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The Best Way to Save the Church is to Keep Doing What We’ve Always Done

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.  (Eccl. 1:9) Why I Missed the Leadership Summit I didn’t make the Leadership Summit.  I wrote it down on my calendar, set my phone to go bezerk at the right time and even thought about getting close to wi-fi (which does not exist in … Continue reading The Best Way to Save the Church is to Keep Doing What We’ve Always Done

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G’night Little Girl, Don’t Be Like Daddy

Don’t hold your tongue when there’s truth to say. Don’t clench your fist when there’s mercy to give. Don’t throw your boots off when there’s horses to hay. Don’t lay on the couch when there’s life to live. Don’t make excuses for failing to love. Don’t say no to walks on the beach. Don’t overlook the slightest move. Don’t keep loved-ones out of reach. Don’t … Continue reading G’night Little Girl, Don’t Be Like Daddy

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The Teaching Church

Lately, I have really enjoyed the teaching ministries in my charge.  We have a covenant group reading Richard Foster’s classic Prayer.  The participants are smart and curious, a real treat to be with.  This week we also began an afternoon study on Genesis.  I was delightfully surprised by the number of participants.  It is very encouraging to take the time to prepare a lesson and … Continue reading The Teaching Church

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We Need a Christians-Only Internet

We could digitize and codify baptismal records.  That way, only certified Christians can use this ‘Christians-only’ internet.  We can establish standards for when someone backslides…kind of like points on your driver’s license.  Accumulate enough points and one has to exit the ‘online universal church’ and perform penance to be allowed back in.  We can anoint online priests to hear confessions and pronounce absolution for said … Continue reading We Need a Christians-Only Internet

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Sonnets

Lenten Sonnet

Give up your meat, give up your right to win. Take on the shame, behold your righteous rags. While stepping in the foot-tracks of your sin, The stony weight upon your back now sags. With shoulders slumped the pathway rises on While skeletons of yesteryear appear And chatter with their mercies well withdrawn The incline rises ever more severe. Lift up thine eyes, a Savior … Continue reading Lenten Sonnet

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Reading for Lent

Lent has turned into a time of reading.  I know many pastors are avid readers…I’m not.  I’m slow, tedious and hard to please.  I have started many-a-book that I never finished, including books I was enjoying.  My favorite book of all time, A Prayer for Owen Meany, I began 3 times before completing.  I guess I have a shorter attention span and/or I crave immediacy, … Continue reading Reading for Lent

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The Second Day of Lent

Rain.  Gray.  Rivers rising.  Mud everywhere.  Vitamin-D low.  Worries high.  A typical Thursday. Samuel–Son of Hannah, Man of God Samuel is God’s reward to Hannah for her prayers.  Then she gives him up to the Temple.  Before taking him to the Temple, Hannah has time one-on-one with Samuel, her first son, evidence that God heard her prayer.  She retains him in the home until he … Continue reading The Second Day of Lent

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