Worry, love, and thanksgiving
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret…” This verse from Ps. 37:7 reveals how negative emotions such as fear and anxiety distract us from worshiping God. In this post, we’ll see how nagging worries keep us from focusing on God and the truth of His Word. Worry – allowing […]
Don’t be anxious about anything
As we continue this series on worshiping God without the distraction of negative emotions, Part 3 reminds us to look deeply into God’s Word. That is where you will find His peace that surpasses all understanding. We’ve looked at how anxiety is a vague feeling about something that might happen. Many things in life can […]
God wants to find the heart of a true worshiper
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Is. 41:10) In the first part of this series, we discovered that God is looking for true worshipers. But we also learned that emotional distress […]
God is desperately looking for you
God is desperately searching for you as much as you are looking for Him, “But how can I worship God with a clear heart when I’m worried and anxious about so many things?!” God knows what you need and draws you to Himself so that you seek after Him. He wants to calm your anxious […]
His Truth Still Marches On: A Pastoral Response to the Woes of Willow Creek Community Church, Part 3
Celebrate the Faithful! For every unfortunate story of an embattled pastor and ministry, there are thousands of stories of those who are faithful that go untold. Similar to mainstream news media, the only stories that garner attention are those that are negative. I’d like to remind us of the thousands of unknown, faithful pastors who […]
His Truth Still Marches On: A Pastoral Response to the Woes of Willow Creek Community Church, Part 2
Celebrity Pop-Culture’s Influence on Churches It deeply saddens me that in many (not all) contemporary churches, it seems that the goal of pastoral leadership is to be a successful CEO, a well-known speaker, or a great motivational coach. In some cases, I believe churches have become nothing more than faith-based corporations built on Biblical success […]
His Truth Still Marches On: A Pastoral Response to the Woes of Willow Creek Community Church, Part 1
This has been a tough week for the Body of Christ and for me. Along with many others, my heart is broken by the ruinous reports concerning Willow Creek Community Church. I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Bill Hybels on a few occasions (What a nice guy!). I’ve also attended many events on the […]