I have learned not to get de-railed on a Sunday morning when someone walks out after they realize I am the pastor of the church. Once a woman showed up a few minutes before the service and explained she was new to the city, wanted to find a church, etc. She was very excited because…
I did your job once and remember it well. I was 22 when I started and had energy like I could only wish for now. I was willing to do anything to give my youth a good time, even if that meant climbing on the church roof to watch fireworks on Canada Day or suggesting…
I totally love Christmas, but let me cut right to the chase: Christmas can be emotionally draining, physically exhausting and financially stressful. It is a time that we can feel pulled in every direction, even by people that we care about. That’s why I think we all need reminders that there is space for “no”…
My friends, this week there have been times that I have felt more discouraged and defeated about the state of the world than I have in a long time. A few weeks ago, if you had told me the process of appointing a supreme court justice in another country would affect me so deeply, I…
I remember staring at the television screen in disbelief and horror. I was 23 and working as a youth pastor at a church in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001. Someone came into my office and said to come to the television. The other pastors, the janitor, the church secretary, and the guy who…
I admit I didn’t notice it at first. I went to church after church. I shook hands. I met pastors. I heard good music and good preaching. It was at about week twelve that I realized: “I haven’t heard a woman preach in three months.” A couple sang. Some made announcements. Not one preached.…
Dear Church, We need to stop sucking. This is part three of my series on things I learned when I spent four months visiting different churches, and, frankly, it’s the one I tried to convince myself I didn’t need to write. I don’t aspire to rock the boat too much on this blog, so…
