Jesus is always calling us to look at Him, hear His voice and lean strong into the life He has given us!
The Silence
The word not spoken. The silence not broken. There is power in the absence, and peace in the void. A world full of noises; multiplied voices. Each crying desperately: “Notice!” “Hear me!” The panic and frantic, relentless confusion, Betrays the great depth of unsatisfied souls. The word not spoken. The silence not … Continue reading The Silence
No Hurry!
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. John 2:12 Dear fellow travelers on the Way, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life” These words from Dallas Willard to John Ortberg captivated me from the first moment I laid eyes … Continue reading No Hurry!
A Season of Grief
“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brandmarks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). This has been a season of grief. I have experienced more sadness and grief - and the anger that can often accompany these - in the last 6 months than I have in … Continue reading A Season of Grief
To My Fellow Pastors…who are People too!
I am a real person who occupies an office. David Rohrer in The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry Then God said, ’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’ then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man … Continue reading To My Fellow Pastors…who are People too!
To My Fellow Cultivators of Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Matthew 5:9 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. – James 3:17-18 Dear fellow … Continue reading To My Fellow Cultivators of Peace
To My Fellow Pastor/road-warriors
I am not sure that any time in my journey with Jesus – and as a leader in the church – has seemed more like an off-road event than this last year. The big detour sign on the “normal” lanes has put me on side roads that have turned into nothing more than tire tracks … Continue reading To My Fellow Pastor/road-warriors
Reentry – A Pandemic Renewal Plan Part 2
Every aspect of our lives has been tested – the landscape of our lives has undergone a radical upheaval. Living in Michigan, there have been a few times when I have experienced a “white out” while driving in a winter storm. It is completely disorienting. All the familiar points of reference disappear. This season we … Continue reading Reentry – A Pandemic Renewal Plan Part 2
Reentry – A Pandemic Renewal Plan Part 1
Upside down and backwards – this is the way the Apollo astronauts returned to earth after their historic space flights. Upside down and backwards is likely how you are feeling right now as you reenter the “in person” world post-pandemic. Ministry life for the last 3 months has been anything but normal. All of us … Continue reading Reentry – A Pandemic Renewal Plan Part 1
The Weight of Ministry Life
The emotional challenges of ministry life are real! Few vocations rival the emotional and spiritual weight that those in ministry carry- the result of being on the front lines in the brokenness of our world. These challenges can be intense and constant. Much like those in emergency response roles (the “first responders”), the grief that … Continue reading The Weight of Ministry Life