Because it’s election season here in the United States, I thought I’d share the following prayer I composed for the election: Lord God, Almighty Father: Watch over our nation in these times. Casting a ballot is a privilege given to us by our Constitution and secured for us by citizens and patriots, past and present….
Who Should Have Access to the Giving Records? The Senior Pastor (Awkward Church Questions, pt. 1)
They are not easy at first. They are ‘off-putting’, to use a colloquium. Or tacky. When the subjects come up, you can see everyone squirm in their seats. We wish we could just avoid them. But there are five of them that need to happen pretty routinely. What I am talking about? Awkward questions like…
Video: Ministry in the Aftermath of a Hurricane
Last January, John and Ashley Wallace joined us on our clergy orientation trip to Israel. It’s always wonderful to meet young clergy families who are dedicated to the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the work of the Church. None of us could have imagined how intense that work would become only 9…
4 Ways to Help 4 Different Generations Give Generously
Talking about generosity in the church is always a balancing act between faithful theological and pastoral instruction on the one hand and practical, applied communication on the other. You’ve got to look at the subject from 40,000 feet while keeping your boots firmly planted on the ground. In Giving Up, I’ve tried to walk this…
10 Ways to End the Year on a Generous Note at Your Church
On this blog, I try to provide tactical advice on growing generosity in the church. Every church leader knows that giving is especially vital as the year winds to a close. (To learn 3 things from your yearly church budget shortfall, click here.) The end may be nigh upon us, but there is no need…
Does Anyone Know Where Amanda Is?
The images are stark and scary, like something from an apocalyptic movie. Devastation. Hurricane Michael has cost so many people so much: the loss of human life, material property, businesses, family homes, rentals, and even entire communities. We must surely pray for them. But we can do more than prayer. We can help them recover. Through…
A Prayer for Those in the Path of the Storm
When faced with natural disasters, it can often be difficult to know what/how to pray. That’s why I’d like to share this “Hurricane Prayer” that I came across over at America: The Jesuit Review. Here’s how the prayer begins: God of the Universe, at the dawn of creation, your Spirit breathed on the waters, making…
Three Thoughts About That Church Budget Shortfall
I regularly visit churches around the country and about this time of year, a new, semi-liturgical ceremony begins around the church budget. (I participated in it myself during my three decades in ministry. It became something totally normal for me; it’s only now that I’m in the pews most Sundays that I’ve realized how odd this…
The Zagginess of Holiness
When I was writing Giving Up, I discovered an unlikely source of insight in Zag: The Number One Strategy of High Performance Brands by Marty Neumeier. The foundational principle is that successful brands don’t follow the crowd—they don’t look at the leaders in the marketplace and try to latch on and say “Me too!” Instead,…
Build Your Generosity and Stewardship Emphasis This Fall
Pastors, it’s not too late to plan an emphasis on stewardship and generosity this fall. But it is almost too late. Leading a church in this area takes intentionality and courage. Some pastors have such an allergy to the topic of giving that they don’t bring it up until it’s too late. Waiting until the…
