I ran across this site, internetforeveryone.org, which touts “the internet for everyone.” Not hard to figure that out — their reasoning is broadband access enables everyone to participate in democracy and exercise free speech. Good argument, especially in light of the fact that only 20% of the world has access to the internet. In the [...]
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Archive | June, 2008
Over 100,000!!
June 24, 2008
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Today Confessions of A Small-Church Pastor crossed the 100,000 page view mark! Thanks to all of you who stop by, comment, strike up conversations with each other, and genuinely make this blog “a gathering place for the small church community.” I appreciate you!
Read moreAre we still excluding the people from worship?
June 23, 2008
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A recent post on worship here got some conversation going about what is worship? One comment noted the word “liturgy” literally means “work of the people.” Evangelicals are quick with criticism of the ancient mass from which the common people were excluded. But, are we doing the same thing — excluding “the people” when we [...]
Read morePodcast: Poured Into Our Hearts
June 19, 2008
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Here’s the podcast of my sermon, Poured Into Our Hearts, from Sunday, June 15, 2008. The text is Romans 5:1-8, which is one of the lectionary readings for Year A cycle. I hope you find it helpful.
Read moreWould you share a table with them?
June 17, 2008
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In the recent news coverage of gay couples marrying in California, you might have overlooked an event that began in May called “American Family Outing.” MySanAntonio.com reports that gay couples supported by Soulforce, an Austin, Texas civil rights organization, contacted six mega churches requesting that a church staff member have dinner with a gay couple [...]
Read moreThe Decline of the Suburbs
June 16, 2008
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CNN notes today that 40% of Americans want to live in “walkable” communities, and that the suburbs as we know them may be an endangered species. The subprime mortgage crisis, which put many people in homes they could not afford, has led to record foreclosures, bankruptcies and repossessions. Some homeowners, facing falling home values, are [...]
Read moreWhat if your church started a business?
June 15, 2008
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In her book, Isle of the Saints: Monastic Settlement and Christian Community in Early Ireland, Dr. Lisa M. Bitel states “The archaelogical evidence of [Celtic monastic] enclosures…suggests that living within the sight of the monastic enclosure was useful to farmers and herders, doubtless economically as well as spiritually.” Which is a very academic way of [...]
Read moreSermon, Sunday, June 15, 2008: Poured Into Our Hearts
June 14, 2008
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Poured Into Our Hearts Romans 5:1-8 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but [...]
Read moreWhat is worship? Hint: it’s not what you think!
June 13, 2008
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I just finished reading an article about worship. Or a worship service. Or praise music. Or singing. I’m really not sure because the author used all of those “worship” words interchangeably, as though they all meant the same thing. News flash: They don’t. Which brings us to the question — What is worship? Let’s begin [...]
Read moreMinistry during life’s turning points
June 11, 2008
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At the end of each summer several new families move into Chatham, which is remarkable for a town of 1300 people. These families are new faculty members at Hargrave Military Academy and Chatham Hall here in our small town. This year, we’re going to figure out ways to officially welcome these newcomers to Chatham at [...]
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Podcasts
- Living in the Power of Pentecost
- A Mother's Sacrifice
- Worshipping and DoubtingIn Matthew 28:16-20, we usually miss verse 17: "They worshipped him, but some doubted." What did the 11 disciples doubt during this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus? Did they doubt that he had been resurrected? Or that he was the Messiah, the Son of God? Or did they doubt themselves and their ability to carry on after Jesus left them? The inte […]
- If You Love Jesus
- Living in Light of Easter
