Many years ago, I encountered a madman and he happened to be a pastor. He hired lots of young, idealistic staff and questioned them at every turn. They would all eventually…
If you’re a Lot, you’re a little
Look, this town is close enough for me to run to. It is a small place. Please let me go there—it’s only a small place, isn’t it?—so that I can…
Jesus Loved Martha, Her Sister, Lazarus (and me)
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John 11:5 Some versions enclose this verse in parenthesis- almost as if John whispered under his breath, “Oh, by the way,…
Everybody’s Been to Ziklag
David and his men arrived in Ziklag on the third day. The Amalekites had raided the Negev and attacked and burned down Ziklag. They also had kidnapped the women and everyone in it from the…
Worship: A Pastor’s Perspective
Every now and then as a pastor I get an opportunity to scan the faces of my church family in worship. I know many of them well as they struggle…
13 Ways to Stay Small
(The Last One Works Every Time!) Growth is easy when you're 8-years-old. It gets harder at 30 or 40 or 50. However, it's easy to stop growing. Your growth as an…
What is Church?
What is the church? In all of it’s glory and shame What is the future of this beautiful wreck And what will we do when we realize that the Church…
36 Names I Call Him
He’s my secret Treasure amidst the lies of gold The Captain of my vessel, the Guardian of my soul The Champion of my battles, my Warrior in the night My…
The Man in the Arena
Perhaps the most repeated quote of the past few years, made famous through the excellent writings of Brene' Brown is Teddy Roosevelt's anthem to those who dare to be in…
Technical Terms in Parenting
Our society emerged as an over-diagnosed culture over the past ten years. We seem to have a name just about every disease, dysfunction and disorder. I don’t know why…