On the Long Haul

Plan to stick with this for a while.  Being a pastor is a complicated Calling.  The more trips you make around the block the more effective you should be—as long as you don’t always go around the same block in the same way!  Serving as a pastor is one of those things that is more art than science.  Rome wasn’t […]

On Joy

Never let anyone or anything steal your joy.  This is significant day in and day out. You are a child of the Most High God!  You have the hosts of heaven helping you and the gates of heaven waiting for you.  Your sins, faults and failures are washed clean.  God is with you and for you. Of course, you also […]

Yes, It Was

I heard it twice this week.  Once from “the left.”  Once from “the right.”  Both on news shows.* “No pun intended.” Here is what is odd.  For both of them the pun was intended.  It was scripted, crafted, prepared, maybe even tele-prompted.  If that is not intended, what is? It was a blatant falsehood—from both sides, both of which claim […]

On Clerical Garb

Should pastors wear a robe and a clerical collar?  Should they wear khakis and a sport shirt?  What about jeans and a tee shirt?  Many have spent much time discussing this.  Isn’t that kind of a funny question?  Of all the issues that we can talk about, how in the world can it matter how a pastor dresses?!? But it […]

On Juggling

If you are going to serve as a pastor, you better learn to juggle. You have multiple responsibilities:  child of God, husband, father, son, pastor, community member, churchman.  As a pastor you have multiple tasks: PreachLeadWorship planningStrategic planningFinancial planningTeach adultsTeach young peopleTeach children (these three are dramatically different)Grief counselingPre-marriage and marriage counselingEnd of life counselingBossScholarOccasional plumbing and electrical workLawn mowing […]

On Excelling

What’s the point of not doing your best?  What’s the point of not trying to get better? Scripture has some choice words about being a sluggard.  Check out Proverbs 6:9-11. There are two schools of thought.  One says to work hard on your weaknesses to minimize them.  The other says to work hard on your strengths to maximize them. Why […]