I’ve seen an image floating around on social networks several times, and for some reason I was moved to interact with it’s message today. The text of the message is below. 1. 97% of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused, or hurt by their trusted friends. 70% of pastors battle depression. 7,000 churches close each…
Tag: Church
Into the Wilderness
This would have been the sermon preached in worship on February 22, 2015 (had we not had to cancel). It’s based on 1 Peter 3:18-22. Jesus entered the “wilderness.” I begin this meditation with that idea, even though the word itself appears nowhere in the passage on which it’s based. Why would I do that? Well, in…
Another Path
This is an edited manuscript of my sermon for February 15, 2015. It’s based off of Luke 8:26–39 As we come to the end of our Journey towards Lent we meet Jesus as he sails into Gentile territory. I have to say, if TV was around back in the first century, this story would probably…
A time to build
For the last several years the church I pastor, Central Baptist Church of Riverton-Palmyra 1, has been in a bit of a holding pattern. We became increasingly aware that our organizational structure was not only non-functional, it was actually serving to take energy from the congregation. Central was a organizational vampire which folks both loved…
Pastoral Advice – A Haiku
Pastoral advice You’re a person not a role A mask do not wear Reflection I am sometimes worried at the way pastors take up the role of The Pastor, the ultra-competent and all-wise shepherd of the flock. It’s not that I believe they are insincere when they do so. In fact, I believe most of…
Going Neutral – Part II
Note: The Featured image today is the pulpit from Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA. The “ceiling” of pulpit is what’s known as a sounding board. It’s several layers of different density wood, with the grains in alternating directions. When sound waves bounce off the board, the wood vibrates and actually helps to amplify speech….
