As far as months go, October really stands out. Fall colors in the trees, lots of crisp mornings and clear nights, the sudden availability of pumpkin spice-flavored everything, and more. Unfortunately, it’s also Pastor Appreciation Month. It may seem strange that I, a pastor, would lament that this month has been unofficially but nonetheless nationally recognized […]
“It doesn’t take long for everything to go wrong.” You could be forgiven if that is your initial thought when reading the Bible starting in Genesis. It is a thousand-page book, and everything is broken by page three. It was off to such a good start, too. Genesis 1: God creates everything, and everything is […]
“Take a picture of that one, Daddy.” If I had a dollar for every time one of my kids pointed to a flower beside the Spring Creek Trail outside of Kannarraville, UT, and asked me to take a picture, I’d have 82 dollars. At least, that’s how many flower pictures I had to sort through […]
There’s been a great deal of hoopla on the interwebs regarding the prospective border wall between America and Mexico. All-caps cries have floated through cyber-space (“RAPISTS,” “BIGOTS,” & “HITLER” being among the most popular) from parties on each side of the issue. My electronic friends (at least those that the gatekeepers at Facebook deem worthy […]
Eliciting much sympathy for the American church is hard. It seems we have been blessed with more widespread freedom, leisure, and resources than any other geographically-defined group in Christian history. While brothers and sisters in Christ starve physically and endure persecution socially in places like North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, and others, we sit, seemingly fat […]
Grasses their heads wave in victory cheer Streams murmur of You, The One without peer Mountains white-crested their orisons raise Daisies bright humbly Your attributes praise Lofty pines still You more lofty declare Canyons all echo yet still add their share Wind rushes swiftly to fall at Your feet Clouds grace its worship, in chorus […]
It’s that time of year again: advertising season. I have always interpreted the 30 or so days beginning with Thanksgiving and culminating in Christmas as “the holidays.” But a disturbing trend has been evident in recent history: beginning around October 1stand carrying over into the New Year, retailers have bombarded America with advertisements, sales, and window displays. […]
“I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” Frederick Douglass “Lift with your legs.” Every weeknight, for a year, that’s the phrase I heard. At the start of the shift: “Lift with your legs.” After break time: “Lift with your legs.” As I slept: “Lift with your legs.” I […]
One of my favorite Bible verses is Luke 24:27 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (ESV) I love it because it reminds me that the reason for the Bible, all of it, is to point people to Jesus. It’s very easy to get […]
Evangelism. The mere word seems to send otherwise mature Christians running for the hills. Potluck. “You know I’m in.” Worship. “I hope we sing 10,000 Reasons again.” But, “evangelism?” “Uh, I’ve got something else going on.” What is it about this word? “Evangelism” is a Christianese word, but it shouldn’t be scary. When the New […]
