A week ago a couple visited our church–with a dog. They didn’t look like the “average” church family. The dog was dress nicely. As they entered Fellowship Hall for dinner, they looked lost–unsure what to do, where to go, how to proceed. Many looked but only one helped. An Elder stepped up, walking across the …
Category: Musings
The future needs history
I spent a couple hours this morning reading articles and books reviews in the latest issues of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS), put out quarterly by the society, and was struck how much the future needs history. Some of the issues in contemporary evangelicalism are challenges from past weaknesses, current culture changes, …
Reflecting
(Written a week ago.) As I have been reflecting on the most basic of Christian truths–the atonement, I have also been dealing with the most basic of heartaches of a pastor. A number of years ago, I was asked, what the hardest part of being a pastor was. Having never contemplated that question before, I …
Books, books, books
While at times I what to say “Amen” to Ecclesiastes 12:12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (ESV) Reading is one way to grow. My parents modeled a passion for reading and growing, but for much of …
Priority of Relationships
Without a cultural shift in our view of the priority of relationships–intentional, available, authentic (real) and accountable–individuals and the church will never be what God intended–a visible demonstration of His grace. With all the diversity, dysfunction, discomfort and the disease of sin in our own lives only God’s grace and the Holy Spirit can change …
From the Inside Out
God created us to be whole being. And we need to engage God as whole being, not just cognitively through study, but responding to our study with worship. Here’s my brief definition of worship: Encounter and Expression Encountering God for what He is and Expressing back to Him what I have seen. Not so much …
For the sake of His Name
Additional thoughts on Romans 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations Reflecting on the phrase, “for the sake of his name,” reminded me of two individuals. One of my seminary professors (who also attend the same …