As Janet and I are packing up our metro Nashville house in preparation for our move from Nashville to Tulsa, we are also preparing emotionally for the next chapter of our life and ministry. Moving evokes in us both grief and joy simultaneously...grief over who and...

In November I am starting a new chapter of ministry in Oklahoma as the Director of Pastoral Development & Regional Ministry Partner for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. For those who want to know a little bit more, keep reading.  LifeWay  Five...

After pastoring in a fog of clinical depression, I came very close to walking away from my church and the ministry ten years ago. I had been pastoring for 22 years at the time, and was burned out and fed up—mostly with myself. Thanks to the help of my doctor and...

Admit it. You do not have enough time or energy to do everything that is expected of you. I’m in that same leaky boat. The good news is that we are not supposed to. Although our gifts and calling are irrevocable, they do not make us invincible.  What if we...

Dear angry Christian, you have a problem and therefore have become one to others. Not sure if you qualify? Finishing the following sentence will help you know whether this post is pointed at you. You might be an angry Christian if… You clinch your fist when you...

When I answered God’s call to ministry at 16 years of age, I don’t remember considering any part of my biblical job description. I gave no thought to how some day my marriage would impact my ministry, or visa versa. In some respects, I am glad I didn’t realize all of...

We vowed to preach the word … in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2), so should we be surprised when an out of season experience sneaks up on us? No matter how much we love to prepare and preach sermons, or teach group lessons, we will all eventually run out of...

When Janet and I spoke at a marriage retreat on the Oregon coast, we were rendered breathless by its rugged coastline, enormous fir trees, and flowing waterfalls. In 1805, the great explorers Lewis and Clark discovered many of these same riches, but they missed out on...

Several assumptions and generalizations about mentoring have morphed into myths over time. In this post I will walk back a couple of those assumptions for the purpose of helping you find a mentor. We all need one to help us grow as a person and as a pastor. If we set...

Each year I am tempted to allow Easter to sneak past me without taking time to really enjoy it. That probably sounds strange since it seems like everyone else enjoys Easter: parents, kids, church members—even the unchurched, to a degree. Even though Easter is a...

On March 9, 2016, an off-duty Jacksonville, FL sheriff’s detective was taking his 14- year-old son to school when he decided to pull over a white Cadillac after seeing it driving erratically. Kevin Rojas had just threatened his girlfriend with a gun and fired shots in their house before taking off in his car. Rojas immediately opened fire, hitting the detective in the head, upper body and hand. The detective returned fire, but missed.

Last summer a young man named Ramjan fell to his death off of a 170 foot waterfall in India while attempting to pose for a selfie. Eyewitnesses said visitors tried to stop Ramjan from walking near the edge of the cliff, but were told he was “not afraid of anything.”...

I’m embarrassed to say that this post did not take long for me to write. I am curious to see if you agree with these, and interested to hear some of your own. 1. Church announcementsPastors get frustrated when we get last minute announcement requests. Pre-service...

I recently attended an outdoor hall of fame banquet to celebrate the induction of a close friend. As several outdoor legends received well deserved recognition from peers and sponsors, the thought occurred to me that there is no equivalent event for pastors; at least...

Below is a short video update on our family and ministry. Thank you for praying for us as we serve pastors, spouses and seminarians. Also, thank you very much for subscribing to my blog posts! In 2019, you will get a brief, practical, and encouraging article and/or...

I have never written a letter to my younger self before today because the idea seemed impractical without a time machine. Then I considered how it might be helpful to a younger pastor. I took my first church in San Antonio in 1987. I was 22 years old, and, now at 54,...

Within the next five days, we will all reconnect with a lot of people in our lives. Janet and I will drive today from Nashville to my hometown of Tyler, Texas. We will celebrate Thanksgiving with my parents, siblings, and kids. Before we jump into the Dance family...

Discipleship is much easier to preach about than it is to practice. Pastors, like myself, are often more enthusiastic about making disciples than we are about being discipled. So, pastor, who is discipling you? Dr. Dan Garland is spot-on when he reminds pastors, “To...

You can count on one hand how many September days I will spend at home in September, but don't feel sorry for me - I love this ministry and this life! This month I have the privilege of serving pastors in New Mexico, Canada, and Maryland - much of it with my wife at...