When Ted Haggard returned to Colorado Springs he denied he was going to start a new church.  When he and his wife started "prayer meetings" and "Bible studies" that attracted more than 100 people, he denied he was starting a new church. When he registered St. James Church three weeks ago, we announced that he [...]

In a rare and admirable moment when respect overpowered politics, the Oklahoma state senate passed a resolution Tuesday honoring the life and legacy of pastor Billie Joe Daugherty, who died last year of lymphoma. The state house of representatives and senate passed concurrent bills containing language you don’t ordinarily find in congressional documents: Reverend Daugherty [...]

The issue of Smart Ministry that went out this week includes my conversation with John Bevere, the internationally known speaker, author, and TV host.  John is a Pentecostal, and the discussion surrounded the fact that he does not teach “name it and claim it.”  He talked about the importance of holiness as a prerequisite—something I’ve [...]

As you all know, this is the first time I’ve posted something like this and it’s probably the last. But this is a great deal… The New Living Translation Break Through to Clarity Bible Contest and Giveaway Visit www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation and click on the tab that says “Sweepstakes” Fill out a simple form, take a quick [...]

Vision doesn’t change. Plans change constantly. Your vision is your overall goal. Your plans are your flexible means–changing to reflect new realities and new knowledge–to get you there. Suppose you have a vision to launch a new campus. You decide to do so in a movie theater. It would be a significant mistake to tell [...]

Two Harvard researchers recently released an article in Trends of Cognitive Science that have some interesting theological implications. The essence of the research is that a wide range of people all came to the same conclusions as to what was “right” when presented with a moral dilemma, regardless of their religious backgrounds (or lack thereof).

Today it’s called “spin.” It’s the art of withholding information and choosing words to put the best possible face on something.

If you’re not supposed to discuss religion or politics, I guess I’m likely to upset twice as many people by tackling this question. But the truth is that my opinion is changing, and I’d like to pass that on to those who have heard me discuss this in the past. I’ve summarized my feeling by [...]

The Dakota Indians say that when you discover you are riding a dead horse you should dismount. But some churches today…

If you get the free Smart Ministry newsletter you saw the first part of my interview with Jud Wilhite yesterday. He and Mike Foster are building a movement around the concepts of radical integrity and radical grace. You and I have needed second chances, and so does everyone else. Then today in Chuck Swindoll’s free [...]