Churches are struggling with decisions about how and when to reopen, what form reopening should take, and their role in protecting people during the pandemic. Some churches are resisting governmental directives on these matters, claiming it’s a matter of conscience. Others are operating within...
Last week, my blog celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary with some encouragement for other married couples in ministry. Among the responses from many of you, a friend sent me this true story (names changed) which illustrates the impact of a ministry marriage that lasts.
We recently celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary which means two things. Our marriage has lasted awhile and we are getting old! When we teach on marriage, we half-jokingly say, “We have been married 40 years; about 38 good ones.” We have had some rough patches that probably total up to...
Leading is tiring. The disciples had a full day with Jesus, culminating with what would turn out to be their final meal together. They had learned important lessons that day about serving humbly and avoiding bravado. They had learned Jesus’ death was imminent and were puzzled about what was...
Several years ago, a series of prominent media ministers succumbed to immorality over a few weeks time. They were disgraced, their ministries came unraveled, and all the good they had accomplished was called into question.
One of the Bible’s authenticating features is the honest way it describes the failures and shortcomings of prominent characters. We see biblical characters—warts and all—as they struggled to learn what it meant to follow Jesus and fulfill the leadership roles he assigned. Peter made one of those...
Freedom of speech is what makes current protests possible and a vital part of political change. Freedom of speech means, with few limitations, freedom to espouse whatever beliefs you hold without governmental restriction. You may face opposition from people who disagree with you, but many of...
More than 330 million Americans are neither rioting nor looting right now. They are going to work (or hoping to return to work soon), paying taxes, and caring for their families during a pandemic. They are also concerned about problems like racism and want real change to happen. But the vast...
These are confusing and challenging times, which are complicated by the mishmash of issues, solutions, actions, reactions, and differing agendas of various groups and organizations. On top of that, inflammatory reporting by media (on all sides) and relentless social media posting continually...
Rising racial and cultural tension in our country cries out for healthy models of diversity in action. Gateway Seminary is one such example—a multiracial and multicultural educational ministry organization.