I like to sprint. I sometimes find myself falling subject to the tyranny of bigger/faster. Many years ago, a friend and mentor, told me, “Ministry is not a sprint; it’s a marathon.” How right he was!   I was always better at sprinting than running long distance–back in the days when I actually ran…in high... Continue Reading

“While most Americans grant the Bible unique status, and most churchgoers think of it—to some degree—as a book from God, confessional evangelicals believe the Bible is much more than that. We believe it is God’s Word.”   Recently, I found myself in front of a group of Christians fielding questions about the nature of Scripture—what... Continue Reading

“I want you to say how helpful you have found my ministry. I want you to blog that my new book Zeal without Burnout has been helpful to you! I would love you to wave it in front of your congregation and say it is the best thing you have ever read on the subject.... Continue Reading

“The church needs a similar, doxological education. We need to expect kids to participate, to sit (reasonably) still for a little while (and love them graciously when they can’t), to stumble through the words and sing the notes as best as they are able.”   I recently ran across this article by Tim Wright called “Sunday... Continue Reading

“Even though you know in your head that your salvation was accomplished solely by the grace of God apart from your own works, do you sometimes wonder if God accepts you?”   In 1994, I was given Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. Immediately, I read the first few chapters and set it aside for no... Continue Reading

New churches don’t have any of the baggage that established churches do. Remember the idyllic days of the early 2000’s where we all possessed a romanticized view of the new churches we were going to plant which were free of the traditions and problems that exist in established churches? Walking through life with friends who... Continue Reading

Easter week is a busy time for ministry couples, and it can put stress on your marriage. You might need more time together if all you have said to your husband for the last seven days is, “Good morning, and in case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.” After Easter Sunday, I suggest... Continue Reading

I don’t doubt that this election is important. Relatively speaking they all are important. However, I’m suggesting that we align our expectations with how the Bible teaches us to pray. We have been greatly blessed in the United States for many, many years. Evangelicals have enjoyed tremendous influence in society. Now, however, things appear to... Continue Reading

We are wayward and fickle and our hearts are prone to wander. We doubt God’s goodness and question his love for us. Yet God is faithful. Because of Christ’s work on our behalf, and through faith in what he has done, we are eternally secure in his love. It will never waver. No matter how... Continue Reading

Like our picky little porridge connoisseur, cosmologists who explore our planetary neighborhood have also encountered an unexpected unique state of copacetic conditions. Our pale blue dot of a planet is the only chunk of real estate we know of that boasts an inexplicably perfect balance of temperature, gravity, atmospheric pressure, galactic location, solar proximity, axis... Continue Reading