Pastoral Scarcity: A Poem (c) Copyright 2016, by Matthew R. St. John For all the pastors everywhere For whom material sustenance is truly scarce I pray for you to be strong this day And rest well in God’s sustaining grace READ MORE
Pastors
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
Ariel Castro and Pornography
This is a post I wish I had written yet I have simply not had the time. I knew, however, that at some point, some valuable voice would make its way to print. I am thankful. Ariel Castro and his house of horrors redefines for us the concept of the nightmare, but long before three READ MORE
A Call to Suffer and Die
It was a restless hamlet in South Sudan along the Ethiopian border. A few short years ago I was there leading a pastors’ conference with the elders and pastors from various tribal groups from the region. When I asked them the best way I could help them their forceful plea was for me to tell READ MORE
Trust is Everything
Trust is everything. When trust exists between people, within families or organizations, large or small, there is significant room for both empowerment and failure, unity and general well-being. However, when trust is not present, there exists at least a profound measure of insecurity and at most the dehumanization of the those involved. Everything is in READ MORE
Musings on Messages, Part One
The title is really wrong. It should say “Musings on the Messenger,” but I want to keep my options open for further reflections on sermons, the sermonizing process, and the nature of proclamation. However, I must begin whatever musings I am compelled to offer with the messenger himself (or herself, as the case might be). READ MORE