I Am a Church Member App Now Available — B&H Publishing Group B&H Publishing Group has developed an iPhone & iPad companion app for my new book, I Am a Church Member. As it is with the book, the heart of this app is to take a stance that you are a committed church member. The app offers an opportunity for you to sign the pledge and send your pastor a word of encouragement. When your pastor receives 10 messages sent from this app they will receive a free, complete digital copy of I Am a Church Member. The app Read the full article…

Who Really Runs Wikipedia? — The Economist Wikipedia is not without it faults, but it has become an incredibly useful tool for millions of users around the world. But who actually runs the site? The Economist sheds light on the details behind the Internet’s encyclopedia.   3 Challenges for the Church Planter — Ron Edmondson As a former church planter and current pastor of an established church, Ron has a unique perspective on the church. While Ron’s post is specifically tailored to church planting, his three challenges are faced by almost every pastor at some point.   Don’t Waste Your Read the full article…

How to Build Community in Your Church — Daniel Darling Yesterday on my blog, I wrote about the importance of unity in the church. Much of the unity in a church comes from a sense of community among the members. Dan shares five easy ways you can promote community in your church.   I’m Not Wired That Way Either: The Extrovert’s Excuse — Matt Mikalatos I tend to write a lot about introverts here on the blog because I happen to be one. So consider this equal time for the extroverts out there.   Your Optimism Might Be Stifling Your Read the full article…

7 False Assumptions Made About Introverts — Ron Edmondson Ron and I have both written extensively on introverts and the ministry. In this post he lists seven assumptions people make about introverts. And this post is probably best read alone in a quiet room.   With Bookselling in Deep Turmoil, Book Sales Are on the Rise — The Atlantic From my perspective as the president and CEO of a company that both publishes and sells books, this is an encouraging article. And as an author with a new book coming out next week, it’s an exciting article.   Evangelicals and Read the full article…

Fifteen Days in Rome: How the Pope Was Picked — Wall Street Journal Last month’s election of a Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope was a surprise for many religious pundits. This article from the Wall Street Journal sheds light on the fascinating inner workings of the selection process as well as the true humility of Pope Francis.   George Beverly Shea, 1909-2013 — Ray Ortlund We lost a legend when George Beverly Shea passed away earlier this week. Ray Ortlund provides a stirring tribute.   The Problem with “Mental Illness” — David Murray There is much discussion about mental illness Read the full article…

Are You Ready to Be a Leader? — Ron Edmondson If you’ve ever wondered if you are ready for a leadership position, Ron provides a short test to determine your readiness.   Johns Hopkins’s and Planned Parenthood’s Troubling Extremism — George F. Will George Will exposes the double standards for student groups at Johns Hopkins and the faulty logic applied under the guise of consumer rights by Planned Parenthood.   Steve Jobs and the Goal of Preaching — Matt McCullough Matt applies Steve Jobs’ principle of “exposing and then meeting needs and desires that customers didn’t realize they had” to Read the full article…

Things to Remember During Unwelcome Work — Trevin Wax Trevin shares his struggle through a job he had to have instead of a job he wanted to have. As in all seasons of life, he encourages those who may be in an unpleasant job to continually look for God’s blessings.   Need a Job? Invent It — Thomas Friedman In this New York Times editorial, Friedman examines out educational system and the growing need for job creation. Unlike generations before them, Millennials will not simply need to find jobs. They will increasingly need to create them.   Planned Parenthood Defends Read the full article…

I Blame Senior Pastors for Bad Church Signs – Sam Rainer On his newly redesigned blog, Sam discusses the communication strategy—or lack thereof—found in several churches today. From church signs to bulletins, pastors have a responsibility to know what’s being communicated and how it is being received.   Roger Ebert, Non-Believers, and The Hope of Christ – Brandon Smith In this introspective look at the faith journey of movie critic Roger Ebert, Brandon provides counsel on how to engage with those who have walked away from their faith.   What Happened During Holy Week? – Nathan Finn Nathan shares a helpful recap of what happened each Read the full article…

Chris Tomlin, King of the Sing-Along – CNN This is a fascinating look into the incredible career Chris Tomlin has had leading worship. One statistic I found staggering was that in 2012 Tomlin’s songs were played more than 3 million times in churches.   Seven Things to Pray for Your Children – Jon Bloom All parents should want the best—both spiritually and physically—for their children. And praying for them is a good place to start. Here are seven helpful, specific things to pray for your children.   What Is God’s Will for My Life? – David Platt This is one of the most frequently asked questions Read the full article…

Social Media Users: Women Rule – Art Rainer Art shares the results of a recent Pew Research report demonstrating the proliferation of social media among internet users. Not surprisingly, the results reveal that women are more likely to use social media than men.   How to Welcome a New Pastor: 10 Suggestions – Ron Edmondson A couple of weeks ago, I wrote on the five love languages of pastors. Ron continues that theme with ten ways to welcome a new pastor.   Your Brain Is Hooked on Being Right – Judith E. Glaser No one likes to be wrong all the time. We want to be Read the full article…