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Learning
Growth
Unity
Apollos: Mighty in the Scriptures
One of my favorite New Testament characters is the itinerant preacher Apollos. He bursts on the scene in Acts 18:24-28 and is mentioned again in I Corinthians and Titus 3. I like his combination of biblical knowledge and passionate delivery that God uses to change the lives of his hearers. Apollos is a role model for me.
When Christians Disagree
It’s no secret that Christians sometimes don’t get along. Like in all human relationships, conflict is inevitable, normal, and expected. But what happens when Christians sharply disagree on matters of practice and preference?
Telling Stories, Teaching Truth
Several years ago, I sent a sermon CD (many years ago!) to a church searching for an interim pastor. When I heard back from them, they told me that my sermon contained, in their words, “too many stories”.
The Breath of God
Many churches around the world will commemorate this Sunday, May 28th, as Pentecost Sunday, remembering the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts 2:1-13. Here are some observations about one of the most important events in church and world history.
A Different Way of Seeing
It’s become popular in recent years for professing Christians to deconstruct their faith. Usually, it begins with some kind of trauma or event that disrupts the deeply held beliefs of individuals.
What God Says About Jesus
I'm going to guess that most of you have never heard a message or Bible lesson on Psalm 110. But for first century Christians, many of whom were from Jewish backgrounds, Psalm 110 rose to the top in importance in prefiguring their newfound Messiah-Savior Jesus.
Let Justice Roll Down
Justice has become a ruined word to many conservative Bible believing Christians. Preachers who speak on justice are often considered "woke" and risk termination.
But justice is a robust biblical word. Take Amos 5:24 in the ESV as an example…
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.
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.
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?
Finding Our (Vocational) Identity
I believe I've been called to be a pastor. That calling is both internal (I sense in my heart God's calling on my life) and external (God's people, the church, recognize that calling in my life and ministry).
In addition, Scriptures like Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ezekiel 34, John 10:1-18, I Peter 5:1-4 have shaped my identity as a shepherd of God's people.
Lessons Learned at an Alaska Fishing Camp
Looking back at the articles I've written for the Forge, I'm finding a consistent thread: a desire to communicate the gospel to non-believers. To be sure, I'm still not very good at it, but I try. And I want the church to have that same desire. Isn't evangelism one of the purposes and mission of God's people?
So here again is another story of evangelism.
Camping with Millennials
Recently, my wife, Robin, and I returned from camping in northwest Wyoming with our niece and her husband. They do not share our faith, but we had a wonderful time with them. Here's what I observed and learned…
Things I've Never Done in Bend (and How I Should Be Different)
I was down at Farewell Bend Park after church today practicing my two-handed Skagit casting for an upcoming Alaska fishing trip. It was the Fourth of July weekend, so casting space was at a premium. I felt that I needed to rent a rock in order to find some room.
Anyway, it got me thinking about some things I've never done in Bend or central Oregon. I'll keep the list fairly short:
Awe in the Wilderness
When was the last time you felt a sense of awe? If you're like me, I suspect it's been a while. We live in a world that trivializes the divine and flattens the extraordinary. We fabricate a transcendence without God.
The One Indispensable Quality for Christian Leaders
I'm always a little uneasy when, after speaking or serving in a church, someone heaps on me excessive praise. I do appreciate their sentiment. I nearly always express thanks. But I know myself too well to take their comments to heart. I also know, like Jesus, what's in the hearts of men and women (John 2:24-25).
That's why I believe that the one indispensable quality for Christian leadership, both men and women, is …
Looking Back
My friend Bob Schuur once told me a quaint, but poignant Pennsylvania Dutch saying: "Too soon old; too late wise." What the expression says to me is that I wish I had learned earlier the lessons I now know and done the things I no longer can do.
Urgent! Spiritual Friends Needed
We desperately need more spiritual friendships in the body of Christ. I consider them the glue that holds a community of believers together when times get tough.
Exiles, Aliens, and Citizens
Despite having lived in Bend for the past 15 years, I honestly don't feel at home here. Of course, I value the friendships I've made and the experiences I've enjoyed here in central Oregon. But somehow it just doesn't feel like home.
My Worst Trait as a Pastor
If you're reading this, you may already know that I served as a pastor for most of my adult life. I continue receiving speaking opportunities even now for which I'm grateful. I feel gifted and called to be a pastor.
Unfortunately, everyone brings their weaknesses and character faults into any occupation or vocation, myself included.