How to be a successful failing pastor
I think there is something worth considering in this one: ‘Success might be the worst possible thing that could happen to you!’
From pastor’s kid to pastor with kids
If you are a pastor with children, this is an important one for you to read (NB: despite some of the references in it, I didn’t write this – I didn’t grow up in a pastor’s house).
Why circumcision?
‘In Bible studies with college students, I have discovered they did not even know what circumcision was! (Are parents and teachers too embarrassed or modest to tell them?) With this seal of the covenant having major theological importance, the first council of the church dealing directly with its practice, and the fact one runs across this concept over a hundred times in both the Old and New Testament, I thought a primer on circumcision could be helpful. So let me offer this biological yet also Biblical definition below.’
The deadly weed of cynicism
‘The pastor’s job, among other things, is to love the flock. We will never criticize our churches into godliness. God has entrusted us with a privilege we don’t deserve. Ministry can be tough, and we should not deny reality, but we should always guard against becoming accusers of the church God’s called us to serve.’
Richard Dawkins blindsided by the sexual spaghetti monster
‘Richard Dawkins has just had his Humanist of the Year title withdrawn by the American Humanist Society, because of, well, because of his humanist zeal.’
Harry’s mistake
‘When Harry first saw Sirius, all the evidence was against him. But when he found out the truth of who Sirius was, Harry’s mind was changed. So was his heart. When people look at Christianity, they sometimes make the same mistake that Harry made with Sirius.’
From the archive: Perspective is key to whether we view our situation as sacrifice
‘Many of us, in the grand scheme of things, get uptight about things that are really not issues at all. The truth is, if we are getting concerned that our children will now have to go to the local comprehensive school that is still rated outstanding by OfSTED and is full of the children of middle class people who have eschewed private education (much like most of the London set of New Labour MPs who, for the sake of PR, wouldn’t send their children to public schools so bought houses in the most exclusive areas of London to achieve the same end) our priorities and view of what amounts to a struggle is severely off-kilter.’