What Do Healthy Churches Do?

I attended my fair share of church growth seminars as a young pastor. Today, attention has shifted from church growth to church health. An oncologist will confirm that not all growth is healthy. I would much rather pastor a small, healthy church than a large,...
The Right Kind of Culture Vulture

The Right Kind of Culture Vulture

“Those who hope in the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like vultures (רֶ שֶׁנ). They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.”                                                                Isaiah 40:39...
Don’t Judge a Person by Externals

Don’t Judge a Person by Externals

Several prominent men in the Old Testament were polygamists. Abraham (Genesis 25:1), Jacob (Genesis 30:14-15), David (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9),  Solomon (1 Kings 11:3), and other Hebrew leaders all took for themselves many wives. King Solomon,  the man the...
The Antidote to Suicide Is Divine Purpose

The Antidote to Suicide Is Divine Purpose

It was reported this week that there is a suicide crisis in the U.S. military. There’ve been 30,177 suicides among active duty personnel and veterans since September 11, 2001. During that same time, 7,057 U.S. service members were killed in war operations. Over 400%...
Shame and the Imago Dei

Shame and the Imago Dei

A current of fear is raging in my soul. It prevents the belief I’ll ever be whole. My internal sorrow is rooted in shame, Seen in the game of affixing the blame. I fight to be seen as the one without error, For allegations of fault bring me to terror; I fear you’ll...