Learn from Christian's experience in Pilgrim's Progress (1688 AD): So I saw in my dream that just as Christian came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders and fell from off his back and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, … Continue reading Have You Looked at the Cross Lately?
Devotional Thoughts
The Physical Presence of Other Christians
How easy it is in our country where we tend to take our freedom for granted to view the physical presence of other Christians as an assumed privilege. In other cases, we can grow bitterly disappointed with other Christians and shun contact with them like the plague. Dietrich Bonhoeffer challenges us to view the physical … Continue reading The Physical Presence of Other Christians
A Worship Guide for Good Friday
Grieving on Good Friday REFLECTIONS O all ye who pass by, behold and see; man stole the fruit, but I must climb the tree; The tree of life to all, but only me: Was ever grief like mine? — From the poem “The Sacrifice” by George Herbert Is it nothing to you, all you who … Continue reading A Worship Guide for Good Friday
Sad Hearts Sing – The Walk to Emmaus
Prayer: O God, open the eyes of our hearts to see You for who you are today – the risen Savior who conquers all of our enemies. Renovate our unbelieving hearts so that they burn with devotion and love for our risen Savior and Lord. I don't know about you, but I still get chills … Continue reading Sad Hearts Sing – The Walk to Emmaus
The Confessions of a Pastor
Holy Father, all of us serve at Your bidding as undershepherds of the Great Shepherd of the sheep – our Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, we ask Your forgiveness for the times that we have taken for granted the awesome privilege we have to serve as a divinely-appointed shepherd to watch over Your sheep. … Continue reading The Confessions of a Pastor
Thielicke, Barth, and Cyprian – On the Lord’s Prayer
In the closing months of WWII, Helmut Thielicke preached on the Lord’s Prayer. He spoke words that ring true for us today: “In these fearful, fateful weeks many people appear to have become alienated from their faith in God: They begin to ask how He can ‘permit’ such things to happen. It would be better, … Continue reading Thielicke, Barth, and Cyprian – On the Lord’s Prayer
Three Priorities During A Season of Change
What are we to focus on during times of organizational change? Here are three priorities for leaders during a season of significant change in your church's life: a. Hospitality: Express biblical love for strangers. This is the literal definition of hospitality in the original New Testament. We are called to welcome and listen to those who … Continue reading Three Priorities During A Season of Change
What’s Your Destiny?
Isaiah 40:5 “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” We are all on a quest to find and fulfill our destiny. The soul-searching question of Forrest Gump has challenged every thinking human being: “What’s my destiny, Momma?” When … Continue reading What’s Your Destiny?
Compassion at Christmas Time – A Word from Henri Nouwen
“Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to a place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by … Continue reading Compassion at Christmas Time – A Word from Henri Nouwen
On This Matter of Stewardship
Well, it’s that time of year again when we address the subject of stewardship. Yes, we unashamedly talk about money, but stewardship is much more than just how you save, spend, and give money. It is more about a lifestyle and a mentality. When it comes to thinking about all we possess, most of us … Continue reading On This Matter of Stewardship
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