Why COVID-19 news can drive people bonkers: You read one thing one place and another thing elsewhere. Notice below how one title suggests contemplation (“should you” and “suggest”) while the other strikes more concern (“recommended” and “high”). Further notice the timing of the article, where a question is asked after statement was made earlier in the day. Part of the … Read More
RESPONSE to Defiant Churches
To Churches Defying Medical & Political Leaders, Christians should be leading the way in terms of loving neighbors and exercising wisdom. Now that children and 30-50 year olds are known to be dying, there is no “safe” group per se. With that in mind, our witness can be damaged if we value ritual (even good rituals!) more than the innocent … Read More
COVID-19, Planning, & Jesus
As I observe dozens of Christians pondering what to do this weekend, I can’t help but ask: What would Jesus do? My guess is that Jesus would be out picking grain and delivering it to the needy — just like David took temple bread to feed the hungry. Both knew that life mattered more than tradition. The Sabbath, … Read More
Humility that Helps
Bear with me on this one, as it’s an imagined scenario within an imagined scenario… For years now, starting when I was in college, I’ve tried to understand Jesus’ teaching on foot washing. As you may know, the actual practice of foot washing is a distinctive feature of some churches (e.g., Church of God), which I had experienced back … Read More
How to Choose a Bible Commentary (Tips to Select the Best Commentaries)
I was recently asked some good questions about commentaries — basically, which ones are the best? To answer that, here are a few thoughts about which commentaries to use, as well as some practical advice to save you some money. Most scholars would advise not to buy a complete commentary set. This is because some volumes will be strong (even … Read More
The Purpose of Acts
The overall purpose of Acts is not to explain the Holy Spirt — i.e., as if Acts were a treatise on a single person of the Trinity. Yes, we could say the Spirit is the central character, and we can gather some theology of the Spirit from these narratives, but there is a much broader intent. After all, Acts is a … Read More
The Beards of Ministry
A field guide for pastoral facial hair.
10 Steps for Meeting Objectives
Useful tips for meeting objectives in any organization, including the local church: 1. Define purpose and mission. 2. Assess strengths and weaknesses. 3. Write specific and measurable objectives. 4. Work towards general agreement. 5. Maintain a reasonable work load. 6. Develop strategies for using resources. 7. Practice accountability. 8. Design long and short range plans. 9. Be willing to change. … Read More
Creativity & Leadership
“For the leader, creativity is essential. Life is constantly changing, but people always fear change. The leader is responsible to help them adapt and do something new. So, by increasing creativity, suffering or deprivation may feed the springs of leadership in a young soul.” Leighton Ford (Transforming Leadership, 42)
Free D.A. Carson Books
As a gift from the Gospel Coalition, here are 7 free D.A. Carson books that have been read and loved by many. I am looking forward to reading these, and I wanted to pass them along. The books are in PDF format that can be downloaded, printed, or transfered to an e-reader. 7 Free Books http://tiny.cc/freecarsonbooks Many thanks to Andy … Read More
Thoughts on Family Ministry
The family was designed by God to be a unique place, the most basic form of community, where much of our spiritual growth can occur. Because God designed families, churches should support families and minister to them. In this effort, churches need to encourage families to live out their faith outside of Sunday morning. It is during the week, within … Read More
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