Thoughts on mentoring

Right now, part of my calling is to mentor emerging leaders.


Right now, part of my calling is to mentor emerging leaders.

I spent most of my day in in my head, in isolation, finalizing the course syllabi for my winter ’09 courses (Spiritual Formation and Worship Leadership). If you’re interested, you can access them here. While I sat at my computer, some guys from my small group spent the day cutting firewood. Out of the blue, they dropped off…

Yesterday marked the last Sunday in our church’s Formation @ Home series. It was a profound experience for me. It’s the first time I’ve been able to design an extended sermon series (5 weeks) and preach all but one Sunday. I’ve been awakened. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. I’m grateful to Peter,…

A former student in my Owen Sound youth ministry recently queried me about knowing God’s will. He is finishing university and is thinking about going overseas. The possibility of entering a new culture is a huge decision and he’s not sure what to do. Here’s what I told him: 1. Ask God. It’s so obvious:…

Calvin Miller writes, “Mystics without study are only spiritual romantics who want relationship without effort.” Miller, The Table of Inwardness, 83. Study is more than a consumption of information. It is a spiritual discipline that requires time, focus, and a willingness to change. For Christians the Bible is foundational in our pursuit of God. So…

Dying spruce trees: we’ve got a few of them at our house. I think it’s either a disease or lack of sunlight that’s causing them to shed their needles from the bottom up. Either way, it makes for a sad looking tree and and even sadder looking landscape. Trees, meet chainsaw. The ones covered with…
Happy Birthday to my favorite person in the whole world. No, not me; Erika. Last night we laid in bed reminiscing about when we first met. I think God had something to do with it. We were both raised by parents who spent a lot of time reminding us that we the greatest thing since…