Tag Archives: Church

Staying True in Persecution

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Mark

What is at stake for Christians facing persecution today is the same as what is at stake for every believer who wants to follow Christ. Continue reading →

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Reflections on Church Attendance

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Mark

It is no secret that Americans do not attend church as much as they once did.  Whether Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, or Evangelical, attendance patterns overall are down.  Just over a year ago, The Pew Research Center published a report titled … Continue reading →

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Time-Out!

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Mark

I played basketball in high school.  I remember the conditioning we went through, including stair-laps around the gym and the infamous “killers,” which were sprints that began and ended with jumping.  I remember our coach timing those and making us continue … Continue reading →

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What’s Your Number, Pastor?

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Mark

There it was in an email I had received.  I predicted out loud to my wife on our way home from church that another one was slipping away.  My mind raced to figure out what I could do to tighten … Continue reading →

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“Celebrity Pastors”

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Mark

I just returned from a conference that centered on the Gospel.  It featured some well-known preachers, what some might call “big-name” pastors; others might use the description “celebrity pastors.”  In fact, I’ve heard one of these pastors described as having the status … Continue reading →

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The Disney Effect

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Mark

Disney World turns 40 today.  I remember reading about the plans for this futuristic park in my Scholastic Weekly Reader in elementary school.  It looked like something from another galaxy.  Disney is its own brand and has left its mark … Continue reading →

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The Pastor’s Role Model, pt. 2

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Mark

The pastor’s job is shepherding, thus the shepherd is his role model.  His job is not political, vying to win votes.  Though he is responsible to intercede for the people under his care and help them come before their God, the pastor is not the priest … Continue reading →

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The Pastor’s Role Model, pt. 1

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Mark

A role model is someone who serves as an example, whose behavior is worthy of emulation.  Who should the pastor look to in order to find a pattern for his work?  Who is it that provides the best paradigm for pastoral ministry?  Here … Continue reading →

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The Pastor’s Responsibility

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Mark

I am currently reading Eugene Peterson’s Working the Angles: the Shape of Pastoral Integrity, one of three books he has written on pastoral work, and some of the best writing on pastoral ministry I have ever read.  In the opening pages … Continue reading →

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