I’ve had recent conversations with several dozen pastors serving congregations in diverse settings. Their descriptions of their ministry challenges were what most of us could expect these days. One by one, they all raised the same daunting concern: broken connections. Broken connections within the congregation...
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter7 said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”[1] Luke 8:45 We are years into a global pandemic, and we have witnessed the resiliency and creativity of Christian communities all...
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused” Isaiah 30:15 NRSV Our pursuit of our best life will not save us. Nor will it satisfy the deep...
“God uses all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people.” This simple, yet profound statement was made several years ago by my friend and brother, Rev. Andre’ D. Waller. I think a lot of us in ministry would do well to remember this. ...
I love how Eugene Peterson translates the first few verses of Philippians 2. “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if...
The movie theater in my city has $5 Tuesdays, where you can watch any movie for $5. If they have a movie that starts early enough for me to see it before I have to pick up my three kids from school, I go by myself, sit...
“This is hard” the words came quick, without warning catching me off guard. I wasn’t expecting this confession. Not from her, not today. I had already reached the limits of my own exhaustion and anxiety. I had already used my comforting words for the day...
“Other seed fell into good soil…” – Mark 4:8 In the shed at Farm Church, we have a tool that looks like it doesn’t belong. It hangs among the rakes, trowels, and digging forks, looking strangely out of place, until we need it, and then it...
I rushed home yesterday after work so that I could get in my yard and do some much needed trimming and clipping, but after getting about halfway through the yard the heavens opened and it began to rain - not a downpour but a gentle...