Posts from 2018 (Page 4)
The Half-Trained Dog
“Over the years we have had a couple of dogs. Like most people, we planned to train our dogs until they were perfectly behaved, until they could go head-to-head with a police dog and perform just as well. For a little while we made good progress. We taught the dog to do its doggie business outdoors instead of indoors—that took only a week or two. We taught the dog to sit, which was simple enough because all we needed to…
Why I Don’t Sit With My Husband at Church
“Every week, men and women wander into our gatherings for the first time, some invited, others of their own accord. Some have recently moved and are seeking community while others haven’t been to church in a while, or ever. Their experience will determine whether they ever come back. For my husband and me, offering hospitality has meant breaking down a common church practice: sitting together as a family.” Read more…
Standing in the Pulpit
“I am of the conviction that we should, as much as we can, have a reason for everything we do as a church. For instance, you should have a reason why your sanctuary is set up the way it is; the position of the pulpit, the communion elements, and the like. Everything symbolises your beliefs, or lack thereof, about something. The obvious example of this is the pulpit. The reason most Protestant churches have their pulpit front and centre…
Awkward is better than Silent
“When we overcome all the fears we face in evangelism — slaying the deadly fear of man, dying to our fears of failure, and inviting people into our churches — there are deeper joys lying on the other side of the awkward conversations we often dread.” Read more..
A Church with Great Music
“I am convinced that the best measure of a church’s music is not what takes place on the stage, but what takes place in the pews. It is not so much the sounds and sights of a band leading, but the sounds and sights of a congregation worshipping.” Read more…
You Are Going to See God
“We will see God. Think about that. We are going to see God—you are going to see God. You, Mr. or Ms. Ordinary, are actually, in reality, going to stand before God and see Him for yourself. We say this truth with our words all the time, but I don’t think we really see it in our future like we see that tomorrow we’ll go to work and see our co-workers. Sure, we think about other people seeing God, but think hard about this: One day, it will…
The Irony of Hospitality
“We need to love one another in the body of Christ through words such as, “Don’t be a stranger. Come for lunch today, or drop by anytime.” That expression of kindness can do wonders in the life of a brother or sister. God says hospitality can and should be shown to Christians we already know and love. If you are practicing this currently without grumbling, you should be encouraged to know that God is pleased with your hospitable heart and…
It Takes a Church To Raise Your Child
“It takes a village to raise a child. Really, it takes a church to raise a child because it is in the church that our children find a whole community of adults who love them, who have a deep concern for them, and who are eager to see them come to faith and grow in godly character. This “village” is not there just to keep them in line when they get unruly, but to experience the joy of seeing them…
Seven Signs that Easter Happened
“Scholars and apologists often point to the Easter resurrection as the most important piece of historical evidence for the truth of Christianity. That of course, is right and proper—Paul himself uses it (1 Cor 15:5-7). But I think there are some other little bits of evidence in the Easter story that are persuasive in other ways. Here are seven odd and incidental details that that point to the eyewitness origins of the Gospel accounts.” Read more…
Click Like If You’d Help Jesus With His Cross
“So don’t click “like” this Easter. Just thank God that Jesus did for you what you would not do and could not do, to empower you to be willing to do what he’s called you to do.” Read more…