Category Archives: Pastoral Ministry

Did Ye Get Healed

Posted on January 8, 2020 by

  In 1987, the singer Van Morrison, best known for his song “Brown-Eyed Girl,” released an album called  Poetic Champions Compose which included a powerful song called, “Did Ye Get Healed.” You may be surprised to see that the title … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Growth, Communion, Compassion, Growth, Healing, Jesus, ministry, Mission, Musings, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Relationships, Sermons, Social Justice, Social Ministry, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The One About Faith and Flags

Posted on September 7, 2019 by

Whether or not we should fly an American Flag in places of worship Continue reading →

Posted in Global Christianity, Pastoral Ministry, Patriotism, religion and politics, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mighty Mites

Posted on November 13, 2018 by

  Lucifer vs. Tit for Tat During the Cuban missile crisis in the early 1960s, social scientists were working on how to respond to the nuclear threat in ways that would stop either side from blowing up the world. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Growth, Community, Compassion, Courage, forgiveness, Jesus, ministry, Mission, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Sermons, Social Justice, Social Ministry, spirituality, Theology, Wealth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Abundance of Little

Posted on October 30, 2018 by

In 1521 the monk Martin Luther was called to give account for his radical new teaching at the unfortunately named Diet of Worms. There were no worms eaten at the Diet of Worms. The Diet was what they called the … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, John Calvin, Martin Luther, ministry, Pastoral Ministry, Presbyterian, Reformation, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Making the Right Mistakes

Posted on October 27, 2018 by

The great jazz musician Thelonious Monk once told one of his sidemen, “You’re making all the wrong mistakes!” Monk was known as musician who did things differently, who played with a kind of dissonance that sounded like he was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Compassion, Jazz, ministry, Mission, Musings, Pastoral Ministry, Social Ministry, spirituality, Thelonious Monk | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Let Us Now Praise Famous Pastors: Eugene Peterson

Posted on October 24, 2018 by

To avoid being swept along by the winds of change and conducting a ministry which is mostly improvisation, one must stubbornly one’s heels into the ground.                    —Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Care More than once I have told people … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Eugene Peterson, ministry, Musings, Pastoral Ministry, Wendell Berry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment