The author of this blog is not a pastor so that helps to know this isn’t just a pastor whining about how hard being a a pastor is. But it is hard and most people have little idea how hard it is – unless you’ve been one. Right before I became a pastor a man

Read more →

The Oklahoman reported in an article from May 21 that the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) ratified a measure allowing the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers. According to the article this is a debate that has “raged within the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) for more than three decades.” And though this recent decision finally gave regional

Read more →

The Oklahoman reported in an article from May 21 that the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) ratified a measure allowing the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers. According to the article, this is a debate that has “raged within the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) for more than three decades.” And though this recent decision finally gave regional

Read more →

Recently, I had a very busy week as a pastor. I had some sort of pastoral meeting for five straight nights from Sunday through Thursday, and though they all were helpful and rewarding meetings, I was mentally and emotionally tired from the work of shepherding. George Whitefield, who was perhaps the best-known preacher in Britain

Read more →

Since August, our church has been listening and responding through the book of Acts as I preach one section of thought after the other. I mention working through Luke’s second volume because at times, at least for me, it has felt like we have been hacking through a dense rain forest with a dull machete,

Read more →

I liken the forthcoming general election  to the World Cup; even if you don’t want to embrace it or like it, you have to care about it  because it is everywhere. In Stillwater the streets are lined with signs endorsing a bevy of candidates who are seeking to lead us back to the American promised

Read more →

The following is a brief introduction by John Piper to a very honest journal entry. As a pastor I appreciate his sound advice and example as a reference point and encouragement for navigating my own questions and inner conflicts. Here is the link to the rest of the story: How I Almost Quit. I hope

Read more →

I wonder how it would change the way we treat other people if we really prayed through and then lived out Matthew 7:12 in all our relational endeavors? How much more like Christ would we be if we stopped to consider whether our words or actions treated others according to the Bible and according to

Read more →

I was watching the video that below morning after breakfast and my six and four year-old sons started watching it with me. They both liked it so much they wanted to watch it again. I am always looking for ways to pump the gospel into the minds and hearts of my little boys, and I

Read more →