So Swings the Pendulum
I was a young man back in the '60's. My father pastored a church in South Africa that, at the time, was associated with the holiness movement. The holiness movement began in the late 1800's, influenced by the renewal of…
Don’t Be Left Out
Luke 3 & 4 is the launch of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He was thirty years old (Luke 3:23). He was baptized in water by John, affirmed by the Father, and filled with the Spirit (Luke 3:21-22). He was full of…
Warning to Worship Leaders Everywhere
When I was growing up in South Africa in the 1960’s most worship service planners called everything before the sermon, “preliminaries.” That word conveyed what everyone was thinking in those days... that the main attraction in the worship service was…
The Language of Ministry and Calling: John the Baptist
I can depend on it like the rain in Seattle: that evaluative question that will predictably be asked in the first five minutes of any introductory conversation with another pastor: “How many are in your church?” Though the phraseology may…
Everything Going Great, Until…
Everything was going great, until... The anointing of Solomon to succeed his father on Israel’s throne was a miracle of grace to begin with. The expected and correct choice would have been David’s eldest surviving son, Adonijah. That’s what Adonijah…
Speak to Them… But Don’t Be Surprised If No One Listens
I am afraid that the instant gratification of social media posts is reducing too many preachers of our day to a servile relationship with an invisible audience of likes and “hearts.” It is increasingly obvious that many of the prominent…
Fix Your Focus
There’s so much fear out there. The principal sent out an email last week that a jogger had been attacked in our town so we should warn our kids to be careful on their way to school. The news reported…