(Not) just another week in the UMC
Come, Lord Jesus. It was the prayer of the early church as they strained toward the Kingdom against tides of conflict and persecution. “Come, Lord Jesus!” This week, I find
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Come, Lord Jesus (or, How to pray for everything)
A few days ago I visited a mercy ministry in another town as part of our preparation and planning for building a capacity-building ministry in our community. Talking with the
Introversion in the Kingdom of God
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. –
Extroversion in the Kingdom of God
Have you noticed? Introverts are finally having their day. Susan Cain’s book, Quiet, has made introversion cool. Quiet gives the gift of definition to introverts, and helps extroverts to appreciate
How I almost quit (and why you shouldn’t)
Today, I quit being a Christian. That was the leading line in a Miami Herald article by Annie Rice, author of The Vampire Chronicles. Annie was a self-proclaimed atheist who eventually returned
Carriers of the Gospel or Keepers of the Myth?
Lazarus has just died. This is a blow to everyone in Jesus’ circle. This is someone they all loved. A friend of Jesus. As his sisters, Mary and Martha are
The art of self-deception (or, how to ruin a relationship)
As a pastor, I’ve become interested in the dynamics of conflict. I notice that many of us don’t know how to think maturely through to the other side of difficult
Five Things You Should Know About the WCA
Since August of last year, some 1,200 clergy and laypersons have become invested in a renewal organization within the United Methodist Church called the Wesleyan Covenant Association. The WCA garnered
Karma, Abundance, and the Prosperity Gospel
“God is able to bless you abundantly so that …” – 2 Corinthians 9:8 Let’s start with a Kingdom definition of abundance. Paul tells the Corinthians that God is able
One story of how a missional church got its start
Most posts on this site are dedicated to practical theology, and this one is no different — though it is certainly more personal. For the last thirteen years I’ve been
Pastors, people, and social media
We’ve been on social media a long time now. We’ve watched it go through that “terrible twos” stage when people thought it reasonable to post personal disagreements with family members
Living A New Year Under the Leadership of the Holy Spirit
A version of this article appeared on Seedbed’s Church Planter Collective (to which I occasionally contribute) under the title “Planting Under the Leadership of the Holy Spirit.” Find it here.
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