I’m circling back round again to presence. Spiralling, my summerhouse friend would call it. Present to myself in order to be present to God and, out of that, present to others. I’m there because of Monday’s conversation, long and unexpected. I’m there because of Saturday’s teaching, the topic I myself had chosen. And, when I … Continue reading
My Yes means Nos. To be this, I cannot be that. To be me, I cannot be you. And as my unique offering becomes ever clearer, the battle becomes ever stronger. Unhealed parts of me yell loudly about obligation. Other Christians wonder how I can keep saying the Nos they don’t want me to say. … Continue reading
We have this ministry and so we do not lose heart. We are the glory-carriers. The ones whose eyes have been opened. Who have seen the light which shines out of darkness. We have seen the glory of God in the face of Christ. And, beholding that glory, we are transformed from one degree of glory … Continue reading
If the ministry is reduced to being primarily a helping profession then those who take up that office cannot help being destroyed if they have any integrity. For they will find themselves frustrated by a people not trained on the narrative of God’s salvation, not trained to want the right things rightly, but rather a … Continue reading
Lately, I’ve been returning to two concepts. One is what I have decided to call ‘folk Christianity’. By this I mean the kind of Christian teachings which are widely disseminated on Christian radio stations, certain devotionals which had better remain nameless and more than a few internet videos. I’m interested in how big an influence … Continue reading
Full-time is the name of the horse hitched to the cart with a dozen wheels, one or more dropping off at the most inopportune times, and ministry is the code word for the driver who also doubles as the mechanic. Ray Anderson in The Soul of Ministry. And what I want to know is: does the fact … Continue reading
Pastors…do well to be intentional in pursuing what makes for their care and support. Given the numerous pressures we face, it cannot be left to chance. Peter Brain in Going the Distance: How to stay fit for a lifetime of ministry. I bought this book years ago, back when leading a church was only one of … Continue reading
I’m featured over at Provoketive this week, so if you read what’s below and want to keep reading, then just click on the link below! Photo credit You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, she said. I didn’t wince. I would have, once, though. I don’t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says. Some of it is great. … Continue reading
I never forget that a lot of pastors I meet on lecture tours or in DMin courses are on the edge, hanging on by the slenderest of threads. Some make it. Some don’t. The dropout rate for seminary-trained pastors is estimated to be as high as 80 per cent. So I am committed to being … Continue reading
The Leadership Journal attached to Christianity Today is always worth a read in my opinion. There’s a range of good material, from short articles by regular contributors like Gordon MacDonald and John Ortberg to the longer pieces which appear in the hardcopy journal. So when I want a quick read of something light and short with … Continue reading
The Art of Steering 