On Perspective

In pastoral ministry perspective is significance. Remember it is a job. Being a pastor is your job.  It is hard work.  You will need to work hard; you will need to work smart.  Never apologize for being paid to do this work. Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  You are not.  You are, in a very real sense, a hireling.  This […]

On Your Pastoral Example

You will teach much with words.  You may teach more with your example, how you live. Or at least your teaching with words will be buttressed or hamstrung by your example.  Do not underestimate the influence of example.  Remember, after many years of God’s proclamation to his people through the words of the prophets, he showed more clearly and completely […]

ON TINKERING

The pastoral ministry is an inexact science.  It calls for experimentation.   It calls for artfulness.  It calls for tinkering. Plan to tinker. One of my biggest surprises in the pastoral ministry was that there is no clear path on how everything really should be done and how everything really fits together and how everything really works! After nearly four decades […]