New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.
Tear Down the High Places
The Bible talks about the “high places” throughout Israel’s monarchical history. These were locations outside of the Jerusalem Temple where Israelites went to offer sacrifices and worship, often intermingling Canaanite idolatry with the worship of the Lord. They were originally built by Solomon during his latter reign, as he grew more and more pluralistic.
Can I Trust The Bible? 5 Great Resources on The Reliability of Scripture
Several years ago, I went through a spiritually challenging phase of doubt. I started pulling on different threads and felt like a lot of my theology was becoming undone. During what is now commonly called “deconstruction,” I was influenced by many authors and theologians who questioned the veracity of Scripture.
I’m Not Rich - Should I Still Plan to Give to a BFNE Endowment Fund through My Estate?
For several years my wife served as the librarian for the Calef Memorial Library in Washington, Vermont. This small library in the middle of the village had one room on the main floor and two small rooms in the basement. It was only open three days a week, and then only for a half day each day. It was a small library, which is typical across Vermont. But it was an important part of the community. It was about more than books, it was also a community gathering place, especially in the winter when travel to other larger libraries was not always realistic. For many reasons, it was the only library many people in the village ever visited.
Gaining Altitude: WMU Celebrates 135 Years of SBC Missions
According to an insect identification database, 647 types of bugs and insects are found in Alabama. Some downright scare me. I looked at images of each until I located the entry most resembling the flying insect I watched from a chair on my back deck. I believe it was a common whitetail skimmer dragonfly that captured my attention. I can’t be totally sure since there are 5,000 species of dragonflies. I’m comfortable with that guess since the common whitetail is prevalent in North America.
Why Revitalizing Historic Churches Is Important
Historic churches dot the New England landscape. In fact, there are few pictures more iconic “New England” than a historic church with its grand steeple raising up toward heaven. In those old buildings powerful Gospel sermons were preached by famous preachers like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and D. L. Moody. Equally powerful sermons were also preached in those pulpits by faithful ministers whose names no one remembers, but whose impact continues to be felt in New England until this very day.
Clearing the Stage
So I don’t normally do this. Just write. For the sake of getting an idea out of my head. But I just got out of an awesome Bible study with some friends (over video chat, of course), and I just went down this worship song rabbit hole. And I just had to write down some things. Then I thought it would be worth sharing.
The Desire Path
The woods near my parent’s house used to be just a forest, an undisturbed wilderness. There was no way through, until my family and neighbors created a “desire path,” a simple course that eventually became something distinct and walkable, the chosen route. Years later, our local land trust would put up trail markers, signs, and maps, officially deeming it a trail, and a beloved one at that.
The Upcoming Pastor Shortage (And What Can Be Done)
By now, you have probably heard about the upcoming crisis of pastoral vacancies. The average age of pastors has skyrocketed, in statistical terms, in a drastically short time. According to an extensive Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey, “In the last two decades the median age of the religious leader rose from 50 in 2000 to 57 in 2020.” This is a trajectory that has been trackable for some time. While many factors contribute to this, the bottom line is younger clergy are not replacing aging and retiring clergy.
One: The Most Important Number?
In my previous blog post, I discussed the great importance Scripture places on numbers, especially the numbers of people who place their faith in Christ. In recent years, I have heard many objections to putting value on numbers in ministry. One of the most common objections is the idea that God really cares about the one – the individual.
Spring Cleaning
Invasion. It was what described the state of our apartment a few weeks ago. Moths were slowly overtaking our living space until we finally found the source of the problem—a bag of forgotten dates in the corner of our kitchen. Let’s just say the bag was moving.
When the Fight Calls, Part II: Weapons for Warfare
In the last article, we spoke about the reality of spiritual warfare in our lives as followers of Christ. We saw that even as we experience attacks, we fight from a place of victory because of Jesus’ victory over death, sin, and Satan.
Numbers in Ministry: Necessary or Worldly?
The church is supposed to be making more disciples. We are being used by God to bring in the harvest, so that for all eternity there will be that multitude before the throne of God. The mission God has given us is about numbers, so we need to be guided by Scripture into a nuanced use of numbers in our ministries.
Leading Worship through Grief
Before the pandemic, early in 2019, during a Saturday setup and rehearsal for our Sunday worship gatherings, I received news that one of my brother’s best friends had to be rushed to the hospital. He was thirty-six, fit, in the prime of his life, a father, and a strong male presence in his church. Within two hours, he had died and gone to be with the Lord.
How to Preach About Giving
Throughout Greater Boston, and across New England, I've had the opportunity to meet many pastors and visit their churches. And I've noticed what I consider to be a detrimental trend: quite a few pastors in New England are very reluctant to preach about giving.
Be a New England Missionary
I am a New Englander, through and through. Born and raised in Massachusetts, I love to travel, but there is nothing like coming home to the Atlantic Ocean, the colonial homes lining the streets, and the four seasons. New England is not only my home, but also a ripe mission field. Here are a few things to keep in mind about New England.
Winning Moves to Connect with Guests
One of my favorite games to play with my grandsons is Connect 4. I love it because every time we play, they win! Well, I realized when preparing for a recent trivia game, that if you go first in Connect 4, you have a strong chance of winning 100% of the time. I always love to see the look on their faces when they beat me!
The Generational Cycle of Sin, Judgment, Repentance, and Rescue
“Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” Very familiar words to those who spend time in God’s Word. These words begin a cycle that has been repeated from the beginning of God’s creation. We see it in the Garden of Eden and we see it in our lives today. The cycle has four parts and has repeated for generations.
Freedom from Shame
I recently started a new Bible study that encouraged me to write out a “mind map” of my thoughts during the course of a day. After some reflection, I was surprised to discover what was at the root: Shame.
When A Pastor Should Not Leave His Church
Pastoral transitions happen. Life happens, and sometimes pastors need to move on. If not, in time our mortality will force a transition! These transitions can be extremely difficult for a pastor, his family, and for the church body. Sometimes leaving is for the better, but too often this kind of transition leaves a wake of broken hearts and missed opportunities.
Why Christ’s Sacrifice Matters Even to Nonbelievers
The story is told of a minister who had two little children. His youngest daughter asked him one Sunday after church why he always said a prayer right before he preached. Impressed that his daughter was actually paying attention to what was going on in the service, he solemnly told her that he always prayed before the sermon to ask God to bless the sermon and make it both inspiring and encouraging to the audience. After a moment of silence, the little girl spoke up again. She said, “Daddy, why doesn’t God ever answer that prayer?”