A few reminders for tomorrow - and going forward
I wanted to send a brief email with a few reminders for tomorrow and going forward....
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A living, growing skeleton ... and church administration
In Jr. High, one of my best friends developed a (thankfully temporary) pain in his knees because of how rapidly he was growing. And in a similar manner, our congregation has grown so rapidly since COVID that our “bones” need to catch up. ...
The Age of Grievance
In a new book released last week, The Age of Grievance, American journalist Frank Bruni has offered an insightful examination of the ways in which grievance has come to define our culture (especially in politics, on both the right and left). Bruni documents how more and more of us are keeping a record of slights or pulling out the tape measure on our perceived misfortunes and blaming others for it. As Bruni would say, “The blame game has become the country’s most popular sport and victimhood its most fashionable garb.”...
I know this seems really odd, but ...
First, I have to admit that the entire world of modern telecommunications still amazes me. I actually know why we say, “Hang up the phone!” because I grew up when a phone was attached by a cord to the wall, and to end a call, you had to “hang it” back up where it always stayed....
How do you feel about seeking something that's lost?
If you ever played hide-and-seek, did you ever really love being the one who was doing the seeking? I hated it. First, it meant that I had been caught first in the prior round when I had been hiding (so it felt like I had failed). Second, I always had a sinking feeling of dread, wondering inwardly, “What if I can’t find anyone?”...
Continuity and Change
Think about how you are the same, no matter what your age, as the day you were born. Just as an acorn grows from being a large nut to a sprig to a 200-year-old mammoth of a tree, you have gone from being an embryo to a fetus to a newborn baby to a toddler to whatever you are today....
What is really wrong here?
The right tool fits the job. You wouldn’t try to drive in a nail with a tape measure. Even if you tried to do that, failed, and then complained, “This tape measure is no good!”...
Do you pray for others that they would come to trust Jesus?
If you’re reading this, my guess is that you are not a kid. So, I also suspect you understand basic anatomy and sexuality. ...
How Do You Think About Generosity?
We asked, and you answered — thank you! Last month, our leaders asked me to communicate to you that we were behind on giving for 2023, and your response has been encouraging....
Announcing my sabbatical
For many of you, you may not even know what a sabbatical is. Traditionally, it derived from the world of university professors who were granted a period of paid leave for study or travel. ...
We need to talk about sex
Over the last few years, we’ve weathered COVID-19, profound social and political tensions, and behind it all, there has been a steady shift in what sexuality even is — let alone what is now considered sexually appropriate....
What you have your neighbors need ...
I have a specialized weeding tool and last week I just couldn’t find it. But I wasn’t worried, because I was pretty sure I knew where to look....
Keep ReadingHe means you and me. And everyone.
Obviously, our country is divided. Many will see this as a surprising new concern, and some will see this as a long-standing cancer. ...
Keep ReadingResuming worship in person, Sunday, June 7 - with 2 Services, 9 & 10:45a
Our elders met last night to vote and approve our plans for resuming corporate worship in person on June 7. ...
Keep ReadingWe Have A Working Plan
We have a plan ...
Keep ReadingOthers Can, You Can't
“Others can. You can’t.” I bet I heard that 100 times from my parents when I was growing up....
Keep ReadingBig Pandemic Feelings
I ran across this very helpful article. And rather than summarize, or just quote portions, I thought it best to simply include the entire thing. ...
Keep ReadingWhat Are We Trying To Build?
What do you do when your distinctive identity (for centuries even) gets stripped away? ...
Keep ReadingOur Plans to Remain Patient
Discussions of the current Coronavirus are getting as partisan as were discussions of the economy or other matters from just a few months ago, B.C. (Before COVID-19)...
Keep ReadingProfound Needs = Profound Opportunity
It’s not every day that I get to be in a conference call with a senator, but I was invited into call yesterday with Florida Senator, Marco Rubio....
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