Sinner, Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, Son, Church Planter, Professor, Writer, Speaker, Mentor and Coach, and did I say Sinner?
Melancholy with the artist Disclaimer: These weekend links, books and blog reviews do not mean that I agree with all of the content or perspective in any particular link. Their presence here means that I found them either thought provoking, interesting, persuasive, funny, useful, sad, informative, inspiring, and sometimes all of those things. I hope … More Learning to Think Outside of Our Tribes
I am currently taking our church leaders (we call them elders) through a study on the biblical concept of an elder’s roles and duties. This morning we met at 6:15 for prayer and study, working through the last pages of lesson 3 in the Biblical Eldership Mentor’s Guide by Alexander Strauch and Richard Swartley. It … More The Spontaneous Prayer: How We Learn to Pray
I was reminded of this sculpture as I thought about all the subtractions and deletions and upheaval of the last few months. (7-22-2020, and again on 9-8-2023) The artist’s name is Albert Gyorgy. He is Romanian, lives in Switzerland and is semi-reclusive, or at least, it is very difficult to get much information on him. … More Sorrow and Loss
Curated Content to Encourage Thinking Back by popular demand. I am going to start curating content and supplying links from my reading again after a three year hiatus. Many have asked me to continue but it was Mark Smith that was the “last straw” tipping the scales. These weekend links, books and blog reviews do … More Curated for Thought
Sunday Afternoon Musings (finished on monday) Ezekiel is one of the those books of the Bible that doesn’t get read very often and certainly not enough. Some of its images are so bizzare and its history so obscure, and its narrative so difficult to follow that most casual Bible readers are scared off by the … More “The Lord is My Shepherd” : More than a Psalm
Wrong Question. Why not both? Why not strive for balance between extremes? I am currently taking our church leaders (we call them elders) through a study on the biblical concept of an elder’s roles and duties. This morning we met at 6:15 for prayer and study, working through the last pages of lesson 3 in … More Planned or Spontaneous Prayer?
I doubt it. But I suspect that most people have verbalized those five words or that sentiment in their spirit after some particularly convicting portion of Scripture was exposited on a Sunday morning. Most pastors (in my experience) don’t try to deliberatley make people feel guilty. I know I don’t try to do that. But … More “My Pastor is Guilting Me.”
Another short article from the online Kairos Journal. A picture of truth lived out in the crucible of life, this story from missionary Hudson Taylor’s life is encouraging both for its simplicity and its practicality. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 Firm Faith—Hudson Taylor … More What is Faith?
Prayer. Praying. I have had a 40 year journey of growing and regressing, and stumbling and growing, and falling again, and wondering if I knew anything about prayer, to thinking I knew all about prayer, to KNOWING that I knew nothing about prayer to longing for a deepening and authentic prayer experience. I know that … More How to Pray for Your Prayers
A vast literature has developed over the last four decades beginning and reaching its zenith in the 1970’s and 80’s. The “Church Growth” industry has slowed but the number of blogs peppering the internet with “how to do church better” has more than filled in the gap. Some of it can be helpful. My shelves … More Jesus Had a Plan for Church Growth
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