One of the interesting benefits of my job is getting to be in a different church almost every Sunday. Most of the time I am speaking, but at other times I visit churches to encourage pastors and extend the seminary’s influence to new communities. My church visits continually remind me how...
He never wavered from emphasizing the gospel – in its simplicity and beauty – no matter the pressures, criticisms, or distractions. His primary legacy is millions of people who are Christians because of his faithful witness. His leadership example of statesmanship with integrity is also part of...
Ali Raisman, Olympic gymnast and victim in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, recently posed for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue – without the swimsuit. Some have called her out for a contradiction between her blistering confrontation of Nassar’s immoral behavior and her own moral...
A recent report by the National Center for Health Statistics reveals life expectancy in the United States – for both men and women – peaked in 2012 and has been declining ever since. The primary contributing factors are drugs, alcohol, and suicide. Substance abuse and suicide have increased at...
Sexual harassment, abuse, and perversity by ministry leaders is a painful reality. It’s hard to demand others in our culture to maintain moral standards when ministry leaders fail to do so. Moral authority is forfeited by hypocritical ministry leaders who demand from others what they are not...
The American church has never been more analyzed and categorized, with predictions galore about where it’s headed, what it’s becoming, how it needs to change, and whether it is growing, plateaued, or declining. It’s easy to get lost in all this and decide the health of our local church more...
My friend Ted Cotton died a few days ago. At his memorial service, attended by about 400 people, the moderator asked everyone who had been led to faith in Jesus and baptized by Ted to raise their hand. Dozens of hands went up. He then asked everyone who had been mentored into ministry by Ted to...
A recent experience with a major donor reminded me of some of the myths younger leaders often believe about how money materializes to support Christian ministry.
Most people today believe right and wrong are determined by two sources – either what they feel is right/wrong or by what laws say are right/wrong. This means feelings determine truth for individuals and legislatures determine truth for the community. This is a backwards approach. Truth must...
Spending several days during the holidays with four grandchildren under age three caused me to think about our world, their future, and my perspective on what their world may be like when they are my age. Despite my natural optimism, the overall trajectory of current events, the overwhelming...