There's nothing quite like emailing your church bookkeeper and saying, "Hey, pay me less." You'd think writing an email instructing someone to reduce your would feel dramatic, maybe even noble. It doesn't. It feels like admitting defeat. Like the financial version of
Pastoring
17 posts
One Sunday, the slides didn't work. Or, more accurately, there was no one to run the slides. I watched from the back as the congregation fumbled for their phones, squinting at tiny screens to find the second verse to "How Great Thou Art." A few people
After a decade and a half of pastoral ministry, I've gained a few insights worth sharing. Some came easily; others I learned the hard way. In no particular order, here are fifteen lessons from fifteen years of ministry:
I was recently reminded of a sermon illustration that gets shared by preachers of a particular sort. It goes something like this: Sheep are known to be stupid and wander off. A shepherd's job is to go and find the sheep and bring it back to fold. Over
This is my first week back from sabbatical! After twelve full weeks away from the responsibilities of pastoring a church, I am back in my home office, triaging email, arranging meetings, and altogether getting settled back in. I've only had one other sabbatical, but—from conversations with other
Does Bible college and seminary create scholars but not pastors?
If I wanted to drive a manager up the wall, I would make him responsible for the success of an organization and give him no authority. I would provide him with unclear goals, not commonly agreed upon by the organization. I would ask him to provide a service of an
These are the three most common phrases I say to people during pastoral counseling. I usually hesitate a bit because I never want to make people feel like I'm trying to minimize their feelings, questions, or doubts. No one wants to be told, "You're not