by Nancy Austin Welcome back to school! This is one of my favorite times of year, a fresh start mid-year. The return to routine is somehow the perfect counter-balance to the unrestricted days of summer. This was really clear when I was a classroom teacher, not just in the obvious change in schedule but in…
Getting Good Advice
Recently, my wife and I stayed at our son’s flat in Scotland. I was making instant coffee in their small kitchen. As I reached for the VIA, I scalded my arm on the electric tea kettle, big time! I have a picture of it, if you want to see how bad it was. It looked…
Four Things Every Pastor Must Do
I don’t know of any pastor who didn’t feel that God called him or her into ministry. I also don’t know of any pastor who hasn’t questioned that calling from time to time. I know that I have. Pastoring can be incredibly rewarding as well as incredibly discouraging. LET’S TALK… Here are four things pastors…
Taking Time Off
How’s your summer? Have you taken time off? Over the years of ministry, I have been serious about taking time off. Somewhere I got this advice and tried to heed it (still do!): Divert daily (take those mini breaks); Withdraw weekly (have a consistent day off); and Abandon annually (use all your vacation time). This…
Put Me In, Coach!
by Tom Hurt Pacific Conference Coaching Director I can remember clearly my 9th grade wrestling coach. Being new to the sport I was nervous and excited to get on the mat and do my best. The reality was, I had a lot to learn and it was obvious I needed a coach. As the season…
10 Lessons from the Leadership Summit
This past week the Conference was privileged to host the Global Leadership Summit for the second year. It’s an incomparable experience: world-renowned leaders of both sacred and secular success presenting inspiring and challenging points with the unique opportunity to contextualize the teaching with other leaders and pastors from the Pacific Conference. Quite frankly, it’s why…
Don’t Forget Who You Are
By Josh Conn “I’m a failure.” “I won’t make it.” “I can’t finish this race.” “I can’t pass this class.” “I can’t raise these children.” “I will never get married.” “I don’t think anyone really loves me.” “I’ll never get that job.” “I have made so many mistakes, there is no way God would want…
GENEROSITY AND WHAT IT REVEALS ABOUT OURSELVES
As a pastor I’ve always been reluctant to talk about money. After all, isn’t that what every church is after… my money? Yet, what we do with our money reveals a lot about ourselves. Jesus said that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). LET’S TALK… Every believer should be…
How to Triumph in Tough Times
Practical Wisdom from James 1 How are things going? Actually, I’m pretty certain I can answer that for you! It’s likely you are either coming out of a tough time, in the middle of a tough time, or about to face a tough time (I know I’m just a bundle of optimism). But, how do…
Two Essentials of Every Good Strategy
By Steve Graves No matter what you are doing in ministry, it requires strategy. My simple definition of strategy is this: Knowing where you are going and knowing how to get there. Like the two-ends of a window-washers' scaffold, each is limited by the other.
Three Daring Prayers
Prayers from Psalm 139:23-24 I love the Psalms. I think it’s because of its highs and lows. It flows from the highs of praising and acknowledging God for his greatness down to the throws of distress when we feel like God has deserted us. The Psalms express life. Much of it is written in prayer…
What’s Our Freedom For?
Yesterday we celebrated our independence, our freedom as a Country! But what’s our freedom for? We are free – we have our independence! Now what? How does God want us to live with the liberty we all enjoy?
