Perspective is a funny thing. Sometimes it shows up when you are looking for it. Other times it shows up when you least expect it. In our work at Keenly, there are a few themes that come up over and over again. If I had to narrow it down, I would say three words that…

You ever have those weeks where you’re just absolutely running on empty? Like no amount of caffeine is fixing it, your to-do list keeps growing, and somehow you’re still saying yes to everything even though you’re exhausted. Before you brush it off as “just a busy season,” I want you to do a quick little…

Do you want to know what drives my wife crazy??? When I check my emails in the evenings, pulling out my phone and open my email app, when I should be paying attention to my family. Can you relate? We often work when we should be resting, and over time, that pattern takes a toll.…

I have been blessed to serve in a church that has intentionally pursued partnerships with other churches, nonprofit organizations, and local community agencies in order to more effectively identify and meet real needs within our city. Through these partnerships, we have learned that meaningful ministry often happens when we recognize both our calling and our…

This is technically take two. Not of writing, but of thinking out loud. What you’re reading started as a voice recording during my drive from Grand Canyon University to my Thursday night college group. I got out of class early, my brain was full, and I decided to do what my dad always tells me…

I’ve been thinking lately about two imaginary restaurant owners. Not because I’m particularly interested in food, but because the contrast between them feels like a mirror for the way many churches approach ministry. The first restaurant owner had a clear and admirable goal. He wanted to make great food. Truly great food. The kind of…

Few things quietly undermine the health of a church more effectively than gossip. It rarely announces itself as destructive. More often, it arrives disguised as “concern,” “processing,” or “just wanting to understand.” Yet over time, it fractures trust, weakens leadership, and erodes the spiritual fabric of a congregation. Gossip is not merely careless speech. It…

When I was blessed to come to the church that I currently serve in, the demographics of the church leaned heavily into an older age range. I looked around at the churches of my friends, especially those that planted churches, and saw the young families, kids, and teenagers, and I was envious. I wanted what…

Every pastor and ministry leader eventually wrestles with the same tension. -How do we grow without losing who we are? -What makes a ministry story compelling enough to draw people in? -And how do we discern if our growth is actually healthy? These are not business questions. They are deeply spiritual questions that sit at…

Back in the day, my friend Jared was one of those dynamic, high-energy, inspirational types of leaders. He was relentlessly positive and always looked for the best in people. Jared had been in ministry for a long time. And while he would take a vacation every year, and tragedies would force short breaks, there was…