In the description of his excellent book, Movies are Prayers: How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings, popular film critic Josh Larsen writes, “Movies do more than tell a good story. They are expressions of raw emotion, naked vulnerability, and unbridled rage. They often function in the same way as prayers, communicating our deepest longings and joys to a God who hears each and every one.”
Read MoreI’ve been ruminating on this post for a while now, and I’m still not sure I’m quite ready to express all that my heart is feeling. But soon other things will be upon us, as happens in normal church life, and I realize that before long the radical thing that just happened in my little church will be so normal
Read MoreWhen was the last time a church coach or lead pastor was fired for not hitting a discipleship quota? Never. What we measure describes what we deem the most important in the community. By this metric
Read MorePlanning for your future becomes more important the closer you are to retirement. If you’re 20 and come into a windfall of cash, it’s unlikely all of that money is going into the TFSA. We tend to struggle with picturing ourselves in the distant future. Churches tend to lack vision that extends beyond 3-5 years. Lead pastors are kind of like politicians, they have direction enough for their term, and little beyond. What we rarely see is vision casting that extends into generations. We struggle as a whole to plan for the future.
Read MoreWhen was the last time a church coach or lead pastor was fired for not hitting a discipleship quota? Never. What we measure describes what we deem the most important in the community. By this metric
Read MoreI am still basking in the glow of an event in which I recently participated: In the Company of Women, a conference about women and men sharing in leadership in the Church. The idea behind this gathering must have struck a chord,
Read MoreOver the last ten to fifteen years there has been a flourish of writing, thinking, and teaching on the missional nature of the Triune God. I remember back in Seminary reading Stanley Grenz, at the time Professor at Carey Theological in Vancouver, writing on the Trinity’s missional impulse and flow.
Read MoreI can’t tell you how many times I have spoken at a church or event and had a woman tell me afterwards: “This is the first time I have ever heard a woman preach.” I’m never quite sure how to respond. I usually say something like: “I’m glad you could see that.”
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