1. Always end all hurtful, condescending, judgmental communication with “iron sharpens iron.” Iron sharpens iron is a magical “get out of jail” card that absolves communicators from all the consequences of their communication. If the receiver of your email is hurt or offended, they need to realize that your two thousand word diatribe against the […]
Here is a great thematic bible reading plan to help you with your daily devotions. Used by permission from Craig DesJardins. 2014 Bible Reading Plan Calendar 2014 Bible Reading Plan Single Sheet
It’s easy for pastors to fall into an irrational logic concerning their worth and role as a minister of the gospel. I’ve often joked with fellow ministers about the seemingly thankless role of the senior pastor. If the church grows, God gets all the credit. If the church fails, it’s your fault! Revival is attributed […]
What do Christians believe? Well that depends on enumerable variations on a theme. The source material is supposed to be biblical, but that is up for much debate. Within our popular culture discussions, Christianity has become like the word balance. Everyone says they are trying to live a balanced life, but no one really knows […]
Self-Hate Christian Assessment Culture It seems that much of our Christian publishing industry is fueled by a culture of church discontent and self-hate. Every week a new book comes out decrying what’s wrong with the Church and church leadership. Sadly, most of these books are written for people who already know God. I wonder what […]
The following is some helpful advice from my friend Steve Crosby. Steve has written and spoken extensively on issues of church leadership and abuse. The following are some words to help Christian leaders and pastors understand their unique assignment in the body of Christ. Equipper’s Survival Guide (By Steve Crosby) Spiritual abuse is like finding […]
Lately I’ve been wrestling with a dream, a God-given dream I cannot shake. Or maybe it’s not a dream, maybe it’s an unrealistic expectation or an overactive imagination. Maybe it’s my dream, not God’s? No! It’s a God given dream! It must be His dream, the kind of dream that requires faith for outcomes not […]
If flossing were truly important, half of us would be dying of gum disease. We’d be daily opening the obituaries, lamenting the loss of another fine upstanding citizen who’d succumbed to the inevitable consequences of irregular flossing. However, for the most part, we’re all surviving the effects of our flossing truancy. I’m well aware that […]
At the Edge of My Joy by Doug Bursch At the edge of my joy stands my sorrow waiting for the laughter to wane quiet in the shadows at the edge of light and fellowship. I turn my back to sorrow, but it encircles every room. I place myself in the center of the movement […]
Once you open yourself to the possibility of being created, life becomes a very different journey. The concept of creator influences questions of present purpose and future destiny. If life has an origin from a meaningful originator, then we’ve got a very different journey on our hands. In my life journey, I’ve met very few […]