I love my friends. They keep me honest, in touch, aware, thinking. I wrote to several friends concerning upcoming mission plans. One wrote back expressing his “envy” that I had time for such activities. He said he wished he had time to do the same kind of things. One day he will, and he will. …
Monthly Archives: March 2011
People, People, Everywhere
It is amazing to me when I see the people. It is amazing to me when I do not. Many Christians spend much of their lives in isolation–primarily interacting with other Christians. On those limited occasions when we do venture out of our comfortable Christian worlds, we find we have developed “people blindness.” The people …
A Special Day–311
The 50th Anniversary Celebration last weekend put a fitting climax on six months of exciting interim ministry with the Holmes Road church in Lansing. Although the new minister has been in place for over a month, the anniversary was a significant part of the ministry renewal plan we initiated late last summer. The Sunday morning …
It’s Sunday Again: Celebrating the Church
The song says “Celebrate Christ”. Because Christ values the church as his body, because he died for the church, because he claims the church and it wears his name, we can also “celebrate church.” The church for which Christ died is described in Acts 2 where we read of its beginning as the first to …
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It’s always about the people….
Across the years, we have talked to many different people about our ministries and mission work. Reactions vary, some are amusing, most intend to be serious. 13+ years in Michigan: isn’t it awful cold there? It doesn’t matter how cold it is–because it’s always about the people. (But yesterday in mid-March, the snow was gone, …
Patience
My prayer for today is that God teach me more patience. Please be patient with me as I muse about several things at least remotely related to this challenge of patience. Leaning patience is no easy thing as one journeys the spiritual pathway, wanting to run ahead, to investigate new beauties, to see what lies …
Peace in the Midst of a Storm
This week Jan and I have the privilege of helping a church celebrate 50 years of history. Fifty years is a long time in church life. Many churches do not last 50 years. Those who do last 50 years are often declining, dying or nearing the end of the “church life cycle.” Many churches are …
It’s Sunday Again: Time
Time. Allow me a preacher’s perspective. Today is the Sunday of the “bad time change.” Yes, we “lost” an hour, but even worse, people have trouble getting up and around. People are late to church; some fail to attend at all. The worship often lacks energy (like the people in attendance). I like the practice …
Don Vinzant: Celebrating Today
Today is the funeral for Don Vinzant. Just a week ago, I received the following as a “daily communique” from Emergent Village. When I read this thought, it gave me pause. Today, it seems especially appropriate. Celebrating Today I walk down the steep hill through the trees to the creek. Emily, the mother dog is …
Don Vinzant: A Tribute
This morning’s CaringBridge update brought the news that my friend, colleague, mentor, and brother in Christ, Don Vinzant, has finished his course, fought his last battle, and gone to receive his reward. In a special way, Don was one of a kind. His contagious smile and laughter, his sharp wit, his knowledge of the world …