The ministry is tough business. Every month, hundreds of men in my denomination resign their churches. Many have no place to go. Many are bruised, beaten up, or out of gas. Worn down by whiners and pulverized by Pharisees, they limp off the scene, sometimes never to return. Continue reading “The Sad State of the Ministry (Part 1)”
The Missing Word in Our Culture
This past week the airwaves, Facebook, and Twitter were filled with the story of the tragic death of Whitney Houston. She was an amazing talent, who fell into the trap of drugs and a bad marriage. Her life, which began in the church, unraveled, and she will always be remembered for what could have been. One of the great voices of any age was silenced far too soon because of destructive choices. Continue reading “The Missing Word in Our Culture”
Intensely Spiritual…but Completely Natural
Some people think preachers aren’t real people. Some preachers don’t come across as real people. The pastor of my home church always wore a suit. No, really. I mean always. I saw him working on his house one day wearing a coat and tie. I prayed (and I wasn’t even saved at the time), “Dear God, don’t make me be a preacher. They’re weird.” Continue reading “Intensely Spiritual…but Completely Natural”
Can Two Walk Together? (My Support of OneCry)
I was recently on a panel discussion regarding revival. The participants were Byron Paulus, Erwin Lutzer, Jim Cymbala, Bill Elliff, and myself. We are, to say the least, a diverse group with various backgrounds and different churches. We probably have theological differences on some secondary issues, but our heart is one on the subject of the need for revival. All of us long for revival and have studied revival. We know the “facts” of revival from a historical context and even, to some extent, from personal experience. Continue reading “Can Two Walk Together? (My Support of OneCry)”
It Matters
Several weeks ago, I was privileged to read a new book by my friend Andy Andrews, a New York Times bestselling author. The book is entitled How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why the Truth Matters More than You Think. I was stunned. But, more than that, I was fearful that people would ignore this book because it’s not one of Andy’s “typical” books. This book cuts to the core of the issues facing America today. I’ve read everything Andy has written. I’ve used his stories. But this, by far, is the most important book he’s done.