Tag: pastor

  • Pastor as Vocation

    Confession: I do as much or more pastoral ministry now than I did when I worked in a church. That is no knock on my friends in full-time vocational ministry. It is more an affirmation for the myriad of people I know who have stepped out (or been pushed out) of their ministry job. Leaving…

  • Best of 2008

    Best of 2008

    Note: I’m on vacation this week. My family has a rule for daddy– It’s not a vacation if daddy brings a computer. Each day this week I’m highlighting my favorite post from the adammclane.com archives. These are oldies but goodies. “Who Are You Anyway?” Confession #1: I’ve gotten wrapped up in being called a leader.…

  • Lessons from the bench

    For the last two years I’ve been riding the pine at church. This time has taught me a lot about what it means to be in church leadership. From age 16 until 31 I had always aspired to be an up front leader at church. I like being visible. I love speaking, teaching, and preaching.…

  • The Peak of the Christian Life

    Question One: What is the chief end of man? Answer One: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. – Westminster Shorter Catechism If you were to ask most preachers the question, “Practically speaking, what does the peak of the Christian life look like?” most of them would give an answer…

  • Podcasts for Preachers

    Since April, I’ve been a regular commuter using San Diego’s excellent public transit system. Essentially, it takes me an hour to get to work and I use this as me time. While walking, riding my bike, standing on the platform, or riding the trolley I am typically listening to music or podcasts. My weekly repertoire…

  • What to Say When the Youth Pastor Leaves

    It’s June. Professional youth ministries most dangerous month. I’ve served in three churches and all the hiring, firing, quitting, and retiring with the youth ministry seems to happen in June. It’s a wicked combination of the end of the school year and for a lot of churches, the end of the budget year. I could…

  • Getting Started in Investing, part one

    I’d like to let my youth ministry friends in on a dirty little secret. While pay has dramatically improved for youth workers in the past two decades the most consistent reason people leave youth ministry once they reach their mid 30s and above is mounting financial pressure. In other words, there are some glass ceilings…

  • A Dare for Pastors

    I am daring you and your staff to take this challenge. I promise you it isn’t as dangerous as it sounds. In fact, I think it may just fundamentally change the way you interact with the people in your ministry. Here’s the dare. Lock every staff person out of your church building for a work…

  • 3 Things I Don’t Want to Hear From a Pastor…. EVER!

    Now that I’m a regular Joe sitting in the pew on Sunday morning, I’ve gotten a chance to discover some things that are awkward for the audience to hear. In short, I don’t think pastors should say these things… EVER! Talk about your sex life. How gross is it to hear any 40 something year…

  • Are you fake around your pastor?

    Check out this quote. Dear God, I was a pastor for 23 years. It killed me. I am not sure I was every called to it. As you know, the overwhelming numbness finally caved in all around me. Now, I am on the outside of the church looking in and I don’t like what I…