COVID-19 has certainly impacted the way we will celebrate Mother's Day this year. But it can't stop us from celebrating the impact mothers make every day of the year. I thank God for the impact of a godly mother on…
Mother’s Day in a Pandemic
Hope in the Hard Times
One of the things we need most in hard times is hope. Billy Graham once said, "I don't think people can live without hope. What oxygen is the to lungs, hope is to our survival in this world--the Bible is…
Preaching to the Disengaged
The following is a chapter from my book, The Heart of the Preacher. Most people think of preaching as a monologue, though it is actually a dialogue. The preacher may be doing all the talking, but he’s not doing all…
Running with Endurance
Even though the Heritage campus is closed, our school is still open. Students are working hard to finish their courses. But now instead of being in class, they are online. Over the past week, I've been part of several Zoom…
Make the Most of Your Time
In the midst of this pandemic, I've heard from a number of students who are feeling disoriented and out of sync. Like many others, they find themselves stuck at home. Rhythms and routines are gone. Welcome to life in limbo.…
Divine Detours
It's a strange feeling to preach to an empty room, but that's the experience many pastors are having these days. In recent days, I have recorded a few sermons in virtually empty rooms. I also wrote a blog post giving…
The Preacher and Laziness
The following is a chapter from my book, The Heart of the Preacher. “Must be nice to have a job where you only have to work one day a week.” Like many pastors, I’ve grimaced whenever I’ve heard someone make…
The Church in Action (Acts 2)
Each week, I hope to post my written reflections on one chapter in the book of Acts. Last week: Acts 1. This week: Acts 2. My prayer is that your mind and heart will be challenged and encouraged by these…
Praise and Prayer Update (January 24, 2020)
As I write this morning, my heart brims with praise for the many evidences of God’s grace to Heritage in recent days. Yesterday, our college students led the Local Outreach Chapel. They reported on five outreach initiatives they’ve been actively…
Praise and Prayer Update (November 1, 2019)
Linda and I have been on the road quite a bit in recent days. We've been to Minneapolis to present at an academic conference (Society for Professors of Christian Education) and to Montreal for a meeting of Christian Higher Education…
