Articles
Five Things to Remember About the Eternal God
I’m never as aware of the swift passage of time as I am on January first each year. The 2015 calendar lies discarded in the trash, a reminder that the old year has irretrievably passed. A pristine 2016 calendar hangs by my desk, inviting me to welcome the full...
Unlikely Sheep
I remember, back when I was 14 or so, one particular night when my father, who was a pastor, got a wee-hours-in-the-morning call that changed lives forever. When the phone rang, I tumbled out of bed, tangled in sheets. (The phone was on my nightstand; the only other...
Divinely Inspired Messages
“Fake it ’til you make it” works in many situations: intramural sports, social interactions at networking meetings, your first job out of college. It does not work in church—or at least not very well. It’s normal to have days where you feel uninspired, far from...
God’s Time Principles
Genesis chapter one is amazing. God accomplished so much, so fast. These were the most productive days in history. And that’s where we can draw out some of God’s time principles. He focused on one type of task each day. He had an orderly plan. He made what was needed...
5 Ways to Invest in Your Marriage This Year
As a pastor’s wife for more than 20 years, I didn’t realize I was neglecting my marriage, until one New Year’s Day when I was doing my annual goal-setting. I’ve always been a goal-setter. Every January I come up with new goals (not resolutions -- goals) to save more...
Being A Happy Healthy PK
“Preachers’ kids are the worst kind . . .” How many times have you heard that, fellow PKs? Well, I contend—as would my sister—that we are not the worst kind. But we are human. I grew up in church. I don’t even know how old I was when my dad started pastoring. I do...
Something for Everyone
I have been a part of different churches with three different music styles: totally traditional, totally contemporary, and blended. Some say blended worship doesn’t work, so they have two different types of worship services—one traditional and one contemporary,...
The Value of Mentorship
As a pastor, you know that calls can come anytime, day or night. Daddy often got middle-of-the-night or wee-hour-of-the-morning calls. He always took them. I bet you do too. So with all the pouring out of oneself that a pastor has to do, how can he get recharged?...
Preach About What You Are For
When it comes to topics of pop culture, would you say you are more well-known in your congregation for what you preach against or for what you preach for? Years ago, when both kids and adults were crazy for Harry Potter, Hermione, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and...
Revitalize Your Prayer Life
People might assume that spiritual leaders naturally have dynamic prayer lives. I wish their assumptions were correct in every case. Unfortunately, pastors and other ministry leaders struggle with fatigue, time management, a heavy workload, and family responsibilities...
Raising Kids Who Like Church
Before we became a ministry family, we were normal churchgoers. We attended every Sunday, and we had Christian friends. One of those friends had grown up as a preacher’s kid. This man was offered certain volunteer positions within the church he attended, and many...
The Silent Tsunami
The morning of December 26, 2004 was a beautiful day for many people spending time on the beaches of Thailand and Indonesia. No one was aware that something very ominous and deadly was happening below the surface of the Indian Ocean. That morning, the day after...
Does Your Attitude Need An Adjustment?
Ever have one of those days! You know what I mean. You get up on the wrong side of the bed. You have a bad hair day. Traffic is a nightmare. Every line you stand in seems to be the slowest. Nothing seems to be going your way. It’s so easy when momentum seems to be...
Story Telling in Sermons: It’s Not Just for Kids!
Do you remember your favorite book as a child? There were probably a few lovable characters, a memorable storyline, and a lesson to learn that made you choose that story time and time again. Storytelling is a great way to entertain and teach…and it works for all ages!...
A Platform Is Not a Vacuum: Addressing the Real World from the Pulpit
As Christians, we’re supposed to live in the world but not be caught up in it. That can seem like a fine line at times, because let’s be honest—it’s hard to do! We can’t ignore world events, civil issues, and threats against the Kingdom—both locally and...
Make a List and Check It Twice (a Month)
Do you use a journal? It doesn’t matter whether you favor apps like Evernote or prefer the tactile feel of a journal in your hands—as long as you record your thoughts often. While you likely have a system of note taking that works for you—if so, stick with it—consider...
Break Up with Writer’s Block
You’ve been sitting there, staring at your screen for the last half-hour. And all you can think about is coffee…and when you’re supposed to get your oil changed again, and what you’ll eat for dinner…except that you’re supposed to be writing your next sermon. Welcome...
The Importance of Prioritizing
Pastoring is tough business. How, as a pastor, do you keep the Lord happy, your spouse happy, your kids happy, and your congregation happy (and if you’re part of a denomination, headquarters happy)—all while making sure you’re healthy and happy too? Well, that’s the...
The Pastor’s Children in Church
When my husband was getting ready to graduate from seminary, he was asked to visit a rural church in view of a call to be the pastor. It was to be a weekend visit, which included my husband meeting with various groups: the pastor search committee, the volunteer music...
The Power of Humility
I love movies – especially redemptive movies with plenty of action and a storyline that captivates the imagination. There are some basic themes that go into these types of epic tales. One of those themes – the “bad guy” must be sufficiently arrogant. Yet, in the...
