The words are easy to say, often difficult to believe. Our gracious God has brought us to this point in time through whatever difficulties and challenges, mistakes and problems we may have experienced–even those we inadvertently brought upon ourselves. He has promised his presence as he walks beside us into the future. Who are we …
Category Archives: Church
It’s Sunday Again: Upside Down
I am preaching today–so much I would like to say and so little time. We must cease trying to operate the church in the same way other organizations operate. Luke’s gospel employs reversals as a literary device to highlight comparisons, choices, and contrasts. The more obvious reversals include well-known stories such as the Good Samaritan, …
Its Sunday Again: The Fullness of Christ
Today I will preach at the Iglesia de Cristo Kennedy (a church in Colonia Kennedy in Tegucigalpa). This church has a great story to tell–moving from meeting in a school to its own building, now with the building remodeled. The church exhibits enthusiasm and a bright future. The church must never forget its identity. The …
Fringe Folks Fall More Easily
We had what appeared to be a very good day yesterday at church. Attendance was good, we had visitors, the contribution was encouraging. I noted that folks were talking about a new day and new possibilities. Indeed, we have come a long way in the last three years. After a difficult time, we have found …
On the Front Line
Over the last 50 years, the ways in which wars are waged has changed considerably. War is now high-tech, impersonal, sterilized, even glorified. Nonetheless, combat is life-threatening. If being on the front lines involves less personal, face-to-face, hand-to-hand combat, the threat of IEDs and a variety of explosive devices has increased the danger. Being on …
We Don’t Do Uprisings down at the Churchhouse!
I have been thinking about the fact that most of the time people express their displeasure when something goes wrong. In the academic world, college students complain because graduation tickets are limited and their family and friends won’t be able to attend and see them graduate; students let the administration know how they feel about …
Continue reading “We Don’t Do Uprisings down at the Churchhouse!”
2010: Renewing the Mission
The church where I minister does not have an official mission statement. Perhaps that is bad. A positive that comes is that I get to continually write possible mission statements that reflect who we are and what we are trying to become. As I think about 2010, I have developed a new mission statement. Perhaps …
Software, Freeware, and Church
Large segments of the contemporary church are stuck, as in the mud. The church has developed its own little box from which is cannot escape. It cannot escape in part because it does not want to escape. It does not know it needs to escape. It cannot recognize that there is a brand new (and …
Iglesia de Cristo: Edmond
Jan and I had the privilege last night of being part of a historic night. We attended the first night of the first evangelistic campaign of the Iglesia de Cristo (Spanish Church of Christ) in Edmond. There were 57 present. Brother Clemente Castorena (originally from Mexico, now working in Shelbyville, Tennessee) spoke on the importance of …
A Jesus Manifesto: Frank Viola and Len Sweet
If you have not seen the buzz about the Monday posting by Len Sweet and Frank Viola, you need to read what they have written. The church must get back to what the church is about in the mind and plan of God. This is the glory of the church, and the power and future …
Continue reading “A Jesus Manifesto: Frank Viola and Len Sweet”