Tim Keller recently released a book simply titled "Preaching." I am reading it with a friend right now who is using what he has been learning from our times together in his ministry. I have been amazed at how timely the readings have been for myself in my preaching. There are a couple of chapters that are downright moving. I couldn't recommend it any higher for someone who teaches or preaches on a regular basis. It will move a person's ministry beyond the dribble of the typical stuff that goes on. Preach the Word!

I am walking with 2 couples through the process of preparing for marriage. One is a young couple just getting started in life. The other is an older couple with several failed marriages behind them. It is an honor to share this moment of life with these folks.
A tool that has become a standard in my toolbox is Meaningful Relationships which has a pre-marriage component. It is excellent and I recommend it highly. It is a web based 4 session training time that is very practical. I set these couples off on their own to work through the session and then meet them to discuss their experience and move ahead with some basic Bible teachings on marriage. These things are priceless!

True Spirituality is a book by Francis Schaeffer. He is one of my heroes. This book shares the insights about the Christian faith that Schaeffer came to through a process of re-evaluating the faith during a spiritual crisis. 
I have the pleasure of reading this with a handful of men on Friday mornings. This has been rich time of looking into Schaeffer's moment to learn what he learned and try to imagine how to translate his experiences to our own. This closed group will run through the end of January most likely.

And I will lead the blind
    in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
    I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
    the rough places into level ground. (Isa 42:16)

​This moment in life is marked by change. I have felt a bit like a blind person stumbling along on a path that I do not know. Yet at the same time I have been completely convinced that the darkness is not dark to Him. 
I stepped away from 5 years of church planting with River Oaks Community Church. It was made clear to me that my time was done. Where I have no doubt about my pastoral gifts and calling, I am freshly aware of my lack of leadership. For that reason I had to stop trying to lead a church family that I was not gifted to lead.
So, I pulled together those things I feel most called to do and am focusing in a new way on my personal ministry. I am starting work with The FOCUS Group in a support role, picking up where I had started a few years ago. But in my off time, I am still serving God. This website helps me keep organized.
​Cheers!