Category: dialogue

  • “What is it that you do exactly?”

    “What is it that you do exactly?”

    February 2020 has been a heavy travel month, 3 out of 4 weeks away from home—in Virginia, at Mt. Hermon, San Francisco, San Jose, and Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve got a good website here with a bunch of content, but sometimes people want to have a nice short and sweet summary. There are some people that…

  • When Words Change Someone and You Don’t Even Know It

    When Words Change Someone and You Don’t Even Know It

    listen to this John Townsend story about a throw away comment that changes the trajectory of someone’s life in a short elevator ride

  • 4 More Things for Naïve Pastors to Know

    4 More Things for Naïve Pastors to Know

    Good Bible teaching and right theology alone will not get pastors prepared for a lifetime of fruitful ministry. That textbook knowledge has to be translated and developed into skillful practices, wise insights through healthily-processed life experiences, and gracious humility for all human kind. One research showed that most pastors and clergy don’t last in ministry…

  • Naive pastors and the unexpected pain of pastoring

    Naive pastors and the unexpected pain of pastoring

    The Bible talks on several occasions about suffering. And you don’t have to be a Christian, or even a spiritual person, to know that the world has too much suffering for inexplicable reasons. But, what do you do with that reality? Some teach that one should detach from suffering but that could become confused and…

  • When Christians Grasp for Power, We all Lose

    When Christians Grasp for Power, We all Lose

    I believe that we as Christians have had privilege in many ways that other religions do not have, here in America. I think that privilege and power are intricately linked—found these good thoughts on Twitter worth reading and considering. (twitter thread by Ray Chang, posted with permission, unrolled via threadreaderapp.com) #ChristianPrivilege, like any other form…

  • Managing Your Anxiety and Others You Lead

    Managing Your Anxiety and Others You Lead

    Anxiety has been a part of the human condition for centuries. It’s not a new thing that’s increasing just because of social media, faster changes in our cultures, and uncertainty about the future. Jesus Christ spoke directly about anxiety in Matthew 6, defusing its grip over us with 9 reasons why we don’t have to…

  • 4 Traits of Real White Advocates for People of Color

    4 Traits of Real White Advocates for People of Color

    (twitter threads posted with permission from Helen Lee; unrolled via threadreaderapp.com) When a white person says he/she is an advocate for people of color, I need to know: Who are your closest friends, mentors, and advisors? Are they all or mostly white? Do you have a track record of elevating voices of color and how…

  • Naive pastors don’t know psychology and sociology

    Naive pastors don’t know psychology and sociology

    Pastoring and leading is primarily about people. It’s not only about people. It is so much more. And as much as we study the Bible or go thru years of seminary training, to prepare for Gospel ministry, that’s not the half of it. The Bible is Not Enough I was naïve enough to think that…

  • Naive Pastors Don’t Understand Power

    Naive Pastors Don’t Understand Power

    I’d like to believe that a majority of people go into pastoral ministry with sincerity to help people and good intentions. Many of them with a sense of calling from God as far as they understand. The reality with pastoring involves a ton more than sincerity. Seminary doesn’t prepare you for it. Even life itself…

  • Naive Pastors, Here is How Leadership Really Works

    Naive Pastors, Here is How Leadership Really Works

    I’ve been stewing on this topic in recent months, especially when it’s surfaced in my conversations with pastors and church leaders. The topic revolves around the dissonance between what’s taught about leadership versus what it actually takes to become a better leader. I’ve heard many accomplished pastors, those who write the books and talk about…

  • Find Speaker for Resilience, Suicide Prevention and Self Harm

    Find Speaker for Resilience, Suicide Prevention and Self Harm

    Isolation and shame are at an all time high. The challenges of mental illness and everyday life can be overwhelming for people you care about. David Dicken, of Make Someone Great Today, is a crisis counselor, and he’s now available as a speaker and presenter to address life’s challenges. This promotional video explains what David…

  • What is the line between recruiting versus poaching pastors and church staff?

    What is the line between recruiting versus poaching pastors and church staff?

    Working in the church context comes with a unique dynamic with employment, job transitions, and staffing. By contrast, in most other professional jobs, someone can submit a 2-week notice to resign from a job and go to another job. Etiquette expert Peggy Post shared these basic steps for quitting: Tell your supervisor. Establish a last…