Motherhood: The Introvert’s Challenge
Motherhood is a challenge for every type of woman but I believe it is harder for the introvert
Why was it that I was feeling this constant urge to get away from my children if I loved them so much? Add to that the sincere Christian desire to live a life of self-sacrifice for the sake of the well-being of others and one has a recipe for burnout. The guilt led me into... Continue Reading
Hymns on Broadway
Trip to Bountiful is a poetic cultural counterweight
This spontaneous audience choir has been happening every night, in every performance. It’s not normal Manhattan audience behavior: When The New York Times first noticed the singing, it published a story about it on the front page. The audience—largely African-American the night I attended–probably isn’t made up of typical New Yorkers. Two African-American ladies next to me... Continue Reading
An Insider’s Perspective on Egypt Today
Many people took to the streets of Cairo on July 26 to show their solidarity against the aggressive and disruptive behavior of the Muslim Brotherhood
While much of what you see in the media is true, it represents a selective perspective of what’s really happening. The claim that the MB are “peaceful demonstrators” runs contrary to the violence and brutality we’re experiencing on our streets. Anyone with the misfortune of walking or driving close to one of their demonstrations is... Continue Reading
The Assurance of Discipline
When we’re immature we see discipline as a negative thing, but as we grow we begin to see it as one of the most enduring blessings of life
Those without discipline are orphans. Parents who don’t discipline their children are emotionally and spiritually abusing their children, and are setting them on a path of self-destruction. Pastors who don’t discipline their people by preaching the unvarnished Word of God in season and out of season are not good shepherds but masked thieves. The... Continue Reading
Glenn Davies Elected Archbishop of Sydney
The Diocese of Sydney Synod has elected the Rt. Rev. Glenn Davies as its 12th archbishop
Dr. Davies’ election as successor to Dr. Jensen thrusts the 62-year-old archbishop-elect into the international Anglican spotlight, making him one of the de facto leaders of the conservative renewal movement of the Anglican Communion – and arguably the most influential “white” archbishop in the Communion after the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The Diocese... Continue Reading
Why I Went To Cemetery / Seminary
“Why did you, a ‘Jesus Movement’ guy eventually go to seminary?”
It hit me – followers of Christ had knelt here for thirteen hundred years, humbly receiving grace and forgiveness through the wine and the bread – and I had just shown up to the party. While I wasn’t ready to reject the powerful move of the Holy Spirit I had seen in recent years, I... Continue Reading
Blowing The Hinges Off Of Hell’s Gates
Is the Church to be on the offense, or the defense?
Over the past few years, I’ve wondered if the Church is supposed to be on the offense, if we are called to blow the hinges off of Hell’s gates, then why do we plant new congregations so tepidly? Why do we prioritize the planting of churches in environments that we think will be most “receptive,”... Continue Reading
What Are Areas Of Common Neglect In A Pastor’s Life?
Consistent faithfulness in these areas will be essential to your longevity in ministry.
The demands on a pastor are great. They force every pastor daily to choose what will get his time, and what will not. I have observed this decision process subtly squeezes out 3 areas that many pastors would admit are not essential, but over a longer period of neglect can have significant harmful effects. Because they are subtly neglected, when... Continue Reading
Diagnosing the Health of the Church by Biblical Standards
The church MUST be involved in planning
I am convinced that many of the folks who have a problem with Vision Planning (even the Biblical model) – and those folks include some very good friends of mine) stem from the same problem folks have who want to do ‘annual performance reviews’ on their pastor/ordained staff. I think it stems from the lack... Continue Reading
Sin Is Cosmic Treason
Since it is God’s law that defines the nature of sin, we are left to face the dreadful consequences of our disobedience to that law.
The only righteousness that meets the requirements of the Law is the righteousness of Christ. It is only by imputation of that righteousness that the sinner can ever possess the righteousness of the Law. This is critical for our understanding in this day where the imputation of the righteousness of Christ is so widely under... Continue Reading