I was quite disturbed by the article about a teenager committing suicide while on a webcam. See article at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,455784,00.html As a pastor, this article speaks to the hurting in our country and world. This article creates uneasiness in my spirit as I reflect on my ministry and how I can reach out to those [...]
Archive for November, 2008
20 Nov
Peace and Quiet
Sunsets and Sunrises are my favorite times of Day. It is in both of these times that I realize the gift that God has given to us called LIFE. Sunrise reminds me of the new beginnings that are associated with a personal relationship with Christ. It is because of the SONRISE that we have victory [...]
20 Nov
Greed and the Financial Markets
At the beginning of 1991, the DOW had closed at over 2000 points for the first time. I can remember sitting in my finance class and going through investment strategies. As I started my investment portfolio, it soon became apparent that something was not above board in the way stock values were being driven upward. The [...]
19 Nov
Relational Wholeness
Chapter 1 In Search of Wholeness
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. –Isaiah 53:4
It was cold November day in 1972 that I worked side by side with my father to fix a gutter on our garage. I [...]
19 Nov
Transforming Information: Moving From Knowing To Being
Information literacy is about moving from “knowing” to “being”. It is easy for us as learners to simply search for the superficial answer. However, information literacy is about engaging the information and transforming the knowledge to where it becomes a part of our being. According to Bruce (2002), “Information literacy is generally seen as pivotal [...]
17 Nov
Missed Opportunity
Today as I sat reading Matthew 25, I encountered the story of the Ten Bridesmaids with a new sense of understanding. So many times, I have read this parable of Jesus without really reflecting on the significance of what was being said. However, today God’s Word jumped out at me. I invite you to read [...]
17 Nov
Beyond the Church Walls
One of the greatest challenges for the small membership church is to move beyond the church walls. A variety of reasons exist for this major challenge. Overcomeing these challenges are not easy until spiritual growth begins to occur in the chruch. Why?
Think of the small membership church within a context of a family. Family dynamics [...]
17 Nov
Defeating Your Giants
Recently I was reading the narrative of David and Goliath. As I read I could not help but reflect on how each of us have giants that we face in our lives. Some of the giants can be as small as where to go on vacation to as large as receiving news of a loved [...]
17 Nov
Jesus As Friend
In the Gospel of John we read the Wedding at Cana narrative. As I struggled early with who Jesus was in my faith walk, I came across this passage one day. Notice that Jesus did not show up without first being invited to this gathering. In all the readings prior to this day, I had [...]
17 Nov
Beyond the Election
It has been very unnerving for me listening to comments made by several Americans following the election. As a pastor, I have been approached by several individuals, churched and unchurched, asking questions concerning “End Times” prophecy. As I have researched this subject, I have been somewhat amazed at how modern day events seem to fit [...]
Ponderings By Others