The tide continues to churn. The waves pound in relentless fury. The clouds billow across the darkened sky as rain descends in windswept turbulence. The undercurrent pulls ever outward, ever downward. The feet scuffle to find earth beneath the sea. Legs quiver with fire as the struggle to tread water intensifies with each passing moment. […]
4 Rules for those Seeking Ministry (or those already in the Battle)
As a pastor entrenched in ministry for the past two decades I am seeing and connecting with, thank God, many young people pursuing vocational ministry. One such young man reached out to me this morning and I hope my response to him encourages and challenges anyone looking to embrace the dangerous call to ministry (and […]
Was Ravi Zacharias a Christian?
“So…was Ravi Zacharias really a Christian?” The young staff member and I sat at a table filled with boneless wings, wedge salads, and leaders of our church. Her eyes were wide with saddened incredulity. Could it be possible that one of the most famed Christian apologists of the last century was, in fact, not a true […]
“O Tidings of Criticism & Unmet Expectations”: A word from, about, and for Pastors
“Criticisms against pastors have increased significantly. One pastor recently shared with me the number of criticisms he receives are five times greater than the pre-pandemic era. Church members are worried. Church members are weary. And the most convenient target for their angst is their pastor.” This declaration, which – after a bizarre week of ministry – […]
When Emotions Rise and Words Fail
I have been asked numerous times since Wednesday for my thoughts concerning #GeorgeFloyd. I am aware that even straightforward speech can be misinterpreted and misconstrued so I tread carefully. I grew up in the dirty south, in one of the most racially-charged counties in America. I saw bigotry in church circles and school settings from […]
What Should I Read?
We are living in a non-literary age in which books often serve more as decorative enhancement than mind, or even soul, enlightenment. Research over the past nearly two decades has revealed a decline in the individual daily reading time of average Americans from merely 22 minutes to now less than 17. This dearth in reading […]