Temptation A Bird Nest in Your Hair May 23, 2019 My teacher quickly quoted the pithy proverb popularized by Martin Luther: “You cannot prevent the birds from flying in the air over your head, but you can certainly prevent them from building a nest in your hair.” But is that true?
Jews The Restoration of the Jews May 02, 2019 Let us who are Gentiles, now join that chorus and sing of the day when the gospel will go forth in its saving power to the Israelites: “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!”
Roman Catholic Encountering God at Notre Dame: Mary, Relics, and the Mass April 18, 2019 The cathedral of Notre Dame is an achievement of human creativity — architecturally, artistically, and aesthetically. But it is also an edifice built for the promotion of things contrary to biblical Christianity, and things for which many of us are self-consciously Protestant.
Discipleship Discipleship and the Sacraments March 22, 2019 When we receive the Word and sacrament in faith we are fellowshipping with him who has physically ascended to his Father in heaven and are made his followers. And Jesus intended that this method of discipleship continue until his return.
UMC A Church In Crisis: Reflections on the UMC March 08, 2019 I don’t write all of this to heap up criticism on the United Methodist Church. This crisis knows no denominational boundaries. It's a sad story that has been retold a thousand different times in the history of the church.
fasting Lent: Glitter or Gold? March 05, 2019 Over a century ago William Ingraham Kip wrote: “For some years past each return of Lent has been, we believe, regarded with additional interest.” That observation remains true today.
Nicene Creed I Believe in [a Relevant] Church February 21, 2019 When we live below that identity by a minimization or absence of one or more of these characteristics we trivialize ourselves into irrelevance. That's because it's this identity that makes the church unique.
The Blessings and Joys of Pastoral Ministry February 15, 2019 There seems to be an unfortunate emphasis on the negative side of the pastoral ministry. We need to be guarded and resist the temptation of letting those things quench the gratitude we ought to have.
Budget Church Budget Matters That Matter February 01, 2019 Sadly, budget matters have hurt and ruined church's ministries, effective witness, and pastorates. So, when we think about congregational budget matters let me suggest some things that I think matter.
A Letter to the Inactive Member December 21, 2018 I’m not certain but I suspect that if you asked a pastor what discourages him most, a common answer given would be the inactive member. An inactive member is one of the sheep that has gone astray and requires the shepherd to leave the ninety-nine.
persecuted Christians Worshiping When Dying is Gain December 15, 2018 Despite the ease with which many of us will be permitted to worship, there will be others who worship tomorrow morning under the threat of hurt and danger; persecution and loss; sword and death. There will be those who worship, and they will worship as those who know that death is gain.
Gratitude's Three-Fold Cord November 21, 2018 A single strand may be broken and even two, but three together form a strong bond that cannot be broken. Applying this simple picture of wisdom I want to reflect a little on the unbreakable obligation of gratitude.
Lord's Day Why the Lord's Day Matters October 27, 2018 With an air of self-confidence I told him that it didn't matter if I did homework on the Lord's Day. Thinking that would be enough to satisfy his curiosity I was more than surprised to hear him say: “Explain that to me. Why doesn't it matter?” He had caught me!
suffering Breeding Familiarity: The Righteous Suffer October 12, 2018 Job is a difficult book. There's many riddles and complexities that seem, in my mind, to mirror the complexities and riddles of suffering itself.
Politics Justice: Between Certainty and Doubt September 28, 2018 If I can admit it, it's this that gives me a measure of gratitude for what we have in Christianity. As the senate committee stumbled and fumbled in their confusion, I was led to be thankful for the way the wisdom of God meets us in that uncomfortable place.
the church The Power of Erosion May 25, 2018 Erosion isn't only an ecological problem it's ecclesiological too -- that is, it's a problem in the church
Brotherly Love Refreshing the Saints May 11, 2018 There's a challenge in that for all of us. What am I to my brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus? Do I refresh or weary them? Do I give rest or restlessness? Am I a comfort or an anxiety? Am I blessing to those who I am bound in the gospel or a burden?
Cross A Psalm for Burial March 31, 2018 When is the last time you thought about the burial of Jesus Christ? It seems to me that in our eagerness to move beyond the sorrow of crucifixion we quickly jump to the victory of resurrection forgetting the interval between death and life.
Bible R.C. Sproul - A Man of the Book December 14, 2017 As we exited the double doors at the back of the church the pastor was there to greet us and shake our hands. He had a warm smile and a twinkle in his
Liberty of Conscience The Liberty and Limitations of Conscience December 09, 2017 In a wood shop in Italy a little cricket emerged and seated himself on a box of matches. As firelight danced on the walls the cricket drew near to a wooden puppet and
Hymns What Then Shall We Sing About? December 05, 2017 One of the most powerful influences in creation is music. Music has the ability to impress the mind, provoke the emotions of the heart, and activate the deepest recesses of our memories. In
Anniversary What C.S. Lewis Taught Me November 22, 2017 To use his own illustration, CS Lewis helped me hatch: "And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."
Disagreement The Crosses of Peace, Purity, and Progress November 10, 2017 In his famous biography Roland Bainton paints a captivating (if perhaps not altogether honest) portrait of one of Martin Luther's most famous moments. Attending an imperial assembly in the city of Worms, Luther
cultural engagement A Small Town Halloween October 28, 2017 To many in my community, Halloween is a night of small town fun. Our church will be lighting up our gravel parking lot and inviting our neighbors over to play games like glow
Five Solas Pipe Up Pastor: Justification, Sanctification, Good Works, and Judgment October 13, 2017 Hold up! Someone on the internet is wrong. I think. Maybe. Perhaps. At least that's what I was told. She says it's him. He says it's her. He says its him. Him says
