honor. We are servants of a King who is so high above … More Working with Hurting Pastors
I am working with a new ministry. Standing Stone Ministry is a ministry to pastors in crisis. We work with pastors who are about to throw in the towel in defeat and discouragement. Our prayer and plan is devoted to coming along side pastors who are on the verge of burnout from the demands of … More You are Not Fine (Neither Am I)
Shepherds of flocks will sometimes put small stones on the top of the stone enclosures for their sheep. The idea is that if a thief or threat to the flock (bear, hyena, lion, or wolf) climbs over the wall to harass the sheep, the tumbling stones will alert both sheep and shepherd that an intruder … More Tumbling Stones and the Art of Pastoral Care
Thursday Musings Yesterday, I was reading Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional and ran across the gem below. It has been gently edited by Alister Begg to update the language a bit but with no substantive change from the original (I checked). This is not the full devotional, just the beginning paragraph that I found helpful … More Spurgeon on the Effect of Conversion
The video above show the stunning impact of one man’s hatred. Hitler and the National Socialist Party’s (NAZIs) gave the world a history lesson that we need to relearn. Socialism is regression. Politics, Environment, World View, Cultural Engagement The Reason Renewables Can’t Power Modern Civilization Article from Forbes documenting the difficulty and checkered history … More Weekend Links to Make You Think and Laugh and Maybe, Pray
Christianity, Help for Preachers, Devotion “Oh, . . . and I’m Bi-Sexual” Some counsel on how to relate to the faddish announcement of sexual experimentation. Preaching through Romans? If you are preaching through or studying the book of Romans, after you have read the book, and read the book again, this would be a … More Weekend Links: Sobering Help for Sinning Saints
This stimulated so much discussion and some good thoughts and ideas on Facebook that I decided to bring the whole post and discussion back on the BLOG so that it will be easier to respond to and find. I saw these facts on a meme that I think was designed to be incendiary rather than … More Getting Past the Rhetoric on “Gun Control”
Involved in a lot of counseling of late and some of the problems in helping people reminded me of this post from a three years ago. For more see: The Right Thing Is Not Always the Effective Thing.
Wednesday Musings I have heart full of new reasons to take my own counsel to heart today. Every new day for every follower of Christ is a new challenge to trust Him, to place all our hope in Him, and to acknowledge His goodness and care. I am constantly relearning that God wants me to … More The Danger of Having too Much or too Little
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