Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.

My most recent book acquisition is When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search: Biblical Principles and Practices to Guide Your Search, by Chris Brauns. (N.B. The title says "Word," not "World." Nuff said.)

Ideally, a church wouldn't need this book for many years, as the pastor puts down roots and commits, enjoying decades of service to Christ & His people. But, we keeps it real, so ... a book like this is more than necessary since longevity is rare.

In fact, if the search process is successful (i.e., a good fit is found), then the church will have little to no experience on which to lean for the next pastor, since the pastor stayed awhile. Conversely, the churches that might get proficient at the pastoral search due to frequency, may be suffering from not doing it well (i.e., a good fit is not found).

I intend to post a review of When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search upon completion, but to increase awareness of such a resource in the Church and to whet your appetite ...

10 Common Mistakes Churches Make Looking for a Pastor, each of which contains elaboration in the book:

1. Not choosing the right people for the pastoral search committee.
2. Prayerlessness.
3. Being people-centered rather than Word-centered.
4. Lack of follow-through and due-diligence by the pastoral search committee.
5. Impatience that leads to the wrong decision.
6. Failure to properly administrate the pastoral search.
7. Inadequate communication.
8. Failure to adequately budget for the pastoral search.
9. Allowing the experience with the previous pastor to direct the calling of the next pastor.
10. Spending too much time trying to call pastors who are not "reasonably gettable."

• Learn more about When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search, including where to purchase.
• Read endorsements.
• Buy Brauns' Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds.

Give in to your anger. With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant.

A solicitation of volunteers at the Providence Church members meeting last night brought to mind the following quote:

"It is bothersome to me when people claim they 'want to go deep' but have splinters in their rear ends from sitting around all day and doing nothing. Spiritual maturity is not only measured by knowledge; if that were the case, then the devil would be more spiritually mature than anoy pastor on the planet, because he knows way more than all of us! But maturity is developed when people do what Jesus did by serving others." (Perry Noble)

Of course, he's right. In fact, that's the measure of greatness in the kingdom, being the greatest servant of all ... according to Jesus.

• Mark 9:34-35 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
• Mark 10:42-45 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Then there's also that great Christological passage from Paul in Philippians 2:5-11, but often forgot is that the impetus is to be like Jesus ... with regard to His example of one who serves others to the detriment of Himself.

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5-11 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Remember as well ... a call to "ministry" or a call to be a "minister" is a call to service or being a servant. That's what the word means. (cf. Mark 10:43-45 KJV)

Being a slacker is not congruent with spiritual maturity.

My office ... is right across that hall. Any monkey business is ill-advised.

Below you will find the prayer John Piper asked his congregation to pray for itself (Bethlehem Baptist Church) while he's away on sabbatical. While he's away, he wants them involved in ministry, not monkey business.

I found it an encouraging way to pray for Providence Church and thought you find it a beneficial way to pray for your own church.

O Lord, as you are often accustomed to do, show your great power in Pastor John’s absence. Send a remarkable awakening that results in…

• hundreds of people coming to Christ,
• old animosities being removed,
• marriages being reconciled and renewed,
• wayward children coming home,
• long-standing slavery to sin being conquered,
• spiritual dullness being replaced by vibrant joy,
• weak faith being replaced by bold witness,
• disinterest in prayer being replaced by fervent intercession,
• boring Bible reading being replaced by passion for the Word,
• disinterest in global missions being replaced by energy for Christ’s name among the nations, and
• lukewarm worship being replaced by zeal for the greatness of God’s glory.

Lord, when Gideon had thousands of men you said, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me’” (Judges 7:2). You stripped his army to 300, and with that you conquered the peoples of the East who covered the ground like locusts and whose camels were like the sand of sea (Judges 7:12).

O Lord, take the mighty 300 of Bethlehem and bless this church beyond anything we have ever dreamed. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

What I've learned from you is that really one of the most important things in life is showing up. I'm blown away by your ability to show up ...

One of the Christianese words that I really don't like is the verb "to minister." I think it's become so cliche' and a word used instead of "serve" because it seems more holy. You know, "I really ministered to her today" or "Come be ministered unto by brother Some Such."

That being said, I realize it's likely here to stay. But, I wonder what constitutes a "ministry" in church. There seems to be the teaching ministry and the music ministry and nursery ministry and youth ministry and children's ministry and deacon ministry, etc.

I'd like to contend for another ministry, the ministry of showing up.

A temptation common to those involved in those various other ministries is to become bitter (or even envious) of those who "just" show up. In my church years, I've even heard sentiment that the church would be better off without those who just show up, as though they're dead weight.

Not only do I disagree, but I appreciate those with the ministry of showing up ... and if you're involved in one of those other ministries, you probably do also.

You know what a whippin' it is to prepare a sermon or a Sunday school lesson and "nobody" shows up. You know how frustrating it can be to prepare a church special event and have a poor turn out, because you weren't ministered to by the show uppers.

Don't get me wrong, the goal is to move those with the ministry of showing up to add other ministries to their church plates, but the church needs people to serve and they serve ... excuse me ... they minister to us when they do indeed show up.

To those of you who think whether or not you show up at church is irrelevant, I heartily disagree. You are needed, even if you have no ministry outside of showing up. In short, we are counting on you to minister to us by your presence, which is an encouragement to those ministers who are ministering in those other ministry areas.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
~ Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV

No, not "show you," show ME the money!

I'm excitied about being in charge of putting money to good use for the Lord's work, but something in that offer caught my eye and REALLY peaked my interest.

"My name is Mariam Turine. I was born in India, I am married to Rev Jeff Turine, Rev pastor of Christian missionary church in Cote d'Ivoire. We were married for 38 years without a child. He died after a Cadiac Arteries Operation.

And Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Five months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the lever and stroke). Before my husband died last year there is this sum $5.8 Million Dollars that he deposited with a Private Finance Company here In Ivory Coast."

Hmm. I'm pastoring in the wrong country. India, eh? I'd be hard pressed to deposit $5.8 thousand serving here in Texas.

Adventure ... Excitement ... A jedi craves not these things.

The following are 10 distinctives of "Great Commission* Keepers" over the past 200 years, according to Luis Palau. They were given at a leadership conference in Washington, DC in 1988.

If you're interested in missions or church leadership, see how you measure up.

1. Passion for those apart from Christ
2. Christ-centered message (not diluted with social issues, or hung up on political agendas or political correctness)
3. Holiness in every area of life ~ Don't play games with God. Admit, confess, and repent of sin, striving not to do it anymore.
4. Boldness to try new methods ~ So what if we fail every so often? The important thing is that we are making an attempt.
5. Willingness to endure criticism
6. Commitment to a local church ~ This is the group that knows you, loves you, and seeks to help you.
7. Love for the whole Body of Christ ~ Seek the unity that is found through Jesus Christ and don't care who gets the credit.
8. Sacrificial financial giving ~ This is a basic realization that life does not consist of accumulating more toys and things. It is a realization that everything we have belongs to God.
9. Serious about private prayer ~ Personal devotions are not just reading the Bible, but they are talking and listening to the still small voice of God.
10. Faithfulness to the end

*The Great Commission ~ Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

The preacher said all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.

In case you missed this great video: "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Pastors."

Who you are defines what you do.

Yesterday I met with a young man interested in the pastorate/eldership/ministry. He asked me what I look for in a man in that regard.

I hadn't prepared an answer, but quickly came out with the following:

1. I look for a man with a passion for the word of God.

He has to be convinced of the certrality and necessity of the Bible. If he's not convinced of the authority and sufficiency of God's Word, he will be susceptible to pragmatism, compromise, and self-reliance.

There's no substitute for the transforming nature of God's Word in church & personal life.

2. I look for a man with a passion for holiness.

I want a leader who is pursuing Christ, then he just takes others along with him. But attitude reflects leadership. If the leaders don't take seriously a pursuit of holiness in the spirit of Semper Reformanda, "always reforming," the people/church will become complacent with a sub par spirituality. Consequently, the church will be ineffective in the community and with regard to glorifying the Holy One who redeemed them to be like Him.

There's no substitute for personal holiness in the performance of pastoral duties.

3. I look for a man with a passion for the local church.

This would have disqualified hordes of jokers I knew in seminary, who demonstrated minimal (at best) commitment to their congregations while in seminary.

The local church is mechanism by which God executes the Great Commission. The local church is not merely a job or a place to do something by which we feel significant, but it's Christ's body in this world. Though it be flawed due to sinners being made holy, we love the people because Christ love the church. We love what He loves.

There's no substitute for the environment in which God transforms His children to be His ambassadors in communities they're infiltrating for Christ.


All the stuff in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are essential, of course, as are how he handles his children and gets along with his wife. However, many of those things we can work on.

We can provide mentoring and training therein, but I can't give a guy a passion for the Word, holiness, or the local church. Without those there's reason for him to question his calling and for the church to be hesitant in affirming any such calling.

The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.

I heartily recommend the following article put forth by the folks who bring you the Leadership Journal. It may help churches' leaders and followers better understand what is praiseworthy.

I will interact with a few quotations to whet your appetite.

Great is Thy Effectiveness?
There’s danger in rooting our identity in ministry rather than in Christ.

If you've been in ministry long, I think you'll understand the subtitle, or at least the temptation described. It seems almost automatic that we tie our self-esteem and identity to the church we've been called to shepherd. Perhaps this is why so many pastors "feel called" to the larger, more prestigious congregations.

"It seems too many of us have our identities wrapped up in the measurable outcomes of our work rather than in the life-giving love of the Christ we proclaim."

Making matters worse is the unnatural and unbiblical pressure for church leadership to "produce" results, for one's measure of worth tends to be interwoven with quantitative growth. Effectiveness lends itself to arrogant self-reliance and a sense of self-importance. Ineffectiveness lends itself to discouragement and temptation to unspiritual means to supposed spiritual ends.

A great many churches are either plateaued or in decline. If our identity is tied up in how we do, rather than in whom we are, we're doomed to despair.

Biblically, I think we're called to be faithful. Campus Crusade taught me the essence of Christian service: "Sharing Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God." (However, we didn't always leave the results to God.)

Do seminaries, book publishers, parishioners, or even fellow pastors really believe success is measured in faithfulness to the task God has assigned? Yes, that's a rhetorical question, but you knew that because of who speaks in chapel, whose books are on the shelf, and who gets praised by the populace.

"Yes, we need to work diligently and serve Christ with our very best—this is our worship to God. But how we define success should look very different in the economy of God’s kingdom from the tangible stats the world celebrates."

Who's to blame? Does the congregation put unrealistic expectations on the clergy, holding them accountable for what is clearly God's responsibility? After we've planted and watered, only He can make it grow. (1 Cor 3:6-7)

"Some might say these leaders have failed to nurture their souls sufficiently. We usually want to blame leaders for their own burn out, but when I see the pervasiveness of this problem I wonder if there isn’t also a systemic factor. Could contemporary church ministry itself be the problem?"

Only God adds to the church (Acts 2:47). Only God opens hearts (Acts 16:14). What a privileged blessing it is to be a part of His process, but we must remember soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be the glory.

Read the full article.

Everybody wants results but nobody wants to do what they have to do to get them done.

In ministry, you often encounter pragmatism as the motivation for doing things. If it works or gets results, you can't or shouldn't criticize it. In fact, you should probably do it as well ... if you really love Jesus.

This is particularly popular with regard to some sort of activity, event, or spectacle which draws a crowd whereby people are exposed to the Gospel. Surely, we want people to hear the Gospel, if we love Jesus, so whatever gets them in the door or within earshot is "all good."

I came across this via one of my former SWBTS students. (HT Aaron Landis) This was part of the services yesterday at NewSpring Church.

There were criticisms, of course. For example, one comment on the video said:

"Not only is this inappropriate for church, it's mediocre talent. Leave this music to the real pagans. Please don't let these wanna-be pagans do stuff like this anymore."

True, he's no Brian Johnson and that's not Angus Young, but the hat & Harley t-shirt and school boy uniform would have added to the effect.

Yet, one of those in favor of this approach commented:

"This mediocre talent participated in hundreds of people giving there life to Christ in the last two days. What did you accomplish this weekend? With that kind of attitude I doubt you've ever led anyone to Christ. The person who was sitting next to my wife was cheering when they played it. 30 mins latter he was balling as he gave his life to God. Go tell him this sucked! While you're at it. Tell Jesus that it wasn't worth it."

Surely there's a line one should not cross while pursuing noble goals. Right? What's the line? Do you just know it when you see it?

Topless women as greeters might draw a bigger crowd to hear about Jesus, but that's unchartered waters ... for now. I think for most the ends DO justify the means, so that the means might even be perceived as wrong, sinful, or at least inappropriate ... on their own, but for the noble cause, tolerated, heralded, and imitated.

Admittedly, my line is probably further back than than for most, but I fear many buy into the pragmatism prior to establishing a line of their own. In the noble desire to see results, the line is crossed perhaps unaware. You have to respect the line.