Finding Your Way Again: Learning from King Josiah in the Bible
My wife and I were driving to a home we had never seen to help some friends who were preparing it for another family to move into. I typed the address into Google Maps, and we set off on the short trip. The voice told us to turn left, go straight, take another left, continue […]
The Purpose of Lent? An Invitation of Decrease and Increase
I never quite understood Ash Wednesday when I was younger. My home church never emphasized anything about Lent, or even Good Friday for that matter. In my experience growing up in church, winter was over, spring started springing, then it was time for Easter Sunday! That meant getting up before the crack of dawn, putting […]
The Importance of Reading Scripture Out Loud
It is a fascinating fact of intellectual history that, in antiquity, reading was not the silent, solitary endeavor we assume today, but rather an event of the spoken word—aural, communal, performative. Words in text, in other words, were not merely for the mind but for the ear. Consider the account in Acts 8:30. Philip, upon […]
Remembering Saint Patrick and Hope for Today
“Kiss me. I’m Irish!” That was the phrase on my friend‘s coffee mug. When I saw it, I thought, “I have no idea what that means, but I sure could have used that mug in high school.” Among Irish mythology, the story goes that kissing an Irish person will bring you luck. The legend originates […]
Preaching: The Importance of Context and Clarity
Middle school students have a way of humbling you. I was speaking at our student ministry’s midweek gathering and closed with a reference to the apostle Paul. Running short on time, I chose to jump in without any thought given to context. I read Acts 28:30-31, “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his […]
Don’t skip this step in evangelism!
There is one thing we are likely to skip when it comes to evangelism and discipleship but which makes all the difference: prayer. Okay, you may be better at it than I, but I have been around enough people to know that we are eager to study the “how” of evangelism but can easily skip […]
Bible Sales are up 22%. What Does That Mean?
I recently saw some good news in a Wall Street Journal article explaining that, according to book tracker Circana Bookscan, Bible sales have increased 22% since last fall, and signs are that it will go higher. Man, that is good news! What is driving it? The author of the article suggested that “worries about the […]
How to Have a Successful Sabbatical: Timing, Structure, and Flow
Planning a pastoral sabbatical? Here’s your go-to guide, packed with wisdom gleaned from seasoned practitioners and personal insights from my recent transformative three-month renewal. Whether you’re seeking rest, clarity, or a deeper connection with your calling, these practical tips will help you make the most of this sacred time away. Confession: I hesitated in writing […]
