I’ve just read one of those Twitter threads which outlines how churches should look after the pastors. This current one talks about things like using paying the pastor a decent wage, paying for any counselling they need, letting them have marriage enrichment weekends, praying for them, giving them sabbaticals and also giving then a “sabbath… Continue reading If you want to look after your pastor, just let him have a normal weekend off!
Category: pastoral-care
The good shepherd carries me
You are probably familiar with that old little poem, a favourite of greeting cards, bookmarks and fridge magnets. It talks about two sets of footprints across the sand. The speaker though spots moments when there is only a single track and complains that at the point when life seemed hardest, it looked like Jesus had… Continue reading The good shepherd carries me
What do you give your life to?
Many years ago, my dad was offered a better paid job, a senior position and a relocation. However his potential new boss told him that he would expect dad to be committed first and foremost, 24/7 to the company. Dad said, “no thanks.” He had a higher boss, the Lord and after that a family.… Continue reading What do you give your life to?
The sheep with a broken leg? The danger of embellishing Scripture
I’ve only heard the claim once from a pulpit but perhaps that was already one time too many. I’ve since come across other people who have heard the claim. A preacher talking about the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 claimed that after finding the sheep, the shepherd would then break one of its legs. The… Continue reading The sheep with a broken leg? The danger of embellishing Scripture
Talking to children about death and grief
It is said that the Victorians had a taboo about talking about sex but spoke freely about death and dying. In our age we have reversed that. Yet, life is fragile and death can come at any moment. So, it is important that we should be able to talk about it and this includes with… Continue reading Talking to children about death and grief
Good news for the unsettled, uprooted and home sick
The strapline of Faithroots is “What we believe affects how we live.” This is because Faithroots is first of all, a theological website. One of my aims is to introduce readers to good, solid, rich and challenging theology. But Faithroots is also meant to be a practical, pastoral site and I don’t think those two… Continue reading Good news for the unsettled, uprooted and home sick
God did not make you a pastor to keep you going to church
I want to pause and think about a type of comment that I’ve heard a few times over the years. It goes something along the lines of. “Perhaps the reason that God made me a pastor was to keep me in church.” Such comments are perhaps tongue in cheek but personally I’m not convinced they… Continue reading God did not make you a pastor to keep you going to church
Refreshing our vision for youth and children’s ministry
Two cheers for this tweet from Michael Bird. Bird is engaging with the problem about why young people too often walk out of church and Christianity as soon as they can. He correctly identifies some significant issues with age based ministry. His primary concern is that what we do with kids and teens can become… Continue reading Refreshing our vision for youth and children’s ministry
Taking care about what you are singing
Christian song writers can certainly have a knack for finding the most bewildering and cringeworthy song lyrics. Sometimes, it ends up being silly and amusing. Sometimes, context just makes a hymn inappropriate and sometimes we suffer from the way that words and phrases have changed meaning and usage over time. For example, a few centuries… Continue reading Taking care about what you are singing
Curiosity is crucial
I think that often the difference between leaders who are able to change things and those that aren’t is often to do with curiosity. Some people are naturally curious. They are always wondering why things are the way they are, always asking questions, always considering different options, scenarios and reasons. They employ the famous “W”… Continue reading Curiosity is crucial
