Worship Wars
Some things never change. The story is told that back in the days of the Second Great Awakening, Charles G. Finney was in a minister’s meeting where a heated argument had broken out regarding allowing “bass violins” into church worship…
Is There Any Hope for Revival in the American Church?
There are many voices today, speaking into the hearts of pastors about what they perceive as the Church’s greatest need. How to increase your numbers How to multiply campuses How to turn the pastor into a CEO How to lead…
Enduring Victory
God’s presence, during the first 325 years of Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land, rested over the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Unfortunately, during those years, Israel forgot God and embraced the culture’s idols - treating…
As It Turned Out
I wonder how much time I have wasted in my life planning, waiting, even praying, for the “big break?" Big breaks are exciting. And they do happen. The problem is that when we see them happen in other people’s lives,…
Speed Dating
I’ve only seen it on TV commercials, but it looks ridiculous and desperate. A room full of people walking around with drinks in their hands, looking for meaningful relationships, but limited to five minutes of table-talk with each other to…
His Eye On His Word To You
What do you see, Jeremiah? That was the first question God asked the prophet on the day Jeremiah was inaugurated into his prophetic ministry. It is the same question God frequently asked His prophets right before they received a "word"…
Close Enough to Hear
I was a young man, but now I am old. I sure felt old the other day, showing off Manhattan to one of our young pastors... like I knew the place. Rita and I did live and minister in the…
Racism in Any Color
The apostle Peter was on a preaching tour of new Christian churches, likely sent out by his peers at headquarters in Jerusalem. He had landed, for a period of time, in the church planted in the Gentile city of Antioch,…