Middle school was a crisis time for me. Bespeckled with Coke-bottle frames and sporting braces and a bowl-haircut, I was the poster-child for the socially awkward. What I longed for as a shy, self-conscious seventh grader was the proverbial “friend who sticks closer than a brother”—an encourager and advocate, someone who could speak comfort and counsel to my preteen circumstances … Read More
The Pastor’s Best Tool: The Church
What does every pastor need? Surely dozens of answers might be offered. A nice facility? Or, perhaps, a growing community surrounding the church that would provide a field ripe for harvest might head the list. I suppose every pastor might desire an expanding budget to allow for additional staff or upgraded technology. Each of these is legitimate. But I think … Read More
Technology and Worship
One of the most significant trends in American church life over the past decade has been the dramatic expansion in the use of technology in the worship experience, particularly in what author Quentin Shultz calls “presentational technologies.” Walk into an American evangelical church facility built in the last 10 to 15 years and you may or may not see a … Read More
Pastor’s Toolbox: The Ascent of a Leader
Nearing completion of a course on the integration of the Christian faith in the workplace, I went to the AU book store to see how many of the required books were left. To my surprise, all of the extra copies of the book required on leadership had been bought out by the students in the course. This was a not too subtle … Read More
Pastoral Perceptivity: An Essential Tool for Ministry
I tried to join my friend’s sense of accomplishment as he told me the story over the phone. From his very first day as pastor of a high profile church in rural community, he had set his sights on a new ministry model—something that he believed would put the church on the cutting edge—something that would eliminate miles of red … Read More
The Maxim of the Mask
The award for longest running and most unwatched mime act must belong to the stewards and stewardesses who pantomime safety directions before each airplane lifts off the tarmac. Few pay attention to the rehearsed routine as these airline attendants display the proper procedure for buckling a safety harness, opening an exit, and inflating the life vest located under the seat. (Am I … Read More
Warning! The Walls are Under Siege
On a recent vacation to Savannah, GA my family discovered Ft. Pulaski. Located on an islet between Savannah and Tybee Island, the impressive red-brick structure stands as a monument to change. Only a few decades shy of two-hundred years, Ft. Pulaski is an unlikely standard–bearer for change, but the cannon balls lodged in the fort’s exterior walls give evidence of … Read More
Reading the “Antique” Testament for all its worth
A staple of public broadcasting is the popular series, Antiques Roadshow. The basic premise for this most-watched PBS program is that people bring discarded, forgotten “antiques” for an expert to appraise. Some of these antiques are deemed to be rubbish. But more often than not the appraiser will tell the somewhat shocked and overjoyed owners that what they perceived to … Read More