Confession: An annual pleasure: Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Christmas time. This year, we didn’t get to watch the film until after Christmas. But it was still a joy. It goes beyond the fact that Jimmy Stewart was my favorite actor from the growing-up-years of my life. And it goes beyond the encouraging message(s) of the film: … More Breaking the Ice with Your New Neighbor
The Mission Field at Our Door The nations have come to us. Ethnic diversity in our communities is a reality. As we step out the front door of our homes or apartments, the world, from a cultural and ethnic perspective, is at our doorsteps. Ministry here is not like ministry in a mono-cultural nation like … More Part 8: Resources for Multi-ethnic Ministry
No regrets 33 years ago today, I married my West Virginia Mountaineer and have never had a regret. How God brought us together, raised 400 miles from one another, went to College 350 miles from one another, spent our early 20’s 1,500 miles from one another, and finally bringing us together in a state (Colorado) where … More 33 Years of Joy (now 42 years)
Over 40 years ago a read little 75-page book that powerfully influenced my life. Yesterday I started to reread it. Some of the highlights are barely noticeable. The underlines and side notes are there to help me and guide me back to a former time. And the words are there. Words that were written in … More What if Revival Has Nothing to Do with Big Meetings and Crowds of People?
Friday is for Heart Songs Reading with the Pastor Luke 21 and Psalm 103 (Click on the sound file to the right of this post just above the search box.) Today’s reading is 38 verses in Luke but it is the first four verses that have captured me. See if they don’t do the same for … More The Widow’s Large Gift
Reading with the Pastor James 3 and Psalm 56-57 As a teacher, it is hard for me to get past verse 1 of chapter 3 in the letter of James. “Let not many of you become teachers, my brothers, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” There is a weight that any teacher … More How is it Possible to Write Without Pain?
Friday is for Heart Songs Reading with the Pastor Matthew 12 and Psalm 18:1-30 The disciples and Jesus both fall under the criticism of the Pharisees. The Pharisees think they can battle Jesus with interpretations of Jewish law. Bad idea. Jesus turns the tables by quoting the example of David against their legalistic forbidding and then puts … More He is Able
Here is a great piece of history rescued from the ashes of World War II of a day when the church stood for righteousness in the face of fascist evil. Read it and rejoice in the wonder of what God can do when believers stand on the faith they profess against all odds. The following comes … More Some History I Didn’t Know
I was driving back from Illinois in a rented truck to my new home in South Carolina. Talk radio and country music stations were all I could get and I was tired of both. So I turned the radio off and started praying for my kids and the kids of a former staff member from … More What if Teardrops are Blessings?
“We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” Madeleine L’Engle. “O God, give me grace to … More Haunting Quotes Filled with Truth
ChosenRebel's Blog 