
Why Purpose Trumps Passion Every Time
Much has been written about our pursuing life with purpose. But what about our passions? You've likely heard the advice, "Pursue your passion." Turns out, that's terrible advice.Instead, cultivate your purpose.If your head is exploding…

Digital Babylon – Part Three
I've shared stories and statistics about Gen Z in Part 1 and Part 2. The question that now emerges is, how can we respond? What follows are five broad suggestions for engaging Gen Z. Because we are living in Digital Babylon, don't be surprised…

Digital Babylon – Part Two
Read Part One
Allow me to unpack the title of this article, Digital Babylon. As children of technology, growing up with screens in their hands and in front of them in the car, this generation was raised with the Internet in a post-9/11 world.…

Digital Babylon – Part One
“What is happening in Qatar right now?” I ask.“Google it,” she says.Within seconds, a full page of information, ideas, and insights explode on to the scene. Making sense of the information is a whole different matter.I asked…

Joining God in the Neighborhood
Over and over again I find myself in conversations with local church leaders that unfold something like this..."We just don't have enough people."Then I ask my favorite (often annoying) question, "What can you tell me about your…

Mission, the Church, and Grace
Mission, the church, and grace. I'd argue the order might need to be: grace, mission, and the church. Whatever order you take them in, Darrell Guder offers the following reminder,
“Mission is the result of God’s initiative, rooted in…

Where did you grow up?
While at a meeting recently, we were asked to place ourselves in a group based on the church size where we grew up. Here were the choices, as I remember them:a small church (fewer than 50 people)
mid-size church
a larger suburban or…

Missional Approach to Discipleship
A missional approach to discipleship. What does that mean to the every day person heading off to work or school? Or perhaps you are working at home (with children or without kids)?Missional can mean many things. You might think missional…

Sent People
The church is central to the journey of a disciple. My life’s work is centered in the church. I believe in the church. I will do everything I can to slow the church from becoming just one more commitment added to an over-programmed calendar.As…

Every Day Missionary
Today, the mission field is right outside our doors. In the United States, there is a growing number of people who do not identify with any faith tradition. The “nones,” as they have been identified, are one reason to live as an every…