Will Willimon relates a lesson about Scripture that he attributes to learning from Karl Barth in his memoir, Accidental Preacher. Sometimes preachers are tempted to figure out how to make texts relevant to the lives of hearers. Scripture calls us to realise that our lives need transformation, not fine-tuning. (You might think I’m cherry-picking all …
Peter Adam points out that being in pastoral ministry is not being in an environment that automatically promotes growth in Godliness and firewalls the pastor from sin. The opposite is true. Pastoral ministry provides a rich environment of stumbling blocks through which temptation yield the fruit of besetting sin. Pastors can learn and those who …
If you think that becoming a disciple of Jesus will lead to a settled, monotonous, status-quo, life that you’re in control of, think again. From Will Willimon’s memoir, Accidental Preacher. It’s odd that some characterize God’s creative work as the making of order and stability. I’ve found the opposite to be true; you’ll know it’s …
The really challenging seasons are those when you know nothing is wrong, but nothing feels right. Gavin Ortlund writes about practising intentional gratitude as a pathway to restoring balance and experiencing joy. There are things we have, and things we lack. Blessings and disappointments. And our default seems to be for the bad things, the …
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