Plagiarism and the Pulpit
Plagiarism in preaching isn’t a new issue. Jeremiah 23:30 speaks of false prophets who, as the Lord says, “steal my words from one another.” These prophets lied, delivering messages from others or their imaginations, devoid of God’s truth. Such words were mere straws compared to wheat, worthless to God’s people.…
Mental Health Matters: How the Church Can Lead with Compassion and Care
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the perception of mental health within the church. As someone who has spent years both in the church and in the mental health field, I’ve had a front-row seat to see how mental health is often stigmatized within Christian communities. This topic has resurfaced for…
Beauty Among the Flies: Finding God Amid Distractions
On the way to our cabin is a peacefully flowing mountain stream that tumbles between boulders. It sits in the middle of a forest with pine trees towering above it. As I drove past it during my sabbatical I felt very clearly that God was encouraging me to take the…
Be Kind To Yourself
There is a song that I love by an artist named Andrew Peterson titled, Be Kind to Yourself. It is a beautiful ode to the reality that we are often far harder on ourselves than we would ever be on another person (if you’ve never heard it, stop reading and…
Summer Reading Guide 2024
For most of us, the summer months bring a mix of busy ministry seasons and (hopefully) a few pockets of relaxation. While we don’t expect pastors and church leaders to be lounging beachside with a book for weeks on end – although more power to you, if you can make…
3 Critical Components Of A Healthy Church Culture
The statements below are just a few of the many statements we have heard over the past five years. They are statements that are being made as people finally feel like they can open up about their previous church hurt. “I just have been burned so bad that I’m afraid…
How to Keep the Momentum Going
We just (re)launched a new ministry for young adults called Momentum. It’s been exciting to see God not only bringing young adults to our church, but also raising them up to take initiative to nurture a community of other young adults to have a desire to know Jesus and make…
The Journey of Faith: Understanding Stages of Spiritual Growth
As a 13-year-old, my extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins journeyed across the United States from Pennsylvania to California. The month-long trip was carefully planned so that we would arrive at my grandparent’s home on a pre-appointed day. Three cars and 14 people traveled from state to state, stopping…
Putting Away The Sword: Uniting Around The Essentials
Recently, I asked my congregation to come with me, listen and sit close to Jesus as he petitioned his Father in John 17. What a privilege it was to listen in and glean from this most sacred prayer. We as a church sat up close as Jesus’ love for his…
You Can Have Anything You Want: Lessons in Focus and Long-Term Vision
As a young man, one of my mentors said to me, “John, you can have most anything you want. You just can’t have everything you want.” He was talking about finances and his point is well taken. With hard work, saving and planning, even a minister could afford a nice…
The Art of Feedback: Building Trust and Encouraging Growth
I am a fan of A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. I find his writing to be so clever and creative. I’ve read through his books several times and still let out a hearty laugh at the characters. When I had the chance to watch Disney’s Christopher Robin, I couldn’t…
5 Ways To Give Our Families The Best of Us
Our family was walking through the airport, doing our best to make it to our gate on time. Unfortunately, my two children weren’t moving at my preferred pace. Like most 9 and 12-year-olds, they were easily distracted and slowing us down. There was a back and forth of me…
