Category: Rambling
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“Today” living: Personal Growth Statements about “today”
What an amazing start to our new year. Yesterday, we kicked off our series “#MYCHURCH” with a challenge to stop wasting our today by spending it on a “someday.” The challenge at the end of service was to not necessarily make resolutions for the year but to resolve to grow every day by keeping our focus…
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Pastors and Pastor’s Wives: 5 Reason to Change Armour
One of the biggest challenges I’ve found in pastoral ministry, has been the “hand-me-downs.” These, quite simply, are church and pastoral expectations formed by previous experiences, both good and bad, that get handed down or passed onto a new pastor whether he/she like it or not. These ideas are filled with comparisons and assumption, hope…
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Pants On Fire: 5 Steps to dealing with lying in your marriage!
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19 Marriage is a covenant. A promise. In our wedding vows, trust is both explicit or implicit. It permeates the commitment we make to our spouse so that we can start off from the foundation of trust both in Christ and…
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Spend, don’t save: 5 Ways to Invest Time in Your Marriage
“Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Psalm 90:12 (MSG) There are “savers” and “spenders.” Judging by the average debt for couples, this country is filled with “spenders.” At the same time, looking at a high divorce rate, we have a country of “savers.” In other words, we spend money…
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Pastoral Team Chemistry: 10 Elements that have shaped our pastoral staff.
I randomly blog to pastors. There’s usually no agenda driving it but a passion to do what so many pastors have done for me: give me help and encouragement by sharing what they’re doing. Over the past 6-7 months, several pastors have requested I blog on a specific subject. Last week, it came up again. “What does…
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Confronting the Diva Pastor: 6 Thoughts for Pastors
A few weeks ago, I began this blog while sitting on a plane trying to make sense of something burning upon my heart. This blog is that attempt to explain a burden that I cannot let go of. After the 18 years of pastoral ministry, one thought continues to repeating come to my mind: This isn’t about…
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Turn the Ship Around: 6 Small Actions to See Change Happen in Your Marriage
I was watching a television show and they were discussing an oil tanker that had run aground. The narrative was building around a man named “Sam” that felt he could’ve done something about the issue long before the ship left the harbor. He is frustrated and calls First Lieutenant Emily Lowenbrau into his office to…
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Complement-less Marriages: 6 Simple Ways to Complement Your Spouse
Proverbs 11:25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped. Who doesn’t like a complement? It’s very rare (and I mean rare) where you legitimately find someone who doesn’t enjoy (not necessarily seeking after) a genuine complement. I’m not talking about flattering someone. The purpose of flattery is to get a…
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Pastors and Conflict: 8 Purposeful Actions to Help Heal Conflict
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. I sat in my office very early Monday and journaled about conflict. As a pastor, I recognize that conflict is inevitable. Why? I’m human and I deal with humans. I’m imperfect. I pastor an imperfect congregation. The more I understand that, the…
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Emotional Monarchy: 3 Steps to Prevent Emotions From Ruling Your Life
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. Psalm 42:5 (MSG) If you are familiar with me, you know I do deal with bouts of depression. I don’t…
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