Over on the Spirit & Truth website I am starting to publish a series of reflections on my time in Nairobi, Kenya. I will also share some more personal reflections here, but I wanted to link to these articles because they share much of my heart for the church in America as I return home … Continue reading Lessons from the African Church (Part 1)
Church Life
Longings for the church that I love: Sharing my heart for the United Methodist Church
I have been a part of the United Methodist Church since birth. I grew up in this church. It formed me. It connected me with men and women who shaped me profoundly. And as nearly all Methodists are now aware, I recognize that we stand at a major crossroads as a denomination. There are so … Continue reading Longings for the church that I love: Sharing my heart for the United Methodist Church
Dear Church, you already have everything you need.
Dear Church, you already have everything you need. In this holiday season we are constantly tempted by commercials, billboards and radio advertisements to consider all of the items we are currently lacking in our life. How have you managed to go on living without a blanket with sleeves in your life? This temptation to continually … Continue reading Dear Church, you already have everything you need.
Launching something new…
My life remains anything but boring. God is calling me to a new step of faith again. Here's a quick summary of what's happening... For the past year I have been serving full-time with reviveOHIO and helping to equip everyday folks to share the Gospel and make disciples all over Ohio. It has been a … Continue reading Launching something new…
Beyond a Silver Bullet
I have had the growing conviction for several years that the church in America is plagued by an insatiable desire to find the next silver bullet. We yearn for that program, that curriculum, that "best practice," that younger leader, that leader with more maturity, that congregation that will finally be open to change, that perfect … Continue reading Beyond a Silver Bullet
When God’s People Pray
I have never been more hope-filled for the church I serve than this morning. It wasn't the flashiest thing we've ever done. We've had lots of bigger and better programs. We have more organized and polished times of worship. We've had outreach events with hundreds of people in attendance. And yet I don't know if … Continue reading When God’s People Pray