In my past couple of blogs I’ve been spotlighting Vineyard worship. I’ve told the story of how it came about and shared my own experience in order to remind us that the unique brand of intimate, experiential Vineyard worship is a gift from God that...
In my last post (Worship, Presence & Power) I rehashed the story of the Vineyard beginnings and how our founders unexpectedly began experiencing God’s presence and power as they engaged in what has now become the trademark of the Vineyard - intimate worship. Carol Wong, John...
It’s an often-overlooked detail that power ministry in the Vineyard was not the result of a group of people deliberating pursuing healing or spiritual gifts, or power evangelism or even a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. It was actually a rather unintentional thing. To hear...
I’m probably not the first person you should go to for advise on preaching. I’m not what you would call a maestro in the pulpit. I’m never going to be mistaken for one of those outstanding and rare pulpiteers that make what I now know...
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke...
Stress overload is the feeling that there are just not enough hours in the day to complete your work and care for the people who need your help. It’s an occupational hazard for lots of pastors. I remember that feeling of being hurried and pressured...
I’ve been in recovery for a while now… Not from drugs. No, I’m a recovering compulsive pastor. Compulsiveness is the irresistible need to set the agenda and to be in control. I’m not alone, there’s a lot of us out there. You just can’t spot...
We pastors are some of the worst when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Our position in the lives of others puts us at risk. While directing and caring for the souls of others we neglect our own. We exercise spiritual authority so much...
In my last post I began writing about grace. This is an important topic to me because I’ve come to realize that everything about my life is a matter of grace – everything! And when I forget that, a life that’s meant to be a...
Jesus has ushered us into a world of grace where everything is received as a gift rather than by human achievement. Grace is absolutely necessary for life. It’s grace or nothing. I’ve always found this to be tricky. Grace is an invisible reality that saturates...