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!
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
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!
We see it time and again. Whether you have been blindsided by a leadership decision or experienced a slow “death spiral” in a ministry role, the spiritual and emotional toll of a forced exit is great. Trauma is not too drastic of a word to use to describe what ministers and their families encounter when … Continue reading Uncovering the Trauma of Forced Ministry Exits
“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” - C.S. Lewis It’s been a long week since my last posting. (I think I have to give up on putting myself in a “time” box.) Before we take a … Continue reading Another Reason Pastors don’t ask for help – Fear!
In my last blog, I began to explore what I think are the top five reasons pastors (and probably quite a few of the rest of us) don’t ask for help. I know that in my own life, I am constantly amazed at how often these tendencies crop up. The daily challenge is to lean … Continue reading I Can Manage on My Own… Part 2 of “5 Reasons Pastors Don’t Ask for Help – and what can happen if you do!”
I just finished reading this extremely thought provoking book by Dr. John Koessler, and I highly recommend it for everyone – but especially for the exited pastors among us. The title was what first drew me to purchase the book. It was a mind grabber. However, Dr. Koessler’s ability to be both pastor and theologian … Continue reading The Surprising Grace of Disappointment – Book Review
Starting up the blog again in this new year has been a bit of a challenge. As we all know, life can get in the way of our best laid plans. Anyway, I wanted to begin the new year on a positive note. I hope this little installment gives you hope! *** I really miss … Continue reading Hope Behind the Headlines
As pastors, laboring among broken people (and being broken ourselves!) there’s a lot of mess. Sometimes it feels like all you do is clean up the mess: “Clean-up on aisle 10!” So much work and effort, and it is most often unnoticed and unrewarding. I recently concluded teaching a class called “When God Hands You … Continue reading The Daily Grind
