Leadership
Holy Men in Holy Buildings in Holy Garments
Last week’s blog was a bit of a rant against pastors defying the government over Covid precautions. We looked at the felt need of so many to move Church back into a building. I got some pushback (which I welcome) from pastors stuck on large gatherings hardly resembling the Church in, say, Acts 14. Let’s…
Read MoreCalifornia Ends COVID Restrictions, but I’m not Happy!
Yesterday, California got nearly back to normal. Vaccinated people (like me) don’t need to wear masks. Restaurants, bars, gyms, stadiums, and churches are able to operate at full capacity. After 15 months this is a real blessing. But, I’m bummed by something I saw on TV. A television news show did a series on how…
Read MoreSpiritual Revolution: Anomalies, Crisis & Newness
I’ve been reading about scientific revolutions. You know, Copernicus, Newton, Einstein and the rest. Each of the above triggered a revolution that created a new normal (a term I’ve come to loathe), but you get the point. Normal has truly arrived when it appears in a textbook or they teach it as foundational truth in…
Read MoreA Problem of Wineskins
I think you and I have a problem with Jesus and new wine. At least, I do. I’ve heard (and preached) dozens of sermons about the new wine of the Spirit, always ending in a call for revival. But a revival of what? Our old wineskin? Too often the cry for revival is a plea…
Read MoreMicrochurch: How to Multiply Without a Lot of Money
It was an intimidating moment. The pastor of a church three times the size of anything I ever led demanded that I “justify” the existence of a Microchurch since it would be too small to host an elder board. Before I could answer, a friend jumped in, “Ralph, don’t answer him until he first justifies…
Read MoreUnchurched Harry & Mary, a Sad Saga
This is the unhappy story of unchurched Harry and Mary. Harry and Mary came into our lives as a useful metaphor for those we would seek to evangelize. Useful for a while, that is. The law of unintended consequences jumped in and made a mess of things. Churched vs unchurched eventually supplanted actual talking to…
Read MoreA Sunday Bummer: Online Preachers Miss the Point
The first Sunday in the new year was a disappointment. The world is in trouble with the announcement of two new strains of COVID-19 in the last week. One of these may emerge as COVID-21 if it doesn’t respond to a vaccine. Meanwhile the church seems asleep on mission. I spent most of Sunday listening…
Read MoreHero, Diminisher or Heromaker: Which are You?
In war, few generals or admirals receive the medal of honor. Those awards go to the guys who show bravery under challenging circumstances. These are the people in the trenches. Here’s the problem: If you see yourself as the hero in Jesus’ story of your life, you’ll continually strive for attention. That puts you in…
Read MoreRace-Casting Differs from Racism, But…
When I worked at Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach California the pro football team named the Raiders had just moved to our area from Oakland. I used to play basketball with several of the team’s members, including television personality Howie Long. The skill level of the players let you know that most of the guys…
Read MoreA Tale of Two Pharaohs
If you’re planting a church, you do it in interesting times. In the words of an American prophet, “The times they are a changin’ ‘” Further he sang, “Keep your eyes wide open, the chance won’t come again.” Good advice at any time, but especially now. Two pharaohs—one got it, the other didn’t One man…
Read More