From the category archives:

Ministry

Giving It Up for Lent: Power, Control, and Bullying

As I mentioned in here, I’m reading Maggi Dawn’s book, Giving it Up: Daily Bible Readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day as a devotional guide during Lent.
In reflecting on the third and final temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:8-11, she writes:
Misusing power to take control is a temptation that comes to [...]

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Authenticity and Hypocrisy from the “Pulpit”

As a pastor, I try to be authentic and transparent to people in our community.  I’m generally fine with admitting mistakes, confessing sin, and telling people I’m still a work in progress.  But, what if I don’t want to be completely transparent?  What if I’m going through a rough season (or even a rough morning)?  [...]

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My Email Manifesto, Or “How Email Will No Longer Rule My Life!”

This is probably a post best suited for a website dedicated to workplace management, GTD, and personal productivity, but I’m going to post it here as my response to the email culture that I’ve been living in for way too long.
Here’s the problem:  The demands on time and attention are infinite.  There seems to be [...]

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Swiping the Offering at Church

I know of other churches that do this, but Tim Stevens blogged about the decision his church made to put “giving kiosks” in their church building.  I will say that my reaction to these “money machines” in a church building has always negative, bordering on disdainful.
What do you think?
Take a minute and read what Tim [...]

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Evangelism & Social Activism: On Eliminating the ‘&’

For too long, evangelism and social activism have been separated. Followers of Jesus are given the false impression they must choose to be involved with one or the other at a time.
Jesus came with saving love for the whole world. He indwells the church, empowering us to be on mission with him, redeeming [...]

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Prayer for Holy Rebels … [Do I Really Want to Do This?]

I’m beginning to pray for something that just might be filed under the category, “be careful what you ask for!”
As you know, if you’ve been following my blog, the church where I serve as pastor is entering into a major transition.  We’re taking the step of purchasing a building.  And while it is our deep [...]

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Churches and Debt

In 2006, churches in North America were a collective $28 billion in debt.  So says a recent article in the New York Times.  I serve on the leadership team of a church in Elizabethtown, Ky that is about to add to that total.  In 2003, I was part of the group that started The Bridge [...]

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Sunday School

From The Wall Street Journal …
The decline in Sunday schools appears to be gradual but steady. A study by the Barna Group indicated that in 2004 churches were 6% less likely to provide Sunday school for children ages 2 to 5 as in 1997. For middle-school kids, the decline was to 86% providing Sunday school [...]

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