Sep 23, 2016 | Perspectives, slider
Every night recently, pictures of violence fill the evening news as the riots in Charlotte filled rage on. After I went to bed, I lay thinking about the images and how the violence and disunity must break the heart of God. I wondered how we – the people of God...
Sep 21, 2016 | Inspiration, Perspectives
We are at war. The world is a crazy, scary place. Children are being sold into slavery, terrorists are attacking innocent victims and no one knows where Isis will strike next. This newest bombing in New York and New Jersey confirms that the U.S. is not immune from...
Sep 20, 2016 | Perspectives, Refreshment
This subject is difficult for me because the very thought of it makes me ill. If you have experienced, or are now experiencing, a situation where a congregant or a group of congregants try to undermine your authority as a pastor, you are not alone. I would imagine it...
Sep 16, 2016 | Perspectives
In the business world, there are managers and employees. Managers normally have the authority to hire and fire at will, and everyone is working for an hourly wage or salary. If an employee doesn’t do the job as instructed, he or she may be replaced. But in the church,...
Sep 14, 2016 | Inspiration, Pastor's Life, VIDEO
Kevin Harney, Pastor of Shoreline Community Church in Monterey, CA, shares how a broken promise to himself to live a truly balanced life led to redemption through “dad home nights” and an admission that sometimes family must come first.
Sep 14, 2016 | Family, Inspiration
The National Study of Youth and Religion[1] indicates that 82% of children raised by parents who talked about faith at home attach great importance to their beliefs and were active in church as adults. Similar studies and surveys show that intentional parenting...
Sep 7, 2016 | Inspiration, Pastor's Life, VIDEO
Dr. Mike Garrett, Senior Pastor of Meridian Baptist Church, suffered depression and rejection while leading his church through a major community outreach project. While knowing it was the right decision, it was fraught with challenges and for the first few years,...
Sep 7, 2016 | Inspiration
When most pastors think of ministry, they are energized by helping people. They aren’t usually nearly as excited about the financial aspects. I’ve recently started Fully Funded, an organization to help church leaders lead well in the area of financial stewardship,...
Sep 6, 2016 | Inspiration
We all want to see lives changed for Christ. But what message does the church most need to hear for that to happen? I’d like to suggest there are two dominant “songs” being sung in the church today. One you could call the song of Extravagant Grace. It says God loves...