by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 30, 2012 | Ministry Leadership
In case you haven’t already noticed, December is a busy month. Whether or not you are a pastor, your schedule is surely more filled this month than is comfortable. As a pastor, December is literally the most challenging month of the year for me. There are three...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 28, 2012 | Media/Resources, Ministry Leadership
If you are in Christian ministry and are looking for a refreshing (yet convicting and challenging) book—and especially if you are a senior pastor—I suggest Replenish by Lance Witt. When I read this book on my kindle recently, I had eighty-two highlights that filled...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 21, 2012 | Christian Life
Psalm 105 is rich with practical admonitions for Thanksgiving. But two in particular have captured my attention this year: “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.”—Psalm 105:2 Sing to Him I’m planning to preach this Sunday from Luke 1...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 17, 2012 | Christian Life
Patience has never been one of my natural virtues. My preferred mode of operation is to set my eyes on a goal and start moving that direction—as quickly as possible. In part, I believe this drive in the hearts of leaders is a God-given gift. It keeps us challenged,...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 14, 2012 | Christian Life
There’s nothing like a hospital room to condense your thoughts into the truly important. Something about the tubes, monitors, hoses, gloves, gowns, and even the smell all serve to rivet your mind on the eternal. During a recent visit to a hospital bedside, I read...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 10, 2012 | Ministry Leadership
As the results of the recent election became clear, I became concerned, not because of party or political issues, but for spiritual reasons. Those who elected our nation’s leaders reflect the hearts of our nation’s citizens. When a political party jeers at the name of...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 8, 2012 | Ministry Leadership
During a particularly pressing season of ministry, Jesus invited His disciples, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). I have not always executed this command well, and at times I have even felt guilty when I pulled away from my...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 7, 2012 | Media/Resources
A post-Christian culture questions everything related to Scripture, and the church certainly hasn’t escaped its scrutiny—or its dismissal. Some claim that the church was man’s idea. Others suggest that it has deviated so far from the first century that it is no longer...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 6, 2012 | Ministry Leadership
You can learn more about a man in ten minutes of basketball than in ten hours of interviewing. As I spoke this morning to our West Coast Baptist men’s basketball team, I shared with them a lesson about teamwork and character, both on and off the court. The local...
by Dr. Paul Chappell | Nov 3, 2012 | Christian Life, Current Events
It is my conviction that Americans should exercise their right to vote. And it is especially my conviction that American Christians should vote for the candidate whom will most uphold the biblical values of our nation. Why? Because voting is a patriotic privilege—and...