Striving for Pastoral Faithfulness
Hard to believe, but in just a few short days, we will be celebrating Christmas! Now that I am a little older (those of you over 50, please don’t take offense to that statement), I am amazed at how quickly Christmas comes and goes. Sometimes in the midst of all the chaos, I struggle to […]
Read More Knowing the Christ of ChristmasWhen we lived in New York State, I think we had the best garbage guys ever. They were a ragtag crew of two, operating in an old, way past its prime, shouldn’t be on the road, kind of garbage truck. On our garbage day (Thursday if I remember correct) we never knew what time they […]
Read More “Just Living the Dream”I have always been fascinated by the bible passages where the call of God is given directly to His chosen servant. Let me give you a few examples. Moses: “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, Who […]
Read More The Call of God2 Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” The Christian life offers many paradoxes, one of which is the paradox of weakness. The Bible tells us that being weak is actually a good thing. Ironically, we all want to be strong. We want to be […]
Read More What Is So Great About Being Weak?“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew and then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: […]
Read More Not Ashamed“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16 Let’s make an assumption here. The apostle Paul would not have said these words if he didn’t feel there was reason to be ashamed. If there were nothing shameful about the gospel, […]
Read More The Shame of the GospelIn a few weeks, our son John will turn 1. The pace of his growth has been breathtaking, but especially of late. It seems like every week, he reaches a new milestone. It has been fascinating (and fun) for my wife and I to watch this remarkable growth, along with the growth of our twin […]
Read More Are You Growing in Your Walk With the Lord?“Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison.” (Colossians 4:3) Every Christian is surrounded by non-Christians. Whether it is next-door neighbors, co-workers, relatives, or friends, there are people in your life who are not […]
Read More Finding that “open door for the word.”In 2 Timothy 3:10-11, the apostle Paul reminds Timothy, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and suffering that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra – which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord […]
Read More Teaching and Modeling in Ministry1. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” Acts 2:42 2. “Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.” Romans 16:17 (NIV) 3. “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I […]
Read More The Importance of Teaching and Doctrine in the New Testament