In high school I worked at Hess Bros Fruit Company, packing bags of apples into boxes. Bags come down the conveyor, and I would gently place the bags in boxes, close the box lid, and send it down the line to the box-taping machine. Then I would do it again. And again. And again. ForContinue reading “Preaching is like packing apples & Church competition can be brutal – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 3”
Tag Archives: church
How The Matrix taught me people are difficult (me included) – What I wish I would have known before becoming a pastor, Part 2
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”
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”
I’m nervous about the next Q & A week on the blog – Preview
For the past few years at Faith Church, one Sunday per quarter, I take a break from the sermon series, and I have a Current Events sermon. In those sermons, I scour the headlines, and study Scripture to try to help us think Christianly about the headlines. As always, I’ve blogged those sermons here. We’veContinue reading “I’m nervous about the next Q & A week on the blog – Preview”
The diminishment of the American presidency – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 5
A few years ago I was in a doctoral class about leadership, and we were talking about the American presidential election coming soon. My professor made what I thought was a very irresponsible comment, “The person in the White House matters very little.” My professor is a deep thinker, so I was surprised to hearContinue reading “The diminishment of the American presidency – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 5”
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”
Evaluating placing our hopes in a political candidate – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 3
In the previous post, we learned that after the Israelite elders ask Samuel to give them a king, God warns them that while having a king might sound effective or powerful like the nations around them, it could easily backfire. That warning didn’t make a dent in the elders’ desire for a king. In 1stContinue reading “Evaluating placing our hopes in a political candidate – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 3”
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”
I just can’t wait to be king – 1st Samuel 8-10, Preview
It was one year ago, May 6, 2023, that Prince Charles III of England was crowned King Charles (though he had acceded to the throne the previous September 22, when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, passed). Charles had been waiting for that moment for a long time. When his mother became queen, Charles was 4 yearsContinue reading “I just can’t wait to be king – 1st Samuel 8-10, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 