I thought I'd write a post today in observance of Epiphany, a holiday not featured on most wall calendars, nor in Google or iCal. But since my last post was way back in May, when it was probably warm and sunny and flowers were in bloom and grass was green and the sky was blue,…
I'm just jumping right back in with no recap from the last post, so you may want to check out Part 1. The Bike/Seat Depending on the popularity of the coach, as well as the time the class is offered, it may be necessary to get to class early to get a bike. I always…
It was some 15 years ago in Toledo when I first heard about spin classes. A fellow staff member at the church where I served taught spin classes at the YMCA and always tried to get me to come. She was in her mid forties, I think, and incredibly fit. In fact, because she always complained…
The focus at our Lent chapel gathering this week was on healing, particularly how we as followers of Jesus can help bring healing to victims living in a broken world. Not wholly innocent victims, mind you. Certainly there are those who've been victimized by others' sin -- we usually refer to this as injustice. But every…
A couple months ago I received an email from someone at my church — someone, shall we say, not young — who just happened to check out our Facebook page. He was disappointed that he, for some reason, never receives status updates from our church on his Facebook news feed, despite that we post several…
Every worship leader has stood before his or her congregation and wondered what it would be like if we all worshiped more throughout the week. What if our gathering on Sunday morning (or whatever day and time) comprised believers who loved and worshiped Jesus every day -- not just for an hour once a week?
Where to begin with my review of Eric Metaxas' "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy?" How can 500 words or so really do justice to a 600-page analysis of the life of a Christian pastor who stood against Hitler and tried to guard his beloved Lutheran church from Nazi infiltration?
I'm not sure if this has ever happened to you, when it feels like something you read in Scripture punches you in the gut. In the quiet of the morning with but a single lamp on in the house, my freshly brewed coffee on a little tray I set next to me on the couch, and my Bible open to the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, a little phrase -- two short words -- jump off the thin page and smack me a few times, knocking the wind out of me, nearly spilling my coffee.
Every pastor, or anyone wanting to become one, should read Eugene Peterson's "The Pastor." A fellow pastor friend of mine recommended it, saying Peterson's writing reminded him of mine. I'm certainly one for flattery so I bought it immediately.
Some have claimed that Jesus would not have been a good church planter, for he was always saying things that drove people away from, instead of to, himself. One day he feeds thousands of people who were listening to him preach, so they return the following day anticipating another free meal.
