“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
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!
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
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
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
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 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
Every once in a while, we get a glimpse of the Church doing what it was created for. Any impression or expectation that the Church was – or ever will be – perfect this side of heaven is mistaken. There is plenty of evidence of that in the letters of the Apostle Paul to the … Continue reading When the Church Shines!
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” – 1 Timothy 4:15 One of the highest compliments I hear being given to a pastor or ministry leader is that they are “well grounded” in their teaching. It implies that they have committed themselves … Continue reading The Grounded Pastor – Patterns for a Healthy Pastoral Life, Part 3
Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (ESV) “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” MSG 1 Timothy 4:16 - “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will … Continue reading The Answer for Isolation & Loneliness in Ministry Life
