WALKING IN THE REIGN LIFE IN GOD'S MISSION TO RESTORE HIS BROKEN WORLD.

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May

28

IS THIS THE KIND OF FAITH THAT COUNTS AS RIGHTEOUSNESS? I don’t know what makes them come, the doubts that haunt me. They seem to come more when I’m tired and have been pushing too hard, when things have not turned out as I hoped, and I feel disappointed or foolish. They come after some horrible story of child abuse or some other mind-numbing incident of great evil in the world. Often they follow news of the latest beloved spiritual leader caught in shame. Sometimes they come for no reason at all. I just wake up not sure I

still believe.

Whatever causes them; they always feel the same way. A gradual growing cloud of darkness falls around me blocking out the light and leaving me feeling cold, colorless, and devoid of motivation. I don’t often doubt there is a God. I’m not sure I could doubt that long with out losing my mind. 3

Dec

16

HOW TO MEASURE MINISTRY AT HOME AND ABROAD Whether it is in domestic congregational ministry or global missions, it is incredibly hard to know what to count and how to hold people accountable. Here are some thoughts for churches regarding how to measure the work of those they support to advance the Kingdom. While it is weighted toward assessing global workers, it has broad application to domestic congregational ministry as well. Accountability works best when it is rooted in a shared vision with everyone's roles clearly spelled out. 1

Nov

20

YOU ARE THE WORK

The guilt was overwhelming at times. How can I sit here day after day just studying when there is so much work to do? Most people preparing for ministry have felt this frustration. As the days turn to weeks, months, and even years, you not only begin to feel impatient but guilty. It’s like you are doing something wrong. It is hard to believe that this is a good use of precious time.

Oct

29

BREAKING THROUGH THE CHIEF CONUNDRUM OF KINGDOM EXPANSION “Why don’t you just come here and live among us for a few years and get to know us? Then when you know our people and what is needed, you will know how to go about your work” said the African leader. Great question. But, the answer is simple. No one can get the funding to work that way, not from America anyway.

Oct

14

WASTED GRACE

She walked up to me while I was trying to get the gasoline to pump faster.  I was in my typical rush between meetings and needed to be in another town soon. The gas station at this rural intersection was packed with cars waiting on cars to vacate pumps. I finally landed a spot when she walked up to me and started begging. I spotted her hitting up others while I was waiting on a pump and felt guilty about hoping she wouldn’t come my way. She didn’t speak English, at least not much. 1

Oct

9

DETOXIFYING HELP: SELF-SUFFICIENCY V. GOD-SUFFICIENCY “Don’t ever pay an African preacher directly.” “Don’t build church buildings for African churches.” These were two of the surprising statements I heard when I asked a group of African elders for their advice to Americans engaging in missions in Africa. Their concern was to prevent passive dependency among Africans who, at times, wait on Americans to do for them what they are capable of doing

themselves.

Sep

26

RELATING TO GOD FROM AN ACCOMMODATED SELF Segregated church is wrong. It does not fit the gospel or God’s vision for his kingdom.  I’ve preached it. I’ve condemned it. I’ve fought it, to little avail. I’ve wondered why. Why don’t we more easily mix when most people seem to agree that is what we should want? But, this is bigger than race.

Sep

11

EMBRACE THE CHURCH’S LIFECYCLE FOR THE KINGDOM’S SAKE None of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in Revelation is still around. I don’t know if any of them existed long enough for Islam to overrun the land we now call Turkey or not. Either way, they are not there now. In fact, none of the congregations mentioned in scripture is still around. That is not a bad thing per se; it is just a real thing. Congregations come and go. God’s kingdom endures. Kingdom expansion does not require the permanence of any local gathering of

believers.

Sep

5

WHY CAN’T ELDERS AND PREACHERS GET ALONG? Tension between preachers and elders is a constant in the churches of my tribe. It ranges from mild to raging, but it is ubiquitous. I’ve lived with it for decades and know it like a mole on my hand. I have come to believe that we can’t help it. We have been set up. The problem isn’t with the people themselves. Sure you have a preacher or elder here or there who need to grow up or grow past some character issue. People have flaws. That is a given. But, the problem is not primarily about people. 2

Sep

3

RETROFITTING CONSUMER CHURCHES FOR DISCIPLESHIP Many of us have discovered in the practice of congregational ministry that most American churches have unintentionally taken on toxic aspects of our culture and been drawn off mission. It isn’t that our churches are comprised of bad people, but the models of church we have inherited are not well designed to serve their primary purpose in our

current context.

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