As we approach the end of 2020, finding adequate language to describe the last several months proves challenging. Collectively and individually, we have certainly navigated some strange and difficult territory in our world. And as we approach Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and the new year, there’s little doubt that the next two months may be quite different for many of us as well. Even the typical hope of a fresh start in January feels somewhat elusive when there is no guaranteed end to the unusual times in which we find ourselves. It feels rather disorienting to enter a season of

It’s Pastor (Clergy) Appreciation Week! At CrossPoint, our heart beats for pastors and ministry leaders, so let us have the mic for a minute.   Here is one of my many thoughts on the matter:   Recently, I have been describing my passion in life and ministry by saying: “I want to help pastors and ministry leaders have the courage to believe their own claims.” The reality is that clergy-folk spend a lot of energy talking about God and helping others see God, all while their own capacity for relating with God and others becomes diminished.   Usually, this

Here you will find some reflections by Dr. Bob Stewart, a psychiatrist in Louisville, KY and a friend of CrossPoint Ministry.  These thoughts were previously shared on Chuck DeGroat's blog linked here. Bob was born to medical missionary parents in Burundi, Africa.  The father of six, he and his pastoral counselor wife, Shari, share a psychiatric practice in Louisville, KY and have long worked in the support and care of missionaries and pastors both here and abroad. A hundred years from now I’m sure that our descendants will know about the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020-21 just as all of

Dear CrossPoint Friends and Family, Thank you for all of the heartfelt messages and prayers for the CrossPoint team over these last 5 days. We are deeply grieved at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Darrin Patrick. He will be greatly missed. We are so grateful to have been able to journey with Darrin over these last 5 years and be a part of his beautiful, complex, and powerful story. Darrin's wife, Amie put it best, "Darrin was a dynamic force of nature, deeply passionate, and so so fun." Please keep Amie and her children, Glory, Grace,

Successful businesses, winning teams, healthy marriages share a common reality. They stay focused on what made them great. They never forget the basics. They are committed to the purpose and passion that got them where they are. This is especially true in times of stress and strain. If a couple are becoming distant, they re-commit to listening and sharing their hearts in a respectful way. If a team is on a losing streak they focus again on the fundamentals of their sport. If businesses are seeing a decrease in customers they renew their commitment world-class service. The same principle

We often talk about the Enneagram Personality Profile as a wonderful tool for self-clarity.  The Enneagram is an ancient tool that was designed to identify attitudes and attributes that contribute to relational connection (virtues) and, attitudes and attributes which disrupt and destroy relational connection (vices).  I have found that awareness of virtues and vices helps to release us from our personal relational reactivity so that we might have more space within us to move toward others with curiousity! In addition to self-clarity,  the Enneagram can give us a taste for what treasures to expect, what beauty might lie beneath,

Many years ago when I was a teen-ager, someone gave a copy of this poem to me imprinted on a lovely china plate. I have never forgotten it. It’s one of the simple and valuable truths in life. One of the best gifts of my life are the two girlfriends I have had since I was 12 years old.  We met in the small town where my father was pastoring.  Kathy, was the friend I met at church. Becky, was in our class at school, i.e. the only 7th grade class in our town of 300.  During the 2

Do Not Be Afraid It is so difficult to make rational decisions when we are in a state of fear.  It's important that we remember 1 Timothy 1:7, where we are reminded that God has given us a spirit of Power, of Love and of Sound Judgement.  Let's break down this verse: Spirit of Fear God did not give us a spirit of fear or cowardice, one that fears men or even viruses amidst a global pandemic.  Our spirits need not be discouraged or deterred from what we were called to do before the outbreak.  Whether we were

I thought I would share two thoughts that I had this morning about the challenges of community in a time a crisis.  I realize there is so much to read and think about right now, so I am grateful for you pondering this with me.  Would love to hear your thoughts and comments. In my experience, one of the most neglected practices of healthy community in the Christian church (and in middle-class America) is asking for help, crisis or not.  I could spill out my guts here on why I believe this happens, but rather than making a case