With the events of last weekend in Charlottesville still fresh in our minds, many of us are wrestling with the same question: Where do we go from here? People are looking to us for direction—emotional guidance in this time of inner turmoil, spiritual wisdom to deal with… Read More

“People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it.” In books and talks, leadership guru Simon Sinek discusses the importance of “starting with the why.” The context is business. Sinek’s TED talk includes references to tipping points, early adopters, and Apple products. But there… Read More

Inspiration God is the true author [of both Testaments], but his authorship is not executed with pen and ink, nor simply by the direct inspiration of literal penmen. His materials are the whole stuff of history and his hand is Providence. His “writing” of the scripture is just… Read More

“ Silence is a courageous gift to many of us who labor to be pure in our calling,” Mako Fujimura said to Martin Scorsese at a Q&A hosted by Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. The theater was full of seminary students, pastors, and people living… Read More

I’ve had trouble getting this article finished because I’ve been incredibly busy. With a church of 700, and as its only pastor to adults, I don’t have a lot of extra time. You know what I’m talking about. The life of a pastor is full of stuff to do—good stuff,… Read More

Our Christmas celebrations are full of stories. Families will gather to watch It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street. You will probably hear “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at some point, and you may even repeat elements of the Santa story—reindeer, chimneys, a sleigh full of toys. And… Read More

No bathrobes. That had to be a basic principle of church drama, my pastor and I agreed. We had both seen too many bad Christian plays, preachy pageants, and silly skits. As we planned the dramatic offerings of our newly planted church, we wanted none of that. This was about… Read More

Reverence. Awe. Reflection. While traveling, I’ve been privileged to visit some of the world’s most renowned churches, among them Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. In each, I have been overcome with a reverence that’s different from what I feel… Read More

Given the culture’s preoccupation with staying connected electronically to our various worlds, it is no wonder that fatigue has become a real issue in our lives. Sabbath rest has been an increasingly elusive opportunity as the work flow has intruded into our homes. We go through email at all hours,… Read More

There I was. Praying alongside 3,000 leaders who had come from cities around the world—Beijing, Sidney, Cape Town, London—now gathered together in one place, the Javits Center in New York City. Each morning of the conference, we lifted prayers to the Lord asking for inspiration and guidance as we addressed… Read More