In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, the title character has a dreaded and persistent opponent named Sanballat. And . . . we all have Sanballats in our lives.  Athletically, professionally, spiritually, and personally.  So how to deal with them?  Here are some thoughts from my book Solve: First: Don’t defend yourself. Many, many Sanballats Read the full article…

I have been thinking about churches that have a publicly codified Statement Of Belief recently.  I even referred to one such statement on Sunday and had sent a link to ours to a new attender earlier in the week. So I want to devote this space today to explaining why we spell our beliefs out Read the full article…

I looked forward to the message all week. Now that’s true most weeks, of course, but especially so for this past week.  Several staffers who had seen the message in advance told me they liked it, and, buoyed up as I am by words of affirmation, by Sunday I was ready to go. Called Mic Read the full article…

Here it is, our 2016 Christmas card:  

With apologies to my mother who taught me to read when I was four or five, and with all due respect to my undergraduate degree in English, I really did learn how to read in seminary. What I mean is that while at Asbury Seminary, I learned a method of close reading I still use today. Read the full article…