City A Year; an immersion into Normaltown, U.S.A.
As is the case with most great things, one of my favorite traditions happened by accident. I wish I could claim brilliance here, but we tripped over it and immediately knew it was worth its weight in gold. My dad, my brother and I had booked tickets to visit my...
The hunger and opportunity in the rise of localism
“Buy local” posters were plastered everywhere. Just like you would expect each one was original. Every poster I saw was unique, personal, local, not a national mass media blitz. This was not unique to the city I was passing through; I am starting to see these posters...
The power of coffee; Why does coffee draw people in?
I once met a gal who bought a coffee shop even though she hated the taste of coffee. Coffee drew her in. There was something happening that she wanted to be part of. She referred to her time as coffee shop owner as “the most fulfilling season of my life.” My family...
The power of coffee; Why is coffee culture exploding?
There is an important shift that has been happening; coffee culture is exploding. I’m not talking about another Starbucks opening in the new strip mall down the street; it’s more subtle than that. It’s bigger than renting a seat for a few hours to get free wifi or...
Why your context IS the hardest
I have a lot of conversations with church leaders in radically different places. Each one seems to think their context is the hardest to minister in. Some places are stuck in religious tradition, some are ridden with the occult, some are wealthy, some wear crime on...
Reflections from my time with Eugene & Jan Peterson
One of the most formative times in my life occurred this May. I was invited to spend a few days with Eugene and Jan Peterson at their home on Flathead Lake. My publisher, NavPress, brought three of us out for this field trip for the soul. I have long admired Eugene....
5 lessons I’ve learned in the back alleys of ministry
Most ministry training prepares you for the front yard of ministry. The problem is that most of ministry happens in back alleys. Certainly the front yard matters, but some things just have to be learned through experience. That’s why I have devoted a lot of my energy...
My Accidental Road to Adoption
5 years ago I celebrated Fathers Day by staying up all night in a dingy hotel room in Ethiopia swatting mosquitos and watching Arabic TV. Welcome to dadhood. I was exhausted, excited and terrified to meet my kids the next day. This year I celebrated “Gotcha Day” on...
#HASHTAGS AND THE HUMAN SOUL
“What the heck does # mean?!?” The suddenly ubiquitous # had finally driven my friend crazy enough to leave this as his Facebook status. I laughed out loud. I remember when # referred to phone numbers. Now it's a global phenomenon. Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake's...
Dear pastor, you are wrong.
Pastors, you are wrong. No one will call you on these things, because they won’t see them. In fact you might not even see them, but they shape your days, weeks, vacations, fearful nights and view of success. I love you, but you are wrong. You are more broken than you...
