Category Archives: Mark’s Blog

Modular Work-life

Posted on March 1, 2011 by admin

Well, it finally happened: I am now working three part-time jobs all at the same time. I call this my modular work-life. I work for the Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Church as a consultant for Intentional Interim Ministry. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, My Personal Journey | Comments Off on Modular Work-life

Negative Pleasure

Posted on March 1, 2011 by admin

I learned about this concept from my wife. She read an article that advocated paying attention to negative pleasures. “Negative Pleasures” are not about enjoying bad things; but rather, appreciating the bad things one is not experiencing. For instance, have … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, My Personal Journey | Comments Off on Negative Pleasure

Team Work and Practicalities

Posted on March 1, 2011 by admin

Today I am reading Called to Reach: Equipping Cross-Cultural Disciplers by William R. Yount & Mike Barnett. This is the text for the class I am helping to teach at New Hope Christian College. “Teaching Teams” is a major theme … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible and Theology, Mark's Blog, Mark's Currently Reading, My Personal Journey | Comments Off on Team Work and Practicalities

Suffering Pastors

Posted on February 18, 2011 by admin

We do not like to suffer, usually we do not like to hear about other people’s suffering; yet it is in suffering that we grow spiritually and it is through shared suffering that we grow community. Out of Ur blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible and Theology, Mark's Blog, Pastoral Ministry | Comments Off on Suffering Pastors

Holy Planning

Posted on February 17, 2011 by admin

If you ever wondered how to do church planning in a spiritual manner, I have a book for you. Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice by Gil Rendle and Alice Mann doesn’t try to separate business approaches and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, Mark's Currently Reading, Pastoral Ministry | Comments Off on Holy Planning

Rotary Phone Ministry in an iPhone World

Posted on February 15, 2011 by admin

Humans have an unlimited ability to hold opposite mentalities at the same time. I enjoy making fun of the inconsistencies of others, and I really laugh when someone points out my own inconsistencies. But have you noticed that church people … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, Pastoral Ministry | Comments Off on Rotary Phone Ministry in an iPhone World

Politics, Patriot, and Planning

Posted on February 8, 2011 by admin

I’m reading some of George W. Bush’s Decision Points. It seems that people either love W. or hate him. Personally, I find him likable as a person, even though he made many decisions that I disagreed with. Bush is no … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, Mark's Currently Reading | Comments Off on Politics, Patriot, and Planning

More Good News

Posted on February 6, 2011 by admin

Scot McKnight just posted more good news for the church: it seems that teens tend to look to their relatives as their role models. We often think we need to young entertainers to gain the ear of young people. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, Pastoral Ministry | Comments Off on More Good News

Pain, Pain, Go Away

Posted on February 3, 2011 by admin

This is one of those when I feel I’d be doing much better without a body. I have tennis elbow that incapacitates my right arm. Today I went to the chiropractor because I cannot stand up long enough to walk … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible and Theology, Mark's Blog, My Personal Journey | Comments Off on Pain, Pain, Go Away

Let’s not panic about the “spiritual but not religious”

Posted on January 31, 2011 by admin

I just read this great article in which Larry Peers urges us to resist the urge to hit the  panic button everytime someone tells us that they are “spiritual, but not religious.” These are the people who tell us that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark's Blog, Mark's Currently Reading, Pastoral Ministry | Comments Off on Let’s not panic about the “spiritual but not religious”