Ten years ago I told myself I would never be a pastor again. And I meant it. It was 2016, and after a year of false accusations, the congregation I served voted to dissolve our relationship. I was eventually exonerated, but by then something in me had already closed up. I didn’t trust churches anymore,…
I want to tell you about a conversation I wish I could get back. It was the end of a long Sunday. I’d preached in the morning, then led a small group for another hour and a half. By the time I got to my office I was wiped out. Honestly, I was already driving…
We’re in the afterglow of America’s 250th Fourth of July. Fireworks, parades, hamburgers and hot dogs. And I’ll admit it, I kind of love all that. I don’t mind the phrase “healthy patriotism” one bit. If patriotism means loving the land and the people, the freedoms, the best parts of our history, then count me…
I recently heard that Disney let go of 1,000 artists and designers. Presumably, AI can now generate a Marvel superhero’s costume faster and cheaper than a human being can. I don’t know about you, but something about that makes me sad. And a little uneasy. We are living through a genuine disruption of work. AI…
Let’s be honest… In a world rapidly changing, the church is standing at the precipice of a pivotal transformation. This isn’t just another minor shift; it’s a seismic movement signaling that the very heart of worship and community is being redefined. Enter the Nomads Enter the ‘nomads,’ as Terry Walling calls them—a growing population…
Easter is almost here! This year, as I’ve been thinking about Easter, I’ve also been thinking about discontinuous change. I’ve written and spoken about discontinuous change in the past, but what the heck does it have to do with Easter?! What is Discontinuous Change? First, a quick definition. Discontinuous change—as opposed to continuous change,…
One of the hardest things about being a pastor is the feeling that what you’re doing isn’t making a difference. You put the work in week in and week out–and for what? People don’t seem to be growing in their faith. Younger generations are disappearing from your church. And you can’t, for the life of…
Shalom is one of my favorite words. What is Shalom? The simple meaning of shalom is “peace.” But shalom is so much more than a mere absence of violence or hostility. It’s about much more than a couple of friends or a couple of nations getting along with each other. Shalom has to with…
One of my favorite things to do with a team of leaders is “dwelling in Scripture.” This is a simple lectio divina exercise that works great with groups. How “Dwelling in Scripture” works What I love about the practice of dwelling in scripture is that it requires absolutely zero preparation. So often, we who…
When I think about toxic influences, I think about “toxic assets.” I learned this term during the recession of 2008. The assets refer to mortgage loans. As the housing market collapsed the value of the properties fell below the value of the loans. Suddenly, these loans became liabilities because the houses that secured the loans…