The calling to nurture and be a part of the faith development of our young people has been ringing in my own heart for quite some time now. Over the last several years I have seen how the church has fallen short with that calling. It's one of my life's goals to establish faithful youth ministries that help young people know what it means to love God and love people--there are, of course, many facets to that.
So, I was quite giddy really as our church...
Often it seems that our most important lessons come at difficult times. Maybe it's in those times that we're finally paying attention or realize maybe we didn't have things all figured out. Tough spots in life may be the only time we keep our mouths closed enough to listen for what we need to hear. Whatever the case, we tend to learn those lessons that stick with us during our most trying times, or, to use biblical language, in our wilderness,...
"I'd be bored," is what Brittani blurted out about midway through this video. "Fine," I said, "find something else to go with your lesson." She had been preparing for a children's Sunday school class and wanted something else to go along with her First Sunday of Lent lesson.
I thought her bored comment was referring to watching the video. It wasn't. No, she wondered about being in the desert for 40 days. After a while you'd...
Apparently, pastors do more than put people to sleep.
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Another saint's faith had been made sight.
That was the comforting thought and promise as the pastor visited with the family preparing their loved one's memorial service. These are holy moments. Often tearful and difficult, but holy. A pastor is invited into a family's mourning. That requires enough humility, responsibility and authority that you would suppose the pastor would have ensured there was a box of tissue available. Pity what we don't do sometimes.
No...
Last week I aggravated an old knee injury. I'd like to say it looks worse than it feels. Unfortunately, however, it was looking pretty ugly and feeling the same way.
I tell you that because I was so disappointed Sunday morning. The first part of my sermon was all about being, getting and staying UP. God calls us UP to the mountain sides of faith. But you and I know that we cannot stay UP because God also calls us to Get...
What does a preacher have to say to make you angry?
We opened our worship service with that question this week. I'm sure some preacher has rustled a few of your feathers once or twice. Was it on a Sunday morning? Was it some off-comment during a church meeting? Did the preacher tell you what s/he really thought about (insert hot-topic issue) during a Bible study?
If you can recall the last time you wanted to throw your preacher...
