My Courses

  • 34 Ways to Encourage Your Minister

      October is “Minister Appreciation Month” and over the next few weeks I would like to share a few posts with you regarding minister and encouraging your minister. Many times, it is difficult to understand ministry because of the aspects of ministry which are cannot be shared and without walking in a ministers shoes. Let…

  • VBS is Coming! (VBS Plans Ahead)

    I know, it is only September, but very soon Vacation Bible School will be upon a majority of churches. I publish this article every year and it yields tremendous results because everyone has a connection to Vacation Bible School (VBS) and everyone wants VBS to be a successful part of the congregation. From my experience,…

  • Possible Signs of Marriage Problems

    Got a few minutes? If so, take this quick quiz to see if your marriage might be in trouble. While the age of busyness and technology is upon us, sometimes we forget to communicate in the simplest ways with your spouse. As people have come to me over the years for marriage coaching, I notice…

  • Free Weekly Newsletter

      Tomorrow is the re-launch of the newly redesigned Preacher’s Pen Newsletter! This free email newsletter will arrive in your inbox each Tuesday filled with information to motivate you in your spiritual walk. There will be articles, links, pictures, quotes and much more. The purpose of the newsletter is to strengthen others in Christ every…

  • Five MUST NEEDS of Congregational Leadership

        As the leadership speaker and guru John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” While John Maxwell usually says this to a business crowd, the concept also applies to a congregation. Consider for a moment the congregation who hires a new minister and the work, as well as the membership, takes off…

  • Robin Williams, Jokes and Depression (Church Edition)

    Last night, the comedian side of me was tearful. A man whose antics, voices and expressions brought my home a thousand laughs was suddenly gone at the young age of 63. He had just celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago and now, he is gone. He brought our family laughs in Mork and Mindy,…

  • The Hummingbird Morning

    This morning as I read the words of Proverbs 2 and 3 and Ecclesiastes 1, the sound of the rain falling on the earth provided gentle background noise as the words of God filled my mind. The sound of the rain was perfect – constant drops falling on the house, the tree and the ground.…

  • Some of My Favorite Quotes on Religion

    What is a Quote? – A quote is nothing more than a short thought by man speaking a truth or causing one to think more deeply than he has before. As some of you may know, I am a quote addict. I have a journal and an Evernote file full of quotes on religion, business,…

  • A Lasting Impression

    As we turned off the paved road, the sign clearly marked the way and the gravel road told us we were getting closer. With the windows down, the anticipation grew as the sound of the car tires rolling over gravel filled the air. We knew we were close. West Virginia Christian Youth Camp holds a…

  • Minister Seeking a Congregation

    Opening up the pages of the newest publication among the churches of Christ, I always flip to the back to read the newest listing for congregations seeking a minister. As I read through each one, I am intrigued and at the same time, find it comical due to the wide variety of listings. “…at least…