#pastoring

[craigtowens]

Wolf Deterrent

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/wolf-deterrent.mp3 As Paul is on his way to Jerusalem, he makes time to meet with the leaders of the Church in Ephesus. An important reminder Paul gives them comes from the example he lived out while he was in Ephesus:…

[wezlo]

Rules Lawyers

I am a Christian, a pastor, whose native culture is “geek.” And both the religious and geek communities of which I am a part are filled “rules lawyers.”

I have an odd existence. I understand most folks who know me would rephrase that statement as “I am odd,” which is true, but hear me out. I am a Christian, a pastor, whose native culture is “geek.” My cultural touchstones are Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, Discworld, Role-Playing Games, and Star Wars. And both the religious and cultural communities of which I am part are filled…

[calebyap]

Ten joys of the elder’s chair by Mark Dever from his T4G message on the dangerous allure of speed and the need for endurance in pastoral ministry:

1. Joy of resting in the sufficiency of Scripture.

2. Joy of seeing people converted.

3. Joy of knowing the congregation well enough to see lives changed.

4. Joy of singing God’s praises.

5. Joy of knowing the state of your members is more important than numbers. Know how your members are.

6. Joy of hearing others preach better sermons than you.

7. Joy of being more excited at God’s work than your own.

8. Joy of knowing the weight of the world is on God’s shoulders, not ours.

9. Joy of longing for heaven together.

10. Joy of waiting together on the promises of a faithful God

[slowtumbling]

God Is My Auto-Pilot

I have never liked the bumper sticker that reads, “God is my copilot.” It seems to imply that God takes a backseat to my will, stepping in only when I need extra help. No, I think God should be the pilot. But today, as I sit here utterly drained—physically, mentally, spiritually—I’m pondering something else: What if God needs to be my autopilot? Autopilot doesn’t mean disengaged. It means that…

[daisylambs]

[mmeyers815]

Paneradventure at a hosptial:

G: Phew… this place takes it out of you.

Me: yeah, I’m sure…

G: you here visiting someone?

M: I just finished visiting someone from my church.

G: Oh you must be one of those visitation specialists then?

M: Well, I’m the pastor… sometimes I guess I’m a visitation specialist.

G: **You’re** the pastor?? Well, I’ll be damned.

M: I mean… you’re probably not…

G: Oh… ha. Good one. Well, you must be used to this place taking it out of you.

M: I don’t think you ever really get used to it.

G: That is the truth. Hey, since you’re a pastor… Uh, what do you think happens when we die?

M: Oh that’s a big question for a short elevator ride… I think that there’s nothing that can separate from God’s love and we remain in that love for eternity.

G: That would be why you said I’m not damned then?

M: Ha… yeah, that would be part of it. I think that God’s love is so big and unconditional and grace holds us together before we even reach the end of our rope.

G: Thank you for that. That actually gives me some of me back. I won’t need to take as long of a nap to recover from this place. I’ll trust that God’s grace will hold me.

M: That gets me through most days.

G: Well, Pastor… I’m glad I ran into you today. I needed some grace.

M: Me too… me too.

💖💖

[valtsv]

today at church my pastor told us "the trouble with a living sacrifice is it keeps crawling off the altar" and it made me think of your blog. not sure if it's right vibe but the association was immediate.

man i knew the prospects for a career in standup comedy were bad but i had no idea it was so dire that comedians were turning to the church to supplement their income. this says a lot about the state of the economy.

[vintagehomecollection]

The most well known of San Francisco's numerous pedestrian streets is that section of Filbert Street between Montgomery and Battery streets on the steep eastern slope of Telegraph Hill - the Filbert Steps. This pastoral enclave, which includes the cross streets Darrell Place and Napier Lane and the nearby Greenwich Steps, is dotted with cottages that are testament to the bittersweet challenge of cottage living.

The Cottage Book, 1989

[craigtowens]

Can Criticism Ever Be A Good Thing?

Don’t be too quick on this one: I’m wondering if criticism can ever be a good thing?  Check out this episode of The Podcast. 

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/can-criticism-ever-be-a-good-thing.mp3 Don’t be too quick on this one: I’m wondering if criticism can ever be a good thing?   Check out this episode of The Podcast.  The Scriptures that I reference in this video are…

[wezlo]

Random Thoughts #156

The world seems to be intent on imploding for…reasons…and I’m pretty much done with it. I’m winding up vacation, I’ve had coffee, and I’ve not gotten enough sleep. These are random thoughts. If you want to make an IT-minded person really angry, mess with their network equipment. More and more I’m seeing a lack of hope being equated with “maturity.” This is a lie. A lack of hope isn’t mature,…

[nachosforfree]

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a communist...

[probablybadrpgideas]

Put the Slender Man in your campaign.

Look, I know, he's old news, but have a heart! He last got work like ten years ago, and he just needs one solid gig to get him back on his feet. He can still do the static thing, you know! Remember that? That was so cool in 2009! Everyone loved the static thing, right?

He doesn't have to be the Big Bad or anything, he'll settle for being a mook or random encounter. He spends all his time rewatching Marble Hornets and crying these days, just give him a cameo or something. One last hurrah for the guy who used to be the Big Name of internet horror. What do you say?

[deepsouthreformation]

Q&A with Nathan Knight (Planting by Pastoring)

For more information or to purchase a copy of Planting by Pastoring, click here. Q&A with Nathan Knight Evan: Tell us about yourself? Nathan: I grew up in the south (Nashville, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Raleigh). My Mom loved Jesus and I’m hopeful my Dad did. Regularly attending church in the United Methodist church, I later came to faith in a Southern Baptist church as a sophomore in college…

[bowldrips]

*youth pastor voice* "You know who else had 'mad drip'? The serpent that Skaði placed over Loki's head—"

[daisylambs]

[mmeyers815]

Paneradventure in a coffee shop:

M: So, I just add salt and pepper and that’s it.

W: Ah, so that’s why it’s so bland.

M: What?

W: Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but your cooking isn’t flavorful. You need to know that.

M: Oh… uh… thank you?

W: Was that too harsh?

M: Yeah, a little.

W: Oh… sorry… confession is good for the soul?

M: For whose soul?

W: Everyone? Look, that lady next us reading a church book, she’ll know… (to me)— hey is confession good for the soul?

M: You can’t just ask people things like that.

Me: Oh, it’s ok… I mean… I’d probably ask some follow up questions before I say yes or no, but usually yes…

W: See. I told you.

M: What are her credentials besides reading a church book?

Me: Oh, well, I am a pastor…

W: See, she’s a church book reading pastor who knows about confession.

M: But does she now about spices?

Me: I mean… a little. But it sounds like you’re not really talking about confession, but more about speaking truth

W: Yeah! I’m just speaking the truth!

Me: and I think it’s important to speak the truth in love… I mean you don’t need to be harsh… If you love someone you don’t want to hurt them with the truth.

W: Ok, I don’t need you preaching to me.

M: That’s literally her job. And that’s literally what you were asking her to do.

W: I was asking her to preach to you… not to me.

M: Well, maybe that’ll make you think twice before interrupting people reading their church books to mock me and my lack of seasoning.

Me: I don’t mind the interruptions…This certainly added some spice to my day…

W: You still could teach him a thing or two about that still… it’s probably your job to have more love than me about that.

M: I’d actually love to stop talking about this and let her get back to her life and not bombard her with ours…

Me: That’s kind of my job too…