Some of you may find this post particularly helpful. I am going to share five practices that have been helpful to me in cultivating freshness. Hopefully, at least one of these might be helpful to you as you prepare your mind and heart for a new school year. Each July, for the past nineteen years,… Continue reading Five Suggestions for Cultivating Freshness
Category: Church
If You Could Change One Thing About Your Church
(I am away on a vacation/study break during the month of July. The posts that appear during the month are from the archives.) What is it that would help your church be more effective in its ministry? I suspect that the answers to such a question might be varied. For example, some might say they… Continue reading If You Could Change One Thing About Your Church
Wanted: Moments of Grace
It was an embarrassing moment as a young minister. Charlotte and I had been living in Abilene while I finished seminary. I had just completed my studies and moved to north Alabama where I began preaching for a church. Now, I was a full-time minister for a congregation. I was overwhelmed and had no idea… Continue reading Wanted: Moments of Grace
An Agenda for Your Life? (Guest Writer-Jordan Hubbard)
(The following is a post by my friend, Jordan Hubbard, Senior Minister at the Belton Church of Christ in Belton, Texas. Jordan is a good friend, an excellent preacher, and a good thinker. Enjoy!) The church in Philippi had issues. Something was happening in this congregation of believers that caused division and discord. The joy… Continue reading An Agenda for Your Life? (Guest Writer-Jordan Hubbard)
699 People!
699 What a great number! That is how many people came to the Crestview Community Center last night from the Waco area to register to be a possible bone marrow donor. We are in the middle of a story at our church. This is a story about a young couple, Susan and Van who love… Continue reading 699 People!
Question: Self-promotion or Self-less Service?
I would like to hear what you think about this. What has been your experience? I mentioned to you in a recent post that I am spending much time in 2 Corinthians right now. There is a fascinating section of this book that I have read a number of times. The text is 2 Corinthians… Continue reading Question: Self-promotion or Self-less Service?
When Faith Meets a Locked Door
Have you ever walked into a room and then closed the door behind you only to realize that you were locked in? Charlotte and I had been invited, along with our small group, to dinner at a family’s new home. They had only lived in this house a few weeks. They were still making adjustments… Continue reading When Faith Meets a Locked Door
Question: What are the Secrets in Churches?
I’ve got a question. What are the secrets in churches? I believe that in churches everywhere, people have secrets. These are secrets that men and women have in their hearts. These secrets may involve feelings, questions, sins, past experiences, addictions, future intentions, etc. Some of these secrets include: 1. The man who has always had… Continue reading Question: What are the Secrets in Churches?
Question: How is the Church to Talk About Sex?
What do you think? How should the church be addressing the subject of sex? Think for a moment about our context: 1. We live in a highly sexualized culture. Sexual images are everywhere (advertising, various forms of entertainment, etc.). News in pop culture ranges from “wardrobe malfunctions” at the half time of a Super Bowl… Continue reading Question: How is the Church to Talk About Sex?
Question: What Contributes to the Moral “Train-wrecks”?
I would love to hear your response to this. What contributes to the moral train-wrecks? Minister has an affair. Longtime Christian wife/mother decides to leave her husband and children. Church leader reveals a fifteen-year addiction to pornography. Longtime Christian is sent to prison after numerous incidents of theft. He explains that the motivation for his… Continue reading Question: What Contributes to the Moral “Train-wrecks”?