I’ve been in ministry long enough that I think I’ve taken every assessment there is to take. I know my strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and blind spots… although, if I see them, are they really blind spots? One thing I consistently test high on is being an “Achiever.” And that’s not necessarily a good thing. It’s not about accomplishments—it’s about the need to check boxes, measure up, and even be patted on the back. While that might do wonders in the realm of productivi…

I lose stuff in plain sight. Are you familiar with that experience? I’ll ask Kathy to help me find something, and within 10 seconds she walks straight to it, picks it up, and hands it to me. It’s frustrating—but also helpful. What it shows is the human ability to miss things that are right in front of our faces. If we can do that with car keys, baseball hats, and our own cell phones, I wonder if it’s possible that we do that theologically as well? I believe that we do. After reading Ephesians…

I guess I’m not one of those pastors. You know, the kind who gets frustrated when they see scuff marks on the floor or fingerprints on the glass. The kind who wants everything in the church building to stay pristine. Instead, when I walk through our empty building in the middle of the week and notice the marks left behind, I don’t feel irritation—I feel inspired. They told us a concrete floors would be pretty. They also warned us it would be easily scuffed. And wow… were they right. It scuffs…

Christmas must be the most unlikely holiday to have ever come into existence. The essence of Christmas isn’t about reindeer, jolly old elves, or even gift-giving; it’s the celebration of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. But how in the world did that story ever take hold?  It’s the most unlikely tale. Consider His family. His father was a carpenter—a nobody. His mother, a young girl from a town hidden in the back hills of the rural ancient world. They had no family name, no wealth, no p…

Twas the night before Christmas and the service begun      The church was all decked out, for holiday fun! Church members were nestled all snug in their pew      With wreaths and lights and poinsettias in view The auditorium was warm to instill Christmas cheer      And singers were ready with carols near and dear Then up at the front with sermon notes handy      A Christmas message, for sure, from old Pastor Andy The music was great and the message…okay      But everyone’s thoughts were for t…

If you grew up in a rural church, you probably sang this song: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!” And if you are serving in leadership as an adult in a rural church, you may spend most of your time on the second line of that same song, asking, “Where?”! Joy can be elusive to most of us because we confuse it with happiness. Growing up in the middle of nowhere Kansas, I’ve always been told that happiness is like a greased pig — You might catch it for a little while, but you’re…

I can identify a rural church by listening to its congregation members in three statements or less: What are you bringing to the potluck? We were late for church ‘cause we had a cow down. Huh, we’ve never done that before. I bet you could add several more to this list without much thought. It’s a pretty fun game to play. But, here’s an another one. I bet I can identify a rural church in one line or less talking to their pastors. Ready? Here we go: I need leaders. I know the language most …

It has been said that the days in which we live are marked by one common distinctive: division. You don’t have to tune into any news channel very long before you have evidence of this. Whether republicans or democrats, liberals or conservatives, or the many divisions across the spectrum of sexual ethics, religious beliefs, or even technology and its use there are dividing lines, camps and a very clear “us versus you” mentality in almost every stream of life today. All of that division manif…

We know the cause of death; it was the cross. It was not necessarily the injuries to which He succumbed, despite His lack of ability to breathe as His lungs filled with fluid, or His cries from the cross indicating His thirst. His death may not have come from His visible wounds, not just those received hanging there at Golgotha, or from the beating He took coming down the Via Dolorosa to that place, or the scourging received from the Roman soldiers before, or even beating with rods in King He…

This may be an awkward introduction, probably more for you than for me. I’m a Christmas ornament.  I’ve been around for years, and I bet if you love the holidays, I love them even more. I can make the case that I live for them. A sweet couple brought me home from the store almost ten years ago. I don’t know what they wrote on my back, but if I understood the conversation, it was the date and something about their first Christmas. WHAT A PRIVILEGE! All ornaments want to be associated with a sp…