Writing is part of the ministry God has entrusted me with. I blog first to pastor my dear congregation New Life Bible Fellowship through the ministry of words. My hope is that the three additional touchpoints during the week allow those God has entrusted to me as an under-shepherd to grow in their love for God, their wisdom, and to foster unity. I’m grateful for the many who read who aren’t part of New Life. I pray that my writing encourages and strengthens you in your walk and in your heart for your local church.
I felt called to blog for many years before I finally responded to that call. God was merciful in having me wait. I went through a personal and marital crisis in 2013 (you can read about that here) that took me out of pastoral ministry for two years, and I am grateful that God allowed me to navigate my own path of spiritual growth and healing before I began to write more publicly.
In 2017, I began The Bee Hive out of obedience to a call I knew God had on my life, but I wasn’t sure who God would use my writing to shepherd. In my first year of blogging I was encouraged to have 1,767 unique visitors to my website with 3,939 page views. I was glad that my writing was being read and hopeful that it was blessing some. I was concerned, though, that maybe after an acquaintance read the blog a couple times out of curiosity or courtesy, the interest would diminish, and the impact would wane.
That fear was answered in 2018, when I saw the first year’s numbers nearly double, with 3,463 unique visitors and 6,398 page views. By God’s grace, people continue to read the blog. This year 32,000 unique visitors read the blog with over 53,000 unique page views.
On top of that are my faithful subscribers (thank you!) who read my posts via email. In a social media world that suppresses the written word, I’m really grateful for those of you who allow me to engage with you via email. If you haven’t yet subscribed, would you please consider doing so?
Sometimes readers will ask how they can support me. That is a kind question, especially because blogging can be a rather lonely ministry. I would offer four meaningful ways to encourage me as a pastor-writer:
1. Subscribe. Subscribing to my emails lets me know you’re in. You might think that you see my posts on social media, but the likelihood is you only see a small fraction of them. Subscribing helps me connect directly with you. You can subscribe at the top of the home page (don’t miss that you’ll need to hit confirm on the auto-email that is sent to you).
2. Share. It’s so encouraging when you share content with your friends that is meaningful to you.
3. Comment. Your words of affirmation mean so much to me.
4. Support. The elders of New Life Bible Fellowship are generous enough to allow me to write as part of my role as pastor. It is for that reason I do not ask for personal financial support. If you have felt blessed by this ministry of New Life, I would encourage you to consider supporting our church. You may do so here.
Below are my five most read posts of 2023. It is always interesting to me which of my posts resonate with readers. If any of these posts blessed you, would you share it with a friend?
Please know how grateful I am for you. Thank you for your support and for investing your time and energy in reading The Bee Hive.
5. What is good (and bad) about transparency
The rise of reality TV and then social media has radically increased transparency. Team Transparency has rallied around #nofilter selfies and sharing even the frustrating and discouraging parts of life. Team Self-Respect has rallied around calls for decency and the need for some last bastion of privacy. Team Transparency has attacked Team Self-Respect for their filtered and prettied-up lives, for mushy posts about significant others and bragging about their kids. Team Self-Respect has attacked Team Transparency for their self-importance and oversharing about bad bosses and relationships, and shaming their spouses and children.
So, which team is right? Should we be transparent?
If you have breath, you have conflict. And it’s not going to go away.
I wake up first in our home. I get dressed and start the coffee. I wake up Angel and our two teenage kids. The other day, I wake my daughter up with a kiss to the forehead, “good morning, sweetie, it’s time to wake up.” “No, it isn’t!” she responded, pulling her covers over her head. My first whiff of conflict.
She started her statement casually, “I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times before, but…” and then she raised my spirits with a thoughtful encouragement about how my co-lead pastor (Greg) and I complement each other as preachers. And no, I had never heard that encouragement quite that way before.
If I ask you to think of the most encouraging thing shared with you in your high school years, you can probably recall that encouragement. It might have been from a parent, friend, teacher, or youth pastor. Think about the impact that praise had on you. Consider how it shaped your life path. Pretty remarkable, right?
2. How to waste your counseling
I forgot that I knew him. Our pre-marital counselor sat behind his oak desk with a large smile peeking out from under his white mustache. His gentle eyes reassured me. Angel and I slid into the love seat facing him. This, a pre-marital counseling session was my first counseling session. Angel’s, too.
My anxiety grew as I placed where I knew him from. I had taken his daughter to the winter formal a few year’s earlier. My heart rate rose a bit. Unconsciously, I turned on my “make-a-good-impression” mode.
1. The gospel of self-forgiveness
She sits in my office, tears running down her face. Two years ago her mother died in hospice while she lay asleep at home. She was trying to get a decent night’s rest after days spent at her mother’s side. “I just can’t forgive myself. I let her die alone. I knew I should have been there, but I was selfish. I can never forgive myself for that.”
I’ve heard dozens share similar confessions with me. Does this resonate with you? What guilt do you bear? What burdens are you carrying because you can’t forgive yourself?