It’s stunning how quickly life can change. We got a taste of this here in New York City during 9-11. Now it’s the coronavirus. Calamities like this are unforeseen. They’re never anticipated. We’re never prepared. So it always fuels high anxiety. As someone commented, “Right...
What does it mean to be a naturally supernatural person? This is a question I’ve been exploring for decades. So on this morning of 2019 I found myself reflecting on that question yet again. Here’s what I’ve come up with… so far. I’m coming to understand...
As I’ve been preparing a teaching on the subject of power encounters, I’ve had a pastoral concern: How to handle them in light of the inclination of some believers to drift away from genuine, credible gospel living into sensationalism. So I thought I’d write about...
I recently had coffee with a pastor who was bemoaning the fact that his congregation was stuck in the doldrums. He complained to me about their absence passion and lack of motivation which he blamed this on busyness and the lack of margin in their...
The Holy Spirit is the wellspring of creativity and a master of spontaneity. That makes “keeping in step with the Spirit”, tricky (Gal. 5:25).Not only does it take trust, it also requires a certain mental flexibility and spiritual openness in order to respond to him...
Do you know what we’re asking when you pray, “Come Holy Spirit”?Do you understand just how risky it is? It seems safe enough. It’s a prayer spoken in lots of churches these days. But do we know what we’re getting ourselves into? Do we realize we’re...
Can you be too religious for your own good? Yes! We all know people who seem to be so religious that they’re impossible to be around. They’re devoted, obedient, sincere and absolutely unbearable! On the other hand, I’d say you can’t be too human the...
I’m something of a meatball snob, growing up in a Sicilian family and all. And although I’d probably get an argument or two, my wife’s meatballs are the best! She uses all the normal ingredients: ground beef and pork, chopped onions, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, eggs…...
At the risk of being too simple, I’d say successful church planting boils down to being the right person in the right place following God’s Spirit at the right time. Yet surprisingly the essential dimension of the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit is...
Pastors, there’s a big difference between giving lip service to the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our churches - saying we value it, even preaching it - and making it a priority, making space to do it in your church services. In my years of pastoring...