The promises of God are often sold –Forsaken for a bowl of lentil stewOr for a flag of red and white and blue.But there it sits, with time collecting mold. “If hope be hope it must continue to burn after it has put out every false hope.”Karl Barth One of the biggest mistakes Christians in […]
As we near another presidential election, I find that my primary concern is not how this election will impact the country but how it will impact the Church of Jesus Christ. Of course, as a resident of the United States of America, I have concerns about our leadership, the economy, foreign policy, and so on. […]
Being a parent of young children means that I read a lot of children’s books. One character in these books that has fascinated me is Amelia Bedelia. Amelia Bedelia’s quirk is that she takes words at their most literal meaning. For example, she sprays the guest of honor at a baby shower with a hose […]
1 Samuel 8 is a key moment in the biblical story. God’s people gather together at Ramah and voice their dissatisfaction with the present state of leadership. Their complaint and concern was valid. Samuel, their current leader (judge), was growing old. His sons were crooks. They were in the middle of a war with the […]
As I worked on my sermon for Pentecost this last week, I was struck by Peter’s interpretation of what had just happened. The people in Jerusalem hear the disciples speaking in tongues and ask, “What does this mean?” Peter responds by quoting from the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour […]
Reading fiction should be part of every pastor’s job description. Most pastors read often, but if a pastor’s reading consists only of Bible commentaries and leadership books, then their reading is anemic. A good novel is more helpful for the work of pastoral ministry than over 99% of “pastoral leadership” books on the market. Fiction, […]
There are a few good reasons to leave a church, but many bad reasons. One of the worst reasons to leave is that you disagree with something your pastor says in a sermon. Now, to be clear, true heresy is another matter (and we need to know the difference between a disagreement and heresy). If […]
“I still haven’t found what I’m looking for…” These words from U2 have had a profound impact on my understanding of the life of faith. For years I heard these words as a song expressing a lack of faith. As Augustine famously said, “My heart is restless until it rests in thee.” I would hear […]
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them” Matthew 18:20 (CEB). Few of us believe this anymore. Many of us will say we believe it. Jesus said it so of course we confess it to be true. But the reality is that few in the western world believe these […]
There are two sticky notes I keep posted on my desk that I am sure to notice and read at least once a week. The first says, “You know that you are not the best of pastors, but you are the best your congregation has now.” The second: “When you don’t believe in yourself – […]
The Local Pastor 