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.
Why Your Pastor Is Busy
Does it ever seem like your pastor or team of pastors is busy? I mean, what do they do all day anyway? Don’t they just read the Bible, pray, and send out an email or two? In this post, I point to the complexities of the pastoral role through the many hats they wear and what that means for pastors and their people.
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.
Here’s How To Know If the Church You Attend is Missional
How can I know if my church is missional? The answer lies not by looking at your church’s vision or mission statement (no matter how beautifully crafted). It’s also not by pointing to your church’s outreach events (though they can be helpful). I believe there is a more surprising and sure indicator for whether your church is missional.
What Are the Differences Between the Seasoned & the Unseasoned Pastor?
What are the differences between seasoned and unseasoned pastors? In this blog, I make 5 observations about seasoned bosses and influencers I’ve had the privilege of interacting with and learning from. I also share practical ways younger pastors can learn from seasoned pastors.
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.
Workflow Rhythms for Pastors to Consider for the Health of their Church, Family, and their Souls
As pastors engage in the daily grind to be faithful to their people, they can fall into the trap where the very effort to manage one’s duties can result in a pastor being managed by them which can be to the detriment of their church, family, and their own souls. In this post, I explore a workflow rhythm for sustainable health and holistic life integration.
20 Things That Became More Clear in 2020
Exactly a year ago, some were saying 2020 would be “the year of 2020 vision.” With the end of 2020 almost here, it’s clear we got much more than what we bargained for. In this final post of 2020, I share 20 things that became more clear this year.
The Elusiveness of the Asian American Faith Expression
Black Christians have the gospel choir and a responsive preaching experience, but what are the distinctive markers for Asian Americans? Is there Asian American worship? Asian American preaching? Is there an Asian American faith expression? And why is it so difficult to answer these questions?
What Does It Mean for a Church to Love Its Neighbor Right Now (During a pandemic)?
I’ve come across comments from certain church leaders saying things along the lines of, “The church should do [fill in the blank] as an act of love for neighbor.” While I appreciate the prophetic posture of these comments, I can’t help but feel that it’s reducing the complexity of our current context and the church’s response to see through an unhelpful tunnel vision. This post seeks to broaden the conversation so that we see it more holistically,
“Jesus Is On the Throne” To Say or Not To Say?
If you go on Twitter and type in the phrase “Jesus is on the throne” you will see a surprising divide in how that phrase should be used in this present moment. Should Christians be using this phrase during these tense times? Or should Christians hold off? In this post, I unpack the rationale some give as to why we shouldn’t use this phrase right now, followed by a few counterpoints before some closing thoughts.
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.
10 Learnings From My First Year
A year ago, I transitioned into a multi-ethnic megachurch after spending the majority of my life at ethnic-based churches. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life. It’s safe to say I learned a lot. In this post, I highlight some of my biggest learnings.
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.
4 Helpful Practices When Leading in a Crisis
There have been many great leadership articles during this season. This one takes a practical angle which gives four leadership practices that can make the world of a difference during a time when we need to be the difference for the world.
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.