Measuring Our “Greatest Achievements”
When someone asks you what you’ve achieved in life, what do you say?
If you’re like me, I naturally tend to rattle off my education,...
Creating Space & Opportunity for God
I have spent a few weekends over the past few months with the community of Good Works, Inc. in Athens, Ohio (www.good-works.net). This organization...
The Benefits of Failure
Against the advice of Dionysius (ironically, the god of madness), Midas asked for the power to turn everything he touched to gold—to power, wealth,...
Peter & Jesus: Thoughts from a Soon-To-Be Graduate
I’m beginning the final lap of seminary, and there’s a common question that typically arises that goes something like this:
What’s your plan post-graduation?
Ah, yes....
Lessons from Amazon: What Church Leaders Can Learn from One of America’s Most Successful...
In 1994, a thirty-year-old Wall Street executive left a high paying job to launch an online concept called Amazon.com. The company did not turn...
Church Leader Voices: Jim Powell
Church Leader Voices highlights the work of church leaders in a variety of ministry settings from around the world.
At the age of 78, Jim...
Yard Sales on Easter Sunday: Cultural Leadership Lessons from Holy Week 2018
This past Holy Week, three experiences re-shaped the way I understand the relationship between the church and American culture.
SCENE ONE: THE TRIP TO THE...
Out of the Rock: Remembering the Red Sea
I used to wonder how the Israelites could have forgotten God’s faithfulness so quickly after being delivered out of Egypt. God had worked such...
Church Leader Voices: Teddy Ray
Teddy Ray, Lead Pastor at Offerings First United Methodist Church in Lexington, Ky., had been pastoring for 10 years before he knew he was...
Three Ways to Empower Young Leaders
In my work on Conference staff, I encounter churches who desire to have more (and more diverse) young people attending and leading in their...
Adoption and the Church (Part 2)
This is part two of an article written by Brian & Callie Troyer. For part 1, see previous post.
4. Orphan care is a command, not...
Adoption & the Church (Part 1)
Most of us have some kind of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” connection with adoption. Maybe a childhood friend was adopted, a family member...
All About Lent
When churches emphasize a focus on Lent, it has a way of grafting the body together into an intentional focus on Jesus.
Livin’ In the Fast Lane: Why It’s Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be
The God of the Ages—the Infinite One—didn’t send us a Polaroid. In the fullness of time he came to us himself and flooded the void, capturing time with grace.