Since 2003, I have been involved in training people for ministry. I taught Bible and ministry classes, and for several years have been the dean or director of schools whose primary foci were preparing people for lay and vocational ministry. Throughout my career, one of my great worries has been how poorly most pastors handle … Continue reading Pastoring the Pastors
Ministry Education
Godin: “Management Can Change the World”
This is from Seth Godin's Akimbo podcast, "Aravind". His summary of the episode is a single sentence, our title: "Management can change the world." Aravind is a chain of eye hospitals in India that has saved the sight of millions of people by treating curable, treatable eye problems. They are also a great picture of … Continue reading Godin: “Management Can Change the World”
The Role of Experience in Theology
More on the topic of how we read the Bible: I have long contended that we don't simply "read the Bible and do what it says"; it's always more complicated than that, and honesty requires us to admit this. There are always other voices, in addition to the words of scripture, that guide us. Richard … Continue reading The Role of Experience in Theology
Stillness & Being
The picture is an iPhone pano of the scene I've been staring at for the past hour; the Adriatic Sea off Rovinj, Croatia. The picture doesn't do justice to Rovinj, one of my favorite places on earth, and a truly beautiful city. But I think it captures something of the immenseness & the always-changing yet … Continue reading Stillness & Being
Godin on Organizational Resilience
If you're not listening to Seth Godin's Akimbo, you're missing some of the best material available on leadership, marketing, creativity, etc. Every week, this is the most brilliant stuff on the internet. Godin recently dropped an episode on organizational resilience, "Supple." Church leaders and ministry leaders can learn a great deal from this episode. My … Continue reading Godin on Organizational Resilience
Evangelical Engagement 8: Christendom vs. Christianity
My thinking re. the problems faced by evangelicals in Europe is shaped by the conflict I see between Christianity and Christendom. My thinking on this conflict is itself shaped by Soren Kierkegaard (hereafter SK) (Attack on Christendom) and Malcolm Muggeridge (The End of Christendom). In this post I will summarize SK's contribution. SK was a … Continue reading Evangelical Engagement 8: Christendom vs. Christianity
Accountability Questions for Spiritual Adults
I am taking these questions from the HC podcast "Housechurch+" from 26 September 2016. The hosts are leaders in Prairie Alliance Church, Portage, Manitoba. I am posting with their permission. Their identities don't really affect the impact of the material, but I think one of them is Chris Kehler (I'm not sure) and I haven't … Continue reading Accountability Questions for Spiritual Adults
Evangelical Engagement pt 7: If I Planted a Church in Zagreb …
In what I say below, I am NOT saying that house churches are superior to other approaches. I AM saying that I think house churches fit some contexts--including Zagreb, and the parts of Europe that I am familiar with--better than traditional approaches to making new churches. I also am NOT criticizing existing churches. The evangelical … Continue reading Evangelical Engagement pt 7: If I Planted a Church in Zagreb …
Olson on what “Christian” Means
Roger Olson has been writing recently about claims from different groups and people to be "Christian,", in an attempt to clarify a basic set of beliefs/convictions that one can use to measure the claim. He recently posted an overview of the criteria he proposes. How do we determine if someone (group or individual) is Christian? … Continue reading Olson on what “Christian” Means
Circleslide 