One of the more difficult aspects of our Christian walk is learning how we maintain passion, momentum, and participation within our own contexts. We do this with like-minded individuals. Who are your like-minded faith companions? I have always liked attending preachers’ luncheons and lectureships. It is a great experience to be a part of a …
Monthly Archives: March 2010
Fringe Folks Fall More Easily
We had what appeared to be a very good day yesterday at church. Attendance was good, we had visitors, the contribution was encouraging. I noted that folks were talking about a new day and new possibilities. Indeed, we have come a long way in the last three years. After a difficult time, we have found …
A New Day
Today is a new day. Well, of course! Sunday, March 28, 2010. A day we have never seen before, new challenges, new opportunities, unseen possibilities. I am thinking of something different. Today is a new day–the first day of a new chapter of my life. I will not preach today, nor next Sunday, nor the …
Dark Flow: The Invisible Visible God?
God wants to be recognized and known. In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas declared that God has not left himself without evidence or testimony (Acts 14:17). Paul to the Romans said that God’s invisible qualities are seen in creation (1:19-20). This week, the scientific world is all aflutter again because of “dark flow”, first reported by …
On the Front Line
Over the last 50 years, the ways in which wars are waged has changed considerably. War is now high-tech, impersonal, sterilized, even glorified. Nonetheless, combat is life-threatening. If being on the front lines involves less personal, face-to-face, hand-to-hand combat, the threat of IEDs and a variety of explosive devices has increased the danger. Being on …
I Am Resolved….
God has an incredibly big plan for our world. We can only know that plan by the revelation of God. We will not learn that plan through natural revelation–by looking at the world. We may conclude that God exists by natural revelation, but to understand the details of God’s plan for his creation requires supernatural …
We Don’t Do Uprisings down at the Churchhouse!
I have been thinking about the fact that most of the time people express their displeasure when something goes wrong. In the academic world, college students complain because graduation tickets are limited and their family and friends won’t be able to attend and see them graduate; students let the administration know how they feel about …
Continue reading “We Don’t Do Uprisings down at the Churchhouse!”
Reconciliation: How Can I Change?
Today’s study and sermon is challenging, life-changing. We do not read the Bible expecting to change. We read and re-read and see the same things. We reinforce what we know, and fail to grow. Paul’s great text about reconciliation is 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. What do you see? Newness is possible, but is not humanly generated …
Is Honduras Safe?
Several have asked me over recent weeks about the current status of Honduras mission trips. Should groups go? Should groups cancel? Am I going? There seems to be a lot of apprehension and misunderstanding concerning safety, how to resume mission work in this very needy country, and how to use unused airline tickets. People ask …
“Re-investment”
Over the last few weeks since Jan and I announced our “retirement” from local ministry, I have told several people that our focus is not on “retiring” but on “reinvesting.” We are “re-focusing.” Both we and the local church are preparing to go through a ministry transition. Ministry transitions in local churches are often handled …