I’m currently reading a book penned by Washington Times religion Julia Duin called Quitting Church: Why The Faithful Are Fleeing and What To Do About It. It’s a very well-written book with a surprisingly personal spin, given Duin’s journalist credentials. It doesn’t break any new ground, but pulls together stats, trends, and bits of her…

Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading the book of Job as part of my devotional reading. Maybe it’s the cumulative effect of my life experiences. Maybe it my current awkward growing pains as I’m trying to learn my new job. Or maybe it’s because I’m firmly planted smack-dab in the middle of mid-life and my…

Scenes from the start of the school year: I walked into work this morning and saw two girls sitting a few seats apart from one another in the otherwise empty chapel. They weren’t speaking to one another. They were just sitting companionably in the dark, in the silence. Intense conversations, everywhere. All the time. It…

The last week and a half has included: – Moving my youngest son Jacob into his first apartment in a brand-new town for him, where he’ll begin classes this week. He doesn’t know a single person there. I’m praying… – An early-labor scare from my daughter; she’s due October 10. – A very steep learning…

As part of my 3-4 times a year update to those on my e-mail list, I sent the the following post. Read on to the end to find out the suggestions I got from those who responded to my question. I sweetened the deal by offering readers an opportunity to win one of two $15…

There are hundreds of church growth seminars offering church leaders enough “tools for their leadership toolbox” to stock a Home Depot. I’ve never heard of a seminar telling church leaders how to shrink their congregations…or even to kill them…but this happens A LOT. Stagnation, shrinkage or complete collapse may be more common than the stunning…