Learning to Pray Like Jesus Let’s be honest—prayer can be confusing. It feels like it should be simple, right? Just talk to God. But for many of us, prayer is anything but simple. We struggle to know what to say. We feel guilty that we don’t pray enough. And when we finally do sit down … Continue reading PRAY LIKE THIS
What It Means to Have Influence: A Christian Perspective Influence is a powerful thing. We see it everywhere: in politics, social media, entertainment, and even within our own families. But as Christians, we’re called to a different kind of influence. It’s not about power or popularity; it’s about reflecting Christ in everything we do. Influence … Continue reading THE POWER OF INFLUENCE
Have you ever been on a Wild Goose Chase? There's something about the ancient Celtic people that just moves me deep in my bones. They saw the Holy Spirit not as a hovering white dove but as a “wild goose.” The wild goose is passionate, noisy, and courageous. The Celtic people saw how the Holy … Continue reading LIFE UPDATE
I was talking with my new friend Chris about church planting at my office this afternoon. And by "office", I mean the Starbucks I work out of Monday through Friday. I love my Starbucks! (In fact, someone even wrote an article about it and called me "The Starbucks Pastor"!) So there I was at Starbucks, … Continue reading Why Plant a Church with Converge?
Before we can make any plans for the church, we must know the sheep well. Take every opportunity to become familiar with members of your church. Don't rush into your action plans too quickly. - from the book 7 Lessons for New Pastors, page 96 Matthew D. Kim wrote this helpful book after his first … Continue reading Book Review: 7 Lessons for New Pastors
I have been called a bull in a china shop...on more than one occasion! A friend, hoping to help, handed me this book to read...about four years ago. To be honest, at that time I wasn't ready to openly evaluate myself and how I used my physical presence to influence others. I was defensive and thought, … Continue reading Book Review: Making Room for Leadership
The pastor's question is, "Who are these particular people, and how can I be with them in such a way that they can become what God is making them?"- Eugene Peterson I'm currently in a "wait and see" season of life. I've described it to a friend as feeling like a shepherd with no flock. Our … Continue reading Book Review- The Contemplative Pastor
These past two weeks I've shared some thoughts on Psalm 23. Today, I want to look at the final section of this great song of David. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me … Continue reading Reflections on the Psalms: Psalm 23 Part 3
We all face seasons of doubt and discouragement. Its just a natural part of the journey of life. As a leader and a pastor- I know its normal to feel discouraged but it doesn't make it any easier! Some thoughts for leaders (including myself!) who might be facing discouragement: 1.) We Have an Enemy Helping … Continue reading Dealing with Discouragement
I love this picture. I think its a great reminder that even the most successful people in life have had their failures. But it is not the last word. We can dust ourselves off, learn from our mistakes, and move forward. The Bible says that for those who are in God's family, his mercies are … Continue reading Failure is not the End
ERIK LINDEEN 