My Friends are …

60 Seconds of Pastoral Pondering   It was called ‘Friend Day’ and was in our church playbook to use occasionally to get our people to invite their unchurched friends to a specific Sunday. It was usually accompanied by some success. There were people who discovered that church wasn’t necessarily all that frightening and that the […]

Calling for help

A Father When An Uncle Won’t Do

When Jesus was looking for answers that weren’t available, He didn’t cry “Uncle.”   – He cried “Father!” “Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.”  Matthew 11:25 New Living Translation […]

Upon Further Review

Upon Further Review

It’s the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and we’re down by two points. We’ve moved the ball down the field with skill and determination. Hope is soaring; the expectation of a ‘come-from-behind win’ is palpable. It’s ‘gasp or go’ time. On fourth and long a sideline pass to the tight end is caught […]

Learning From Jehoshaphat

60 Seconds of Pastoral Pondering   What can a leader do to turn frightened and disoriented people into a confident, spiritually aggressive and faith-filled army? King Jehoshaphat of II Chronicles fame can provide us with some answers.   It’s tough to be a God follower when the God haters are out to get you. Many […]