Why Pastors Should Work Hard to Write Well
Pastors should work hard to become clear, competent writers
“You may not realize it, but pastors have to write every day. I’m sure every pastor has a love/hate (mostly hate?) relationship with email. There was a day last week when I wrote 53 emails. Many of those were short, but I hope none of them was sloppy.” Pastors should work hard to become... Continue Reading
Atheists At Risk of Dying Out Due to Belief in Contraception, Study Claims
The findings fly in the face of popular discourse - and scientists’ predictions
“Although one might argue that just because someone has religious parents it doesn’t necessarily mean they will grow up with the same beliefs, further studies have shown that religion does in fact appear to be heritable. And it appears both nature and nurture play a role – it may seem obvious that how you’re brought up... Continue Reading
Boy Scouts 1948 Versus Boy Scouts 2017
Scouting has capitulated to the late-modern war against nature and forfeited its most basic mission
We used to recite the Scout oath at all the formal gatherings. Of course it has all the problems of any civil religion. In the 1960s and 70s, when I was reciting the oath we all knew what honor, God, country, and “morally straight” signified. One of the books I loved most as a... Continue Reading
The Surprising Power Of Little Things
It’s the cumulative effect of little things that shape our future
“There’s two ways I should respond to the power of little things. First, this reality should prompt a deep dependence on the sovereignty of God. I can’t control or manipulate the little things, but He can. Chance events or random circumstances aren’t chance or random at all in light of God’s perfect work in the... Continue Reading
Weary Mom, Come to Me
Motherhood is hard. Can I get an amen?
“He invites you, mom, who labors and are heavy laden. You who have been working hard to be the best, only to realize that your efforts leave you more condemned and doubting than refreshed and encouraged.” Motherhood is hard. Can I get an amen? While we bear the difficult physical aspects of mothering, our... Continue Reading
Cynicism And The God Who Makes All Things New
Cynicism is a problem for many, especially those who have spent much of their life in the church
“We’ve heard great ministry ideas but they sound like a repeat of every other great ministry idea that failed. We hear people make promises and sit back and wait for them to let us down. Over time, our cynicism grows into anger and bitterness.” In our homeschool, I’ve been going through a cycle of... Continue Reading
The True Story of Army Medic Desmond Doss, the Soft-Spoken Christian Superhero
President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor on Oct. 12, 1945
Doss should be listed among the “most heroic figures in American history. He was singular,” said “Hacksaw Ridge” director Mel Gibson, during 2016 commencement rites at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., in the hills where Doss grew up. Facing a wall of flames and shellfire, Army medic Desmond Doss had to make an agonizing... Continue Reading
Should My Child Miss Church to Play Sports?
There’s been a radical shift in our culture’s attitude toward Sunday in recent years.
With the advent of traveling teams, Christian parents have a golden opportunity to teach their children about priorities. Mom and Dad, what’s really most important to you? Do you crave the ego-boost of bragging about what a terrific athlete your child is, or do you want them to know God’s will for their lives? When... Continue Reading
The Benedict Option: What is It?
The BenOpt is a call to live in an intentionally Christian way in light the West’s antagonism to Christianity.
The BenOpt is not a call to enter into a monastery but strategic retreat into Christian community. It’s a call to live in an intentional way to survive the oncoming cultural onslaught. Of course, the next decades will almost certainly not include physical persecution. But Christian schools will begin to lose their accreditation, jobs will... Continue Reading
Preventing Pastoral Burnout
Three areas to help pastors in particular not only recover from burnout, but also prevent it.
When I counsel pastors with burnout, stress, anxiety, or depression, I often find a strange reluctance to address the physical side of their suffering and an obsession with the spiritual. The spiritual side of things has to be addressed of course, especially because heart motivations are often the root cause of burnout. But even then,... Continue Reading