I wonder if the Apostle Paul made a big mistake. I say that hesitantly, cautiously, only speculating, but as I read what he says to his fellow Jews one day in Jerusalem, I can’t help but think, “Paul, that is a really bad move.” What did he say? As I mentioned in the previous post,Continue reading “Does the Apostle Paul make a grave mistake when telling his story? – Acts 22-23, Part 3”
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What kind of life counts as memoir-worthy – Acts 22-23, Part 2
I recently read former Secretary of State Madeline Albright’s memoir covering the years 2000-2020. Since leaving office, Albright has continued to lead a fascinating life, seeking to make an impact around the world. Her memoir got me thinking about my own story, and wondering what kind of life counts as worthy of a memoir. DoContinue reading “What kind of life counts as memoir-worthy – Acts 22-23, Part 2”
What my old sofa taught me about story-telling – Acts 22-23, Part 1
Last week our family got a new sofa for our living room. So Michelle and I carried the old sofa out to our front lawn and put a “Free” sign on it. We were hoping someone could use it, and also save us the trouble and expense of discarding it. We watched what appeared toContinue reading “What my old sofa taught me about story-telling – Acts 22-23, Part 1”
What to do when Covid is a no-win situation for churches (and other orgs) – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 5
Earlier this week the local school board met to discuss how to handle the upcoming start of the school year. Should kids be back in the building? If so, should they wear masks. By the way, I’m writing this during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, before a vaccine has been developed, and to date 150,000Continue reading “What to do when Covid is a no-win situation for churches (and other orgs) – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 5”
How to be an encouragement – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 4
Our study of the “One Another” passages in the New Testament continues. If you haven’t read the previous posts, I encourage to start at the first one here. There are more than 50 “One Another” passages, and put together they form a powerful teaching about the identity and practice of the church. This week IContinue reading “How to be an encouragement – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 4”
How to say “I love you” – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 3
I remember as teenager and young adult feeling very awkward or embarrassed about the phrase, “I love you.” In my mind, “I love you,” was three of the deepest, most significant words a person could say to another, and thus ought to be reserved only for a significant other or family member. Maybe a reallyContinue reading “How to say “I love you” – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 3″
What is the most important way to describe the church?
How do you describe your church? At Faith Church, we often use the term, “family.” Some call the church a flock, a congregation, a parish, or one of many of other terms. None of those are wrong. In fact, there are loads of ways the biblical authors describe the church. There’s one, though, that comesContinue reading “What is the most important way to describe the church?”
Do you have disagreements in your church? – Current Events 2020 Q3, Part 1
What do you do when you’re at a church gathering and someone makes political statements? Do you feel uneasy? Do you sense the temperature in the room start to rise? What if those political statements are viewpoints you tend to disagree with? Do you confront them? Do you disagree? What do you do when someoneContinue reading “Do you have disagreements in your church? – Current Events 2020 Q3, Part 1”
Let your freedom be ruled by love – Acts 21, Part 5
A man and his family went to church recently. This man and his family are healthy people, and believed that they do not need to wear masks. I’m writing this in July 2020 as coronavirus cases in the USA just exceeded 4 million, and many states are requiring the wearing of masks in public placesContinue reading “Let your freedom be ruled by love – Acts 21, Part 5”
Do politics and tradition guide your thinking more than Jesus? – Acts 21, Part 4
In 1991 the former Grand Wizard of the KKK, David Duke, was in a run-off election to become governor of Louisiana. In the four weeks leading up to the run-off, the New Orleans Saints were playing a home game, and a black season ticket holder told the story of his feelings as loud eruptions ofContinue reading “Do politics and tradition guide your thinking more than Jesus? – Acts 21, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 