Erika and I are sharing “Ten lessons in ten years” with the 55+ group at our church tomorrow. We’ll be telling stories from the first decade of our life together. Here’s #3: Don’t wait for the perfect time. The first few verses of Ecclesiastes 11 talk about not waiting until the right circumstances before planting,…
It feels like our church is losing staff members at a record rate. Four pastors/directors (plus another one this June) and two support staff in three years. They’ve either stepped down or moved on to something else. I find it hard to say good-bye to people who have mentored, supported, and shared the same wild…
An older, church-going friend of mine has been bugging me to get my hands on a copy of The Shack for months. So, I finally set some time aside and read it this week. Although I would have taken a slightly different angle, William Young illuminated some of life’s greatest mysteries–from horrendous human loss to…
Bad news. My Christian Worship through the Centuries class was supposed to spend Friday morning at Christ the Saviour Antiochian Orthodox church in Waterloo. The priest was going to spend some time filling us in about the liturgy and worship practices of the ancient Eastern church. Unfortunately, the he landed some last minute hockey tickets…
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:…
The latest edition of Leadership Journal arrived in my mailbox yesterday. In an article called “What’s Changing, What’s Not”, Dave Travis writes: “Senior pastors under 40 who are leading large churches all use social media… This is a radical shift in how we understand leadership. Fifteen years ago, pastors were wondering how they could be…
This past Sunday people in our three church services heard some big news. First, our interim lead pastor announced his June 30th retirement from pastoral ministry. He has been ministering at HMC for 19 years. Second, our ministry council chairperson announced that I will be assuming the position of interim lead pastor effective March 1st….
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…
I wonder if rejection is a prerequisite for leadership? Are there any leaders, ones that people voluntarily follow, that don’t know the sting of denial. It’s likely the primary pathway God uses to humble and break those who walk arrogantly. Some of the greatest leaders I know did not enjoy favour with everyone around them:…
I wonder what this week will bring? Lately, I’ve been asking myself that question. This week is no exception. I’m back teaching in the classroom on Fridays. This semester I have a morning and an afternoon class. I’m also preaching a lot more these days. It means I’ll be squeezing every ounce of opportunity out…