Counseling
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How Do I Defeat Porn in My Church?
Pastor Faces Death Threats for Offering to Help Teens Struggling With Homosexuality
5 Fundamental Questions to Ask When You're Seeking Advice
What Those Living With Mental Illness Desperately Need From Your Ministry
Rick Warren would know better than most, considering what his son Matthew went through. read more
10 Commandments for Pastors, Politics and Social Media
Politics is a challenging subject for a pastor. Remember who you are and who you represent before you speak out. read more
For Me, Passing on Godly Life Principles Is a Cherished Gift
Briefly, here are some lessons I taught to a group of men recently. I hope they will bless you too. read more
How to Help Your Youth Find Their Identity in Christ
Here is why it's so important for help your church's youth to grasp that they are made in God's image. read more
25 Random Pieces of Advice for Leaders From 20 to 49
How you live your life in your 20s, 30s and 40s matters. Take it from someone who has been there. read more
Where Does a Struggling Leader Go for Help?
Here are seven places where you might find good counseling and simply a sanctuary if you're having a difficult time with your ministry. read more
7 Pieces of Advice For Those Just Starting in Ministry
Here are some gems of wisdom from a veteran pastor to the younger generation. read more
Why Everyone Needs a Mentor and How to Find One
There are several reasons even you, as a ministerial leader, needs someone to disciple you. Here are a few. read more
What Moses Teaches Us About Mentoring
Are you involved in a mutually beneficial mentoring/student relationship? What is holding you back? read more
Joe McKeever: A Minister Should Be Able to Teach
Are you preaching, teaching, or both? read more
Make Room for Young Leaders
Find out why older church leaders don't need to think about retreating or retirement as much as they need to begin empowering younger leaders. read more
3 Acceptable Excuses Killing Your Potential
It’s easy to tell whether a person is giving an excuse. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent or a leader, we’ve all heard excuses from other people that don’t quite add up.
While determining the validity of someone else’s excuse is fairly black and white, it’s not so easy when it comes to the excuses we give ourselves. Oftentimes we give ourselves a lot more slack with our own excuses. It’s taken me years to realize that the excuses I often find “acceptable” can possibly destroy the influence, leadership potential and personal growth I want to accomplish.
Here are three of the most common acceptable excuses I’ve found myself giving over the past few years. But I have recently realized the danger of using them: read more
How to Avoid a Spiritual Mudslide When You Can’t Stop the Rain
My wife Ann and I lead busy lives. Yet, despite the flurry of activity, God has protected us from the ravages of spiritual collapse. One of the reasons is that we’ve been able to keep up a daily personal devotional life. For us, it’s a key to sanity!
Many of us are task oriented. What we DO is the measure of our success. If you ask people why Jesus was successful most will point to the to the things he did. “He healed the sick…cast out demons…raised the dead…preached to the multitudes”…and the list goes on. And yet, there’s an aspect of the Messiah’s life that involved doing ‘nothing,’ but spending time alone with the Father. So significant were these times that all four Gospels mention them. In fact, Luke 5:16 says that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” read more
Jentezen Franklin: 10 Tips to Fight Fear
1. Preach to Yourself
When God has asked me to do something that seems impossible for me, I have to preach to myself to defeat the fear and uncertainty that try to control me.
2. Don't Quit
In a relationship? In business? In reaching your personal goals? Will you give in to fear of failure and quit trying? The important thing to remember when you fail is not to quit. History shows that failure can actually become a catalyst to propel you to success.
3. Take Courage
You have to have courage against all odds. You have to be willing to face down frightening voices and take a risk to move forward into your destiny. You cannot give into the spirit of timidity and draw back when times get tough.
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Don’t Navigate the Valley of Grief Alone
There is something about the holiday season that amplifies our feelings. When we are having a good year, we see God’s joy and blessing around every corner.
But then there are the years of loss. This season, there will be people in your church who are grieving deeply. In fact, that person might be you.
Grief has many causes; from the loss of a loved one to the loss of a job. The holiday season seems to also bring out the loss of dreams, and desperation of what might never be.
In this article, I won’t be able to help you make people feel better. Grief is a deep valley that must be traversed at different times of life. However, you should find some new tools here that will help you love the people you walk with in tangible ways and give you the insight to share God’s perspective. read more
Family Grieving
1. Use a team approach. You’re not a doctor, and you don’t play one on TV. Use a strength-based approach by tapping into the expertise of professional and trained individuals in the field of counseling or social work. Seek their guidance and incorporate their suggestions in the efforts to aide a grieving family. Ask them about external supports or resources that are best suited to meet the needs of the family. Some families may not be comfortable revealing their feelings to their church family, so respect their right to privacy in seeking outside support.
Devon A. Blackwood counsels at Johns Hopkins and Hope Health Systems and is president and CEO of B.W. Affiliates. He is the author of Planted By Water and is writing his third book, My Season. read more