Author Archives: joelkime

Why I dislike church worship surveys very, very much

The pastors of the EC Church have a Facebook page.  It’s a place where we pastors talk shop throughout the week, ask each other questions, debate, and so on.  Recently a pastor friend of mine asked the following question: Has anyone ever surveyed their congregation regarding worship style? If so, do you have any questionsContinue reading “Why I dislike church worship surveys very, very much”

Reflections on a month of free coffee from Starbucks

I admit, I started with doubt.  My wife came home with what Starbucks calls the January refill travel mug.  For $30, it was a relatively inexpensive Christmas gift to each other.  The concept of the January mug is pretty simple: you buy the mug, and during the month of January, Starbucks will fill it anContinue reading “Reflections on a month of free coffee from Starbucks”

Is something wrong if you are not making disciples?

Have you ever made a disciple?  By “making disciples”, I don’t mean disciples of yourself, but instead I mean disciples of Jesus.  Have you ever helped a person grow closer to Jesus, be more committed to him? Jesus said the he would make his disciples “fishers of men.”  Essentially, he was saying that he wouldContinue reading “Is something wrong if you are not making disciples?”

To be a disciple or not to be a disciple…does it matter?

What do you think, is it an option for Christians to be disciples?  Is it possible that there are levels of connection with Jesus that are okay?  Specifically, while we all have to be believers in him, is it okay to be a believer but not a disciple?  Maybe discipleship is for the really intenseContinue reading “To be a disciple or not to be a disciple…does it matter?”

To be called or not to be called…the essential requirement for leadership in the church?

This morning we continued a brief series I’m calling New Years Resolutions for Faith Church.  We’re looking at two facets of the church that figure to be a significant focus for us in 2013: leadership and discipleship.  Over the next month or so, we’ll unveil a proposal for changing our church governance structure.  To prepareContinue reading “To be called or not to be called…the essential requirement for leadership in the church?”

Guest Post: Responding to Jesus’ Name

((This weekend we welcome Phil Bartelt once again to Faith Church.  Here’s some thoughts that Phil shared to help prepare for worship tomorrow.)) Philippians 2:9-11 tells us there is an appropriate response to Jesus’ name. Here is a poem that may help us as we prepare to explore our response. Let not my humble presence affrontContinue reading “Guest Post: Responding to Jesus’ Name”

Why our church prayer meeting tripled in attendance this week

We normally have 8-10 faithful pray-ers at the Faith Church prayer meeting each Wednesday evening.  This week we had 27. On Sunday night, a lady in our church family, who lives just a few doors down the road from the church building, was walking to a Bible study Christmas party, and she was struck byContinue reading “Why our church prayer meeting tripled in attendance this week”

Prophecies That Were Actually Fulfilled

As we get closer to 12-21, the date the world will end based on a Mayan calendar (I know…they might have misinterpreted it…), we’re going to hear more and more about prophecies.  Last year it was Harold Camping’s rapture date, and then the other one too.  Or was that two years ago?  I really don’tContinue reading “Prophecies That Were Actually Fulfilled”

Secession

Have you been hearing the talk about secession? Since President Obama won reelection people have been petitioning the White House to allow their states to secede from the Union. One report I heard said this is standard fare after just about every presidential election. Remember the last time we had secession? I mean real secession.Continue reading “Secession”