Learning
Growth
Unity
Preaching the Gospel in Flyover Country
Much of my ministry since Robin and I have moved to central Oregon has been preaching in the little churches in the small towns outside of Bend. Cultural elites would call it "flyover country" because they believe nothing much is happening in the country between New York and LA as they fly between coasts.
The Magpie and the Mole, Part 1
Post 1 in my series Metaphors That Matter: Insights into Life’s Challenges
It’s a truism, dating back at least to the 1800s, that opposites attract. It’s certainly true with magnets, but is it true with people?
Gems of the Ochocos
John may have smelled like smoke when he boarded the plane to Central Oregon in November 2016. He agreed to fly up from Colorado to consult on a potential camp purchase by a gentleman he had worked for when he was a young man. John was just the guy for the job.
Clay Pots
Clay pots, or pottery jars. They are not used much anymore. We used to see them when we lived in Mexico. As a school boy, standing on a corner on cold mornings I would buy a cup of hot chocolate from a street vendor who kept steaming hot chocolate in a clay pot.
Stay Dead
There is one question I have seen all over the Internet and heard in discussions recently. People are contemplating, “What does love require?” So profound in its simplicity. So intimidating in its reach.
Is Self-Care Selfish?
I’ve written before about the importance of self-care and how self-care gets a bad rap, especially among Christians, because it sounds self-serving and self-ish. And because it tends to be peddled as “me first” care.
A Not-So-Subtle Reminder
It was a good solid thought and, as far as sermons go, a
fun one to give. Then Monday happened.
Finding My Father
On the morning of November 2, 1956, my father, Clifford James Coughlin, died suddenly of an MI (myocardial infarction) while lying in bed with my mom. He was only 43 years old.
Should I Say Yes … or No?
As we head into the second month of a new year—some of us with goals and intentions in mind—I've been thinking about how to know when to make a new commitment, and when to recognize that our schedules are plenty full.
Bible Memory Challenge!
If you grew up in the church, maybe, like me, you memorized plenty of Bible verses. I still remember many I learned as a child—we had cassette tapes with Bible verses put to songs and those are still in my brain. And I’m really glad of that, I think it’s important. Scripture memory is something I emphasize with our kidztown classes.
The First Two and the Last
An original humorous hymn by one of our elders. Enjoy!
Face-to-Face
Being face-to-face intimate with God is critical to casting away anxiety, and the key to being filled with the fullness of God’s love. Facing the waves means recognizing they are under God’s loving control and mercy.
A Double Dose of Lewis
A couple of months ago, some Bendites received a double-dose of CS Lewis. On a cold Wednesday evening, Foundry Church hosted a movie night and showed a fine Lewis biography. It was a fun evening with friends and an actor, using mostly Lewis' own words, detailing his life and journey to faith
What If We Lived Connected?
Dan and I made a number of connections this past month, among them a large Christmas gathering with family, a writers’ critique group meeting, and a last-minute drive to Seattle to catch the premier screening of a film—made by a friend and featuring another friend.
Things the Bible Doesn't Say
Too often those who are familiar with the Bible, those of us who grew up in Sunday School and heard Bible stories read at home every night, will unconsciously substitute our traditional Bible story for what the Bible actually says. Somehow, we manage to read the words while our mind replaces the text with a modified fanciful story. Here I will try to look at four common Bible stories that many of us get wrong.
What a Minor Has For Us
Slotted into the back of the Older Testament a reader finds a dozen smaller books of prophecy. Because of their length, Augustine first called them the "Minor Prophets," but in terms of message, there is nothing minor about them.
Revelations on Revelation
I've had a love-hate relationship with Revelation. I love it because it is a fantastic ending to God's written Word, the Bible. I hate it because too often Christians believe they have the book figured out with elaborate charts, naming names, and setting dates.
Despite the differing interpretations of the book, is there some common ground we can all agree on?
Stacking Stones
Think back...way back to the beginning of your faith journey. Now, sift through your mental photo albums looking for times when Jesus photo-bombed your life and times. Collect these just like the guys hefting stones from a river bed and assemble your own monument of God showing up. Some of these may be dramatic and others might look coincidental, but if you look hard enough, there he is in the background.
Why Food, Cooking, and Hospitality are Sacred
During my widow years, I lived in a lovely guesthouse high on the side of Awbrey Butte with tall trees growing up to the balcony. The kitchenette was the width of two cabinet doors, it featured a bar sink and below-the-counter fridge, and I had to unplug the hot plate to use the toaster oven. Needless to say, I didn’t throw large dinner parties.
U-Turns
What does it mean to you to have God present in your life?
We, as followers of Jesus and believers in the truths that we learn from scripture, at our best, try to integrate what we know into how we live on a practical level. While that sounds good, we then run smack into ourselves, our selfishness, our prejudices, our politics and our worldview.