Pastors

The beginning of the school year marks, at many churches, the beginning of a new season of ministry. Children get "promoted" to the next grade level—which in the church I grew up in, was a big deal.

When you hear the phrase "spiritual practice," or "spiritual discipline," what comes to mind?

A friend and I recently taught a workshop at a weekend women's retreat. The topic? Journaling. What's your gut response to the mention of the practice of journaling?

I wonder what the crowd expected to hear from Jesus.

One of my favorite indulgences, which I treat myself to a few times a year, is Real Simple magazine. I find it somewhat ironic that a magazine about simplicity has slick ads for so much stuff, but it's still a fun magazine to read.

Something shifted tremendously in how people followed God after Jesus walked our planet.

Creating the right conditions to make you grow

What happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.

When you work with children, interruptions are inevitable.

Last night, I awakened several times to rain pounding on the roof. Early this morning, unable to sleep, I went to the basement to check on things.