Here are a few resources on burnout. Articles Helping Senior Pastors Overcome Depression and Burnout: Written to help pastors specifically, but has so many good insights both theologically and practically for overcoming burnout. How I Recovered From Burnout: 12 Keys to Getting Back: Short article written from ministry/Christian perspective. Why Do We Work Too Much?: … Continue reading Burnout Resources
Let’s Save Apocalyptic Thinking for the Actual Apocalypse
The apocalypse is personal for me. In 1994, Harold Camping predicted the end of the world and the return of Jesus, despite the fact that Jesus himself says no one knows when he will return (Matthew 24:26). When I was young, Camping's heresy infiltrated the church my parents were attending at the time and some … Continue reading Let’s Save Apocalyptic Thinking for the Actual Apocalypse
The Olivet Discourse
One of the most difficult to interpret passages in the New Testament is Jesus' "mini-apocalypse" in Matthew 24, also as known as the Olivet Discourse. In the passage, Jesus seems to speak of the impending destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70AD but also of the event surrounding his second coming. As with most … Continue reading The Olivet Discourse
The Hidden Cause of Burnout
Burnout—the state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion—is a hot topic these days (sorry for the fire-related puns). There's even been a whole book written on how Millennials (my generation) has become the "burnout generation." Writers often blame a wide-variety of things that cause burnout. Explanations have ranged from the pressures placed on kids from … Continue reading The Hidden Cause of Burnout
The Two Hands of God’s Mission
I took one punch to the face and said, "I'm done!" I threw the boxing gloves down and walked out of the locker room. During high school, one of my football teammates brought boxing gloves into the locker room and so, after practice, when the coaches weren't around, impromptu boxing matches would start up. This … Continue reading The Two Hands of God’s Mission
Nominal Versus Genuine Believers
CHINOs are unfashionable. I'm not talking about the pants, but CHristians In Name Only (CHINO). Maybe you've heard the same concept under the definition of "nominal Christian." But what is a "nominal Christian" versus a genuine believer? A nominal Christian (Christian in name only) is someone who uses God as a means to some other end. Nominal Christians are … Continue reading Nominal Versus Genuine Believers
Upgrade Your Spiritual Life with This ONE Habit
If you want to seriously upgrade your spiritual life this year, do this one habit: go to church. It's that simple. Going to church matters. The book of Acts shows that the early church met together regularly, being devoted to corporate worship (Acts 2:42-47). The book of Hebrews, which many Christians believe to be a … Continue reading Upgrade Your Spiritual Life with This ONE Habit
Pastor as Teenager
Pastors are an angsty bunch, just like teenagers. I would know because I am one and I spend time with other pastors! Teenagers can often feel a deep anxiety about their lives. What am I doing with my life? Does anyone care? Etc. Etc. And, from what I've experienced myself and what I've observed in … Continue reading Pastor as Teenager
2022 in Books
Rediscover Church by Jonathan Leeman and Collin Hanson (January) How to Reach the West Again by Tim Keller (January) The Family Firm by Emily Oster (January) Spirit and Sacrament by Andrew Wilson (January) Becoming Whole by Brian Fikkert and Kelly Kapic (January) Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes Du Mez (January) Personal Kanban by … Continue reading 2022 in Books
What moves the Bible’s story forward?
The Bible is a big book, encompassing almost four thousand years of human history and containing various genres of literature from poetry to prophecy. Even though the Bible seemingly contains so many disparate parts, the church has historically discerned a general movement, or plot structure, to Scripture's story. In the recent history of the American … Continue reading What moves the Bible’s story forward?