The day after Christmas a group of 40 of us will be heading to Israel for almost two weeks. We are looking forward to a great trip. For the majority of the people going this will be their first time to see this historic place. One of the things I am really excited about is that nine of the folks going are in their College/High School age. What a great experience for them to remember for the rest of their lives!

@ Caesarea in 2010

categories: Christian life tags: ,Israel, Travel with 2 Comments

Ianity. When I looked the word up on my computer’s dictionary the standard, “Ianity could not be found” was returned. Unfortunately its real form can be found too often. Not just “out there” but in my life. What is “Ianity?” It is Christianity without Christ. Christless Christianity. Can there be such a thing? Totally and absolutely.

First of all, we are not talking here about not believing in Jesus or denying or disliking Jesus. No, Christless Christianity can exist in true believers lives. Good, solid churches and tobacco-free, Hollywood-purged, Adventures in Odyssey-loving Christian homes is where this attitude can germinate. It is Christian living that has invested (even sacrificially) with the anticipation of a good rate of return. We are to “count the cost” and be wise masterbuilders. We have done our do-diligence and, as far as we know, can pass the red-face test. No surprises here. Just good, honest, hard-working, old-fashioned (the older the better) Christian living.

Continue Reading…

categories: Christian life tags: ,christian growth, sanctification with 1 Comment

Probably most folks reading this article would respond to that question with, “I sure hope I’m not a Pharisee!” That is what I would like to say but after doing some thinking I would have to affirmatively state “I am a Pharisee.” More often than I want to admit.

While I was preaching through the Gospel of John here some months back, I began to question why there is so much in the Gospels about this ultra prickly group called Pharisees. The first introduction to them in the Gospel of John is not bad in chapter 3 when we meet Nicodemus. Highly educated, inquisitive, maybe even a little humble since he is asking questions instead of just giving answers. As we plowed deeper in the preaching of the book the picture of Pharisees grew more hardened and difficult. Continue Reading…

categories: Christian life tags: ,christian growth with 1 Comment

Psalm 119 is a beloved Psalm that when it come right down to it, we know little about. We can quote favorite verses like verse 11 about hiding God’s Word in our heart or verse 105 that compares the Bible to a lamp to our path. I recently purchased a book that has an outstanding chapter summarizing Psalm 119. The book is Speaking the Truth in Love by Dave Powlison.

I purchased the book because in a few weeks we will be coming to the passage in Ephesians that tells us to speak in love. I really did not expect the book to open with a chapter on the importance of Psalm 119 though. There are some statements that I would like to quote that stand out as gems to me. Continue Reading…

categories: Christian life tags: ,psalms, sanctification with 0 Comments

I am always on the alert for book recommendations. I thought I would pass along some books I have read if you happen to be looking for a good book. Most of what I read has been recommended by someone else already. I am overwhelmed standing in the library looking for something or browsing book sections on Amazon. I like to know if someone else thought it was worth reading first.

I should mention that all of these books I would put into the pleasure reading category. All of these books are ones I have read just before going to bed at night. The only exception would be the one I mention that I am currently using with my family. Continue Reading…

categories: Christian life tags: ,books, reading with 4 Comments

There are many  remembrances and videos being shown to commemorate Patriot Day this Sunday. It really is amazing how 9/11 has become so memorable to so many. I just saw this video for the first time and loved it.

categories: Leadership tags: ,America, Baseball, George W. Bush, Patriot Day with 1 Comment

A few years ago a friend told me a story about what would inevitably happen nearly every time their family went vacation. As with most folks, getting out the door is a huge undertaking. Once they arrived at their vacation destination this man’s wife would begin talking about the things she did not get done before they left for the trip. I think many of us have done that very thing and can relate (at least I can relate for sure!).

My friend’s response to his wife is a little phrase that I have thought of and used in different situations when the weight of what should have happened or what needed to be done keeps surfacing. He would just simply say to her, “We’re here now.” The meaning behind the statement is simply to start doing what needs to be done now and quit living in, “If only I had….” Continue Reading…

categories: Christian life tags: ,christian growth with 0 Comments

What believer hasn’t spent time pondering troubling things in his or her life? Who has not felt overwhelmed? Who could not sympathize with the words of the psalmist who wrote in Psalm 42:7, “all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me?”

I have come across Psalm 77 and have been pondering its words for the past few days. There are some really interesting things here. I am including it now as well because there are some verses that remind of our coming storm pounding the East coast. What should we think when my life is wrapped in hurricane-like circumstances? Where is God in all of that? Read Psalm 77 and think about some of the following things: Continue Reading…

categories: Christian life tags: ,Enouragement, psalms, trials with 0 Comments

There is a question that has been tossed around (carefully) by our pastoral staff for many conversations. It has various forms in which it is discussed but in its most basic form it comes out in a question like this, “Why is it so much easier to constantly tinker with programs and why is it more difficult to stay on course to invest in relationships.” This is nothing new, I know. Churches constantly feel this tension. I get worried that one day we won’t feel the tension any more because the whole ministry is so program-driven.

Even in the writing of this I know that you may wonder, “What is the difference? People are about programs and programs have people, right?” Continue Reading…

categories: Church Life tags: ,christian growth, church, relationships with 2 Comments

We are really blessed as a church to have a team of folks travel to the Philippines and minister. I have heard some of these reports and it feels almost surreal as they talk about what they saw and experienced. It reminds me of Jesus words to the disciples when He said, “Blessed are the eyes which have seen the things you have seen.”

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I think I am most thrilled that it was team of single young adults that went on the trip. This is such and awesome age to be impacted with the needs of the world. We need to pray that the impact of this ministry experience does not just get filed away. I have been burdened to get back to our prayer focus for missions. Let’s make the Philippines our emphasis for prayer this week. Pray for Mike and Lisa Redick with their team of Student Movement for Christ International volunteers and for much follow-up from the summer. Pray for our missionaries Tim and Laura Berrey as they minister with their family training national pastor’s.

categories: Church Life tags: ,asia, missions, prayercasts with 1 Comment