While visiting with a friend this morning the conversation turned to the too-common reality of a heart grown hard. My friend and I are people desperate to have hearts soft toward God, tender to his purposes and pleasures and presence. As we were reflecting on this hunger for pliability and proximity to the Father, what READ MORE
Leadership
Five Rocks for Everyone’s Bag
Being just days away from stepping into my new responsibilities with the New Hope Church family in the greater Minneapolis area, it seems reasonable to offer one final, loving word to our beloved Bethel Church community—words put forward in my last sermon on July 12, and which will be meaningfully helpful for Bethel Church in READ MORE
Thom Rainer on the Sentence Pastors Hate
Thom Rainer just put out a compelling piece that strikes a deep sounding chord with every single pastor I know. It gets to the dirty underworld of pastoral ministry, touching on one of the most challenging, painful, and discouraging aspects of the entire calling. His article speaks to when someone comes up—elders, laypeople, other staff, READ MORE
Are You Signed Up for GLS?
Let me be painfully blunt: our world is starving for substantive leaders—true leaders—who will step up and move us forward to a preferred future. Even the simplest glance toward Washington, D.C. tells us that this much is true. Our society is hungry for men and women who will not settle for the management of mediocrity, READ MORE
The Twelve
Pay careful attention to the story of Jesus’ formal affirmation of the twelve disciples who would follow after him, as recorded by Mark in the historical account bearing his name: And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom READ MORE
Tribute to “Prof”
“Prof” introduced me to the finer art of hermeneutics. For years my family has echoed the mantra: “Observation is the key to interpretation.” My first real introduction to Bible study methodology came from Prof. One of the greatest insights I have ever gleaned regarding managing my devotional life with my precious Christa came from Prof. READ MORE