For centuries churches have marked the American landscape. They have stood as icons in the middle of towns, their steeples pointing to a higher reality. But this may no longer be the case. As America continues to urbanize and secularize, and as dying churches shut down and sell off their property, finding a place in the heart of a town or city may be increasingly difficult to … [Read more...] about The Changing Politics of Church Property
Articles
Pastor as Overseer
If leadership is largely influence (Northouse, 2012), then pastors are leaders. Yet, this perspective on the pastorate is something that many evangelicals have shied away from. For example, one author and former pastor, Jared Wilson, questions the usefulness of the leadership approach to pastoral work. Wilson (2013) sardonically writes: Enter the leadership cult. What we … [Read more...] about Pastor as Overseer
Hidden Hurts
Somedays it feels like the world is winning.Somedays word reaches you of a person now gone.Some deep struggle now done, now over. Good-bye.And you never knew.You had seen them around, in passing. Maybe you waved. Maybe you were in a hurry, so you looked the other way. But they were drowning, and you didn't know."Most men lead lives of quiet … [Read more...] about Hidden Hurts
The System
I tend to trust the system. I stop at stop signs…even when no one is around. I don’t question election results. I let Google search me. One time I had some fraudulent charges on my credit card; I called the bank, and they took care of it, no problem. So, I trust the system. It has worked for me. But what if the system didn’t for me? What if old systems had been setup … [Read more...] about The System
Don’t Stop Now
Several years ago I trained for a marathon. The first time I ran six miles I remember panting and thinking, "How will I ever run 26?" I was spent after my first long day. My legs ached. An hour of running seemed so long. But I kept running. I wasn't very fast. My body creaked and cracked. And I moaned and groaned through the opening weeks. But I kept running. I … [Read more...] about Don’t Stop Now