Speed Bump Syndrome: The Spiritual Discipline of Staying Out the Way
Some Christians’ vocation is to be a gratuitous speed bump on any and every ministry freeway they stumble upon. Like barnacles on a hull they latch onto any nuance they can disagree with, hoping their minuscule interference can curb the inertia of another’s ministry. Anyone who has [...]
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What’s up Doc? Titles in the Church
6When I taught high school English, a serendipitous twist of fate placed my unsuspecting little sister under my tutelage for a year. This sitcom-type situation was fraught with potential to be awkward and untenable. But she was graciously submissive, and I was careful not to show partiality [...]
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Under the Whip: What Pastors Do the Other 167 Hours of the Week
A relative said to me, “It must be great to only have to work one hour a week on Sundays.” I replied, “Do you know what’s better? Olympic sprinters only have to work for 9.6 seconds or so, every four years!” Most congregants don’t realize [...]
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Respect the Word, Mute the Phone – Pet Pastoral Peeve #1
The ministry is not about the pastor. Ministry is about, in this order, Jesus, His Bride, and unbelievers. The pastor doesn’t feature. But, preachers are people too, and they tend to have certain parts of their calling that irk them. Mine is when someone in [...]
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Young Guns – Despising the Youth of Pastors
I became a pastor when I was 29 years old. This came with a set of challenges that are endemic to youth. The most frequently asked question I received when I showed up at pastor’s fraternals was, “Are you the youth pastor?” To which I sheepishly [...]
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