All too often I think pastors see themselves as lumberjacks. They go into a church and look at the problems as trees that need to be chopped down. They fire up their massive chain saw and start cutting into the tree to bring it down. They grab their ax and start hacking away until the problematic tree lies on the ground.

In truth, it turns out that people often define conservative, not by a set of objective doctrinal criteria, but by a number of unwritten rules. These days, it doesn’t seem to matter what doctrines you hold (trinity, election, atonement, christology, etc) but how you voted in the last election and whether your children attend—fill in the blank—type of school.

I think one of the weakest areas of the Christian life for many is prayer. We seldom spend significant time in prayer unless we find ourselves in a period of suffering or trial. Under such circumstances we might regularly engage in prayer. But if public prayers are any indication of our private prayers, I think one of the most deficient areas in a Christian’s prayer life is the absence of adoration in our prayers.

What the well-equipped workshop is to the wood craftsman, the well-stocked theological library is to the minister. Having a good library is one of the most important resources you can have in your ministry.

When a young couple in their mid-thirties visits your church, what are some of the first things you ask them? Who are you? What do you do? How many children do you have? It’s a natural assumption to ask whether a couple has children. But it’s the next series of questions that can create discomfort or even pain.

In the end, we can water, nurture, and care for the sapling that God has given us but, God’s Spirit must provide the Son-shine—the light of Christ’s gospel that causes the growth and maturity. We must ultimately entrust our children into the hands of Christ because he is the only one who can save them.

As we learn doctrine, we must earnestly pray that the grace of God would not only inundate our minds but that this knowledge would trickle down into our hearts until they are immersed in the truth of God’s word.

Each and every day affords us the opportunity to give thanks to our faithful and loving triune God

For churches, therefore, caring for widows (and by extension, widowers) is of vital importance. I dare say that the quality of care for its widows and widowers is a barometer of the spiritual health and maturity of a church. If a church neglects its widows, then something is definitely amiss.

Don’t’ be afraid to go to a physical library and explore a topic of interest. Go to the stacks and find your book but let your eyes scan the other titles that stand watch next to your book. Just maybe you’ll have your own serendipitous encounter and find other interesting books that provide you with great joy.