It’s hard to know where to start on a topic like this because it is so complicated and multifaceted. When people move away from prominent positions in a church community and do something outside ‘church…
Browsing Category Church –
It’s in the blood: Why so many Evangelical Christians have a distrust for scientific authority.
So, my question is, why do so many good-hearted, bend-over-backwards, salt-of-the-earth Evangelicals have a distrust for authority, particularly scientific authority? Why is there is a common bias towards consuming and sharing media that pushes against the scientific community (e.g. the recent viral Plandemic video)? Where does the swing towards conspiracy come from? Surely, it’s not all conscientious click-consume-share behaviour!?
So, you’re think of moving your classes or church services online for a while? 3 things you should consider
In light of the recent the COVID19 pandemic, a number of pastors, teachers and trainers have been considering streaming online services/training/classes in place of meeting in-person. My wife and I ran gatherings and teachings for…
Invisible Women Syndrome… in church. Video and Audio with Annie Layton
Just before recording this, the Christian world had been watching the fall out generated by American Pastor John Macarthur’s comments on Pastor Beth Moore. There were some choice statements made about women in ministry. Annie…
Future-tech, Spirituality and Humanity – How Automation and A.I. will raise important questions. Video and Audio
Artificial Intelligence (also abbreviated as AI), and automation are no longer a pipe-dream or something held in the imagination of SCI FI writers – this is real! It’s happening now and through sheer disruption, future-tech…
Don’t Care and Can’t Care… They’re not the same.
Repeat after me, “I’m not a super-human. I have limits. I matter too. I DO care. I mean well. I just can’t always care.”
People who are in pain are generally concerned with one thing: Relief. They will do what they can to not be in pain. When someone or something is not available, pain may well want to discharge through blame. So when you can’t care, and therefore won’t care, you may hear, “You DON’T care.” In most cases, this is pain talking and looking for some relief; therefore, consideration for you and your scenario is being overruled by their pain and immediate need.
Hey, Pastor. R U OK?
Over the years, I’ve received several phone calls from distressed Pastor’s partners. “They’re not doing good, Dave.” has been a line I’ve heard quite a few times. And ‘not doing good’ has ranged from low…
AN OPEN LETTER OF CONCERN WITH TODAY’S PUBLIC PROPHETIC CULTURE
I wanted to film this instead of writing it because sentiment can get lost in translation, and I wanted people to hear my heart on a topic that I know is dear to many…
I Was a Willing Sacrifice
As a follow up to last week’s essay and articles on the dark side of organisational sacrificial, I wanted to add a couple of thoughts on the dynamics of organisational wounding. Because I think there…
The Dark Side of Organisational Sacrifice – Blood in the Foundations
Foreword: Before writing this I published a social concern essay on the Utilisation of Staff and Volunteers in church life. I received a few brief comments and some very lengthy emails from people who thanked…
The Utilisation of Staff and Volunteers in Churches. A Social Concern Essay
I’ve been in church leadership roles from the time I came to know Christ in my late teens. It’s been a wild 22-year ride, and I want to keep riding – albeit with less falling…
The Toll of Ministry Life – Emotional health, burnout and PTSD among clergy
A previous Danielsen study found post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in one Christian denomination’s clergy that “was higher than that of post-deployment soldiers.” We need to humanise this workspace. If church workers and their families are susceptible burnout, PTSD and other mental health challenges, it’s the joint responsibility of the body of Christ to address this with humility and seriousness. We can’t afford more casualties, especially when these casualties are injured serving their people.
Maturity and the prayer that produces it.
Believe it or not, there are several ways to pray, and they don’t yield the same result. Ladd and Spilka (2002) discovered 17 most common types in literature and sorted them into inward, outward and…
Accountability Shift. When it’s good to care less.
She’s laying on her bed, iPad in hand. Eyes fully fixed on the screen. “What are you up to?” These are five words my teenage daughter is used to hearing from her parents as they…
5 pressing post-election questions for my U.S. friends.
For a solid nine months now, the world has been watching the US election campaign unfold. Mainstream and social media commentary has filled our eyes and ears with professional and personal opinions; smear campaigns, accusations and…
When Jealousy Springs Forth
It has just turned Spring here in Australia. I don’t know why it is, but this change of seasons carries with it a sense of heaviness in my spirit. There is a sense that as…
Please stop.
Christian brothers and sisters, please stop fighting one another. Please stop harming the very body you belong too. Did you know that’s called self-harm and is evident of deep unresolved pain in yourself. Please stop…
Sermon – Restoring the Feminine – The feminine nature of God – VIDEO
Welcome Beloved, If you’ve come here via Facebook, welcome. The short clip you watched is part of a bigger message. This entire message of “Restoring the Feminine” includes a powerful revelation of the feminine nature of God…
Special Blessing for Women on International Women’s Day
I took some time out today to speak into something that is dear to my heart, that is the role of women and the feminine in society and the church at large. I will put…
Brand New Teaching – Out of the Tombs. Healing from Church Related Wounds
In a recent US survey of Christians from various churches, it was discovered that 89 percent of church-goers have church wounds. 59 percent of people say they have considered not going to church again due to…