On Friday evening, December 3, 1999, my wife and I were on our way to the NC District Church of the Nazarene’s Christmas celebration. Before getting on the highway, we pulled into a gas station to fill up. The wind chill was below zero, which was unusually cool for North Carolina. Even though I wore … Continue reading Furnace Club
After many years of preaching, I’ve grown accustomed to the Holy Spirit prompting me to say things that make me uncomfortable. Usually, it’s something hard for me to hear myself or something that’ll likely offend some of my listeners or both. I can’t count how many times I’ve prayed over and prepared notes a week … Continue reading Standing In The Pulpit
There is an unusual pattern found throughout the pages of scripture. We witness it in the lives of people like Moses, Gideon, Rahab, Jonah, and the twelve disciples. Interestingly, God calls the most unlikely candidates to accomplish the most amazing things over and over again. God repeatedly uses ordinary people for seemingly impossible assignments. He … Continue reading In Over Your Head
“If you want everyone to like you, don’t be a pastor. Go sell ice cream.” ~Ed Stetzer People want to be liked. This seems especially true for pastors and ministry leaders, and rightfully so. Wanting to be appreciated by those we’ve committed our lives to serve is only natural. Yet we know that some people … Continue reading Wounds & Scars
Being around people gives me energy. I thrive in social settings. Large gatherings leave me feeling alive. Being an extrovert has served me well in ministry over the years, as church leadership requires a certain level of social engagement. For me, there is nothing more satisfying than meaningful collaboration with like-minded people. Although I am … Continue reading Sacred Space
We live in serious times. In a matter of days, life as we know it has been turned upsidedown. Even so, the call of the Body of Christ is to participate in the Great Commission. So, while the work of the church may look different in the coming days, her mission remains the same: To Make … Continue reading Coronavirus & The Church
Imagine your family uprooting and moving to a new community. You are excited. You move into a new house, enroll the kids in a new school, get settled in, and start familiarizing yourself with the place you now call home. Imagine the community being small—a place where everybody knows everybody. It seems lovely on the … Continue reading Ichabod Spirit
Becoming an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene is a process that involves years of preparation and comprehensive examination. It’s not an easy accomplishment, nor should it be. Nonetheless, it is a worthy pursuit for anyone sensing the call of God and serious about lifelong service in the church. Various denominations have different … Continue reading Ministerial Credentials
Recently, I received a text message from an old friend. Although the message was only two sentences long it jolted me in a good way. The words were powerful; tears filled my eyes instantly. It took me back in time to a meaningful experience I shared with someone I love. At that moment God reminded … Continue reading As Good As It Gets
In the Garden, God told Adam and Eve they could partake of everything except for one tree: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God supplied all they would ever need for life at its fullest. Yet, for love to truly be reciprocated there had to be an alternative; it was that one … Continue reading Reflecting His Image
Brian L Powell 