Articles

While I never thought of myself as an author, writing has become a major part of my ministry over the last three decades. Almost all of my books have grown out of my counseling ministry. Earlier in my career, I discovered the five love languages and how they greatly...

Ministry preparation is as old as the church itself. The apostle Paul had received formal Jewish instruction at the feet of Gamaliel before receiving personal instruction from Christ Himself. Bringing this concept full circle, Paul exhorted Timothy to “be diligent to...

In response to the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan. The lawyer’s motivation in asking this question, the Bible tells us, was to evade moral responsibility, but Jesus patiently unpacked the question...

One evening, after decades of a Christianity driven by rules and performance, I came impulsively close to ending my life. Until that moment, my relationship with God had been primarily about Bible content and the discipline to obey. But that night, everything changed....

When Curt was diagnosed with brain cancer, all of us were heartbroken. All except Curt, who stood tall and resolute. He told us God was in control. On the eve of the day the doctors would operate, our group of seven held a healing service in Curt’s home. I had never...

Following American Idol’s season 7 “Idol Gives Back” episode on FOX, viewers raced online to react to pop-star competition contestants performing Darlene Zschech’s contemporary worship staple, “Shout to the Lord.” Some regarded this performance, which was on the...

"Everyone in your leadership wake benefits when you do the personal work to shrink your integrity gap." Whether one or millions follow you, how you live and lead matters. You and everyone you influence benefits when you wake up to the importance of shrinking your...

Revival that spreads rapidly often–if not exclusively–is a result of persecution and/or efforts at the very least suppressing God’s people. The Carto, a bustling street in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is a perfect example of this reality. The Romans...

I know this seems like a strange question to ask in a pastor’s blog, but it is one Holy Spirit recently asked me. Like myself, you probably answered, “Absolutely” very quickly. Also, like me, you would be mistaken. The nature of a relationship is somewhat precarious....