My 2 Pastoral Crises and What They Taught Me
Every pastor has seasons of crises. They can arise from external circumstances or internal challenges. There were two times in my life when I went through a pastoral crisis. In this post, I share what the crises were and what I learned through them.
5 Reminders For Those Listening to “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”
I told myself I would not write a blog regarding this podcast series. But here’s why I’ve changed my mind: More and more church members (not just church leaders) are listening in. So out of the burden of what God’s people are hearing, here are a few words of encouragement for those listening to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.
I became a lead pastor 10 years later than I wanted. Here’s why I’m glad for it.
I wanted to be a lead pastor at 25. But instead of giving me what I thought I wanted, God used the next 10 years to bring me to a place where I wasn’t sure it was something I even wanted. But to my surprise, a decade later, I find myself stepping into a lead pastor role. And I could not be more grateful it’s happening now, and not then.
Church Ministry is Important, But Not Everything. There’s a Difference
I have an obsessive personality. While this trait helps me to do things with passion and focus, there’s a downside: I can quickly lose perspective and treat one thing as everything. But it’s important for church leaders and pastors to put church ministry in perspective: Church ministry is significant, but it should not be the singular thing.
My Stress, My Smartphone, and My Soul - Learnings From Being Phoneless For a Few Days
According to a 2017 research study, those who always check their smartphones reported higher levels of stress compared to those who spent less time interacting with their devices. In this post, I share about being phoneless for a few days and the things I was reminded of.
Why We Moved to a New City During a Pandemic (After Having Our 4th Child) - Believing in the Role of Proximity to the Local Church
It wasn’t a haphazard or emotional decision. My wife and I had known it was a possibility for over a year, had multiple key discussions along the way, and had prayed through it for months. But in September of 2020, less than 4 months after having our 4th child, we packed our bags and moved to a new city. This post is about the growing conviction that drove that decision.
Jesus Was A Refreshing Presence In A Politically Charged Culture
We’re living in a politically charged cultural moment. While this presents obstacles, this is also an opportunity for the church to be the refreshing presence Jesus was for the politically charged culture of his day.
The Spiritual Influence of Mothers
While Charles Spurgeon would go on to have an influential ministry career, publicly hailed as “The Prince of Preachers” he would go on to say the following regarding his mother: "I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn word of my good mother." This post is about the incredible influence mothers wield.
3 Opportunities for Parents With Young Children
My wife has been teaching me a lot about parenting these days. In this post, I share a few learnings from her that I believe are opportunities for parents with young children during this unqieu season.
How Should I Think About Tithing During Covid-19?
Tithing (or giving) is a sensitive subject right now. With the economy down and churches not gathering, some are wondering if this should affect their giving patterns. So how should we think about giving as it relates to the church during this season?
Are You Grieving Well?
Henry Cloud once defined grief as “accepting the reality of what is.” In this post, I make a case for why we have to grieve well and the benefits that flow out of grieving well.
How To Be Tone-Deaf During a Crisis
Presently, our world is in a global pandemic. There is fear, anxiety, and sadness. There is also tone-deafness in the way some have responded to Covid-19. In this post, I highlight 3 ways we can be tone-deaf in this present crisis.
Why Life Transitions Are Hard (And How to Handle It Well)
Every time you say “yes” to a change, you’re opening the door to transition. And opening the door to transitions, brings a disorientation we’re surprised to find we’re not always ready for. In this post, I share what these disorientations are and ways to navigate them.
10 Reflections From 10 Years of Marriage
My wife and I just celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. In this post, I share ten reflections from ten years of marriage.
What Should College Students Look For In a Church?
It's a season where many college students are looking for a church. But what should they be looking for? In this post, I offer a few thoughts for consideration as collegians continue their church search.
What We Wish We Knew Before We Got Married (Part 2)
Finances. Chemistry. Regretting the marriage. Here's the second of a two-part series on the things we wish we knew before we got married.
What We Wish We Knew Before We Got Married (Part 1)
We were 23 years old when we got married. It's safe to say we see the past with greater clarity. Here's part one of a two part series on a few things we wish we knew before we got married.
An Open Letter to Collegians Who Profess Christ Without Commitment to a Church
Christians can easily check out churches and then check out of them during their college years. This, however, may have unforeseen repercussions in the present and future. Here's my open letter and plea toward those college students.