The IRS hasn’t officially audited churches since 2009… and given this week’s news from the IRS, I think that this would be an interesting time for them to announce they would resume auditing churches.  It seems that they have much bigger things to defend right now.  Here’s a short part of a piece from the Christian Post on the topic written by Eric Stanley: For some time now, the IRS has not been auditing churches. As I explained in more detail in this post, the IRS’ decision to “suspend” church audits stems from a 2009 federal court decision finding the IRS’...

In this edition of the Ministry Briefing video speed round we hit four topics of interest from the headlines: Snapchat pictures don’t disappear after all Christian heavy metal band singer attempts to hire hitman Singapore mega-church pastor charged with misappropriating funds Truth is your name recognition is less than you think Interested in more stories like these? Check out our far more serious May print edition of Ministry Briefing...

Scott Williams shares 20 things that you should stop doing right now… but first… one of my favorite videos of all time: 1. Stop placing your job above your family. 2. Stop doubting yourself. 3. Stop believing the lies. 4. Stop settling for second best. 5. Stop procrastinating. 6. Stop making excuses. 7. Stop standing paralyzed in awe of the success of others. 8. Stop tippy-toeing on that line of sin. 9. Stop being consumed with what other people think. 10. Stop waiting until tomorrow to do the things you can do today. Scott gives us ten more here. What do YOU need to stop...

According to Christianity Today: A controversial lawsuit alleging leaders of Sovereign Grace Ministries conspired to conceal the sexual abuse of children has been amended a second time, adding three more plaintiffs and a large number of graphic claims. The amended lawsuit makes the stark claim that SGM leaders “conspired, and continue to conspire, to permit sexual deviants to have unfettered access to children for purposes of predation, and to obstruct justice by covering up ongoing and past predation.” It alleges that SGM leaders failed to fulfill mandatory reporting obligations, and...

This is a video from… I don’t know… it has to be the mid-to-late seventies (judging from the betamax). But the portrait it paints is this: 1.  Sin is somehow either new, or more rampant or more decadent than ever. 2.  It’s all because we just don’t care. Take a watch: Your thoughts on this video?  Is it merely a cultural timestamp on what many Christians were thinking at the time?  Is that worldview still valid? And what type of mindset or video being produced in 2013 will look this ‘out of it’ in 2050? I’d love your input. HT:  Christian...

Forty-six percent of Americans believe in the creationist view that God created humans in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years. The prevalence of this creationist view of the origin of humans is essentially unchanged from 30 years ago, when Gallup first asked the question. About a third of Americans believe that humans evolved, but with God’s guidance; 15% say humans evolved, but that God had no part in the process.   Thoughts? It’s interesting to me that a full 78% believe that God still played some type of role in creation. What’s your takeaway? More...

It appears that Jesus has broken his political silence, and has finally officially endorsed a candidate… a mayoral candidate, Anna Pierre, from North Miami, FL.  Don’t believe me?  Check out her newspaper ad:   OK… this got me wondering. If Jesus was in the endorsement business, would he, could he endorse your church? If Jesus was to give a revelation-style paragraph on your church, what would he say. Be honest. And after you pick yourself up off the floor, you have two choices:  go back to bed, or get to work. (You probably should get back to work). Oh… and vote for...

Note to everyone reading this.  If TLC or any other network offers you money to be on a reality show about pastors, please decline their money and tell them to have a nice day. Here’s the press release about a new show where the pastors involved did not have that wisdom. For the life of me, I can’t think of anything good that could come out of this… Set to premiere in the fall of 2013, the “docu-series” stars Bishop Noel Jones, Deitrick Haddon,Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson and Pastor Jay Haizlip as they navigate roads of riches,...

Larry Osborne answers the question: I’M SURPRISED HOW OFTEN BOTH BUSINESS LEADERS AND PASTORS ASK ME ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOURS THEY SHOULD EXPECT OUT OF A SALARIED STAFF MEMBER. The answer is a coin with two sides.On one side is what kind of work ethic can a leader realistically expect from the troops? On the other side is what kind of work ethic can Jesus rightfully expect from a Christian? Today I want to look at it from the leader’s point of view. In my next post we’ll look at it from the staff member’s point of view. TO BUSINESS AND MINISTRY LEADERS WHO ASK THE “HOW MANY HOURS”...

Today’s advice from Donald Miller: If you’re an extrovert, getting people to like you is simple: Stop talking so much. No seriously. Stop it. I know a lot of people who, out of nervousness or excitement think the best way to engage people is to talk them into utter submission. As if their endless words, jokes and anecdotes infused with Red Bull and hooked up to a V8 engine will fast-track them into the Connection Economy. What so many don’t realize is that the secret to building relationships isn’t in the words you say, but in the questions you ask. If you’re an introvert, the same truth...