Practicing SOG

How do you become proficient in anything? As with so many things, the answer is simple but not easy. The path to proficiency is through practice. Reflection is important in peacemaking. Discussion is often helpful in conflict resolution. But in the end practice is the...

Three Gospel Relationships

When I was in elementary school, our classrooms were heated by a boiler. It would heat water to the point of steam which would then travel through pipes to a radiator and heat the room. This is literally an “old school” method of heating.              One day our...

Dimensions

Humor me for a moment. Let’s play a word association game. I’ll say a word and you respond with a word that comes to mind when you hear my word. Ready? Here’s the word: relationship. What comes to mind? The average American would likely associate that word with other...

Using Emotions Wisely in Pastoral Ministry

In the last article, I began an examination of 8 essentials of core human emotions to harness their energy in practicing relational wisdom. There, we saw God’s design in our emotions, their complexity, and how they can drive our behaviors. Let’s turn our attention to...

Rahab: living above what you’ve done

When I was in high school, I loved and played the game of basketball. In the 1980s, at a small rural school, we still played six-on-six. Yes, six guards and six forwards who stopped at the half-court line. I know. It sounds so archaic. As a basketball player, I found...

Naomi: when life doesn’t turn out like you had hoped

Sometimes I look at my life and scratch my head. Lord, what is going on? What are you doing? Do you see what’s happening here?  In this life, none of us escape pain, loss, or hardship. But somehow in the loss, the sun keeps rising and days unfold to months unfold to...

Ministry Wives Weekend 2023 RECAP

We had such a great time together! I wanted to share with you a recap of our time together to remember for those who were there as well as those who were not able to make it this year. It was so so good and refresh my heart!  Ministry Wives Weekend is an annual...

God Designed Your Emotions to Move Your Relationships

Like a locomotive barreling down the tracks, emotions often fuel the motion and direction of pastoral relationships. While many will want to exchange any emotional drive for a perceived healthier “rational approach,” God designed every human with emotions. How you, as...

Ministry is About Relationships

John Maxwell popularized the leadership quip “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” True enough. Hang around in ministry for a hot minute and you recognize that even leadership depends upon relationships. Oklahoma Baptists recently welcomed Ken Sande to our...

Miriam: celebrating even when the future is fuzzy

I am a celebrator. My family chuckles at how excited I get about such a wide variety of things: A freshly painted wall A good movie A delicious meal A gorgeous sunset Christmas presents An accomplishment An event God’s word Some say: I go over the top. I say:...