Posts by Steve Harling
What’s that in Your Hand?
And the LORD God said: “What’s that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2) God has entrusted each of us with valuable things that he intends for us to use for the good of his kingdom and the fulfillment of his purpose. What kinds of things? Special skills and abilities Unique perspectives and understandings Compelling passions and…
Read MoreLeading in Divisive Times: 5 Ways to Stay Above the Fray
How do we spiritually shepherd our people at a time when the Body of Christ is so polarized, fragmented, and testy? I’ve been asking myself that question every day for months. If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, you’ve been asking yourself that question as well. Do we come out with fists swinging, calling it…
Read MoreMaking Sense of It All
How are we to make sense of what’s going on in Washington and in our churches right now? We’re so very polarized. Where’s the truth? Who are we supposed to believe? It seems that our friends and neighbors are living in alternate realities. Here are 7 personal convictions that have helped me as I’ve leaned…
Read MoreFOLLOWERS OF JESUS? Really?
* When insulted, he did not insult. * When assaulted, he did not assault. * He stubbornly refused to repay evil with evil. * He turned the other cheek and walked the extra mile. * He felt no need to boast, gloat, flaunt or fight for his rights. * He befriended his enemies and blessed…
Read MoreThe Gate of the Year
As I was reading through my journal from 2020, I was reminded about a poem that a good friend and fellow pastor had shared with me early in the year (pre-COVID). The poem is called “The Gate of the Year” and was authored by a young British lady named Minnie Louise Haskins. Shortly after my…
Read MoreHappy New Year!
The New Year is upon us! If you’re like me, you’ve been thinking and dreaming about what God has for you and your ministry in 2021. Earlier this week, I took a couple of days to hike and pray in the mountains. It was cold and snowy, but I had a great time fellowshipping with…
Read MoreOur Hope is in the God of Hope
This Christmas week, I’ve been memorizing Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” It’s been a rough year in too many ways to count: political instability, the pandemic, social…
Read MoreWillard Reflections
“Keep eternity before the eyes of the children.” Those were the last words that Dallas Willard’s mother spoke to her husband. She died from a bungled hernia operation on February 12, 1938. Her son Dallas was only two years old. Over the last few days, I’ve been reading Gary Moon’s biography on the life of…
Read MoreHow Do You Want to Show Up?
If you were to choose a handful of words to describe our country’s current cultural context, what words would you choose? Anxious, fearful, angry, confused, chaotic, divisive, polarized? After watching the Presidential debates, I felt like I needed a shower to scrub off the filth of blaming, shaming, insults, and interruptions. Quite frankly, the bar-room…
Read MoreYou Need a Guide
The black-clad Bedouin, standing in front of her trailside tea shop, was annoyingly insistent: “You need a guide! You need a guide! You need a guide!” She must have repeated herself at least a dozen times. The three of us kept on replying, “La shukran! (no thank-you) We don’t need a guide!” The trail up…
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