I believe in accountability. I have a phone call every Monday morning with a pastor friend of mine who has agreed to hold me accountable. He asks me about my relationship with Angela, with my kids, with my church, and with my God. He asks about my thought life and my ministry life. He prays …
I once read that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking about yourself less. I find that the times in my life when I struggle most with pride are not the times when I’m confident and satisfied in my accomplishments (thinking of myself) but rather when I’m focused on me, on what I …
What is the secret to John Piper’s success at Bethlehem Baptist Church? So I was called to Bethlehem Baptist and began in June 1980. I was thirty-four years old, and there were three hundred older people and almost no youth. What I have done is try to preach the whole counsel of God from his …
Often there is a book that I haven’t read that I know I should make time for, but the fact of the matter is that there are more books that I should read than time that I can make. Recently, I made time to read Phillips Brooks’ classic on preaching, The Joy of Preaching (or …
Southern Baptist Convention falls prey to elaborate gay marriage hoax. Officials with the Southern Baptist Convention said they have been the victim of an elaborate online hoax that included a phony news release announcing that the nation’s largest Protestant denomination had changed its position on homosexuality. Rob Tims and Sir Ken Robinson on ADHD (An …
My Friend, David, recently mailed me several books (he does that occasionally, just because that’s the kind of guy he is). One of the books he sent me is Future Men by Douglas Wilson. I haven’t had time to read it, but I have been anxious to dive into it. In preparation for my Father’s …
I’ve just recently finished reading Darrin Patrick’s Church Planter. The reviews for this book have been great across the board for the most part (excluding, of course, that whole John MacArthur incident) and my impression of the book was very positive as well. Most incredible for me was the way that Patrick approached the role …
Reflecting on 4 years of ministry here at Malvern Hill, here is a list of four things that God has taught me and is continuing to teach me that are imperative for leadership within the local church. Priority over People. The Great Commission is the priority of God’s church. Often, within the church, people want …
For many people, their job serves as their god. By immersing themselves into the work force, many people find a functional savior that fills voids in their lives. Christians, however, know that this is not an option. An equally bad option is for believers to perform their jobs in a substandard fashion–to misrepresent God by …
I’ve been asked to review Transformational Churches by Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer. It’s laying on my desk, and I plan to work through it this morning, but before I do, I’ve been struck by the subtitle: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations. I’ve got some ideas about what Stetzer and Rainer may recommend, but …