Sep 18, 2026 | Leadership, Pastor's Life, Personal Development, Perspectives
I stood beside him in the church choir. Months later, he was arrested for murder. Back then, he seemed like the kind of man no one would ever question—steady, respected, a pillar of our community. Sure, he seemed a little aloof during choir practice, but I was just a...
Sep 17, 2026 | Inspiration, Personal Development, Refreshment
Returning to Joy in the Middle of Tragedy In November 2013 tragedy struck my hometown of Washington, Illinois. An EF-4 tornado, with damaging winds reaching 190 miles per hour, destroyed over one thousand homes and created nearly a billion dollars in damage. Twenty...
Sep 15, 2026 | Church Matters, Spiritual Growth
Discipleship as Sacramental Living and Table Fellowship Discipleship is sacramental because disciples are the living temple of the triune God, together. Years earlier, Paul’s letter to the Galatians erupted with urgency because Judaizers similarly weaponized table...
Sep 11, 2026 | Church Matters, Leadership, Pastor's Life, Personal Development
Church Hurt Can Wound Pastors and Ministry Leaders Too The large church my friend’s family had helped build abruptly dismissed her son, their associate pastor. This honorable young father suddenly found himself with no income and lots of confusion. My friend asked,...
Sep 8, 2026 | Inspiration, Leadership, Personal Development, Spiritual Growth
As we think about finding and living our purpose on planet Earth, we need to rethink much of what the world teaches us. The world insists that “bigger is better,” “more is mightier,” and “success is measured by size,” yet God tells us that those things are rarely...
Sep 4, 2026 | Personal Development, Spiritual Growth
When You Can’t Change Someone You Love I’m so tired of trying to change them. I’m worn out from being the one person keeping everything from going off the rails. I’m exhausted from making all this effort but never getting the outcome I long for. These were the...
Sep 3, 2026 | Church Matters, Leadership
Why safety in a church is built quietly, over time, long before anyone needs it Safer Ministry Environments Begin With Watchful Leadership Most of us who lead in ministry never set out to build a safe church. We set out to build a faithful one. We wanted to preach...
Sep 1, 2026 | Leadership, Personal Development, Spiritual Growth
Healthy Roots for Leaders Must Be Stronger Than the Storm When a tree topples, typically no one is harmed, but a toppling leader brings damage to everyone surrounding the leader: a family, a company, a congregation. Trust is broken. Dreams and goals seem to be ruined....
Aug 28, 2026 | Devotion, Inspiration, Spiritual Growth
Thanks-Living: Why 5:18? So many profound single verses from the Bible resound in our souls like a divine mic drop. We highlight, underline, memorize, and even sign these scriptural Mount Everests by our names. Yet how often do we miss the rich depths of their...
