Leaving 99 to find 1

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4) I suspect Jesus wouldn’t last long in churches today before being fired for “irresponsible” leadership. What pastor in his right … More Leaving 99 to find 1

Seeking God in Nashville

Keri and I had the wonderful opportunity to fly to Nashville and participate in an intense church leadership assessment process with some 13 other couples. For four days we were observed, went through several interviews, had some sessions with a therapist exploring our marital and emotional health, participated in a number of case studies where … More Seeking God in Nashville

Living the Dream

Michael Patton of Reclaiming the Mind runs the Credo House of Theology, a theology hub and coffee house in Oklahoma.  I have to say that this would be a dream job for me someday.  Anyone up for for some coffee, community and some conversation about the things that matter most in life?  Keri makes some … More Living the Dream

Too Good To Be True

My phone rang today.  I picked it up to hear those exciting words: “Congratulations!  You have won a free cruise!” Yeah, right.  What’s the catch?  This must be a scam.  I’ve never won any drawings I’ve entered.  Even though the voice on the other end was friendly and sounded sincere, I was a mean sounding, … More Too Good To Be True

Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Christ

In a religiously pluralistic world where all religions are supposedly equal and tolerance is the highest value, many Christians are dancing creatively around some of the less tolerant teachings of Jesus.  What do we do with sayings like, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through … More Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Christ

Limitations of Personal Assessments

I have a love-hate relationship with personal assessments.  I love self-discovery and hold the ancient motto of Socrates in high regard: “Know thyself” and “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  I’ve done the Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Spiritual Gifts inventory, EQ assessments, and currently doing some church planter assessments. Here’s my main frustration and source of … More Limitations of Personal Assessments