Jun 8, 2023 | Church Matters, Family, Pastor's Life, Personal Development
My husband always tells me how beautiful I am and speaks kindly about my body. Why can’t I receive it? Sixteen years ago, my husband and I had a fight I will never forget. I rarely remember why we were fighting, but this memory is one that left a mark on my heart. I...
Jun 6, 2023 | Church Matters, Leadership, Pastor's Life
Compared to large church services, small group meetings are often more interactive, conversational, and close-knit, helping members make deep connections as they work towards spiritual growth. Follow these tips for starting a small group ministry, and you’ll give the...
Jun 2, 2023 | Church Matters, Missions, Pastor's Life
This year, over 7,000 missionaries will be forced to leave their calling. That’s almost 20 missionaries a day, throwing in the towel. Over the years I’ve heard a lot of reasons why mission workers return home. Look at some of the reasons we lose valuable, qualified...
May 30, 2023 | Church Matters, Leadership, Pastor's Life, Personal Development
I love the mountains and spend any time that I can hiking and climbing in them. I therefore own gargantuan quantities of hiking equipment, and one of my favourite pieces of kit is my ice axe. There is just one little problem. I’ve never used the thing. I certainly...
May 27, 2023 | Church Matters, Leadership, Pastor's Life, Personal Development
We live in a very fear-based culture. Our news media is full of endless stories about things we should be afraid of: climate change, pandemics, financial crashes, asteroid strikes, tortoises, shark attacks, coconuts falling on you, and so on. Whether irrational or...
May 23, 2023 | Inspiration
Monasteries during the Dark Ages, the first Franciscans facing a church weakened by wealth and power, the Protestant Reformation alarmed by legalism and religious profiteering, the early Anabaptists disturbed by a cozy relationship between church and state, Methodism...
May 19, 2023 | Refreshment
What is the most courageous thing you’ve done? I have read many stories of courage, but one comes immediately to mind. On March 7, 2022, the massive Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, Florida, was closed as part of a 10K race for the armed forces. Nearly seven...
May 18, 2023 | Inspiration
Each Thursday night for almost an entire year, about twenty-five young adults would arrive at my house at 7:00 p.m. We would gather each week to study something interesting about the Bible as it related to the world we were living in. The group was so fun, and I...
May 15, 2023 | Editor's Pick, Perspectives
My friend Annabelle grew up in Uganda in a Muslim home. One night, her stepbrother abused her, and to her horror, Annabelle realized her father would do nothing to protect her. Things only got worse as Annabelle (only thirteen at the time) discovered there was a plan...
