In my travels over the past twelve years (and fifteen years of campus and pastoral ministry before that), I have had the privilege of talking with countless pastors. Given my obvious interest in pastoral care, I regularly get asked a simple but basic question from people in ministry. It is then followed by an interesting statement: “Should I really try to ‘counsel’ people, or … [Read more...]
Helping those who feel unworthy to take communion
A few weeks ago, a very close friend and I were traveling together. As we discussed a host of subjects, I ventured into more personal territory. I had noticed that he had stopped taking communion at church for the past several months. He is a convinced believer in Jesus, but for some reason didn’t feel right about partaking. Here is how the conversation went: Me … [Read more...]
Much afraid: Help for the worried in your congregation
Any quick search on Google or Amazon will confirm what we all already know: worry is harmful to our bodies. Here are a few physical symptoms associated with worry: Difficulty swallowing Dizziness Dry mouth Fast heartbeat Fatigue Headaches Muscle aches Muscle tension Nausea Rapid breathing Sweating Trembling and twitching You can almost get … [Read more...]