Once upon a time, I was a full-time instructor at a seminary in California. I am very thankful for that period, but I was way over my head. I happened to be at the right place and time to fill a need, and God gave me an opportunity beyond my age and training. I was … More Once Upon a Time in Another Life
The paragraphs below are the opening lines of John Piper’s mini-biography on Charles H. Spurgeon. From nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry, from the work I do with pastors since I left full-time pastoral ministry, I am convinced that these descriptions and observations are spot on. At the end of this post I want to … More Haunting Words for Pastors and the Rest of Us
I was talking to a friend today at the end of the Evangelical Free Church of America Theology conference at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. We were catching up on one another’s lives and ministries, sharing prayer requests and seeking to encourage one another in a three decades long friendship. My friend Roy, … More Broken, Hurting Pastors: 9 Sources of Pastoral Disintegration
Way back in August I wrote an article on Bible Abuse by Pastors. The post was picked up on Facebook and favorably commented on there but not so much on the BLOG itself. Recently, a visitor to the BLOG gave me a “tsk, tsk, tsk” (“Marty, Marty, Marty” actually) for calling out a fellow pastor’s … More Bible Abuse by Pastors
Thursday is for Spiritual Formation On September 12, 2012, Pastor Ray Ortlund, under the title You’re Not Crazy, posted the following open letter to pastors on the Gospel Coalition website. I’ve changed the title and added a postscript. My brother pastor, It’s Monday morning. Yesterday you gave your all. You’re spent. You’re depressed. You’re drinking … More You’re Not Crazy, Just a Wee Bit Depressed
Three Obstacles to Pastoring and Caring for the Flock[1] The Individualistic Nature of the Culture. Example: An attitude that basically says, “It’s none of your business.” Analysis: The result is that people are islands of festering wounds. They are isolated, diseased, and . … More Three Modern Obstacles to Pastoring and Caring for the Flock
Weekend Links Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas. Looking forward to a great Christmas season with three evening services over the next two days including a dramatic Lord’s Supper celebration. Had a great time with our kids their spouses and our first grandchild last night. Only Maureen was missing and she was greatly missed. As a … More Honest Liberals; Multi-site Churches; Defeating Bad Guys; Atheist Doubts; Sandy Hook Help
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