eager for [truth]
countering culture with the TRUTH of GOD's word
Category: Ministry
Thoughts on Church Leader Qualifications (The Modern Church Vs the New Testament Church)
This morning there was a fun discussion happening on a friends Facebook thread. Basically, it revolved around a call to the church to focus more on character than charisma when it comes to church leadership. Below are some of the thoughts that came to… Continue Reading “Thoughts on Church Leader Qualifications (The Modern Church Vs the New Testament Church)”
Why is so Much Attention Given to Pastors Over all the Roles Found in Ephesians 4?
Over the years of my life I have noticed something that few like to talk about or question and that is this: why there is so much emphasis placed on pastors in the church? Especially when one takes a look through scripture and you… Continue Reading “Why is so Much Attention Given to Pastors Over all the Roles Found in Ephesians 4?”
What is Worship? Can Churches Really Shut Down? Can Governments Really Restrict Worship?
What is worship? Can governments restrict worship? Can churches really be shut down? We talk about this and more!
Ephesians 4: Ministry, for the Rest of Us
Ministry is not only a pastor thing. In fact, it’s not only an evangelist thing. Or a teacher thing. Or a prophet thing. Or an apostle thing. It’s an everybody thing.
COVID19 Aftermath: The Church Cannot Go Back to Egypt
Most churches are still putting a great deal of effort into making the 1 hour Sunday gathering viable over the internet for most of their church body. Some are making efforts to find discipleship opportunities outside of Sunday morning. And unfortunately, a great deal of people are still screaming that they want things to go back to the way they were.
Seeing all of these reactions, I can’t help but ask, should we go back?
COVID19 – To Close or Not to Close – That is the Question
According to Pew Research, about 15-20% of Christians in America are under the age of 30 leaving the mass majority of individuals identifying as Christian in America over the age of 30, with about 45-50% being over the age of 50.
Kanye, MacArthur, and Moore – Exposing the Division in the American Church
In case you’ve been living under a rock or out of the country for the last month, let me just tell you…it’s been a busy couple of weeks for the American Church.
Don’t Bite the Shepherd
On one side you have the pastors and church leaders (the shepherds), and on the other you have the church body (the sheep). For decades (if not centuries) there has always been a tension between these 2 sides of the coin, which results in church splits, hurt relationships, broken testimonies, people being turned away from and turned off of the church, and a whole lot more. Each side of the coin seems to think they ARE the coin not realizing that they are but one side of the same coin….that there is another side.
Don’t Beat the Sheep
My particular rod of choice was my tongue. I was (and still am) quick witted and could conjure up snarky unkind responses at the drop of a hat. All a church member had to do was corner me, or hit me up before the church service was beginning to complain about something, and the rod (that was my tongue) would get whipped out and promptly applied to the head of the unsuspecting sheep.
The Parable of the 2002 Mini Cooper: A Lesson On Getting Help
There once was a man who was in the market for a car that was really good on gas mileage, was cheap, and was small (he worked in a downtown area where parking was minimal). This man found a 2002 Mini Cooper with 56,000… Continue Reading “The Parable of the 2002 Mini Cooper: A Lesson On Getting Help”
Angry Christian: So Much for that Whole “Truth in Love” Thing
I’ve always struggled a bit with my temper. OK…scratch that…I have always struggled with getting angry ENTIRELY too quickly. Just ask my wife…my kids…people who have served along side me in ministry…people in traffic…Let me just be real for a moment…more often than not, my fuse was (and sometimes still is) shorter than the line to the men’s restroom at a Backstreet Boys concert.
A Word of Caution to the Spiritual Fathers of this World
Being called a Spiritual Son or hearing someone call themselves my Spiritual Father (or mother) was something I wasn’t used to growing up in the Southern Baptist Church. Which is odd, because there is certainly this type of relationship displayed throughout the Bible.
6 Signs of an Authoritarian Church Leader
au-thor-i-tar-i-an /əˌTHôrəˈterēən/ adjective: favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government at the expense of personal freedom showing a lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others; domineering; dictatorial. noun: an authoritarian person Nothing is more unattractive to… Continue Reading “6 Signs of an Authoritarian Church Leader”
Obese Church VS Keto Church
THROWING UP THE WALLS Since I’ve begun my foray into examining and critiquing modern Church practices and settings in hopes to find what the Church really should look like, I have found that from the moment I began I have been met with a… Continue Reading “Obese Church VS Keto Church”
The Tiny House Movement: A Big Lesson for the American Church
THE MOVEMENT Around 1997, a man by the name of Jay Shafer began a now growing and increasingly popular movement known as The Tiny House Movement. The purpose or vision of most who are moving toward the Tiny House movement is really quite simple:… Continue Reading “The Tiny House Movement: A Big Lesson for the American Church”
The Table – What is Fellowship?
It was announced back at the end of October that the church I had been serving on staff at would close it’s doors on December 30, 2018. And so it did. This, of course, left my family wondering what we were going to do… Continue Reading “The Table – What is Fellowship?”
Be Bold in What You Stand For
I look back on opportunities I’ve had to speak up and make a difference with utter embarassment sometimes. Why didn’t I say that thing? Why didn’t I do something when I had the chance? How could I be such a coward? Honestly, it makes… Continue Reading “Be Bold in What You Stand For”
A Pastoral Epidemic of Biblical Proportions (Part 2)
If you’re seeing this article, and haven’t had a chance to read Part 1, I HIGHLY encourage you to start there as I lay this whole thing out in a fairly structured way. And much of what will be said in Part 2 gets… Continue Reading “A Pastoral Epidemic of Biblical Proportions (Part 2)”
A Pastoral Epidemic of Biblical Proportions (Part 1)
In recent weeks, months, and even years there has been a growing concern for the mental and emotional health of pastors (especially younger pastors) as we have seen far too many of them take their own lives leaving behind ministries, families, and friends behind… Continue Reading “A Pastoral Epidemic of Biblical Proportions (Part 1)”
A New Music and Ministry Page!
Hey Everyone! I just wanted to bring your attention to a couple of new pages on my website. As some of you may know, I’m a singer/songwriter, worship leader, and pastor. And I’m in the process of trying to establish an itinerant worship/speaking ministry… Continue Reading “A New Music and Ministry Page!”
Yours: The Story Behind the Song – Peace Out of Pain
Have you ever been chugging along in life, thinking, “Man, nothing could stop me now!” and almost at that very moment you have the rug pulled out from under neath you and your world begins to crumble? Yeah, that happened to me back on… Continue Reading “Yours: The Story Behind the Song – Peace Out of Pain”
10 More Lessons I’m Learning About Being in Ministry
I couldn’t help it. I just started thinking about the other 10 lessons I’ve been learning, and up came a few more. So…I’ve laid them all out for you here just as I have done in the previous article. So here we go! Learn… Continue Reading “10 More Lessons I’m Learning About Being in Ministry”
10 Lessons I’m Learning About Being in Ministry
I’ve been serving in the ministry in one shape or form for the last 15 years. Be it volunteer or paid, full or part time, or as a youth minister, music minister, or both at times. And while I certainly don’t have the track… Continue Reading “10 Lessons I’m Learning About Being in Ministry”