Writing
Essays and working ideas from more than fifteen years of writing about faith, leadership, discipleship, the church, family, and life in Austin.
Start here
New here? These four pieces offer a way into the writing: what shapes the church, how we lead, and how faith takes form in community. Begin with the recent essays, then explore the earlier work that helped shape those questions.
The church and the Spirit · 2026
The Organizing Principle of the Church
Start with a recent reflection on how spiritual gifts shape the church, and why I’m revisiting an old conviction about mission.
Leadership in practice · 2026
Leadership and Administration
Why leading people and bringing order to the work are gifts to recognize and steward, and what gets lost when we treat them only as skills.
Community and mission · 2013
What is a Missional Community? – Definition
A short introduction to the definition we used at The Austin Stone, and why a community of Christians is essential to a faithful witness.
Leading through change · 2013
Transitioning Your Church to Missional Communities
The opening of a practical series on our transition at The Austin Stone, with lessons about patience, learning, and the time real change takes.
For sustained explorations of a topic, browse the Selected Series.
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Missional community · Leadership · Christianity · Church · Personal · Austin Stone · Discipleship · Theology
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All writing
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Lessons from a Razor
As many of you know, I was in a South Asian country with two other pastors from The Austin Stone, and we had an unfortunate incident with some youth. My friend who was attacked has written…
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Home on the Range
After flying ~15,000 miles in the past 6 days, and sleeping for ~16 hours over that span, I’m officially home with my family. I am grateful to God for the time I was able to spend…
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A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Psalm 59:16-17 16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of…
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Being a Pastor – Fun Sunday Questions
Here’s a rundown of some of the questions I was asked today from a variety of different people: Are you a young earth or old earth creationist? Can you tell me where the bathroom is? Can…
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Something Smells… and Hyperlinks
This blog is getting pretty stale…I guess I should try to pick up the pace. In all honesty, I’m not sure I’ve had many thoughts worth posting as of late, and I’m also running thin on…
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Together for Adoption Conference Audio
The mp3s from the Together for Adoption Conference are linked below: Dan Cruver, Adoption: Making Outsiders Insiders Scotty Smith, The Freedom of Adoption Scott Roley, Adoption and the Pursuit of Racial Reconciliation Ed Stetzer, The Gospel,…
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Adoption is the World Mission | Jeremy Haskins
I just read the post below from Jeremy Haskins, and all I can say is amen. This is an excellent articulation of the mission of the church to declare the gospel to all peoples that they…
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Together for Adoption | Sessions 3 and 4
Session 3: Scott Roley – Adoption and the Pursuit of Racial Reconciliation Scott’s basic thesis was that the greatest picture of the gospel’s work in our life is the adoption of unwanted children. He consistently showed…
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Together for Adoption | Sessions 1 and 2
I’ve been thoroughly blessed thus far by the Together for Adoption 2009 Conference. Below are a few highlights: Session 1 – Dan Cruver Dan preached from James 1:27-28, arguing that there are three facets to “pure…
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Verge Conference
The Austin Stone is hosting a National Missional Community Conference called Verge. The Verge Conference is unique in that it is committed to the development and multiplication of missional communities. The theme of the Verge Conference…
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Together for Adoption Conference
I’m headed out tomorrow to make the trek to Franklin, TN for the Together for Adoption conference. I’m really looking forward to spending time with some of our TASCC staff processing through God’s movement in our…
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Forgiveness in Marriage and The Gospel
I spent a considerable amount of time in our Nearly/Newly Wed class this Sunday laying the Scriptural foundation of marriage in class in order to demonstrate that the purpose of marriage, as Paul highlights in Ephesians…