Recently, as my wife and I were talking about this ministry, I expressed concern about connecting with those who find themselves adrift after being exited from ministry. In the course of that conversation, it occurred to both of us that one of the primary reasons for the difficulty in connecting might be that no one … Continue reading Who is looking for the lost shepherds?
From time to time, it will be my pleasure to introduce you to some friends who have agreed to share their insights and perspective around the topics we deal with here. I hope you will offer them the same hospitality as guests that you have given to me, as I have invaded your cyber-space. Doug … Continue reading The Joyful Pastor- Guest Blog
In the last couple of months, two significant events occurred in the history of space exploration. While most of us can identify the first one – the landing of the Mars explorer “Curiosity” – it is likely that the second went relatively unnoticed. Early last month, an Associated Press report marked the 35th anniversary of … Continue reading A Re-shaped Purpose – The Voyager Project and Exited Pastors
It’s amazing who you might know! The idea of “six degrees of separation” – where everyone is approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world - has entered the mainstream of our culture. In the last 10 years, there have been studies conducted to try to validate the … Continue reading Exited Pastors – Everybody Knows One!
I am not a “gear head”! But you can’t live in Detroit and not be impacted by the car industry - especially in mid-August when, in what has become a yearly pilgrimage for many, the “Dream Cruise” descends on the 21 mile route down Woodward Avenue from Pontiac to Detroit. It is the largest one-day … Continue reading The “Dream” in the Dream Cruise – thoughts on restoring the broken among us.
How do we align biblical understandings of pastoral ministry with cultural expectations…Can we? One of the books I have listed on my “Reading” page is David Rohrer’s new book, “The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry”(IVP). I found this book to be incredibly insightful and refreshing. The author takes his cue from the life and work … Continue reading Bookshelf – Recommended Reads
A few weeks back, I wrote about the startling statistics that highlight the trends occurring in pastoral ministry today – trends that are resulting in pastors self-ejecting from, or being forced out of, their churches. In the turbulent world of church leadership, many pastors are “at-risk.” Below are four of the top factors that put … Continue reading Staying Out of the Statistics
Before we had our kitchen remodeled, my wife used to collect comics and post them on “The Door”; which was the back side of the door to our basement. It was literally filled with Far Side, Dilbert and the like – comics that made us laugh at ourselves and the world. I thought it might … Continue reading The Door – a brief departure from the serious
Linch pin: noun. “Something that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together.” In this fast-paced world, where all of us struggle to maintain balance while getting through our long “to do” lists, the need to define our priorities is increasingly essential. Pastors and all those in church leadership are no exception. Yet … Continue reading Priority One for Pastors
“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.” … Continue reading Facing our Humanity
AN ENCOURAGING WORD 