Life
Not For Them – For You
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are…
Read MoreParents: The Wisest Among Us
Assumptions are the Achilles heel of relationships. Left on their own, with no truth to keep them in check, assumptions can grow into an impenetrable barrier. Any hope of relationship understanding or commonality is overshadowed by a belief that we already know what the other person is thinking. One’s motivation, no matter how pure, is…
Read MorePolitics and Our Christian Witness
At the EFCA East Leadership Conference in 2021, I led a breakout on Politics and Our Christian Witness. Deepening divides increase the intensity of the call for pastors and church leaders to focus on our witness to a greater kingdom and greater good than partisanship can offer, while continuing to engage in the real life…
Read MoreTop 10 Tips to Juggle Family and Ministry, Not Burn Out, and Keep Your Sanity
Ministry is harder than you think – it can be hard on you mentally, emotionally and spiritually, not to mention hard on your marriage and family. How do you last without losing your mind or your faith? Here are 10 tips to keep you balanced, fresh, and sane! But before the 10 tips, there’s something…
Read MoreLoving Ministry When It Doesn’t Love You Back
One of the ongoing challenges of ministry, particularly occupational ministry, is taking up the work God gives us to do without allowing it to become the primary driver of our identity. We all know the temptation, and gravitational pull on our hearts, to feel less valuable when things are going poorly and more valuable when…
Read MoreAvoiding Burnout Through Strategic Rest
SAM, A PASTOR Let me tell you a story about a friend of mine. Let’s call him “Sam.” Sam, a pastor with 30 years of service said to me one day, “John, I’m so tired.” I understood him completely in that moment, and I knew he needed deep rest. My response to Sam? “Listen to…
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