Abraham was getting on in years, yet he and Sarah didn’t have any children. However, God had given him this promise: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:2). Although Abraham was older than old, he kept believing that … Continued
Four essential concepts for navigating ministry in a new world today and preparing for tomorrow.
As we continue in this Ministry Pivots Series during this season of COVID-19, we have to look at how our ministry budgets need to pivot. Every Church has been impacted through their giving somehow, according to an April 2020 study from CapinCrouse. This study showed that most churches saw an increase in online giving, because […]
COVID has been like a mission trip for the analog church. We thought we were going on a short-term trip to a place that felt foreign. We got there, and had to immediately learn some new languages and methods. Turns out, this is becoming more like a long-term mission assignment. And since arriving in this … Continued
There seems to be two extremes when it comes to how Christians view their relationship with their possessions. The first one is that God wants 10%, often called the tithe. This is based on an Old Testament principle that the first 10% of what God gives us goes back to him. For this group, after you've learned how much to give, you've essentially fulfilled your duty and can do whatever you want with the rest. It's like a God-tax. After you pay it, you're done.
I have a passion for the brain and how applying newly discovered brain science can impact leadership and spiritual growth. I even wrote a book about it. Now into my sixth decade of life, I want to maximize my brainpower as I (and everybody else) faces inevitable cognitive decline. In this post I share three morning habits you can build into your routine to boost your brain power and stay mentally sharp […]
As congregations return methodically to in-person services, something else will be taking place. It will be obvious to some churches; it will be more subtle to others. Simply stated, churches will have an incredible window of opportunity to make substantive and positive changes. We have been watching closely the responses of congregations and their leaders … Continued
Discover the essential merger-friendly pastor qualities needed to ease the pain of transition.
Recently, I typed in how to be happy on our collective consciousness, Google, and one of the first articles was Three Ways to Be Happy Always. Quite a claim. This article had some legitimately good advice, but it was sprinkled in among some proverbs that were less-than-helpful. For instance, this priceless pearl of wisdom: Compliment yourself often. This highlights a broader issue where a Christian response to cancel culture is needed.
Ive been thinking about confessions lately. Augustines Confessions in particular. I even quoted The City of God in my Sunday messageI felt quite scholarly talking about inordinately loved things. Yet, for today, I want to focus on what is among his best known quotes. He wrote, Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and […]
