We all have firsthand experience with anger gone wrong. We’ve dished it out. We’ve been on the receiving end. We’ve heard and seen others get angry at each other. At some point in each day you are probably affected by some form of anger gone bad—either your own or someone else’s. Often it’s mild—frustrations, complaining, irritation. Often it’s veiled—judgmental thoughts, passive aggressions...
When it comes to actors in our time, I believe Tom Hanks is among the best. In addition to his memorable performances, he has a collection of stand-out lines: “Life is like a box of chocolates” and “There’s a snake in my boot.” But perhaps none fits our next point more than one of his lines from Apollo 13: “Houston, we have a problem.” Those words triggered fear in the crew of Apollo 13. However...
My dear friend, I’m grateful for the opportunity we had to talk a few days ago. As I’ve prayerfully reflected on our time, I realize that there are things that would have been helpful for me to say. I can tend to be a conflict avoider so please know that writing to you now is reflective of my deep concern for you. I’m not trying to pick a fight or to suggest that somehow I’ve got it all together...
What if they don’t come back? As a pastor, that is my fear. What if people don’t come back to church? What if people stay comfortable watching church online?What if health concerns keep them indefinitely from fellowship?What if they feel the church doesn’t agree with their precise political or social or theological perspective and they decide to leave?What if they find they are too busy with...
Baptism testimonies are one of my favorite parts of church. I love hearing the variety of ways the Lord works the miracle of new birth in people’s hearts. But as a parent of five, I get a special thrill hearing the “boring” testimonies. You know the ones I mean? The testimonies that go something like this: “I grew up in a Christian home, felt sorry for my sin at the age of five and talked to my...
