Today I am back “home”–my first opportunity to assemble for worship with my Park Plaza spiritual family this month. (Good thing June has five Sundays!) Today the elders will pray for various mission efforts of the Park Plaza church, including my upcoming trip to Venezuela. I am thinking this morning about how grateful I am …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Praying for Missions with the Spiritual Family”
Today I will worship with my extended spiritual family at the North Side church in Mena, Arkansas. This church has a special place in our hearts as we have shared the spiritual journey for over 40 years. We are colaborers together in various mission efforts around the world. I will miss my family at home …
Despite the fact that many calendars printed for use in the workplace now begin the week on Monday, and that in the minds of most people the weekend is Saturday and Sunday, Sunday is the beginning of a new week–the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day. The opportunity to worship God without fear …
Continue reading “A Busy Week–Looking Backward, Looking Forward”
He was an excellent student. He had grown up in a Christian home. He wanted to become a preacher, but….he had doubts. “What if I can’t make it as a preacher?” He sat in my office during the scheduled advisor-advisee conference. He shared some of his story. He had watched a parade of preachers who …
My 20th Mother’s Day since my mother’s death. Twenty years of gratitude and remembering. The sense of loss still exists–but it is less acute. Now my wife Jan is the significant mother in my life. She is the mother of our three sons. She is Nana to our grandchilldren. I do not get to be …
If we don’t understand God, it is unlikely we will understand much else of our place and life. Understanding God is foundation for understanding Christ; yet Christ shows us God. This is a paradox in Christianity. We do not study God. We do not seek to know him nor understand him. God’s entire purpose is …
It’s Sunday again. We are traveling again. Another Sunday away from our home church family. Another Sunday away from normal routines, worshiping with part of our extended spiritual family. We love meeting and knowing other Christians, but it is not the same as being “at home.” It’s Sunday again–a good time to reflect upon why …
Today is jam-packed filled with kingdom “stuff.” We will attend early Anglo worship; I will teach the Bible class at Iglesia de Cristo. Today is community groups day–spending time with brothers and sisters is always special. This afternoon I will preach and give a mission report at Fort Gibson. This church is special, near and …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Teaching and Preaching about God”
I enjoy new songs. I am glad we have fresh words and melodies to express our adoration to God. I also like many of the older songs. One song that we sang frequently in the little church where I grew up in central Kansas was titled “Lord We Come Before Thee Now.” For a time, …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Hearts Attuned to Praise”
“Home is where the heart is!” With that idea in mind, I am “home” every Sunday as I worship with God’s spiritual family, for I am blessed to be able to follow my heart and the heart of God in my mission and ministry activities. This year, through eleven Sundays I have worshiped with eleven …
