When Helping God is Lethal
I have an atheist friend who hates the Bible because of the Old Testament: the violent wars, people struck dead, and idea of a fearful God. He doesn’t …
Calling, Ministry, and Service
I Was Mortified
I wrenched my back last spring. I don’t know how I did it, but certain movements sent firebolts of pain down my spine. I couldn’t even lean over to …
I Was A Fool
Ten years ago, my friend Gary Barkalow asked me if I had any New Year’s resolutions. While I wanted to share sixty years of life-changing resolves …
The Impact of Intimate Theology
A few years ago, I met with a pastor of a church near a large campus. As the university grew in prestige, it attracted thousands of international …
Dregs of Culture
I was in a college ministry that targeted its evangelism for one purpose: to select future leaders. I’m ashamed to admit we called this process, …
Living A Legacy Life
A few years ago I published, Mission Idolatry. My point was that our deepest worship is not expressed by the twenty minutes of Sunday morning singing, …
Fear of Fruitlessness
Last week God shocked me with two verses spoken to one of his prophets: “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You …
Striving for Spiritual Impact
A few months ago, I mentioned that I had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. The treatment involved five uncomfortable procedures, but the recovery was …
And How Are We Today?
Growing up, I never saw a day when my mother was sick. She seemed the personification of vigor even during her six pregnancies. One of us would pop …
Living a 4th Quarter Life
One hundred and twenty-two months ago today, I sat at my desk with no appointments, no tasks to perform, no clients to serve, and no employees to …
Mission Idolatry
Last summer I met with a pastor who serves a church near a large campus. As the university grew in prestige, it attracted thousands of international …
Selling Our Soul for a Bowl Full of Gruel
Last week I read an alarming passage in Hebrews: “See to it … that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a …