Category: Uncategorized (Page 2 of 5)

I stand behind pulpits and podiums,
smile through scripture, break bread with the broken,
but behind the suit and dress shirt
my heart is cracked glass.

See, they say, “Pastor, it’s part of the job,”
like grief is a line in my call papers.
Like funerals come with the welcome packet.
Like burying saints is just part of the benefits package.
But they don’t see what I see.
They don’t feel what I feel.

Every casket is a chapter closed too soon.
Every grave is another goodbye
I never wanted to say.
They say “time heals all wounds,”
but ministry just keeps opening new ones.

See, I don’t count members. I carry them.
Not in spreadsheets, but in stories.
Not in numbers, but in names.
Their faces flicker through my prayers
the baby I baptized now gone in her sleep,
the widow who sat in row four, seat one,
always humming harmony when no one else would sing.
The man who fought the bottle,
then cancer, then finally gave in
not because he lost,
but because heaven finally whispered, “Come home.”

I feel their absence like silence in a sanctuary.
Loud. Echoing. Unshakeable.
They were more than attenders.
They were family.
And every loss
feels like I’m losing blood, kin.

They ask, “How do you keep going?”
How do I stand again on Sunday?
How do I preach hope when my own heart’s
buried six feet under with someone I loved?

Because Hebrews 12.
Because Jesus.
Because “for the joy set before Him,
He endured the cross…”

Joy wasn’t comfort.
It wasn’t ease.
It was resurrection on the other side of grief.
It was reunion beyond the tomb.
It was us, you and me,
being with Him forever.
That was His joy.
And now, that’s mine too.

So I preach through the pain.
I worship through the weeping.
Because there’s joy at the end of this night.
Because the tomb still stands empty.
Because Jesus still calls them by name
and one day, I’ll hear those names again.

They’ll rise.
We’ll laugh.
No more sermons, no more tears.
Just the great reunion,
and the final amen.

Until then,
I endure.

There’s something sacred about those beloved colors of red, white, and blue. They’re more than just a color scheme for a t-shirt or those skirts around floats for a parade. They tell a story. They tell our story whether we like it or not. Every thread of that flag carries the weight of history and the hope of tomorrow. The American flag isn’t just fabric. It’s a symbol of everything we’ve fought for, everything we still believe in, and everything we pray our children will carry forward.

Red stands for the blood. Not just blood spilled, but blood given. Willingly. Courageously. From the hills of Valley Forge to the deserts of the Middle East, brave men and women have laid down their lives so this flag could wave high and free. Red reminds us that freedom has never been free. It’s been paid for with dog tags, folded flags, and silent salutes.

But red also represents valor and bravery. It symbolizes the kind of courage it takes to stand when others sit, to speak truth when it costs you, to fight for what’s right even when it’s not popular. When I see that red, I see generations of my family who stepped up to serve. I see the cost. And I honor it.

White stands for victory. Not perfection, not prideful boasting, but the hard-won triumph of liberty over tyranny. It reminds us that light still conquers darkness. That hope still overcomes fear. That this nation, for all its struggles, has always found a way to rise.

And more deeply, white symbolizes purity and innocence. These are the ideals at the core of our founding. The belief that people should be free. That every human life has value. That government exists to protect, not control. It’s not a denial of our flaws, but a declaration of what we aspire to be. It’s a challenge to live up to the principles we were founded on. Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness within a orderly system.

Blue reminds us of the skies that shelter us and the seas that protect us. It’s the color of depth and endurance. It stands for every watchful eye, every long night, every man, woman, and child who stands with unshakable resolve. Blue is the quiet strength behind our freedom.

It signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. These three traits we desperately need today. Vigilance, to guard our freedoms and resist the slow creep of apathy or rejection. Perseverance, to keep pressing forward when the road gets hard. Justice, to ensure liberty isn’t just for some, but for all. Blue is the backbone of a republic that still believes in right and wrong, and isn’t afraid to defend it.

And then there are the Stars and Stripes.

The stripes tell our story. Thirteen bold colonies that stood together, now part of a union that has endured through civil war, world wars, and cultural change. They stretch across the fabric like the timeline of a nation built on grit and grace.

The stars shine with promise. They are the fifty sovereign states, united not by sameness, but by shared belief. They represent our present and our future. They are a reminder that we are stronger together, even when we don’t always agree.

The flag is not a decoration. It’s a declaration. It says we remember. It says we’re still proud. And it says we still believe in liberty, still value sacrifice, and still love this land we call home.

So the next time you see Old Glory waving in the wind, whether it’s outside a home, on a military base, folded at a gravesite, or lifted high at a small-town parade remember what those colors mean.

They are not about a political party. They are not trendy. They are timeless.

Red for the blood, valor, and bravery.
White for the victory, purity, and innocence.
Blue for the sky, and for vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
Stars for our unity.
Stripes for our legacy.

This flag still speaks.

The only question is are we still listening.

As I think about the history of the church body that has been my home for nearly 49 years and the District where my ministry has centered, I was challenged to consider what could be in the Ohio District. Here is a quick look ahead and what is possible if our movement is lead by faith.

For generations, the Ohio District LCMS has been a vibrant Gospel presence across Ohio, northern Kentucky, and West Virginia. Our congregations have been rooted in Scripture, faithful to the Lutheran Confessions, and committed to raising up generations shaped by grace and sent to serve.

But in recent years, a different narrative has crept into institutional church bodies across America, including right here in the Ohio District. It’s been a season marked by plateau, fragmentation, and uncertainty. Mission engagement has slowed. Even within our own district we’ve wrestled with confusion over direction, fatigue, and transitions in leadership. Staff who once carried the vision have carried the burdens of leadership instead of its joys.

Yet in this moment, I believe God is doing what He has always done: calling His people to rise, to return, and to rebuild.

The Future is a Movement — Not a Memory

I sense the Spirit stirring. Congregations are asking bold questions. Leaders are longing for connection. Communities are ready for a church that shows up with truth and love. It’s not a time to simply recover what was. It’s time to press toward what could be.

To make this super personal to me, here are three intentional shifts that must happen to move the needle in the Ohio District.

A vision rooted in three bold movements:

1. Church Planting That Sparks New Life
   • Goal: Launch 12 new LCMS congregations by 2032.
   • We need to prioritize high-growth areas, underserved populations, and innovative models that bring Word and Sacrament ministry into new neighborhoods. We must invest in assessment, coaching, and partnerships to support church planters from call to community.
2. Church Revitalization That Honors the Past and Fuels the Future
   • Goal: Actively revitalize 25 existing congregations through coaching, resource-sharing, and collaborative ministry models.
   • Many of our churches carry deep roots but need fresh vision. Through a new revitalization initiative, we’ll walk alongside pastors and lay leaders to reignite mission, renew worship, and reconnect with their communities.
3. Lutheran Schools That Thrive
   • Goal: Grow and strengthen 15 Lutheran schools and early childhood centers into centers of excellence in both faith formation and academic development.
   • We believe our schools are mission outposts and discipleship hubs. We’ll invest in leadership development, teacher support, and innovative models that extend the reach of Lutheran education into the next generation.

Key Staffing to Support the Vision

To fuel this movement, we must build a team equipped for the work ahead. We will seek:

• A full-time Mission Executive (or equivalent) who will champion church planting, guide revitalization efforts, and equip congregations to live on mission.
• A Director of Lutheran Schools who will strengthen school leadership, foster collaboration across campuses, and support missional excellence in education.

This is more than strategy — it’s stewardship. These roles will ensure that mission is not just a department but a culture that touches every church, school, and leader across the district.

A Culture of Care and Leadership

But growth is not just about programs. It’s about people.

We are committed to restoring health and unity within the district office and across our Tri-state region. Our staff will be a team marked by grace, clear communication, and deep trust. We will invest in one another through monthly meetings and an annual staff retreat, because a healthy team creates healthy churches. And we will raise up leaders — pastoral and lay, young and seasoned — who listen, serve, and boldly lead.

It’s time that we reclaim our identity: not as a district in decline, but a network on mission. Not isolated churches, but a Gospel movement connected by faith, love, and shared purpose.

The fields are ripe. The workers are gathering. The Spirit is moving.

Today is Holy Saturday—the day between heartbreak and hope. The sanctuary stands quiet. The week has been long. Holy Week always carries its own weight, but this year, it feels heavier. Maybe it’s the rain tapping gently on the windows, or maybe it’s the fire that startled our rhythm and left its mark—small but unsettling. Smoke lingers longer than flames, and so does disruption.

We’re grateful the damage was minimal. The building still stands. The cross is still there. But the unexpected has a way of rattling even the strongest faith. This week we’ve walked through the betrayal, the cross, the silence—and we’ve carried more than just the usual Holy Week weariness. We’ve carried the stress of plans interrupted, the ache of uncertainty, the fatigue that comes from trying to hold it all together.

And now we wait.

Holy Saturday is not a day of action. It’s not loud. It doesn’t clamor for our attention. It simply invites us to sit with the sorrow of Friday and the promise of Sunday. It is the space in-between, the breath held tight before the sigh of resurrection.

The rain outside feels fitting. It slows us down. It quiets the soul. And maybe that’s what we need—to be still for just a moment, to remember that even in the ashes, God is preparing something new. The tomb may be sealed, but the stone soon will be moved. We may feel stuck in the silence, but resurrection is already stirring beneath the surface.

So today, let the rain fall. Let the silence speak. Let the ashes remind you that God is never finished—not with churches, not with people, not with you.

Sunday is coming. And with it, the hope that rises—not just from the ground, but from the very heart of God.

It should be no secret. Ministry can wreck you. Spiritually. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. I work with a lot of pastors and the comments are like a chorus that’s being sung over and over by so many.

Wayne Cordeiro’s Leading on Empty is not just another leadership book. It’s a wake-up call for every leader who’s ever wondered if they can keep going… and for those who haven’t realized yet that they’re dangerously close to the edge.

I just finished reading it, and I’m still sitting in the weight of it all. This isn’t theory. This is the honest, gritty story of a pastor who hit the wall—hard—and the way God met him in the middle of his burnout. If you’re leading in ministry, especially in the church, and you haven’t read this book yet, stop everything. Read it. Then read it again. Your soul is too valuable to ignore. If you’re not in ministry, this is a great window into the daily battle that many pastors and ministry leaders face.

Burnout Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s a Battle.

Cordeiro, founding pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, was leading one of the fastest-growing churches in America. From the outside, it looked like success. But inside, he was depleted. Exhausted. Numb. He describes waking up one morning and realizing, “I had nothing left to give.” The scary part? He is by no means the exception—he’s the mirror for many in ministry leadership positions.

Pastors, church staff, ministry leaders—how many of us are sprinting on fumes? We’re busy preaching grace but living like it doesn’t apply to us. We tell others to rest in Christ while wearing our exhaustion like a badge of honor. That disconnect is not only dangerous; it’s deadly.

Cordeiro pulls no punches. He names the lie that so many have come to believe: that the church can’t survive without us. He calls out the internal pressure to do more, be more, give more, until there’s nothing left. And then he gives us a better way—one rooted not in striving, but in sustainability.

Key Takeaways (That Might Just Save Your Life)

1. You can’t give what you don’t have. Ministry flows from overflow, not obligation. If your cup is dry, what are you pouring out?
2. Your soul has limits. Cordeiro introduces the idea of a “personal sustainability plan.” It’s not selfish; it’s stewardship. Build your life with regular rhythms of rest, exercise, solitude, and joy.
3. Rediscover your life-giving zone. Not everything you do fuels you. Learn the difference between what drains you and what feeds your soul—then adjust accordingly.
4. Sabbath is not optional. It’s not legalism; it’s life. Cordeiro learned (the hard way) that even Jesus rested—and we’re not stronger than Him. If we’re not finding regular rhythms of intentional and total rest, we will hit the wall and for many that crash is something they can’t come back from at all.
5. You’re not alone. Perhaps the most healing part of the book is knowing you’re not crazy, weak, or faithless. You’re human. And God meets us there.

From Empty to Alive

This book doesn’t just describe the problem; it models the path to restoration. Cordeiro talks about stepping away, going to a monastery, walking by a lake, journaling, and letting God speak into the silence. The book itself becomes a quiet retreat—an invitation back to the God who called you in the first place.

Cordeiro’s book should challenged us. Convicted us. Comforted us. But more than that, it invite us to live and lead differently—to stop pretending that burnout is just part of the calling.

Final Word to Fellow Leaders

We don’t need more heroes in ministry. We need more healthy leaders. Leaders who know how to say no. Leaders who lead from rest, not adrenaline. Leaders who take care of their souls before they try to save someone else’s.

Don’t measure yourself by what someone else can do. We don’t all run at the same speed or with the same capacity. You need to be self aware.

If you’re running on empty, this is not the end. It might just be the beginning of something better. God doesn’t need you burned out. He wants you whole.

Take the time. Do the work. Read the book. Let God refill what’s been running dry.

When was the last time you just stopped? Not a quick social media break or a mindless TV binge, but a full-on pause? If you’re struggling to remember, you’re not alone! if life is a race, then most of us are sprinting through it without ever catching our breath. But here’s the kicker—if you don’t hit pause, life or your health will eventually hit you. And trust me, it’s not going to be pretty!

The Hustle Myth

We’ve been sold this ridiculous idea that productivity equals worth. Our hustle culture has brainwashed us into believing that slowing down is equal to weakness. We wear busyness like a badge of honor, showing off our exhaustion like it’s some kind of medal. Spoiler alert: It’s not. The constant grind will not make you superhuman. It will make you miserable.

You see, the hustle myth feeds our egos, but it starves our souls. It tricks us into thinking that if we just work hard enough, do enough, achieve enough, then we’ll find real happiness. But where’s the joy in rushing through life like you’re trying to outrun a pack of coyotes? At some point, you need to stop and ask yourself—what the heck is the point? Why are you running?

Your Emotional Health is Begging for a Break

Your emotional health isn’t just something nice to have. It’s something essential to protect. We spend so much time ignoring the warning signs: anxiety that’s a constant hum in the background, irritability that turns us into snapping turtles with fangs like Dracula, and an underlying sense of dread that never seems to go away. These are some of the alarm bells, friends, and for many of us they’re getting louder.

When was the last time you checked in with yourself emotionally? Do you even remember what it feels like to be at peace? Probably not, because you’ve been too busy filling every waking moment with distractions! How do I know? Because that’s me too. But your emotions, our emotions, don’t just disappear. They pile up, and eventually, they’ll demand your attention—usually in the form of a breakdown of some sort.

You can avoid that breakdown by taking control now. That means hitting pause, sitting with your emotions, and actually dealing with them. It’s not easy. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s necessary. Because if you don’t, you’ll be dragging that emotional baggage through life like a dead body.

Mental Health is Not a Luxury

But it’s not just emotional health! Your mental health isn’t a luxury either. It’s not something you can just shove to the side while you focus on “more important” things. There is nothing more important than your mental well-being. Full stop.

The problem is, we often treat our minds like a computer that can keep running as long as we don’t reboot it. We shove more and more into it, thinking it can handle everything without crashing. News flash: your brain isn’t a machine, and burnout is real. And once you’re burned out, it’s not easy to bounce back.

Think of it this way—if you’re running on fumes mentally, everything else in your life is going to suffer. Your relationships, your work, your faith—they’ll all start crumbling because you didn’t take the time to pause, reflect, and recharge. Mental health isn’t something you can “deal with later.” Later will be too late.

Perfect the Pause

So, how do you hit pause? It’s simpler than you think, but it requires intentionality. Start by carving out time every day—yes, every day—to stop. I’m not talking about filling your pause with another activity like scrolling through social media or watching TV. I mean really pause.

Sit in silence. Pray. Breathe. Reflect. Do something that feeds you. It doesn’t have to be for hours, but it does have to be consistent. Use this time to reconnect with yourself, with God, and with what truly matters. Because if you don’t, life will steamroll you, and all the busyness in the world won’t save you from burnout.

The harsh reality is that no one is going to give you permission to hit pause. You’re going to have to claim it for yourself. The world will always demand more from you, but you don’t have to give in. You’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to take care of yourself.

So stop waiting for the right time or the perfect conditions because that will never happen. The time to pause is now. Take a break before life breaks you. You owe it to yourself, and trust me, you’ll be better for it.

In today’s rapidly changing world, the concept of missional living has never been more relevant or necessary. At its core, missional living is about embodying the love and teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. This is done through a focus on serving others. It’s not just about attending church on Sundays; it’s about living out our faith every day, wherever we are.

The Foundation

The foundation of missional living is love—love for God and love for neighbors. Jesus himself emphasized the importance of love when He said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself – Matthew 22:37-39.

This love goes beyond mere words; it requires action. It calls us to step out of our comfort zones, to reach out to those in need, and to make a tangible difference in our communities. When we truly love God and our neighbors, our lives become a living testimony of God’s love and grace.

Don’t overthink this whole love idea. It can be as simple as sitting with a person who’s hurting, feeding the hungry, clothing the homeless, cooking a meal for a set of new parents in the neighborhood. Loving is way easier than you think!

Living with Purpose and Intentionality

Missional living is also about living with purpose and intentionality. It’s about being intentional in our interactions, seeking opportunities to share the gospel, and making disciples. It’s about recognizing that every encounter, every conversation, and every act of kindness can be an opportunity to reflect God’s love and point others to Him.

Living missionally means being attuned to the needs of those around us and responding with compassion and grace. It means being present in our communities, listening to people’s stories, and offering hope and encouragement where it’s needed most.

The goal of missional living is not to get them in the door of the church. The goal is to live for Jesus that those around you might see His love for them in you.

Transformation

One of the most powerful aspects of missional living is its potential for community transformation. When individuals come together with a shared vision and purpose, incredible things can happen. Communities can be transformed, lives can be changed, and the kingdom of God will be advanced.

Missional living invites us to be a part of something greater than ourselves—to join hands with others and work towards a common goal. It’s about building bridges, breaking down barriers, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and loved.

Recently we did this by simply bringing a meal to some storm victims in our community. It wasnt’ anything super extravagant. We placed an order for the food. We gathered volunteers and drove over to the neighborhood. Then we set up and served anyone and everyone who came to eat. We loved them and left them changed by that love.

Enduring

Living on mission isn’t always easy. It requires courage, persistence, and a willingness to embrace the journey, with all its ups and downs. It means we have to endure! There will be challenges along the way, but there will also be moments of joy, growth, and transformation.

As people on mission, we are called to lead by example, to inspire others to join us on this incredible journey of faith. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, shining His light in a world that desperately needs it.

The heart of missional living lies in our love for God and our neighbor, our commitment to living with purpose and intentionality, and our passion for transformation. It’s about embracing the call to love, serve, and make disciples, wherever God leads us.

As we continue to walk this path of missional living, may we be reminded of Jesus’ words: “Going therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Where will His mission take you this week?