A rock collector named Robert Cutshaw once found a rock he described as “big and pretty.” He tried to sell it, and when that failed, he kept the rock under his bed in the dark. Rob guessed the blue chunk of rock could bring as much as $500, but he would have taken...
The 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising
When we first moved to the Fixer Upper Farm, it was a bit of an eyesore. Weeds six feet tall. Broken windows. Snakes swimming in the broken-down pool. And so many bushes that needed to be trimmed way back. We have girls. And girls are great and can do anything; I’m a...
Walking in God’s Known Will
I remember having a conversation with a pastor from my home church a few years ago. We were discussing the idea of living with purpose. The phrase “living with purpose,” or “walking out your purpose,” is one that I hear often in women’s ministry. Finding their...
The Call to Radiance
In Matthew 5, Jesus steps on a mount and begins to teach. His prophetic words are drenched in love and wrapped in vision. It was a sermon unlike any other that has now found its home in what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5–7). In it, Jesus shares his dreams for...
How Churches Are Adapting to the Ever-Changing Dynamics of Hunger-Relief
As we approach the first anniversary of the original stay-at-home order, the emerging story is one that the church has known all along. More profound than our human differences are God-given commonalities, like the need for food, water, shelter – and hope. COVID-19...
The 7 Rules of Rest
Pastor, you are called to preach. You are called to shepherd, you are called to lead. You are called to serve, you are called to sacrifice. You are also called to rest! This is especially important after this long season of stress we have all endured during the...
Praying Through Your Church Directory
The apostle Paul says that we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Then, the apostle James tells us to “pray for one another” (James 5:16). Good ideas, but easier said than done. The sainted apostles didn’t have to work 8-10 hours a day, take care of...
Church – care for abused and neglected children
A responsibility of the local church to care for abused and neglected children In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, CityServe, along with churches around the nation will be observing a National Day of Prayer. Referred to as Blue Sunday, this April 25th. This day...
The Stamp Collector
Mark and Jeff and I are sponsors of our sons’ soccer teams this year. After a bruising Saturday morning chasing the kids through an activity that was something like soccer, we loaded the rowdy bunch of 9-year-olds into the van and headed towards the local pizza...
Ministry to the Vulnerable
I remember when I first heard the word “vulnerable” a couple of years ago. My wife, Julie, and I had been invited to be the CityServe National Directors for the Vulnerable Initiative. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure I knew who “the vulnerable” were. I soon learned...
Treasures in Darkness
A rock collector named Robert Cutshaw once found a rock he described as “big and pretty.” He tried to sell it, and when that failed, he kept the rock under his bed in the dark. Rob guessed the blue chunk of rock could bring as much as $500, but he would have taken...
The 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising
When we first moved to the Fixer Upper Farm, it was a bit of an eyesore. Weeds six feet tall. Broken windows. Snakes swimming in the broken-down pool. And so many bushes that needed to be trimmed way back. We have girls. And girls are great and can do anything; I’m a...
Walking in God’s Known Will
I remember having a conversation with a pastor from my home church a few years ago. We were discussing the idea of living with purpose. The phrase “living with purpose,” or “walking out your purpose,” is one that I hear often in women’s ministry. Finding their...
The Call to Radiance
In Matthew 5, Jesus steps on a mount and begins to teach. His prophetic words are drenched in love and wrapped in vision. It was a sermon unlike any other that has now found its home in what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5–7). In it, Jesus shares his dreams for...
How Churches Are Adapting to the Ever-Changing Dynamics of Hunger-Relief
As we approach the first anniversary of the original stay-at-home order, the emerging story is one that the church has known all along. More profound than our human differences are God-given commonalities, like the need for food, water, shelter – and hope. COVID-19...
The 7 Rules of Rest
Pastor, you are called to preach. You are called to shepherd, you are called to lead. You are called to serve, you are called to sacrifice. You are also called to rest! This is especially important after this long season of stress we have all endured during the...
Praying Through Your Church Directory
The apostle Paul says that we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Then, the apostle James tells us to “pray for one another” (James 5:16). Good ideas, but easier said than done. The sainted apostles didn’t have to work 8-10 hours a day, take care of...
Church – care for abused and neglected children
A responsibility of the local church to care for abused and neglected children In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, CityServe, along with churches around the nation will be observing a National Day of Prayer. Referred to as Blue Sunday, this April 25th. This day...
The Stamp Collector
Mark and Jeff and I are sponsors of our sons’ soccer teams this year. After a bruising Saturday morning chasing the kids through an activity that was something like soccer, we loaded the rowdy bunch of 9-year-olds into the van and headed towards the local pizza...
Ministry to the Vulnerable
I remember when I first heard the word “vulnerable” a couple of years ago. My wife, Julie, and I had been invited to be the CityServe National Directors for the Vulnerable Initiative. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure I knew who “the vulnerable” were. I soon learned...
Helping Your Small Group Thrive
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