In the autumn of 2001 I had an experience that made me think. Maybe it would be good for you to think about it too… I made pastoral visits yesterday and enjoyed being out of the study on a perfect autumn day. In the late afternoon I drove to Mr. Smith’s house. It was a […]
Sometimes it is Sinful Not to Rest
This picture was taken from a little footbridge on the northeast shore of Shear Lake on the property of Camp Barakel where I rest and reflect and pray as often as I can. Some day I will tell you the time and place God released my soul from seeing ministry as an unrelenting burden. It […]
A Man Named John; Story Podcast #61
In New York there is a neighborhood called Harlem. In Harlem is a section called Mousetown that was named by Reader’s Digest one of the toughest neighborhoods in the United States at one time. A young man lived in the neighborhood who was on a spiritual quest. Here is how he put it: “I was […]
Empty Pews
The picture above was taken on Easter Sunday the year we set the all-time attendance record for Evangel. Every Sunday hundreds of people worship at Evangel but on all other Sundays except Christmas we have more empty pews then what you see in this picture. An Epiphany A few weeks ago I had an epiphany-an […]
A Sense of the Presence of the Lord
Last spring I was asked to speak at a conference in Texas. I did two plenary sessions, a youth session, and a session for pastors. The pastor’s session was held in a home on a lake. It was a beautiful morning. April in Michigan is often still winter-like but April in Texas was warm and […]
Three Ways to Arrange a Meaningful Eulogy
As an evangelical pastor I am often called upon to perform funerals or arrange memorial services. In over three-and-a-half decades I have learned some things about what makes a funeral meaningful. Today I would like to address one part of the funeral or memorial service–the eulogy. At a funeral there is an almost palpable vacuum […]