Learning
Growth
Unity
(You) Be Strong and Courageous
I can’t see the crumbled Ukraine buildings, the despairing mothers carrying frightened children, or the crowded train stations … without putting myself in that place.
How would I feel? What would I do in that terror-filled, horror-filled place? Would my actions play out in bravery or cowardice?
Have You Ever Thought About…
…Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
…The common but mistaken essence of the Christian faith?
…Why some “one anothers” didn’t qualify to be in the New Testament?
I have, too. And apparently, we’re not alone. Read on if you’re curious…
Do the Work of an Evangelist
I grew up in a Christian environment that emphasized telling others about Jesus. "Witnessing" was not an activity reserved for a few.
When I became a church pastor, that mentality changed.
Oh, Envy
A few Sundays ago, the Doonesbury comic featured Joanie, a Boomer like many of us, and Alex, a youngster like some of you, discussing social media. The oldster was asking which platform she might join. The 20-something describes the options…
Take Your Shoes Off, Please
We have a “No Shoe” policy in our house. We don’t wear shoes in our home, and we ask guests to please remove their shoes when they arrive. This may seem unnecessary, especially if shoes aren’t muddy or wet but, out of courtesy, they oblige. On the flip side, many people we know wear shoes inside of their homes. When I visit people who wear shoes in their house, it feels awkward to me to wear my shoes inside but…. like the old saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans.”
The Essence of Hospitality
Hospitality was a prominent quality in Pakistan. At every home we were welcomed, “Salaam alekum. Come, come. You must have chai.” Even as we shopped, chai was proffered. Sometimes it was green chai - a sweet, unfermented tea. Most of the time, it was that hot, fragrant, sweet milk tea made with cardamom - almost a meal by itself when made with rich water buffalo milk. The contrast was great - the richness of the chai and the poverty of the people.
Preach the Gospel to Yourself Everyday
For much of my Christian life, I've struggled with accepting God's love and forgiveness. Becoming a child of God didn't automatically rid me of my deep insecurities and perfectionistic streak. Becoming a pastor only made things worse.
Moving Forward
The church, at large, has been through a very difficult couple of years. Church attendance is down across the board, people are frustrated at levels that have rarely been seen, and solid answers to legitimate questions seem hard to come by. Foundry has not been immune to the problem.
Put Down the Glass, But That’s Not All
Every generation faces stress and battles stressors. I remember my folks talking about being young and scared and relatively poor during the Depression and WWII. I grew up living near two Air Force bases and did routine "duck and cover" drills in school and being told we may very well face a nuclear attack (and to take heart that our elementary desk would protect us). Today, we have our share of stressors everywhere we look, and I don't need to rehearse them for you since they seem to come running in packs, each barking for attention.
Beware of Destination Addiction
On our way home from serving at Family Kitchen, the thought came to me: I’m looking forward to going to Hawaii [Dan and I are scheduled for a week in the sunny islands], but take Hawaii out of the picture and I’m deeply content where I am. Here. Now.
It hasn’t always been this way, though.
Brain Games
I don’t know about you but the older I get the more I ask myself, “Why did I walk into this room?
As we grow older, we need to exercise our bodies AND our brains!
Kedar
We went to a different church one Sunday so we missed the sermon in our own church on Song of Solomon. And our pastor had even promised that it would be rated PG-13! But the church we visited was also talking about love. Just so I wouldn’t miss out, I spent the announcement time reading the first chapter of Song of Solomon.
I got as far as verse five: “Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar”. So, being curious I looked up Kedar.
Misery Loves Company
The last year so far has sort of felt like a Bizarro Aladdin and His Magic Lamp. “Tell me your three wishes, and I’ll give you the exact opposite!”
I wished for business to get back to normal, for everyone to come back to church, and for baseball season to come soon.
In-Person Matters
Online church was necessary for a while (and for a few is still necessary). But online church is not church. We cannot love and worship with heart, soul, mind and strength online. The cost of being apart from one another is steeper than we realize. We need physical interaction. Connecting with each other includes looking into someone’s eyes, hearing their voice, sharing their space, their presence.
Stay In Your Own Dog Dish
Take a listen to Proverbs 26:17:
"Like a fool who grabs a mad dog by the ears is the one who meddles in someone else's business."
Get a grip on that picture: A guy has a tight hold on a dog by the ears who is now quite angry. He can't hold on and can't let go. Now, he's stuck. The proverb says we can get just as stuck in a no-win situation when we wade in on a matter we aren't involved in. Stuck.
Women of The Hymnal
I have this old hymnal that I took from church several years back. It says First Baptist Church on the cover and sticking out the side is a mess of color-coded tabs leading to all my favorite hymns. I like to use my hymnal as part my regular morning devotionals, but lately it has become more of a distraction.
Testimony: How People Can See Jesus in Our Stories
I became a Christian my freshman year in college. Naturally, it was my life's most changing experience. And early on in my life with Jesus, I was discipled by a campus ministry to tell others about what Jesus had done in me.
What (or Who) Is Your Obsession? (Part 3)
In Part 2, we looked at five questions that could help us define our true obsession. Now we finish by considering how obsession is worship and how that defines your mission.
Late to Class
A short while back, Claudia forwarded on to me a brief video. Award winning and in a language I don't know, the short captured my heart. I've watched it more than a couple of times. If you will, watch it yourself before you read on. It runs for 4 minutes.
People Don’t Grow Where They’re Planted
During the time it set under our Christmas tree, an Amaryllis stalk sprouted in the small box. No water, no light, no nutrition. A squashed, bent-over stalk.
My Secret Sister left an anonymous gift for me a couple weeks before the December holiday. Since I love the anticipation of opening gifts on Christmas Day almost as much as actually opening gifts on Christmas Day, I set it under our tree for a couple weeks.
And then I opened the gift to the damage I had inadvertently done.