Pastoral Burnout: Getting Below the Surface
Author’s note: This is my second article dealing with pastoral burnout. Recent Barna research revealed that 33% of ministers had given serious thought to quitting. My own research for a graduate studies project showed 63% of those surveyed had given or were giving serious thought to quitting the ministry. In the first article, I wrote […]
David and Bathsheba and Affairs in Your Church
I recently preached through the story of David and Bathsheba from 2 Samuel 11:1-27 on a Sunday morning. There are several important learnings from within this story, as well as from the related research on sexual immorality and affairs, that are worth applying in our churches today. Many of us can be intimidated when it […]
Characteristics of an Effective Counselor: Unique Characteristics of a Christian Counselor (Part 4)
*Editor’s Note: this is Part 4 in a series on how you—yes, you—can help bring wise and kind counsel to a young person’s life. For Part 1 (“Do You Have What It Takes?”), click here, and for Part 2 (“The ‘Big 3’ Characteristics”), click here, and for Part 3 (“Additional Traits That Contribute to Successful Youth […]
Characteristics of an Effective Counselor: Additional Traits That Contribute to Successful Youth Counseling (Part 3)
*Editor’s Note: this is Part 3 in a series on how you—yes, you—can help bring wise and kind counsel to a young person’s life. For Part 1 (“Do You Have What It Takes?”), click here, and for Part 2 (“The ‘Big 3’ Characteristics”), click here. The following traits/characteristics are also very helpful for the person […]
The Fear of All Somes: Rethinking Our Fearful Reflexes
Fear is a necessary emotion. People who backpack in isolation in the mountains should worry about running out of water. Boaters should take precautions to avoid high waves. Drivers should lock their car and remove valuables. But this does not mean that fear is virtuous and something that Christians should hide behind. The command, “Do […]
Characteristics of an Effective Counselor: The “Big 3” Characteristics (Part 2)
*Editor’s Note: this is Part 2 in a series on how you—yes, you—can help bring wise and kind counsel to a young person’s life. For Part 1 (“Do You Have What It Takes?”), click here. The search to discover what makes some counselors successful and some unsuccessful (and some even harmful) has led researchers to an […]
Characteristics of an Effective Counselor: Do You Have What It Takes? (Part 1)
“Kids respond to people whom they sense have a feel for what they’re going through.” —Rich Van Pelt, Intensive Care: Helping Teenagers in Crisis[1] “Leaders must not wait until they feel ‘good enough’ to make a difference. Accepting this myth may prevent leaders from fulfilling the very role that students need most: loving them and […]
Why Isn’t Jesus Enough to Fix My Mental Health Issues?
If you’re wrestling with this question, then I’m glad you’re curious and I’m also sorry for what you’re going through. In what follows, I’ll try to respond to this question with some biblical/theological frameworks which help me think about the issue. I’m sure a lot more could be said (and it would be helpful to […]
