Can you imagine living in a country that has been enduring a civil war? Most people in the world cannot understand what that must be like. In my own country, the American Civil War in the 1860s was horrific. Reading the history and visiting places like the battlefields of Gettysburg, PA, I am astounded andContinue reading “The world’s longest civil war – Current Events November 2021, Part 3”
Tag Archives: church
What happened when we decided to rent out our church – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 2
Earlier this year, Faith Church made some new neighbors. Just before the Covid pandemic began in March 2020, I received a phone call from a pastoral colleague at one of Faith Church’s sister churches. He was reaching out because another pastor (not from a sister church) had been visiting his church, looking to rent space.Continue reading “What happened when we decided to rent out our church – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 2”
When the world moves into your neighborhood – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 1
Who are your neighbors? Think about people who live around you. Imagine their faces, say their names. How well do you know them? Who is your neighbor? There are many other kinds of neighbors. Some people are unexpected neighbors. Some people are neighbors that you didn’t realize are neighbors. Some are neighbors, and you knowContinue reading “When the world moves into your neighborhood – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 1”
What we’ll be talking about during Current Events Week – November 2021: Preview
This coming week, we’ll be taking a break from our Ezekiel series because it is time for the next quarterly Current Events week. As always, for Current Events, I do a Google search scouring the headlines to see what everyone is talking about that we can bring biblical teaching to bear on. This week theContinue reading “What we’ll be talking about during Current Events Week – November 2021: Preview”
Why and how we humans need to get smaller – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 5
I can’t say that I always enjoy taking my dog outside in the cold or in the rain. Okay, I almost never enjoy it, especially when it is raining. But when the night sky is clear, and the stars are bright, as my dog is doing his business out in the yard, I will lookContinue reading “Why and how we humans need to get smaller – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 5”
The dangerous ideology of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 4
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” That phrase is an American anthem of sorts, pointing to an idea embedded in our history and culture, that we are individuals who have the power and ability to survive and thrive if we just work hard enough. But is this principle true? Even the task described in theContinue reading “The dangerous ideology of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 4″
The difference between healthy and evil pride – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 3
Do an internet search on the word “pride,” and the results will be vast and varied. Think about the ways we use the word “pride.” A group of lions is called a “pride.” There is the phrase, “proud as a peacock.” A famous contemporary usage refers to sexual identity and rights. There is good prideContinue reading “The difference between healthy and evil pride – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 3”
God wants to be known, even by his enemies – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 2
As we learned in the previous post, God has just told Ezekiel to stare. But this stare is different. How is it different? Remember that the Prophetic Stare has no power. It is simply a symbolic gesture through which God shines the light of his truth on something. In that way, this stare is theContinue reading “God wants to be known, even by his enemies – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 2”
The time my new boss made me feel like an arrogant fool – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 1
Before I started pastoral ministry at Faith Church I worked for eight months at my denomination’s seminary in Myerstown. I was the Director of the Annual Fund, meaning that my job was to raise money for the school. On one of my first days on the job, my boss walked me around campus introducing meContinue reading “The time my new boss made me feel like an arrogant fool – Ezekiel 25-28, Part 1”
Why the Seven Deadly Sins are not deadly, but we should still pay attention to them – Ezekiel 25-28, Preview
Have you heard of the Seven Deadly Sins? The title of the list conveys the idea that if you commit those sins, you will die. People believe there is such a list in the Bible called “The Seven Deadly Sins,” but there is no such list in the Bible. While there are numerous lists ofContinue reading “Why the Seven Deadly Sins are not deadly, but we should still pay attention to them – Ezekiel 25-28, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 