As I write this, it’s the day after Easter…and I am remembering what this day was like for me during my 34 years as a lead pastor. I’m also wondering if some of my fellow pastors may be feeling the same way today. One would think that I would have viewed this day with a lingering sense of victory, savoring the Easter services of yesterday. You would be wrong. I know this seems hard to believe, but for many years this day was hard for me. I felt very much like the Old Testament prophet Elijah who, following the incredible triumph over the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, was found hi ..read more

  When Gwen and I were seeking to discern what it was that God was calling us to in this season of our lives, these concepts were really helpful to us and eventually led us to launch Dave DeSelm Ministries. I think these truths are transferrable to all of us as we seek to live our one and only life for the glory of God and His Kingdom. Made for a Purpose One of my favorite texts is: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). The first half of the verse decla ..read more

  Recently I came across the following from a website called Pastoral Care Inc. It reflected the completed research for 2022, and what I saw was troubling.  Here’s a sampling: 90% of pastors report working between 55 and 75 hours a week. 90% of pastors report that ministry was completely different than what they thought it would be like. 81% of pastors have been tempted to have inappropriate sexual thoughts or behaviors with someone in the church but have resisted. 80% of pastors believe that the ministry has negatively affected their families (many pastors’ children do not ..read more

  For many years one of my December practices was to consider a theme verse for the upcoming year. More times than not it proved to be my “north star,” guiding me through the uncharted months ahead. Recently, however, for some reason or other, I fell out of this practice. And it wasn’t until this past week that I sensed the Lord prompting me to engage in this again. I know that some of you have this habit firmly in place, and I want to affirm you for that. But for others of you, this is all new.  Let me encourage you to give it a try. You may not know where to start, so allow me ..read more

  I’ve been struck by a consistent theme in the lives of several pastors I’ve spoken to recently. That theme is disappointment. Specifically, disappointment at not being offered a lead position in a church. Each of these individuals had faithfully followed the selection process and had come to believe that they were the front-runner. Yet at the last minute, all of them were told, “Sorry, but we’re going with another candidate.” Heartsick and confused, these men struggled to make sense of it all. It seemed like the spiritual rug had been jerked out from under them. Little did they know ..read more

  One of the great challenges for pastors is deciding how much of their personal lives to reveal – whether in private conversations or in sermon illustrations. It’s known as “appropriate self-disclosure” and it’s a big deal. Reveal too little and it can appear that the pastor is aloof and apart. Reveal too much and it can seem that the pastor is using the pulpit as a confessional or therapy session. So how does one find a good balance? In a recent article I read by Cary Nieuwhof, he offers some sage advice to pastors regarding this. “Here's a question I ask myself when deciding what t ..read more

  Last winter Gwen and I were privileged to share some extended time with a group of pastors and wives.  While we were one of my fellow pastors gave a devotional that I found to be insightful, and I've been thinking about it ever since. He titled it “Another Sort of PTSD.” By PTSD, he was referencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My guess is that you have heard of it.  PTSD is a negative reaction – such as nightmares, negative thoughts about self, self-isolation, hypervigilance, insomnia, anger, sadness, and guilt – that develops in people who have experienced a traumatic ev ..read more

  Someone who shaped my life in my early years of ministry was the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I read his books. I listened to his sermons. I attended conferences where he spoke. If it had Dr. Hendricks’ name on it, that’s all I needed to see. I just learned that a new book has come out and it will be next on my professional reading list. It’s entitled, The Influential Mentor: How the Life and Legacy of Howard Hendricks Equipped and Inspired a Generation of Leaders. I’m sure it will be filled with insights that will serve me well as I look ..read more

  Most pastors I know are inveterate bibliophiles. They know that great books can provide information, inspiration, and illustrations. The challenge is that with hundreds of thousands of books being published each year, it takes no small amount of discernment to know which ones to read. It’s no wonder that one topic which always makes the discussion list in a “think tank” group I attend each year is, “What are the best books you read in the past months?” Taking a cue from that, here is my list of the five best books I read in 2021. Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger This book is ..read more

  Ever since Thanksgiving, I’ve been pondering an intriguing Scripture verse. Psalm 126:3 reads, “The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.”                                                  What struck me was the linkage between appreciation for the good things God has done for us and joy. The former appears to be a trigger for ..read more