Usually when we think of grief, we think of what happens to us after a loved one has died. First, we experience the shock and denial of learning of the death. Then we become disoriented, anxious and even angry at the new reality of life without this person. We sink into dark places, where even […]
This Lent, my congregation will focus our Wednesdays on the topic of suffering as it is presented in the book of Job. I don’t need to convince you that suffering is a regular and unavoidable part of life. When we suffer or when we witness suffering, questions naturally arise. What is the cause of suffering? […]
It seems everywhere you look, someone is trying to influence our lifestyle choices. Whether it’s a retailer, an insurance company, a self-help book or a concerned mother, our lifestyle choices are under scrutiny. So often, when we make a healthy change, it doesn’t quite stick. Why? It’s one thing to make a change. It’s quite […]
A dear, wise friend once posed a critical question to me early in my ministry. “What is worship?” I struggled then to answer and continue to ponder to this day. What is it? Is it our weekly gathering that happens in a sanctuary? Of course! But is there more? We seem to fill the worship […]
Happiness. It is a fundamental American value. Yet, our relentless “pursuit of happiness,” often rings hollow and underwhelms, leaving us discontent. Undeterred, we resolve to carry on with the happiness expedition. Happiness must still be out there, somewhere. When we find it, we will finally be… happy. Is happiness the goal of a Christian? Is […]
For many years October 31, 2017 was greatly anticipated by my church body. Even 10 years ago, this day was being used to motivate and to inspire. Why? Because that date commemorated 500 years after Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses disputing the sale of indulgences to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. […]
There seems to be no relief. Our world has slipped into a persistent agitated state. Perhaps you see it in local and world events, or even your own life. People are agitated, angry and fed up. Our politics are agitated, our race relations are agitated, our international relations are agitated and all that agitation is […]
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may […]
You can’t be human and completely avoid conflict. Sin has it’s way of turning us inward and lashing outward. When it comes to conflict we know how to dish it and we know what it feels like to take it. What doesn’t come so naturally is how to resolve it. So, here are a few […]
It’s a fairly common criticism that churches face. “They’re just ‘playing church.’” I suppose that means the church isn’t serious enough, has lost its purpose or is just going through the motions. Perhaps that’s a worthwhile discussion, but I’m not talking about that here. I’m talking about play. You know, the kind of play you […]
