Remind Us That You Are the Giver of Life
Dear God, Giver of Life, We forget how precious you are at times, and in doing so, we forget how precious life is. Yet, in-spite of our shallow view of you, God, you patiently wait for us to remember the depth of your goodness. We complain over the struggles of life, all the while forgetting the privilege we have to live. Yet, God, you patiently...
My Farmer’s Footprints
A commercial was playing on the radio as I turned the corner into my office parking lot. I was rather tuned out until the voice in the 30-second spot said, "There is nothing better to have on these fields than the farmer's footprint." The commercial was about organic vegetables, tenderly cared for and grown to supply our local Safeway supermarket....
What Is A Life Transformed By Christ?
One of the things I loved about working at Mission Hills is that our vision is clear and concise: Transformed Lives. But as the Discipleship Pastor, my role demanded that I accurately define what it means for a life to be transformed by Christ. Our values clarify why this type of change is important, but we had never really defined what...
How To Be A Great Boss To Your Assistant
I am one of the world's luckiest pastors (Is it okay to use "lucky" and "pastor" in the same sentence?). I am lucky - or should I say "Blessed" - because I have the world's best administrative assistant working with me. She does an amazing job at helping me steward the ministry of the church well, and in turn, shepherding...
5 Keys to Dealing with Overwhelming Emotions
There are times in life when fog is all you see in the five day forecast. Shining a light only seems to worsen the problem as the small rays of light are magnified by every molecule of water. You wait... dream of clearer days... and wonder how you ever took the sun so for granted before. Days of overcast emotions cause...
The Greatest Comfort for Those In Christ
"There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 The believer is in Christ as Noah was enclosed within the ark, with the heavens darkening above him, and the waters heaving below him, yet not a drop of the flood penetrating his vessel, not a blast of the storm disturbing the serenity of his spirit. The...
You Can’t Just Preach Away the Problem
Many pastors think that if you preach at a problem that will fix it. I was one of those pastors (perhaps I still am at times). If you preach often, I am sure you can identify with me - you see a problem in the church, so you plan a sermon to preach at the problem, sure that in the...
3 Keys to Helping Someone Through Loss
This may sound a bit off, but consider this a pastoral confession: I enjoy being involved with people at their greatest point of loss. There is nothing more tragic than the loss of someone you love. Death is hard, no matter when it comes. As a pastor, I am often involved in helping people through the loss of their loved one,...
Enjoy Life.
"Dad, are you singing in the shower?" As I heard the little voice on the other side of the curtain, I stopped my mumbling solo with a smile, "Yes, Chandler, I am singing in the shower." "Oh, I thought so" he confidently replied. My three-year-old son has a way of pointing out the obvious - but often missed - parts of life....
