Saturday is for Nostalgia Almost every night, after or as I am brushing my teeth before bed, God refreshes my heart with laughter–or at least a chuckle. It’s funny how memory works. I’ll get to that in a minute. The day draws to a close. Sometimes it has been filled with joy and others with … More Laughter in the Midst of Sorrow
Six years of blogging means that there are links, and articles , and thought bubbles that are worth a second look. Here’s one of them, a list of links that are perfect for spring/summer outreach. Training Better Preachers Seven Questions to Ask of Your Message Every Week Better Thinking About Reaching Your Neighbors 10… Source: … More Training Better Preachers; Growing Better Christians; Thinking Better Doctrine; Loving Neighbors Better
Saturday Musings and Reflections “… it is imperative for the Christian to achieve renunciation, to practise self-effacement, to distinguish his life from the life of the world.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 44. Why does Bonhoeffer believe that it is imperative that Christians be different from the world? Why is it important that Christians … More Echoing Jesus, Bonhoeffer Speaks
Wednesday is for Thinking Much of the best progress in the Christian life involves finding new opportunities to be humble and to beat down our pride. It is part of striving not to grow weary in well doing (Gal. 6:9). Sometimes, it’s hard and I am so glad I have my long-suffering bride to help … More Humility and Pride
Saturday Discussion “Discipling leads to reproduction and finally multiplication, which are God’s design and method to reach the world. Because the church has largely ignored the process, the cause of Christ has greatly suffered.” (Bill Hull, The Disciple Making Church, p.13) Questions: If the main task is to make disciples, how could the church … More Multiplying Disciples for the King
Sunday Quotes “Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of … More Bonhoeffer Was Killed on This Day in 1945
Sunday Afternoon Musings Young leaders are not self-aware. To be honest, there is nothing that guarantees that older leaders are self-aware. But one of the things that time in ministry does to the vast majority of us is that it humbles us. It causes us to second guess ourselves and our decisions. But young leaders are … More Young Leaders in the Church
Saturday Musings “Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.” —Blaise Pascal Perhaps we should have all police departments in America and around the world study the moral philosophy of Blaise Pascal? Come to think of it, maybe we should have … More Justice and Power
Tuesday is for Discussion Thirty years before, the apostle Paul commended the church at Ephesus for its great love. “your love for all the saints” (1:15) “an incorruptible love” (6:24) But just 30 years later, Jesus diagnosed the soul of the ancient church in Ephesus and gave a heart-breaking assessment of the same church. You can … More Why Love Dies but Lives Again
Sunday Musings I am starting on my third copy of Bonhoeffer’s, The Cost of Discipleship, having worn out two copies already. It is embarrassing to see how much I don’t know, haven’t comprehended, and failed to discern in my previous readings. That said, I’m excited about how God is going to use the book to … More The Church is Drowning in Cheap Grace
