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Preachers, Beware of the “I’m Not the Pastor” Trap
First of all, it is true that I am not “the pastor.” The New Testament does not authorize one-man rule, and the role of elders is always in the plural in each congregation. I know that. I preach that. However, there is a trap that some preachers can fall into if they are not careful, and today I’d like to address it. Preachers walk a fine line. We want to be helpful to our elders, but good preachers do not want to overstep our role and try to become the leader. We want to submit to elders, but we also–due to being close to the elders–see flaws at times. We do…
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Joy
Joy is defined by Webster as “intense gladness.” I like to think of it as an irremovable smile. Sometimes that smile is outward, but it is even better when it remains inward. Joy is the unmatchable feeling of happiness that comes from a spiritual understanding within our hearts that lies beyond expression. When you think of what brings pure joy, isn’t it interesting that it rarely has anything to do with yourself? Pure joy is seeing your young children laughing and singing and dancing. Pure joy is watching people who are less fortunate have the greatest Christmas of their lives. Pure joy is witnessing a husband and wife obey the…
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Two Professors; Two Education Models; (Possibly) Two Destinies
I have no idea how many different professors and instructors I had during my four years at Southern Illinois University, but I can only recall the names of two of them. Both of them taught in my major field of study (government) and both had me in more than one class (three for one and two for the other). I can still remember making an appointment with one of them to ask if I could use him as a reference in order to get into graduate school. I figured that he would be a good reference since he was reputed to be one of the (if not the) most difficult professor(s) in…
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Episode 36: 7 Simple, Inexpensive Ways to Improve Your Bible School Program [Podcast]
https://media.blubrry.com/faughnfamily/content.blubrry.com/faughnfamily/Legacy_Podcast_036.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS(Player not working? Click here to play.) The Bible school program of the church is so important, but sometimes improvements need to be made. Too often, however, we think these improvements will cost more money than a congregation can afford. In this week’s podcast, Adam and Leah discuss seven very simple ways that any congregation, on virtually any budget, can improve their Bible school program. The Seven Tips Clean Up the Classrooms! (Declutter and throw away unused, outdated material) Update bulletin boards regularly, and paint if you can afford it. Promote the Bible school program from the pulpit and bulletin often. Teachers…
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Do We Really Understand Commitment
She had waited for this day for several months. They had been dating for a couple of years and had a serious relationship that they both knew would end in marriage. On this particular night, her months of waiting finally came to an end. After a wonderful dinner, and a walk by the river, he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. She accepted the beautiful ring and answered with a “yes.” Did she really know the commitment she was making? This young man loved the game of basketball. As a freshmen in high school, he tried out for the team and was selected to be one of the…
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What’s Lost in Your Church Building
It read like a modern-day version of the story of Josiah. You’ll recall that Old Testament king was reigning at a young age when the book of the law was found (2 Kings 22:8). But that it was found in the temple speaks volumes about how little it had been followed. Just a few days ago, an official for a church in England found an original 1611 King James Version copy of the Bible. Where did he find this treasure? He was cleaning out a cupboard right in the church building. As soon as I came across that story it made me wonder if there are other very important things that…
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Laughter
The late comedian Victor Borge once said that “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” People need to enjoy life. I have often said that one of the greatest lessons having cancer teaches a person is that it is important to rejoice more. Life is a wonderful gift. Too many people are wasting it being negative or unhappy. Researchers have noted that the average child laughs 150 times a day. The average adult only laughs 15 times a day. We are losing our smiles, and a laugh is really nothing more than a smile that finally bursts. The presence of laughter improves virtually every situation. I recently read a…
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An Inadvertent Denial
The scene is familiar to most of us. It is one of many sad scenes that are connected to the crucifixion of our Lord. According to Matthew 26:69, Peter was “…sitting outside in the courtyard…” while Jesus was being put on trial. That phrase, “put on trial,” is used very loosely. If the term “kangaroo court” had been invented at that time, it would most assuredly have qualified. We probably remember how a servant girl recognized and identified Peter. We also remember and are saddened to read how the one who had earlier proclaimed Jesus to be “…the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16) now was denying that he was ever…
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Episode 35 : Five Devotional Ideas for Busy Families [Podcast]
https://media.blubrry.com/faughnfamily/content.blubrry.com/faughnfamily/Legacy_Podcast_035.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS(Player not working? Click here.) Many families feel as if they need to have family devotionals, but are so busy. Others feel as if they lack creativity to come up with ideas for family devotionals. In this episode of the podcast, Adam is joined by five busy moms–Erin Wells, Rebecca Stewart, Connie Rader, Kathy Pollard, and Amber Tatum–who share simple and valuable family devotional ideas that any busy family can do. RESOURCES Kaio Publications’ “Family Devotional” Object Lessons [Video] Rebecca Stewart’s son singing “This is My Father’s World” (Facebook) “Life and Favor” (Kathy Pollard’s blog) “Training for Worship” devotional ideas [pdf] [Blog post]…
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3 Ways a Wife Can Strengthen Her Marriage
Here at A Legacy of Faith, we are dedicated to strengthening marriages. We are saddened by the weakened state of the family, but we believe there is hope. There is hope for strong, committed marriages. There is hope for thriving families built on the kind of faith that is passed on for generations. Today’s post is for any woman who would like a stronger marriage. Let me share three things that a wife can and must do to strengthen her marriage. Respect your husband. Ephesians 5:33 says, “…let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Our husbands need respect. Moreover, husbands don’t have to earn the respect any more…
