https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:15:39 +0000 Wed, 14 Mar 2018 13:14:29 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/missional-pastoral-care It seems like today all you need to do is tack on the word “missional” to something to make it more appealing to churches. The word missional itself seems to have lost its influence on what makes a mission minded church a mission minded church. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/missional-pastoral-care Wed, 14 Mar 2018 13:14:29 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/writing-writing-writing What does it take to write? Lots of writing of course. I've been reading a number of books on how to conduct research as of late for a doctor of ministry course I'm taking. It's the pivotal class before I begin my dissertation/major project. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/writing-writing-writing Tue, 19 Jul 2016 14:06:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/stop-and-soak-complaints Honestly, every congregation seems to have at least one and it seems like every pastor gets caught in their cross hairs at one point in time or another. Call them what you will—curmudgeons, complainers, rebel rousers, oh-crud-here-he/she-comes-again—you will meet them in ministry. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/stop-and-soak-complaints Mon, 02 Nov 2015 17:04:16 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastors-are-you-kingdom-driven-or-paycheck-driven I have not once met a pastor who entered into the ministry because it was a lucrative career. Pastors enter into the ministry because it is a calling by God to serve Him fully and completely in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the coming kingdom of God. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/pastors-are-you-kingdom-driven-or-paycheck-driven Mon, 28 Sep 2015 17:51:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/preaching/please-stop-it-older-brother I’m a huge fan of the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. I love how the parable is the capstone of three that talk about seeking and saving the lost. It’s my favorite parable since I first heard it shortly after coming to Christ in the early ‘90’s. It spoke to me. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/preaching/please-stop-it-older-brother Mon, 31 Aug 2015 19:29:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/work-interrupted I do a lot of thinking, reading, and writing. It’s what I do. I need to focus (and being ADD that can be really hard, even when I’m on my meds). And so, there are times when I get into a groove and just get flying and then something happens. I get interrupted. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/work-interrupted Fri, 27 Jun 2014 14:24:37 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/coffee-rest-and-work People don’t like Mondays. You always have that one person you says (in a bit way to perky way) “Does somebody have a case of the Mondays?” After resisting the urge to do bodily harm to said perky person, you soldier on on a Monday. Mondays mean going back to the grind. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/coffee-rest-and-work Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:29:02 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/ministry-and-mental-health Mental health has been in the news as of late. It’s been a hot topic issue with a variety of people from everyday people to celebrities. Mental health is labeled in different tiers. You have mood disorders such as depression, bi-polar disorder, etc. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/ministry-and-mental-health Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:04:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/mentoring-and-coffee I have a mentor. In fact, I’ve had a number of mentors over the years for different reasons and from different people. When I was in high school, I had a group of men who took me under their wings and mentored me in what it meant to be a man of God. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/mentoring-and-coffee Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:20:38 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/dealing-death-and-dying She was in her 80’s. Her mother had recently turned 100. She spent every day at the nursing home at her mother’s side and when her mother took a turn for the worse, she was beside herself. Her mother was in immense pain towards the end and the daughter didn’t know what to do. Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/dealing-death-and-dying Thu, 16 May 2013 11:15:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/geek-pew Did you know there are geeks in the pews? Being a Christian is hard enough (yes, I know we’re saved by grace not by works, but still, it can be hard) and then put on top of it that you’re a geek? Dude. Hard.But, wait, what is a geek you ask? Good question (and not because I asked it). Joshua Benton https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/geek-pew Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:07:46 +0000