By Thom Rainer The suicide death of a young pastor is being felt throughout the world. Andrew Stoecklein, lead pastor of Inland Hills Church in California, left behind his wife, Kayla, and three young sons. I am the father of three sons. I cannot look at a photo of the young family without getting tears in my eyes. Please Hear Me Well This post is not about suicide prevention. More able persons have written volumes on the topic. It is not about…
By Thom Rainer “I resign from the church in my mind about ten times a year. Every time it has been on a Monday.” It’s a direct quote from a pastor at the Church Answers’ forum. And I’ve heard similar quotes many times. So why are Mondays so difficult for pastors? Why do they have thoughts of resignation on this day more than others? I’ve heard five reasons consistently. Sunday is both emotionally energizing and draining. If that sounds like an emotional…
By Ron Edmondson If a pastor is not careful, the weight of everyone else’s problems will take precedence over the issues and concerns of the pastor’s immediate family. I see it frequently among pastors I encounter. How many pastors do we know who have adult children that don’t even attend church anymore? Lots. I’ve heard from many who resent the church that stole their family time. There have been seasons of my ministry where this was the case, especially on abnormally…
By Chuck Lawless I tend to focus long on my sin, failing sometimes to take God at His Word and accept His forgiveness. When I do that, I let Satan the accuser win. If that’s where you are today, cling to these images of what God does with our sin: He has separated us from our sin an immeasurable distance: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12)….
By Chuck Lawless Jesus modeled the approach for us. He took three of his disciples up to the mountain to pray, and there God did some magnificent things (Luke 9). Jesus was changed in front of them. Moses and Elijah showed up. The Father spoke from heaven. All of that happened when Jesus took His men to pray. I am not suggesting that such miracles will always occur when we get away to pray, but I do know we won’t…
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