Over the last few days or so, I’ve begun to get use to a feeling of surrealness. I went grocery shopping last week. It wasn’t that the store was empty-there was plenty of food. But it certainly was more empty than I’ve ever seen a grocery store. It reminded me of shopping for groceries inContinue reading “Points if you can pronounce "Habakkuk"”
Category Archives: Blog
Blog: The Return…again…
Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years… LL Cool J, Mama Said Knock You Out Wow…it’s been a long time since my last run at this blog thing. But, I’m going to give it another go. I’m shooting for a post a week, something short, relevant, encouraging, challenging, and, as always, biblical.Continue reading “Blog: The Return…again…”
Do I have to go to church to be saved?
“Do I have to go to church to be a Christian? ‘Cause if I do, then that’s a problem.” The caller that had apparently picked a random church at a random time and got me on the other end of the line was looking for an answer to a question I have heard numerous times.Continue reading “Do I have to go to church to be saved?”
Honesty about struggling with principles
No pic. No silly title. Just some up-front honesty. After a couple of weeks of writing about principles and doing the right thing, I feel like those convictions are being tested. Over the last week, significant situations have arisen that have challenged my conviction to do what is right; not as a clear choice betweenContinue reading “Honesty about struggling with principles”
Principles are weird…are you weird?
Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing, even if we have resolved to live our lives on principle. We will always be tempted to fall back into a habit of self-preservation and the seeking of our own self-interests. However, there’s another factor that will make it difficult to live consistently on principle. Living onContinue reading “Principles are weird…are you weird?”
Change, principles, and other boring stuff that can dramatically alter your life
I’ve been involved in church leadership now for almost 14 years (that seems like forever). I have now worked as a volunteer in a church, as part-time staff, as full time staff, as paid temporary staff, and as a supported ministry worker. I have been asked to give advice to churches I do not regularlyContinue reading “Change, principles, and other boring stuff that can dramatically alter your life”
Beck Confusion and Living On Principle
…the distinction between “principles” and “interests” is an important one for of us.
We’re In The Cloud!?!?
Working with youth and young adults for over a decade, I’ve heard a lot of excuses for poor choices. One excuse is repeated far more than any other: you can’t just tell me what I should do, I have to learn it for myself. It’s a stupid excuse. It’s also one that I have usedContinue reading “We’re In The Cloud!?!?”
Grammys and art: Sia-squatch…or Take Off, You Hozier
The Grammys were last night. Here’s some highlights: Pharrell did “Happy” in a weird orchestral setting with a piano player who is famous enough that no one has heard of him and the Pirates of the Caribbean music guy pretending to play guitar. Beyonce performed a gospel chorus. She sang it once. It took 27 minutes.Continue reading “Grammys and art: Sia-squatch…or Take Off, You Hozier”
Be More Musk-y
My church is currently going through a vision-casting process. The church has been growing steadily for 3 years and has been near-capacity on Sunday mornings for around a year, and the youth and children’s programs have begun to fill the spaces available to them. Some solution needs to be found in order to continue toContinue reading “Be More Musk-y”
Driven 