Christmas vacation or Christmas break is a loaded term when you are a pastor. I work on Sunday. I work on Monday. Finally Christmas and some time off gets here on Tuesday of next week. THIS IS NOT a complain. I love my calling and my work.
This is, however, my last post until after the [...]
Archive for December, 2007
Christmas Break
Posted in Christianity, Culture, Jesus, Life, Ministry, Religion, Theology, church on December 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
The Places that Inspire Praise?
Posted in Christianity, Culture, Jesus, Life, Ministry, Politics, Religion, Theology, church on December 20, 2007 | 2 Comments »
An Indian Slum . . .
A West Virginia Coal Camp . . .
The Streets of a Large City . . .
A farm in South Central Los Angeles being taken by the city government . . .
All of these places remind us of the poverty, the corruption and the darker side of life in the world. [...]
The Children Must Suffer the Sins of the Fathers?
Posted in Christianity, Culture, Jesus, Ministry, Politics, Religion, Theology, church on December 19, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Before I proceed, a reminder: this blog relfects my opinions and not necessarily the opinions of the church that I serve or those who attend.
Illegal Immigration.
I don’t usually address political issues but – as of late – polls are showing that we Americans just might make immigration one of our top three concerns for the [...]
Mike Huckabee . . . BOO!
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Life, Ministry, Politics, Religion, Theology, church on December 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
My wife and I fixed dinner for another family in our church yesterday afternoon. A recent surgery has the family a bit “strung out” and tired so we took them a “home-cooked” meal. While taking the food to their home, I was listening to a radio talk show. A woman called in to lament about [...]
The CEO, the Chaplain or the Undertaker
Posted in Christianity, Culture, Jesus, Life, Ministry, Religion, Theology, church on December 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
In many ways, lunchtime of Friday of last week was definately one of the highlights of my week. There is a retirement village and nursing home facility in the small town where I serve as a pastor. It’s called Wesley Village.
One of our members just recently moved into one of the patio homes at Wesley [...]
Throwing Eggs at a Brick Wall, Part Four
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Religion, Theology, church on December 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Some Basic Explanations (and maybe advice?)
1. Make use of the lectionary. Over the last 30 years there has been a trend toward “series” based messages that look at practical issues. I’ve done some of this, but it is not my gift. I love preaching from the word and this is what God has gifted me [...]
Throwing Eggs at a Brick Wall, Part Three
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Religion, Theology, church on December 13, 2007 | 2 Comments »
A Week in the Life of this “Preacher”
Some pragmatics for the last two posts in this chain. Today I want to give an outline of my “preaching” week. Tomorrow, I want to shoot off a list of basics about arriving at a solid, Biblically-based, logical, sermon.
Monday Morning
I drop my daughter off at Kindergarten, stop by [...]
Throwing Eggs at a Brick Wall, Part Two
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Religion, Theology, church on December 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Self-confidence becomes an issue in preaching. You don’t have to visit too many churches to realize that there are scores of pastors who preach with a gross sense of self-confidence. They are certain of everything and give the impression that their personal theology and its personal pragmatic implication is in an alignment so perfect that the [...]
Throwing Eggs at a Brick Wall, Part One
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Religion, Theology, church on December 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
There is just no way for me to get around it. Preaching and teaching each Sunday is a huge part of my job. It usually occupies 15 to 18 hours of my week. This week’s posts – entitled Throwing Eggs at a Brick Wall – will offer some reflections on the “art” and the “task” [...]
The Mess We’re In
Posted in Christianity, Jesus, Ministry, Religion, Theology, church on December 7, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I am about 35 pages from the end of Hampton Side’s Blood and Thunder. The book tells the true story of Kit Carson and the anglo-American conquering of the southwest. Specifically the books looks at the “Indian wars” that took place between the Spanish, then the Mexicans and finally the Americans and the Navajo tribes.
Sides [...]
