Very regularly, ministers ask for my help with ministerial and congregational life in very pragmatic ways. What is the best way to organize, plan, preach, administer, supervise, lead, teach, evangelize, pray, cultivate a spiritual life, raise a family, play? You…
VIEWPOINT: Letters from Jordan, the other Bible land, Part 2
In an attempt to stimulate tourism, the Jordan Tourism Board invited a group of editors and journalists to tour their country. I was fortunate enough to be included in the group. I look forward to sharing with you some of…
VIEWPOINT: Letters from Jordan, the other Bible land, Part 1
In an attempt to stimulate tourism, the Jordan Tourism Board invited a group of editors and journalists to tour their country. I was fortunate enough to be included in the group. With good reason, Jordan has been called “The other…
VITAL SIGNS: Where is your parish?
One of the polarities every minister must navigate is between ministry within the congregation and ministry in the surrounding community. Is the minister called to serve the members of the local church exclusively, or is there a larger call to…
OPINION: Seeking God in the quiet places
When I was growing up in the church, there was a song we sang during many of our student-lead worship services that began like this: In the secret In the quiet place, In the stillness You are there, In the…
WINN RECOMMENDS: Books that matter
A Book of Prayers, by Arthur A. R. Nelson (IVP) The Scriptures say that the Spirit will help us pray whenever we don’t know how to pray. Arthur Nelson gives a helping hand as well. This fresh collection of prayers…
TRENDING: Competitive churches
According to dean of American church consultants Lyle Schaller, when leaders in nondenominational Protestant megachurches founded since 1975 are asked, “What proportion of your regular attendees in worship were born, baptized, reared and confirmed in a Roman Catholic family?”, responses…
OPINION: Dealing with creative people
I’ve been reading different takes on “dealing with” creative people. It makes me laugh to see the advice people give. Usually it boils down to the equivalent of how to keep your pets entertained. “Dangle something shiny or give them…
OPINION: To bomb or not to bomb
A few weeks ago I wrote about the conflict in Egypt and how Christians should think about it. Since then, the conflict in Syria, to which I alluded in my last article, has blown up into a full-on international crisis…