As a pastor or ministry leader, you surely have experienced times where the constant demands and difficult decisions begin to weigh you down. Or when you have the God-filled opportunity to walk alongside suffering people, yet begin to feel crushed by the pain being...
Let me tell you about a tree. Years ago, our staff was on a spiritual retreat in the Colorado mountains. Our guide, Matt Sertall, a Presbyterian author and pastor, invited us to walk into the forest with a strange challenge: “Go find a place that feels right. Say...
(This is the final installement of a 7-part series exploring the spiritual discipline of contemplative-action.) Elaine Heath, a Methodist theologian and former Dean of Duke Divinity School, has introduced us to the four steps of contemplative-action, which I have...
(This is the sixth of an 7-part series exploring the spiritual discipline of contemplative-action.) Full disclosure…my primary concern these days is not in saving congregations. I sincerely hope that those reading this don’t think that I’m advocating for a new type of...
(This is the fifth of a 7-part series exploring the spiritual discipline of contemplative-action.) Human beings throughout history have offered sacrifices on altars, given tributes, said prayers, and engaged in other religious gymnastics to influence and manipulate...
(This is the 4th of a 7-part series exploring the spiritual discipline of contemplative-action.) It certainly can be intimidating getting started in building a community through contemplative action. In my experience the first step is connecting with others. I have...
