“Pastor, what can I do?” People ask me that question a lot. But most of the time, they’re not asking it in a spiritual sense. They’re not asking for advice about a personal problem facing them. Most of the time, people ask me that to find out how they can help out in the church. … Continue reading »
Posted by luke …
Urgency
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.— John 3:8 Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and — if you’re reading this after … Continue reading »
Prepare the Way of the Lord
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. –Isaiah 40:3 The church has two great joyous holidays: Easter and Christmas, the celebrations of our Lord’s Resurrection and his Incarnation. Both these two holidays follow a season of repentance and preparation. … Continue reading »
Praying for Deliverance
One of the questions I received last month when I was preaching the “Let Us Pray” series about prayer was this one: How can I pray to thank God for saving me from illness, disaster, etc., when others have died or are dying from the same illness, disaster, etc.? This is a tough question. It … Continue reading »
Hezekiah: the Greatest King
For the king .. had taken counsel to keep the passover in the second month. –2 Chronicles 30:2 Everybody’s heard of King David, but how many remember King Hezekiah? He ruled over Judah, the southern part of what had been a united kingdom under David. After David’s son Solomon died, the northern part of the … Continue reading »
Frogs in the Machine Room
I’m preaching from Exodus 8 — the plague of frogs on Egypt — and I crack up every time I read that story. I laugh partly because it’s intrinsically funny, but partly because of this picture: which I clipped out of a computer magazine some years ago. I assume it was for some kind of … Continue reading »
Good advice from the Preacher
Ecclesiastes can be a little tough to take. But I was reading it the other day and this jumped out at me: Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil … Continue reading »
Decent, Orderly Worship
…but all things should be done decently and in order.—1 Corinthians 14:40 This verse from 1 Corinthians is often described as the “unofficial motto” of the Presbyterian church, particularly with respect to gathered worship. The idea behind that description is that the Presbyterian Church is open to new ideas and is willing to experiment–so long … Continue reading »
Blogging Takes Another Life
According to this report, Olive Riley has passed away. She began blogging in February of 2007. You can find her site (or not; it’s slashdotted) here. (Tripped over this courtesy Truemours.)
Summertime Blues
Have you ever tried to explain where Yucca Valley is? I recently took study leave to attend the Joe Engle Institute of Preaching in New Jersey. Whenever I met someone, they would look at my name badge and ask me where Yoo-ka” Valley was. The first few times I said things like “not far from … Continue reading »