When a clergy person or a prominent church leader engages in activity that betrays the trust of the congregation, it…

It is difficult for either clergy or congregations to raise the question of boundaries. For the clergy, being asked to…

One of the sadder realities of the change in ministry is the necessity of reviewing our boundaries with respect to…

One of the great quanderies that has evolved in ministry is how to set boundaries in interpersonal relationships. This ranges…

Most churches do not choose to be harmful to the pastor’s family life. As a body they would probably agree…

One of the popular topics for clergy these days is the issue of boundaries. There are a number of areas…

One of the trickier aspects of this whole issue of forgiveness is learning how to forgive yourself. On two previous…

I know that at first glance it seems like almost heresy to consider forgiving God. However, we need to remember…

We talk alot about forgiveness in the church. Usually we focus those comments on our need to forgive someone who…

A very wise friend of mine said to me about a year before my retirement, “You need to decide what…

Recently I was at a retirement banquet for one of my best friends. Sitting next to me was another retired…

Here is another exercise by which you can take the pulse of your ministry. It is not something that you…

Sometimes I think we fail to take seriously that the Infinite mystery of this universe has chosen to provide us…

Every once in awhile, I think it is good to pause long enough to check your pulse in ministry. We…

One of the gifts of the psalms is that they give us permission to pray that which otherwise we might…

Psalm130 is a helpful psalm to pray while keeping your congregation in mind. Pray it slowly, with emendations, and reflecting…

In continuing with learning to pray the psalms for the concerns that we experience, I would offer Psalm 57 as…

During my recent teaching experience in Mexico, I introduced the pastors to the experience of allowing the psalms to guide…

Today we wrap up our experience at the Bible school and head out to San Cristobo for a day’s relaxation…

I just have a couple of days left in Mexico. I’ve been lecturing each day about theological concepts that are…