We’ve all had it happen to us.  An irate email.  A nasty comment on our blog.  A Facebook message from someone who’s ticked.  It seems that the internet makes people much more bold when it comes to conflict… people say in emails and online things they wouldn’t ever have the guts to say to your face.  Here’s a helpful article by Toni Birdsong on how to handle online conflict.  I think it could really help the next time you raise the ire of someone. 10 ways to handle an online conflict: Evaluate objectively. Go back over the dialogue that lead up to the conflict and...

According to the Christian Post, several North Carolina churches have cut their ties with Surry Baptist Association over the group’s decision to expel a church for having a female pastor. First Baptist Church of Mount Airy voted overwhelmingly to withdraw from the association due to the expulsion of nearby Flat Rock Baptist Church for appointing the Rev. Bailey Edwards Nelson as senior pastor. Piney Grove Baptist Church of Mount Airy also decided to leave the association, with an unanimous vote taken last week. “In our congregation, and in several other congregations, there was strong disagreement...

Recently, Bishop Eddie Long settled out of court with his accusers… young men who accused the Bishop of pressuring them into sexual relationships with them. Long’s friend, Creflo Dollar, recently defended Long, saying that people expect forgiveness but don’t extend it to preachers who also need forgiveness. Dollar said: Then you become self-righteous and you become judgmental and you’re gonna leave the preacher for his wreck when you done had more wrecks… That preacher’s still anointed to do what he was called to do. He just had a wreck. The blood will take care...

Max Lucado reminds us, “It all works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it’s not the end.” As Michael Hyatt points out in his post this morning, Romans 8:28 is STILL in the Bible. God has something special for you.  In fact, everything’s happening for a reason. And if you’re in a conflict right now… and if you’re going to take Romans 8:28 as true… then God has something good  for you in the end.  And God has something good for the person you’re in conflict with in the end as well. I think it’s the...

What do hot dog wieners and ministry have in common? A friend of mine is an elder at his church. The board of elders was planning a church picnic. Everything sounds normal so far. That is until someone wanted to buy one particular brand of hot dog wieners and someone wanted to buy another. For ten minutes they debated on what brand to buy. My friend had to leave the meeting. Now I’m all for church picnics. Really, anything that offers food is pretty much a draw for me. And every event should be thought out and well planned. But is it possible to get too focused on the details and lose the purpose...