In my first year as senior pastor of Faith Church, I showed a video clip from the R-rated movie The Matrix, attempting to illustrate a sermon. I could have shown a brief clip from the film that was relatively tame, but, no, I had the great idea of showing a ten-minute clip, including then scene whereContinue reading “How The Matrix taught me people are difficult (me included) – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 2”
Tag Archives: christianity
Pastoral Ministry is not only a job, it is a life – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 1
“What do you wish you would’ve known before becoming a pastor?” We pastors talk about it all the time amongst ourselves. We rarely if ever talk about it with the people we pastor. Yet that’s what I did this past Sunday at Faith Church. Why? Once per quarter I pause my sermon series and haveContinue reading “Pastoral Ministry is not only a job, it is a life – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 1”
The king who didn’t want to be king – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 4
This week I’ve been blogging about the story of Israel asking for a king. God is their king, but they want a human king. Amazing God grants their wish, and in the last post we met the king. He’s a man name Saul. As the story in 1st Samuel chapter unfolds, Saul searches for hisContinue reading “The king who didn’t want to be king – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 4”
How do you react when you are hurt by someone? – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 2
What comes out of you when you are hurting? When someone treats you poorly or says something unkind to you, how do you react? The elders of Israel have just come to Samuel, asking for a king. See the previous post for all the details. What will Samuel say? Samuel’s response is in verse 6,Continue reading “How do you react when you are hurt by someone? – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 2”
Does it really go better when organizations (including marriages) have one single leader? – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 1
Take a look at these nicknames in the list below. Do you know the people they are referring to. They are all famous people from the 1900s and 2000s. The answers are at the conclusion of the post. See how many you can guess! The King of Rock & Roll King James The King ofContinue reading “Does it really go better when organizations (including marriages) have one single leader? – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 1”
The mysterious events around the Ark of the Covenant – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 4
Does the Ark of the Covenant have power? In the previous post, we learned that the Israelites thought all they needed to do was bring the Ark out to the battlefield, and God would give them victory over the Philistines. We learned the Israelites were wrong. Instead of the Ark destroying the Philistines, the PhilistinesContinue reading “The mysterious events around the Ark of the Covenant – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 4”
The arrogance of Israel’s super weapon – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 3
After a stinging defeat at the hands of the Philistines, the elders of Israel have a plan to strike back. It’s their secret super weapon. Why they didn’t bring out the weapon in the first place, we don’t know. But now they do, and the super weapon has a profound effect on the Philistines. Let’sContinue reading “The arrogance of Israel’s super weapon – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 3”
How easily we can succumb to folk theology – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 2
Years ago someone told me how they got into a car accident while driving on a snowy road. They hit a slick patch, lost control, the vehicle spun around and they came to a rest against a snow bank on the side of the road. No injury. No damage. No collision. Nothing. They said theyContinue reading “How easily we can succumb to folk theology – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 2”
Is God to blame for the times life goes wrong? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 1
Did you have a spiritual crisis and turn to God in grief, “Why Lord?” when a container ship hit the Key Bridge in Baltimore, and six people lost their lives? You were likely saddened and even appalled. My guess is that the disaster was like the many, many other disasters that happen so frequently; theyContinue reading “Is God to blame for the times life goes wrong? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 1”
Can we learn anything from Indiana Jones about the power of the Ark of the Covenant? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Preview
I suspect most of you have seen one or more of the Indiana Jones films starring Harrison Ford. In the films, Ford plays Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, a professor of archaeology who has numerous adventures wearing his famous fedora and wielding a whip. In the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, “Indy” tries to stopContinue reading “Can we learn anything from Indiana Jones about the power of the Ark of the Covenant? – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 