Repairs
In our throwaway society, it is often easier (and less expensive) to replace an item than to repair it. Sometimes, we approach stressed...
Fit to Size
In formatting documents, text and images can be resized to fit available space. Similarly, daunting tasks can be “fit to size” for...
God's Triathletes
Jesus was a carpenter. Peter was a fisherman. Paul made tents. Many pastors today, in churches new and old, also work in a trade or...
Wintertime
Despite record snowfalls and cold this year in the eastern U.S., I want to extol the value of winter—in particular, of a dormant season...
Staying Power
Vocations today, ministry included, are complex and stress-filled. Many leave because of burnout or financial pressure. Others stay, but...
Pastor Plus
While the call to be a pastor is consistent, not much else about pastors is the same. They come from all backgrounds, in a rainbow of...
Deep Redemption
In ministry (as in life) bad things happen. We may encounter disruptions, accusations, scuttlebutt, sabotage, betrayal, and even...
Clean up Your Mess
As our daughters were growing up, we had a standing rule before mealtimes: clean up your mess. We expected our daughters to take...
Jesus, on Prayer
Have you ever wondered what prompted Jesus’ already devout disciples to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray?” The disciples observed that Jesus...
Word Bites
Ron Bowell grew up on a wheat farm. As a young adult, he played in rock bands at local clubs—and developed an alcohol addition. Then...
A Gift of Hope
The Hebrew word for hope literally means a “rope.” As this picture word depicts, with hope we hold tightly to our faith in God. With...
Sabbatical Strategy
Have you ever shut down a PC and rebooted the system to resolve a program glitch? One pastor dared to apply this strategy to a church. In...
Leadership and Partnership
Sadly, the tendency of any group of humans, whatever the size, is to become entangled in unproductive behaviors. There is no more...
Strength and Heart and Wits
In J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic narrative, Lord of the Rings, the realms of Middle-earth are threatened by the Dark Lord Sauron. One Ring,...
David and Goliath
With a captivating profusion of powerful stories, Malcolm Gladwell in David and Goliath confronts the biggest bugaboo of small church...
