Here’s the sermon I’m preaching tomorrow as I continue the 13-week series on The Apostles’ Creed. Tomorrow we come to the phrase, “I Believe in the Church.” I hope your Sunday is a great one! I Believe In The Church 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do [...]
Read more
Archive | October, 2009
Sermon: I Believe in the Holy Spirit
October 24, 2009
2 Comments
Here’s the sermon I’m preaching tomorrow, Sunday, October 25, 2009. This is the eighth in a 13-week series titled “Why We Need The Apostles’ Creed.” Today we look at the Holy Spirit. I Believe in The Holy Spirit 25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the [...]
Read moreA New Model Merges Pastoral Care and Social Action
October 21, 2009
9 Comments
I am speaking tomorrow at Duke Divinity School to students in the Rural Ministry Colloquia, a monthly gathering of students involved in, or interested in, rural church ministry. I have been asked to tell our story of how we started a community center, community music school, and several other projects here in our small town [...]
Read morePrayer for the Opening of Court on October 19, 2009
October 18, 2009
2 Comments
I have been asked to offer the prayer for a new session of court, which opens Monday, October 19. The courtroom and anterooms of our 156-year old courthouse have also been renovated, and this is the first day court sessions will be held in the refreshed space. Here’s the prayer I will offer: Almighty God [...]
Read moreRichard Land apologizes for Nazi reference
October 16, 2009
4 Comments
EthicsDaily.com carries the story today of Richard Land’s apology to the Jewish Anti-Defamation League for using Nazi references to characterize the health-care reform debate. According to EthicsDaily.com today, “During a Sept. 26 gathering of the Christian Coalition of Florida, Land criticized Democratic health-care reform efforts by claiming that the Democrats were attempting to do ‘precisely [...]
Read moreInterview: Russell Rathbun, author of ‘nuChristian’
October 15, 2009
2 Comments
Russell Rathbun, pastor of House of Mercy, has authored a new book, nuChristian: Finding Faith in a New Generation. Rathbun’s title riffs off Kinnaman and Lyons’ book, unChristian, both visually and topically. Rathbun knows what he’s talking about because he is one of the founding pastors of House of Mercy in 1996. Judson Press sent [...]
Read moreExpand Your Reading Using A Class Syllabus
October 12, 2009
4 Comments
Looking for a good book on a specific ministry topic? Seminary and university course descriptions can be a good source for books on subjects you’re searching for. Of course, I’m usually looking for books related to Christian ministry, but the most popular books on a subject may not be the best ones available. After all, [...]
Read moreSermon: I Believe In Jesus The Coming Judge
October 10, 2009
0 Comments
Why We Need The Apostles’ Creed I Believe in Christ The Coming Judge Acts 10:34-42 34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the [...]
Read moreA Change of Tone Garners Nobel Peace Prize
October 9, 2009
7 Comments
President Barack Obama has captured the imagination of the world, and by doing so has earned the world’s most prestigious peace award, The Nobel Peace Prize. Like millions of Americans I woke up this morning to the stunning news that the President had been awarded the Peace Prize. I congratulate him because I believe he [...]
Read more
Paying Attention to the Outrageous
Somebody did it again. They compared one of our political leaders to Hitler. It really doesn’t matter who did it because this is becoming a regular tactic for the extremists. The frustrating thing is they get what they want — publicity. The media pounce on their pronouncements as though the words they uttered were the [...]
Read more