
Part I- When the Vision Is Too Big- Fantasy, Burnout, and the Illusion of Faith
Many pastors live on one of two extremes: they're either stuck managing reality or chasing fantasy. One leads to burnout from busyness, the other leads to burnout from disappointment. What if vision wasn’t about dreaming bigger or shrinking to fit—but about aligning with God’s voice, timing, and provision? In this three-part series, we’ll explore what happens when vision is too big, not big enough, and just right.

Fearfully and Wonderfully
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, upheld a Tennessee law that bans puberty blockers and hormones from being administered to minors for the purpose of transitioning to the opposite sex. Twenty-seven states have similar laws on the books, and the Supreme Court’s ruling mostly ensures those laws will remain in effect.

NATO Summit
World leaders gathered in The Hague for the NATO Summit this week. The annual meeting focuses on security, and occurred this week as numerous conflicts rage, including between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran, and now—in at least a limited fashion—the U.S. and Iran. Leaders from the allied nations are discussing varied viewpoints on whether and how to intervene in each situation, as well as how much of their respective budgets to dedicate to both domestic security and collective world security.

Bunker Busters
U.S. bombers attacked three key Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend in an attempt to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. B-2 stealth bombers based in Missouri were used for the heaviest bombing, including the deployment of 14 “bunker-buster” bombs used to penetrate the underground Iranian facilities at Fordo and Natanz.

Three or More
The king had a simple instruction from the prophet. He was simply to strike the ground with arrows. The king followed the instruction and struck the ground with the arrows but stopped after three strikes. This angered the prophet and limited the king’s blessing. It is a strange story, and it has direct application to your life this week.

Becoming a Better Leader
Leadership is a developable skill. It is not static and if left ignored it will erode away. It will atrophy. Good leaders are able to see the big picture, model desired behaviors, and challenge others to be the best version of themselves. Great leaders understand that they can continue to improve these skill sets.

When Heroes Fall: Processing the Michael Tait Allegations
The sexual misconduct allegations against Michael Tait have exposed a deeper crisis within the Christian music industry—one where image has too often been protected at the expense of integrity and accountability. This piece calls for the dismantling of toxic systems that enable abuse through silence, urging the Church and its leaders to choose truth, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable over reputation management.

Political Violence in Minnesota
Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, are dead, and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are injured after a gunman went on an overnight shooting spree with apparent plans to target dozens of elected officials. Authorities say the suspect, who was later taken into custody near his home, had a target list of more than 40 Democrat lawmakers and attempted to harm at least two additional officials at their homes on the night of the attack.

Parade and Protests
The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary this week with a parade of troops, military equipment, and music in the streets of Washington, DC. It was among the first of what will be many events commemorating 250 years since many of the foundational moments in American history—including the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The celebratory event was met by protests in many American cities but went off without major incident in DC.

All Out War
Israel and Iran are at war. The two countries have long been enemies and there has for some time now been sustained hostilities, proxy skirmishes, and recently direct engagement between them. This week marked a significant escalation, however, with Israel embarking on a multi-day and ongoing campaign to cripple Iran’s nuclear weapons capability. The result has been the destruction of multiple sites related to Iran’s nuclear enrichment and development, as well as the death of multiple Iranian military leadership.

Not Every Ball Is Equal: How Embracing Priorities Can Set You Free
Whether it’s a missed text, a late response, or an overlooked task, there’s something in me that recoils when I know I’ve let someone down. I’m wired as an achiever—I want to do the job well, show up fully, honor people, and keep all the plates spinning. I take commitments seriously, and I don’t like giving anything less than my best.

All about the Number
It is all about the number, but everyone’s number is different. The annual time trials had arrived, and every swimmer was being judged by the number on the clock when they touched the wall at the end of the race. Some got to the wall with smooth beautiful form while others appeared to struggle a great deal. But so long as every swimmer swam legally, the “how” and the aesthetic appeal (or lack thereof) were of no consequence.

Dear Pastor, You Don’t Want to Be Famous
In a world that places so much value on likes, followers, and viral moments, choosing a quiet life might seem countercultural. But for a Pastor, the decision should be simple: you don’t want to be famous. And you don’t need to be famous to be effective. Your calling is not about growing your platform; it’s about furthering the Great Commission.

Revoked
The U.S. State Department is “aggressively revok[ing] visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” according to a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The move comes amid increasing economic tension—including an ongoing tariff escalation—between the U.S. and China, and also as world observers warn about the possibility of a Chinese takeover of Taiwan.

One Big Beautiful Tussle
What may have been the world’s most powerful partnership is now on the skids. U.S. President Donald Trump and the world’s richest man Elon Musk are feuding just days after Musk stepped away from serving as one of President Trump’s closest (albeit informal) advisors and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Troops in the Streets
Tensions are high in Los Angeles, CA after U.S. President Donald Trump activated National Guard troops and Marines to restore peace after violent protests broke out in the wake of a wave of federal enforcement of immigration laws.

Coaching Your Team Through Conflict
No team avoids all conflict. A bit like the married couple who “never fights”, a team without conflict is likely an unhealthy team. Good teams deal with conflict. Great teams engage in healthy conflict to better the team as a whole. As the leader, if your team is not dealing with conflict you have a serious problem, and might just very well be you. It should be noted that this conflict is not aggressive, or mean-spirited.

Return Facilitated
The man at the center of multiple high-profile legal challenges is back in the United States and facing charges of human smuggling. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported from Maryland to his native El Salvador in March, a move that sparked numerous legal challenges and ultimately a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the administration to “facilitate” Garcia’s return to the U.S. Garcia remains in federal custody and awaits prosecution.

Betrayed
The betrayal was worse than the execution. It had to have been, because it came from the hand and heart of one he deeply loved.
You know the story. Judas—now known as Judas Iscariot because of this very story—betrays Jesus in the leadup to the crucifixion of Jesus. It was a betrayal Jesus predicted at the last supper (Matt. 26:21) and one foreshadowed by David generations in advance (Ps. 41:9).

Elusive Peace
There are yet again new rounds of negotiations to end the fighting in two major wars. First, Israel has reportedly signaled agreement with a U.S.-led framework that includes a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, and increased aid into Gaza. Hamas wants changes to the framework but has reportedly indicated an openness to continued negotiations.