14 Dec, 2017

Bells have always had a special place in my heart as they have often reminded me of the joy the Lord can present us with. Many have said that bells signal the arrival of an event or special occasion. Others have even said that bells are used to ward off evil spirits or to warn of an oncoming attack. They can often be used to gather people together, like in a church. They can be used to help bring the focus of the many to the one, like in a toast.6 For me though, it has

08 Dec, 2017

Have you ever heard someone ask the question…. “Where is your Christmas Spirit this year?” I have, many times, and usually, it reminds me of the film, “The Muppets Christmas Carol.” In the last few lines of this film, the narrator says something about Mr. Scrooge that I believe speaks to this question.  It goes something along the lines of... “Scrooge was better than his word… And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May

02 Dec, 2017

Have you ever wondered why Evergreen trees are traditionally what we see when we think about the Christmas tree? Well, many have said that the Evergreen tree is an ancient symbol of life. The reason behind this is that in the depth of winter, they are usually the only trees that are left alive. If left in their natural habitat, evergreens have been known to survive many a harsh winter.  Ancient history dictates that even the Romans in all their glory would decorate their homes as a means to

26 Nov, 2017

Do you feel that you’ve gotten stuck in your ministry? Feel like you’ve reached the end of your plans, your resources, and your expectations? And yet things refuse to work out the way you want them to? Welcome in the boat. You’re not alone. Let’s go through this together. You and I (along with many other pastors!) are members of the same body – the body of Jesus Christ – that we seriously want to activate, energize and see things happening (1Cor.12:12-27; Eph.4: God’s Role in our Ministry So

18 Nov, 2017

As I stepped up on the sidewalk, I realized I was looking forward to going to church that morning. It was the first time in weeks I’d felt that way. Somehow I had slipped into a season where going to church felt more like a duty than delight.

12 Nov, 2017

I didn’t like it when God opened my eyes to this passage. Matter of fact, these verses are tough to swallow. However, they are the job description of ministry. If we are going to be pastors, then we have to believe that Paul’s final letter to his “son” in the faith is very important. The “Lord’s servant” (pastor) must not quarrel, argue, or fight with the people. The pastor must be kind. Let’s face it, sometimes we don’t like being the nice guy. But, in order to “teach” instruct His people in t

04 Nov, 2017

The main purpose of ministry is to lift up and support those in need. But, what happens when your pastor is the one in need? Are you one of those people who will stand by your pastor or are you the one that holds them to a higher standard? Whether we admit it or not, we always hold pastors to a higher standard.

26 Oct, 2017

The beauty of missionary service is that you are rarely all alone. Besides the genuine fellowship and comfort of Christ, there is a beautiful spiritual brotherhood that unites missionaries to each other and to those who have gone before them. The stories of the first missionaries in the Bible have inspired and encouraged countless missionaries across the centuries. And today Christian missionary stories are more accessible than

15 Oct, 2017

A few years ago I found myself serving in a church that did things a little bit different than the other churches I had been a part of. Whenever someone desired to join the church, the entire body of believers had an opportunity to ask him questions about his Christian life. Most people didn’t ask anything. Some people asked doctrinal questions. Others asked for clarification about the candidate’s personal testimony of salvation.

10 Oct, 2017

We were walking out the door for our anniversary dinner when the phone rang. A church member was on the other end of the line. Her husband was dying, and she wanted the pastor to come. There wasn’t much of a choice to make: He had to go. Our plans could wait. During our fifteen years in ministry, we’ve had to learn that while we will never sacrifice our family, sometimes ministry requires our family to make sacrifices.

01 Oct, 2017

If you’ve been in the ministry very long, you’ve certainly had to deal with conflict in a church. It can be one of the most stressful and worrisome times for even the most experienced pastors. If you’re like me, you have a natural and healthy aversion to confrontation. Yet, our ministry calls for us to confront those who would bring shame on the name of Christ. That’s what Paul had to do. Confrontation is woven throughout his two letters to

23 Sep, 2017

Have you ever heard of Murphy’s Law? Murphy’s Law is an old saying that states, “If it can go wrong, it will.” Although this “law" is more of a humorous take on life, there is a sliver of truth in it. Sometimes, things just go wrong. Life is not always sunshine and rainbows, and ministry is no exception. Every Pastor needs a healthy prayer and devotional life.

13 Sep, 2017

Sometimes, ministers are put in some of the loneliest situations. We are surrounded by people all day, but it's hard to make those connections with people that turn into friendships. When I was in my first year of ministry, a worship leader I was working with had taken the time to get to know me, and I quickly developed a friendship with him. I had to.

02 Sep, 2017

It’s easy to forget that a pastor is human and no different than anyone else. I imagine this is because they represent our perfect Savior. But, the distinction is important. They are human just like you and me and need all the help they can get carrying the heavy and be a trying cross of ministry. Pastors and leaders are expected to help their entire

29 Aug, 2017

This is the hardest part of the year for me- graduation. As a youth minister, I can tell you (and if you are one, you know exactly what I'm talking about) that letting go of your graduating seniors is one of the hardest things that you'll do in this job. For me, it's especially hard because we're losing 6. That's the highest amount we've had so far, but I can tell you that there is a