I am lost. I know loss. I am different. I do not belong. I am unwelcome. I will never be known. I will never be understood. I will never feel okay. Paul Maxwell

Photo by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash I am lost. I know loss. I am different. I do not belong. I am unwelcome. I will never be known. I will never be understood. I will never feel okay… .@paulcmaxwell Brian Bormgan defines loneliness as “a state of lacking intimacy with the people around us.” Loneliness is a complex issue. It is not simply an issue of feeling…

The Pastor as Historical-Theologian Pt. 2—Some Practical Suggestions

In a recent post, I made a short pitch for pastors to engage in a bit of historical theological work. I believe reading history and paying attention to the historical development of ideas will help the pastor and serve the church for the glory of God. You can read my thoughts here. After publishing that…

Living sacrifice = paradox BUT this is what God calls you to do in your life. Timothy Keller explains…

In the Bible, the very definition of passion – think of Christ’s Passion – is to sacrifice your freedom for someone else. Romans 12 addresses this truth at a practical level. Paul starts this way: ‘I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifice’ (Romans 12:).…

Does the Bible Say There is Such a Thing as Non-Saving Faith?

In a previous post where I wrote about Derek Webb and his loss of faith, I suggested that the reason why some fall away from the faith is because their faith was man-made and not God-made. That is, their belief in and allegiance to Christianity were based on human conditioning and reasoning but were not…

Success in ministry = big church, multi-staff, big budgets, speaking engagements…right?!?

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash If you were to ask ten pastors the question of what constitutes success in ministry you would undoubtedly get ten different answers. Each response may have some similarities with other responses but I imagine that the thrust of what each person said would be distinctly different. Is success in ministry proportionate to…

The Pastor as Historical Theologian: Some Initial Thoughts

Recently I attended a Christian academic conference were Christian scholars from around the world presented papers on various topics. One paper I had the privilege to listen to was from Dr. J. G. Duesing, provost and professor of church history at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Duesing’s paper presented a proposal for how professors might…

Joy’s Secret Weapon

You have a secret weapon in fighting for joy. As a pastor, counseling people in trouble is a regular part of my life. I counsel teenagers, singles, married couples, 20 somethings, empty nesters, and all points in between. Most people who come for counseling are not joyful–that’s often what drives them to seek counseling in…

Theology Along the Way

Thoughtfully Heading Towards Heaven